Kyandi: Hey, everyone!
Elektra: We apologize for taking so long.
Kyandi: I had a busy week. In case some of you don't know, this is Day 8 of NaNoWriMo, and my authors' club and I are active participants.
Elektra: It means she's balancing writing on fanfictions and original work.
Kyandi: And this original work requires a butt load of research.
Elektra: But it's been fun to do.
Kyandi: Yes, it has been, but I have been working on fanfics too. With that said, here's a new chapter. Enjoy and review!
Elektra: Kyandi-sama does not own Fire Force.
Chapter 8 Firefly
A chill shook Elektra's body, reminding her of the problem still at hand. It pulled her out of her daze and back to the burning town below. Her eyes zeroed in on a distant part of the town.
"Captain!" Benimaru looked down at her as she pointed just before something rocketed into the sky in the direction she gestured. "There it is! The demon!"
Benimaru turned his eyes to the white-clad infernal as it jumped into the air. "A demon infernal. The kind that gave Konro his Tephrosis…looks like I found my sparring partner." Benimaru looked down at Elektra who was still staring out at the infernal. "Woman! Get up here! You're coming with me!"
Elektra looked up at him before hopping up on the railing, starting her climb. "My name is Elektra, Captain! Us it or I'll have to beat it into you later!"
A smile curled Benimaru's lips as he reached down to grab her hand, yanking her the rest of the way up to him. "Whatever. We can settle that later." Benimaru grabbed a matoi flag in one hand, grabbing Elektra around the waist to draw her closer with the other arm. "Hold on. If you fall, it's your own fault."
Elektra stepped onto the matoi, Benimaru releasing her so she could move close to his back, her hands gripping the straps of his vest. "I can get over there by myself, you know."
"Just shut the hell up and hold on."
"Alright, alright. So bossy." Benimaru felt her fingers curl tighter around the straps in her hands, her knuckles pressing in-between his shoulder blades. Heat radiated from that contact, heating his skin even through his clothes and her gloves. "Just so you know, this attitude of yours wouldn't fly in Nyuhebun."
A chuckle left Benimaru. "You're welcome to try to put me in my place."
He felt her move closer, the heat spreading as she pressed against his back, her mouth close to his ear. "You better bet I'll take you up on that. For now…we should go."
Benimaru agreed, fire erupting from the matoi's flags to rocket them towards the infernal. When they arrived on site, they found Shinra and Arthur already fighting with the infernal. Benimaru blocked the demon's attack on the two boys. Before he could stop her, Elektra released the straps of his vest and took a nosedive from the matoi pole.
Elektra hit the demon right between the shoulder blades. Lightning danced around her as she laid on the electricity, hitting the infernal with as much firepower as she could muster. The crackle of the electricity flashing through the air forced Arthur and Shinra to back off. Almost as if her electricity was nothing more than a tickle, the demon grabbed her ankle, shrugging off her firepower to yank her around and slam her into the ground.
Elektra felt the cracking in her chest that had to be her ribs fracturing under the infernal's strength, a gagging gasp leaving her lips as the creature then turned to slam its fist into her exposed belly. What little she had in her stomach came up, Elektra twisting to spew her stomach's contents on the ground beside her.
"Elektra!" Shinra called out in concern, but Elektra remained prone, no response sounding from her.
The infernal moved its fist, finding bright green eyes fixed on it with an intense glow. "Want to play rough, huh? Fine then. Don't mind if I do." Benimaru was pleasantly surprised when Elektra coiled her legs and slammed then into the infernal's gut, sending it rocketing into the air with a force that would have planted Benimaru on his rear. "Coming your wany, Captain!"
Benimaru happily butted the infernal back down to the ground before he landed before the creature. "Hey, your opponent is me."
"Arthur's sword didn't even scratch him? What's the deal?" Shinra asked, running over to help Elektra to her feet. Elektra leaned on his shoulder for a moment before she straightened her back and gave him a smile.
"Hey, Company 7 captain! That's no ordinary infernal." Arthur called in warning.
"Believe me, he knows." Elektra assured him.
"A horned infernal appeared in Asakusa two years ago. That's how Konro got his Tephrosis." Benimaru told them.
"Two of them appeared in Nyuhebun the night my parents turned…my father being one of them." Elektra added.
Benimaru glanced back at her, seeing grim determination in her eyes despite the way she held her gut and chest. "Stay out of this. This is my fight." The demand was directed more at Elektra, Benimaru letting her know that he didn't want her to jump in on the fight.
The demon infernal seemed to agree with him. It launched itself at Benimaru, the man easily taking what it dished out and giving it right back to it. When Benimaru moved to pierce its core, though, he found that he couldn't get the strike thought the creature's incredibly hard skin. He yanked his hand back, shaking out the stinging in the limb.
"That hurt. You're a tough nut to crack." Benimaru remarked.
"If my Excalibur can't cut him, what makes you think you can beat him with a karate-chop, stupid!" Arthur called out. He bent double, gripping his head, when Elektra slammed a hand into the back of his head.
"You've never taken a hit directly from his hand at full force, so be quiet." Turning, Elektra cupped her mouth. "Captain! Demon infernals have thicker skin, higher melting points! You have to hit them with a much higher amount of firepower than a normal infernal."
Benimaru glanced back at her before taking hold of another matoi. "Yeah, well, I can't just blow the whole town to smithereens."
With that said, Benimaru blasted towards the infernal, snagging the burning creature before carrying it directly up into the sky. He would get the infernal as far up away from the town as he could before he fried it. Elektra, seeing this, turned to Shinra and Arthur. "Was that the only White Hood?"
"No, the archer was here, too. I don't know where they got off to." Shinra replied.
"That's bad." Elektra whipped around, zipping up onto a nearby building. From there, she searched the town around her, her eyes on the lookout for the telltale sign of a white cloak. She didn't see the archer, but the caught the glinting arrow the archer aimed for Benimaru as it was loosened. "Shinra!"
At the same time as Elektra called for him, already darting across the roof to the next building, Shinra could have sworn he heard Konro call out to him to save Benimaru. Shinra wasted no time in racing to stop the arrow before it could achieve its goal of claiming Benimaru's life. He laid on as much speed as he could, catching up to the arrow and putting himself in its path. He poured all of his will into deflecting the arrow and barely managed to. When a second arrow followed right on the tail of the first, slipping past him, he was sure he wouldn't be able to catch it. A flash of lightning streaked past him then and it took Shinra a moment to realize what he had just seen.
Elektra.
Elektra caught up to the arrow, but she knew she didn't have enough remaining firepower to deflect the arrow like Shinra had. Instead, she coated herself in her Mock Infernal flames, pouring all she had left into it in order to add some barrier around her, and threw herself in the way of the arrow. Only her flames kept the arrow from going clean through her, the burning projectile lodging itself just south of her ribcage.
"Finish it, Captain!" she called as she fell back toward the ground.
Arthur caught barely managed to catch her and soften her landing. Elektra looked up in time to watch Benimaru put the infernal to rest in an explosion of firepower that amazed her. Shinra caught the captain as he fell, the man letting Shinra be his ride back to the ground since he was overheating. As soon as Shinra set him on his feet, he rushed over to where Arthur had laid Elektra down, Benimaru following behind.
"Elektra!" Shinra came to a stop as Elektra pulled back the hand she had pressed to her wound in order to look at it. Blood was already painting her pale skin red. "Are you alright?"
While the shot hadn't gone clean through her, it had left a decent wound in her, the edges jagged and burned from the arrow. "I'll be fine. It's not as deep as it seems." In Benimaru's opinion, it looked pretty bad. Elektra's eyes landed on him almost as if she heard his internal scoff. A sheepish smile curled her lips. "Sorry, Captain. I got blood on your haori."
Here, Benimaru scoffed out loud. "Don't sweat it. You shouldn't have jumped in front of that shot." Elektra opened her mouth to reply, but Benimaru cut her off. "That being said…thanks, stupid."
Elektra blinked up at him in surprise before she graced him with a brilliant smile. "I already told you I had your back. There's no need to thank me for keeping my word. I'd be a sorry excuse for a Slade if I couldn't do that much."
Elektra shifted then, lifting herself from the ground. Shinra hissed at her, telling her, "Stay still!"
"I should be fine enough to walk on my own." Elektra waved him off as she used Arthur to pull herself up to her feet. She gave Shinra's shoulder a pat before she turned to start making her way back to the guardhouse. Just a few steps and the world decided to defy physics and turned on its head as black started creeping into her vision. "Or not…"
Benimaru moved faster than Arthur and Shinra, catching her before she could hit the ground. She was unconscious before he had her safely in his arms. It was only when his skin touched hers that he finally realized something. "She's burning up."
What he had mistaken as just being her normal body heat earlier, had doubled, every inch of her skin burning hot to the touch. Her cheeks were the only part of her that had any color, and they were bright red with fever.
"She used too much of her fire after being so close to such a strong Infernal." Shinra told him. "She once said that when she's around infernals, it feels like all the heat in her body is pulled out. To try to produce hotter and stronger flames when she's already freezing and can't tell just how hot they're getting…it's no wonder she's sick."
"Then why?" Benimaru asked, confused. Why would she go to such lengths for people she didn't know? Especially when one of them had just been fighting with her a few hours before.
"She simply just can't watch others in danger. It doesn't matter to her who they are. If they need her help, she goes above and beyond the call of duty." Shinra explained. "She saw your town in flames and had to do something to help, just like the rest of us."
Benimaru looked down at the flushed face of the woman in his arms. She had willingly put herself in danger, in more ways than one, all in order to help him and his people. Damn him if he wasn't just a little touched by that and impressed by her. Shifting her closer to his chest, he scooped her legs up in the other arm.
"Well, let's get her back to the guardhouse.
When Elektra finally resurfaced from memories of the past swarming her dreams, she found herself basking in the soft light of the mid-afternoon sun as it filtered through the open screen of sliding doors. For a moment, she was dazed. It was a few breathes in and out before she realized that she was tucked securely into the folds of a futon in a room she had never seen before. Confused, because she only had an inkling of an idea on where she was and no way of knowing how long she had been out, she eased herself up. A wince left her when she was confronted by the tugging and stabbing pain in her abdomen.
"You should lay back down." Elektra's eyes flew up when a voice spoke from the other side of the room. She found Benimaru sitting at one of the open screen doors, arms tucked into the sleeves of a clean haori and one leg hanging out. His eyes were fixed on the small courtyard outside the door.
"Captain Shinmon…" Elektra glanced around the room, taking in the tatami mats and traditional Japanese art on the walls before she registered she was dressed in a soft, leaf green kimono, her hair left free and unbound around her. "How long was I out?"
"Just the day. Your company already went back." Benimaru answered. "They didn't want to move you while you were sick and hurt, so I told them to just leave you here for now." Sharp eyes fixed in on Elektra then. "What the hell were you thinking, huh? Jumping in and running around like that when you knew it would make you sick…? You some kind of masochistic idiot?"
Elektra smiled, finishing easing herself up into a sitting position despite his piercing demand to lay back down. He growled when she merely waved him off. "Sounds about right. Many have made the comment that the reason my hair is devoid of color is because my head is devoid of a functioning brain." A giggle left her then.
"You find that funny!?" Benimaru demanded, annoyed.
His answer was a heartier laugh. "Come on, Captain…if I can't laugh about these kinds of things, then life sure is bleak. I was doing my job and that job is to put my life on the line for others' sake. If I have to deal with being a little sick for a while, well…It's a small price to pat in the grand scheme of things."
Benimaru stared at her face for a moment before he spoke again. "But why? We had just been fighting not an hour earlier. Why help my town? Why help me?"
Elektra gave a shake of her head. It was obvious that she thought he was missing something pretty obvious. "Don't be ridiculous, Captain. Asakusa, Nyuhebun, the empire…I don't care where a person is from or who they are. Life is precious and I won't easily let it be extinguished in front of me if I can help it. I saw people in need of help, so I offered it. Besides…I may have been here for a short time, but I love Asakusa almost as dearly as my Nyuhebun. The people here are wonderful. For me, that is more than enough of a reason."
Elektra gave him a shrug of one shoulder. She didn't seem the least bit concerned with the fact that she had slept over twenty-four hours with a fever just to help people she was almost a stranger to. She truly didn't care who it was, if they needed help, she supplied it.
"On another not," Benimaru looked up as she sheepishly smiled. "Where are my clothes and who changed me?"
Silence stretched between them, Elektra blinking in questioning and Benimaru intently not answering. Then he rose to his feet. "Your clothes were washed. I'll go get them."
"Okay, but you completely ignored my second quest –" Elektra cut off as he walked out and closed the door behind him with a snap. "I have a feeling I know the answer and I'm not sure how to feel about it."
Elektra thought for a moment, before she heaved a sigh. Careful of her wound, she got to her feet and went in search of the captain. She found him talking to Konro. Konro was rubbing his head as he looked down at Benimaru. "You just left without answering her? She doesn't strike me as the type to get upset if she knows the circumstances."
"Oh, so you were the one that changed me."
Both men turned when they heard Elektra speak. They found the young woman standing there, holding her stomach with one hand, a smile bright on her face. She didn't look angry, but just in case, Konro jumped to his captain's defense. "Don't be angry. We don't have any female members in Company 7 aside from the twins, so Waka took on the job. He was just trying to help."
"I'm not angry." Elektra's smile brightened at their confusion. "In fact, I'm relieved!"
"Relieved?" Benimaru repeated.
"Yep. If it's you, Captain, well…I just can't see you doing anything shady or inappropriate. Trust me, if I did think that I would have already castrated you." Elektra said this with a perfectly pleasant smile on her face.
While it was unsettling that she could smile like that while casually talking about castrating a man, Benimaru's mind zeroed in on something else. To him, it sounded like Elektra thought him incapable of making advances on a woman or having desires and thoughts like normal men. He wasn't sure how to feel about that, though it certainly pricked his pride where it had never done so before.
Annoyed, he frowned at her. "You should go back to bed."
"And if I don't want to? Are you going to order me?" Elektra asked, hands going to her hips. "Or just carry me?"
Benimaru's brow twitched. It was a challenge, he knew that. Hurt or not, she wanted to challenge him and see how far he would push. He could see it in the way the corners of her mouth twitched, fighting off a smile. He could just let it slide, let her pout because he didn't dignify her challenge with a response she wanted, or he could respond in one of the two ways she'd named. Either way would be a hassle, but after all she had done for him and his town, he supposed he could deal with a hassle.
"Will you even listen if I ordered you back to bed?" he asked.
"Considering you're not my captain…probably not. I am a Slade, and we don't typically take orders from men. Captain Obi is an exception for me."
In other words…she wanted him to lay hands on her. He wasn't quite sure why, but that was the choice she had left him with, a sly grin on her face. "Are you going to shock the hell out of me if I touch you?"
"That's always a distinct possibility." Elektra smiled as she replied. "But in this case…no. I'll only shock you if you deserve it. Unless you're saying you – "
Benimaru suddenly swooped towards her, grabbing her arm to tug her close. In one fluid motion, he scooped her up into his arms. All with as much care to her wound as he could muster. "I'm not saying anything, so you better not shock me."
Surprise colored Elektra's cheeks for a moment, the skin turning a pretty pink. "I was kidding, Captain! You don't really have to carry me. I'll walk."
"Too late. Now shut up and behave."
Elektra threw a pleading look back over his shoulder towards Konro when he laughed. "Lieutenant…help?"
Konro merely waved, Hinata and Hikage giggling from where they were now peeking around Konro's legs. Seeing that she was going to get no help from the three, Elektra turned her eyes back to Benimaru's face, hands pressed to his chest to push.
"Really, you can put me down."
"Keep pushing and I'll drop you." he warned her, arms tightening around her to press her closer to his chest.
The blush already on Elektra's cheeks darkened, going clear down to her neck and up to the tips of her ears. "You do know that it's not a smart idea to embarrass a Slade warrior, right?"
"Try not being stubborn then." He retorted.
"I was joking! You're the first person to take it seriously and actually pick me up!" she exclaimed.
That actually made him smile, knowing that no one else had ever dared to take her jokingly issued challenge. His arms tightened more around her. "Then don't make the joke again."
Elektra couldn't tell if he meant with him or at all. Either way…she was never going to make the joking challenge again.
She was forced to endure him carrying her all the way back to the futon she had awoken in. He placed her carefully in the futon and told her to stay put while he went to get her some food. Thankfully, she did as told. When he returned, he found Hinata and Hikage keeping her company by telling her stories about Company 7 since they had joined. Elektra sat quietly with a smile on her face, listening to the twins. She only spoke to encourage them to keep talking or to display her interest in their stories. It was obvious that Elektra was good with children and really liked them.
"Alright, you runts. Time to leave her alone." Benimaru called as he entered the room with a tray in hand.
"We're not runts, Waka!" Hinata exclaimed.
"Call us that again and we'll squish you!" Hikage added.
Benimaru ignored their comments. He simply walked over to the futon, placed the tray in Elektra's lap before he grabbed the twins by their obi belts and tossed them out the room. He slid the door closed in their faces, the two complaining from the other side.
"You just wanna keep Ellie to yourself, Waka!" came the accusing yell from the other side of the door.
A chiming laugh reached him from the futon, the noise joyous. Benimaru had to fight to keep the frown on his face as he turned to face Elektra, the girl speaking. "I feel like the shiny, new toy in a den of children when they talk that way."
"You shouldn't encourage them." He told her, approaching the futon to claim a sit next to it. He tucked his arms into his sleeves as he folded his legs. "They're bad enough."
Elektra chuckled and shook her head, white strands falling forward over her shoulders. "They're children, Captain. They emulate those they're around. Meaning…that is all you, my dear grumpy captain." Benimaru's frown deepened when she basically said the same thing Konro had told him. "Anyway, it doesn't bother me. I've seen a lot of children like that, working with the orphans in Nyuhebun. Sometimes, all they need is attention and love. Though, Hinata and Hikage are a breed of their own."
Benimaru glanced at her as she picked up the chopsticks on the tray and started eating. "So, you worked with brats. Is that all you did?"
"Not at all. Many of those in Nyuhebun wear several different hats. I also led my own unit in the Task Force. I just helped in the orphanages because, at one time, I too resided in one. I know how it feels when the adults there can't always give you the one-on-one time you so desperately crave." Elektra replied. "I relate and I want them to know that there is someone who cares about them enough to take time out of their day. One day, when I can manage it, I want to give a home and love to as many as I possibly can. In our world, there are too many children without a family."
"So, you want to be a mother."
"I do." Elektra turned her eyes to him. "Don't you ever think about having a family of your own, of being a father?"
"No." Benimaru scratched at his head. He couldn't imagine himself as a father. Not with the father figure he'd had in his life. As far as he was concerned, he'd suck at it. There was no way he would be any good as a dad.
"Why not? I think you'd be a good father."
Benimaru's expression said it all…he thought she was out of her mind. "The hell?"
Elektra snickered, smiling brightly. "Whether you see it or not, you have a lot of strong traits that children need in their development. You're strong enough to protect your family, authoritative enough to teach your children right from wrong. You obviously care a lot about your town and its people, and you're no-nonsense. Those are all traits I respected in my own father, at least. I can't always remember him clearly, but he was a lot like you in many ways. Though, he smiled more. I could see you being the father of a bunch of rowdy boys and tomboy girls."
Benimaru scoffed. "Any woman willing to give me those would be out of her damn mind."
Elektra's smile widened, as if she had a secret that made his comment funny. "Or of a special breed of her own. The women of Nyuhebun would love you. A man that can challenge them and fight at their side? They'd eat you up."
"Remind me never to go there." he grumbled.
Another joyful laugh burst free of Elektra then, the girl wincing. "I think you'd be just fine. Nyuhebun women are subtle when they desire a man. Can't come on too strong and scare them off, you know. We'll have plenty of time later on, after it's too late for them to back out, to do that."
Benimaru stared at her for a long moment, just watching her as she ate her food. It made him wonder if she was the same way. If she didn't let on her interest when she was into a man. Though, he couldn't understand why he cared to wonder. Perhaps it was because she was so strange to him.
"You don't have to keep me company. I'm sure you have repairs to oversee."
Benimaru snapped out of his thoughts when green eyes turned to him. "They don't need my help. All I'm good at is wrecking stuff."
"I'm sure that's not true. I'm good at tearing things down, but I can also build them back up. I'm sure you can, too."
"You obviously don't know me, then."
"No, but I would like to." Benimaru stared at her in surprise. "I don't often find someone I like enough to call friend, but you…you I like. I want to be friends, to learn more about you. I promise, I'll be just as open about myself."
Benimaru scoffed. "You say that like you think I care about that crap."
"From the question you've already asked…I think you do. At least a little bit." Elektra grinned. "It's okay to be curious, you know. I am all the time."
"I've noticed." Came the low grumble form him.
Her lips spread more into a grin. "Leave it to me, Grumpy Captain, and I'll soon know more about you than you do yourself."
"Then start with the fact that I don't like being called that." He retorted.
"Which makes me love it all the more." Elektra let a laugh slip when he shot her a wilting look. "You'll learn quick, Captain, that if I know you dislike something, I will keep it up just short of truly angering you. That, or you can give me an idea of something else to call you. I personally don't care what others call me."
"Beni is fine enough." He told her.
"Really? How informal of you, Captain." Elektra teased, one hand raised to cover her smirk. "What would others say and think?"
Benimaru let out a noise almost like a mix of a groan and a growl. "I don't give a damn what others think. It's better than you calling me that ridiculous nickname of yours."
"Oh?" The edges of Elektra's eyes crinkled with unvoiced laughter, her hand still blocking the lower half of her face from view. "I'll bare that in mind."
Elektra returned to her food with a smile on her face. Silence stretched between them for a few minutes as she ate. When he spoke, it surprised her.
"Firefly."
Elektra looked up at him, confused. "I'm sorry?"
"That's what you remind me of. They do call them lightning bugs." He replied, recalling how she had lit up the night sky with a warm blue-white glow as she took on the arrow head-to-head.
"Oh…" Elektra looked away, trying to hide blushing cheeks behind her hair. "And here I thought you'd akin me to something awful like with Captain Obi and Lieutenant Hinawa."
Benimaru looked away from her, annoyance on his face. "I was angry. Let it go."
"Oh, I know. Are you always so hot tempered?" Elektra asked, peering up at him through the screen of her hair. "It's amusing how levelheaded you normal are and then see how hot blooded you get when angry. It makes me want to anger you just to see you get all worked up again."
Benimaru's eyes snapped to her grinning face. "Are you crazy? Most people run away when they see my power."
A laugh left her. "I'm not most people."
"I'd pulverize you."
"Only if you caught me, dear captain, only if you caught me."
She sounded so sure that he would never catch her if he had to. He had no idea that he was in for a life-long game of tag.
Elektra left Company 7 the next morning, despite protest that she should stay a few more days to properly heal. Elektra merely shook her head.
"I've been away long enough. Shinra's probably come close to killing Arthur by now." She told them as Benimaru, the twins and Konro saw her off. "Besides…I don't feel right lazing around all day, injured or not. I have a job to do and need to get back to it."
"You're always welcomed here." Konro told her with a smile.
A smile Elektra returned. "Thank you. You don't know how much that means to me. Having lost my home once, I value any place where I can find a spot to belong to."
"You better come back soon, Ellie!" Hinata yelled.
"Yeah and you better bring us lots of snacks or we'll kidnap you!" Hikage added.
Elektra laughed at that and patted the two on their heads. "Sure thing. Try not to cause too much trouble, but if you do…" Elektra crouched to whisper behind one hand. "Try to get your captain and make sure to take pictures for me."
"I heard that." Benimaru retorted, Hinata and Hikage snickering as Elektra stood up to give him a not-so-innocent smile.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Benimaru shot her a glare when she lied through her teeth. The look did nothing to affect her. "Anyway, here."
Benimaru raised an eyebrow when she held a piece of paper out to him. "What is it?"
"My number." Benimaru eyed it. "My captain told me about swearing vows of brotherhood when I called him last night. If Company 7 and Company 8 are friends, then you can count me and the Slades as friends, too. Whatever the issue, if you need or want the assistance, just call. I take care of my friends, and my interests are the interests of the Slade. Just…" Elektra shoved the paper into Benimaru's hand. "Keep in touch. Trust me, you don't want me getting worried and randomly dropping in to check up on you."
"Yeah, whatever." He said it sourly, but he tucked the paper into his sleeve for safe keeping, putting a happy smile on Elektra's face.
"On of these days, Grumpy Captain, I will get an honest reply from you." She told him.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, nothing, nothing."
Konro smiled as he watched his captain frown at the girl's obvious attempts to tease him. "You sure you don't want us to see you back?"
Elektra shook her head as she turned her eyes to him. "I'm sure. I'll be just fine. Besides…it gives me the chance to pass through Nyuhebun and pay home a quick visit. I'm sure to receive a scolding and call me sentimental, but I miss home."
To their surprise, Elektra placed her right fist over her heart and gave them a formal bow of respect. It was a Slade gesture, but they understood the amount of esteem and regard Elektra put behind the action. With that, she straightened and turned to leave.
"Firefly," Elektra stopped and turned, blinking in surprise when he actually called her by the nickname, but she was more shocked by the small smile that curled Benimaru's lips. "You better let us know when you get back. Worry the twins and make them wreak havoc and I'll hunt you down."
Though his words were harsh, she could understand the meaning behind them. A soft smile spread her lips as her cheeks flushed a light pink. "Don't tempt me. I might just forget on purpose."
"You'll regret it if you do."
"Hmm…and the temptation grows." Elektra turned, giving them a wave over her shoulder. "Take care."
With that, Elektra took her leave, white hair trailing after her. Benimaru wasn't sure he would ever understand her, but if he was honest…he was looking forward to trying.
End
Kyandi: I'm sorry if Benimaru seems a bit OOC. This is just how I see him handling interest in a woman.
Elektra: He's so cute when he's oblivious.
Kyandi: I think so, too. Sadly, thing is…Konro and the others of Company 8 will probably figure it out long before Benimaru does.
Elektra: Not Arthur, though.
Kyandi: Agreed, not Arthur.
Elektra: The kid is cute and usually means well, but…he doesn't have the common sense any god could grace him with.
Kyandi: You know what they say about the pretty ones.
Elektra: Beauty without intelligence is like a masterpiece painted on a napkin?
Kyandi: I was thinking more along the lines of…The average woman would rather have beauty than brains, because the average man can see better than he can think.
Elektra: That's not entirely fair.
Kyandi: Yeah, I know…sorry to all you guys, I was just kidding!
Elektra: She thinks she's funnier than she is.
Kyandi: I try. Anyway, everyone enjoy and review.
Elektra: We'll be back as soon as we can.
Kyandi: Bye-bye!