Delivery

Chapter 12

Ageha had watched the display in earnest. The way this woman, Revy, acted toward her lover was how she had acted toward her own destined one. The display she had done was more than the obvious love she had for him. No, it was also establishing him as hers. She was marking her territory, and Ageha wasn't going to mess around with that viper. Sure, she could physically take the girl, but the girl was skilled with weapons, and besides there was something to be said about kindred spirits.

Maybe the girl was human, but she had the spirit of a succubus. Maybe it was her life, or maybe it was similarities that they shared, but regardless the girl should have been born as one of them. There was no doubt if she would have been the man she was with would still be her destined one. In a way it certainly reminded her of how she had been with her late husband. There was a sense of peace and tranquility that he brought to their relationship which she had not really felt sense. It wasn't to say that she was a tragic heroine that was searching out various ways to die.

She had a multitude of reasons to live. Her daughter was going to be with her destined one, one of her best friends had been brought back from the dead, and the crew that had been hired for them was actually competent. There was an insane amount of good in her life, the kind of good that made life worth living. She didn't know the kind of life this girl had, and she wasn't going to assume either. All she knew for certain was that she had the spirit of one of their kind. Her own mind thought back to her late husband. When he was alive she had eyes only for him. Even after all of this time he was the only one that truly was intimate with her.

Sure, she had been with multiple men and women since that time, but they weren't intimate. It was just sex. Casual, consensual, and about as meaningful as a discount hallmark card. Each time she got a small high from it, she enjoyed the perks and presents that often were sent afterward, but it was empty. The wonderful feeling of fulfillment, the rapture of being brought to the cusp of mutual orgasmic bliss caused and brought on by someone who held her heart so securely was gone.

She considered, briefly, on asking Ling Ling to raise her destined one, but after seeing what happened to Tsurara, she couldn't do it. She didn't want him to have some kind of geas which would control his actions. It was better that he waited for her. She turned her attention from the two lovers after a moment. She'd seen a few scars on the the woman's back, marks that came from fights, and others that came from sadistic tormenting and torture.

It was truly obvious that her destined one had managed to open her heart and soul, and somehow he entered that intimate space. She moved out of the bunk, and looked at the ship itself. There was so much history here. Tsurara had said it was a torpedo ship from the United States involvement in the Vietnam War. That meant that it had seen much in its time. Soldiers serving aboard, becoming a smuggling vessel, and more on besides.

The battle that happened above, the fight with that lone Kraken, it was enough to make her realize that others didn't want to see them reach their destination. Of course the crew had performed well beyond the expectations of them. After all, they were humans going up against monsters. Their skill, the knowledge of their ship, and the knowledge of the area itself had given them an edge.

They were earning their paycheck, and she wished them well with it. The talk of erasing their memories came back to her. Would it be worth it? They had proven themselves to be resourceful, and on top of that they had already been working with the Huang Family before all of this. Would taking their memories from them really do much more than ensure that the secrecy of their kind was maintained? Of course she understood that if they did know, and if it was found out that they knew, eventually someone would be sent to deal with them.

She was sure they would fight against it, but the person they sent wouldn't be a pushover. It would be someone that had more than enough power to deal with them. And of course what she saw of Roanapur told her the simple truth. It was a city without questions. Anything that happened to anyone there was just accepted. The woman, Revy, had said it was the city of the walking dead. That everyone who made the choice to live there knew that their days were numbered. If someone came for them it would be another set of lives that just ended.

There wouldn't be a grand investigation, nothing to really show for it other than the fact that they had been there one day, and were gone the next. She moved toward a few others, and she saw Fang Fang. Fang Fang Huang was looking at a picture, one that he obviously felt a great connection toward. She could see the picture, and she recognized the person in it. The young witch that had been friends with her Kurumu, Yukari Sendo was the individual. He was also holding a letter, and she watched as he looked at both.

"Hoping to see someone?"

He gave a nod, "I am," he replied, "I am pleased to see Tsukune, and I hope to welcome him into the Huang Family. But I am delighted to see Yukari."

She moved toward where he was sitting, "I was under the impression that Yukari was interested in Tsukune as well."

He smiled, "She was, perhaps still is, but it matters not," he said, "She is my friend, and I enjoy hearing from her. This will be the first time I have had the opportunity to visit since the Academy."

She nodded, "Kurumu had talked about you, and your sister, before. She did say that your sister was interesting."

He looked at her, "Kurumu may still hold a grudge," he stated, "And rightfully so. Ling Ling did attempt to kill Tsukune in order to bring him back as a Jiang Shi."

He could see her eyes widen, "Please, do not think unkindly of her," he said, "My sister does things differently, and her being a Jiang Shi is part of it. She doesn't see death as an end, but simply as a step from one form of existence to another. Her interest in Tsukune has grown, and while she no longer wishes to make him a Jiang Shi she does wish for him to become her lover."

Ageha sighed, "I'm certain that Kurumu may share," she said, "Possibly, but I doubt she will be thrilled about sharing with someone that had attempted to kill Tsukune."

Fang Fang nodded, "She knows this, and while she may seem confident, Ling Ling is actually quite worried. She's afraid that Tsukune will not even see her, and she's even more afraid that he will simply reject her," he smiled slightly, "This is the first time my sister has worn her heart so openly on her sleeve, and she's terrified about it being broken."

Ageha looked toward the Jiang Shi, and she could see the signs. Ling Ling was someone that certainly hid her emotions well, but then Ageha had the benefit of being a succubus. Despite how well someone physically hid their emotions she could practically sense them. She hadn't tried to with Ling Ling simply because she was angry about how she was using Tsurara, but now she could feel it. Ling Ling wasn't infatuated with Tsukune, but instead in her own odd way she loved him.

There was fear, real fear, that he would turn her away, and she could sense that as well. She understood some of it. To many monsters out there not being able to conceive, to have children, usually meant that someone wouldn't be chosen as a long term lover or spouse. More often than not they were treated as one night stands. Something fun to learn with, but not someone to build a life with.

Ling Ling wanted her Kurumu to win Tsukune's heart because she wanted to have a family with him. The children wouldn't hers biologically, but it would be something she would want to share. Ling Ling wanted to be a lover, a wife, a mother, and so many other things that it boggled the mind. If Ageha had spent even a moment trying to read her she could have sensed all of it. As it was everything came running forward, and she could sense that she truly wanted to be more than some random fling.

She was willing to share Tsukune because she wanted him to have a family. She was willing to give her body to him completely, to let him live out every possible desire, and she was desperate to help raise the children. She didn't like her any better. She had placed a terrible geas upon Tsurara, but she understood her. It was a look she hadn't expected. She had assumed that Ling Ling was simply curious, maybe infatuated, but not actually in love with Tsukune.

Somehow, her daughter's destined one had touched the undead heart of the Huang Family's second in command. After seeing what he had done, how many he had befriended, she didn't think that it was impossible, but instead she saw it as a reflection of who he was. He was a good man, a decent one, and believed that out of all of the possible suitors he actually measured up. Although, if he hurt her little Kurumu she would make him answer for it.

"You see, don't you?" Fang Fang asked before he looked at the picture and letter again, "She is worried, hopeful, but worried."

She looked back at him and she could sense the confusion inside of him. It wasn't surprising, "I do, and I'm sorry, but I see you as well."

He looked up, "Please, do not tell Yukari," he replied as he looked at the picture, "She deserves happiness."

She studied him, "And what of Tsukune?"

He smiled, "I cannot even venture down that path. I am the head of the Huang Family," he said, his voice low with sadness, "As such it is expected that I marry, continue the bloodline, and ensure that our way is kept."

She studied him, "And of your own wants and desires?"

He looked up at her, and then he looked toward Ling Ling, "If my sister can find her happiness, then I will rejoice in that aspect. It will be, how is it said, a win."

She sighed and shook her head, "Talk to Yukari and Tsukune. At worst you will let them know, they will respond, and you will move on. At best, perhaps something beautiful will grow."

He looked at the letter and picture, "Perhaps, but it is something I dare not do," he said with a sad smile, "My sister deserves her chance at happiness. One Huang confessing could be true, two confessing may be maliplation."

He bowed, and she watched as someone far stronger emotionally then she had assumed stood, and walked toward his sister. Would she have put Shade's happiness before her own? Perhaps, although she wasn't sure if she would have or not. She would like to think that when the chips were down she would care for her sister, be determined to see her happy, but she couldn't promise that.

Instead she saw someone that had the strength to ensure his sister's happiness, the continuation of his line, and was willing to do so as a duty and not out of love. She could admire that in the young head of the Huang Family. The determination to see where it would lead, what would be done, and how it could be laid out. She admired that strength. It was a true testament of his character, but at the same time she wanted to help him be happy. She smiled, this would be something that Shade could help her do. She was certain her sister would help her set things into motion for Fang Fang.