Chapter 31: Ascension (Part 9)
Consciousness was unusually slow and glacial to return to Manaka this morning, the girl taking undue pleasure in the newest change to her typical routine. Normally - no matter how tired she was - instant awareness and alertness were her calling cards as soon as her eyelids flicked open, brain working at its optimal and highly streamlined pace.
Today? It felt as if she'd been dropped into a vat of cotton, every little movement laborious and hampered as she took a slow, languid breath and stretched her legs-
-before moaning with equal parts pain and pleasure as all sorts of muscles she never even knew she had protested the action, loudly and angrily announcing their presence as the girl's dry tongue ran over equally dry lips, mind flashing back to last night and the sheer euphoria that it had brought.
All the ways her Nanashi had made her feel good, all the ways her Nanashi had hurt her, all the ways her Nanashi made her live~! It had been exhilarating and wondrous and a million other adjectives that she could draw from all across the various timelines that existed. The cool and soothing temperature of his body pressed up against her feverish own, the sculpted and solid muscle that laid beneath flawless skin, the scalding, solar-hot length of flesh he shoved inside of and ravaged her with all night long, a wonderful counterpoint to his chilled and comforting flesh...the hedonistic, utterly perverse joy as he had filled both her insides and painted her outsides with hot, thick fluid...
Shakily breathing out a sigh as an unstoppable itch gathered between her sore legs and even sorer groin Manaka snaked a hand towards her dripping nether lips-
-and blinked as a powerful hand snagged her wrist, ruby eyes boring into her own as Nanashi scowled.
"No. None of that, first we need to make sure I didn't do anything to hurt you last night."
Her newly awoken partner paused.
"Also good morning."
"And a good morning to you too, Nanashi. Also I do recall asking you to-"
A rather adorable blush appeared on the boy's features, voice indignant as he replied, "Yes yes, I know you wanted me to get, err...physical. But I shouldn't have listened to you and we need to make sure you're alright. Now come on."
Manaka debated whether or not to point out the fact that she knew quite literally thousands upon thousands of various techniques of every walk of magecraft that could fix her up just fine...and decided to hold her peace, Nanashi's tender and gentle princess carry of her admittedly worn out body far too pleasant to turn down.
"First we need to get you into a bath, warm water should help you relax and loosen up any cramps or other, err...afflictions."
Smiling in sudden glee Manaka cooed, "Very well...but only if you join me, Nanashi~!"
She had gotten her first taste of physical intimacy last night and she wasn't about to stop now. And if that involved blackmailing her dear partner then she would do it in a heartbeat.
"...Fine. But we're not doing anything, alright?"
"If you insist, silly Nanashi."
Arriving at the bathroom in record time the homunculus quickly set about drawing hot water, dumping a respectable amount of soap and other scented bits that created a pleasant layer of suds before gently lowering the magus into it, Manaka sighing in bliss as she let herself float in the heavenly warmth, cleansing her body of the exertions of last night.
A heavenly warmth that got only warmer as Nanashi settled in behind her, dexterous fingers flying to her thighs before softly massaging the sore and aching muscle located within, Manaka sighing with an entirely different kind of bliss.
"I still can't believe you made me forget everything Merlin taught me...all those lessons about how my Incubus blood could lead to size problems and you go ahead and cause that problem anyway."
Giggling openly the magus slowly shifted her back closer to her companion's bare chest, gently wriggling her hips back-and-forth as the boy's crotch began to swell yet again, the blonde feeling a rush of power and happiness that she could so easily make him excited.
"I don't remember you stopping at anytime, Nanashi."
"Yeah I know, still doesn't make me feel any less bad about hurting you so much. And yes, I'm well aware that - for whatever fucked up reason - you liked it but you're going to have to give me a few sessions to get used to it."
Manaka merely released a short bit of laughter at how adorable and protective her partner was being-
-and stopped short as the import of his words suddenly sank in, Nanashi feeling the most bewildering chill settle into the water.
"You were trained by the Magus of Flowers?"
"...Oh. Oh shit."
Without even turning to face him Nanashi became very aware that the proverbial predator's eyes had landed upon his person, the blonde's voice silky sweet as she asked, "Were those days when the two of you wandered off not spent getting used to your new body but engaging in perverse depravity?"
Aware that he was suddenly and terrifyingly skating across ice so thin a fly would have broken through it Nanashi desperately continued to massage his companion's body, hoping it would help in keeping her from killing him on the spot as he composed his answer.
"Technically that was part of learning control. And we didn't just spend all day in a sex dungeon, Manaka. He was showing me all sorts of other tips and tricks that I could do with all of the Phantasmal bits shoved into me."
Holding his breath as Manaka held off on her immediate desire to murder him in order to contemplate his words the homunculus eventually breathed easy as his adorable and terrifying in equal measure partner huffed, crossing her arms with an imperious sniff as she commented, "I suppose such education was inevitable and acceptable...last night proved that such efforts were by no means a waste."
Lips quirking in amusement at Manaka's grudging words the homunculus allowed himself to go full relaxation mode, settling into the bath as he calmly and affectionately resumed his massage, the magus also easing her mannerisms somewhat as she leant against her lover's chest...and suddenly growled low in her throat, yet again another unpleasant thought entering her brain.
An unpleasant thought centered around two very specific individuals.
"And will you bed both Abigail and Tiamat? Ignore me, your first partner and love? That's exactly what you intend to do, isn't it? Hmph! Of course boys only think about sex."
Under any other circumstance he would have protested that completely unfair discrimination...but he wasn't ready to test an obviously aggravated and agitated Manaka Sajyou that wasn't entirely wrong in her worry, even if it wasn't for the completely base and simple reasons she thought it was.
He remembered how sweet and kind Abigail had been to him when they first met, helping him and Manaka through some rough spots and was even prepared to give up her life for him when push came to shove...he loved her and while it may not have been for the same reasons he loved Manaka it was definitely just as strong.
And while he wasn't as familiar with Tiamat as he was the other two - their time spent together wasn't as extensive as it was with the other girls - she had been nothing but incredibly kind, caring and immensely supportive, not to mention giving up a significant amount of her divine power just to keep his crippled and failing body in one piece. While he was a lot less certain about whether he loved her the way he did Manaka and Abigail he did know that he cared a great deal for the currently reduced goddess, along with whatever actions that entailed.
...So yeah. Manaka had a point.
And all he could really do was sigh, abandon his massage and instead wrap her in a tight hug, murmuring, "You know that's not it, Manaka."
The blonde grumbled but just as swiftly simmered down, frowning as she thought about what Nanashi had said and coming to the annoying conclusion that, no, he wasn't the kind of boy that would just fling himself into the arms of whatever woman passed his way. He was a bit too doggedly loyal for that. Instead she focused on the far more annoying and irritating topic that was one Abigail Williams.
The silly little Outer God was...a friend. Or something close to it. She couldn't help but recall that strange and unusual warmth that had blossomed within her when she and Abigail had conversed in London, her fellow blonde holding her hand with that brilliant smile of hers...in fact the more she thought about it the more the magus found herself entirely at a loss of how to feel about Abigail.
She'd never really had friends before and made no effort to make them before Nanashi came along and even then he wasn't really her friend anymore so much as he was her partner. So was Abigail her friend, then? Weren't friends supposed to share and be kind to each other? That's what she and Nanashi had done, shared and experienced different things.
Inwardly tearing her hair out over what she was supposed to say and do Manaka settled for a direct means of figuring things out, simply using her excellent imagination to visualize both Nanashi and Abigail performing the same acts they had last night, her beloved thrusting into her friend with powerful motions, his wonderful, massive cock doing unspeakable things to-
Manaka cut that train of thought off with a massive blush, a wave of heat spreading through her body before her excellent imagination didn't quite manage to turn itself off in time, providing a very confusing and invigorating scene for her viewing 'pleasure'.
Namely that of her two partners crouched over her, both taking turns pleasuring her restrained and sweaty body, lengths of black, sinuous flesh holding her tight as lines of angry red covered her pristine skin-
"No no no no! Am I really that much of a deviant that I would allow such a scene to happen?!"
Despite her internally dismayed reaction the magus would admit that such a scenario seemed...attractive. In a forbidden, hedonistic sort of way.
"Umm, Manaka? You in there?"
Belatedly realizing she had been sitting and staring at nothing for an ungodly amount of time the girl quickly replied, "If it is Abigail then I suppose it is alright, now cease this line of conversation at once!"
Blinking at the abrupt and tacit admission that everything was all fine when it came to his pursuit of Abigail - or perhaps it would be more accurate to say it was fine that she pursued him - Nanashi would have very much liked it if he could simply end things with that and call it a night...but he wasn't that fortunate, in this case.
"And what about Tiamat, Manaka? She's just as much a part of this whole bizarre attraction rectangle as any of us are and she did a truly incredible thing when the chips were down, allowing me stay alive and intact when I should have been dead. I have no idea if she actually loves us the same way we do each other but I don't feel comfortable ostracizing her in any way, shape or form."
The magus' head slowly rotated, one shiny blue eye locking onto his own as he forced himself to remain cool and collected, figuring that showing any sort of weakness to the predator that was Manaka would be a ground for immediate execution.
"You already have two woman and you seek to add a third? How bold you are, Nanashi. Hmph! I no longer wish to speak of this."
Holding his ground and gently massaging the girl's thin and tense shoulders he quietly remarked, "Sitting on points of contention between us is what caused our argument after Wynstar died, Manaka. I'd rather get this settled now before it spirals into something uglier. Even if it ends with you playing chutes and ladders with my innards."
The blonde growled, sulking heavily even as she allowed Nanashi to continue his attentions, doing what she did not long ago and trying to envision herself with Tiamat instead of Abigail. And it was...interesting? There was no rush of warmth or overly amorous desire like there was with her fellow blonde but instead there was a sort of...comfort? Matronly warmth?
She remembered how the draconic goddess would hold her and the other three tight, singing to them or caressing their hair, providing a sense of security and contentment that Manaka simply couldn't recall ever having. And besides all of those very valid reasons to not exclude the Babylonian goddess from their circle of affections?
"I...suppose I would not be completely against the idea of Tiamat also sharing your attention."
The girl shifted uneasily, a grimace of distaste causing her lips to purse as she leaned against Nanashi as he switched to massaging her scalp with sinfully soft and tender fingers.
"I remember what it was like to be empty. For life to be gray and meaningless as I merely just went through the motions without any true appreciation for it. I would not consign the goddess to even a fraction of that isolation and meaninglessness given the choice."
"...I see."
The blonde clenched her jaw, highly displeased that what had promised to be such a wonderful and special morning was now turning into a scene where she had to share what was rightfully hers-
"Thank you, Manaka."
-and the girl squirmed as Nanashi gathered her against him with a loving hug that turned her mind and body to goo, his head resting alongside hers as she stammered out, "D-do not think such simple actions and attentions will make me suddenly forgive your wanton lust and perversion towards other women, Nanashi!"
"Wouldn't dream of it. And I was thanking you because you're being sweet and understanding towards everyone else, when I know how much it bothers you."
Another unbidden image of Abigail and Nanashi assiling her bound and bruised body caused a rush of warmth that had the magus desperately trying to hold onto the scraps of her dignity as she flushed even more crimson than before, swiftly responding, "O-of course I am a magnanimous and understanding person, Nanashi. Hmph, how dare you imply otherwise."
This time she shifted around to face him directly, glaring into his crimson orbs while silkily announcing, "You are to refrain from adding any more girls to your harem, Nanashi."
He didn't quail under her look, merely protesting, "More girls? When the hell would I have time to do that? I don't even know what to do with the three I have now! And you seem pretty sure that this whole thing is actually my harem and not yours or Abigail's."
She haughtily sniffed, turning away in order to hide her satisfied smile as she half-jested, "Just take extra precaution that you do not ensnare my sister in your wicked web, Nanashi. She deserves a nice, polite young man that will love her, not your overly lustful displays."
"...Sure, whatever you say, Manaka."
Finally feeling satisfied now that everything was said and done the magus sighed in bliss as her partner's fingers began to work out the stiffness in her flanks, leaning against his solid chest as her eyes drifted closed, the warm waters absorbing the last remnants of stress and annoyance she held within.
"Stop touching my dick, Manaka. You need to take it easy."
She scowled, indignantly removing her hand from the pulsating organ she had been guiding towards her butt, rampant curiosity driving the action onwards.
"Since when are boys supposed to be the restrained and chaste ones?"
In a series of events that he felt he really should have expected but didn't actually think about until this very moment Nanashi realized meeting the gazes of both Haruki and Ayaka was taking a fair bit of bravery on his part, brain fruitlessly trying not to think about the fact that he had definitely been railing the man's daughter and girl's sister inside their very own house barely a few days after he'd returned from what was more or less an assumed case of certain death.
And when he said 'railing' he meant railing. Like, hardcore fucking that even now the homunculus felt might have been a little excessive on his part.
And matters weren't helped by the teasing grin Abigail wore as she sent the pair of them amused little smirks, as if she was in on some kind of grand joke that the others would never be able to comprehend...although the reality was probably just that she knew how embarrassed Nanashi was by the whole situation and was milking it for all it was worth. And Tiamat wasn't that much of a help either, the goddess merely sending the duo a happy smile as she eagerly devoured a spread of fruit and berries, the Sajyou's and other company settling down for breakfast as one.
"And don't we make for quite the mismatched family?"
"I finally spoke to a number of friends and contacts I still hold within the Magus Association and I believe we have a method for explaining your current circumstances moving forward that won't bring about too much of a contentious dialogue."
That got the group's attention, Nanashi perking in his seat even as he rolled a slice of mango around his mouth, luxuriating in the bevy of tastes and flavors that assailed his senses.
"You get used to having a broken down nose that makes everything taste like gray and then you upgrade to my current setup...I'm never taking that for granted ever again."
"Oh? Please tell, papa. The less time we have to spend potentially skulking about is time better spent on any number of other pursuits."
Nodding at Manaka's statement Haruki continued with, "I just so happen to agree with their conclusion that - at least for now - hiding in plain sight will be the most effective method of concealing the strange and unusual nature of your bodies and circumstances."
The homunculus and blonde magus tilted their heads in confusion, Abigail seeming to understand what Haruki was implying as she clapped her hands together, remarking, "Oh, that is actually quite clever~! While it would be nigh impossible to explain both Tiamat and I's presence and abilities without raising all manner of uncomfortable questions or inquiries the two of you can conceivably walk freely amidst the halls of the institution with the proper explanation."
Still a bit lost as to how any of that would work Nanashi turned to the older man for a deeper analysis, aforementioned man only too happy to explain himself as he said, "We can introduce my daughter as a practitioner and highly accomplished hand in the field of spiritual invocation, alchemy and other such disciplines which would explain your collection of unusual abilities and unique makeup, Nanashi. We would also further be able to showcase Manaka's ability to travel to the Reverse as a highly dangerous and hazard-fraught process that can't be so easily replicated but would aid in explaining how the materials that comprise your body were obtained."
He spread his arms, ending the proposal with, "It's not the best solution, but it's one that we can adopt at our own pace, rather than run the risk of some other faction noticing the collection of power and strength you all wield and making a previously unseen move."
Manaka merely sniffed, crossing her arms before calmly stating, "We would annihilate any so foolish as to try something like that."
"But why run the risk and bother of doing so in the first place? I think I like your dad's plan, Manaka. And besides…"
Nanashi's ruby eyes narrowed, thinking back to the magi's workshop they had burned to the ground after discovering the nightmare within.
"I kind of like the idea of being able to kick around and make a fool of those people, if given the opportunity to be accepted among their ranks."
While not seeming all that pleased with his take on things Abigail chipped in as well, stating, "This could be fun, Manaka~! Think about it, all the projects and presentations you could perform in front of snooty magi and other people, making them tear their hair out over the crazy things you and Nanashi can do!"
"Or they would merely become frightened, jealous, insulted or any combination of those three and attempt to administer sealing designations or any other number of restrictions. How silly, I don't see the appeal in wasting our time with the Magus Association one bit."
The homunculus frowned, wondering why his partner was being so stubborn about the whole deal. Sure, they were willingly putting themselves into the limelight when that's probably the opposite of what they should have been doing...but when it came to tackling the problem immediately or merely punting it further down the road he was of the opinion that sooner was better.
"C'mon, Manaka...think of it this way, you and I will get to be spending a whole bunch of time together if we do this, even if it's with a bunch of jealous, cranky and stubborn fossils that would like to vivisect us for our gooey bits."
The blonde huffed out an annoyed sigh, one fingernail tapping against the table in agitation before her shining blue eyes locked onto Nanashi's with a fairly intense fire within them.
"I remain unconvinced...but if we are to go through with this harebrained scheme then we need to ascertain just how skilled and impressive your body actually is, Nanashi."
The girl's grin turned positively feral.
"Why do we not have a friendly little spar, hmm~?"