CHAPTER 8 IS REAL MY DARLINGS! (with a catch)
You might realize that this chapter is pretty short compared to how long you've been waiting for this - well, there's a reason behind that and it's because I'm a dumbass. I normally use Word to keep my stories, but you know, you're supposed to hit the save button. I may have forgotten to do that. And my computer crashed, making me lose about 8k words from this chapter. Obviously, in addition to setting me back, it also made me almost want to drop the project entirely. Luckily, somewhere along the lines, I got the inspiration to write, write, write. And so I have been.
You all have been waiting so nicely for almost an entire month for this, and to show you, that YES I'm still working, here is the first half/third of Chapter 8. It's a work in progress and should be fully updated in a day or two, so check back then for the full thing if you'd like. Some of you would probably prefer that I release the whole thing at once, but oh well. This mistake shouldn't happen again, as all my chapters here on will be backed up.
With that being said, I'll tackle the questions from Chapter 7 once everything is done. I'm doing much better and I'm back in the groove of things, so expect the next chapters to come out once a week if all goes well? Again, things are uncertain and I don't want to set due dates for myself or I'll get stressed and procrastinate.
I was planning on finishing the scene I was currently writing, but as of typing this, I'm extremely exhausted and need a break, but I wanted to post something for you all. So... here it is. Enjoy it, hopefully. I know a lot of you were craving the events about to unfold with ZaHiko, and you'll hopefully be happy with the outcome.
Edit 1: Over 8500 views! I love you all, and to commemorate the occasion, I now have a Discord server! It isn't only for those who want to talk about my fic, you're welcome to game together and talk about anime and life, what have you. I just want it to be a hangout place for my fans, so enjoy. The perma code for the server is: sjbbuph
Feel free to join up if you'd like, but you certainly aren't obligated. Also, please enjoy the updated Chapter 8~!
Edit 2: Chapter 8 is COMPLETE! 12,000 views in, many days and hours in, and it's finally done. One small tweak happened, which was that the latter half of 8 is getting moved to its own chapter. Subsequently, Chapter 9 is becoming 10, etc. There were two reasons this was done, one was to get 8 out as soon as possible, and the second was that where I had stopped writing just felt like a good place to leave off. That being said, 9 should be following up in the next week or two, considering it won't nearly be the monstrosity that 8 was, so look forward to it!
Please enjoy the entirety of Chapter 8! Also, apologies, no Q&A this time, as I feel the story has answered most of the concerns.
Edit 3: All of the bonuses will be added to their own "story" so they don't conflict with the chapter flow. Sorry if everything is a bit confusing ;P
What was he doing? Why was he so… aroused all of a sudden? He had some form of self control in the past, whether it was his logic or force of will. But now… now, she had offered herself to him.
Her torso was now bare and those round, squeezable mounds were teasing him, much more so than when he saw her completely naked. He hadn't the slightest clue why, but seeing her half nude was so much more erotic than just laying eyes on her skin… Perhaps the action of removing her clothes set him off?
Something was different. As much as he genuinely longed for a romantic, and possibly sexual relationship, being in Zakura's presence had… inexplicably changed. It was almost like something primal, deep within him was seeping through the cracks of his psyche, forcing logic and reason to the side. He could almost imagine a little devil on his shoulder, encouraging him to give in to lust.
"Fuck her! Fuck her hard! Tear off her clothes and ravage her body! She wants you deep inside her body, so why not give it to her? Come on, you know you want to!", the little thing would be calling out.
"You sure that's okay, honey…?", he inquired with an innocent tone, unsure if the two should venture farther.
"Of course. I can tell you're curious and… I… want to experience it with you, darling."
Darling. That word always sparked something inside him, like it was the most precious word in the universe. It caused his heart to skip a beat. Sometimes it caused him to become excited, other times relaxed and soothed. It was all about her tone and how it was delivered. This time? It was delectable, seductive. She was practically begging for him, even through her subtle vocal hints.
The whole time they conversed, his eyes had never left those gracious, angelic ones she had. His gaze became narrower, more sultry. Her response was in the form of an innocent, gentle bite of her bottom lip. Her slim eyebrows curved upwards as her head lowered, and she batted those luscious, long eyelashes as she blinked. She was begging, pleading for him to pounce.
Something had changed in those few moments. It was palpable. It was hard to grasp whatever had happened. She was still Zakura, of that there was no denying, but she wasn't just Zakura. She was his Zakura. She belonged to him.
And he wanted to mark his territory.
A sultry chuckle from the boy broke the silence. His eyes lidded as he eyed his girl. "Let's get these annoying clothes out of the way, shall we?"
Her nervous swallowing of saliva was audible. Even though she was practically begging for sex, she still seemed somewhat uneasy about the situation. She bobbed her head up and down quickly in confirmation and began to remove her white collared shirt and blazer from her upper body. As she took them off, Hiko pulled her skirt and pink panties off her waist, carefully and methodically. The girl straightened her thin legs, assisting with the removal of her bottom garments.
Hiko took both pieces of clothing and walked backwards a few steps in order to pull them off. Once accomplished, he bundled them up and tossed them haphazardly to the ground.
Shoes and socks were quickly taken off, and finally… that beautiful slim girl that Hiko longed for had finally been revealed. Her face dusted with red, she managed a loving smile to her admirer.
Without noticing that a bit of saliva had escaped the confines of his mouth, Hiko let out a sly expression of approval as he examined the angel. "Mmm~"
Everything was on display, and she wasn't hiding anything. No modesty, no embarrassment aside from the slight blush on her cheeks. She knew she was a fine piece of work as far as her body, and she wasn't afraid to flaunt it.
Now, the question was what the next step should be. Perhaps a bit of counter teasing? Yes, that seemed appropriate. He wasn't entirely sure how to do so, but opted for a "leave more to be desired" type.
His hands lowered to the buttons on his own shirt, slowly and gradually. Her burning red pupils followed their every move, anticipation their actions.
Pop. One button down. Three to go.
He chuckled at her anxious gaze. He had no idea his chest was so… enticing.
Pop. Half of them down, half to go.
Her tiny hands actually began to shake and she started to reach towards him, reluctantly tugging on her wrists and pulling them back to her body repeatedly. The teasing was working.
Pop - pop! As he had undone the third button, she had forced herself forward and taken care of the final one. Her anticipation had gotten the better of her and she couldn't hold on any longer.
"There! Now… let me show you what comes after kissing~", she purred with a sexy little wink. With a grin, the boy tossed the shirt on the ground and lunged, pouncing on the naked girl sitting on the edge of the bed. She giggled and he licked his lips. Time for his meal, finally, after 200 years.
"It's a beautiful city, you know. Truly gorgeous. Sometimes I think about what would have happened if I stayed…"
"It wasn't wrong of you to leave. I, for one, don't blame you, especially for the good of your son." The red haired woman rubbed her temple with an annoyed and frustrated sigh as if what she was thinking was irritating her. "To think he would do that… it was… reckless, to put it delicately…"
"Kosei didn't even talk to me about it. It was like I didn't have a say in the matter… Like this whole new job rested upon the darn deal," the black haired woman exclaimed, with almost a heated passion for the discussion.
"I sincerely apologize for him. I'm sure there were good intentions, but…"
"But nothing, Nana! We could have lived here just fine, but he had to go and pull some stunt for his job. Sure he still pays child support, and it's not like I don't love him, but… AGH!"
Tomoko grabbed her hair and tugged gently to show her anger. Nana responded by wrapping her arm around her friend's shoulder and shushing her.
"Easy. Your son seems to be a fine young man. You have done nothing wrong. Let's change the subject…" Nana inhaled a deep breath before letting it back out with a sigh, knowing the conversation was going to be difficult to process for Tomoko. "...because I think it's about time I tell you some things…"
As she removed her hands from her locks and noticed a few strands come loose, Tomoko nodded. Anything was better than talking about that terrible time. Something was giving her the vibe that she wouldn't enjoy this new subject either, judging by Nana's expression. Perhaps it was personal?
"What is it…?"
"It's about Hiro and Zero Two. And subsequently… your son and Zakura…"
Tomoko swallowed what little saliva remained in her mouth. They were already venturing into the one subject that she didn't want to touch upon. Her son was raised respectfully and she felt she could trust him. Something seemed different since he brought home that girl, however. He had changed attitudes in some way. It was like there was her son and then this… vengeful, obsessive teenage boy. Unhealthy was one word she would use to describe it.
"Hiro… was Hiro obsessive? Violent?", the woman suddenly replied, wanting to test her hypothesis. Surely Nana could give her a reason as to why her son was acting this way. Why he had these… outbursts.
"No, I wouldn't say so. Even for Zero Two. He followed her, sure. He protected her the best he could. He cared a lot about her well being. I wouldn't say obsessive, but he was certainly in love, whether he knew it or not."
Damn. That theory was off the table. Hiro wasn't causing her little boy to become crazy. Was it her possibly? Had she done something to him? No, they had only just seen each other for the first time in years… Now wasn't the best time to get lost in her mind. She needed to focus and let Nana explain.
"I had a thought, but it doesn't matter now. Just tell me everything you can about them. I want to hear what you have to say."
"Of course. I hadn't gotten to explain the whole story to you before. Back in plantations, there was an outlaw on sexual material. Teachings and the like, anything regarding sex or puberty," Nana began to explain, still keeping slow pace with Tomoko as they traversed the city streets.
Sexual material? Where had this conversation gone in such a hurry? First it was about Hiro and Zero Two and then - oh no.
Tomoko's mind was flooded with chaotic thoughts. Her son and that girl were left alone in a hotel room. Who knows what they could be getting up to? She shouldn't have left! Her head whipped around to the building, her eyes wide in shock at her own mistake.
Her wrist was taken ahold of by Nana's as she fanned her right hand downwards. "Relax, Tomoko. Everything is fine."
Right, everything is fine. My son is back at a hotel with that… that seductress, and he's going to give in and have sex with her! Everything is a-okay!
"This is about Hiro and Zero Two. Not those two. Not yet anyway. Just hear me out before you go sprinting back like some crazy woman," Nana pleaded with a smile.
"Right… right… I'm just… paranoid, I guess."
As the redhead began walking forward again, she pulled gently on her friend's hand in an attempt to coax her to follow. Very reluctantly, the woman being pulled turned herself and stayed close, biting her nails nervously.
"Go on…", Tomoko urged through the finger in her mouth.
"Hiro and Zero Two never received any… sexual education. The whole point of Squad 13 being an experiment was to see how the individuals would react to emotional stimuli without being educated on the matter. Dr. Werner Franxx wished for the squad to show heightened levels of emotions, and see how positively or negatively they impacted the squad as a whole."
"What does that have to do with -"
Nana continued her explanation, ignoring Tomoko's interruptions. "Even without education, the children often solved their own emotional issues amongst themselves. The largest one was Zero Two. She had first been introduced as a rival of sorts under my supervision. She was mischievous and free willed and often took off to do as she pleased. It was difficult to keep her in check. The doctor… allowed the behavior. If I had to guess, he actually planned on bringing them back together. Another one of his experiments. To see if their memories could be unlocked through their bond, but I digress. She became unofficial, and then official partners with 016, or Hiro. This caused serious tension between Squad 13 and her. She took most of it without a problem, shrugging off comments and the like. She had a reason to be there. For him. I'm still unsure if her behavior was in a vain attempt to unlock his memories, knowing he was her childhood friend, or if she was simply playing games with him."
"What a strange coincidence… childhood friends split apart only to learn to love each other. That's exactly what happened with Zakura and Hiko," the black haired woman commented, thinking hard about the similarities.
"Perhaps not. Those two were tightly wound together. You could almost say its fate that they met again in this life…"
Nana chuckled and smiled. She must have enjoyed seeing them back together after 200 years.
"Anyway… to wrap this up, she wasn't seen as a friendly figure until after Hiro revealed her soft side. It wasn't overnight, but she did manage to make herself a comfy spot in the squad. It was no longer only about him, but also her new friends."
"I'm not sure what you're trying to say, Nana."
"The point is that they solved their problems without having the answers. They worked together and learned from each other. Some problems… are easier solved than others. The two of them warmed up to each other in… affectionate ways. I'm sure they had these strange feelings for each other but never acted upon them. Regardless, they experienced genuine love. And that feeling triumphed so many obstacles in their path… ultimately leading to their deaths."
That word set Tomoko off. She began to tremble with fear. Was she implying that their love would lead to death? They were too young to die!
"I'm not saying that Hiko and Zakura will die."
Phew. Thank goodness she didn't mean that or otherwise, she would have run back to split the two up immediately.
"I'm saying that they were in love. And they've spent who knows how long in space. Dead or alive. Now that they have the ability to be together again… well… ultimately, Tomoko, they are teenagers. If you put together the influence of Hiro and Zero Two, puberty, and on top of that, klaxosaur hormones… Sex is bound to happen."
"H-h-he is so young! He can't have sex! I won't allow -"
"It isn't about allowing. If you try to stop their efforts, you'll only make them want it more. You can't stop them from eventually doing it, but what you can do is make sure that they are prepared."
"Prepared? For a child?!"
Nana sighed heavily and looked directly at her friend, her eyes serious and her composure unwavering.
"No, for the opposite. You can't stop them from having sex, but you can make sure they have safe sex. Let them have their fun. It's a difficult concept, but they'll appreciate their freedom. Whether it is Zero Two and Hiro or Zakura and Hiko, they will find a way. So the best plan of action -"
"- is to prepare them for it. Make sure they have protection and… to let it happen naturally…?" Tomoko was surprised at Nana's stoic composure on the manner, even as she finished the woman's sentence for her. She was appalled that she had just suggested letting them have sex. How could she do that? No responsible adult would just let that happen…
"Precisely. I know it's such a strange thing to think about, to just let your son -"
"It's okay. You're right. I've never been restrictive with him before. I raised him to be proper, and think about his actions. If I give him the freedom to have sex on the condition that it is with protection only…" Hiko's mother thought about what she was saying very carefully. If she gave him free reign of sexual actions, could he slip up one time? Would her wonderful little boy become some weird sexual deviant…? It was certainly a risk, but was it one she should take? "Nana, you're sure that this will be the right thing to do? They are only teenagers, maybe they won't take it that -"
She was met with a deadpan face, the older woman quite un-amused with her suggestion. The look she gave seemed to scream 'you really think that's the truth'?
"No, no you're absolutely right. Hiko hasn't had any experience with women, and now this girl has become his main focus in life. He's going to want to try things…"
Nana's deadpan expression became one of bittersweet approval as she nodded to her friend. "This is what I really wanted to talk to you about. Those two are bound to feel closer once they learn about their past lives. I wanted to prepare you for what may come."
"I'm prepared. I want him to be happy, he deserves it." Tomoko placed her hand over her heart with relieved sigh, smiling. "He… smiles around her. I haven't seen him smile or laugh in years… Hiko found something to live for, and I don't want to take that from him. If sex is what keeps him happy…" She inhaled sharply, taking a deep breath to ready herself for the acceptance of the proposal. "... then I'll let him have sex. As long as they have protection, that is."
"Good, because otherwise, we would have no reason to come here," Nana replied, holding her hand out to a small convenience store on the corner of the street. It seemed so new, or at least extremely well taken care of, and small, as far as buildings in Center City go. The convenience store was only one story, compared to the multiple stories of the houses and apartments towering around the two women.
The woman with layered black hair sighed, never thinking she would ever have to do this, but it was for the better of her son. She was entirely aware of what Nana had brought her there for - contraception. "What are we getting…?"
"Anything you think they will need. I recommend getting her steady on the pill, and making sure he has a stockpile of condoms."
"A stockpile?! How many times -"
"No idea. It's best to be prepared. Don't you agree?"
"R-right. Let's do that then." With another deep breath, the two women headed into the store, hoping to find exactly what they were looking for. Luckily, everything was in stock. They received strange looks from the cashier as they checked out, to which Nana simply stated it was education.
Upon exiting, Tomoko's face had turned bright red from embarrassment. Nana seemed to find the blushing worth laughing at, since the way the woman had lowered her head in shame was all too like a teenager, but the laughter was cut short by a voice - a man's voice from the shadows.
"I see you have everything taken care of. Now then, I believe it is about time to talk about the most important issue." The man remained in the shadows, where the store's fluorescent golden lights couldn't reach. "It's been a while, Tomoko. Let's talk about Hiko's development."
Her eyes widened in surprise at the appearance of the man. How had he found her? Why did he have to show up now of all times? Her shock was apparent in her tone and speechlessness. "His… development…?"
"Mmmmm~ Darling~! Don't bite so hard!", she cried out with a mix of laughter and pleasure. Her hands were already gripping her eager partner's back, her nails digging deep into his skin. The action only seemed to turn him on more, regardless of how hard her grip remained. His playful growling was subtly muffled by his mouthful of her right breast, his lidded eyes gazing up at her, making her feel that much hotter and needy. He certainly wasn't holding back any longer, and his bite wasn't gentle in the slightest. His teeth were just as deep in her skin as her nails were in his back.
Finally deciding to ease up a bit, Hiko slowly pulled his mouth away from his round snack, his coarse, wet tongue dragging along the bottom of it until only his lips remained at the most sensitive area, where he left a kiss. A grin spread across his face as she shivered and let out a heavy, hot, pleased breath. He wasn't done yet, her darling sucked on the thumb-sized pink tip - and pulled back, using his teeth gently to secure it in his mouth's grip. Zakura's red hue on her face deepened as she cried out with a genuine, sexy moan. As innocent as her partner was, he seemed to know just what she liked - being dominated. Strangely enough, she had felt like she left a dominant impression on him after all their time together, and besides this interaction, she could have sworn he was a bottom.
Releasing her captive nipple from his mouth, the black haired boy gazed down at her. She was well and excited at this point, her breaths were deep and almost labored. That sweet, loving smile of his only assured her that this was due to love and not lust.
"Not bad for our first time, huh, Zero Two?", the boy commented to her as he leaned over her torso, his face just a few inches from hers. "It feels weird using their bodies, but… it feels so right."
"Don't think about it, darling. We don't know how long we will have control. Just keep going~" She licked her lips, her pupils darting down their bodies before returning to his icy blue eyes. Her legs opened wide, she arched her lower back and shoved her hips up into his with all the force she had. She was begging him to finish what he started.
He shortened the gap between their faces, his lips just barely avoiding her own, and his voice lowered, becoming a sultry whisper. "And here I thought you were going to be on top. What happened, honey~?"
She gripped his head and pulled his lips into hers, shutting him up as her tongue entered his mouth, playing with his. It was so rough and sexy, so different from her own, and a total turn on. Her soft moans were muffled by their melding lips and interacting tongues.
His hands lowered themselves from her chest to around her hips, pulling them up to his pants and teasing her entrance against the distended fabric. The feeling sent a euphoric spasm throughout her entire body. HOLY SHIT IT WAS SO GOOD! She wanted, no she needed more. Fuck the consequences, it was now or never. She tore her face from his in need and groaned harshly.
"Darling…! I need you… just do it already…!", she grunted, her body trembling, and her face warm and bright red. He would crumble at her begging. He had to.
Please give in!
She could see the need in his eyes. Darling was going to - ! Darling was finally going to do it with her! He was going to give in! His hot breaths doused her face with moisture, their gazes focused on one another. His adam's apple bounced in his throat as he swallowed nervously at the suggestion, and he inhaled sharply through his teeth.
"I can't… not without their permission, Zero Two… I'm sorry. I don't even know if they are able to see this… but I'll give you something, okay?" She whimpered pleadingly, and that grin reformed on his face as he saw just how much she wanted it. "Don't cry~ I'll still make you feel good, honey."
That tight grasp on life seemed to suddenly fade away. No! No! Darling was going to make her feel even better! Zero Two screamed at the relinquishing of control back to the body's true owner.
Zakura blinked a few times and looked at the position of their bodies in embarrassment. "D-Darling…? Is that you…? Or are you… Hiro?"
The way his eyes became more gentle and concerned, she was well aware that he had changed back too. They were starting to get in sync. "It's me, Zakura. It's Hiko." He planted a kiss on her nose and smiled.
They were finally back together. They weren't quite sure when exactly the other two had taken control, or if they had even meant to, but finally, the actual owners of their bodies were back, and wanted to pick up where they had left off.
"Do you want to keep going…?", he inquired with a blush on his face. "B-Because I wanna fuck you… so hard…" Just hearing those words was enough to send her over the edge.
"Yes~! Yes, keep going, darling! Please… pick up where he left off..!", she cried out, realizing just how similar her wants were to that of Zero Two.
Were they even different people? They were physically identical, and almost entirely mentally identical save for different memories and different darlings, but everything else was there. Their tastes, their wants, their needs, dislikes and likes… was she just Zero Two…? Did she even have an identity all her own, or was she simply ignoring the truth up until this point…?
Her thoughts were clouded momentarily as she tried to make sense of it all, but it didn't matter right now. Right now, her darling was alone with her, about to make love. The disruptive and disturbing thoughts were shoved to the back, locked away for later.
"I dunno~", Hiko murmured with a sing-song tone. "You don't look ready to handle me just yet. How about I just…" Without ever breaking eye contact, the boy had brought one hand down to her most sensitive region and began rubbing, waiting coyly for a facial response. She dug her canines into her bottom lip and squinted her eyes shut at the feeling bursting from below. It wasn't what she was craving, but she would be damned if it didn't feel good!
"Hmhmhmhm~ What an absolutely delectable little response, honey!", he exclaimed as her eyebrows furled upwards in a fit of pleasure. His hand delved a tad deeper and began to venture inside, tickling and probing experimentally. Soft whimpers followed the actions of his fingers, right until he got to one small spot - which caused her to arch her back and almost scream with an unknown and surprisingly strong amount of pleasure.
"Oh my god! YES! Right there!", Zakura moaned in complete ecstasy. How could one tiny, itty bitty spot destroy her self control? It was ludicrous, but so fucking good! "Again! Again!"
She begged him for more until he gave in with a grin, teasing that one spot until her entire body spasmed, her lower parts bursting open and flooding the bed like a dam. Her sighs and moans continued for the better part of a minute until Hiko helped her quiet down with a sweet kiss. The pair exchanged kisses and saliva for some time, enjoying how close they had actually become.
Once the kissing session was over with, the once submissive pink haired angel used her surprising strength to change positions with him. The sudden change in dominance was appalling, but a bit of a turn on. With all the teasing she did, Hiko was honestly surprised she hadn't taken the lead earlier. Especially after claiming she would teach him how it's done. Seems he managed to instinctually surpass the teacher.
Her right index finger dragged down the length of his chest in a seductive manner, her back straight, and her chest still rising and falling with heated breaths, showing off her body in a teasing manner. She had straddled his waist, and if he hadn't had shorts keeping it secure, he'd surely be rubbing against that soft, round cushion of an ass. She was quite excited still, even though a few minutes had passed; he could tell from the moisture seeping into his pants, directly between those two thin, long thighs.
"So… you gave me a present, how about I give you one now, darling~?" Her left pinky found purchase on her bottom lip, dragging it down ever-so-slightly as she gazed at him, her jade eyes narrowed and playful. How could he turn down such a delightfully pleasant offer?
"What did you have in mind, honey?", he replied with an almost innocent, unknowing tone of voice.
"I think it's only fair to make you feel how I felt, d a r - l i ng~"
The way she emphasized that word and dragged each syllable on… she might as well have had tied him to the bed and ground her entire body along his. Just two syllables annihilated his teenage hormones, sent them into overdrive, made him want to bend her over… and no, no, no… Calm, he had to remain in control. This was a delicate situation, he had to remain in control of his willpower.
Easy, Aihiko… If you do what your body wants, there will be consequences. Limit yourself for right now or you'll regret it later.
Just as the boy went to respond, a sudden wash of cold air between his legs had made him quite aware that he was now buck naked, just as she had been for some time. While he was busy talking to himself, she had slipped both his pants and black boxers down to his knees, giving her an incredible bird's eye view of what her hips had ground against earlier. Hiko certainly hadn't been one to care for it's length or size or whatever other guys his age talked about, but judging by the look on Zakura's face, she found it a satisfying size.
"I-is it a-adequate…?", the boy croaked, blushing fiercely from her dominance and facial expression. He was truly curious to know what her thoughts were for some reason.
Holy shit. That disgusting, devilish, dragged out grin she gave as her eyes transitioned from it to him and then back again - she wasn't only in control, she was loving it. And not just her position, but it. Her wet, excited tongue rolled over her lips in the most sexual way they possibly could. No way. She wasn't going to - was she?!
"What's that look for~? It's so lewd, darling. Almost like you're…" Her right hand gently teased his perineum, rubbing the soft skin with such expertise. He didn't even know that area was a pleasure spot, but holy hell it blew his little fucking teenager mind. "...expecting something."
Damn straight I'm expecting something now you little seductress…! Come on, show me what you can do!
He suddenly turned mute. How was he meant to respond to this situation?! He could say he was expecting something but maybe that wasn't what she was planning…! His mind screamed innocence and confusion, but his mind - his mind had devolved into a chaotic mess of scenarios of hearing that sexy, pink haired, perfect skinned, jade green eyed beauty cry out his name. The things he wanted to do to her! The things he wanted her to do to him!
His control was lost amongst the thoughts. He truly became a libidinous teenage boy in those few moments. Her body, her voice, her… virginity, was all he wanted.
He wanted to be the one to steal that from her. No, not just steal it, obliterate it. He wanted to vandalize her,
destroy her,
ravage her,
decimate her!
All of her! Her body, her mind, her soul. Taint it, paint it so deep with his colors that she will never want or need anyone else. He was her's. She was his. That's how it would stay!
His deep azure pupils flashed with a deep desire for the hybrid girl, his chest rose and fell with heavy breaths as his blush deepened, eagerly awaiting her next move. She must have noticed his increase in lust, as she bent forward, squashing her breasts deep into his stomach, and - holy hell - dragging them along his torso until her face was at his. Her voice was soft and sultry, and sweet like candy. "Beg for me. Beg, darling, beg~"
HOLY SHIT. HOLY FUCKING SHIT.
If he hadn't spent years completely devoid of emotions, growing up perverted like his fellow male classmates, he might have completely exploded at her demand. Luckily, he had quite enough willpower to resist, but she had him on the edge. If she even attempted to… lower herself, there would be nothing he could do. Everything would be for nothing. His brain screamed no, but his body… his body screamed yes!
His breaths were labored and heated, and he ready to give in to her command. "Honey," he ground out harshly. "Dominate me! Make me your personal toy, I want you to show me what you can do~ Guide me through this, please! Please!"
Her coy little giggle was a signed contract. He asked for it, he was going to receive. "Good boy, dahlin~" Her tongue flicked against his chin and she sighed in pleasure at the destructive taste. That's when he realized - she wasn't just destroying his control, he was destroying hers in equal measure.
Her head lowered to his collarbone and provided a hot, wet kiss before dragging her soft tongue up his shoulder and then followed his artery with feline grace. His eyes were not on her head however, as her rounded behind was in the air, swaying back and forth, and below that, between her legs… she was dripping onto him.
Drip. Drip. Drip. Lick. Lick. Drip. Lick.
Hiko grit his teeth and held on as damn long as he possibly could, not just so he wouldn't explode, but so he could experience this act of dominance longer. His body heat climbed and climbed, along with his heart rate and blood pressure.
HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON, YOU CAN DO IT!
Zakura pulled herself straight for a moment, she was panting just as heavily as lustful as he was. This wasn't good. All she had to do was… no, no, no. He could control it…! Her legs back pedalled…
Oh no...
...she lowered her hips with a soft swaying motion...
BAD BAD BAD…!
...and stroked it - the entire length - with her hot, soaked womanhood, arriving at the tip, her hips angled perfectly down at his erect - and now thoroughly wet - member.
FUCK! THIS IS BAD!
His eyes widened. This was worst case scenario. He thought he would be lucky to receive her hand or hell, even her mouth there. But now, she was practically giving herself to him. Hiko's libido was forced away to reveal his reasoning, and he was scared shitless at the opportunity given to him. Not only was he wasn't expecting this, it was completely unacceptable at this stage in their relationship! This had been taken too far!
Too late. She had already aligned herself and lowered onto him, covering the top half in tight, warm, wet euphoria. Her nearly deafening, echoing sigh of pleasure was almost enough to force him to shoot inside her right then and there. He whimpered as he grasped the very last string of control that remained. He tried to act, but the world was spinning, his body was hot and needy, and the way she moaned as she brought herself down his staff, descending more and more… he was spreading her wide, and she was forcing him so damn deep…!
SPEAK UP DAMMIT! NOW BEFORE YOU DO SOMETHING YOU REGRET!
After a harsh groan, Hiko mustered all of the strength he could possibly gather in his body and gripped her arms, which had found purchase around his waist. He squeezes as tight as he could and inhaled deep.
"Z-Zakura…!", he wheezed as loud as his lungs would allow. Her hips seized all movement.
Oh thank fucking goodness…
"Yes... darling~?", she mewled, her chest still heaving from her heavy breaths. Small droplets of sweat had formed around her face and belly especially. He had her attention. He had to say it, right now, or so help him, he was about to make a terrible mistake.
"We can't… do this…! Not only… are we moving too fast…! But… neither of us… have protection…! This isn't acceptable…!"
He could almost see the poor girl's heart drop right then. She looked like her heart was just broken. He swallowed nervously, returning his grip on her hands to a more gentle, calming one. "I still love you… so much, honey… but… this needs to wait. At the very least, I want to be responsible… when I have sex with you."
"But I'm already -", she attempted to protest.
"I know…", he panted, relieved that he stopped her. "...so was I… but if I… I can't… please… just give me a bit… and then… remove yourself, and we can talk about this…"
"I just wanted to make you… feel good…", she seemed like she was on the verge of tears.
"You did," he reassured sweetly. "You did more than I ever thought you would… but there are lots of reasons as to why we should wait. So… be patient with me. Okay?"
She leaned over slowly as to not rock the boat. She planted a soft kiss on his lips that was returned with a romantic urgency. "I will… Thank you."
Thank you? Why was she thanking him? He just stopped before the climax…
"Why are you thanking me? I didn't -"
"You… See more in me than just a sex tool." Her words were like knives scraping across his skin. What did that all mean? It seemed like she was trying to imply - wait… those guys that wanted to touch her, when they first met up again. Perhaps that's what she meant.
"Of course I do… what kind of prick would only see you for your body and not your beautiful heart, my honey?"
"..."
Her silence was deafening, it gave Hiko a terrible, wrenching feeling in his gut but he couldn't quite figure out what it meant.
Deep down, she knew quite well that he deserved to know. He should know. But she wasn't quite ready to say anything regarding it just yet. She decided to keep her mouth shut, and bring it up at a later date, once she was more comfortable with it all.
The boy gave her an extremely concerned look, like if she didn't say something, he was going to pry until she did. She didn't want to bring anything to his attention or stress him in any way, especially after the outburst at school that had them both suspended.
"I'm okay, my darling~", she said, trying her best to put his mind at rest with her tone of voice and confidence. The comment seemed to make him that much more anxious about it, and he was no dumbass; he knew she wasn't. Still, it seemed as though he had backed off as he let out a soft sigh and averted his eyes from her face. She would definitely come back to the topic, without a doubt. It was just going to have a pin in it until the right time is all…
In silence, the two lovers changed positions, settling into a gentle hug under the covers. His right hand delicately running down her pale pink locks, the other wrapped gently around her waist. Zakura had intertwined their legs, and nestled her face into the crook of her partner's neck.
The silence was finally broken by his gentle voice. "Hey, Zakura? There's something I should tell you."
"Hmm…? What is it…?", she replied groggily, half taken by sleep's embrace. He was just so, so, so comfy, she couldn't resist resting her eyes.
"Well, you were out for a day or two while you were recovering. Some uh, some things happened while you were resting."
"Yeah…? Like what?" She kept her responses brief to allow herself more time inhaling his new scent. Something about it was strangely delicious, yet dangerous and alluring. It was almost… addicting, too. Clearly something in his chemistry was changing, and she was unable to get her fill. It seemed like almost every second, it got slightly stronger, slightly rougher, slightly more… masculine. She already knew darling was a boy, but this smell, this ever-growing-stronger scent of his, it appealed to an undiscovered side of herself. It screamed one thing, and one thing only, as it was speaking to her.
Male.
Accepting the strange smelling of his neck as if it was normal behavior, Aihiko continued his explanation. "Well… I guess I should just start at the beginning. I talked with Momma about those people she mentioned, Hiro and Zero Two. I figured she would be able to explain some stuff since my mind was a mess about it."
Half listening, and half focused on this new peculiar feeling and smell, the pink haired sweetheart responded in soft grunts towards his retelling.
"Well, she wouldn't give me any direct answers, unfortunately. She just kept saying she knew someone that would be able to help us. I guess she was referring to that Nana lady that picked us up. Anyway, because I didn't want anything like that to happen to you again, I told her that I wanted to transfer schools so I could always be around," Hiko revealed.
This caught her attention. Her mannerisms stopped in their tracks as she paid extra close attention. He's going to go to the same school as me? Wait, doesn't he go to some prestigious private school or something…? Nonononono he's going to throw away his life… or-or what if he finds out that everyone hates me? Darling is going to actually hurt people… more people than just that guy who was wailing on me!
"- but Momma insisted I stay in my own school. I did get a scholarship after all," the boy continued, oblivious to his partner's internal conflict. "I told her I wanted to be around you all the time, especially if you've got nasty bullies at your school. Besides, I can always go to a trade school or something after I graduate, so it's really not a big deal." Hiko shrugged off any problems this might cause.
Zakura had enough. She wouldn't allow this to happen. Snapping up into a sitting position, she immediately tried to convince him otherwise, "No, darling! Don't-!"
"AND." He halted her comment in an instant, joining her position while supporting himself with his free hand. "This is my choice. Not yours. So don't worry, okay? It will all work out, promise." He flashed her a confident grin, melting away her concerns on the topic.
Knowing there was no changing his mind, Zakura decided to withdraw from altering his choice. She had no influence on the matter, and as much as she held doubt, a part of her was equally comforted by his decision.
She soon found herself drawn into an everlasting gaze with his frigid blue eyes. Their cold fire burning back at her, warming and chilling her senses all at once. This was the first time since the incident that she had gotten to really inspect his eyes. She thought she had imagined it in her dazed state, but she was not mistaken. Hiko's pupils had indeed taken on a bluish hue, a deep, dark, deceitful blue. Even with this change alone, Zakura could tell - for certain now - that something was happening below the surface of her darling. Something… that both frightened and aroused her.
"Momma already gave me the go ahead on it anyway. She was hard to convince, you know. I think she knew that I'd do pretty much anything for you, and just gave up." Hiko chuckled and scratched the back of his head nervously, closing his eyes in tandem. They then shot open with a start. "Oh! Zakura!"
"Y-yes?" She was caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone in his voice, and had no idea what to expect next. Lots of things happened while she was out, it seemed.
"This nice lady showed up at the hospital and tried to see you. Claimed she was your guardian or something? I dunno, she seemed suspicious, so I didn't wanna let her close to you."
Zakura's heart dropped. What? Why would she visit me? She knows I hate when she acts like a mother hen… I can care for myself, dammit.
His face twisted ever so slightly in confusion. Shit, he knew. Her widened eyes and silence made her an open book to his piercing eyes. "You know her, don't you? Why didn't you mention her before?"
After a deep breath and regaining her composure, Zakura responded, almost coldly. "I'm never at home. Why would I know her, let alone talk about her?" Damn woman, showing up now. I told her to let me do as I please.
"Well, she seemed quite concerned for your well being, so Momma talked to her. Apparently she is a teacher at your school, and she helped a lot with getting me transferred. By the time our suspensions are over, everything should be cleared. Isn't that great?"
She managed a very brief, faint smile as she absorbed the flow of information. "Y-yeah. I can't wait to go to school with you… but…"
"But what, honey?"
"You didn't have to show my… horns… that way you know. I don't exactly like advertising them."
"Momma deserved to know. Especially now that you'll be living with us. Besides, the doctors would have made you take off your beanie sooner or later."
"Yeah… I guess so but…"
"But nothing. You have nothing to worry about with me here, okay?" That reassuring, confident smile of his returned, giving comfort to her entire being. "And, just so you know…" His arms pulled her closer to his face and he quickly placed his lips upon one of the red forms. "I like them. Because they are a part of you, Zakura. You shouldn't be afraid of showing them. They're unique."
She felt her entire face burn red hot like a star. She was lost for words, for a response of any kind. Her brain sputtered to a complete halt. One simple comment paralyzed all of her motor functions in one fell swoop. Her body went limp in an instant, melting into a puddle from the kiss. "Da… da… dah…", were the only words she could muster, flustered as she was.
Hiko began to chuckle, then guffawed at her embarrassment. "I had no idea my honey could get so flustered!"
As if it were even possible, Zakura's blush grew an even deeper shade of red. "Sh-shut up…" Her hands found their way to his cheeks and lowered his head until his brow was level with her lips, and gave a gentle kiss to his forehead. Now it was his face's turn to flush. "I love you…", she sheepishly mumbled through his layered locks.
"I love you too, honey…", he responded, equally embarrassed, and just as soft. His hand on her head lowered slowly and deliberately to her waist, pulling her as close as possible. Almost at eye level with each other, Zakura tilted her head down to compensate for the positional difference between the two. Their eyes met once more, his face burning with matching bashfulness. Her horns met with his forehead, pressing gently into his flesh where - if he had any - his horns would be.
Zakura was quickly jolted from the serenity of the moment as an electrifyingly warm and comforting sensation pulsed throughout her body. It was as if she connected to him on the deepest level, like she could feel every fiber of his being all at once. The dam broke with a loud sigh of pleasure.
"I cannot believe he had the nerve to show up here, now of all times!" The raging mother practically threw open the hotel room without a care. In hindsight, perhaps having them meet again after these few years wasn't exactly the best idea. Getting Tomoko calm was the current concern, and as hysterical as she was, Nana was extremely relieved she spent the extra money and bought a stronger whiskey.
"Simmer down, Tomoko. Take a seat and I'll get the glasses for the alcohol…", Nana persuaded.
"No! My son is turning into the same thing that she is! I mean, wasn't that supposed to happen years ago?! This is absurd! If someone does not start explaining all of this to me right now, I am going to get pissed off! And Nana…", the woman swiveled on her heels and pointed dramatically towards her friend. "You know that I am not a nice person when I'm angry!"
"Tomoko. Relax. Take a seat, let's talk about this over some whiskey. Like old times." Nana was quite aware she was losing Tomoko to her temper. "Please…", she begged.
Tomoko nearly growled with frustration, clenching her fists and releasing an aggravated breath from her tense form. "In a minute," she hissed. "I have to go check on the damn kids in heat."
Knowing those two, being left alone has lead to… Nana swallowed the lump in her throat. She needed to get Tomoko relaxed, tout suite. Just as Tomoko began her advance on the room with the closed door, the redhead rushed to cut her off. Both hands placed firmly on the tense woman, she looked her straight in the eyes. "Tomoko. Listen, there is no sound coming from their room. They are sleeping. We are going to relax and drink."
"That's no indication that-" Tomoko had no chance to counter her. She found herself lifted from her feet and plopped onto the couch without any warning.
Nana leaned into her shocked friend's face, her own dark and foreboding as she spoke. "You are going. To. Re - lax. Now stay while I pour us some glasses."
"O-okay…", the mother stammered in surprise, taken aback by the sudden seriousness.
"Karuizawa, 52 Years," Nana commented as she pulled the cork on the bottle and poured a heavy serving into a glass before handing it to Tomoko. "It's extremely expensive, very rare, and highly potent. Good stuff, if I say so myself." If Tomoko is anything like I remember, two or three glasses of this and she will be out like a light. "It's a lovely, delicious blend of cocoa and vanilla."
Following a gentle sip of the drink she had been served, Tomoko nodded approvingly. "Mmm, you're right. It's quite rich, too."
Nana observed her eyes averting the bedroom, and cleared her throat to bring attention back to herself. "This is one on one time, Tomoko. Sit back, put your feet up, and talk to me." She soon found herself taking her own advice, seating herself an arm's length from Hiko's mother, and taking a swig of the whiskey she had praised. "Perfect."
Tomoko, however, was still not relaxed. She sat on the edge of her seat, figuratively and literally, and narrowed her eyes at the woman next to her. "Nana. I need to know…"
"Hm?"
"Does this mean that the arrangement is still in effect?"
The following morning, Hiko could feel her gentle warmth quite literally suffocating him. Her cat-like embrace had clearly adjusted position during the night. She was no longer laying face down across his chest, he was now face first in her's. Luxurious pillows were now gently encompassing his entire head. Needless to say, aside from the suffocation, he was very comfy.
Despite how pleasant the feeling may have been, there was much to do that day. Nana had planned them all a trip to Memorial Park the day after they had arrived, so they would need to be prepared, which they, quite clearly, were not. Unfortunately, he would have to wake the sleeping beauty on top of him.
Filtered light from outside caused his eyelids to slip open, followed by his mouth with a wide yawn. Instead of air, a mouthful of creamy, soft skin found itself in his mouth, accompanied by a mumbling moan. The shock from the interaction made her dig her nails deep into his head, and his body to spasm slightly. Hiko's knee contacted her most sensitive part as he struggled. Still asleep, and possibly dreaming, she cried out, "Darling, not there!"
Hiko felt his blood flow in two different directions, to the surface of his cheeks, and even more down south. Releasing her breast, he quickly ran his options through his mind. He needed to wake her up right away, but how? Just as he was about to shake her awake, a strange thought crossed his mind. What if he…?
With tremendous effort - her grip was incredible! - Hiko was able to wriggle his way from her arms and legs, leaving her entire sleeping body at his mercy. After laying her tenderly onto the bed beside him, he crawled on top, eyeing her face before lowering to his target. He was curious why she enjoyed it so much… Lowering his face to her exposed neck, his tongue flicked out, and with a curious roughness, dragged it along her artery, all the way up to her rounded jaw.
Holy. Shit. His eyes shot open with bewilderment. She tasted so… sweet. There were so many faint nuances of flavor that he couldn't even describe it, other than an amalgamation of sugary symphonies. Each subtle note was another explosion on his tongue, lasting for only milliseconds at a time, creating a melody of confectionary complexities. I had no idea… Azure pupils flashed to life as he returned for a second taste. He opened his mouth this time, placing it on the crook of Zakura's neck and kissed with a pleasured groan.
Everything was so strong, yet so faint at the same time, almost as if his sense of taste was not fully developed yet. It made no sense. His head spun as he took it all in regardless. Each lick had recoil, slowly but surely building pressure in his forehead like a migraine. Continuing while ignoring the rhythmic throbbing, he savored each taste like it was the last meal he would ever receive.
Soft, sleeping breaths from her lips had become erotic groans. Hiko could feel sharp eyes watching him as he kissed and sucked on her neck. A sultry, playful voice came from just above him. "What are you doing, dar-ling~?"
His entire body froze as the pressure condensed into two distinct points. What was he doing? Why was he licking her like a lollipop? Quickly gaining his composure, his lips collided with hers. "Just waking you up, ho-ney~", he replied, quickly dodging her inquiry. "I had no idea you tasted so… yummy."
"Why thank you… but I thought you didn't like the licking?", she sneered, her eyebrows arched in surprise.
He couldn't help his face from flushing even further. "That… was before I knew how sweet you tasted…" He averted his eyes in embarrassment, and just as quickly snapped them back as a mocking smirk formed on her face. "Oh shush you." He leaned their foreheads together, not breaking the gaze between them as he smiled. "Now I understand you even more. I love you."
"Thank you," her voice sounded almost relieved. "I love you too, darling." Lips parted and melded as they shared a sweet morning kiss, their eyes sparkling with young love.
Ba-dump. Ba-dump. The throbbing was endless. It was more of a nuisance than it was painful, but bothersome nonetheless. He rubbed the two spots that seemed to be pounding, but even gentle massages of the area didn't seem to help. He'd have to deal until it went away.
"Darling? You alright?", Zakura called, out of concern from the open bedroom door. Her face was painted with worry as she poked her head in, brushing her soft pink hair. His focus, however was her choice of clothing. She had thrown on one of his t-shirts, a simple gray one, which was comically large for her small body. Just beneath the hem of the shirt, a pair of white panties were showing.
"Yeah, just a slight headache, I suppose," he commented with a shrug, trying to chase away some of her worry. "Why are you wearing my shirt by the way?" He gestured to her upper body with his finger.
"Isn't this a normal thing? For boyfriend and girlfriend to share clothes?"
How the hell would he know? He never had a girlfriend before. Those green eyes of hers were round and filled with expectation, like a kitty waiting for a treat. Dammit she's so cute and innocent! I can't bring myself to tell her not to wear that…
"Well, I… wouldn't know… but uh… we need to get ready for when Nana comes to pick us up," he blurted out in a hurry, changing the subject. "Plus… I don't think Momma is going to be too thrilled to see you wearing my shirt… especially when you're only in your underwear."
The girl observed her choice of attire before shrugging without a care. "I don't see what the big deal is."
"You're half naked," he commented deadpan. "If Momma saw you, there'd be hell to pay. Mainly for you."
"Speaking of, where is your mom? Did she even come home last night?"
"I think so… She's probably sleeping in the other bedroom. I'll go check." He made his way around her as she brushed her hair. Knocking on the bedroom door yielded no results. "Momma?", he called out softly as he inched the door open. Blankets were rising and falling on the bed. She must have had a late night with Nana. With a firm, but gentle shake, Hiko whispered to her once again. "Momma? Are you okay?"
His mother stirred from her slumber. Just as her eyes opened, she flinched and covered them with the palm of her hand. "Hiko…? I'm fine… but would you mind keeping your voice down…?", she groaned. "And turn the lights off… they're killing my eyes."
"Momma… I'm whispering. And the light is… the sun. I can't turn off the sun," he chuckled. His mother was completely hungover, and hilariously so. "Come on, you have to get up and sober before Nana comes to take us on the trip."
The woman nearly growled in frustration. "Who do you think got me drunk in the first place…?"
"Are you sure that the children are prepared to learn about this just yet?"
"To be honest, no. But it would benefit them both to be educated sooner or later. At least this way, if damage control becomes an issue, everyone is here for support," Nana responded to her husband, with ominous sincerity. She truly had no idea how much Hiko and Zakura knew of their past lives, or how much influence the information would have on their mental states. "Plus, there's no way for us to tell just how close they are to merging, or if it will even happen. There's a lot of variables in the air right now."
"Sounds to me like he's gone and screwed the pooch again, as it were. I can't believe we raised that cynical child," the tall man stated, matching her strides towards the hotel room. Stoic and serious as always, that man. Even after over 200 years with Hachi, he still managed to retain a mysterious, deadpan persona. She'd hoped by now that the mask would have broken more, but he was a hard nut to crack.
"He needed us. What were we supposed to do?"
"Leave him for dead," Hachi retorted coldy.
Nana shuddered. She was aware he could be frigid, but sometimes it was difficult to discern between his attempts at comedy and sharp, witty factuality. This time was no different, she was unable to determine which direction the pendulum had swung. Even as cynical and eccentric as the boy had become, Hachi had overstepped his bounds by wishing death upon him.
"That's going too far, even for you," she grimaced, shock and worry lining her voice. "Why would you even think about that?" She was going to require an answer for this one.
His sharp, analytical eyes froze on her face for numerous seconds as he formulated a response. "I apologize for my comment. I simply do not wish for history to repeat itself, and I'll be damned if I'm an accomplice of any kind."
"We aren't accomplices," she snapped. "We only raised him. What he does on his own is none of our business, Hachi." Just as she had finished speaking, they had arrived at their destination. Met by a standard sized ebony door, trimmed with gold, she gestured to the tall man, letting him know that the conversation should be addressed later. Nana took a calming deep breath and ordered in a shushed tone, "Later."
Following a brief, rhythmic knock on the door, it creaked open with a start. A pair of weary, blue eyes revealed themselves from behind the structure. "Hello…?", a voice croaked.
Oops, perhaps a bit too much alcohol for her.
"You look like death, Tomoko."
The eyes narrowed, piercing holes through Nana begrudgingly. "I wonder who's to blame for that…"
I hate this. I hate being hungover. My head won't stop throbbing…
Through her light blocking digits, Tomoko glared at the redhead. She was just sitting there, holding his hand, nonchalantly. As if she hadn't done a single thing wrong. If her head wasn't already pounding from pain from near lethal amounts of whiskey, she would be speaking virulent words to the devilish woman.
Thanks, you alcoholic wench. I can barely hear my own thoughts.
Her son was next on her mind. Just because someone had interfered the previous night, didn't mean that she wouldn't be having a private conversation with him later. She observed the young couple's behavior, as the pink haired nymphomaniac sat upon her son's lap. The way she batted her lashes at him, the way she giggled when he wrapped his arms around her, that GOD DAMN WAY she smiled at him!
I'm watching you very closely, girl. Keep those hands above the waist. If it were even possible for the pressure in her skull to grow, her veins would have popped long ago. This car ride is taking way too long. Ugh… this day can't come to an end quick enough.
"STOP THE DAMN CAR!", she shrieked, unable to stop her stomach from lurching any longer.
"This is it," the wavy red haired woman announced, her arms spread wide to either side in a grandiose manner. "Memorial Park. The heart of Center City."
"This is so beautiful," Aihiko commented, his vision jumping between the lush greenery, tall trees, and the towering, building sized robots. The mechs were nearly picture perfect, their details reflecting his girlfriend's drawings down to each accent of color. The sight was surreal, like Zakura had engrained their images and forms into her brain. How was she able to do that without seeing them in the first place? Guess it has something to do with that other person connected to her or whatever…
Memorial Park was so much more welcoming and serene than he had initially imagined it. As a glorified graveyard, he expected a much more solemn, suffocating atmosphere, yet being here in person was an entirely different experience.
The soft, short breezes, the leaves dancing across the concrete, the reassuring, radiating rays of sunshine peeking through the tree branches, each and every factor leant itself to the serenity of the scene. Nothing could possibly rival this one single sight, not ever.
He went to squeeze Zakura's hand, only to find that she was missing from his side. Turning frantically in the entrance to the area, he scoured his surroundings for any sign of the girl. Hiko nearly called out for her, only stopping himself as he received a sign - her voice.
"Delphinium."
His head swiveled in the direction of the person speaking, and promptly trotted over to her side as she gazed up, almost in a friendly manner, at the statuesque figure. Confident, strong, and commanding, the humanoid shape stood tall and proud, accented with white and periwinkle blue. The name matched what she had drawn in her notebook, as did the appearance. Something was definitely off here.
His curiosity at her behaviour could no longer be contained. "Zakura, have you seen these things before?" He desperately hoped she had an answer.
"Nope. Never," she freely commented, never breaking her skyward line of sight. "But… I feel like I have. Like deja vu, you know?" She placed her palm onto the plaque seated at the feet of the figure, which was engraved with three separate names. "Don't you feel the same way?"
Unfortunately, he didn't. The names of the drawings were crystal clear, but being face to face with what he could imagine was the real deal, he felt no such connection. Nevertheless, he didn't wish to make her feel alone or nervous. Approaching from her right, the boy grabbed her free hand gently and smiled reassuringly. "Yeah. Deja vu."
The nearby forms of Nana, Hachi, and Hiko's mother had taken refuge under a pink dogwood tree, which was brightly blooming in the springtime sun. He could hear his mother's incessant complaints, and Nana's jeering remarks from where he was.
"Well go on then, you're their guide," he heard Hachi say.
Nana then responded with a snarky, "They seem to be doing just fine by themselves," before giving in and heading in the two's direction.
"Excuse me, may I see?", he asked his partner, gently lifting her hand covering the sleek plaque in front of them. With a soft smile, her hand retreated, allowing him to read the contents of the glassed panel.
Code: 015 - Ichigo
Code: 056 - Goro
This Pair's Franxx is:
Delphinium
Strong and Confident leaders of Squad 13 and the human race
Credited with leading the battle for humanity's freedom and fight for survival
"Ichigo and Goro." He raised his head from the plate with a thankful grin, aimed at the statues of the deceased, which were placed heroically beneath the hulking mech overlooking the park. Their pinkies bound by a small band from what it looked like, the forms were sculpted detailed and lifelike. The smiles framing the pair's faces emanated tranquility and joy. He couldn't help but reflect the feelings back at the motionless objects. Firmly and lovingly, Hiko gave his own partner's hand a squeeze, stepping close enough for her to lean her head onto his shoulder.
"I don't understand much of any of this, but everything is beautiful."
"Just like you, honey." Their eyes relaxed into a closed state as he rested his head on her's. Nothing could ruin this moment. The ebb and flow of life itself seemed to run through the very veins of this park. A place of beautiful endings, and magnificent new beginnings.
Chapter Eight - Darling in the Future