"~Oh brother, I can't, I can't get through;
I've been trying hard to reach you 'cause I don't know what to do;
Oh brother, I can't believe it's true;
I'm so scared about the future, and I wanna talk to you;
Oh, I wanna talk to you~"
"You mean to tell me that you actually had the time to make dessert?" The Black Dog questioned lifting an eyebrow.
You responded by smiling and putting a finger to your mouth, as if gesturing it was some sort of secret. "Of course I did. After all, baking is my specialty."
'Besides... It wasn't like Adolf was any help in the kitchen...'
You decided to keep that little detail to yourself, almost letting a chuckle slip when you remembered the first time you'd witnessed how useless the Silver king was when it came to any sort of cooking. Except for white rice (even if it was nearly impossible to make incorrectly). That was what convinced you that Yashiro was indeed the same man.
Speaking of, the other two companions inside the room just stared wide eyed at the beautifully designed array of desserts currently laid down in front of them.
"Wow! I don't think I've ever even seen a few of these! Are some of them foreign?" Yashiro exclaimed practically sparkling.
Laughing lightly, you leaned over to his area of the table and pointed out which desserts were which, all with a big grin on your face.
"I've included different types from America and Italy as well. Would you like to taste test them?"
A vigorous nod from both your king and the nearly naked Neko was all it took for you to get the green light.
"Alright! Let's start with the ones from Japan since we're all accustomed to them."
"Wait, wait Asaki! I haven't seen these ones either!" Neko shouted raising her hand and waving it erratically.
"That right there is just your usual Mochi ice cream; and these right here are a more commonly made Japanese dessert called 'Daifuku.' They're a small round Mochi stuffed with sweet filling, in this case, Anko. I've also made 'Cheesecake,' a common dessert in America made with thick custard with sweet crumb breading; and lastly, 'Zeppole,' which are Italian donuts with powdered sugar sprinkled across the top, coupled with a custom-made chocolate dipping sauce. These are what I could scrape up with yours and Yatogami's ingredients. Next time though, I'll be making one of my specialties, so I'll need to do a bit of shopping..."
The trio looked at you completely stunned.
'It was the Ichigen Miwa recorder all over again...'
It had finally registered within your brain that you were getting too excited, and you quickly waved your hand. "S-Sorry. It took a while for me to become so adverse in this kind of stuff. There was a time when I was a pretty terrible cook, so I guess now that I've improved so much I ramble sometimes."
The next moment it was silent, until everyone in the room besides you started snickering.
Even the Black Dog was laughing!
Standing there a little flustered, you couldn't help but join in with them after their laughter grew louder.
Things would start to become more interesting from here on out.
~...~
Later that same night, Yashiro seemed to be in deep concentration as he currently sat on his bed with his back pressed against the backboard and his nose stuck in a school textbook.
History, huh? Rather ironic...
The sight interested you. Mostly because this was a side to your king that you'd never seen before.
Was this what he had been like during his years of taking part in the war all those decades ago?
Several other ideas popped into your head as the room remained quiet... Well almost quiet; that is, if Neko wasn't currently cuddling inside of your lap while releasing noises that sounded like purring.
As much as you loved the adorable strain, sometimes you just didn't quite know how to deal with her constant affection and energy. It was almost as if you were a mother and Yashiro were the father.
"Excuse me?"
The sound of a voice caught you off guard because you accidentally ended up jumping slightly. Not enough for the boy in question to be able to tell however, so he continued.
"I was just wondering... I mean if you don't mind me asking?"
Looking out the corner of your eye towards the ominous figure still sitting at the table, arms crossed and giving your side of the room death stares that could cut steel, you nodded slowly and returned your gaze back to him. "I'll answer what I can."
Somewhat sensing your hesitation, Yashiro scratched his cheek and almost dropped the subject, only to remain sure in his resolve and proceeded to ask something that you never expected.
"I wanted to know, your name?"
For a split moment, the question didn't register.
Was... that all?
"Oh, well I know that Neko said your name once, but I just wanted to know the rest of it... Or is that still too much to ask?"
You shook your head. "No, it's fine... I just thought that you'd say something else. That much I can now tell you."
"I would like to know as well. However, unlike this simpleton, I would also like to ask you a few questions for myself." Yatogami added sharply.
"... Do you ever relax? You're too stiff. And will you please stop glaring at us? We've already agreed not to run away so there's no reason for that." You sighed.
His brows furrowed in confusion. "This is how I normally am. Are you saying I shouldn't act like myself?"
"Yes, Yes! Asa-chan and everyone else wants you to stop acting like a meat-head!" Neko cheered before jumping up from your lap and playing with random items strewn across the room.
"What did you say, stupid cat?!" The raven-haired boy snapped angrily reaching for the hilt of his sword, only to be stopped when you set your hand onto his. "Like I said, try to relax. You looked much better when you were speaking about mister Miwa. That's all."
His gaze somewhat softened, now understanding what you meant. "I... understand. My apologies."
After that was settled, you motioned for Yashiro to sit down at the table once again, only this time you would be the one to speak.
"For the first question... My full name is Asaki Kitsuhara, and I'm currently only about a year your senior. I won't try to avoid it any longer. It isn't like I'm famous or anything."
"..."
"Well that was kind of... underwhelming?" The white-haired boy half asked, half stated. "Maybe that isn't the right word?" He laughed nervously.
"I wouldn't be so sure... In fact, that name... It sounds familiar. Could you possibly be a strain as well?" Yatogami asked.
"No. I am definitely not a strain. As for my name, I guess it's up to you whether or not to decide if you've heard of it."
Cupping his chin thoughtfully, the raven-haired boy pondered to himself while you turned towards your king. "Was there anything else?"
Taken aback, he scratched his cheek (a cute force of habit), trying to think of something.
"Oh! I do want to know one more thing. I guess, I want to know why you're going through all this trouble to protect me. I don't believe we've met before that encounter on Ashinaka bridge... So then why are you doing this?"
Now there was the question you were expecting.
"Now that he mentions it, I would like to know the answer to that as well. Who exactly are you...? Are you a clansman? A regular person perhaps? Then again, a normal human wouldn't have been able to reach the window of a room on a high floor such as this... Nor have astounding reflexes when trying to escape."
"Ahaha, take it easy. I'll get to that. Now..." Laughing softly, you took a deep breath, "My king has always chosen to believe in those who are innocent until proven guilty. He chooses to give people the benefit of the doubt so I only did what I thought was right in his eyes, and mine too."
'Not exactly the truth, but also not a lie.'
Yashiro looked rather touched from your response, seemingly believing your story. Yatogami's reaction however, was more negatively received.
"So what you're confirming, is that you really are a clansman...? If so, then which legion do you belong to?"
"That... is something I can't answer."
Answering sharply, you made sure to keep your eyes locked onto his. "But, if I decide to trust you, then you will be the first to know."
His clear, almost translucent blue eyes narrowed. "And if I don't decide to trust you, will you still be willing to tell me?"
"Yes."
He almost seemed stunned by your answer, and for a split second he hesitated.
"But you should know something. I wouldn't tell just anyone that secret. Trust is a two-way street. In other words, it means, unless we both share that mutual feeling, you may not ever find out... Are you willing to agree with that?"
His lips tightened as he pondered about what to say next.
If he were to say no, then worst case scenario, he would try to slay you and your king on the spot... But if he said yes...
"Alright. I will agree to your terms."
This time, it was your turn to be shocked.
'He actually said... Yes?!'
That decision alone was solid proof that people shouldn't judge others too quickly...
After all, you'd learned firsthand how much others underestimated you. Whether it came to your innocent appearance, or your capabilities as a clansman... Most of the time, people just didn't quite get how you were wired; or what made you tick.
Not that it bothered you. In fact, it made situations like this all the easier to deal with.
"So then that's settled, right?" The white-haired boy spoke up, fully aware of the awkwardness of the entire conversation.
Smiling, you nodded. "For now at least. Black dog?"
He frowned in annoyance. "I'd really appreciate it if you didn't refer to me in that manner."
"Yatogami?" You teased.
"Oh! Do you mind if I call you Kuro?" Yashiro chimed.
"Call me whatever you wish, but remember that I will be watching all three of your moves very closely. And if I find out that any of you are related to the Colorless king, I will slay you. Understood?"
"Of course."
"So... Now what?" Yashiro asked.
Honestly speaking... You had no idea what the next step was. It was already a miracle that your king was alive and that the Black Dog had agreed to a truce to prove his innocence in the first place...
"Wait a second!" Yashiro bumped his right fist into his left palm, as if suddenly remembering something important. "I just realized that there's only enough room for two people on my bed; three if Neko transforms into a cat before we go to sleep. But that means one of us should sleep on the floor."
"Very well, then I-"
"Hold on a moment." You said, silencing both boys in the process.
"There's something else that you should know about me."
The raven-haired male raised an eyebrow. "What is it? Another secret?" If he was trying to be sarcastic, you disregarded it. Especially since you were too busy trying to find the right words without embarrassing either side...
"I have a habit if sleeping without clothes."
So much for being subtle.
Somehow, you just ended up spitting it out.
And for a while you noticed that neither your king nor the Black Dog reacted straight away. It was almost as if they'd been frozen in time, replaying what you just said repeatedly until it fully sunk in.
Yashiro was the first to catch on, as a beautiful light shade of pink dusted his cheeks. He slowly opened his mouth to say something, anything, but vocabulary seemed to be escaping him now...
Finally, after what seemed like five years, Yatogami's eyes widened to the point of near impossibility before his entire face burst into a dark scarlet. A loud splutter of incoherent wording poured out of his mouth. Something about you being "indecent," or along those lines.
"Or, if you own one, I can wear a long loose fitting shirt? Preferably one that buttons up."
Nice save.
"A-Ah? Y-Yeah..." Yashiro answered shyly as he made his way over to the dresser. Eventually, he managed to find something befitting your description; a plain white button up collar shirt like the one he wore now, only with clear buttons instead of silver. "Like this?"
He was still clearly flustered. The way his hands shook as he held up the piece of cloth and the blush still visible on his cheeks gave it away.
In the end, even when he didn't have his memory... Adolf still couldn't help but have dirty thoughts about you.
'He is still a man...'
"Thank you." You smiled gripping it warmly; he nodded slowly.
"So indecent..." Yatogami whispered. "Is there anything else we should know? The next thing you reveal doesn't involve parading around nude like that stray cat, does it?" He sighed.
"No, no. Nothing like that. But there is another thing... I do think I should be the one to sleep on the floor."
"Huh? Now what do you mean?" Yashiro asked.
"The reason I sleep like this is, first, it's a proven fact that sleeping without clothes is healthier for you, and second, because no matter how much I've tried, I always end up stripping in my sleep. The only thing that I can manage to wear without throwing it away is a single loose shirt. Nothing else."
"But what if the room is freezing?"
"It..." You hesitated for a moment.
Normally, there would have been someone in the bed next to you. No matter where you had been, whether it was your current king... or a certain someone else, a warm figure always comforted you, accepting this somewhat peculiar habit of yours with open arms.
Then again... what straight man would turn down a naked woman willing to sleep with him anyway?
"It doesn't matter if it's cold or not. It's practically an involuntary reflex at this point. As for the other reason, I also tend to cling to whatever or whomever is next to me. Meaning if it happened to be Yashiro-"
"T-Then!" The boy in question's face turned ghost pale.
"Exactly." You finished.
"You can't be serious! Are you an elementary school student?!" Yatogami cried out in disbelief.
What exactly had he gotten himself into?
"Of course I'm serious. I wouldn't make this stuff up you know. I'm not that devious..." You sighed deeply. "I can't help it..."
"Haa, and just what does that even mean? Not that you'll be willing to tell me... Either way, I will not allow a woman to sleep on the floor. It looks like that idiot over there and his strain will just have to deal with it. That's what master Ichigen would decide, and I will follow his example."
Yashiro's cheeks suddenly flared up at the thought of you laying close, nearly naked and clinging onto him. "W-Wait a moment! You don't expect me to sleep next to her, do you?! I mean she probably wouldn't want to sleep with me anyway!"
"I don't mind."
In that moment... You could practically hear your king's mind shattering into pieces.
~...~
"Excuse me." You whispered softly.
Now that it was officially night time, the room was completely dark, making it so you could barely make out the figures of the people near you.
Your heart was fluttering with anticipation as Yashiro shifted over to the side to make room for you to lay down. "R-Right, sure."
From the sound of his stuttering, it was obvious that Yashiro was internally freaking out, while also mentally preparing himself for what was about to happen.
Even if all you were going to do was sleep next to one another, it was still embarrassing for him.
The fact that the shirt he'd lent you was less loose than you were used to, didn't make you feel better yourself. Switching bodies with a smaller, younger man could do that to a person...
You even admitted that the whole scenario seemed a little sudden.
No matter how much you wanted to deny it though, you were very happy to be lying next to the man you loved for the first time in a couple of weeks...which felt like an eternity.
You missed the feeling of his comforting warmth...the gentle gesture of him running his fingers into your soft locks...being buried between his almost impossibly long silver hair, the adorable kisses he pressed to the top of your head and all around your cheeks...the somewhat perverted stroking of your bare skin against his... Even if he couldn't provide any of this for you right now... Just being next to him would be enough to give you comfort.
Cautiously, you sat down on the edge of the surprisingly soft mattress (the school budget was clearly massive) and laid down; making sure to keep as much distance between the two of you as possible. To help ease both you and your amnesiac king's nerves, you also tried to face away from him so that your front now pointed towards the other male inside the room.
Speaking of... Yatogami was preparing to get some rest and was already dressed and snuggled under the extra blanket you'd lent him (since you carried a large backpack filled with necessities, bedroom and bathroom essentials included).
For the longest time (or what seemed like forever) everyone remained completely silent. The gentle breeze flowing in from the half-open window and light chirping of crickets were the only sounds you could hear... And somehow, even though you weren't snuggling up to him, Yashiro's presence with the addition of Neko's adorable cat form calmed you.
Unfortunately, you still weren't tired. That little part of you rang clear...but at least you felt more at ease. Just a little longer, and then maybe you'd be able to get some rest...
"Hey, will you be alright?"
Jolting from the sudden resonate of the raven-haired male's voice, your closed eyes fluttered open and looked downwards.
Through the pitch-black lighting, his pale blue orbs still somehow managed to glow and stare directly into your own.
Unsure of how to respond however, you didn't say a single word.
The next sound you heard was the exhale of a large sigh and the shuffling of fabric slightly below you. Suddenly, he sat upright facing you directly.
"I could tell by your breathing patterns and erratic shifting that you weren't having much luck in trying to fall asleep. Is it because of that fool not allowing you to hold onto him?"
Taken aback by the kindness laced within his tone, you averted your gaze elsewhere before answering, "It isn't his fault. Anyone would react that way if a stranger wanted to suddenly share their bed with them."
"Mm..." He muttered somewhat groggily.
Now that you'd thought about it, Yatogami was more mature looking when in this kind of state. His hair was down, almost reaching the curve of his back, and his tired expression signified a man who was willing to take charge even in the face of dangerous situations. Basically... He was handsome.
Without realizing it, he had caught you staring at him, and took note of the soft chuckle that you'd let out just then.
"What's so funny?" He asked slightly dazed.
"Nothing. I just never took you as the considerate type... Especially to someone who may or may not be your sworn enemy." You retorted playfully.
This time, he was the one to let out a small laugh. "It's almost infuriating how right you are. I realized I've already asked but, just what exactly are you?"
Whether he could see it or not, you placed an index finger up to your lips and whispered, "That's a secret..."
"Well it's good to see that you two are getting along better~"
The both of you instantly froze up when Yashiro chimed in.
'How long has he been awake?'
"Anyways, I think we should all get some rest now...but Asaki?" He asked.
"Ah, yes?"
"I-If you really need to, then I don't mind..."
Hesitantly, you turned around to face him, only to be greeted with his outstretched right arm and warm amber eyes inviting you to move closer.
Your cheeks reddened at the sight. The blood in your veins began to pump faster; and you were sure that the rate of your heart picked up a few ticks as you shuffled closer and somewhat shyly gripped onto his arm and pulled it snug against your frame, so that the upper portion was pressed between your (lightly clothed) breasts and the lower part sandwiched somewhere near your thighs (and dangerously close to an area down there), before finally resting your chin onto his shoulder...
It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the innocent Yashiro was completely flustered by the very intimate proximity; and yet... he couldn't explain this sense of nostalgia when lying here next to you... and before he realized it, his eyelids had begun to feel so heavy...
The soft snores of your king came much sooner than you'd hoped, but at least you could enjoy this for one night. "Sweet dreams... Adolf~" You hummed silently so that the other person still awake in the room wouldn't hear while adding, "Goodnight Yatogami."
He hummed back, signaling that he was on the verge of sleep; like you. Now you were finally comfortable... This was the warmth you had missed.
But just how long would it be able to last this time...?
FINALLY, AFTER NEARLY A YEAR OF HIATUS I HAVE FINISHED THE 8TH CHAPTER!
Somebody feel free to punch me in the face...
*Ahem* Anyway, I guess I don't have much to say other than SORRY! I SWEAR I MEAN IT! And I hope to finish this story. Little by little if it is necessary.
Honestly the only excuse I have is that I kind of lost the ambition to write for a while ever since I started working and attending college at the same time.
But I'll try to be better with at least updating THIS story, since it is the one I'd like to see all the way through.
But what do you guys think of the first filler chapter? As you can see, I made it so that the only definitive traits you have are name and age-ish, and even then, I try to only mention them when they're needed. It wouldn't feel like a Reader story otherwise.
Also, that little tidbit about sleeping in the buff really is a proven fact. Did you know that one in three adults sleep naked? Myself included, lol (too much info, am I right?) I enjoyed adding that little twist of flare, because let's be honest... Who wouldn't want to sleep completely nude next to one of these beautiful babes, hm?
I think it came out alright, but I'm sure I'll go back and fix things I don't like later... (I'm so nit-picky).
There will be tons of original chapters later, but for now we must go back to the anime storyline!
Word count: 3,700 (roughly)