Chapter 8: Acceptance.
She went straight to her room after school. Half afraid he'll be there waiting.
Much as she loved him, Kokoro needed to be alone right now.
Tears burst from her eyes the moment she closed the door behind her, shaky fingers turned the lock before she rushed to her bed, not bothering to change out of her uniform.
It hurts. No matter what she has told him. It hurts to know that there had been others.
The pain twisted her insides, tore her apart until she felt like a bleeding mess.
A part of her resented him too, though she tried to suppress it—It's not fair. She came to him a virgin, while he...
Abruptly Kokoro wiped away her tears. That wasn't fair either, Mitsuru never asked her to wait for him. But it did nothing to assuage the suffering she's going through right now.
Kokoro curled into a fetal position and just allowed the raw emotions to escape through her tears.
Mitsuru had been waiting for her to arrive, had watched quietly when she rushed to her room, not his.
He'd been worried all afternoon, couldn't concentrate on what Goro was saying so the other boy merely smiled and told him to discuss the weapon designs another day.
Kokoro usually checked if he's in his room before changing out of her uniform, when she didn't, it puzzled him at first...and then dread crept in.
Mitsuru followed her to her room, was about to knock but when he heard the click of her door as she locked it, the truth finally dawned on him. She needed some time alone.
He leaned on the wall and could only look up, as if he'll find help from a higher power there. His heart ached, knowing...she's hurting right now. And he can't comfort her. The feeling of helplessness devastated him. He wanted to be everything she'll ever need.
But in this. He's the last person she'll want to see.
And that hurt him too.
But he cannot undo his past. He cannot rewrite his history.
-o-
She didn't come down for dinner that night. Miku threw him a worried look, but what could he tell her? Instead, he fixed her a tray of food then went to her room.
He knew she needed space, but he wasn't about to allow her to neglect herself.
"Kokoro..." He rapped his knuckles lightly against the door. "It's me, I just brought you dinner."
Silence met him. After a few more knocking that went unanswered, Mitsuru took out her key from his pocket. For a moment he hesitated, wondering if this was the right thing to do.
Releasing a long breath, his need to make sure she's alright superseded all else and made the decision for him.
Her room was dark save for the bedside lamp that was on. Kokoro lay on her side on the bed, facing the wall. She didn't stir when he entered.
"You missed dinner." Mitsuru said quietly. In the silence of the room, it almost sounded like a shout.
Only a slight movement of her shoulders indicated that she heard him.
Mitsuru ached to touch her, hold her close and beg for forgiveness. He'll do anything...anything to make all this right somehow.
The primitive man in him wanted to reassert his claim, as if by taking her body he could bind her to him forever. But he resisted the impulse, knowing he'll surely lose her if he resorted to sex to solve their problems.
"Try to eat something." He whispered, his voice almost shook.
He released a ragged breath as if that will blow away the heaviness in his chest but it only exacerbated the pain.
He can't lose her...he didn't know how he can survive that.
"I'll see you tomorrow." He whispered as he paused by her door, taking one last glance at her still form.
Kokoro didn't stir.
The sound of the door clicking shut brought her out of her stupor. Kokoro could only look at the empty room as if waking up for the first time.
She wanted to call him back, yearned to wrap her arms around him and tell him everything was alright. She couldn't stand the agony in his voice...knowing it wasn't really his fault.
But she couldn't deny the riot of emotions that gripped her and just wouldn't let go. She could barely touch the food he brought her.
She cried again under the shower. Kokoro hated being this emotional, but it seemed like there's no other way to let this out. She wanted to break things, throw a massive tantrum.
She felt lost, completely torn apart. Trapped in a place with no way out, and the walls are closing in...
So distraught she was, she didn't realize she was no longer alone.
Kokoro cried out in shock when a pair of strong, firm arms wrapped around her and pulled her back against a muscular, male body as naked as she was.
"Mitsuru..." She gasped. Knowing it was him, even without looking back.
He kissed her nape, nothing sexual, just a lover's kiss. Comforting, soothing.
"I know you're hurting. I know I'm the cause of it. But don't turn away from me, please..."
Silence met his words, broken only by the sound of the shower dripping down their bodies and into the drain.
"I tried to give you time...to give you space." He whispered as he closed his eyes. "But it's only driving you further away from me."
"Talk to me please." Mitsuru urged as he pulled her tighter against his body. "I know you. You won't say a word of this to anyone, not Miku...not even your own mother. But you've got to vent or it will fester inside."
For a moment, Kokoro remained silent, but she didn't push him away. Mitsuru waited patiently, he'll wait forever if that's what it'd take.
"I'm hurt." Kokoro whispered. Her shoulders shook before she could control it, he felt the slight trembling of her body all the same.
He brushed his lips against her hair, silently encouraging her to continue.
"It makes me angry...I don't even know what I feel anymore." That opened the floodways it seemed as words tumbled from her lips, telling him of her insecurities, of her anger, of her resentment towards the unfairness of it all.
"They had you before I ever did." Kokoro said in a shaky voice. "While I turned down every boy that showed up..."
Mitsuru closed his eyes for a moment as he took in all her words. He knew too well what she's talking about.
Slowly, he turned her to face him. He was silently grateful when she didn't slap his hands away as he cupped her cheeks to raise her head towards him.
"I know how much it hurts, baby." Mitsuru whispered, smiling sadly at her disbelieving eyes.
"How do you think I survived all those nights...wondering who's with you...touching you, exploring all the places, all the soft curves I've never had the chance to touch?"
Kokoro gasped. She had never thought of it that way.
Mitsuru smiled again, but it was a mirthless smile... self-loathing.
"How do you think I felt at the thought of some boy kissing you, undressing you, making you his...that somebody's hands were touching you, stroking you...making you cry out with pleasure?"
"It will kill me." She said beneath her breath.
"Yes."
"But it's not the same!" Kokoro protested. "I came to you a virgin! While you...fooled around."
She knew it wasn't fair of her to say that, but she was too hurt to control herself.
Mitsuru flinched almost imperceptibly, then pulled her close. She struggled to put some distance between them, but he didn't let her.
"I didn't know then that you would wait for me. Maybe I would have done things differently...but it's done and I can't change that. Nor does it change the fact that you're the only one I've ever loved, the only one I've ever wanted."
Abruptly Kokoro began to cry, but she furiously brushed the tears away. Tears never helped in situations like this. She only felt even worse afterward.
"It isn't fair, baby. I know..." Mitsuru groaned as he touched her forehead with his. "But that doesn't mean I didn't suffer too."
That made her pause. All this time, she has only thought of herself, of how hurt she was and didn't spare him a single consideration.
He cradled her head against his chest, beneath her cheek his heart thumped a furious, nervous rhythm. Kokoro slowly raised her arm and wrapped it around his waist as she listened to the beat of his heart and allowed it to soothe her.
Mitsuru has always been the mature one between the two of them, so it had been so easy to forget that he was as young as she was when he got drafted.
Only 15 years old. No longer a child but not yet a man. Still open to corruption. He had been alone, no one to guide him until Hiro stepped up.
How could she resent him for the decisions that he'd made?
It doesn't make the pain go away, but somehow easier to bear, easier to deal with.
"I just need some time." She whispered to him. Kissing the warm skin of his chest.
Mitsuru paused for a moment then brushed his lips against her wet hair. "Alright sweetheart. I'll give you all the time you need, all the space you want...but please, don't ever turn away from me again."
"I won't." She whispered, then looked up to plant a quick kiss on his lips. "Now go. I have some more crying to do."
That made him hesitate. He didn't want her to suffer alone.
"I'll be alright." She tried to smile, "Didn't you know? Girls need to cry so they can heal."
"Boys need it too." Mitsuru whispered quietly. Then ceding to her request, he caressed the soft angle of her jaw one more time and kissed her before stepping back to give her space.
-o-
Kokoro rubbed lotion into her skin more out of habit than a conscious decision. But as the hard ridges of her ring lightly scraped her fingertips, she paused and looked at it.
Mitsuru had crafted their rings, but she was the one who carved the wax pattern that created the cast for his ring. That was why he hadn't altered it in any way to fit his finger. Because it would destroy her design.
The rings were exchanged with the promise of marrying one day. But there was another one he'd asked of her that day. To never let the sun set with any differences unsettled between them. In other words, not to go to bed while one was still mad or hurt with the other.
In those two years they've been together in the past, not once has Mitsuru forced her into anything she wasn't ready for. No matter how highly sexual he was, he made himself wait.
It's not fair to expect him not to seek relief when they broke up. It's not like he expected they'll be together again. He had thought he'll die as a pilot before they even had a chance.
Memories of their first time flowed in her mind unbidden. He had been so careful of her, urgent but also reverent...until he found out that she was still a virgin. His demeanor changed from that point. From disbelief to dawning realization...and then the fires of lust that burned them both alive.
He hadn't asked her if she had taken any lover, but he didn't expect her to be a virgin either. Would things be different if she had someone before him?
She wasn't being fair on him. She knew this. And yet...
Kokoro closed her eyes for a moment. The thought of him touching, kissing another girl, even if it happened long ago still tore her up inside.
But she can't let these feelings destroy their future together. In the years they've been apart, hadn't she done all she could to keep contact? Stalked other Parasites, hoping she'd find one who knew him?
Their friends have passed her gifts and messages to him at first, but Mitsuru trashed them all until they refused to mediate any more. Miku has even gone far as to say that she should find someone else. Yet she has persisted.
And now that they're finally together, how could she let her jealousy tear them apart?
Kokoro wiped away the tears and hardened her resolve. She's bound to meet more girls other than Minako. She cannot let them win.
She has to fight this, fight for him.
In time, perhaps she'll be able to handle her emotions better. He can't change his past, she can only accept it and move on.
Kokoro glanced at her bed, and though her pride screamed at her to 'punish' him a little, her heart couldn't bear it.
Her mind made up, she pulled a drawer open and picked up the key to his room.
She's not sure if he's asleep by now...but if she really knew him as she thought she did, then he'd be lying wide awake, as tormented as she was.
-o-
He sat up the moment he heard the click on his doorknob. His heart jumped to his throat as she walked in.
"Kokoro." His voice cracked, but he controlled his emotions. God, if she only knew how much her presence right now made him feel...
"I'm still hurt." She whispered. "But I love you too much to stay away."
Her words gave him hope, at least she wasn't thinking of running away, or of breaking up with him. And she finally came to him for comfort.
"I'll need more time...but I'll be alright."
"I understand." Mitsuru said, his voice shook slightly, he understood too well.
For a timeless moment, they simply looked at each other. Silently communicating, he looked as broken as she felt inside. But...
Kokoro walked closer and climbed up the bed to lie beside him. Then took his hand as she turned to her side, encircling herself with his arm.
Mitsuru sighed as he pillowed her head on his other arm, and held her close. Nothing sexual, just a simple need to hold her.
"It's funny." Kokoro whispered. "I thought I could handle it. When those girls had no faces, they weren't real to me."
He brushed his lips against her hair as he listened without interrupting her.
"But seeing Minako..." Abruptly she stopped talking and just turned her head to look at him.
"Tell me one thing."
"Yes, baby?"
"Did you love any of them?" That had bothered her the most. She wanted another confirmation.
Mitsuru shook his head and pressed his lips against her neck. "You're the only one I've ever loved." He stated simply. "The only one I wanted to be mine."
Kokoro breathed easier. Then asked again.
"Is there anything you did with me, that you've never done with them?"
Mitsuru winced. "Would it help?" He asked her hesitantly, does she really want to hear details of what he did with those girls?
Kokoro thought about it, then nodded her head. "Those are the things that are mine alone."
Mitsuru sighed, then settled his chin against her shoulder.
"I'm the perverted bastard, remember? I never kissed any of them as if they're some cheap whore for the night, and only took girls already broken in by other guys." Mitsuru paused as he hesitated. "And it was always anal sex."
Kokoro wasn't sure she wanted to hear more. "Anal sex?!" She gasped.
He nodded. It always had been anal, like some perverse, self-inflicted restriction he'd placed on himself. No affection needed, no emotional bonding bullshit, nothing but a mutual agreement to get off. He thought he had chosen his partners well, those who were as dead as he'd been inside. And there hadn't been many despite what rumors said.
"Don't worry baby, I'm clear." He smiled sadly, as he caressed her cheek. "I've always been careful, wore rubber each time and there are the mandatory medical check-ups."
"I wasn't thinking of that." Kokoro said, a bit embarrassed. "So you're saying I'm...I'm the only one..." she swallowed, suddenly unable to say the words.
Mitsuru looked at her eyes intently as he pulled her closer. "Yes."
Now she somewhat understood his apparent obsession with her...pussy. The way he'd linger down there just to nuzzle and kiss her until she couldn't take any more.
"All questions done?" He couldn't stop the hope from reflecting in his voice. He really wanted this to be the last time they'll talk about his abominable past and finally close that book and burn it!
He's willing to spill everything but he's not sure telling her all the sordid details of his depravity will help them in any way. It might drive them apart even more and that's what scared him.
"How long has it been since you broke up with her?"
"Around Summer last year." He said, hoping the next question would be as easy as this one. "I was on a self destruct mode." Mitsuru continued, hesitantly walking again through the past he longed to forget. "Hiro put some sense into me. I decided to clean up my act."
Kokoro bit her lip as she closed her eyes. "Alright, just one more question." She has millions of questions but she knew that asking them would only bring trouble.
Mitsuru looked apprehensive but nodded his head.
"Do you want to have anal sex with me?"
There was a brief pause.
"I'd be lying if I said no." He finally admitted. "The primitive part of me goes crazy at the thought that there's a part of you I still haven't made mine."
Kokoro forgot to breathe.
"But I will never force you, sweetheart."
Kokoro released a long sigh. "Alright."
"Am I forgiven?" He whispered against her nape as they settled down to sleep.
"I don't want to lose you...again." Mitsuru confessed, in a voice that spoke of a wealth of emotions that were beyond description.
Tears pricked her eyes at the question, she brought their entwined fingers to her lips and kissed his hand, very much the same way he'd always done to her.
"There's nothing to forgive. I just needed some time." She kissed his arm as she closed her eyes. "I'll never let you go." She murmured as sleep finally took her.
-o-
Once again he was woken up by another low, steady knocking on the door. At least this time, it wasn't at a godforsaken hour like that morning Goro woke him.
Kokoro was still asleep, cheeks flushed pink from sleep. He couldn't help but smile as he touched her soft skin before tugging the blanket to cover her.
Rubbing his eyes sleepily, Mitsuru opened the door to find Miku standing there with a worried look. "Is Kokoro with you?"
She sighed in relief as Mitsuru nodded his head.
"She didn't eat dinner last night and won't answer her door. She wasn't in her room this morning...anyway, we're supposed to visit the orphanage around noon, you think she'd want to come?"
"I'll ask her."
"Great! Tell her we'll meet in the common room at 11:30." With that Miku quickly turned away and walked off.
Orphanage? For a moment he's confused why the girls would want to visit. But then, he hasn't really paid attention to their activities.
He walked back then knelt beside the bed, and began to nuzzle her throat. "Wake up sleepy head." He murmured, smiling when she protested and turned away.
He nuzzled her nape this time and said softly. "Miku said they'll be visiting the orphanage today. You want to join them, or stay here with me?"
At the word 'orphanage', Kokoro's eyes flew open.
"Did she say what time?" She gasped as she sat up.
"Damn, I thought that excitement was for me. But no..." Mitsuru said in a teasing voice.
"Mitsuru..."
"Just teasing baby." He rubbed his nose against hers. "Miku said around noon. Meeting in the common room at 11:30."
Kokoro looked at the clock, nine in the morning. She was about to say something when the uncertainty in his eyes caught her attention.
Never had she seen him this unsure, without his usual cocky, self-confidence. And it hurt her that she did this to him.
"Mitsuru..." She reached out to hold his face with both hands. "I've thought that by shoving your past under the carpet, I can just forget it. I was wrong."
She touched his lips when he tensed up. "You can't change the past. Doesn't mean you have to be stuck there, doesn't mean you can't break free. And you have."
Kokoro gently traced the features of his beloved face. So boyish with his ruffled dark hair, yet his green eyes had more depth now. "It would be foolish of me not to see how far you've come. And to hold the mistakes of your past over your head. I won't do that anymore."
She leaned closer as she brushed her lips against his. He had opened himself to her last night, spoke of his darkest shame...now it's her turn to accept him for who he is—without the naivete of looking the other way or placing her ideals on him, but facing and meeting the real him all the way.
"I can't promise not to be affected the next time, but I will do my best to handle it better." She whispered. "I can't promise there won't be a repeat of the waterworks...but I can promise you that no matter what, I'm never letting you go."
"I can live with that." Mitsuru breathed, pulling her close.
"Take me..." She whispered between kisses, "Take all of me..."
"Kokoro..." He wasn't sure this was the right time, when their emotions were so raw and vulnerable.
But as she kissed him, it finally dawned on him, there were some things that words can never express, things that can only be felt not spoken.
And this...this was her way of showing him that she has accepted who he was, what he has become, and all that he'll ever be.
His breath staggered at the throat, even as tears threatened to spill from his eyes. So, this was how it felt like to be liberated. To be free from the shackles of shame, of self-condemnation. A renewal of soul that had been tattered too long.
Kokoro held his face as their foreheads touched. Her whole world reduced into a sharp focus of his eyes. The emotional connection almost felt tangible, electrifying...and when her body parted, yielded to accept him, neither knew which one of them cried out first, or whose tears made their cheeks wet...lost in a world where nothing else existed but each other.
-o-
"Hey." He was pleasantly surprised to see her in the common room, sitting in one of the semi-circular sofas, sewing what looked like a doll's dress.
Kokoro was startled slightly but quickly smiled to see he's back, she pushed the needle into the pincushion and cleared the spot beside her.
"I thought you girls are going to the orphanage today? Was the visit cut short?" Mitsuru lay down and rested his head on her lap with a slight smile.
He made a sound of pleasure when she began to massage his scalp. "Ichigo is quite upset." Kokoro said softly. "Is Goro back?"
"Not for another hour, I guess." Mitsuru closed his eyes. "What happened?"
"We weren't allowed to enter the orphanage. They won't even accept the toys and food we brought for the children. They told us that the orphanage is now run by APE, and they have changed all the rules. No visitations, no donations or gifts...basically, no contact with the kids whatsoever."
"That's strange." Mitsuru frowned slightly. Since when did orphanages turn down aid?
"We visited two more orphanages, same thing. Ikuno tried to talk to the head but was denied. Apparently, all orphanages are now under APE, not just the ones here in Cerasus." She rubbed the frown from his forehead, making him smile slightly.
"Miku is upset too, we practically bugged everyone in school to contribute toys or food...and now we don't know where to store all those things."
"I think the attic has space." Mitsuru murmured as he closed his eyes once more, caressing her hand. "Goro and Zorome should be free tomorrow, we can carry the heavy stuff upstairs, and Futoshi will probably love to have some of the food."
"Why would APE do such a thing?" Kokoro couldn't help the disappointment in her voice. The visits were initiated by Ichigo a few years ago, about every six months, they would collect toys and clothes for the orphans. It was one of the few activities that allowed Kokoro to meet and stay in touch with the other girls, it saddens her that it has come to an end so abruptly.
Mitsuru sighed. "I have a bad feeling about this." He pulled one of her hands and brought it against his lips, kissing her palm. "APE could be targeting those kids, to screen potential pilots."
"But they're so young!" Kokoro gasped, remembering the little friends she had made at the orphanage. What will happen to them? Will she see them again?
"APE has done more dubious things...I won't be surprised if they have ulterior motives for taking over the orphanages."
"What is the world coming to?" Kokoro felt a sliver of icy fear pierce her heart.
Mitsuru squeezed her hand, sensing her apprehension. "The world has always been a cruel place...the weak perish, and only the strong survive."
"I...I'm not strong."
"Hmm...on our own, we can't do much. As Hiro once said, only by working with others can we survive this." He kissed her fingertips, then smiled reassuringly at her. "For as long as there's still life in me...I will do everything to keep you safe."
"Mitsuru..."
"Don't look so scared, sweetheart. The die has been cast before we were even born, our fate is fixed. We won't live an instant longer by hiding in a hole or living in fear." He had thought to defy even fate to keep her safe, but it brought them back together. To fight against fate had been an exercise in futility.
Kokoro closed her eyes and sighed. She knew he was right, but it did little to reassure her. However, she was comforted to know that whatever the future holds, she won't have to face it alone, he will always be by her side.
"You're simply amazing." She whispered softly. Kokoro smiled and leaned down to kiss his forehead as he opened his eyes.
"Hmm..." Mitsuru murmured in a lazy voice, "thanks sweetheart, but we're not in bed right now."
Kokoro laughed softly, running her fingers through his hair, messing it up. "But I wasn't talking about se—"
"Damn, that's harsh."
Kokoro scrunched his smiling lips from the corners then kissed him. "Let me finish, you overbearing, distracting, hard to resist, beautiful man, you!"
"Oh jeez, you guys." Miku's voice suddenly broke through their small world. "The rooms are upstairs, in case you two are lost."
"Run along now, Miku." Mitsuru murmured in a lazy voice. "We're not finished here."
Miku wrinkled her nose at him, then looked at her laughing friend. "We're going out for some ice cream. Want to come? Girls only."
Kokoro thought about it for a moment then looked at Mitsuru. "Do you want to go?" He asked quietly. She only smiled at him without words.
He kissed her palm one more time before standing up. "Have fun sweetheart, I'll see you in the evening." Then mindful of the redhead still in the room, he simply brushed his lips against her hair and let her go.
-o-
Stretching his arms as he yawned, Mitsuru glanced at the sketch of a steampunk styled weapon sitting on his desk. Not all his drawings were functional guns, as Kokoro had thought, some were just artistic outlet like this one.
Mitsuru lazily traced the length of the fountain pen with a finger, it was her gift to him. He hadn't been able to use it until recently, now he used nothing else to ink his sketches but the green metallic pen.
Kokoro has always liked the color green, she even teased him once that she only find him attractive because he has green eyes. The little witch. He thought with fondness.
He didn't realize he had been smiling until his phone started to vibrate. Kokoro has sent him a message. "Wish you were here."
That warmed him up, Mitsuru typed in a reply with a huge smile plastered on his face. He was about to place the phone back when it rang. Goro.
"Hey." He greeted but it came out gruff, Mitsuru cleared his voice.
"Hey bro, I found what you asked, check your inbox. I've also destroyed all the data in her phone. Easier this way than to sift through all that."
Mitsuru was instantly alert. "How about her other devices?" Hiro has always been focused on hacking databases, but when it came into communication devices, that's Goro's forte.
"Done. I've checked her recent activity, she hasn't done anything yet with yesterday's clip." Goro said then paused as he took a gulp of his drink. "What's in that clip? If you don't mind me asking."
"If I'm right, then it's a personal one, bro. Thanks, I owe you one." Mitsuru sighed, feeling as if a weight has been lifted his shoulders.
"Hmm. You can repay me with some microchips. Need to upgrade the Old Lady."
"The Obsolete Lady needs to retire." Mitsuru chuckled lightly. "When are you going to replace that old pile of junk?"
"Hey! If it weren't for this old pile of junk, that clip won't be sitting in your inbox right now."
"I know...I know." Mitsuru smiled as he powered up his tablet. "Have you seen Ichigo? Kokoro said she was upset earlier."
"Yeah, Hiro said he'll look into it. Not sure what's going on, why would APE be interested in orphans all of a sudden?"
Mitsuru sighed and told him what he thought of it. "Feels like the Klaxosaurs are getting more aggressive by the day. This could be an attempt to accelerate things."
Abruptly his attention was caught by the size of the clip. 30 minute long? What the hell?
"Anyways, thanks again bro. Consider the chips done, I'll have them by Monday."
He barely heard the last thing Goro said as he dropped the call, all his attention was riveted on the screen as he decrypted the file. Trust his friend to be overtly meticulous over the security of these things.
The smile died on his lips when the clip played.
Goro, remind me to double the microchips you've asked. Mitsuru thought as he immediately recognized the scene that played on his tablet.
Just as he has suspected, Minako has done something yesterday. She wouldn't have just stood there quietly and waited for them to come down without losing patience.
"That bitch." Mitsuru muttered beneath his breath, but she was completely forgotten in the next instant.
The view was to the side, focused on Kokoro as she folded his jacket to kneel on. He was too tall to be identified, the frame cut at his chest.
He didn't know what he felt at first. It was a whole cacophony of emotions, most surprising of which was jealousy and sheer rage. It was irrational, completely mental to be jealous of his own self, but that had been his first reaction.
It was like watching her being taken by another boy. His instinctive reaction was to search and kill the fucking bastard.
Then as he watched, the 'boy' leaned against her body to kiss her neck and he finally saw his own face. Then only had it finally registered to his brain that it was his own back he was seeing, his own cock she took between her lips, his hands that gripped her hips as she bent over the desk.
His. Not some random stranger with Kokoro.
I've really lost it. Mitsuru rubbed his palm against his face, feeling rather stupid. It also gave him a small taste of the personal hell Kokoro went through after meeting Minako. Mitsuru winced slightly.
He was about to stop the clip when he was caught by the sight of her. And then came the familiar feelings of arousal as he watched his girl surrender. The selfless submission as Kokoro closed her eyes and leaned over the desk, and gave him everything.
Mitsuru groaned as he remembered yesterday's encounter, the breathtaking view of her as he grabbed the sweet curves of her butt, then used his thumbs to part open the pink lips of her pussy before driving deep into her.
The experience was electrifying, watching himself do it from a different angle combined with that memory, by god, she's so hot.
Abruptly Mitsuru stopped watching. He's getting aroused, nevermind the fact that the person who shot the clip caused so much trouble for them.
Explicit scenes such as this have been banned long ago, although he'd seen such clips being sold in the Black Market. Was that what Minako planned to do? Or does she merely intend to blackmail them?
This doesn't look like something someone would want to buy, but what does he really know? He'll pay people not to watch this clip. Much as he's proud of her beauty, Kokoro was his alone. For his eyes only.
They'll have to be more careful now, considering Minako was more vindictive than he previously realized.
And what about the clip? Should he delete it?
He wanted to keep it, like some kind of memento, a personal keepsake, but a small voice urged him to destroy 'all evidence'.
He should, his rational mind told him, but the primitive man demanded to keep it. Undecided what to do, Mitsuru found himself rewatching the clip...what's a few more minutes of indulgence while he figured out what to do?
-o-
She brought him a snack when she got back, a small plate of salted almonds and cashews, paired with a mocha latte.
Mitsuru smiled as he let her in with the tray. "Had a good time?" He asked as he kissed her forehead in greeting.
"We were still upset we couldn't see the little ones anymore. Zero Two said she'll remind Hiro to get to the bottom of it...but that even if we do find out why, there's really nothing we can do about it."
"She's right, you know." Mitsuru said, not to sound pessimistic, but such was the fact of life. They just can't go against a force such as APE.
Then he was reminded of the clip sitting on his desk. Mitsuru picked up his tablet and handed it to her. "Baby, there's something you've got to see."
Mitsuru couldn't help but hope she'd agree to let him keep it. But even if she chose to delete it, he still has the real girl.
-o-
"Doctor...some of the children have started to show signs of distress after the injections."
Dr. Franxx looked up from the notes on his desk to his assistant. "Have you recorded the symptoms? Take new blood samples and send them to the lab, inform them that is a high priority."
"Yes, doctor. Shall we discontinue the injections until further testing?"
"No, proceed as planned. Orphans have been chosen for a reason. Any other report?"
The assistant clearly wanted to speak, but after a brief hesitation merely said. "None, doctor."
Dr. Franxx waved her away in dismissal. He knew what's on her mind, that the experiments done on children were highly unethical, but he has long shed his morals eons ago in the name of science, and he's not about to stop now when he finally has unlimited funding to reach his goals.
The war on Klaxosaurs has been escalating in recent years, the need for more Parasites to counter them was the current top priority. Tampering the water system to slowly assimilate the general populace of children to produce yellow blood cells has been the safest, but also the slowest method.
Directly injecting the vaccines had more casualties, but faster results. With the acquisition of the orphanages, the plan to raise pilots trained from birth until puberty would soon come to fruition.
A/N: When I started to write under this pen name, I decided I'll only post one-shots. Why? Because sooner or later I may end up writing some drama stuff in a multi-chapter fic...which makes me uncomfortable, but I've started it, and now have to see it through. The muse can sleep for years - 7 the last time, but when she awakens, gah, run for the hills! lol
I may revise this chapter at a later date, otherwise, I'll obsess over it and won't be able to progress. lol A slightly different version was already posted in AO3. I'm keeping that one unchanged for now.
Mitsuru and his pen. Yes, I'm still bothered we didn't get to see what he uses it for. ;p