Author's Note: This story seems to be pretty well received so far, I'm glad. I forgot to mention in the last chapter, but I was reminded by Arnoldstrife, and I must give credit where credit is due: The general idea for the first chapter was inspired by Crazy Clover Club, so props to them.
This will be Hisui's chapter. For the purposes of this story, it will follow her True ending. I know people are waiting for the Akiha chapter, but I have to think of the pacing too. Oh yes, if the last chapter left you wondering where the intense violence and sexuality is, rest assured. This chapter contains sexuality, the next will be extremely violent. Hope you like, R +R!
Continuing Dreams
Working Through
"It doesn't matter where…as long as I'm with you, I will go anywhere."
That's what she said to me. She said it with that same bittersweet smile that she still hasn't been able to completely abandon.
That was six years ago. I remember that day clearly. It was raining hard. It was in spring, and it seemed very cold. A sudden warm current had come through the town, and much of the rain was evaporating into the air, creating an ominous fog that seemed to signify some kind of omen. Whether good or bad, no one could tell. School had ended, and I had graduated a few weeks before. I was eighteen.
Why was that important?
Why else? So I could move out on my own. So I could get the hell away from Tohno mansion, and everything involved with it, including that God forsaken family of half breeds. So I could get away from everything they were. Their tradition, their lineage, their ideals…all of it. I wanted to get away. I had to get away. The name Tohno seemed synonymous with death. Not just death, but misery, suffering, and selfishness. The most ironic part was that they were of the aristocracy. They were the upper crust of society, the crème de la crème. Despite their lavished furnishings, numerous mansions boasting fine living that others dreamt of, and numerous members in very high political and corporate positions, they were nothing but monsters. Demons dwelling among men, as beings above men. The epitome of mankind, as it were…only as something inhuman. The bottom line is I wanted to put it all behind me.
No…that's wrong. It's true that being in that place disgusted me, but I could have endured it. Maybe a piece of me would have died every time I passed by Makihisa's room, or went into the sitting room, or smelled food coming from the kitchen, or even when I saw Hisui's smile. I could have taken it all.
It was for her. It was for her alone that I took us far away from that place. I couldn't stand it anymore. She stuck to her routine. She would wake me up every morning with a "Good morning, Master Shiki. Did you sleep well?" She would say so with that smile that was genuine, yet broken at the same time. I didn't have to ask why it was broken. After all, mine was broken too. We continued on, like it was the normal thing to do, and maybe it was. The obscenely large manor seemed even larger with just the two of us. Its empty halls seemed to echo even your thoughts in their deadness. I took on most of the cooking duties, much to Hisui's resistance, but she finally agreed after nearly setting the kitchen on fire trying to make pancakes one morning. I still wonder how in the world someone can have trouble with pancakes….
They say that you become used to death. No matter how traumatic an event, people cope, and they move on. Somehow, even though it became less painful, it didn't weigh any less. I still carried those burdens. I know it was the same for her.
No…for her, it was worse. I can't even imagine how she felt.
How can I say that with certainty? Because her sister endured that hell for her, so she wouldn't have to. And because of that, she lost everything. Absolutely everything. Beginning with her virginity, she lost everything to that fucking geezer. Because he wanted to maintain his sanity a little longer…because he wanted to postpone his inevitable downfall, he took everything from that innocent young girl. She sacrificed herself so that Hisui wouldn't have to endure that. I wonder if she even knew what she was doing. Maybe she just thought it was a burden, and that Hisui wouldn't have to be troubled….I'm sure at her age she had no idea what she was in for…actually…I'm sure Makihisa never told her what sex was, or that it was expected of her.
I still shudder, thinking about that old fuck, putting his filthy hands on Kohaku. I'm sure he wasn't gentle either. She probably screamed, fought, but he forcefully penetrated her, and I'm sure she bled almost every time. She lost her sense of self, and as she once told me, became nothing but a lifeless doll. She numbed her mind to block to the pain. What he took from her…was much more than her innocence, he took her childhood, her mind, her sanity; he took her life. Long before she stabbed herself underneath the tree on that strangely serene day, he had taken her life.
What truly horrified me on that day were her eyes. So cold, so lifeless, and at the same time…they held a regret that I can't begin to fathom. Her eyes were the pitiful eyes of someone who had endured so much pain that she had simply shut down. Her amber eyes…I see them in my nightmares. Not in a threatening manner, but…well it's hard for me to say.
When Kohaku told me everything, that afternoon after Akiha's death, I hated myself. I've never felt such self loathing, ever. I still hate myself, actually. I know I shouldn't. Hisui knows this. She tells me that I shouldn't blame myself…but I can't help it. How could anyone understand? Kohaku's words…I swear they still echo in my ears.
She told me that if I had only realized…if I had only realized that she and Hisui switched places, if I had realized that it was Kohaku who gave me that white ribbon all those years ago…if I had realized that she loved me too….if I had realized that I was the one hope she clung to…if I had not forgotten her like I did, and mistook Hisui for her….she would've stopped everything.
She would have stopped the plan she had formulated. After all, it was that plan for revenge that kept her alive, after everything she had been through. She told me she would have stopped. What then? I sometimes wonder. Could I have helped her? If I had realized, if I had come to love her instead of Hisui, could I have saved her? Would the four of us be happy now? Would I have been able to hold her close to me at night, and let her forget her traumatic past? Could I have shared that burden?
I can't even imagine. She watched us. From that window on the second floor, unable to leave that room, waiting for Makihisa's call for his carnal desires. She watched us run, play, laugh, and have what she never could: a childhood. After it all, I can't say I blame her. Then again…how could I blame anyone? I'm not the personification of righteousness either.
I don't blame Kohaku. I don't.
That is why I know. That is how I can say that Hisui is the one who truly suffers. I'm sure she thinks things like 'It should have been me.' She saw Kohaku fall into her despair. In her attempt to retrieve what humanity she had, she adopted the role of Hisui, and as some kind of repayment, however small, Hisui gladly switched roles. She saw Kohaku degrade, decay, and she saw what it wrought. More than that….I think she still feels guilty. I think that she feels like being with me wasn't meant for her, that it was another one of the many gifts her sister gave her. She truly does love me, I know that. But…I know. I know that makes her feel all the more anxious. She feels that she isn't worthy of that…that if anyone really deserved to be happy, it was her sister.
That's not how it happened though. The least we can do to honor her, is to move on, and to be happy. That's what she would have wanted. I'm sure of it. But that doesn't make it any less tragic. It doesn't make it a happily ever after. Just because you move on, it doesn't mean that everything is all right. I lost my sister, Hisui lost hers. The both of us lost a great deal more in those as well. It happened. It can't be undone, and we have no choice but to cope, somehow. I like to think we've been managing well, though.
I blame Makihisa Tohno. With everything that I am, I blame that man. How I wish that he were still alive. Why? Hmph…why else? So I could kill him myself. I would take pleasure in that.
It sounds twisted, doesn't it? I don't care. I don't like to hate anyone, but I have no problem saying I hate that man. I would make him die a slow, painful death. I've fantasized about how I would have done it. Slowly, painfully, carving him up bit by bit. No need for death perception, that wouldn't be painful at all. A good, old fashioned saw, perhaps.
A few weeks after Kohaku committed suicide, Hisui and I went to visit the graveyard on the outskirts of town. It was a dark, overcast day. The sun attempted to shine through the veil of clouds, but with no success. A light wind blew through the spacious fields dotted with the occasional oak tree. Hisui clutched her maid garments closely around her chest as she followed me to through the graveyard. After paying our respects to Akiha and Kohaku's graves, we ventured over to the Tohno mausoleum. Of course they have a mausoleum, why wouldn't they? I had Akiha buried separately from the rest of the Tohnos. She deserved that much. Rather…she didn't deserve to be likened to that despicable name. Same for Kohaku. I had her buried near Akiha, under one of the oak trees.
When I reached the mausoleum, Hisui following quietly behind, I entered, seeing the many nameplates and sappy quotes from numerous biblical origins. Of course no actual bodies were in this place. After all, all the Tohnos eventually inverted, and were disposed of. It was more like a small memorial. You could walk in this small room made of marble, which had nameplates across the walls and various statues and honorary offerings inside lining the floor at the foot of each respective nameplate. I could see the lineage of the Tohnos, progressing through time. The earliest went way back to the Hieian period.
I had stopped at Makhisa's memorial plate. Dark obsidian, engraved with the words "Makihisa Tohno. 1954-1999. In Death, There is Rest. Sleep Soundly, in the Hands of the Almighty."
"…Are you happy now, old man?" I had said bitterly to the memorial. "Kohaku is dead, and so is your daughter. All because of your selfishness…."
I removed my glasses, extended the blade of my knife, and destroyed his, and every other nameplate, epitaph, and dedication. One by one, I simply stabbed the 'point' on each of the carved stone blocks, watching them crumble to the floor from the wall which they were mounted to. As I left, I also destroyed the marble headstone near the entrance which read 'Tohno'. Hisui didn't say a word. She simply watched me with a saddened face, and followed me quietly. I couldn't take his life, but I could take his memory, along with all the other Tohnos. Tradition be damned.
It was for Hisui's suffering that I decided to leave the mansion. It was rather sudden. After my eighteenth birthday, I asked Hisui if she wanted to leave, and all the horrible memories it fostered. She told me that it didn't matter, that she would go wherever I went. Her eyes told me differently. They held such relief. I know she was happy that I suggested it. I quickly made the arrangements, and handed control of the Tohno family over to one of the powerful council members. I think his name was Shinjiro. It doesn't matter.
Despite hating the Tohno family, I did take my inheritance. I was tempted to tear the check that I had been handed during the meeting that formally exchanged my power to the other family members. Something stopped me though. I swallowed my pride and took it.
What I did not inherit, however, was the Tohno name. When I handed over control, I also went to one of the federal government clerical divisions and had my family name changed. I refused to carry the Tohno name. It can rest in the depths of hell where it came from, and where it belongs.
What is my family name now? What else? Nanaya. Although, my ancestors aren't exactly saints themselves. A band of assassins, specialized and bred to fight demons and vampires. I think that they'd probably be ashamed of me. Why? I stopped carrying my knife a few years ago. I don't need it anymore. I still have it, in a drawer in my desk. I just don't need it. My life isn't that of a killer, it's of a teacher. It's of a husband. I don't need tools of death. If I could rid myself of my eyes, I would do that too.
Again…I did it all for her. I don't want her to ever worry. I want to give her a stable life. I won't ever let her be sad again. That's what I promised myself. It turns out that the wages she had earned and stockpiled working as a maid for the Tohno family was enough to have her live comfortably for a while anyways. Oh well. Between the both of us, we didn't have to work a day in our lives. I went to college anyway. I guess I needed something to do, and besides, it would give her a more normal life. Maybe that's all I really wanted. To come home after a steady nine to five job and find her at home, waiting for me. A 'white picket fence' image, as the Westerners call it. A life away from the oppressive atmosphere of a mansion, the proper etiquette, the routine cooking, the suppression of the self, all of it. I want to give her a life where she can just be herself. She doesn't have to stifle her voice any more, she can just tell me how she feels.
That's the ideal…but…well…Hisui is still Hisui. Even if she's opened up a bit, she's still easily embarrassed, and it's like pulling teeth getting her to tell me if something is bothering her. She's too preoccupied with me.
THUMP
"EH!?" I shout uncontrollably and jump at the loud noise. I look around frantically.
"Nanaya, I've been trying to tell you about this new student teacher and you're freakin' daydreaming on me!!" Apparently he punched my desktop.
"Ah…s-sorry. Go ahead." I say quietly.
I must have zoned out, thinking about the past like that. I've been doing that a lot lately. I guess just because things are going so well, I sometimes reflect back on how I got to this point. Oops…I'm doing it again. Ok, nod and smile like you heard what Maiku just said.
"…and man…she's got this amazing ass…I just wanna…" Maiku licks his lips in a perverted way.
"Maiku…listen to me. We both started teaching at this school two years ago, right? We're still young."
"Damn right we're still young! That's why we should enjoy it while we can!"
"…no…that's why we...or rather...you should take it easy! You're still a newbie around here. You don't wanna step on anyone's toes, especially the Vice Principal."
Maiku is another young teacher like myself. He teaches physical education, and got himself a permanent position after the previous phys. Ed. Teacher was involved in some scandal. I got a permanent position teaching philosophy since they were short staffed in that department. We were in the same graduating class at Tokyo University, but it's such a big school, I never knew the guy. He's tall and lanky, with light blonde hair cut short, and he always has some type of running suit on. He reminds me of Arihiko in a lot of ways. I guess that's why I'm drawn to him. Any way you look at him…he just doesn't seem like a teacher.
We've started to get a few interns, or 'student teachers' as we call them. We're too young and inexperienced to oversee one, so the old veteran teachers usually get them. I guess it gives them a well deserved break too. I remember my intern days…scary stuff. I was sent to a school full of delinquents.
"Vice Principal? What, Uchiyamada? God, that old fart is gonna have an aneurism if he doesn't learn how to relax." Maiku says, crossing his arms. He takes a seat on the corner of my desk, looking towards the doorway.
"You really shouldn't say that…not here in the faculty office anyway."
"Lighten up, Nanaya."
Like most faculty offices, this one is pretty large, and has many desks placed in rows, each assigned to a certain teacher. Folders, ungraded papers, books, and photos of family members clutter up nearly every desk, with a few exceptions. Those exceptions happen to be organized, but the clutter from the neighboring desks tends to spill over onto them. Mine is one of those exceptions. Maiku's desk is right next to mine, and I'm constantly getting annoyed that his mess falls onto mine, but you have to choose your battles.
Students are also constantly coming and going with questions for their professors. You get to know them though, as they are always the over achievers. Even if they aren't one of your students, you get to know them. Otherwise, they are student council or class representatives. Either way, dealing with them is usually entertaining, if nothing else.
I hear the door behind me slide open lightly. A perverted look spreads onto my colleague's his face. For God's sake…why is he always leering at the students? He's gonna….
"Professor Nanaya? I have a question for you, if it's not too much trouble."
I turn to find Aya, one of my students from the intermediate philosophy class. She's a senior. She just recently applied to many colleges, and she's waiting anxiously for her acceptance letters, or refusal letters as she fears. I'm not worried about her. She's very smart, and unfortunately for her (with my perverted colleague being here) very attractive. The short skirts of the required uniform give Maiku a gratuitous amount of thigh to stare at. Her big brown eyes question me with an uncertainty, but also a determination. She reminds me of my sister….
"It's not a problem. What is it Aya?"
"Um…well it was on yesterday's lecture on structuralism." She fidgets nervously and holds her books closer to her chest, glancing nervously at Maiku. No wonder he's making her uncomfortable, he does that to everyone. But even if I asked him to leave, he wouldn't. I just deal with it. I tilt my head, prodding her to continue.
"I didn't really understand the difference between structuralism and post-structuralism."
"Ah…well there are lost of differences, but here's the main one." Her face falls into silent contemplation, and she leans forward slightly to her me better.
"Remember, we are looking at both thought trends in terms of linguistics. Structuralism assumes that language is structured, and that a word carries underlying meanings, and that those meanings are more important than the word itself. Remember signifiers and signified concepts?"
She nods energetically.
"Ok. Post-structuralism goes beyond that and states that not only are there underlying meanings to a word or term, but that there is a direct relationship with what was not said."
"So…what isn't being said is more important than what is?"
I smile. She really is smart. "Yes, exactly."
"Ok...I think I get that part, but could you give me an example?"
She still seems nervous. Luckily, I've just thought of a way to reduce that: Make fun of instructor Maiku Mishima.
"Sure. Ok, let's say that I call Professor Mishima here a girl."
"What!?" he yells in surprise, his eyes widening.
"Now, in a structuralist view, what have I said about him?"
Aya contemplates for a moment, looking down to the floor, her eyes jerking back and forth in rapid saccades as she thinks. She looks up, satisfied, and regards my cohort with an interested look.
"You implied that he is weak and passive, right?"
"Well, yeah, among other things. Because calling a man a girl then endows him with our socially constructed vision of a girl."
"Uh-huh!"
Maiku shifts nervously, scratching the back of his head irritated. Aya on the other hand seems much more relaxed, seeing the 'shoe on the other foot' so to speak. Now she's the one making him uncomfortable. I didn't think it'd work out so well. Maybe I have good karma?
"Now, in a post-structuralist view, what have I not said that is even more important?"
"Um….that…you're calling him a girl…so…you're really saying that he's…not a man?" Her statement is more of an uncertain question, but she's right on.
"Exactly. By calling him a girl, I'm saying to Maiku 'you're not a man', which then implies what?"
"That he's passive and weak, and all that other stuff."
"You got it."
"…this is messed up." Maiku mutters to the side, giving me a disgusted look.
"I get it! Thanks Professor Nanaya!" She smiles at me, then at Maiku and scurries out of the room. I smile and sit back down at my desk. I glance over to Maiku, who is still sitting on my desk, arms crossed, with an angry expression, tapping his bicep nervously with two fingers and bouncing his right leg.
"You know what, Nanaya? You're a real bastard."
"Hey, you asked for it. You were making the poor girl uncomfortable."
"You know…you're never going to get a girlfriend with that attitude, or interest in that philosophical crap. What are you going to do, think deeply about being broke?"
"I earn a pretty good living here. You should know that."
"Whatever. So…what's her name? Aya?"
I let out a loud sigh. "I thought you were after the student teacher?"
"A man has to keep his prospects open. You wouldn't know anything about that right? You're too bookwormish, man. You'll never get a girl like that!"
slide The door to the faculty office opens tentatively again. Perhaps another student for one of the teachers? I look to Maiku for some kind of indication, as he still faces the door's direction. It must be a woman, as he has a perverse look on his face, but it seems somewhat shocked as well, even confused.
"Shiki?" A light, soothing voice. I turn to greet her, partly in surprise. The timing is just too perfect. I suppress a laugh. But still…
"Hisui? What are you doing here?" She smiles at me. She's wearing a bright yellow sundress with spaghetti shoulder straps, which would be quite revealing if she weren't wearing a white short sleeved shirt underneath. White flip flops complete her ensemble. As bright as it is in the room, she still seems to glow. She's let her hair down today, which she has grown out a bit over the last year; it's about shoulder length now. It really suits her. I stand up to greet her as she approaches my desk, her blue eyes beaming. She hands me a small package she's been carrying in front of her.
"What's this?"
She cocks her head a bit and smiles again, folding her hands behind her back.
"You didn't bring a lunch today, so I made you one."
At first that sounds scary, but over the past few years, she's really gotten good at cooking. There's just one problem with that….
I reach out with my free hand, balancing the package in my right and take hold of one of her arms gently, and bring it into view. It's covered in band-aids.
Even though she's a better cook…she's still clutzy.
"Hisui, I really appreciate this, but you cut yourself. Please don't push yourself for me, I could've bought a lunch today."
She jerks her hand away and hides it again, smiling even wider.
"It's ok. I don't want you to have to eat processed food if you don't have to."
"Isn't this a bit out of your way too? You didn't have to come all the way to the school…"
She gives me a nervous look, averting her eyes and blushing a bit.
"Well…I was doing some shopping anyway…so…"
I didn't realize. Even though I'm worried about her, I must seem really ungrateful right now. I can't have that. I grasp her forearm lightly and kiss her on the cheek, receiving a surprised look from her.
"Thanks, Hisui. You're the best."
She blushes a bit more. She smiles and shakes her head, the rose tint persisting on her cheeks matching her hair color.
"Um…I should let you get back to work. I'll see you at home."
"Yeah, same time as always."
"Ok" She says with a nod. She eyes Maiku nervously, and hesitates for a moment, as if wondering if doing whatever she's thinking of will get her in trouble. Her brow furrows momentarily, then she closes her eyes and leans in a bit closer, whispering a quick "Love you." so that the other teachers in the office, especially Maiku over my shoulder, would not hear.
"Love you too." I whisper. She grips my free hand firmly before smiling and shuffling out of the faculty office, closing the door behind her quietly.
I smile in spite of myself, shake my head and return to my desk, unwrapping the package she'd given me. Rice topped with soy sauce, a few eggrolls, some curry, and a bottle of water. I take out the disposable chopsticks she'd included and begin to eat. I really was starving. It was lunchtime after all, and I had nothing to eat. I guess I just forgot to pack something last night. I was going to just wait until dinner, but she was sweet enough to bring me this. She really is the greatest. I didn't realize how hungry I really was. I've already finished the curry and rice in the course of a few minutes, and begin on the eggrolls.
"WHAT THE HELL!?" My newly found meal is suddenly interrupted by a screaming Maiku. He's sitting on the edge of my desk, pointing at me with fire in his eyes. I guess I ignored him after receiving a home-made lunch.
"Where did you get such a cute girlfriend!? AND you live with her!? AND she brings you lunch!? I'm a good guy, I've got good karma, WHERE IS MY GIRLFRIEND!?"
"…you're not that good of a guy, Maiku, you leer at your own students."
"Tch! That's besides the point!"
I give him a side glance and continue eating. He leans in a bit closer. I can smell coffee on his breath. His eyes are in slits as he glares at me. I feel his gaze on me like a heat lamp.
"Hey. Nanaya. That girl is too good for you. Why don't you let me- OOF!"
I shut him up with a quick jab to his side.
"She's not up for grabs. And besides, she's not my girlfriend, she's my wife."
"Your…wife!? YOU'RE MARRIED!?"
I hold up my left hand, digging my chopsticks into my lunch with my right, continuing to eat without interest toward my screaming friend. After I was confident he got a good enough look at my wedding band, I let my hand fall back down to my desk.
"When the hell did that happen!?"
"About a year ago. Are you blind?"
"Hey man, I don't go around looking at people's fingers checking for rings, ok? I'm not weird like that."
"Maybe you should, otherwise you're going to hit on a married woman one day."
He backs away a bit, moving his fingers to his chin in contemplation. It seems he's already hit on a married woman before, judging from that look.
"So. How'd you do it?"
What's he talking about?
"How'd you get such a great wife?"
"By mot kowing athter-"
"Don't talk with your mouth full man…."
I roll my eyes and wash down the last of my lunch with a long drink of water. Having finished, I look back to him.
"I said, by not going after girls that are eight years younger than me."
"You're just jealous, Nanaya."
"We'll see who's jealous when they put you in jail."
"If I'm guilty of anything, it's love!"
"….." He gives me a headache.
My footsteps clatter lightly on the concrete as I walk. I have my messenger bag strapped around one shoulder. The sun tints the concrete orange as it sets. A dog barks in the distance. I hear music from behind me in one of the smaller houses. I ascend the hill. Eventually I reach the gate of our home. Using the key, I open the iron barred gate and close it behind me.
I found a smaller western style house on the top of this hill on the outside of town. It may seem a bit removed, but the train station is only about a quarter mile down the road. On this hill, several western style houses stand, some elaborate, others modest, like ours. It has two stories, but it is relatively small compared to standards. It's comfortable. There's enough room for us, with some to spare. Living room, dining room, moderate kitchen, two bedrooms, and a small bit of land to sit on. It was the best choice, given that we've both become used to Western style housing.
I moved us here when I enrolled in Tokyo University. Ever since then, we've been so much happier. One thing I noticed is that Hisui finally stopped calling me 'Master'. As soon as we moved away from the mansion, she just dropped the honorific. I can't describe how happy that made me. No longer her employer, no longer someone with a higher status, I'm just Shiki. I'm just her Shiki. Like she's my Hisui. We're just two people who happen to love each other. That's the way it should be.
Right after I graduated and was awarded my master's degree in philosophy, I took Hisui out to dinner to celebrate. When we came home, we sat and talked for a while, like always. There was one huge difference that night though. I asked her to marry me.
Yeah, maybe I should have done that at dinner over wine, but that's just not her style. I thought that Hisui and I only had each other. Nothing else mattered. So then, why would proposing in public mean anything? It meant more that it was just between us, like it always has been. She seemed happy about that.
It wasn't anything too dramatic. I approached her after we stood up from the couch to put away our glasses, having had a bit of champagne at home. In the kitchen, as we placed the glassware beside the sink to be washed later, I took her hands in mine. She looked at me questioningly, and I removed the ring from my pocket. A simple, yet refined white gold band with a swayed strand adorned with small diamonds. Before she could see it, I slid it onto her left ring finger. She stared at it for a few moments, and looked into my eyes. "Hisui…I want to spend my life with you…I want to be with you always."
Her face widened into a smile, and tears fell down her cheeks. She had gripped my hands tightly.
"Will you marry me?"
I think what I remember best about that night is her response to that. She kissed me fiercely. She wrapped her arms around my neck and hung my head down, and nearly devoured my lips. I'd never seen her react that way. Besides the sensation of our tongues intermingling, I could feel the warm streams of tears upon her cheeks. When we finally parted for air, she hugged me tightly and whispered into my ear "Yes…of course I will."
Our ceremony was small. Arihiko and his sister came as our only witnesses. It didn't bother either of us. It didn't matter. What mattered was us. Maybe that's selfish. Who knows? The only thing I know is that we are happy now. Despite all the tragedy, we are moving forward. That's all that really matters to me. As long as she smiles, it's alright.
As I enter our home, locking the door behind me again and kicking off my shoes on the mat nearby, the overwhelming scent of some kind of broth fills my senses. Although I do most of the cooking, Hisui does try, and she's gone light-years beyond how she used to be. Unfortunately, she's still lacking a bit, but that's just part of who she is. Actually, it's probably one of the cuter points about her personality. Unfortunately, she's still pretty clutzy. She seems to cut herself whenever she goes within a meter of a knife.
I head into the kitchen after depositing my bag on a nearby chair, my footsteps padding lightly on the hard tile flooring. She's in front of the stove, adding in several vegetables and stirring a stew in a large stainless steel pot with a ladle. She throws a smile at me. "Welcome home."
I come behind her and place one hand on her hip, the other on her forearm and kiss her lightly on the cheek. "Hey, Hisui. It smells great."
"It'll be ready in another fifteen or twenty minutes, why don't you go wash up?"
"Nah, I'll set the table for you. I can't have you doing all the work."
She lets out a light sigh. "You're so stubborn."
I tighten my grip on her and bring my nose into her red hair and inhale deeply. She smells of sweet strawberries. It almost makes me light-headed. I feel an upsurge in my desire. Of course I suppress it and opt to give her another kiss on the cheek. I then walk over to the cabinets and start collecting plates, utensils, and the like. I set the table in the adjoined dining room while Hisui finishes. Even so, I can't stop thinking about her. Even though she's only a few meters away, I feel like I want to touch her.
We had dinner as usual, very casually and naturally. It was good. Some sort of chicken soup with spinach, carrots, parsley, barley, and a few other smaller vegetables. We had some fresh bread she'd picked up from the store today along with some lemonade. We make small talk about how our days went. I make the occasional joke or that 'one face' that I apparently make that never fails to have Hisui redden and laugh at me, trying to compose herself all the while. I told her about my conversation with Maiku. She got a real kick out of it.
"Ah…so that was Professor Mishima. From what you've told me about him…well… he is close to what I imagined." She says honestly. Perhaps this is the greatest progress we've made. Hisui tells me what she thinks and how she feels much more freely. Before, she would always bite her tongue and withhold any comments. Six years ago she never would have added that last part about Maiku.
"Haha, don't call him 'Professor Mishima' like that, it seems to dignified for him."
Her cerulean eyes dull over a bit, and she looks somewhat distant.
"So…you never told him that you were married?"
"Eh? Ah…no…we really aren't that close. I try not to talk to him that much actually, he can be overbearing. I already have one guy in my life like that, I don't need another one."
"I see."
"Hey, c'mon Hisui, it's not what you're thinking!"
Crap. I can already imagine her train of thought. Worries that I'm ashamed of her, anxiety about me perhaps flirting with students…the list goes on. Ugh…
"To be honest, I didn't want to tell Maiku specifically because he's a pervert. I can't have him showing up here trying to…well…"
Her expression completely changed. She's giving me a sly smile. Was she toying with me?
"..Trying to…what?"
"Ugh…right after you left he told me that I should hand you over to him. God knows what's going through that guy's head."
"I see. You sound…jealous, Shiki."
My face must have an annoyed look. That causes her smile to widen. That minx….
"And you sound happy, Hisui."
"I am." She says matter-of-factly with a bright smile.
We decided to watch some TV after cleaning up. We don our usual position on the comfortable and spacious leather couch. It was overpriced, but completely worth it. Our living room also has two recliners, but we never use them. We lay toward the right side, me packed deep into the seat resting my head on two pillows stacked against the arm, and she lays, her back against me, with a pillow packed into my chest for her to rest on. I flip through the channels, finding very little interesting. She's taken an interest in sitcoms lately. We always end up watching old reruns from several years ago, even though we've both seen whatever episode is on several times. It became dark several hours ago.
I'm not complaining at all. These slow, peaceful days…they're what we both dreamed of. What others see as boring, we find solace in. Just being here is enough.
She shifts and reaches to the coffee table in front of the couch and takes a drink of water from the glass she'd set there, and offers it to me. I take a quick sip and set it back onto the coaster. Satisfied, she snuggles her back into its rightful place against me, just in time for the commercial break to come to a close.
When the episode ends, she squirms against me again. I can't take it anymore. Maybe the mood has hit me right, or maybe she smells particularly sweet today. Maybe it's that she's been squirming like that against me, or maybe it's that new sundress of hers…whatever it is, I can't resist anymore. With a flick of my wrist and a depression of my thumb on the remote, the TV shuts off. We both regard the now blackened screen for a few moments. She rolls towards me, giving a questioning look over her right shoulder.
"Already? Are you feeling tired Shik-"
Her words are cut off as I press my lips firmly against hers. I set the remote on the coffee table. Good thing I can multi-task. I do the same with my glasses. I won't be needing them for a while. Her back partially facing me, her neck craned for her lips to meet mine, her right hand runs up my cheek and into my hair, pulling my face closer to hers. She lets out a small whimper. It fuels me on. I run my tongue along her lower lip, asking for entrance. She opens her mouth instantaneously, and our tongues meet. They dance, sensually, softly, a give and take of pleasure. My hand, now freed of the cumbersome remote reaches to one of her bare feet curled against my legs, and I run it the length up to her knee, slowly.
Her leg moves in response, and she squirms against me. She tries to roll over completely to face me, but I hold her still and continue to delve into her warm mouth with my tongue, caressing her thigh with my hand. I feel the hem of her sundress, and easily slide my fingers under it and continue up her thigh. She squirms even more, but I hold her still. Her sundress, now bunched up near her waist, my hand reaches the band of her panties on her hip. I release my lips from hers and leave a trail of kisses from her lips, across her cheek, and to her ear. I play with her ear, nibbling gently on the edges and moving down to the lobe, and finally down to her neck and throat. I caress her throat carefully, kissing, licking, nibbling. She writhes in my arms, letting out soft moans. She still tries to face me, but I hold her in position, despite the difficulty.
My hand travels to her stomach, exploring it for a few moments before going to her navel. Her skin is unbelievably smooth and warm. All the while, I assault her neck. The scent of succulent strawberries fills my head. She's so warm…
My hand travels over her pure white panties, and she lets out a small gasp as my fingers travel the edge of her folds beneath the cotton. Her panties are already damp. She's managed to roll onto her back. That's ok, I continue my manipulations. I begin moving my fingers up and down the outside of her folds, occasionally making circular motions. Her panties gradually become damper. Her breathing has intensified. Her hand on the back of my head tightens, and she holds me to her throat more firmly. I move my hand back to her navel, and slide my fingers beneath her pristine panties. Simultaneously, I move my head back to meet hers. With my hand now beneath the material of her panties, my fingers trace her core. She pants a bit louder. I insert two fingers halfway. She lets out a moan which I muffle after a moment by enveloping her lips. She moans into my mouth, cringing. I slide my fingers between her wet folds back and forth, slowly. Her thighs tighten around my hand, her walls crush down on my fingers. Still, I press on.
She's managed to roll over more, and now faces me fully. Her other arm reaches around me and pulls us closer, her other remains on the back of my head. I hold her tightly, and continue to slide my fingers into her. Our lips part and her moans become clearer, unhindered by my lips. I curl my fingers inside her, and she convulses a bit, holding onto me tighter.
"Shiki….I'm going to…" she whispers.
I continue. We stay like that for a few moments, and I feel her whole body tighten. I remove my fingers, and hold her close as she writhes and moans with pleasure. After she stops convulsing, she kisses me passionately. I sit up, and take her with me. Her legs are draped over my lap. She moves and straddles my hips. Wrapping both arms around my neck, she kisses me again and presses her breasts against my chest, grinding her core into the bulging manhood beneath my pants. I moan involuntarily.
My hands travel down her back and grasp her butt and pull her closer to me. She inhales sharply. Taking this as my chance, I stand, bringing her up with me. Our lips part, and she looks at me questioningly.
"Bedroom." I state simply. That seems to satisfy her, and she places her head in the crook of my neck and tightens her legs around my waist. I carry her like that down the hall and into the bedroom. My steps against the hardwood flooring are loud, carrying her extra weight. She hardly weighs anything, but I'm not used to this. The whole way there she licks my neck, and grinds against me. She's driving me mad. Again my nostrils are assaulted with the sweet aroma of strawberries coming from her. God, can I even reach the bedroom? Somehow I do.
When I reach the darkened bedroom, I throw her onto the bed, landing on top of her and promptly begin to assault her lips with my own. She sits up, moving me back and supporting herself with her arms. Between gasps and breaths, I slide the thin straps of the yellow sundress off her shoulders. She unbuttons my shirt with one hand and I throw it off, now bare from the waist up. I slide the white t-shirt she'd worn under her dress over her head and lay her down, tugging the dress down and off of her body and toss it onto the rug near our king size bed. She lies before me, spread out upon our bed in pristine white panties that were now quite wet, and a pure white bra. I shed my pants, kicking off the final stubborn leg with near desperation and return to my wife. My bare chest meets her bare stomach, and the bra now poses quite the frustration. Ignoring my own complaints, I begin massaging her breasts through her bra. She begins panting after a few moments, and she counters by grasping my erect member underneath my boxer shorts and stroking.
Our lips meet again, and her thighs grip my hips powerfully. She grinds against me. I can feel her soaked panties sliding against me. I roll over onto my back and bring her on top. I reach to her back and press her against my chest while unclasping her bra at her back. I slide it off her shoulders as our lips meet again. Her hair tickles my cheeks. Continuing to explore each other's mouths, I massage both of her breasts with my hands. She resumes stroking my member. It seems like she's determined to match me.
I remove my lips and straighten her posture so that I can have an angle at her breasts. I lean up and place my mouth on her right breast and begin to suckle on her hardened nipple. I caress the other with my left hand. She arches her back and moans. Her hand has moved from my manhood. Looks like I'm winning.
Suddenly, she grips my hair and my other arm and throws me down onto the bed. Maybe she's not giving up yet? She pulls back a bit and places her hands on either side of my hips and moves her head down. I help her in removing my boxers, to which she tosses aside and begins teasing my shaft with her lips and tongue. My breathing has become erratic, and my member twitches with anticipation. Seeing this, she shows me mercy and takes me into her mouth. I let out a small gasp and she moans in response, slowly caressing me inside her mouth. Her head bobs up and down rhythmically. Her tongue moves across the head. No words can describe this feeling. Slight slurping sounds as she pulls back and then takes me into her mouth again. She continues her caresses for several minutes. I notice her other hand, between her legs. She's pleasuring herself as she pleases me. The thought of that nearly makes me break. As if she realized, she begins to suck harder, and increases her pace. My muscles tense. She increases strength and speed. I can't take it anymore.
"Hisui…"
She doesn't say anything. She just continues to envelop me in her mouth. I clench my teeth and grunt as I release into her mouth. I lay there for a few minutes, my member writhing with each spurt of release. I can feel her throat close and release on me as she swallows. Even after the orgasm subsides, she continues to suck and swallow every drop.
I've regained my senses. She continues to suck on my still erect member. I caress her cheek with one hand and bring her head up. Taking each of her shoulders, I bring her up and embrace her tightly, throwing her onto her back. She's still pleasuring herself. I guess I'll have to take over. I grasp her still band-aid covered hand and replace it with my own. She moans. I slide her soaked panties off of her and smell them deeply before tossing them aside. She's blushing. I don't know if it's because of the pleasure or because I could smell her scent on her underwear. I place my head between her thighs and tease her clit with my tongue. She screams out in pleasure. Her thighs tighten around my head, but I continue. I grasp her hips and pull her closer to me and insert my tongue into her folds. I can taste her fully. So sweet. She's so wet. I delve my tongue into her and flick it inside. She's moaning louder now. I can hear her whispering my name. She's about to climax again. She must have really primed herself while she was attending to me.
I quickly remove my head from its position and place my hips between her thighs. Her hands find their way to my back and she grinds against me, begging me to enter her. I can feel her wet core against my shaft. I can't hold out any longer. I intended to tease her for a while by rubbing my shaft against her core, but I can't take it. I position myself at her entrance, and push myself inside of her slowly, entering until our stomachs met.
She clings to me, digging her nails into my back and screaming into my shoulder, the sound muffled a bit. Her legs wrap around my waist and she convulses. It seems she was so close, and entering her sent her over the edge again. Her tight, wet walls surround me forcefully, but I remain still and stroke her hair and kiss her neck while she climaxes. After a few minutes, she relaxes and her breathing falls back down to a heated panting. Our bodies, damp from sweat, cling to each other. The open window at the head of our bead brings in a warm breeze from the summer air that does little to cool us.
She looks at me deeply and kisses me again. After we part, she buries her head into my neck.
"Make love to me." She pleads. I stroke her red hair. How could I possibly refuse?
I pull back and enter her again, slowly. She takes a sharp breath. I repeat the process. This time she lets out a low moan. I adjust my position slightly and develop a slow, steady pace. I can feel her outer folds, now swollen with lust against me when I fully enter her. Her sweet, warm walls accept me fully, but with slight resistance. She's so tight. No matter how many times I've loved her like this, she's always so tight around me.
It occurs to me we've been on the comforter this whole time. I don't want to give her back any burn due to the material. Somehow managing to continue my rhythm to an extent, I reach above our heads and pull back the sheets. There's no choice here. I pull out of her in order to usher ourselves into the sheets. Once she's comfortably in our bed, I reposition myself and enter her again. She moans and I increase my pace. Her body moves below me as I thrust into her, her breasts sway with each movement. Her moans reach a rhythm in tandem with my motions. She clutches onto me tightly and I thrust harder, eliciting further screams from her. A slight smacking sound as my hips hit her thighs. Her wet opening accepts me with each advance. I've swollen even larger inside of her. Her thighs tighten against my hips and she screams louder. I let my torso fall against hers fully. I continue thrusting. I can feel her breasts against my chest. I take one of her hands into mine and we lace our fingers together. I do the same with the other hand and pin the back of her hands to the mattress and continue to thrust. I continue this rhythm for a long time, her moans spurring me on.
Her moans are all but screams now. I muffle them by kissing her. It doesn't help much. She writhes below me wildly as I enter her again and again. Her back arches and her chest presses against me forcefully. I can't hold out much longer. She whimpers and tightens around me. Her legs tighten around my waist and her fingers contract in my hands. She lets out a loud moan as she comes again. I continue thrusting. She moans even louder. I know her body. In this situation, her orgasm keeps going until I stop thrusting. So…I keep thrusting forcefully. She frees her hands from mine and grips my back, clawing into it. She's moaning loudly, uncontrollably. Her legs tighten even more. Still, I persist. I bring both of my arms beneath her arched back, pressing them into the mattress and holding her up against me tightly and continue to enter her hard.
"Shiki!!" She screams. Her orgasm has lasted several minutes. That's all I can manage. With her walls so tight around me and her unbelievably sexy moans, I can't expect to hold out long. I give one final thrust, pushing as deep as I possibly can into my beautiful wife and release inside of her. My member spasms again and again, and I fill her completely. We collapse together, waiting there gasping and panting until the waves of pleasure subside. Even after, we lay entangled. I stroke her hair and kiss her passionately.
After a while, I withdraw from her and roll onto my back, pulling the covers over us. She moves over to me and entangles her legs with mine, resting her head on my chest and wrapping an arm around my waist. I hold her to me possessively, my arm running the length of her torso downward. I readjust my pillow and fall into a comfortable position. Her left hand is close to my side. I reach out and take it, running my fingers over each digit. My hand grazes over her wedding ring. I smile in the dark and hold her a bit tighter against me. I hear her let out a satisfied sigh and she curls against me gladly. My other hand runs in circles up and down her spine, appreciating her silky smooth skin. Her strawberry scented hair tickles my chest. After a while, we both fall into a deep, secure slumber, entangled with one another.
I walk into the faculty office the next day, feeling quite contented. Morning classes have gone pretty well, and now lunch is here. Hisui gave me some left over soup to take, so I'm looking forward to it. As I reach my desk next to Maiku's he's sitting on his own desk eyeing me suspiciously.
"What's with the stupid grin? Something good for lunch?"
"Yeah…you could say that."
I've already warmed it in the microwave in the pantry across the hall. I take a seat at my desk. Man am I hungry…I unclasp the lid to the Tupperware container and take out the disposable soup spoon and begin eating. Still tasty…
"Nanaya…you…"
"Hm?" I utter between gulps.
"You….got laid last night didn't you?"
I stop eating and almost swallow a gulp of broth down the wrong tube.
"Eh?"
"You bastard! That's why you come in here with that dumbass smile every few days! How did I not notice before!? She's so cute too…" he complains, slumping his shoulders and turning his eyes away from me. He adjusts his shirt and the tie that hangs sloppily around his neck.
"How many times do you get some!? Once a week!?"
"It's more like three or four times a week, depending."
"Since you got married!?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Gaaah!! Dammit! When is my day gonna come!? Am I destined to stay a virgin until I die!?"
"You're still a virgin?"
"S-Shut up Nanaya! Don't tell anyone that."
"Ah…that's why you're hitting on students, they won't know that you suck in bed, they're too inexperienced."
He grabs me by my collar. "Nanaya…seriously, don't tell anyone that or I'll kill you!"
I smile deviously. "I might be inclined to forget it…for say….being treated to lunch for a week."
"…you…bastard…."
"Take it or leave it."
"You're really heartless…"
"Hey, blame yourself."
Slide…thump. The door opens behind us. We both turn to regard the visitor, Maiku still grasping my collar. It's Aya Inugami, again.
"Um…Professor Nanaya? Can I ask you something?"
"Aya is it? I'm professor Mishima, but you can call me Maiku." He beams proudly, apparently putting on his pickup line face. He releases me and walks over to her, continuing to brag.
"Listen sweetie, anything you need, come to me. I'll do whatever I can for you."
"Um…thank you, but I really wanted to talk to Professor Nanaya…I wanted to ask-"
"Well as you can see, he's in the middle of lunch, but I'd me more than happy to help you." He interrupts and places a hand on her arm.
I sigh loudly. Aya is looking at me with a face that says 'For the love of all that is holy, help me!' I guess I'll have to save her from this sexual sniper. God…this guy really gives me a headache.
I've taken the day off today. Usually I do that on a good occasion, like taking Hisui out for a day, or maybe just hanging around the house, or maybe getting some long awaited yard work done. God knows I don't mow the lawn as much as I should. No…today is not one of those occasions. Quite the opposite.
Hisui has fallen ill. She's been playing it off, trying to continue her routine. She never said anything, I just noticed that after a few days, she was getting more and more pale. I've been watching her for almost a week now, and she's not getting any better. She's been vomiting. She swore she was alright, but while making dinner, she almost collapsed. I spun around and caught her when I heard her drop a wooden spoon.
I'm sitting here in the waiting room of a local clinic. It took them damn near and hour to see her. I spent almost twenty mintues trying to convince her to come with me to the clinic. I threatened to carry her here. She said that'd be too embarrassing and finally complied. I spent another twenty minutes filling out paperwork before they would see her, then we waited for another half hour. I was relieved when the nurse opened the door to the waiting room and announced "Nanaya? Hisui Nanaya? We are ready to see you."
She's been in the back being examined for over an hour. To be honest….I'm worried. I keep telling myself it's nothing, that she'll be alright. That I'm just being paranoid. Don't I have that right? She's all I have…if I lost her…what would I do…could I even continue living?
No. I couldn't. I would kill myself on the spot. I don't give a shit about anything else. If she dies, then so will I. My life isn't worth living without her. I know that this isn't that severe. It's probably just the flu or something. But somehow…somehow…I just can't shake this fear. I've decided. When she dies, so will I. I pray that she's alright. When she finally emerged from the back, having concluded the tests, she retrieved her checkbook from her purse and paid the medical fees, even though I tried to help her.
"It's ok Shiki, I'm fine. Really."
The train ride home was quiet. She smiled and rested her head on my shoulder the whole way home. Maybe she was just happy that I cared for her.
We walked home from the station slowly. She seemed to be stable now, just a little exhausted. She held onto my arm as we walked home.
When we finally get inside, I walk around and flick on a few lights. I turn on the lamps of our living room on the end tables of the couch. She hasn't told me what the doctor said. Before we left, she said it was fine and that she didn't even have a prescription, so we didn't have to go to a pharmacy. She said she would talk to me when we got home. It's been all I could muster not to assault her with a barrage of questions. Finally home, I can let them go.
"So, what did the doctor say? Just a virus that will go away?"
She smiles at me with those deep blue eyes and walks over to the couch and motions for me. The setting sunlight drifting in through the nearby window cascades over her in bronze pillars. I feel anxious, but I follow after a moment. She motions for me to sit down and I do. Instead of sitting next to me as she usually does, she sits in my lap, her legs perpendicular to my thighs and entangles her arms around my neck. She kisses me softly. I hold her gently. When we part, she regards me with a strange look. I see tears begin to well in her eyes.
No…is she…? What did this doctor tell her!? She's really scaring me.
"…Hisui…please, what's wrong?"
She just shakes her head and closes her eyes. My stomach feels like it's turning.
"You're acting strange…what did the doctor tell you? Are you sick?"
She doesn't answer. I grasp her arms more firmly to grab her attention.
"Hisui!"
She opens her eyes and smiles widely. She looks down to my chest and then follows my shoulder to my right arm and takes my hand in her own. She holds the back of my hand and places my palm softly onto her stomach. She holds it there for a few moments and smiles brightly at me.
"Nothing's wrong Shiki. In fact…I've never felt so happy." Both of her hands move to my cheeks and she strokes my face, her eyes now cleared from the moisture that had was previously building up.
"Shiki…I'm pregnant."
I'm shocked. More than that…I'm relived beyond words. Even more than that, I'm ecstatic. How stupid of me to think that she was ill, even dying! God, I really am an idiot. Why didn't I think of that? Morning sickness, loss of appetite, a little paleness, of course! Shouldn't that have been my first assumption? I almost laugh at my own paranoia.
I smile widely, and I almost shed a few tears myself. My eyes water up, and I kiss her passionately. I hold her in my lap, stroking her back with one hand with the other carefully and faintly moving across her stomach. She's carrying our child. My wife and I are going to be parents.
Our lips part and we stare into each others eyes. I move my hand from her back and entangle my fingers into her delicate hair.
"I love you. More than anything Hisui."
"I love you too."
She embraces me fiercely. Her eyes bury into my shoulder. We stay like that for a few minutes. I stroke her hair lightly, repeating the motions in long intervals.
"You're going to be a great mother."
"You think so?"
"I know.so."
"You'll be a great father too."
"Hm…you think so?"
"Yes. I know so."
We chuckle at the repetition. Another comfortable silence falls over us.
"Are you hungry?" I ask her, breaking the short hiatus in speech.
I feel her head nod into my shoulder. I smile. God, she's so adorable.
"What for?"
"Something light."
"How about breakfast for dinner?"
"Breakfast?"
"Yeah…like pancakes?"
"Mm…that sounds good."
"Ok then."
"Ok."
A few moments pass by.
"Haha, if you want your pancakes you have to let me get up Hisui."
She laughs a bit into my shoulder and tightens her grip around my back.
"I don't want to."
I smile at her and just hold her for a few minutes until she's had her fill. She inhales deeply one last time and stands up, allowing me to follow. I run my hand down her arm supportively and walk into the kitchen and begin getting out the mix, bowls, utensils, and all the ingredients. I hear the faucet turn on in the bathroom. I guess she's cleaning herself up.
A few minutes later, I'm standing in front of the stove, carefully pouring pancake batter into the non-stick skillet, watching it steam and hiss as it meets the hot surface. I grab the spatula and carefully watch the progress with a steady vigil. I feel slender arms wrap around me. I must not have heard her over the hissing of the frying batter. I feel my wife tighten her arms around my waist, and her head rests between my shoulder blades. I can feel her breasts push up against my back. With a smile, I cover one of her hands with my free left hand, and flip the pancakes as the batter bubbles and stiffens.
These peaceful days. They are what we both wished for. After the tragedy, the heartbreak, the pain, the suffering, we live on. We move beyond our pasts, and we find solace in each other. We find happiness in the life we've created for ourselves. We never forget what we've been through, but we don't let them chain us down either, those chains don't bind us. What Hisui and I do, we do for each other and our selves. We continue to live for each other, and we continue to love each other.
These peaceful days. They continue on. And we'll meet them together. That's how it should be. And that's how it'll stay.
Author's Note: Phew. Another chapter in the bag. I intended this one to be lighter in tone and have a happier orientation. Maybe a bit cheesy in some parts, but such is the Romanitc sentiment. That's one interesting thing about Tsukihime. It's really a melding of Gothic and Romantic literary styles. Mary Shelley would be proud. Anyway, hope you enjoyed it. I'll be doing Akiha's chapter next. I'm still debating on whether or not I should include any sexual scenes in her chapter. That primarily depends on how ppl respond to Hisui's scenes, so we'll see. Akiha's will be by far the most violent chapter I write, so those of you waiting for some serious action and death will have your day. It'll probably be a while before I post that one, I really have a lot to write for that chapter, so just a heads up. Take care people. Leave me some reviews and let me know what you like and don't like!