Chapter 3
But It Was Mine First

She knew exactly what to say, how to say it, and a contingency plan for virtually anything Tomoki could say. Her plan was a perfect; soon she would have everything she wanted. Nothing could possibly stop her.

Except Ikoras, who plucked her from the sky high euphoria faster than she could come down from it herself. Her head and heart firmly planted on the ground, she lost all thought and plan of action.

"Nymph." Ikoras commanded Nymph's attention as she tightly grasped her arm. "I know I agreed to you asking Master to claim you, and I will not stop you any more. Just know this, Nymph; Master may be ours, but Master was mine first. If anything were to happen to Master on your watch, you will answer to me." Ikoras spoke softly, but her voice held an intensity Nymph had never heard before. Nevertheless, she knew the look in her eyes. It was the same look she had when she protected Tomoki from Chaos, and probably the same look she had when she almost destroyed the Synapse so long ago.

"No, I get it Alpha. It's only right that it stay that way. I promise you; Tomoki will be safe with me." Nymph dared not look at Ikoras as she responded. She had wanted him for so long, so losing him would be worse than dying again She wanted so desperately to come clean with how she felt about Tomoki, but knew better than to test her luck. Things were going well thus far, why chance ruining it?

Now free of Ikoras' grasp, Nymph proceeded to Tomoki's bed. Every step closer was a step closer to that same joy she felt just before her tiny interruption. Before she knew it, she was standing over him.

Well, I shouldn't try anything too suggestive; I remember how that ended up last time...

Bitter memories from her first attempt at requesting to be claimed flooded her mind. Grey clouds of doubt drifted into her mind, dirtying the golden place of joy and euphoria.

No! This time it will work! I have come too far to doubt myself now. I have given too much to be turned down this time. I will be claimed, I will have a master. I will have Tomoki. Nymph banished the clouds back from where they came. She slipped on a light gown, appropriate enough to be seen in, but just enough for get Tomoki's gears turning. She pulled back the covers and laid down facing him. Just being so close made her reactor go crazy. The thoughts of them together made her forget all about the reason why she was there in the first place. It took a minute, but she finally put the plan into action.

"Tomoki... Hey Tomo, I need you to wake up..." Nymph nudged him gently, calling out to him with nothing louder than a whisper. A few more unsuccessful attempts later, Tomoki finally stirred.

"Nymph.. is that you?" Tomoki's eyes had barely even opened. All he had to go off of was her voice and scent. "What are you doing in my bed? Aren't you supposed to be...not here?" Still confused, but not entirely opposed to her presence there, he snuggled closer to her. Nymph's reactor whirled and wobbled, her whole body shook and her breaths became ever more shallow as her reactor started running out of sync.

This is more than perfect! I don't recall a time we were ever this close, not by choice at least!

"I wanted to ask you something Tomo. It's kind of important, so I need you to wake up and look at me, please". As Tomoki's eyes slowly opened, she could tell he wasn't fully aware of the seriousness of the conversation. It didn't matter to her, as long as he was awake enough to look at her and keep up, everything was fine. "I know you remember Tomo; the Rule had no power over you, just as the Synapse didn't before the world almost ended." It was almost like walking on glass, if she faltered in her presentation, she would walk away with injured feet, and feelings. So far so good though, Tomoki understood and waited for his turn to speak. "I know you still think about it and dream about it too. Ikoras is always there for you, but I stand watch too. Right outside the window, I look over you and see you toss and turn..."

Tomoki cut her off there. "Then, Nymph, why don't you come in too? Why don't you help or even try to? I know you can make it in and out of the window no problems. Why are you here, now, telling me this?" He wasn't upset by any means, just confused now as to what really is going on here. In his own way, he was asking for her help. As much as he didn't want to admit, he wished to have had her there too, along side Ikoras. Nymph knew this immediately and blushed a bright pink.

"You never asked.. and it was not my place to impose. Trust me, I wanted to be there more than anything, and I really think I can help you, but there's just one problem. I'm not yours Tomoki..." Nymph looked away. Pitch one, things were going fine. Her reactor was running wild, and her system was pinging her, warning her of potential reactor failure. She knew better than to listen. This wasn't a reactor failure, it was love.

"Nymph, you know how I feel about being your master..." Tomoki didn't lie, he much rather wanted to keep her unclaimed. He wanted her to be as free as the birds in the sky, not caged as she once was. He wanted to her, desperately at times, but held strong to the idea that she should be free.

Rejection. His words hit her hard and Tomoki put it so plainly; seemingly without even considering it. She thought she had a plan for this but she thought wrong.

I thought I came here ready to pitch all my ideas, not lose after the first one. I guess this angeloid will just stay unclaimed. Even after all I have done... first to lay down my all, my life, and not even get a second thought at being claimed. Why can't I be good enough, even now?

Nymph shrunk in anguish. At this point, she didn't know what to do anymore. Before drowning in her helplessness, she turned her back to Tomoki and sighed.

"Just forget it Tomo... go back to sleep." Defeated, Nymph even put some space between them. With what little hope she had left, she spent it on thoughts of Tomoki listening and returning to his slumber.

After all this time she still wants to be my angeloid...

Tomoki couldn't wrap his head around what made him so special.

She's free now, she can do what she wants. Why choose to chain herself to me? Ikoras chose me even before she fell from the Synapse, but Nymph was here to enjoy her time and see the world. She chose after we all set her free.. and chose to live and die for me too. I guess

Ikoras could have chose someone else, done something else after I released her, but she returned because she chose to. Maybe this really is her decision to have a master...

The room stayed quiet as the two lay apart. With his right hand under his pillow, he clenched the chain bound to Ikoras. After all Nymph has done, both with another master and free, she deserved to be happy. If this is really her choice, if this will really make her happy, it had to be done. With his free hand, Tomoki pulled Nymph close to him and held her tight.

"Tomoki! What are you doing?!" This was very unexpected. Nymph never saw it coming, literally as well as figuratively. Her system's pinged her again.

Reactor critical, failure impending, action required: reset. Angeloids definitely weren't meant for such feelings.
Action taken, none. She accepted what just happened and settled into his arms.

Alpha would kill me, I know it, but I don't care. This is what I've wanted all along.

Tomoki's hand made it's way up to her choker and fiddled with the broken chain attached.

"Nymph, I didn't finish you know." Tomoki took hold of what little chain was left and held on tight. What was said after didn't even matter anymore. Nymph knew exactly what this meant. She won, she did it. She no longer will follow behind the man she loved, but now stand beside him.

"Yes! Yes! A million times, Tomoki, Yes!" Nymphs voice was shrill with excitement. She quickly turned to face him. As overzealous as she was, Nymph actually rolled over and on top of Tomoki. "Thank you, Master, so much. Thank you for finally taking me for your own!". Nymph held on to Tomoki's hand, still clenched to her chain, and leaned in for a kiss as the chain grew and wrapped itself securely around his left hand.

When the imprinting process finished, they broke and Nymph looked down at Tomoki. She was wrong before. This is what heaven must truly be like. Without second thought, she leaned down for a second and third kiss with no opposition, but welcoming, from Tomoki. The world around them seemed to slowly fade as passions grew hotter.

From the next room, Ikoras could hear the chain materializing and extra activity. Spikes of jealousy hit her as she counted every time their lips joined and parted again. Enough was enough; the mission was accomplished and the few seconds after were completely unnecessary, at least to Ikoras. She unfurled her wings and made haste to the room.

Nymph, this was not in the deal... why are you doing this? Did we not just affirm my love for Master, as well as Master's love for me?
Ikoras felt utterly betrayed, but where to go from here? This was a first, at least to her knowledge, that this has happened. Ikoras wasn't sure if she should confront Nymph or allow this to pass in lieu of the special occasion for Nymph. No option seemed right, she just knew that such affection should have been hers.
As Ikoras entered the room, she found something totally different than what she expected. She came across a scene of almost complete innocence. She what had just happened, and she would not forget.

"Congratulations, Nymph, I see all had gone well." She said as she tried to follow the chain from Nymph's choker to Tomoki's hand. Nymph, who was now sitting at the foot of the bed stood up and displayed her chain.

That was a little too close... but at least she didn't walk in on anything. Still, she'll have my ass for this if she knows what just happened.

"Yep! I'm still pretty surprised it actually happened though!". Nymph gave a nervous chuckle. She was guilty of betrayal, and she knew it.

"Well Nymph, you did deserve it. It's been quite some time, and it's something you really wanted...so I gave it to you". Tomoki even looked guilty too, and his voice gave away his guilt too.

Ikoras just looked at the two, unsure of what to think.

This is passable. Maybe it was a mistake. I continuous mistake, that Master chose to engage in with Nymph...

She gave no more thought or logic. They were happy, that should be the important thing, even if she isn't. That night, with the same "special occasion" logic, the three of them shared the bed. Hours after Tomoki fell asleep, Nymph finally broke the silence.

"Hey, Alpha? I have to confess." Nymph knew this could go bad. Braced for the worst, she proceeded slowly. "When Master sai.."

"No, Nymph." Ikoras interjected. "I know what happened. There is no need to apologize. You must love Master too, correct?" Ikoras knew, she always had. The only concern was how Tomoki felt. The two stayed quiet a while longer before Ikoras spoke up again. "Master enjoys the peace and quiet. Let us not interfere with it by fighting over this, or Master.

Nymph agreed with silence. She finally felt a sense of purpose again, to keep Tomoki's peace and quiet, and she intended to do that and everything else he may ask. For now, there was nothing to worry about. No trouble from the Synapse, no crazed angeloids on the attack. Perhaps, at daybreak, they could enjoy the peace and quiet together.