This is belated for Merry Christmas!
Thiccfurryboi69: Okay that is... a metric shit-ton; a bit too much for me. But it seems like you have some ideas of your own, so maybe you should stop waiting for someone and put those ideas of yours into writing? We all started somewhere, and those ideas are more original than what I've had most of my writing career.
sunsaturn: Merry Christmas and I hope your day is equally pleasant.
Hours pass by in a flash.
More tears are shed on both sides. When the pain becomes too much, they hold one another in their arms again. Little by little, Kotone felt the thorns piercing her heart begin to recede; old wounds she allowed to fester finally having their chance to heal.
Before they knew it, their conversation felt… normal.
"Your dorm has a… dog?" Mother asked skeptically.
Almost normal.
Shadows, personas, the Dark Hour—even when skirting around that, there are a lot of not-so-normal things. Dog in the dorm, her boyfriend having a ghost-demon, and the fact her dorm is co-ed.
"Yeah," Kotone nods, sucking in her lips. "It's a bit of a long story. His owner has passed so he's technically a stray, but we let him say even though he's not ours—it's weird. But he's our Koro-chan."
Kaiya's bemused expression lingers for a moment. Her home life certainly isn't boring. "What about your dormmates? You're friends with them, right?"
Kotone nods. "It's a co-ed dorm but the boys are well behaved—well, Junpei sometimes does something stupid."
"How stupid?" Mother chuckles with a grin.
"Stupid enough to earn the name Stupei!" They both laugh. "He tried peeking in on us in a hot spring during our last field trip! The girls and I kicked his ass for that!"
"Language!"
Kotone winces and she's a little girl being admonished once again. "Sorry," she apologizes meekly. She brightens up, "But the girls and I laughed at that one. I never thought I'd get to see one of Kirijo-senpai's infamous executions in person like that."
"Execution?" Mother repeats, blinking in surprise. She breaks into another laugh, "I would hate to have been them."
"You have no idea." Kotone shivers at the thought of what happened. How could the human body withstand that much pain and have the only lasting trauma be the memory?
The memory is interrupted when Kotone notices the mischievous smirk on her mother's face. For some reason, that simper was more terrifying than any shadow she's ever fought.
"So," Mother drawls, leaning forward and raising an eyebrow that made Kotone wary. "I heard that you have a boyfriend now."
"Oh, crap."
Kaiya gives her daughter an expecting look. "Who's the lucky guy?"
"Um…"
Oh no, what does she say? Officially, he's still called Makoto Yuki; it's still what the people in school call him.
But that's not his name—or at least, not really but sort of? How is she supposed to explain that her boyfriend is a madman whose best friend is a monster that is going to kill her and her friends in less than a month?
Nope, bad idea.
"Makoto…" Kotone struggles to hide the uncertainty in her voice, "but he prefers being called Minato. It's a long story why."
Mother gives a noncommittal hum. That's good, right? There's no disapproval! That's great! Operation: Mother Approved is going perfectly!
Kaiya swipes a stray hair back. "C'mon, don't just leave it there. How did it happen? What's he like?"
What's he like? That's easy! He's… very broody. And stubborn! And God, he's such an idiot; he always finds a way to land himself in more trouble.
"But you're my idiot, Blue," Kotone smiles to herself. He's a foolish boy that does silly things, but there's no one else she would rather have holding her in their arms.
She learned that the day she told Minato that she was in love with him.
"Well, we were kinda at that stage for a while," Kotone begins, bobbing her head from side to side as she speaks with a slight emphasis, "you both like each other and know it, but neither wants to make the first move."
The first move? What is she saying?! She pulled him in and sucked his face on the school roof! If that's not the first move, nothing is—and that's not even getting into what they did when she got the pictures of her on his phone.
Wait, she completely forgot about that. Minato had pictures of her half-naked on his phone! Why did she almost sleep with him?! The only way that's possible without her knowing is if Ryoji took them when he was still that weird ghost thing.
Wow. She made out with the boy that had pictures of her on his phone, taken by a daemon ghost that is going to try to kill her soon. What is wrong with her?!
No, not now! Now is not the time for regrets! Keep moving and paint that idiot in a good light!
"Right, um, the storm! Did you hear how the typhoon hit Iwatodai? Well, as luck would have it, I ended up stuck with him in his apartment," she blushes at the memory. "We were both nervous; I felt my knees shaking the entire time. But I liked him and he liked me, so…"
So she slept with him immediately!
"Oh my GOD!" What is wrong with her?! There was a daemon ghost watching the entire time, but she still went for it!
Oh no, she's already started! What does she say now?! "So I lied on the bed as we barebacked all night and immediately the next morning?"
Stupid! Stupid! She is a stupid, horny girl! No wonder why Minato keeps calling her a wanton!
"... we talked," Kotone gave the most blatant lie known to man. If the crack in her voice didn't give it away, then her face turning the same shade as her eyes wrote in a neon sign hanging over her.
"Talked, huh?" And Mother wasn't blind either. She's dead.
"Y-Yeah!" It was a long shot, but Kotone has to try to sell the lie as best she can. "I told him I loved him, and he filled me…"
Wait, did she just say…
"W-with love!" she blurted out, almost jumping out of her seat screaming. "Love and a really warm feeling—I mean, um… uh…"
Kaiya gives a hearty laugh, apparently finding great amusement in her daughter's suffering. Kotone fumbles with her words, blushing like mad but Mother only smiles softly at her.
"Kotone," Mother interrupts, "Breath."
Kotone stops talking and complies, taking a deep breath in and out. In and out.
"Now," she says, stressing the word, "Yes or no. Does he treat you well?"
He's said hurtful things, but he did it to keep her away because he was afraid Ryoji would hurt her. He holds her tight at night and tells her how much he loves her.
"Love me lots with hugs and kisses."
Kotone nods.
"Does he make you feel special? Loved? Like you're the most important person in the world?"
Minato went to face his best friend for her. Despite the awful memories he must have been reliving, he came back for her.
They both faced Death for each other. He loves her just as she loves him. There's no one else she would rather be with.
Kotone nods again. "All that and more."
"Okay," Kaiya says, having heard all she needed to hear.
"Okay?"
"Okay," Kaiya reaffirms. "All I care about is that you're happy."
Kotone smiles wryly, sinking her head into her shoulders. "Thank you…"
Crisis averted. Operation: Mother Approved is a success!
"And I hope you two are practicing safe sex!"
RED ALERT! RED ALERT! THE OPERATION IS A FAILURE!
"Oh my God, Mom!" Kotone couldn't tell if what escaped her throat was a squeak or a panicked scream. Did she just ask that? She just asked that! What does she say? Should she admit to being on the pill? No, that's too much information—or is it? What does she say?!
"I'm sorry," Kaiya shakes her head, suppressing another laugh. It was a cruel jest; there's no need to torture the poor girl. She's gone through enough.
Kotone slams her head face-first into the table. Partly out of exasperation from her mother's torture, and partly to hide her flushed face.
This was a mistake. She should never forgive her. Mother is evil; she's a bad person.
Kaiya doesn't mind the eccentricity at all. If Kotone is willing, then she has twelve years of being an absent mother to make up for. Nothing wrong with a little bit of teasing, is there?
Mother's smile fades when she glances at the clock hanging on the wall. "My, is it already that late?"
"Huh?" Kotone raises her head and follows her mother's gaze. "Oh wow, I should be going home."
The two of them stand, the mother walking her daughter to the door before she leaves.
But there's one last question Kaiya has. "Kotone…"
Kotone pauses, facing the door and gripping the handle. She already knows the question without it being said. It's not something she's entirely sure of herself, but they've already come this far.
"I had a good time seeing you," Kotone admits, turning back to face the woman. She shrugs her shoulders, "I don't know. I don't know how to do any of this. I came here for answers, and…"
The girl sighs, the words having been caught in her throat. She's been holding this grudge for so long; she's not sure how she can let it go. "If you're willing to try this mother-daughter thing out, then I'll try. But—"
Her words are interrupted by another hug. Different from before, this one was a very tight and desperate clutch. There's no gentle comfort, just the arms of a relieved mother.
"That's more than I could ever hope for," Kaiya whispers in her daughter's ear, pulling back and brushing Kotone's bangs out of her eyes. "Whatever you're comfortable with, okay? I don't know what I'm doing either, but I'll try as hard as I can, however I can."
Kotone beams brightly. "Thank you, Mom."
Anything as long as she calls her Mom.
The journey home was uneventful. The world is still as cold and unforgiving as before, only now, even that can't wipe the large and bright smile on Kotone's face.
She did it!
She did it!
She talked to Mom! Is this what Yukari felt like when she started talking to hers? No, this must be what her mom felt when she persuaded Yukari to give her another chance.
Dad's gone on dates before so their relationship is over. Even if she can't ever have the family she wanted, maybe she will be able to have both her parents at least! That alone is more than she could ever—
Whoa, she is a lot like her mother.
Fortunately, the lounge was barren. No need to deal with her friends immediately after returning. However, there was still one anomaly in all of this.
"State your name and purpose!" Aigis demands, standing tall outside Minato's door.
Kotone blinks. "... What?"
"I have accepted the role as Minato-san's guardian," Aigis proudly proclaims. "He is resting behind this door and none shall be allowed to enter without identifying themselves!"
Another blink. "Aigis," Kotone glances from side to side awkwardly, "you know who I am."
"Purpose?" Aigis remains unmoved, holding Kotone under scrutiny.
"I'm your leader and I'm ordering you to let me in," Kotone deadpans. Is this abuse of her power, or insubordination from Aigis? Can it be both?
Aigis' eyes narrow, carefully examining her leader and considering her words. "Acknowledged," she relents, stepping to the side.
Kotone mutters a thank you before stepping inside. This better not become a regular thing, or… something. She'll think of something, right? Yeah, she'll think of something.
But she could worry about that later. For now, it was Blue-time!
"Hey," Minato greets her, lying flat on his bed with his arms behind his head.
Several blankets layered on top of each other and too many pillows to count for elevating his head and feet, many having now found their place on the floor.
"Hey," Kotone returns.
Messy? A little and she needed an explanation of what is going on with Aigis today, but that could wait. Between Death and her mother, they needed some time for themselves and she was going to make that time if she had to.
"Hello!" Another voice interrupts. Looking back at the door, the two teenagers see Aigis peeking her head out the door.
Kotone turns around and glares at the machine staring back with those innocent blue eyes of hers.
"Aigis!" Kotone growls. Not today! She is not going from sharing her boyfriend with a ghost daemon to sharing him with an android!
Kotone kicks the door shut, locking it and even propping a door against the knob. Now no one is getting in!
What else is there? A window? Could she climb that? Surely not now without exposing herself, right? She wouldn't do that!
"Aigis!" Kotone hears Minato calling out, seeing that he was now sitting upright. "Kotone's allowed in at all times unless I say otherwise! And don't come in unless I say so!"
The sounds of mechanical parts moving from the other side of the wall. "Understood!"
A long exhale comes from Kotone's lips as she collapsed on the boy's bed. "Ugh, finally."
Was this going to be a daily thing? Oh no, please do not be a daily thing. Their lives are enough of a hassle—they did not need any extra obstacles just to see each other.
Alright, that's enough. Girlfriend mode activate!
"So," Minato broke the silence. "How are you feeling?"
"How am I?" Kotone sounds almost flabbergasted, sitting up to meet him. "How are you!? You've been in bed all day! I was worried sick!"
Minato nods, rubbing the back of his neck and rotating it. His movements are slow and deliberate, attempting to combat the stiffness from being 'guarded' in his room.
"I'm fine," he nods again as he spoke, looking down at the ground and refusing to look at her. "Been getting babysat by Aigis all day."
Kotone raises an eyebrow, extending an arm and delivering a small push to his shoulder.
"Hey, don't do that," she whispers. She's known him long enough to know when something was bothering him.
And Minato knows better than to fight her on it. "What I said to you before…"
Kotone takes a moment to ponder his words. Thinking back to what could be bothering him, only one thing came to mind. "Oh, that? It's fine! I know why you did it."
Minato opens his mouth to object but she places a finger on his lips and shushes him. "Not now," she whispers, "no talky. Just listening."
Kotone climbs up, kicking off her shoes so that she could plant both knees on the bed as she sat up. "Wanna know what I did? I just went and talked to my mother for the first time in years."
Her expression becomes somber at the memory, "I was so nervous the entire time. I almost turned my back but you kept me going. I thought, 'what would my Blue do for a second chance with his family?'"
She did that… because of him?
"Kotone—" Minato stops when his girlfriend glares at him.
Kotone raises a fist. "I'll punch you," she warns, giggling and playfully punching his arm.
She scoots over close, wrapping both of Minato's hands in her own. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have taken my shot at having a mother again. I would spend all my life thinking about the 'what ifs' without doing anything."
Minato is left stunned when Kotone flashes him the brightest smile he's ever seen. The way her warm crimson eyes shine back at him, how her lips curl and accentuate her cheeks, and the small tilt she always does when she's happy.
It's a smile that shines brighter than a thousand sons and would warm in the harshest of winters. It was also contagious, spreading from her lips to his own with a soft kiss.
"I love you so, so much." It wasn't a declaration as much as her stating a fact. It's a truth she will proudly live and die by—something she will scream when facing Death when it comes.
In their short time together, they've been through so much. When she found him, he was a broken mirror she put back together piece by piece. His parents, Minako, and now his best friend—his world is defined by loss, yet it's because of him that she was able to gain something back.
She has a chance of having something resembling her old family back. No matter how much she wishes she could, she can't give his back, but she can give him a new one; she, Aigis, the rest of SEES.
"I—" Minato is interrupted again, this time with her lips on his.
"No talking," Kotone murmurs between kisses. "I want you to show me."
Kotone isn't one for subtlety. Whatever room there was for ambiguity was immediately dispelled. She isn't so much kissing as much as she is devouring; trapping his lip between her teeth, giving him a few gentle nips and tugs.
She feels his hands grip her waist. The next thing she knows, she lies flat on her back and laughing as he looms over her.
"I thought you said no biting," he complains but with a lightly teasing tone.
"I said, don't you dare bite me, or I'll knock you out." A sly smirk forms on her face and she uses her poutiest voice, "I guess you'll just need to get back at me, hmm?"
As if what she had said and done weren't teasing enough, Kotone adds gasoline to that fire by finishing with a sultry little wink. The glare she gets in return tells her she's gotten just the result she wants.
Minato presses his hands against her shoulders, holding her down. Kotone only gives a few playful struggles before he attacks her neck, planting his lips and drawing a long moan from her.
Her body tenses at the assault, closing her eyes and allowing herself to enjoy it. But then, she feels his tongue on her neck. Her hands and nails dig into the sheets, and her breathing becomes labored between her constant moans and squirms.
"Damn…" she whines, unconsciously wrapping her legs around him and gyrating her hips. This is enough to bring the boy pause, hissing through his teeth at the sensation.
Kotone doesn't give herself time to catch her breath. Hormones course through her system and her heart is pounding. She brings her hands to her blouse, swiftly undoing (and almost ripping some of) the buttons and exposing her breasts confined in a bright red brassiere.
Minato notices the color and chuckles. "Red, huh?"
"Shut up." The time for teasing is over. Kotone grabs a fistful of his hair and brings him down to her chest where he gives her just what he wants.
Minato gives the exposed top of her breasts the same treatment as her neck, assaulting them with kisses and giving suction leaving bright red marks that would be there tomorrow. He hooks the thread between the cups, gently tugging down to torture the girl.
Kotone growls at him. That smirk and those teasing blue eyes of his; was enough to ignite a fire in her. She was going to make him beg for—
A knock on the door.
"Minato-san, Kotone-san, is there something wrong?" Aigis' voice on the other side asks. "I'm hearing you both panting heavily. Is there something wrong with the air? Is the room too hot? If you do not answer within thirty seconds, I will be forced to—"
"We're fine!" the two said in unison, panicking as they scramble to straighten their clothes in case of the worst.
Kotone desperately buttons up her shirt. "W-We're fine! We were just.. Um…" her words fail her as she turns red as a beat.
"... making fun of how exhausted we used to get with the Dark Hour!" Kotone has to fight the urge to smack that boy silly for such a blatant and asinine lie. Minato returns the gesture with an expression that reminds her that she wasn't giving any ideas, so she reluctantly relents.
A heavy pause fills the room and Kotone can feel her heart beating in her chest. She catches a glance at Minato looking down, awkwardly kicking his feet and trying not to make eye contact.
Eventually, the mechanical maiden responds.
"I comprehend." She really didn't. But it was enough that Aigis went quiet again, ending what would have been the most awkward moment of their lives.
Well, discounting this current moment.
Kotone and Minato glance at each other, neither knowing what to say for several moments. Eventually, Minato speaks up.
"Rain check?" he whispers, careful not to be picked up by his robot guardian he was now very consciously aware of.
Kotone nods. "Christmas Eve. You're making it up to me."
Minato scoffs, playfully rolling his eyes. "Bossy."
"Love you too." Kotone leans forward, kissing him on the cheek. With that moment ruined, she was ready to go but Minato grabs her sleeve.
"Hey, hold up," Minato pouts. "You talked to your mom? We still have time; I want to know what happened."
"Hmm," Kotone hums, taking a moment to ponder his request. "Only if we get to cuddle on the bed."
"Needy."
"I think you mean, sexy."
"Get back on the bed."
Kotone almost leaps back onto the bed, kicking off her socks and finding a comfy spot on the bed, and resting her head on the boy's chest to relax. Not as good as what she had in mind, but this? This will do… for now.
C-C-Cockblocked! What? I'm still Grim! Did you think I was just going to give that to you? Ha! Although, in actuality, this might not even see any more aggressive cuddling for a long time. Maybe on the AO3 version. Depends on how well you all can convince me. Or maybe I'm just a sadist teasing you. One way to find out, hmm?
