Romance done!
"Frrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeedooooooooom!"
For now.
"fuuuuuuuu-"
And so, next chapter, back to your regularly scheduled Cuha-z, where a bug tries to avoid death...by Snu-snu!
Applying one last touch of lipstick, she leaned back and nodded.
Perfect.
Not that she expected anything else. After all, the 'base' she was working with, was, in her modest opinion, pretty close to perfect already. What with her naturally foul pouty lips and all.
So, all she needed to do was apply but a touch of color and…
Fubuki smacked her lips together and grinned at the result.
Perfect.
The bathroom's door slid open and Lily stepped in, the sight of which caused Fubuki's smirk to turn into a soft smile.
"Mistress!"
For the young girl, like her namesake it would seem had started to blossom into a beautiful young woman without Fubuki realizing it, and whereas she'd opted to emphasize her strong points for the night ahead, namely her killer figure and long legs, her young…friend?
She chuckled inside her head.
Why hesitate, Fubuki? If your plan goes through, pretty soon you'll be more than just 'friends'.
A tiny snort escaped her lips as she shook her head.
And Lily cocked her head to the side.
"Mistress?"
"It's nothing, Lily. Merely some random thoughts, is all."
"Oh, ok," the young beauty said with a shrug. "So, mistress, when are we leaving?"
Fubuki frowned, Lily looked ready alright, what with her hair arranged in a ponytail, daring red lipstick drawing the gaze to her lips as well as the light short-sleeved shirt, exposing her midriff and the cute short pink skirt underneath leading to her white knee-socks and to the heels at the end.
Yes, the girl looked ready.
But, Fubuki…
Despite herself, worry gnawed at her gut, and as there was no one else here but her subordinate and soon and with some luck, much more. She raised a hand and, bringing her thump close to her lips, gnawed at her nail.
"Mistress?"
It was unbecoming of her.
Of the iron-willed, ice-hearted Blizzard. Of the image she'd been trying to portray to the world. And yet…and yet…
"How do I look, Lily?"
She couldn't help but worry.
For in her hearts of hearts, Fubuki knew she was fighting an uphill battle here. For the man she wanted in—in her group. Had his eyes firmly on her pest of a sister. Just her luck really.
The one time Fubuki met a man, who aside from saving her and Lily both, also had the heart of a true hero and by all signs would in time become one of the strongest heroes, if not the strongest, and thus, would not be scared away either by accident or by intent, no matter what her clam-jamming sister did?
Just her luck that said man would grow interested in the…in the gremlin and that her nigh-asexual of a sister would start to discover that she had a heart after all!
A frustrated sigh escaped her.
"What do you mean, mistress?" Lily, ever innocent Lily asked, stepping closer and looking at her with her wide eyes.
Fubuki was not a fool. She knew that it was all but inevitable that one of the two dunces would stop doddering about and take the next step, and then…
I get it. I know that me and Lily, we'll both hold second place in his heart. At best. And yet…Even so…
To say that this wasn't her first, or even her preferred, option would be an understatement.
And yet, given the state of humanity's ongoing war against the monsters and the species' survival balancing on a knife's edge?
Well, the laws were not like those of ancient times, nor, where humans, strictly speaking quite the same species. So, if it came down to it? Fubuki was prepared to share, even if it was with her, of all people.
But…Even so…why. Why did it have to be with the pest of all people?
Did she have to take that from her as well?
She flashed a bittersweet smile at Lily, causing the girl's eyes to widen and fill with worry, worry that was reflected in the girl's surface thoughts.
"Simply what I said, Lily. How do I look? Do you think I'm…I'm good enough to—"
"You're perfect, mistress! S—Yuha won't know what hit him! You'll see!"
Oh, Lily…I hope you're right. Oh, how I hope you're right…
And in a sense, the young girl with her boundless optimism might have the right of it.
She'd prepared as best she could. And now…Now it was time to face the music.
No point worrying about it anymore.
…Or at least, worrying any further.
She nodded and smirked.
"You're right, Lily. Now let's go and try to drill through the idiot's thick skull," she said and strode out of the bathroom, heading towards the living room with a giggling Lily in tow.
"Yuha…he's kinda…dense, isn't he?"
Fubuki snorted as she approached one of the couches and the suitcase next to it.
"That's putting it lightly, Lily."
But no matter how thick Yuha's skull was, Fubuki refused to let that stop her! By the end of the night, one way or another, she'd get through that thick skull of his!
"I still say you're wrong, Mistress."
Picking up the suitcase and her purse from the nearby table, Fubuki snorted.
"We'll find out soon enough, Lily, but you best be prepared."
"Back at you, mistress!" the girl said with a rare cheeky grin aimed at her as they walked towards the apartment's door. With the young girl giggling and rubbing her hands together. "Ice-cream~"
Fubuki snorted again and shook her head.
For they'd have their answer soon enough…and hopefully, after a few more dates, Fubuki would no longer have to fear becoming a wizard…or would that be a witch?
Besides, even if by this point Fubuki was all but certain that her sister would pounce on Yuha given enough time…
Just this once, Fubuki would finally get one over the gremlin! After all, she and Lily would, hopefully become his girlfriends first!
A few hours earlier:
"Huh, what is—"
Yuha's eyes flashed open and his arm rose quick as a viper, and with a tiny burst of energy, a gust of wind knocked Charanko's approaching arm away from the glowing thin edge.
"Don't touch that!"
"Sheesh!" the youth complained with a groan, as he pushed and climbed back to his feet, dusting off his white gi's trousers. "I was merely curious. No need to be an ass about it!"
He shook his head.
"Apologies, senpai. I wasn't trying to be… an 'ass'. Merely trying to keep you from losing a finger…or worse," Yuha said, his tone dry.
Charanko gulped and paled.
"O-oh." Eyeing the glowing band of energy with far more caution than before.
Sighing, Yuha stood on his feet.
Practicing inside was a mistake after all…
As the glowing discs hovering around him faded, Charanko let out a frustrated sigh, pinching his nose. "Damn it. How do you do it, man?"
Making to head outside, Yuha paused, tilting his head with a blink.
"Do what?"
"This!" Charanko said, waving frustrated arms in his direction. "Training non stop! Every moment I see you, it's nothing but training with you! Hell, if it weren't for Tornado abducting you last night to go out…why I was almost starting to believe you didn't know the meaning of 'fun.'"
Yuha shrugged his shoulders.
"Training is fun, though."
To that, Charanko could only offer a growl. "Dammit man! You barely join me for…'research' anymore!"
"Believe me, I'd love to. But…"
"But what?"
Yuha sighed and closed his eyes, bending his arm at the elbow, squeezing his fist tight. "I'm not yet strong enough to do so."
"Strong enough…" Charanko repeated with a frown. "the hell, dude?! Have you seen what you can do already? Your spars with sensei or…Tornado, or, lest you've somehow forgotten, throwing down with that bastard. Someone that only our Sensei can beat in a fair fight? That ain't 'strong enough' for you? Jeez! What will it take for you to be satisfied? Throwing down with Blast on a regular basis?"
Seeing him not answering, the youth's eyes widened.
"Dammit Yuha. I was kidding…" he mumbled weakly.
Oh, Charanko. If only it were that easy. If only you knew horrors lie ahead. What I'll have to face to try and keep you guys safe…Blast won't be enough and I… I'm no Saitama.
He didn't know whether him choosing to take Marika's deal created this timeline, or whether it'd existed already. Knowing the nature of the multiverse, neither would surprise him.
Still. The fact was that Saitama was no longer around, and with his nonexistent [limiter], Yuha was the best hope everyone on this blue marble had. And whereas before he'd perhaps would've been fine with staying in the sidelines, just doing his time and getting out when the [dimensional misalignment] bar filled?
He'd gone and gotten attached. In both meanings of the word.
And so…He'd do his best to protect this planet and her people. A-and only cause Tatsumaki and the rest of his friends—meatshields lived here! Yes! Only due to that. It wasn't like he was starting to like helping people or anything of the sort!
And that includes you, you hopeless weirdo. He thought with a tiny smile as he stared at Charanko.
Making the youth narrow his eyes.
"Oi. I can tell you're thinking something unflattering about me, Yuha. Stop it!"
"Senpai is wise."
"Oi!"
Snorting, Yuha strode towards the door, giving a two-finger salute to Charanko.
"I'm off to train. Catch you later."
"Damn it Yuha…"
He shook his head as he headed outside the Dojo and, taking a few steps to the left and out of view, jumped upwards, arresting his momentum with a sustained pulse of ki and slowly lowering himself on the roof and assuming a meditative pose, closing his eyes and re-starting his training, discs of golden energy spinning into existence all around him, although, what with him being on the outside and under the sun…
A snort escaped his lips unbidden as he directed part of his focus on his right arm, his forearm to be exact.
Behold! I'm the world's greatest vegan! Kryptonians have nothing on me!
And from a certain point of view, it was even the truth! For due to a certain part of his genetic makeup and the Good Doctor's enhancements, he could survive quite well on only sunlight if it came down it and his Ki reserves and still re-charging techno-organic Ki cores emptied themselves entirely and had to be restarted yet again, or something.
Indeed. Unlike Skynet's polluting android models, Yuha was completely environmentally friendly, with a negligible carbon footprint! Out with the old in with the green killing machine!
Another snort escaped his lips, and he smiled before a stab of pain, akin to branding irons, traveling up his arm caused him to wince.
Admittedly, it wasn't as bad as that, and far from the worst he'd ever experienced, but it remained unpleasant nonetheless.
Cracking open an eyelid and ignoring the pain, he smiled.
For his right arm had ballooned in size.
No Tatsumommy! This isn't what it looks like! I've simply been juicing up with Yharnam blood!
Shaking his head at the silliness of it all, he nodded.
Good. The experiment was a success. He clenches his fist. The arm returning to its normal size and the spinning discs faded. Now. To reduce the time it takes to activate them…
Closing his eyes, Yuha sinked into a deep trance. Part of his consciousness devoted to his physical and Ki training, with the rest deep in meditation.
Hours passed, and the sun begun its downward arc, growing closer and closer to the distant horizon.
"There you are!" until a huffing voice caused him to jerk back to full consciousness and to blink his eyes open and to stare in surprise.
"Wha—Fubu…mommy?"
For indeed, hovering but a few feet from him, with her hair swaying to the tune of an unseen wind was none other than a grinning Fubuki with her arms crossed "Fufu~ Not quite, but that can be arranged, Yuha~" the girl whose green eyes blazed said. And Yuha gulped.
He had to admit, the woman cut an alluring—imposing, imposing! Figure. What with her short white jacket that brought to mind the ones Doctors wore, the cloth covering her form-fitting dark green dress with its low, low neckline,hinting at the treasures beneath while below its criminally short edge, dark thighhighs stretched on across the woman's long legs for days.
Oh Marika, is it hot here or is it just me?
And as if the fact he'd been staring wasn't bad enough already. The girl had clearly caught him doing so, for her smirk widened.
"Fufufu~"
"Ah…Err…F-Fubuki, to what do I owe this pleasure?"
And believe me, seeing you in this getup and with that slightly haughty look, looking down on me? It does…it does things to me. In fact, the only way it could be better is if you wore glasses—
He missed the girl's eyes widen and her mask of aloofness cracking, red dusting her cheeks as he glanced down at where Yuha Jr was hiding and growled. Shaking his head and focusing back on his mental techniques.
What the hell?! I thought we were past that, Boner-kun! We don't react to any pretty female…or anything vaguely female in general, like when we were twelve! Bad Boner-kun! We're loyal to Best Girl!
Who knew that Tatsumaki's smile and her pecks on his cheek would awaken instincts he'd long thought buried and under his control and cause them to go ssj.
"Psst! Mistress! Say something!"
He sighed. He'd need to redouble his training, it would seem.
"A-ah! Y-yes."
Instincts and desires were a part of him. But he was in control!
A cough made him blink.
"Yuha."
He focused back on the girl, who, with the setting sun behind her, framing her in its glow, looked particularly radiant.
"Ah. Yes, Fubuki?"
The woman snapped her fingers, and a suitcase floated up and into view, enveloped in a thin green field before Fubuki pointed a finger at him, flinging the case towards him with Yuha catching it with ease, if some surprise still.
"Eh?"
"Get dressed and come down," the girl commanded and floated back down and out of view.
"The hell?" Yuha mumbled and, fighting the urge to scratch at his hair, opened the latches with a 'click'.
And blinked. For inside the case, a set of meticulously folded, and very expensive looking, set of clothes gazed back at him.
The suit, tie, pants and all seeming startlingly familiar.
He opened his mouth as if to shout at the out of sight woman and ask for clarification before sighing and shaking his head. Set about getting dressed.
She'd thought herself prepared.
She'd been wrong.
Fubuki's breath hitched as Yuha dropped down from the roof and came into view.
For the man, dressed in a suit similar to the one he wore last time—she'd made sure to memorize his measurements even if she'd said nothing—he'd cut a striking figure.
He fills it out well.
Indeed, with a tiny smirk on his exposed face—that garish hat of his nowhere in sight. Why it was almost enough to cause her to shudder.
"Well?" Yuha asked in that deep baritone voice of his. "What's this about, Fubuki?" she chewed on her lip and felt heat around her collarbone, while her heart danced to some tribal tune.
The man placed his hands on his hips and twisted this way and that, side to side, before lifting one arm and bending to the side and then replicating the motion on the other. The himbo dense enough to not get a clue still.
"While I'm thankful for the new suit, and it does indeed fit me quite nicely—"
Her eyes trailed the man's muscles, barely concealed under the garment and beside her, Lily thoughts were naught but degeneracy.
…Not that hers were any better.
Yeah…Yeah you do, you big dumb Idiot!
"I didn't need a new suit, not for tomorrow at least?" the man stood back up and frowned, cupping his chin with one arm. "Unless I missed something and I have to fight in—"
Fubuki growled.
"No, you Idiot."
Making him blink.
"Eh?"
The words would not leave her throat and her heart felt as if it was going to burst, so instead she coughed.
"You…I…"she growled, trying to hide her blush as she shook her head. "The clothes aren't for that, you Idiot. You can fight in whatever you want."
"Then what for?"
Seriously…how dense could a man be? Did she have to walk up to him and grab him by his lapels and snog him senseless or something?
An image sprung to mind.
One of her doing just that, before drawing back, only for Yuha to blink stupidly at her before telling her that no, after utilizing one of his myriad bullshit abilities, he had detected no sign of any illness.
A desperate laugh left her lips.
"Mistress?"
"Fubuki?"
She shook her head.
Right. They were going nowhere like this. She chanced a glance at Lily and made up her mind.
They needed to strike fast. Strike hard. And don't let up until they cracked through that thick skull of his!
"We," she growled, pointing with a finger at all three of them alternatively. "Are going out, Yuha." She raised an arm as the man's mouth opened. "And you don't get a choice in the matter!"
Now, for the tough part, she'd have to stand her ground and—
With a careless shrug, the man nodded. "Very well."
"Now see here you—huh?"
"I said, very well?"
Lily snickered, and Fubuki blushed. Raising a hand and coughing into her fist.
"A-ah. Yes. Good. As you should! Then, let's go. And worry not! I've already made reservations."
At her words, and as she prepared to turn around and start making her way to the limo parked down on the mountain's foothills, Yuha frowned.
"Wait." He said, tone serious, raising a hand and making both her and Lily pause and turn back towards him.
"Huh? W-what is it, Yuha?" she asked with trepidation in her heart.
"Before we go…I just wanted to ask something."
"Yes?"
"I'm…I'm probably wrong and so, apologies in advance, but…Is this a date?"
Fubuki's mouth hung low, her eyes flying wide while beside her, Lily, was not much better. But, to the young girl's credit, she recovered first, turning to her boss and stretching out a hand, palm up with a jubilant grin.
"Hah! See, mistress? I was right and sir Yuha—"
"Just Yuha."
"Is smarter than he looks. He did realize it after all. Now pay up!"
Fubuki, grumbling, reached into her purse and pulled a few bills, passing them to the grinning girl even if as her mind struggled to make sense of this, most, unexpected development.
"How did you know?" the brunette asked, ignoring Lily's chuckles.
At this, Yuha's shoulders slumped.
"Damn…I hoped that wasn't the case…"
Her heart clenched a horrible premonition welled up within it.
No…It can't possibly—
"S-sir Yuha?"
The man's eyes opened and his muscular legs ate up the distance as he came to a step right in front of them.
"Why now all of a sudden?" the man murmured, his brows furrowed and as both she and Lily made to speak, Yuha placed an arm on one of their shoulder's each, alternating staring into both their eyes.
"Believe me, and I mean it when I say it. I'm honored, girls," he said, and Fubuki knew not whether it was due to the rumbling growl in his voice or the green tassels spiraling into view for a moment around the man, but she knew he spoke the truth.
Which is why her heart wailed all the harder, for no doubt, the upcoming rejection and the…and the reason behind it made it all the worse to bear.
"But…"
He closed his eyes and sighed.
"Much as I'd love to go out with you girls…I, unfortunately, just entered into a relationship with Tatsumaki last night and—"
He shrugged.
NoooooOOO!
She screamed inside her mind and moisture gathered in the corners of her eyes, her hair swaying and an unseen wind starting to howl all around them.
"Well. Believe me, I'd love to go out with you both and try it out, see where it goes, but…I can't very well cheat on my…my girlfriend."
She sniffed.
"And damn, that wasn't something I was ever expecting to say…"
Damn you sister! Damn you! Why did you have to go and take this from me as well?
"W-wait!"
"Huh? What is it, Lily?"
"S—Yuha, you do know polygamy is legal, yes?"
Fubuki's eyes widened and a renewed hope sparked in her heart as she glanced first at her subordinate.
Lily, if what you're suspecting is right…Why I could kiss you! But, surely, there's no way that that's—
She glanced at Yuha who was staring back at the girl with eyes wide and a slack jaw.
"Huh?!" he said, and Fubuki let out a groan.
Of course, the Idiot who was raised in bumfucksville would have no idea. She thought with a groan, and yet, a tiny hopeful smile spread across her cheeks. For the Idiot had just said he wouldn't mind going out with them, and only his loyalty to his…his girlfriend—
Damn you sister!
Stopped him from doing so. Which, if it was the truth, meant that not everything was lost quite yet!
They were still in the game.
And even if she hated the fact that the pest had, yet again, gotten one over her, they could still salvage this and besides. Yuha's reluctance to cheat? That only increased his value in her eyes.
"Wait, that's a thing?"
She sighed, facepalming.
Thank you Lily…
She couldn't believe Yuha was such an Idiot…A smile spread across her lips.
But…he's myIdiot!
"Yes, Yuha, 'that's a thing'," she said, making air-quotes with a sarcastic drawl. "Seriously, where did you grow up, you bum?"
"Err…"
Lily giggled while Yuha rubbed the nape of his neck.
"Well, in that case."
Her heart beat fast enough to make her gasp.
"Y-Yes?"
"Then, and I can't believe I'm about to say this for the second time, as long as you are ok with me," he said, pointing up and down at himself. "Then I see no reason not to give this a try as long as you girls are sure and ok with sharing with Tatsumaki."
Her cheeks hurt.
"Yatta!"
While beside her, Lily jumped, squealing.
"That is."
"Y-yes?"
"As long as you don't mind me checking in with Tatsumaki," he said, casting an apologetic look and making her roll her eyes with a snort.
Of course he would…
He was a goody good shoes after all.
Still. She grinned.
That wasn't too bad. After all, his seeming loyalty was a boon in itself.
"Go ahead, you doofus," she said, snatching her phone out of her purse and passing it to Yuha after dialing the gremlin's number.
And listening to her sister's smirking voice explaining to her Idiot that yes, she'd been speaking the truth and that no, she didn't mind…
Well, irritating. To say the least but, in this instance Fubuki would be the bigger woman and let it go.
Let the pest gloat all she wanted. For before the night was through, she'd move back into first place! After all, there was no way that an inexperienced virgin like the gremlin had done t-that.
And so what if she hadn't either!
That was completely different!
He still struggled to come to terms with what'd just happened scarcely an hour prior.
So, in order to distract himself from the thoughts racing through his mind, Yuha tugged at the lapels of his suit, playing with the fabric between index and thump. Feeling the soft, yet surprisingly resilient texture.
"It is indeed as good as the other suit," he said while all around them, the elevator's irritating chirpy tune continued to drone on. "Is this from the same shop as before? If so, I really need to visit and thank—"
Fubuki grimaced, shaking her head. "No, I'm afraid not," she said and sighed. "You see, the shop and its owner have gone missing."
A monster attack?
"Grandmother and granddaughter both?"
"I'm afraid so."
His lips pulled into a scowl, and he made a fist.
Dammit. Once I get strong enough, I really need to do something about all those monsters.
He opened his mouth. "At any rate—"
But just then, the elevator chimed.
And an excited Lily all but vibrated in place, "We're here!" the girl said, all but racing out the doors the moment they slid open, a bemused Yuha and Fubuki both, trailing after the girl who came to a stop in front of a stern well built man who, off all things wore sunglasses.
Yuha blinked.
To each his own, I guess.
"Names?" the man asked Fubuki with a fake French accent, before turning disdainful eyes towards Yuha, even going as far as to sniff. The man's lip curling as he scanned Yuha from top to bottom while Fubuki rattled off their names.
Yeah, I'm not some high society snob pal, but I can bench-press you with the tip of my finger.
As if the man could hear his thoughts, or more likely saw Yuha's dismissive scowl, he sniffed again, and scanning the list, found what he was looking for and smiled pleasantly towards the girls.
"Right this way, ladies and sir."
Fuck you too, pal.
Still, he quickly put surrender-man out of his mind as they stepped into the roof garden proper, pleasant soft jazz music caressing their ears courtesy of a live band over by the bar, and the air smelling crisp and pure with the barest hints of citrus and jasmine. Not enough to overpower and irritate, but just enough to intrigue.
The cherry on top being the various people and couples all around them, some at the bar itself, others on the tables close to the exposed roof's railings and next to the potted plants, and others, on tables near the center of the room.
All of them having fun, all of them talking just loud enough for their voices to mix into a pleasant background noise.
And soon enough, as they took a seat at one of the empty reserved tables near the center, their own voices joined the greater whole.
As the minutes passed, Yuha had to admit. He liked this. Plus, the girls were proving excellent company and, more importantly. They somehow continued to like him for some reason, even laughing at some of his lame dad jokes.
Could they…Could they possibly be 'my people'?
But despite the night quickly turning mostly perfect, like a fly in a soup ruining the dish, something was quickly proving less than stellar.
Namely, the food itself.
Not the quality of it.
Or rather not that alone, for while the tastes were quite…experimental, during both his time in Basic and his previous life he'd forged something of an iron stomach. So, he could, in fact, stomach the dishes.
No. What was worse. At least to him, were the size of the dishes.
"Lily…"
"Y-Yes, Y-yuha?" the girl stuttered, and for once during the night, and judging by her greenish tint, he suspected it wasn't out of her feelings for him. Something which he still had trouble internalizing.
"Where's the rest of it?" he couldn't help but ask as he poked his near empty plate with a fork. "For that matter, where's the meat?"
"Hrk!"
At the sound of the word, Fubuki's green tint intensified.
"H-Hey, Yuha, do you perhaps want our plates as well?" Lily asked with wide eyes and a bit too wide of a grin.
"You girls sure?"
"Y-yeah!" the qirl nodded fast. Way too fast as she pushed hers and Fubuki's plate his way with haste.
"Don't mind if I do," he said with a shrug and proceeded to wolf down the food stuff.
Somewhat crunchy, and he could swear that he'd heard a squeal there at the end but meh. He'd eaten worse.
"Hrk!" Fubuki's green tint intensified. "Y-Yuha?"
"Yes, Fubuki?" he asked, growing a bit concerned.
"Could you go and please brink me a drink?" the girl asked, beads of sweat trailing down the sides of her face. "I'd go myself but…please, d-d-dear?" she asked and, despite her suffering, blushed.
"Of course," he said and rose from his chair, what exactly do you want?"
"Anything!" the girl hissed with wide eyes. "Anything strong enough, sweet or bitter enough to wash down this horrible taste!"
He shrugged and nodded. "Something strong it is."
"T-thank you…"
"T-there there, mistress, please hold on," Lily said as he made his way towards the bar and nodded at the bored-looking silver fox behind the bar dressed in a loose, elegant white shirt with a dark vest on top with diamond like purple buttons, whose eyes lit up as he all but rushed towards him, eager to escape the couple who, by the looks of it had been chatting the poor man up for the past few minutes non-stop.
"What will it be, sir?" the man asked, his black gloved fingers twitching in anticipation, his blue eyes all but pleading for a big order, something difficult or both. Anything to delay having to talk with the couple again.
"I need something strong," he said and jammed his thump over his shoulder and behind him, pointing at the table where Fubuki and Lily were. "Not strong alcohol wise necessary, but in taste. You see, the girls, they are unaccustomed to such a…delicate cuisine and thus—"
The man snorted and leaned a tad closer, his voice lowering,. "No need to butter me up, sir, I understand. The only people who eat here are idiotic snobs with too much money or people who don't know any better, and judging by your ladies' looks…they seem to belong in the second category although…" the man eyed him up and down.
"I did a stint in the army. I've eaten far worse than that," he offered, his voice just as low.
No need to risk the man's job after all.
The silver-fox's eyes lit up.
"Ah…Yes, that would do the trick," he said with a nod and reached underneath the counter, fishing out all kinds of contraptions alongside a couple of bottles.
"A tonic for both the girls coming right up and low on alcohol to boot," the man said, a curious glint in his eyes and Yuha smiled in relief.
"Great! Thanks!"
And the man's mustache twitched alongside the lone silver strand above his forehead that almost touch his skin, seemingly pleased with Yuha for some reason. "And for you, sir?"
"Eh, surprise me," he said, and then eyeing the couple out of the corner of his eye, he added. "But, make it after I bring the tonics to the girls and I want it to be complex, I'll pay, don't worry."
The man sighed. "Thank you, sir."
Making to grab the girls prepared drinks, an angry roar followed by the familiar sound of a body crushing against metal bars, followed by terrified screams, caused him to whirl around, and for his eyes to widen as having crushed through the railings opposite the bar and a set of tables, coming to a step a few inches from Fubuki and Lily's table, a groaning figure lay on the ground.
A groaning female figure.
A groaning tall female figure, for as the woman stood clutching her bleeding side, Yuha once again found himself staring up at another girl. Something which had been a rare occurrence ever since he'd entered this world.
"A-apologies, good citizens, for it was n-not, g-gkh my intention to frighten you," the grimacing gray-haired woman said, trying to smile. "B-but I suggest you run for a monster is after me and—"
A second roar sounded, and a figure landed with the sound of pavement cracking on the roof's edge, one foot on the broken railings', pressing them down with the sound of agonized metal.
"Fool. It's bad enough you're a traitor, but now you dare waste time coddling these weaklings?" the creature with the head of a lion said, crossing its arms and scoffing, before a dangerous grin spread across its face. "Perhaps I should start with them, then? A way for you to start repaying your debt, eh Mosquito-girl?"
Yuha's eyes widened, and he turned his eyes away from the powerful monster and towards the grimacing tall woman.
That's…Mosquito girl?
No wonder he didn't recognize the most likely reason for the blond cyborg's death.
After all, the woman looked nothing like he remembered her looking.
Oh, she was still tall, yes. Her hair still Grayfia gray. And yet, aside from that and a pair of diaphanous wings behind her back, that was where the similarities ended.
For the girl's arms and legs were human like and no hint of the mosquito face jammed atop her head remained.
He blinked.
Well, aside from a pair of thin long antennas like a second set of eyebrows above the first.
Yuha scowled, and his fist clenched.
So, she's the reason Genos is dead. Why I should—
"No!" the injured woman roared, and as the grinning lion monsterreached with a muscular arm for a terrified woman on the table right next to him, Mosquito Girl exploded forward, letting out a roar as she raised her arm and—
"Gkh!"
Fell right into the maliciously grinning monster's grasp, the creature leaning forward.
"Foolish traitor, you reacted exactly as I expected you to." The lion laughed as Yuha reached for the blazing bonfire within him, preparing to power up. "What did you think to achieve as injured as you are? You should have waited to recover first…Not that I intend to give you the time to do so!"
The lion started to squeeze and just before Yuha jumped to her aid, a green spectral arm punched the lion square in the jaw.
"Gkh!"
Causing its arm to reflexively open as it rose and rubbed at its jaw.
"Who did that?" the lion asked, scanning the crowd, its eyes landing on a panting green Fubuki. "Was it you little esper? Brave, but foolish!" it roared and kicked towards his girlfriend.
Yuha did not have time to think, did not have time to finish activating kaio-ken and Roshi, so he did the only thing he could.
'Splooge.'
Fubuki who had been all but certain. That her time had come.
Could only stare through wide eyes.
Continuing to draw breath.
And watch as the monster retracted his fist.
"Huh? Where did the bug come from?" the monster growled and Fubuki heard someone screaming, only an instant later realizing that it was her.
For in front of her…in front of her!
Yuha's headless body stood, arms spread wide in a protective manner. Shielding, yet again, both her and Lily.
"Hmf. Brave, but foolish," the monster said, shaking its head. "But, I suppose in honor of the stranger's guts, I can kill you two last," he said and turned around, Fubuki's last glimpse being of the creature's grinning visage. "Now, little traitor, time to—Gkh!"
She blinked.
Was she hallucinating—
"Argkh!"
"Lily…"
"I see it too, mistress…"
For Yuha's headless body had in quick succession punched the monster in the back of its head and then drove his knee into the middle of the creature's spine, a red maelstrom blazing around the headless body.
"W-what the…" the pained monster asked, glaring over his shoulder at the blazing body from which—
'Pop'
Her apparently not dead boyfriend's head emerged in a shower of disgusting green goo.
"Well, that was unpleasant."
"Yuha!"
"Sir Yuha!"
"Perfect Zero!"
"Hello~" he said, glancing over his shoulder and winking at them before blinking. "Wait. Who just called me—"
"Hero!" the lion roared, standing back up to its feet and turning to face him fully. "How are you still alive?"
Yuha crossed his arms even as with a roar, his muscles expanded, the red-aura around him exploding from a bonfire to a firestorm and…promptly causing the upper portion of his suit to explode once more.
"Well, it's not proper for me to say this, but, in your case. Villain, I'll make an exception," Yuha said, and grinned. "Fuck you, that's how."
"I'll make you eat those words," the lion growled.
"Oh yeah tough guy? Then why don't you fight me in honorable combat, away from civilians and innocents, or are you that much of a coward that you must hide behind innocent victims and rely on cheap shots?"
The lion's fur stood on end.
"How dare you—"
"Hiya!"
An energy blast slammed into the lion, making him grunt and take a small step forward.
An energy blast that did not come from Yuha's hand.
"Eh?" the man being as confused as she.
Not so the lion, apparently, for it turned around and glanced at his original quarry.
"Too slow, big guy~" the tall woman said with a grin as she flew away, and yet, Fubuki even fighting through the nausea and her heart nearly stopping upon realizing she'd lost Yuha…She could still read the panic the injured woman's mind radiated.
Alongside her determination to try and draw the monster this…'Beast King' if the unknown heroine's thoughts were to be believed, try and draw him away from the civilians.
The 'Beast King' growled and cast one last glare at Yuha.
"This isn't finished, bug. I'd have your tongue for your insolence and yet my duty compels me to leave you alive…For now. We'll meet again, and when we do, it'll be your end."
"I'll be waiting," Yuha said, staring back into the creature's eyes, unafraid.
And with one last snort. The Beast King jumped away, in pursuit of the already long gone woman.
"Fubuki…" her b-b-boyfriend said, sighing as he turned around and rapidly deflated back to his normal, and already muscular enough size, before falling down on one knee. "Gkh!
"Y-yuha!"
"Yuha!"
"I'm fine, girls," he said with a chuckle, and pushed himself back to his feet. "Its just…This took more out of me than expected. Still, Fubuki."
"Y-Yes?"
"Next time…" he chuckled weakly. "Next time, let's go for something…less fancy and less pretentious, yes?"
"A-Alright!"
Her heart beat like mad in her chest and she could feel her cheeks hurting as butterflied danced in her stomach.
He was alive! Hell. She and Lily were alive still!
As Yuha slid back into his seat amidst the sound of clapping, the barman, smiling, brought them a set of drinks.
"Compliments of the house, ladies, sir."
"Thank you, much appreciated," Yuha said, and she nodded in thanks as well, before, feeling quite bold and as a prelude for what came next, she leaned across the table and planted a smooch on Yuha's cheek.
Drawing back with a giggle at his wide-eyed look, raising her glass and fighting to keep the nausea down, winking as she took a sip of her beverage.
Ah…This…this is good.
For indeed, whatever the drink was, it was strong enough to mask the taste of the 'food' still lingering in her mouth…
"Fubuki?"
"Y-yes, Yuha?" the nervous girl asked as she flashed a tremulous smile his way.
He scratched his chin.
"I have to ask, what made you pick that off all places? Had you been there before?"
Fubuki turned scarlet and avoided his gaze.
"N-no…I'd merely heard from a colleague at work that the food there was wonderful and I wanted tomakeagoodimpressionand—"
He sighed and stopped, almost causing the girl to bump into him with a squeak.
"Fubuki."
"Y-yes!"
He placed an arm on her shoulder, his other finding Lily's, making the shorter girl blush as well.
"As I said before, next time let's go somewhere simpler, yes? You don't need to try to impress me. I want you to be yourselves. After all, I want to date the real Fubuki and Lily, not what you think will please me." He let go of the girls and clapped, making them squeak in surprise.
He flashed them a smile. "So, how do you girls feel about burgers and ice-cream? Perhaps before, or after a movie?"
Lily groaned. "Yes! Please! The food tonight was horrible!"
Fubuki's sighed and also gave a disdainful nod. "I guess that's fine…" and yet, judging by the smile she failed to suppress, Yuha suspected that was more than fine.
"Good," he said, and they resumed their walk, until at last they came to the entrance of the apartment building where Fubuki and Lily apparently stayed, exchanging pleasantries and farewells before—
"Yuha?"
"Mmh, what is it, Fubuki?"
The girl took another deep breath and then darted forward, grabbing him by his chain's necklace and tugging him downwards, and more out of surprise than anything, he leaned downwards until—
In another city entirely, flying through the air, a certain green-haired woman's eyes flew wide open as she suddenly lost control of her flight and slammed into and through a billboard.
"Fubukiiii!"
Wow.
Fubuki's eyes closed, head tilted to the side, was in the process of trying to suck his soul out of his mouth.
Her lips feel so soft, her tongue so—oh wow. That's a lot of tongue and spit!
For the girl was trying to give him a thorough tonsil examination! Her tongue trying to map the furthest reaches of his mouth.
…not that he minded. He liked sloppy kisses.
His eyes closed and for a few seconds that felt like an eternity they stayed like that, before, at some unconscious signal they both separated, a strand of saliva connecting them, that is, until Fubuki noticed, and with her eyes gleaming, swirled her green coated tongue and slurped it all up.
"I—"
"Mouuuu! Not fair, Mistress!" Lily whined, stomping her foot, and before Yuha could blink, another hand rose, yanking at his fragile necklace and causing him to lean even more as Lily also tried to suck his soul.
Before that, Lily was also seemingly satisfied and let go. The girl's face a brilliant red as Fubuki let out a chuckle that caused him to shiver.
"Fufufu~ Goodnight, Yuha."
"See you tomorrow, Y-Yuha!"
"Yeah…" he mumbled, waving weakly at the blushing girls, who tittering entered the building as he spun around and struggled to reboot his brain before, with a sigh he gave it up as hopeless and, with a light kick against the pavement rose and then sped through the air, heading for Bang's Dojo.
For in a couple of hours, a match meant to decide his marital status was about to take place.
…oh, and decide the peace between humanity and the subterraneans, but who cared about unimportant details like that?
Bored, and waiting until a couple of the next batches would be ready in a few hours, Psykos was busy doing nothing, her mind on autopilot as none of the tv's channels had anything worth a damn.
What good was going through all that bother to get reception and internet down here if I can't find—Wait… she hastily pressed back on the remote and her eyes widened.
Some news channel and some Regina woman were busy droning on, that was off little interest to her. No, what had caught her attention was the fact that the bug was apparently on a date with her Fubuki, and after driving some idiotic monster away, if the news were to be believed, Fubuki had…Fubuki had!
A short clip played once again, captured from some shitty phone's camera, of her Fubuki leaning forward and planting a kiss on the bug's cheek.
That's it! He dies!
Now I know that no doubt, for some of you, namely if any of you guys are romance/drama writers you are groaning at me having skipped and quickly resolved a lot of 'juicy bits' that could've been milked for a couple extra 20-40k words of drama.
To that I say, "fuck! That!"
Close to 15k of rush light romance is more than enough for Cuha, thank you, this is a shounen tale at its heart after all. :P