Mari buttered the toast then handed it to Denji to put on whatever sweet toppings he preferred. While she was buttering the next piece, he held the piece of toast in front of her mouth.
"Take a bite," he encouraged her, pressing it to her lips.
She obediently opened her mouth wondering what culinary delight he had concocted for her. He had mixed strawberry preserves with the orange marmalade. The tanginess of the orange peel with the sweetness of the strawberry was an excellent and delicious combination.
"Mmmm," she hummed with approval. "I like it."
"You do?"
She opened her mouth for another bite then took the remaining piece of toast from his hand despite the fact it was going to get her fingers sticky.
"I do," she confirmed while happily munching away.
"Are you two ready? We need to go," Nayuta called to them from the hallway while putting on her shoes.
"Did you pack your PJs?" Mari asked, poking the last bite of her toast into her mouth.
"Yes. The ones with the purple unicorns."
Mari chuckled, licking the goopy preserves from her fingers. She never would have taken Nayuta for a purple unicorn kind of girl but those were the ones she picked out when they went shopping especially for special pajamas for the sleepover. Nayuta could be classified as a purple unicorn herself; something unique, unexpected, and definitely one of a kind.
"What a waste. I would have licked your fingers for you, you know," Denji mumbled, placing a kiss on the back of her neck while she rinsed off her fingers. He took a big bite of his toast covered with three different kinds of jam and sprinkled liberally with cinnamon when she turned to face him.
"We don't have time for that. I'll give you something to lick tonight. There's plenty of whipped cream left," she said in a low voice, giving him a wink. Then she spoke louder to ask Nayuta, "You have your toothbrush, right?"
"Yes, I have my toothbrush and my toothpaste. I packed extra underwear, two changes of clothes...just in case...socks and a sweater. Just in case," she added again.
"You definitely sound prepared," Denji said, swatting Mari on the behind when she walked past him. "And you call me overprotective."
"We should be leaving. I don't want to be late," Nayuta said, opening the door as if to give them a hint to hurry.
"We're coming," Denji assured her, wrapping a paper towel around the bottom half of Nayuta's toast. This breakfast would have to be taken to go apparently. The paper towel would keep her fingers from getting covered with the blackberry jam, her favorite.
Nayuta stood in the hall waiting for them with the door open to come out. Her backpack was on her back, and her overnight bag in her hands held securely in front of her. A light blush of happiness colored her cheeks the prettiest pink. She pushed her hair behind her ear despite it being securely held with a wide red ribbon.
Mari had lent her the silky red ribbon taking it out of her own hair after Nayuta had commented about how pretty the shiny fabric looked. Choosing the thin red ribbon, she completed her Snow White outfit of the yellow shirt and royal blue skirt. As usual, she wore her black patent leather pumps that had become her official school shoes.
Denji took the small purple duffel bag from Nayuta to carry it for her. She needed a free hand for her breakfast and with the other she held Mari's hand.
"Are you excited?" she asked the child who swung their hands as they walked.
"Very," she mumbled with a mouthful of toast. "Did you put cinnamon on this? I don't like cinnamon."
"Oh, sorry, I forgot," Denji apologized. "I guess I got a little carried away when I was putting it on mine."
"It's okay. Thank you for the food," she said, scarfing down another bite. "Sunday are we going to make the invitations for the tea party? I can give them to Melanie and Himari on Monday."
"Sure," Mari replied. "I want to go shopping for a table on Saturday. We can have our first family dinner on Sunday."
"I'll text Kishibe and invite him," Denji volunteered, pulling out his phone.
"Don't forget to walk the doggies tonight, Big Bro," Nayuta reminded him.
"I won't. I'll take them to the park like we always do," he promised her.
"Big Sis, will you let Meowy stay with you tonight so he won't miss me and get lonely?"
"Of course. I've kinda missed not having him with me lately."
"Any other orders, ma'am?" Denji inquired with a smile.
"Mmmm," Nayuta hummed pensively, tapping her chin with her forefinger. "Not that I can think of."
"You have our numbers. If you think of anything, call or text," Mari said, patting her purse.
"If you want to come home, don't hesitate to call either," Denji added quickly.
"Are you having separation issues already, Big Bro?" Mari teased him, glimpsing at him over Nayuta's head.
Separation issues? Her and Mari with their big damn words, Denji thought, rubbing the back of his neck.
"No, of course not," he assured her vehemently despite gripping the strap of the overnight bag so tightly his knuckles had turned white.
"Melanie said we're going to eat pizza and popcorn and candy. We're going to watch movies and play games. We're even going to do each others fingernails and toenails," Nayuta said, looking down at Mari's nails painted an intense vermillion like a poppy. "I think I want mine to be pink. Or maybe lavender."
"Are purple and lavender your favorite colors?" Mari asked, noting the color seemed to be appearing on quite a few random items lately.
"I really like those two colors. I'm not sure why."
Nayuta had purple and lavender notebooks. She had asked Mari for a purple ribbon for her hair on Tuesday. Then the pajamas she picked out when they took a side trip into the children's clothing store yesterday along with a lavender sweater for the cooler evenings and mornings.
"Well, a dark purple used to signify wealth and nobility. Purple dye was expensive and reserved only for the rich. Lavender can be associated with the flower of the same name which smells so good but also promotes relaxation and good sleep," Mari explained.
"How do you know so much random shit?" Denji asked, glancing over at her.
She shrugged. "I love to read."
"You should go on one of those trivia shows and win a lot of money," Nayuta suggested.
"Yeah, that is a good idea. We could move into a nice big house with lots of land. The dogs could run around and Nayuta would have lots of trees to climb. We could even build a treehouse, kiddo," Denji said, staring up at the sky as if picturing it.
"Really? A treehouse?!"
"Yeah, really! We could have a library full of books. And a window seat where you could read, Mari. Would you like that?"
"Yeah, I would. That would be amazing," Mari sighed, her tears stinging her eyes unexpectedly.
She could picture acres and acres of green grassy hills dotted with trees. The dogs running free across the property chasing rabbits or balls or each other. Denji and Nayuta hammering boards together in the massive boughs of an ancient oak. Her sitting on a light pink cushion covered bench built into a sunny bay window reading her favorite book with Meowy curled in her lap. The yearning in her heart for such a beautiful dream was almost painful in its intensity.
They remained silent the rest of the way to Nayuta's school each considering their own fantasy of a home. As always, her good friends waited for her at the front gate. They ran across to meet her to help her with her overnight bag.
"Thank you for allowing her to come over," Melanie said to Denji, taking the duffel from him. "We're going to have so much fun!"
"If you girls need anything, just call okay?" Mari said as they looked both ways in preparation to head back over to the other side.
"We will. Don't worry. She's in good hands," the girl assured them, taking Nayuta by the hand while Himari took her other hand.
Denji and Mari watched the three girls run across the street after the security guard beckoned to them when when it was safe. Mari took Denji's hand in hers when the girls ran through the gate.
"Are you worried?" she asked, feeling his fingers tighten around hers.
"Not at all."
Mari squeezed his hand back as they turned to go on their way to school.
"What are we going to do for dinner tonight?" she inquired.
"Take out will be fine. We won't have to do dishes either. We can relax and watch a movie. We can have dessert. Or you could be dessert and..." He dragged his forefinger across her palm. "Whatever happens, happens."
"Sounds like a good plan."
~\'/~
The closer Mari got to the classroom, the more her abdominal muscles tightened. By the time she reached the door she thought she might throw up from the anxiety threatening to overwhelm her. She had already made up her mind to at least pretend to be calm, to act as if nothing had happened yesterday. Despite the apprehension eating her up inside and making her hands tremble, she took a deep breath and entered the room.
The students were chatting like they always did when the teachers switched out between classes. When she put her purse and folders down on the desk, the droning hum of conversation quieted to a low buzz of a few voices. Inhaling a shaky breath she hoped no one heard, she took the day's quotes out of the folder to pass them out.
At Reze's desk, Mari forced herself to make eye contact with the girl and smile. Reze returned the smile as if she too wanted to forget about yesterday's events on the rooftop. They both just had to get through the next hour, then they would not have to see each other for two days over the weekend.
When the class ended, Mari exhaled in relief. She felt like she had been holding that breath through the entire class. The students immediately began talking amongst themselves, some getting up to mill about and chat with their friends on the other side of the room.
While gathering her things to leave, the hair raised on the back of her neck from the creepy crawly sensation of being watched. The strange feeling grew stronger, the entire back of her body heating and prickling as if being poked with a thousand needs. Pivoting on her heel, she saw Reze standing within an arm's length behind her.
"Oh," Mari gasped, startled by her closeness.
Her elbow bumped into the podium beside her sending a white hot pain coursing up to her shoulder which also made her let go of the folder in her hand. Papers that she would need for her next class floated down like giant confetti. Bending as best as she could with her knees pressed together by the body hugging skirt, she began to gather the scattered sheets.
"I'm so sorry," Reze apologized, bending to help her pick up the papers.
"Was there something you needed?" she asked without looking up at the girl.
"No, not really. I just wanted to say you looked quite lovely today. You're practically glowing," the girl complimented her. "I guess a woman in love does that."
Mari could feel her face heating which made her ponder exactly how red she presently glowed, possibly like Rudolph's famous nose.
"Thank you. That's very sweet of you to say," she said, taking the papers extended to her.
When Reze extended her hand to assist her with standing, Mari hesitated glancing up at the girl's face. The friendly smile enticed her to take proffered hand. She did feel a bit unbalanced after all not only due to her awkward squatting position but also due to her shaky knees that might forsake her at any second.
"Thank you," she said once she was back to a standing position. She let go of Reze's hand to stuff the papers back into the folder. "I must be getting to my next class."
"You don't belong with him," Reze said, following her to the door.
Mari stopped walking but did not turn around.
"Excuse me?"
"You don't belong with him," Reze repeated. "You're not his kind."
"Not his kind?"
"You know what I mean," Reze rejoined, her voice tight with annoyance. "There aren't very many of us, you know. Hybrids. We're special. He's special."
Mari turned on her heel to face Reze. Although the girl showed no outwards signs of anger or hate, she could feel the hostility wafting off of her in palpable waves that made goosebumps rise over her entire body and chilled her to the bone.
"Yes, I am very aware of how special he is."
"I'm like him," Reze said, patting her chest over her heart. "I should be with him. I'm meant to be with him."
"Didn't you have your chance to be with him?" Mari asked, clutching the folders more tightly, her annoyance boiling past anger and right over into malice.
This girl pushed too far too fast while trying to act so sweet and nice. Denji had warned her about the good girl act. He might have let women fool him before, take advantage of his eagerness to love and be loved in return, but no more. He was hers now and she would not let him go so easily especially to someone who had almost literally ripped his heart out.
"From what I've heard, you blew your chance to be with him. He asked you to run away, to start a whole new life. You abandoned him. I think that hurt worse than the betrayal of trying to murder him."
"It wasn't my fault. I was under Makima's control," she whined, tears forming in her eyes. "I was going to meet him. Then Makima caught me and -"
Mari held up her hand in a stop gesture. She didn't want to hear another word especially after hearing that woman's name twice in rapid succession.
"Please, don't say anything else. I'm not the one you need to talk to. You need to talk to Denji."
"I tried, but he won't listen. If you could just talk to him and convince him to hear me out I'm -"
"You're kidding right? You can't seriously be asking me to help you win him back?"
"Please, it wasn't my fault," she begged, tears falling from her eyes.
Was this girl seriously trying to stir up her sympathy and asking for her help to get Denji back?
"Look whatever happened between you and Denji and Makima is all in the past and has nothing to do with me. Please leave me out of it."
"Oh, but it has very much to do with you. Don't you see? You're in my way." Somehow Reze maintained a light and breezy tone despite her dire warning.
"I'm in your way? Are you threatening me?" she scoffed, bewildered by the girl's sudden burst of astounding boldness and blatant animosity.
Reze shrugged, smiling sweetly albeit a bit stiffly with her effort to hold the fake smile in place. Reaching under the choker around her neck, she made a show of revealing the ring attached the pin in her neck, hooking her finger around it as if she meant to pull it. Like the pin from a grenade. That must be equivalent to Denji's pull cord, activating her as the Bomb Devil.
Mari was too shocked to be afraid. Surely Reze would not attack her right here in the classroom risking killing all of her classmates. Then again, why would she care? There was only one thing on Reze's mind: getting Denji back at all costs and a major obstacle stood right in front of her.
"I will move you if you do not step aside willingly."
"Wow...unbelievable," Mari muttered, actually smiling in disbelief to cover the fear that was now filtering through her veins like frigid water. She could absolutely not comprehend what she was hearing at the moment. Reze would indeed kill them all.
"You've never been threatened by the likes of me."
"You got that right," Mari agreed with a sigh. "I was nearly eaten by a Fiend though does that count? He was without a doubt a threat to my life, and he wasn't a hybrid, but I think that definitely counts as a threat."
"You were what now?" Reze's finger unhooked from the pin. She covered it with the wide blue choker.
"I'm not holding him prisoner. If he wants to go, he's free to go. If he wants to be with you, he will come to you. However, I'm not letting him go just because you asked." Mari turned around and took a step out of the door. Then she looked back over her shoulder. "Oh, and if you think killing me will win Denji's heart, you're sadly mistaken. If anything, it will make him hate you and drive him further away. You might want to rethink that plan."
Their conversation was over. Mari exhaled vigorously blowing up the curls resting against her forehead coated with a film of cold sweat.
Well, Monday would without a doubt would be hella awkward, but she refused to be intimated and back down. If Denji wanted to leave and go back to Reze, she wouldn't hold him. However, she would not let go of the man she loved so easily as long as he held onto her just as tightly.
~\'/~
Mari was hurrying down the hall weaving her way through the throng of students on their way to the cafeteria or just standing around talking. She saw a familiar black head through the crowd. Usually she was not thrilled to see him but today which had become an unusual day was an exception.
Yoshida was flanked by two boys. She assumed them to be members of the Devil Hunter Club who also serve as Student Council Members as well. The one on his right was huge, tall and wide, with an eyepatch over one eye. He looked like an grown ass MMA fighter, not a third year high schooler. She would think it fair to guess he lost that eye in a fight with a devil. The other on his left was a skinny young man shorter than Yoshida with lots of pins in his hair to told it back from his face. If he could hold his own with a Devil, surely she could with the correct training.
Mari boldly approached them, frowning deeply and drawing her eyebrows together to give them the impression she was angry, and Yoshida was about to be scolded.
"Yoshida Hirofumi," she called out in her most authoritative and annoyed teacher's voice.
The heads of the two boys at his sides immediately jerked toward her then they bowed in acknowledgement of her presence. Yoshida on the other hand slowly turned his eyes toward her, making eye contact as she approached.
"Do you need something, Miss Varianno, that can't wait until sixth period?" he asked.
"As a matter of fact, it can't wait. I need to talk to you. Excuse me gentlemen," she said, grabbing Yoshida by the top of his ear and twisting it.
"Ow," he hissed through his gritted teeth to avoid exclaiming and making an even bigger show of her dragging him through the hall by his ear. "What the hell are you doing? What's your problem?"
"I'm acting like you're in trouble so the other students won't be suspicious," she replied in a low voice so only he could hear.
"Yeah, that was a hell of a cover the other day when Denji pulled you out into the hall. You're doing a great job of pretending to be a teacher."
"God, you are such an asshole."
Mari pulled him all the way to the faculty room which would be empty this time of day because the teacher's favored hiding away in the lounge where students wouldn't bother them during lunch. She took a seat at the desk she used in the back corner by the window. He elegantly sat down in the chair at the side of the desk, prissily crossing his legs.
"I need to ask you something," she began, straightening the folders on top of the blotter.
Her belly tumbled and rolled uncertainly. She swallowed several times to force down the lump in her throat. The idea of asking for his help made her want to vomit but it needed to be done. She would swallow her pride for Denji and no other man.
"I need a favor," she said, continuing to stall. She rifled through the desk drawer despite looking for nothing in particular.
"Heh," he scoffed, placing his elbow on the desk. With his chin held in his palm he leaned forward with a grin on his face that could only be described as shit eating. "You need a favor from me."
"Yes," she confirmed in a gushing exhale. Toying with the edge of the blotter, she rolled her eyes upwards to meet his which bore into hers.
"What kind of favor?" he asked, the fingertips of his other hands brushing across the back of her hand.
She withdrew her hand quickly placing it in her lap to fidget with the fingers of her other hand.
"Not that kind," she assured him, her eyes narrowing as her glower deepened. "I want you to teach me to fight."
"What?" he chuckled with a demeaning air, sitting back in the chair. "Stop messing with me."
"I want you to teach me how to defend myself at least so you two won't have to be distracted with saving me when we encounter a Devil or a Fiend. I don't want to be the damsel in distress when there are enemies who need to be fought."
"Hmmm," he murmured, looking over her from head to toe as if assessing her. "You did hold your own for a little while before we got there to save you from that Siren Fiend. You might have some potential...to at least defend yourself and keep from being a burden."
Mari stubbornly met his critical gaze. "That's exactly it. I don't want to be a burden. To either of you."
"She threatened you, didn't she?"
Damn him! How does he know?!, she wondered, pressing her lips together.
"No, I - "
Yoshida sighed in frustration, rolling his eyes.
"Please don't lie to me. You're not that good of a liar. Besides, I think even you were expecting this at some point. I will admit I thought she would be a little more strategic and wait a bit longer. What did she say?"
"Does it matter?" she muttered, standing up from her chair to stare out of the window.
"I'm curious. Indulge me."
He probably wants to make sure I'm not being melodramatic, she thought, folding her arms under her breasts.
"She told me I was in her way and that she would move me if I did not step aside willingly," she stated flatly exhibiting no emotion to give only the facts so she would not be accused of being a drama queen.
"Didn't really sugar coat it, did she?"
"Nope." She glanced over her shoulder at him.
"Reze put another note in Denji's locker this morning. They're meeting on the roof again right now."
Mari inhaled sharply but tried to avoid reacting further. She trusted Denji and would have to trust their feelings for each other. Forcing herself to unfold her arms, to take down that physical shield against emotional harm, she hung them at her sides in a relaxed manner despite feeling nothing near relaxed. Slowly she turned to face him, managing to meet his gaze. He was staring at her, waiting for a reaction, any reaction, which she refused to give him.
"Are you going to help me?" she asked, speaking each word slowly and enunciating carefully to hide the tremor in her voice.
Yoshida sighed, placing his hands behind his neck and threading his fingers together. He looked up at the ceiling as if considering her request.
At least he did not flat out say hell no as she had expected. Her mouth and throat felt dry so she opened the bottle of water sitting on her desk while he continued to pretend to mull it over to keep her in suspense.
"I guess you really do love him to swallow your pride and come to me. I have to respect that," Yoshida said, standing up from the chair.
Taking shallow breaths, she bit the tip of her tongue to literally hold it to refrain from speaking. Perhaps she should feel flattered he offered her a modicum of respect. She couldn't take his words, even a compliment from him at face value when every word coming out of his mouth dripped with sarcasm. Perhaps it was that ever present smirk making him sound insincere.
Yoshida stood up from the chair, walking toward her. He kept his eyes on hers, moving slowly, confidently, like a predator with his prey conveniently trapped.
Mari could taste the bitter iron of her blood when she clamped down on her tongue harder. She pressed her back against the window but otherwise did not move. Even to her own surprise, her eyes never wavered from his during his approach.
"I have to admit," he began, standing close to her and leaning over her in a purposely intimidating way. "You are an extraordinary woman. I am intrigued."
Too close!, her inner voice screamed in a full on panic. In her head she was running around in circles, screaming at the top of her lungs, generally freaking out. On the outside, she remained calm, cool, unmoving as he lowered his face toward hers coming almost nose to nose with her.
"I'm going to enjoy hurting you," he whispered, his breath caressing her lips. "Just remember, you asked for it."
Mari swallowed several times in an effort to dislodge the ball of emotion in her throat hoping he did not hear the spastic gulping. She was afraid and angry, full of regret for having asked. But she wanted to be better, stronger, a help and not a detriment to Denji. He couldn't protect himself or defeat Devils if he was always busy saving her from some kind of trouble. She already knew training would be grueling and painful, but he didn't have to be so damn creepy about it.
"Why do you hate me so much, hmm?" she asked, her eyes shifting back and forth between his that held no emotion and no clues as to why he detested her with every fiber of his being.
Yoshida placed his hand on her neck over the fading bite marks. She flinched in reaction to his touch, but he kept his palm pressed firmly to her neck with his thumb resting on her throat over her hyoid bone. With a little squeeze, an application of pressure with his thumb, he could cut off her air and snap that delicate bone leaving her to asphyxiate and die.
"One day I might tell you," he said, lifting his hand and backing away. "But not today."
Yoshida turned on his heel. Mari's body flooded with relief to see his back while walking away from her.
"I'm leaving," he announced, raising his hand in the air. "We'll work out the details later."
Mari's legs were uncertain and shook like a newborn fawn's as she took the few steps required to sit down in the chair.
What have I just done? Did I give up more than a piece of my pride?, she contemplated, placing her head in her hands. Is this what it feels like to make a pact with a Devil?
~\'/~
Mari sat on the couch, swirling the dark burgundy wine in her glass. When Denji's arm tightened around her shoulders, pulling her into his side, she lay her head on his shoulder with the crown of her head pressing into the crook of his neck. She smiled when he kissed the top of her head.
"Are you okay?" he asked, rubbing his hand along her upper arm. He took the glass from her and set it on the table.
"I don't want to talk about it," she replied rather than saying no. She turned toward him, pressing her face into his neck and stretching her legs across his lap. "I just want to concentrate on being with you."
"Okay," he said, putting his hand on her hip to pull her behind over into his lap. He nuzzled the tip of her nose with his, stealing a quick kiss from her. "Then be with me. Your body is here but your mind is a million miles away."
"Isn't it my body you want?" she joked, pressing a kiss below his earlobe.
He held her jaw with his fingertips, lifting her face to make eye contact.
"I want all of you," he said quite seriously. "Your body, your mind." He pressed his hand to her chest between her breasts. "Your soul."
Mari shivered. Ichiro had spoken similar words to her with a completely different intention behind them. Closing her eyes as Denji's head dipped toward hers, she waited for his kiss. When his lips touched hers, an electrical rush of excitement sped through her body leaving a tingle in her fingers and toes.
"Where. Is. That. Necklace?" he inquired between kisses.
"The bottom drawer of the jewelry box in my closet," she replied, biting her lower lip as he slid from underneath her to go retrieve it. She picked up the glass of wine from the table, guzzling the whole thing.
Denji returned, shirtless having removed his t-shirt in her room, with the faux gemstone embellished collar necklace. Kneeling in front of her between her knees, he held it out to her extended between his hands like a servant offering his queen a gift. Lowering his eyes, he stared at the puffy white lambs on her fuzzy lavender sleep shorts. Each one had a number on its side and leapt over a section of a fence. On her white tank top, stretched across her breasts, there was a single lavender lamb, fast asleep under his purple blanket with Zs arcing from his muzzle.
Mari had bought the set for herself the same day Nayuta bought her purple unicorn pajamas. Later she had laughed and confessed she had chosen the lamb ones in lavender and purple to avoid completely matching Nayuta but to at least keep them color coordinated. She said she wanted to have all of the girls over for a sleepover as well one night. Her face grew sad with a deep frown when she told him her father never permitted her to have friends over nor could she go to their houses.
Goosebumps raised on his neck when her cool fingertips slid across his skin to secure the collar. He kept his head bowed, waiting for her fingertips to glide along his jaw and to his chin to lift his face upward. Gazing into her pale blue eyes, he smiled as a warm feeling spread through his chest. It was the same feeling he used to get when he would hug Pochita who would pant happily and enthusiastically lick his face.
Picking up the bracelet from the couch beside her leg, Denji put it around her wrist to join them together. He placed his hands on her thighs with the fingers curled under to mimic paws. Swinging his behind as if wagging his tail, he yapped at her. She giggled and began to pet his head.
"Oh, what is it boy?" Mari cooed, running her fingers through his hair.
He whined, pushing his cheek into her hand. Chuckling lightly again, she leaned forward to kiss his forehead. Her fingers stroked his cheek while she pressed a kiss to the opposite one. When she went in for another kiss, he turned his head to catch her lips with his.
The kiss was tender and quick before he broke contact, a true stolen kiss, not even allowing her time to return it. Nuzzling her cheek with his nose, he lowered his head to her thigh, laying his cheek against her bare skin.
Mari absentmindedly petted his head while she drifted away on a sea of thoughts again. It felt like she had replayed the conversation with Reze in her head a thousand times. Should she have said something different or should she have said nothing at all? A sense of competition over a man could always bring out the absolute worst in women.
She had also recalled her discussion with Yoshida a dozen times over as well. Although she no longer regretted asking for his assistance, she could not stop herself from ruminating over his words and his actions. He acted like he abhorred her but then he seemed to take every opportunity possible to get close to her. He was always willing to listen to her, to converse with her, then he would say some of the damned most wicked things. But he seemed to enjoy confusing and upsetting her at her every turn, never allowing her to form a distinct opinion of him other than being annoyed constantly.
She avoided even guessing what Reze talked about with Denji. Her imagination would create far worse and incriminating topics or exchanges than probably happened in reality. She wanted to ask but that wouldn't be fair because she had no intention of telling him about her discussions. Or if she did ask and he told her, then for the sake of openness and honesty in their relationship, she would be obligated to inform him of her conversations with Reze and Yoshida.
"Mari? Mari?" Denji called to her.
She did not hear him, and she did not stop stroking his head. Not that he minded the constant petting, but he could tell she was not even aware of the actions of her hands. He grabbed her wrist and sat up to look at her. She was staring at him wide eyed, her lips parted slightly as if he had stunned her by suddenly stopping her. She actually looked frightened.
"What's wrong? Was I pulling your hair. I'm sorry. I - "
"I should be asking you what's wrong?" He continued to hold onto her wrist so she could not wiggle away from him. She wouldn't go far though since they were linked together by the necklace.
"I just have a lot of things on my mind," she answered, gliding her fingers into his hair with her other hand.
Mari avoided looking into his eyes even though she could feel him staring at her face intently. When she attempted to stroke his head again, he took hold of that wrist as well to stop her.
"Talk to me. What kinds of things has you this distracted? If you're going to ignore me, I might as well not even be here." Denji released her hands and sat up on his knees, pushing his torso between her knees.
Mari had expected him to getup and walk away, possibly leave to go to his apartment. Instead he got closer to her, putting his arms around her. The rhinestones from the collar necklace scraped across the skin of her neck as he pressed himself as close to her as possible with a powerful hug.
"Is it because I was on the rooftop with Reze again?" he asked, his chest vibrating against her breasts as he spoke.
"I am curious about what you two talked about. Especially after...after the discussion I had with her after class," she confessed, wrapping her arms around his shoulders to hold him against her.
Denji pulled back leaving her no choice but to release him. He smoothed back a mass of her messy still damp curls, looking into her eyes that had become bloodshot with unshed tears.
"She threatened you, didn't she?" he asked, caressing her cheek with his thumb while cupping her jaw.
Mari nodded mutely. She was sure if she spoke she would not be able to hold back the tears.
"What did she say?"
"It doesn't matter," she replied giving a dismissive wave.
He exhaled with a hiss, showing his frustration and releasing a bit of his irritation.
"You're right. It doesn't matter. I'm not surprised. I just didn't expect her to give up on the good girl act so soon."
Yoshida had said pretty much the same thing. Seems they had both expected her to pretend to be sweet and kind, weaseling her way into their good graces to get close to Denji before showing her true colors. Desperation and jealousy made her impatient.
"She told me about how she was coming to meet that day but Ma- uh, that woman, stopped her. She said if she had never been under that woman's control she never would have tried to kill me. But that doesn't make up for the times she tried on her own before that," Denji said, laying his forearms along Mari's thighs to hold onto her waist. "She begged me for another chance. She said we could even run away to another place and start another life."
Mari's abdomen clenched and bile climbed up her throat forcing her to swallow several times to avoid throwing up. For the third time today she wanted to puke. Logically, she knew Denji would never leave Nayuta; there was no doubt about that. Emotionally, everything about Reze wrecked her. The sheer audacity of Reze suggesting running away when circumstances have changed so drastically made her furious and sick at the same time.
Mari gasped when Denji pushed his face into her belly. Placing her hands on top of his head, she waited for him to continue speaking, but he did not. He simply held her around the waist breathing into her abdomen with his nose and lips smashed into her skin.
"What..." Her voice was thick and garbled with saliva and emotion forcing her to stop and clear her throat. "What did you say?"
He turned his face upward to look at her. When their eyes met, he did not smile. Actually he looked extremely annoyed, his eyebrow forming one crooked unibrow over his eyes.
"Do you really have to ask?"
"I'm being petty and selfish. I just want to hear you say it," she confessed, smiling down at him while playing with his bangs that stuck up all over the place after him wallowing into her belly.
"I told her no. Things had changed. There isn't just one, but two women I love and would never leave. Not for anyone or anything," he added, pulling her forward for a hug. "Not even a hundred damn Devils will drag me away from you two."
Mari leaned over settling her head into the crook of his neck, hugging him back as tightly as he embraced her.
"What did you talk to Yoshida about?" Denji asked, sitting back to look at her.
"Oh, uhm..." She could feel her entire body heating with self-consciousness as she sat up. "Uh, I asked him to train me. To help fight."
"No," he stated flatly, staring at her with furious incredulity. "Absolutely not. You're not going to be fighting Devils or Fiends or anything."
"Considering you're Chainsaw Man, won't they be impossible to avoid? I'd like to at least be able to protect myself. You can't be stopping in the middle of a battle to come get me out of trouble," she pointed out, watching him rise to his feet.
When he walked away, she had no choice but to follow him since he had cuffed the bracelet around her wrist attached to the lead. They went to the kitchen where he grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator.
"Want one?" he asked, reaching for another before she answered.
"Thank you," she said, taking the cold bottle. First she pressed it to her forehead then rolled it down her cheeks while he chugged his entire bottle standing in the middle of the small kitchen.
"You're not going to argue with me? Tell me you're a grown ass woman, and you can do what you damn well please?" he asked her, tossing the empty bottle into the recycling bin.
Mari shook her head, gingerly sipping from her bottle.
"But you're going to do it anyway, aren't you?" he sighed, leaning against the counter.
"Yep," she admitted.
Denji jerked her forward using the chain. She released a little yelp, falling into him but he easily caught her to hold her securely to his chest. Her cheek pressed against the pull cord.
"You're so damn stubborn it's annoying," he admonished her. "But it is one of the things I like about you. You have a spirit that refuses to be tamed."
"You make me sound like a beast," she joked, putting her arms around his neck.
"Between the two of us, I'm the beast," he said, cupping her behind and lifting her. She squealed in protest when he turned to place her on the counter. He framed her face with his hands. "You're definitely the beauty."
"Oh, my God," she gasped, twisting her legs around his waist. "You say some of the most romantic things without even trying. You just say whatever comes to your mind."
"I used to just say whatever I was thinking. I've learned to say what I feel around you," he said, nuzzling her nose with his. "I love you."
"I love you too, my darling," she returned, fitting her lips to his.
His hands gripped her thighs, pulling her to the edge of the counter. Denji fitted himself more tightly between her thighs, parting his lips to entice her to do the same. When her lips separated, his tongue naked into her mouth for a gentle exploration. Her tongue was still cool from the water. The tip of his tongue followed the edges of her upper teeth then slid against her tongue again.
It had been a while since Denji kissed her like that causing her entire body to heat up with arousal. She moaned into his mouth as he continued his inquisitive probing. He could not detect any wine flavor from her mouth which she had washed away with the water. The only time he could bear the taste of wine was when getting a secondary taste from her tongue.
Mari brushed her fingers along his chest while he continued the long slow kiss. His skin was so smooth and silky under her fingertips. His personality was often rough and unrefined. Then other times he could be as soft as his skin. With his hands he could kill Devils or hold her tenderly. He could elcit pain or pleasure with those remarkable hands.
Presently his hands were making their way up her belly to her breasts. Rather than seizing her breasts and groping her like usual, his hands caressed the roundness, allowing his fingers to fully feel the shape and semi firmness of them.
Denji gradually lifted his lips from hers, reluctantly breaking the kiss. His eyes studied her face while she watched the path of her fingers investigating every inch of his chest. Her fingers approached the cord but he resisted his automatic urge to grab her hands and pull them away. By now she knew to be careful with it. His eyes stayed on her eyes to observe every twitch and blink, widening or relaxing of her eyelids. When the pads of her fingers stroked over the area right around the cord, it tickled a little but it sent a delicious little thrill up his spine that made him move against her to relieve the pulsing of his erection.
Mari noted his reaction and touched the skin where the cord exited his chest. The skin was smoother and softer than that around it like. It felt like the scar after a terrible wound finally heals over to form the tough but delicate looking silver pink skin There was no difference in the color of the skin, only the texture.
Using her forefinger, she stroked it again, going around the entire circumference of the black cord. When he inhaled with a hiss then moaned, her eyes flickered to his face. He had that glassy eyed, drunken with desire look he wore so well. The corners of her mouth lifted into a smile.
Mari bent her head to kiss his chest. She placed a kiss on one side of the cord, her lips actually touching it.
"Wait, you shouldn't - " He stopped speaking when she pressed another kiss so close to the pull cord.
"It's sensitive isn't it?" she asked before placing another kiss.
"It is," he confirmed, holding her head between his hands as she tilted her head to place a kiss on a different spot.
The area around the cord felt a little but numb but at the same time was super sensitive. Each time she touched it, especially with a gentle kiss, a tingling sensation unfurled through his entire body leaving him craving more. His entire body felt like it was on fire by the time she had completely encircled the area with kisses.
When Mari raised her head to look at his face, Denji's hands slipped under her behind to lift her from the counter. Her arms and legs went around him to hold on tightly when he moved her. In the hallway, he pressed her back against the wall, leaning heavily into her. Despite barely being able to breathe, she accepted his hungry kiss.
Eventually they made it to the couch. Denji sat down with Mari standing between his legs. The rhinestone chain swung between them as she bent to slide down her panties and shorts. She took hold of his shorts and underwear, tugging them down after he lifted his hips. Straddling his legs, she lowered herself down onto him.
"You know it's not just about the sex right?" he asked her, placing his hands on her hips as she pushed herself up then slid down. "It's about being closer to you...closer than I can be to any other human being." He sat up straighter, burying his face between her breasts. "About becoming a part of you."
"I know," she panted, clutching his shoulders and resting her chin on top of his head. "I'm so glad you feel that way. I really do love you."
"I love you too, Mari," he panted, sliding his hands up her back to grasp her shoulders. He held her down, keeping her still. His head tilted back to look at her face. When his eyes connected with hers, he continued speaking, "You're helping to keep me human. To learn more about my own feelings and those of others. You're more special to me than you'll ever know."
Mari felt like he was giving her far too much credit. She covered his face with kisses leaving his lips for last. When their lips touched, he slid his hands from her shoulders down to her waist. The kiss continued through their simultaneous orgasm, the pleasure running through them like ripples on a pond: beginning at their core, growing bigger, spreading outward, until their entire bodies were caught in a succession of small waves of bliss.
"How long will you stay with me?" Denji asked her, massaging her back gently.
Mari kissed him to seal the promise before she even gave it. There was no doubt in her mind it was a promise she would keep no matter what.
"I'll be with you until I die, Denji."