Trying to change the subject I layed Ikko down and wrapped a large leaf around him in a burrito. "Time for bed baby." He glared at me. "Don't call me that! You're avoiding my question." I hesitated. 'Crap. It didn't work. How do I get out of this one?' Ikko tilted his head at me and asked again. "Why are you afraid of men?" I crossed my arms. "You're too young to know about that stuff."
He raised an eyebrow. "I'm over five million years old." I blinked. "Well that's still too young!" I looked away from him and Ikko sat up. "Why won't you tell me?" I finally gave in to his pestering. "You've seen my memories. Figure it out."
His expression changed to surprise and he waited for me to continue. I sighed. "Imagine being told that you were repulsive you're entire life and that no one would ever want to be with you. Wouldn't you be afraid to face the truth of that?" I looked back at him and his expression was unreadable. "So you're afraid of men because you don't want to find out if what she said was true?"
I nodded. "Plus, they're big and scary, and I don't know what to do or say around them! It's not like I've ever been around any, and when I am, they usually only want one thing!" I layed down next to him and curled up in a ball. Now it was I who was upset.
Ikko slipped an arm out of his burrito and patted me on the head. "It's okay mama." I covered my face. "Stop being weird!" He smiled and slipped his arm back into his burrito. "I'm happy you told me." I moved my hand away. "I'm not." He held his smile and it made me feel better seeing his cute face. I pinched his cheek again and it went away. "Hey! Stop that! I'm not a baby!" I sat up again and pinched the other one. "You're my baby."
He wiggled out of my grip and plopped on his back. He sat up again. "Just you wait! Once I'm back in my normal form you're going to get it!!" I rubbed his head messing up his hair. "Then I better make the most of it while you're like this!" Later that night Arine and Cienar came back and started a campfire where we slept around. I was worried about anything big in the rainforest eating Ikko up so I slept with him in my arms.
Tonight I had another dream about Sythyon, but this one was different. We were both sleeping in his bed but in-between us was a demon baby in my arms. I held it close to me and kissed it's forehead. Sythyon wrapped his arms around us both. He kissed me and whispered, "You are my world. I love you so much, and I will give you everything you desire." It faded to black and I woke up to the sunlight in my face.
Ikko was in my arms and I noticed he was glittering in the sunlight. He was even cuter than before, but I knew that he wouldn't like anyone to see him like that. I looked away and picked him up trying not to wake him, and walked into the shade. I sat down against a tree and Ikko wrapped his arms around my neck in his sleep. I wondered what that dream meant.
'Why do I keep having such intimate dreams about Sythyon? Am I still in love with him? I'm just setting myself up for disappointment. He's the one who did all of those terrible things to all those people, and he even sold me to a black market. What is wrong with me?' I continued to think and didn't realize Arine and Cienar wake up. Arine looked over to me and sighed. "Do you have to sleep with him? You know he's still the jerky murderer you knew before! Just smaller!"
I covered Ikko's ear trying not to wake him up. "He's sleeping. Can you keep it down? Sure he's still Ikko, but now he's small baby Ikko. I said I would take care of him didn't I?" Arine crossed his arms. "I can't argue with that can I?" I smiled and shook my head. "Nope." Cienar stood up. "I'll get some food." He left and Ikko yawned.
He opened his eyes and let go of my neck. "Morning mama." I frowned. "I thought I told you to stop calling me that." He smiled. "You said I was your family. So you're my mama for now. Plus you call me your baby. How is that any different?" Arine looked at me surprised. "You called him what?!"
I gave him a nervous smile. "Okay, I admit it. I'm enjoying this. But you can't blame me. This may be my only chance to be a mama." Arine and Ikko gave me the same guilty look, then Ikko smiled. "Hey, once I'm back in my normal form I could make you a mama." I immediately grabbed his nose. "Don't you dare!!" He struggled. "Ow! Ow! Hey! Let me go!"
Later after we ate we crossed the ocean again back to the mainland. Arine took Ikko with him and I went with Cienar again, but this time no dangerous kelp attacked us and the berries didn't wear off. I was relieved, but I was worried because I was away from Ikko for so long. 'Am I, getting protective of him? This is so weird.' But I did say I would take care of him, and I didn't like being away from him for so long.
We arrived at the other side of the mainland and Arine and Ikko were there bickering like always. We went another direction towards the sorcerers castle, and on the edge of the water was a forest with a trail to town. We came out of the water and Cienar dried me off. "Are you cold?" I shook my head. "No. Thank you I'm fine." He led me off the beach. "Let us know the next time you're tired. I wouldn't mind carrying you."
I blushed. "Um, n-no thank you. I'm good." He smiled. "Alright." I looked over to Arine and Ikko and walked up to them. I picked up Ikko and patted his head. "You know I don't like you two fighting." Arine crossed his arms. "He's the one who started it." Ikko glared at him and turned to me. "He's being mean to me mama! Make him stop!" I sighed. "You're way too comfortable calling me that."
Later we started our way down the path and I put Ikko down to walk beside me holding his hand. Awhile had passed and I heard Ikko's tummy growl. I stopped and kneeled down. "Hungry?" He nodded. I felt bad. 'I don't know how to feed him, He already ate all of the fruit I gave him. I guess when you've been eating regular blood so often, the substitute stuff doesn't fill you the same.'
I then got an idea, and bit my finger. Blood came flowing out and Arine and Cienar's eyes widened and so did Ikko's. I ignored the pain and held it to him. "I owe you for saving me. It's not much, but I hope this can hold you off until you can get something better." He was speechless and Arine raised an eyebrow. "You're taking this mama stuff way too seriously!"
I huffed. "I would have done the same for any one of you." They were surprised for a moment, then Ikko suddenly took my hand and sucked my finger. It hurt at first, but I was glad that I didn't bite myself for nothing. 'I am crazy. I can't believe I'm doing this.'