(2/3)
After the talk with Serina, she excused herself for a bit. Taking along her grandchildren for a walk while Ray sorts things out with his wives.
"So, you had decided to just bail out?" Kuroka asked with an expression of either anger or surprise. Rather, she is still shocked by the revelation and doesn't know how to react to it.
"You heard your mother-in-law. Even she can't handle the guy sent out to claim my head. How do you expect me to deal with that guy?" Ray shrugged, looking remarkably calm for someone that just learned that someone is out for his life.
Morgan on the side giving Ray a look of approval for staying calm and collected. Normally, for someone who lived his life in power and never faced any difficulties. They would panic or do rash things when confronted with their mortality. Then again, she didn't think using a human's behavior and perspectives to measure an eldritch being whose mind works differently from the fundamental level would be appropriate.
"So… it's a yes?" Kuroka asked as her face turned into a frown.
While she loved Ray. She truly does with her whole being. She also couldn't bear leaving her younger sister, Koneko behind.
What if Koneko is implicated by this conflict? What if after they fled, Ray's pursuer captured Koneko as hostage or showed hostility to her for mere association?
Kuroka simply couldn't get that notion out of her head. Which led to her hesitation. However, not everyone is the same. For example, Ravel.
"Before I am your wife, I am first and foremost, your apostle. Your will is my command. Wherever you go, I will follow without hesitation, Ray." Ravel spoked solemnly with devotion and infatuation apparent on her face. Willing to leave behind her biological family in a heartbeat for him.
As Ravel declared her stance, the others did too.
Morgan's only relation is Baobhan Sith and Melusine. Both are willing to relocate with her. As for the empire she is building. It's not irreplaceable as she abandoned it without hesitation to follow Ray.
Another one of his wives that is supportive is Ryoko. She didn't even have a choice to begin with due to her pact and nothing else but her daughter that tied her down.
The only ones that have yet to express any decisions are Kuroka and Yasaka.
For Yasaka, it's self explanatory. Her purpose of approaching Ray was to seek his protection for the Youkai Faction and it is also the factor that tied her down to their own world.
The tense and solemn atmosphere persisted as everyone lined their eyes to Ray who was sitting silently on his hind paws and thinking very deeply.
After a while, he lifted his head up and looked at Kuroka and Yasaka. The two who had yet to declare their choice and they honestly didn't need to since Ray already knew their answer.
Anticipation in each of his wives to hear his answer is palpable, especially for the Youkai duo.
"My decision is naturally to leave. Those who support my decision will be brought along." Ray said as he scanned his eyes over to his wives who supported his decision before he stared at the other two that didn't.
For the first time since everyone met Ray, they could see the utterly alien glint in his eyes which replaced the 'human' Ray.
"As for those who are unwilling. I will not force either of you and I respect your choice. You are free to stay behind with the people you truly care about." A look of frown and sadness flashed through his face and disappeared like an illusion as it returned to an expressionless face. "In turn, I shall undo all my presence on you. Reverting you to your proper selves and end our association so you may live your intended future."
Before Ray could finish his words, a black blur went past him as Kuroka's seat suddenly became vacant. But his eyes laid on the remaining one, Yasaka.
"I understand your decision and honestly it is the best for both of us." Yasaka replied with a business-like nod.
Their relationship was purely transactional in the first place. Both sides are getting benefits. Now that the benefits no longer exist, it's natural for Yasaka to just cut her losses and try to control the damage.
In the context of this conversation, Ray severing ties with Yasaka and removing his presence from her life while restoring her to her original fate is the best outcome she could have asked for.
However, Yasaka was glancing at Ray and his other wives before at the door that Kuroka just left from. She looked at Ray but he didn't show any sign of leaving to chase after Kuroka.
"Are you not going to look after her?" Yasaka showed a look of concern.
Even if she hadn't joined this family for long, she is rather fond of everyone. To see the state it had become right now saddened her. She sees Ray close his eyes for a moment. Without a doubt is affected by the situation.
"Let her be for now. She needs some time to sort her mind." Ray mutters as his eyes look glazed and unfocused for a moment.
———
(Ray PoV)
After taking care of Yasaka and Kunou, he teleports himself to the bench in Kuoh park where he and Kuroka share fond memories of.
There she was, sitting on the bench all alone with red puffy eyes staring at the evening sky
From the edge of her vision he appeared and slowly approached her. Kuroka didn't notice at first, and seems to be in deep thoughts. But once she did, she reacted rather extremely.
"Get away! Get away from me! I won't let you take them away from me!" She screamed as her red puffy eyes started shedding tears again as she held her abdomen protectively.
Thankfully Ray had isolated the place in a separate mirror dimension for privacy the moment he appeared. He didn't need to fear interference or commotion.
"Kuroka…"
"No! Stay away from me! Stay away from my kittens!"
"This is getting nowhere." Ray mutters after looking at Kuroka's agitated state.
Naturally, he knew what Kuroka's fear was. If she decides to stay, Ray has to eliminate all his traces from her. That includes the 'kittens' that she is carrying. She had a good reason to act like this. After all, she loved her babies and would never want to part with them.
As much as Ray wanted to fulfill her wish and let her be. He couldn't afford it. What if his enemy were to get their hand on the babies? Kill them? Torture them? Using them as hostages? Consume them?
Mercy is the last thing he would expect from those demented breeds of 'hunters'.
Seeing that word's reason wouldn't reach Kuroka's mind in such a state. His hands are forced.
With a simple thought of his mind, Kuroka finds herself restrained by tentacles that reach out from her own shadows.
Ray slowly approached her and stopped a few feets away from her, staring into her eyes like a judge giving his ultimatum.
"There is a time and place to be selfish, Kuroka. But it's definitely not now. Either you make your choice or I'll do it for you." His voice cut through her vain screams and struggle. "Either you choose Koneko or us. But to be honest, I'd rather you spend your life here peacefully and continue to be involved with me."
Ray then turned around, showing his back to her. His eyes are on the evening sky with an orange hue.
"I might be cruel but not evil. Not to those I cared about. So, worry not. Regardless of your choice. I'll promise you one thing. I will definitely raise them to the best of my ability. I promise that to you upon my own life."
Like magic, Kuroka stopped struggling and fell down to her knees sobbing.
"Why…? Why does it have to end up like this?"
Her ears drooped low. Her usual energetic and playful appearance vanished. Her hands on her face, wiping away the endless tears flowing out from her eyes.
Yet, when she lifted her head up and looked at Ray for an answer. All she could see was his back against him. There's no answer from him. But she didn't need to. His back slightly hunched, frail looking and lonely as he stared at the sky in silence.
Despite him always trying to project a look of confidence. She knew better than others that he is a big softie inside.
From the beginning, all she had thought about was herself. She never thought about him. She didn't think of what he would feel about his choice. The grief in him for separating from those he loved so willingly for their own good.
All she had thought was about her own sadness that she forgot about him.
"Ray…" Kuroka muttered as she stopped crying.
"Your answer, Kuroka?" He asked.
His voice sounded firm and unshakable. But to the perceptive Kuroka. She could hear the slight tremble in his voice.
"Ray… look at me." She demanded but met with silence.
"Ray! Look at me!" She raised her voice. But he didn't entertain her whim.
"This is getting nowhere, Kuroka. If you can't make your choice. I'll do it for you." He said as his voice turned into a low mutter before his power surged.
"Wait! Hngh!" She tried to resist the restraint with all her might but the tentacles didn't budge at all. They felt like an unbreakable chain binding her limbs.
"No! Don't do it Ray. Ray!" She struggled as his power invaded her body and mind.
"Ray! Ray! Don—" Her renewed struggle cut short with a well placed chop on her neck before she turned limp.
Ray made a surprised grunt but didn't turn around to look at the new arrival.
"That was unnecessary, Freya…" He mutters at the Valkyrie that appeared on her own accord.
"I don't think so, Master. It's painful to see you blaming yourself, allow me to shoulder this burden with you too." Freya quickly retorts albeit in a soft manner.
Ray whispers something audible only to himself before he sighed.
Once he is done restoring Kuroka to her base state in both mind and body. Freya laid her unconscious body on the bench before the mirror dimension cracked and shattered apart revealing the real Kuoh park that had already turned into night as torrential rain poured heavily and thunder rumbling in the sky.
Ray stared at the sky for a moment as rain drenched his fur which reminds him of his first moment after his reincarnation. The faithful day where everything began and his meeting with Asia.
In his absent-minded state reminiscing about the past, Freya moved quickly to shield Ray from the rain and carried him close to her body to warm her drenched and cold body.
The faithful and fiercely loyal Valkyrie waited silently to let Ray sort his own thoughts without trying to interrupt him. But what happened in the meantime is Kuroka regaining her consciousness and looking confused at how she could fall asleep under such heavy rain as she quickly ran to find shelter. In the process, she ran past the duo but can't seem to notice them as if they were invisible to her eyes.
Freya smiled at the sight of Kuroka running past them. Her smile is that of pure bliss and joy yet hidden within is the dangerous obsession swirling in her silver pair of irises.
'With the main obstacle gone. I can finally reach his heart! Ah! Master! Forgive this lowly slave for being imprudent. But let my love and dedication heal the sorrow in your heart, my beloved Master!' Freya thought in her mind as her face melted in bliss with the thought of finally receiving his love that she coveted the most.
—————
(AN: Freya winning? 😳)
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