I stood in Commander Kaito's office, recounting the events at the aquarium. "So, Ai's help was crucial in defeating the mindless demon, sir," I finished.
Kaito nodded, his expression serious. "I'll make sure to note her contribution. She's proven herself to be a valuable ally."
I nodded, feeling a sense of pride. "Yes, sir. I'll make sure to keep her close."
Kaito's eyes narrowed. "See that you do. We can't afford to lose anyone else."
I left the office, my mind still reeling from the events. I walked home, lost in thought, until I arrived at my front door.
As I entered, Natsumi looked up from the couch, her eyes sparkling. "Oni-Chan! Welcome home!"
I forced a smile, feeling a pang of guilt. "Hey, Natsumi. How was your day?"
Natsumi's face brightened. "It was good! I watched TV and played with my toys. But I missed you, Oni-Chan."
My heart ached as I sat down beside her. "I missed you too, Natsumi. I'm sorry I was late."
Natsumi leaned into me, her voice barely above a whisper. "Oni-Chan, can I ask you something?"
"Of course, Natsumi. What is it?"
"Will you always be with me, Oni-Chan?"
My mind flashed back to that fateful day...the day that changed everything. I saw my parents, smiling and happy, playing with Natsumi and our younger brother. I saw the mindless demon, its eyes fixed on me. I saw the explosion of energy, the destruction, the...
I shook my head, forcing myself back to the present. "Natsumi, of course, I'll always be with you, forever."
Natsumi's face brightened, and she hugged me. "I'm glad, Oni-Chan."
As I hugged her back, my mind wandered back to that day...the day that shattered our family, the day that left me with this guilt and pain.
That day started like any other. We had breakfast together as a family, laughing and chatting.
"Who wants pancakes?" my mom asked, flipping a pancake in the pan.
"I do! I do!" my brother and I chimed in unison.
Natsumi giggled and tried to grab a pancake, but ended up knocking over the syrup instead.
"Natsumi, you little mischief-maker!" my dad said, laughing.
After breakfast, we went about our day. My dad went to work, and my mom stayed home to take care of Natsumi. My brother and I went to school, and I came home for lunch. My mom made my favorite - grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup.
"Thanks, Mom," I said, hugging her.
"Anytime, sweetie," she replied.
But after lunch, things took a turn. My mom and I got into a fight. I don't even remember what it was about, but I I stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind me. I walked around for a while, trying to calm down, but my anger and frustration only grew. As the evening approached, I knew I had to go back home.
As I approached the house, I saw a mindless demon attacking my family. My brother...he was the first to go. I saw him die, and something inside me snapped.
"NOOO!" I screamed, losing control.
The demon turned to Natsumi, and I saw it hurt her. I tried to rush towards her, but I was too late. The demon turned to me, and I unleashed my powers on it, killing it.
But my rage didn't stop there. I turned to my parents, and I saw them trying to protect Natsumi. But I didn't see that. All I saw was them, and my anger took over. I unleashed my powers on them, killing them both.
Just as I was about to destroy everything else, Ai appeared. She was only 9 years old, but she had a presence that calmed me down. She ran towards me, tears in her eyes, and wrapped her arms around me.
"Asahi, stop! Please stop!" she cried.
I felt her warm hug, and something inside me shifted. I looked at her, and saw the concern in her eyes. I realized that I was already in love with her, and that thought calmed me down.
As I hugged Ai, I felt my rage dissipate, replaced by a deep sadness and guilt. I held her tightly, tears streaming down my face, until...
Everything went black.
I don't know how long I was out, but when I woke up, I was in a strange room. Ai was sitting next to me, holding my hand.
"Asahi, you're awake," she said, smiling weakly.
I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my head. I fell back onto the bed, groaning.
"What...what happened?" I asked, trying to remember.
Ai's expression turned serious. "The Organisation took us in. They're taking care of us now."
I tried to remember more, but my memories were fuzzy. I remembered the demon, and my parents...but something felt off.
Later, I learned that the Organisation had taken me in, and was hiding the truth about what happened that day. They told me that the demon had killed my parents, and that I had survived by luck.
But I knew the truth. I knew that I had killed my parents, consumed by my rage and grief. And I knew that Ai knew it too, though she never said anything.
The Organisation became my new family, training me to control my powers and use them for good. But I never forgot the truth, and the guilt that came with it.
Coming back To Present...
As I hugged Natsumi back, I felt a lump form in my throat. I didn't know how much longer I could keep this secret from her. She deserved to know the truth about our family's past, but I was afraid of how she would react.
I pulled back and smiled weakly at her. "Hey, Natsumi? Why don't we order some pizza and watch a movie together?"
Natsumi's face lit up. "Yeah! I love pizza and movies!"
I nodded and stood up, trying to shake off the lingering memories of the past. "Okay, let's go order that pizza then."
As we sat down to eat and watch a movie, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The memories I had suppressed for so long were starting to resurface, and I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep them hidden.
After the movie, Natsumi yawned and stretched. "Oni-Chan, I'm tired. Can I go to bed now?"
I nodded and smiled. "Of course, Natsumi. Go get some rest."
As I tucked her into bed, Natsumi grabbed my hand and looked up at me with pleading eyes. "Oni-Chan, can you stay and sleep with me? I always have scary nightmares."
I smiled and nodded, feeling a pang of guilt. She had no idea that her nightmares were connected to that fateful day, and I hoped she never would.
"Of course, Natsumi. I'll stay with you."
I climbed into bed beside her, and she snuggled into my side, wrapping her small arms around me. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her tightly, and we drifted off to sleep together.
As we slept, I held her close, trying to protect her from the demons of our past, both literal and figurative. And for a brief moment, I felt a sense of peace, knowing that I could still keep her safe.
As we lay there, Natsumi suddenly spoke up, her voice barely above a whisper. "Oni-Chan?"
"Yeah, Natsumi?"
"I love you so much, Oni-Chan."
I smiled, feeling a warmth in my heart. "I love you too, Natsumi."
"No, Oni-Chan, I mean it. You're the only one who's always there for me. You're the only one who makes me feel safe."
I squeezed her tightly, feeling a lump form in my throat. "I'll always be here for you, Natsumi. I promise."
"You're the best Oni-Chan in the whole world," she continued. "I don't know what I would do without you."
I smiled, trying to hold back tears. "You'll never have to find out, Natsumi. I'll always be here for you."
Natsumi paused, collecting her thoughts. "Oni-Chan, do you remember when I was little, and you used to read me stories and sing me songs?"
I nodded, memories flooding back. "Of course, I remember."
"You made me feel so happy and safe," she said. "I felt like nothing could ever hurt me as long as you were there."
I hugged her tightly, feeling a deep sense of responsibility. "I'll always be here to protect you, Natsumi. I promise."
Natsumi snuggled deeper into my side. "I know, Oni-Chan. That's why I love you so much."
"You're so sweet, Natsumi," I said, smiling. "I'm the lucky one to have you as my little sister."
Natsumi giggled. "I'm the lucky one, Oni-Chan. I have you."
We lay there in silence for a long time, enjoying each other's company, and the warmth of our embrace.
Natsumi's face suddenly turned pink as she spoke up again. "Oni-Chan, can I tell you something?"
"Of course, Natsumi. What is it?"
"I want to marry you when I grow up," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
I chuckled, trying to play it cool. "Oh, really? Why's that?"
Natsumi's blush deepened. "Because I love you, Oni-Chan. And I want to be with you forever. I want to wake up every morning with you by my side, and fall asleep every night in your arms."
I smiled, trying not to laugh at the seriousness on her face. "I'm flattered, Natsumi. But aren't you a bit too young to be thinking about marriage?"
Natsumi shook her head, her ponytail bobbing behind her. "No way, Oni-Chan! I'm totally serious. I want to grow up and be just like Ai-chan, and marry you and have lots of babies. And I want to do all the things that married couples do...you know, like kiss and hug and...and...other things."
I raised an eyebrow, amused. "Other things, huh?"
Natsumi nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! I want to experience everything with you, Oni-Chan. I want to know what it's like to be in love, really in love, with someone. And I want that someone to be you."
I smiled, playing along. "Well, Natsumi, I think that's a great goal to have. But don't you think we should focus on getting through high school first?"
Natsumi pouted, but her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Fine, Oni-Chan. But can we at least practice some of the...other things...now?"
I laughed, trying to deflect her question. "Natsumi, you're too young for that kind of thing."
But Natsumi was persistent. She snuggled into my side, her hand tracing patterns on my chest. "Just a little kiss, Oni-Chan. Please?"
I hesitated, trying to resist her charms. But Natsumi's big brown eyes looked up at me, shining with innocence and desire. I couldn't help myself.
"Okay, fine," I said, leaning down to kiss her.
As our lips touched, I couldn't help but think, "If Ai knows about this, she'll kill me. I'm dead meat."
But I pushed the thought aside and focused on the kiss. Natsumi's lips were soft and gentle, and she tasted like strawberries.
As we broke apart for air, Natsumi smiled up at me. "That was nice, Oni-Chan."
I smiled back, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, it was okay, I guess."
But in my head, I was thinking, "Okay? Okay?! That was amazing! If Ai knows, I'm toast."
Natsumi snuggled into my side again, her hand tracing patterns on my chest. "Can we do it again?"
I hesitated, trying to resist her charms. But Natsumi's big brown eyes looked up at me, shining with innocence and desire.
"Okay, fine," I said, leaning down to kiss her again.
As we kissed, I couldn't help but think, "I'm a dead man. Ai is going to kill me. But it's worth it."
And so we continued, lost in our own little world of kisses and whispers. Until finally, Natsumi pulled back and looked up at me with a mischievous grin.
"Oni-Chan?"
"Yeah?"
"I think we should take this to the next level."
My heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"
Natsumi's grin grew wider. "I think you know what I mean, Oni-Chan."
And in my head, I was thinking, "Oh no, oh no, oh no. I'm a dead man. Ai is going to kill me."
I hesitated, trying to think of a way to let Natsumi down gently. "Natsumi, kisses are fine, but I don't think we should take it any further than that."
Natsumi pouted, her face falling. "Why not, Oni-Chan? I thought you liked me."
I sighed, trying to explain. "I do like you, Natsumi. But we're just too young for that kind of thing. And besides, Ai would kill me if she found out."
Natsumi's face lit up with understanding. "Oh, yeah! Ai-chan can be scary sometimes."
I nodded, relieved. "Exactly. So let's just stick to kisses, okay?"
Natsumi nodded, though she looked a bit disappointed. "Okay, Oni-Chan. But can we still kiss some more?"
I smiled, trying to placate her. "Of course, Natsumi. We can kiss all you want."
As we continued to kiss, I couldn't help but think, "I'm still a dead man. But at least I'm a dead man with a clear conscience."
But then Natsumi pulled back and looked up at me with a mischievous grin. "Oni-Chan?"
"Yeah?"
"I think we should make a bet."
My heart skipped a beat. "What kind of bet?"
Natsumi's grin grew wider. "If I can convince Ai-chan to let us date, you have to do whatever I say for a week."
I hesitated, unsure of what to say. But then I thought, "If Ai agrees, then I guess it's okay. But if she doesn't...I'm a dead man."
I hesitated, unsure of what to say. "Natsumi, I don't think that's a good idea. Ai will never agree to that."
Natsumi pouted, her face falling. "Why not, Oni-Chan? I thought she liked me."
I sighed, trying to explain. "She does like you, Natsumi. But she loves me too much. And if she finds out about our kisses...she'll kill me."
Natsumi's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? Why?"
I nodded, trying to convey the seriousness of the situation. "Because Ai is possessive, Natsumi. She doesn't like to share me with anyone. And if she finds out that I've been kissing you...she'll kick my butt and then kill me."
Natsumi giggled, snuggling deeper into my side. "I don't think she'd really kill you, Oni-Chan."
I shook my head, trying to reassure her. "You don't know Ai like I do, Natsumi. She's not someone to mess with. Especially when it comes to me."
We lay there in silence for a moment, wrapped in each other's arms. Then Natsumi spoke up again.
"Oni-Chan?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm glad we kissed, Oni-Chan. I feel happy when I'm with you."
I smiled, feeling my heart flutter. "I'm glad too, Natsumi. I feel happy when I'm with you too."
Natsumi's hand traced patterns on my chest as we snuggled together in bed. "Oni-Chan, can I kiss you again?"
I smiled, feeling a shiver run down my spine. "Of course, Natsumi."
Natsumi's eyes sparkled with mischief as she leaned in close. Our lips touched softly, and I felt my heart race.
As we broke apart for air, Natsumi smiled up at me. "You're such a good kisser, Oni-Chan. Who taught you all this?"
I chuckled, feeling a shiver run down my spine. "I don't know, Natsumi. Maybe it's just natural talent."
Natsumi giggled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Maybe it's because you've had a lot of practice...with someone."
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean?"
Natsumi's grin grew wider. "I mean, maybe you've been practicing with someone, and that's why you're so good."
I smiled, feeling my face heat up. "Natsumi, you're making me blush."
Natsumi's voice dropped to a whisper. "I want to practice with you some more, Oni-Chan. I want to feel your lips on mine again."
Natsumi's hand traced patterns on my chest as we snuggled together in bed. "Oni-Chan, you're such a good kisser. Maybe it's because of Ai."
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean?"
Natsumi's grin grew wider. "Maybe Ai taught you all the right moves."
I chuckled, feeling a shiver run down my spine. "Natsumi, you're making me blush."
Natsumi's voice dropped to a whisper. "I want to make you blush even more, Oni-Chan. I want to make you feel things you've never felt before."
I smiled, my heart racing. "Natsumi, you're being very naughty tonight."
Natsumi giggled. "Somebody has to be naughty with you, Oni-Chan."
I leaned in close, my voice barely above a whisper. "Who taught you all this, Natsumi?"
Natsumi giggled again. "Maybe I just learned it from watching you, Oni-Chan."
I thought to myself, "Ai will definitely kill me. Who taught Natsumi all these lewd things?"
Natsumi's voice brought me back to reality. "Oni-Chan, what are you thinking about?"
I smiled, trying to play it cool. "Just thinking about how naughty you're being, Natsumi."
Natsumi's grin grew wider. "I'm just getting started, Oni-Chan."
And with that, she leaned in close and whispered something in my ear that made my heart skip a beat.
"Ai will definitely kill me," I thought to myself again.
Natsumi's voice was barely above a whisper. "I want to feel your skin against mine, Oni-Chan. I want to feel your heart beating against mine."
I thought to myself, "Ai will definitely kill me. Who taught Natsumi all these lewd things?"
Natsumi continued, her voice dropping even lower. "I want to feel your lips on mine, Oni-Chan. I want to feel your tongue exploring my mouth."
I tried to play it cool, but my heart was racing. "Natsumi, you're being very naughty tonight."
Natsumi giggled. "Somebody has to be naughty with you, Oni-Chan. And I want to be the one to make you feel things you've never felt before."
I thought to myself again, "Ai will definitely kill me. How did Natsumi even come up with this stuff?"
Natsumi kept going, her voice filled with desire. "I want to feel your hands on my body, Oni-Chan. I want to feel your fingers tracing patterns on my skin."
I was trying to keep up, but Natsumi was on a roll. "I want to feel your breath on my neck, Oni-Chan. I want to feel your lips on my ear."
I thought to myself once more, "Ai will definitely kill me. I'm a dead man."
But Natsumi just kept going, her voice filled with passion. "I want to feel our hearts beating as one."
Natsumi's voice was filled with desire. "I want to feel our bodies moving together."
I thought to myself, "Ai is definitely going to kill me. How did a 10-year-old girl learn to talk like this?"
I was starting to get worried. "Natsumi, maybe we should slow down a bit. You're only 10, after all."
But Natsumi just giggled. "I know, Oni-Chan. But I just can't help myself. I love you too much."
I thought to myself, "I'm in so much trouble. Ai is going to kill me for sure."
I tried to deflect Natsumi's advances, saying "Let's just kiss and sleep, okay?"
But Natsumi just grinned mischievously. "No promises, Oni-Chan. I might try something on you."
I raised an eyebrow, worried. "What do you mean?"
Natsumi just giggled. "You'll see. Maybe I'll try to sneak into your dreams."
I laughed nervously. "Natsumi, you're being very naughty tonight."
Natsumi's grin grew wider. "Somebody has to be naughty with you, Oni-Chan."
I thought to myself, "I'm in trouble. Ai is going to kill me for sure."
But Natsumi just snuggled closer, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Goodnight, Oni-Chan. Maybe I'll see you in your dreams."
And with that, she leaned in and kissed me, her lips soft and gentle. I tried to relax, but my mind was racing. What had I gotten myself into?
END OF CHAPTER 3