"What….are you trying to say, Shihon? You're not making any sense."
"I doubt that."
Perplexed, Liohime peered at the solemn expression that Shihon wore, and the latter continued, "I think I noticed something that not even you have realized yet, but I'm not completely sure that I'm right about it.."
"W-What could you possibly know about me that I don't? I know myself better than any-"
"Are you by chance…." she interjected, but her voice trailed off, still keeping her piercing gaze on him.
"If you mean physically, I'm not going to do anything to you if you get too close," Liohime mumbled harshly in return, "And if you mean romantically….look, let's just move on, alright? I don't know what you're trying to imply, but in the end, we're still a duo with the friendly connection of a Magical Beast and her Master."
"Is that so?" Shihon scoffed. "Because the last time I checked, a non-hypocritical Master doesn't preach about some fucking morals about keeping a friendly connection with his Magical Beast Girl and then go bathe with her naked."
"Again, where are you going with this?"
His pupils wavered, but he demanded an answer.
Shihon sighed, and averted her narrowed eyes, lowering her tone.
"I love you, Master. I want to continue to remain close to you and let our relationship grow. But, I don't know how you really feel. You're also itching for intimacy with me, aren't you? Still, you must be scared to take the final steps of getting too close, because it reminds you of how your last relationship ended."
"....Like hell."
"No, I must be right-"
"Thats not it!"
He pushed her back, but she grabbed onto his neck and pulled him towards her as she touched the wall beside the bathtub.
"I know about the feelings you have for me," he stated, "but I'm just not….sure about my-"
"Your feelings? So you don't really like me yet, huh?"
"I never said that."
"Then make out with me right now, and tell me you love me too."
Liohime's breath stopped, and he furrowed his brows as Shihon glanced at his left and right eye, then finally at his lips.
In a swift move, the former grabbed the latter's slender arms and pinned them to the wall behind her with his left arm, and he edged closer.
Their lips neared, and their deep breaths mingled together while only a few centimetres remained in the gap between their mouths.
And thus Liohime-
--With a clouded memory of that night where everything took a turn for the worse, moved past her lips and instead rested his head on her shoulder with silence, dropping his grip on her arms and confirming her theory.
He had opted out at the last second.
"...I knew it."
After saying those three words, Shihon exhaled deeply and hugged her partner softly with a weak smile.
"I guess I do know you better than you fucking do, Master."
"Please try not to kick me while I'm already down."
"Hehe, Master, you dummy. That was a shitty ass curveball, you know?"
"I'm sorr-"
"And I forgive you."
She held his head up with her own hands and gave an innocent smirk.
"No matter what, I still love you, Liohime Kitagami, and I'll never let you go. Please take care of me as your beloved Magical Beast Girl until I am able to convince you to fall for me."
Eh, convince?
He blinked and scoffed slightly. This girl really is something, huh?
Despite being unsure of how he was feeling right now in regards to their relationship, he had to do his utmost to be there for her in every step of the way.
Therefore, he nodded and answered affirmatively.
"Yeah, sure thi-"
And he was immediately pulled into her exposed cleavage, wettened by the soapy water beneath.
"From now on,I'm still gonna make you enjoy my body in any way possible, though! You better believe it!"
Completely stifled by the thick warmth, Liohime flailed his arms, and Shihon burst out in laughter.
***
After the bathing session, both Liohime and Shihon stood by the corridor after exiting the bathroom, and as the duo had both changed into their new clothes, the former heard his phone ring from inside the bedroom.
Hoping that it was not Tisha returning a call after Shihon unblocked her and tried calling her just to lure him out of his hiding spot in Hide and Seek, he darted to the room and instantly checked the screen before his eyebrows raised.
"Oh, it's Chief."
Matsuo Yamamoto, the chief of the Shinigami Soldiers, was calling him, and Liohime's mood quickly changed into one of caution and urgency as he accepted the call and put the phone to his right ear.
"Hello? Chief?"
"Hello, 'Shadow Thief'. I hope that I did not call at a bad time."
"N-No, everything's alright on my end."
"Good." His tone of voice seemed a bit more stern than usual, keeping Liohime on edge. Liohime took deep breaths as he awaited what could be an order that must be carried out.
"Well then," Matsuo began, "I called to give you a bit of a quick rundown of your upcoming special mission that will be carried out in about two months. Of course, a meeting will be held a few days before you depart for said mission that will give more details about it. By the way, you…are available to carry out this task, right?"
"Of course, sir!" exclaimed Liohime.
"Okay, very well. I have full trust that you will do your best. So basically, other Thief-For-Hire and Murder-For-Hire representatives from branches of the Shinigami Soldiers located in nearby countries will also be joining you on this mission. That should highlight the importance and the scope of this mission."
"N-No way. Shinigami Soldiers….from other countries?"
"That's right, kid. The mission is to retrieve a special Magical Beast Egg that was recently located in the Paradisus Legion."
Liohime's eyes twitched. As if he heard incorrectly, he tried to correct his chief.
"Sorry…you said, the Pa-"
"Yes, the Paradisus Legion," Matsuo confirmed, with his tone not changing into a comedic one. "Your mission will take place in the location where….a district that contains all hostile, untamed, and uncontracted Magical Beasts roam freely exists, along with dangerous Magical Beast Raiders who might be lurking there."
Liohime fell into silence.
"Kid, I know that this might be the biggest challenge yet, especially with what happened to your pare-"
"I'll do it."
He confidently spoke those words into the built-in microphone, despite his left hand refusing to stop shaking.
"...Alright, then. Like I said, more details will be mentioned two months from now. Look forward to financial rewards that you've never seen before if you manage to successfully complete this mission. Goodbye."
With that, Matsuo Yamamoto hung up, leaving the boy staring off into space.
--In two months from now, Liohime Kitagami would soon venture off to the place rumored to be the haunting graveyard of his two parents.