Life force

"Stop."

"Does he know the reason your life force got cut in half was because during the battle seven years ago, you used your life force to help heal the wound I gave him?"

"Lucifer-" Sumire was about to hit him again when somebody grabbed hold of her hand. It was Yuhi.

'His timing is way too good; it was the same yesterday too.'

"You're always doing things for him, but what has this man done for you?" Lucifer shook his head. There was a pained smile on his face. "You always chose to hurt yourself; even if you do not value your own life, there are those who do."

'This person truly likes her, out of all the ones who liked her. He has stayed loyal for so many years.'

Lucifer took something out of his cloak, and her eyes widened, seeing a white-colored tree branch. "Use this on the structure instead of your life force; it should have more power."

"This is from the silver tre-" Sumire paused in mid-sentence. "Wait, you, what did you exchange for this?"

At those words, Lucifer extended his hand out to touch her cheek again, but the moment he did, a small wall of electricity formed. Her eyes widened, startled.

"The ability to touch the woman I love." Lucifer trailed off. "It seems it is finally starting to take effect."

'Did he know this would happen? So when I came here to castle, and he behaved unreasonably around me, it was due to this.'

"If you hadn't given me this, you could have taken it back, and canceled the wish."

"I am aware. I was the one who taught you about the tree if you do not recall."

"I do." Sumire bit her lip. "Thank you, Lucifer."

..

It was awkward walking down the mountains alongside Yuhi after that. Her son Rio and Lila-chan's son were walking ahead of them, so it was not like they were alone. But she felt the stifling atmosphere.

'This is awkward.' However, how can she predict Yuhi's appearances? He always shows up out of nowhere. No, if she sent Lucifer away instead of inviting him, then they would not have had that conversation in the first place. But Sumire found it hard to do that once she saw the look on his face.

What is he thinki- her thoughts broke off when he suddenly stopped walking.

"Sumire."

"Y-yes?" She said, startled.

Yuhi backed her against a nearby tree, and before she knew it, he was kissing her deeply. 'Fast! He is way too fast.' He easily pried her mouth open and intertwined their tongues together.

Oh, this dummy, why does he always use this method to convey his feelings for her? He was kissing her with so much desperation, and yet Sumire understood what he was trying to say. '

She felt Yuhi caress her back as he continued to kiss her deeply. Sumire was having a harder time breathing, so she drew back. "Wait a minute Yuhi-san-"

"No."

Sumire stepped on his foot, causing him to let go of her. Her cheeks felt very warm, and she averted her gaze. What on earth is he thinking? She looked over at the children and realized that they had increased their distance.

'I hope they didn't see that-' She thought his self-restraint was better now that they are parents, but it seems that is not the case here.

Yuhi scratched his head awkwardly. "Look, I wasn't trying to jump on you-"

"Then explain what you were doing?" Sumire exclaimed.

What is he thinking doing something like that now?

"I just wanted to ease the tension. I felt like if I talked, you would still feel guilty."

Of course, it was for a reason like that. This person has never acted on his feelings on impulse, even though he could do so.

Sumire walked over to him and extended her hands out to caress his cheek.

"It is already too late to lecture me, but I'm sure you didn't think I would do something like that. That is my proof of love."

Yuhi looked at her with a pained gaze. "I always thought it was strange. The wound Lucifer gave me back then was severe, but ,it was gone without a single trace when I woke up. Sumire, why did you-" He shook his head. "No, I understand; it seems I have underestimated your feelings too much."

But he doesn't have to blame himself for that. She is the one who made it hard for him to believe her feelings. Sumire buried her face in his arms and mumbled.

"I beat you to it."

Back when they were in high school, he frequently talked about how he would do anything for her sake. But in the end, the one who did that was her.

"I didn't hesitate just to let you know; when I saw you in that condition, I realized it was the only way."

It was the first solution in her mind when she saw the severity of the wound.

"Asuka called me an idiot; she really wanted to stop me." Sumire laughed weakly. "It was the first time hearing her sound so frantic and desperate."

"Of course, she cares a lot about you."

"There was probably another solution, like maybe waiting for Miya, but I did not want to wait that long. No, I knew if I waited, you would have died then. If you did, I would have lost control of my powers, and the world would cease to exist. So you see, Yuhi, I made this decision not just for you and me but for everyone else too."

"Is there a way to-"

Sumire shook her head. "You already know there is nothing we can do. Normally, tampering with a person's life force and life expectancy is a tricky subject; one does not get involved. If a person truly has to die, they will. But I tampered with fate because I truly couldn't lose you."

The memory of what happened that day remained so clearly in her mind. She just couldn't let him die. In that situation, she couldn't wait. Yuhi was bleeding so much the blood wouldn't stop even when Asuka tried to cover it up. That scene of Yuhi laying on the ground and Lucifer's maniac laughter.

Yuhi hugged her tightly. "No, I will find something."

"Yuhi-"

Her husband stubbornly shook his head. "No, I won't listen to you. Weren't you the one who told me? You want to live a happy, healthy, and long life with me?"

Sumire blinked when she heard those words. "That was my ad-lib during our wedding. I am surprised you remembered that."

"Of course I did, I mean, I knew you would make our vows unique, but you surprised everyone."

"It made it more memorable, though."

They have been together for so long now, and she truly wants to remain with him longer. She wants to be with him until her life withers away.

"Thanks to what Lucifer gave, I don't have to sacrifice myself anymore."

'But I am still running out of time. I won't have long to live.'

However, she won't let Yuhi know that. Yuhi was about to say something to her when they heard shouting from the bottom of the hill.

"Let's go, Yuhi-san."