379. The inhalation of another's affection.

WARNING!

The story contains graphic depictions of violence, sexuality, strong language, and/or other mature themes.

[The Fiend Lord: Arc 18]

Once upon a time, on Planet Earth, a young girl was born; the story goes that her identity was never adequately clarified, but she was effectively known as the 'Holy Light.'

Her title depicted the real life of one's planet. Humankind did not know the Dimensions that had appeared alongside her birth, only of the Spirits that had been destroyed or disappeared.

The woman... The Holy Light, the heir of all the inhabitants, was not born alone. The arrival of the Demon God, whose name was Rez, caused anarchy, and humanity was on the brink of extinction.

Humans terrified him because of his recklessness and hunger for blood, and Demons started to manifest all over the Earth and The World of Zero, alongside alternate races such as The Inner Fiends, The Shades, Wraiths, and Spirits.

To combat the challenge, a new breed of people has awakened, the 'Spiritual Duelists' and 'Substitute-Duelists,' who have been dubbed the "First Army to Face Evil."

With their Legendary Weapons, the Ginken. This swarm of humans increased the world's cleanliness to the greatest extent possible, overwhelming the Demons of various grades and placing their survival at risk.

But, after several years of waiting, the 'Holy Light' gave birth to a human child, a girl of theoretically greater worth than Zero herself, but unlikely to become the next 'Holy Light,' their Goddess gave the girl to a friendly family, and since her mother needed to participate in protecting the divinity, the girl's memories were wiped.

But there is another royalty trapped within the shadows that have been concealed for millennia, even longer than the birth of a Demon...

The only one who has beaten the 'Holy Light's own is the Fiend Lord. Its lurkers will undoubtedly be wiped out, and the newfound foe will ready the battlefield...

[One year Later]

- Yashikami City, Thursday, 5:05 pm -

Ayuka reached for the package and opened it, her gaze fixed on the ring. "... It's all there, he hasn't disappeared..." She spoke up, concerned about Tim.

"Hey. What are you looking for, Ayuka?" Elliot wondered as he stepped away from the door if she had secretly put the ring back in the package. "Don't be concerned... It's just a little thing..." She spoke as she walked out of the bed, quietly placing the box in the cabinet. "Hello... I'll be going to the bar in the middle later in the evening, and you're welcome to join me," Elliot spoke up as he grabbed his phone and showed Ayuka the venue.

"What do you want to do there?" When staring at him, Ayuka wondered. "Nothing special... I just want to go have some fresh-brewed coffee..." He spoke up when he was a little concerned. "I see... Maybe... See you later..." She took it and walked around the corner, leaving Elliot perplexed.

- Gyuma City, Thursday, 7:30 pm -

"Wait, where are you going?" Eri emerged from the back entrance, while Tim came to a halt in front of it.

"... I'm thinking about going to Yashikami City... I haven't had their brewed coffee in a long time... Don't panic... I'm just going to take a drink... I'll be back then..." Eri was perplexed when Tim said this after the door closed behind him.

"All right... Alright, maybe you'll return shortly..." She spoke after Tim ignored her and resumed his walk through the snowy neighborhood.

- Yashikami City, Thursday, 10:45 pm -

Elliot sat alone at the bar table and no one else was there this late.

"Oh, boy... This is a little vexing... There is no one at the bar. How long has the bar been open?" Elliot inquired, his gaze fixed on the bartender. "It's until 11:30 p.m.... Why?" When Elliot frowned, he inquired. "Well, never mind..." But then the door opened when the bell rang, and Elliot and the bar competitor faced each other, and Elliot froze on the spot.

"T-Tim?" Elliot's cup of coffee was dropped onto his legs at the very moment, burning him. Tim blinked twice, perplexed after Elliot exchanged glances.

"Wait a minute, does this mean-" However, as soon as Elliot started to say it, Tim closed his eyes and sat at the counter, ordering a cup of coffee.

"I wasn't expecting to see you here, Elliot..." Tim spoke while facing the bartender. "What the heck is going on?! What have you been doing? It's been a whole year!" Elliot yelled loudly, irritated. "As I previously said... I'm working on something..." Tim talked with his eyes straight. "What exactly do you mean? Don't tell me you're going back to where you come from! You jerk!" Elliot grumbled as Tim got the freshly made coffee.

"What are your thoughts? I'm not done... Of course, I'm returning... I came here to taste the freshly brewed coffee..." Tim spoke as he took a drink from his cup.

"Y-You have to be kidding me! What the heck happened to you where you won't even visit Ayuka and the others?! Back then, you weren't that serious!" Elliot inquired as he stood behind him.

"Why would I do that? I don't have anything to do here..." When Elliot became irritated, he said. "You filthy scumbag... You've been doing god knows what all this time, and now you're so retarded that you won't even visit others? You've got a lot of guts!" Elliot spoke up, and the bartender took a step to the left.

"Are you really here to yell?" Elliot, on the other hand, was unconcerned. "Don't be this oblivious... Do you think I'll consider it? This isn't why I came here today, so thank you... Your arrival completely spoiled my appropriate taste." He said this while irritated.

"At the very least, keep an eye out for Ayuka, she'll be here soon." He claimed, but Tim took another drink at the same time. "Allow it to rest... You're doing well without me... I'm old enough to make my own decisions..." Tim exhaled a cold breath as he spoke.

"You retard!" Instantly, Elliot reached for Tim's collar, when raising him. "Do you even care about us, anymore? Or are you just a filthy asshole, who's got other shit up his mind?!" Angrily wondered, Elliot.

"What exactly do you want?" Tim pondered, softly staring at him. "What do I want?! I'd like to applaud you for discovering this shady method! I don't give a damn where you go! But when you return to the city, you don't even pay a visit! What sort of a pal are you?!" As the wind started to blow, Elliot enragedly inquired.

"... How many times do I have to say it...? I've completed the task for which I came... Now I'm doing what needs to be done..." Tim spoke up as Elliot appeared irritated. "Don't look as if you're unconcerned! And if you don't care in the end... you may as well get murdered!" Elliot gasped as Tim took his arm and pulled it away from him while adjusting his collar.

"Thank you so much for the coffee..." Elliot glanced at Tim, puzzled, as he returned the bill. "Of course, sir," Tim then proceeded to walk toward the entrance. "Where do you think you're going?!?" Elliot inquired as to whether he should make a move forward.

"Away from the neighborhood..." Tim shut the door as Elliot became ever more irritated.

"This ass is a jerk!" Elliot yelled as he rushed from the pub. "Yes, indeed! Get the heck out of here! Nobody here cares for you in the first place! Do you understand?! Never come back! Should you think so?!" Elliot yelled after Tim came to a halt and glanced behind him with his left eye.

"I'm not..." Elliot's eyes shook as Tim kept walking ahead through the snow.

"Damn it!" Elliot turned around when he saw his reflection on the ice. "W-what am I going to say to Ayuka...?" Still, in the end, Elliot paid and then returned to the guild.

- Yashikami City, Thursday, 10:50 pm -

"Elliot was walking down the street in the snow when Ayuka, dressed in a hoodie, walked in front of him

"Ellie? W-What's up?" She was perplexed, staring him in the eyes as she gently removed her hood, and the moment Elliot glanced at her, he felt embarrassed. "Nothing," he said.

"I-I was thought we'd have a coffee at the pub..." As the snow started to fall, she spoke, looking at him puzzledly. "At first, that was the plan, but then..." He clenched his hand, which rattled. "And then what?"

"... Something got in the way of that..." Although Ayuka was perplexed, he spoke. "I was hoping for a date, so what chance do I have with you... It's not that you like me in the same way that I like you..." Elliot expressed his embarrassment. "Huh?"

"Ellie... I-I'm sorry.. I wish I had the ability to embrace it... Still I'm afraid I can't... I don't feel the same way about you as you do... Besides, my emotions are tied to someone else..." She claimed, humiliated and flushed on the cheeks.

"I knew you'd say anything like that..." Elliot spoke up, irritated. "I-I'm sorry... She talked as her right hand was on her heart. "... I'll take a guess, is it Tim?" She became perplexed at that stage.

She, on the other hand, stared at the floor. "... Y-yeah..." She stared at the snow as she let go of her hand. "... I'm happy for you..." He said something that left Ayuka a bit uncomfortable.

"I may be able to assist you..." Ayuka became perplexed as a result of it. "Huh?"

Elliot lifted his right arm and pointed in the direction she needed to go. "Tim dropped by a few minutes ago... But he left again.." Ayuka's eyes shook as she stopped on the spot at the moment. "W-What do you mean? D-Do you mean to tell me that-"

"Yes... He didn't want to speak to either of us and just wanted to get some coffee..." Elliot spoke up, lowering his shoulder. "What are you talking about? What is the deal?" She inquired, worried. "Don't bother asking... But I'm not certain... I doubt we'll see him again... So, maybe... try to catch up..." When Ayuka became upset, she spoke up and moved to the front of Elliot.

"Please don't take this personally..." Ayuka shocked Elliot by hugging him into her warmth. "It may seem strange, but please understand that you are already a valuable friend..." She spoke up. "Many thanks..." Elliot grabbed for his shoulder, shocked when she said, and walked by.

"S-She hugged me?" He looked about, perplexed.

- Yashikami City, Thursday, 10:52 pm -

Ayuka dashed out the front entrance. "Tim!" However, the bartender was alone when she called out. "Where did he-?" However, the bartender spoke up. "He went north from here to the train station... You might still be able to catch up." When Ayuka turned around and thanked the bartender, she quickly dashed through the snowstorm, checking around to see where she could spot him.

However, while looking around the area, she saw the top of the pedestrian bridge and quickly rushed up the stairs, despite the fact that she was out of breath from running.

"Tim!" Tim came to a halt and cautiously turned around, surprised yet emotionless.

As she breathed, Ayuka started to walk quickly, swinging her right fist at Tim, who lifted his left hand. Ayuka seemed to be furious as she spoke with closed eyes.

"You think you can look broody, like some tragic hero?!" Her fist was shaking while moving it back to prepare a punch, once stepping back.

"There's no way someone who can't even protect himself..."

She immediately bent her leg after kicking it upward and landing on the spot, attempting to hit him. Tim jumped back to stop until Ayuka landed on the floor by quickly spinning her right leg and kicked at Tim obliquely, but he managed to block by quickly pulling his right arm and letting go of his arm.

She punched with her left arm forward, which Tim dodged by stepping backward, at which point Ayuka was in a crouch and kicked near his knees.

"... can protect anyone else is there?!"

Tim easily backflipped with a hop and landed on the floor after Ayuka quickly front kicked out, Tim swept his left arm and blocked her kick as she stopped while her hair shaded her eyes.

"Don't ever return to Guild!" When Tim's eyes opened wide, she cried, and a fist smashed into Tim's chest, sending him down, as Ayuka poised herself to take a step forward.

At which moment Ayuka jumped forward and landed at the top of Tim's body, while her mouth was shaking with fury.

"Why..."

"Why did you have to end up like this?"

She questioned, while Tim had no commentary, once she slowly reached with her lips forward.

"Why... indeed?"

Once the snow slowly waved forward, Tim noticed the warmth of her lips, kissing him, while his body became calm but confused, as the cars continued to drive under the bridge, when Ayuka slowly pulled her head and body away, still covering her eyes, when Tim slowly reached for his lips in surprise." But instead of saying or complaining, his lips slowly shaped into a precious smile.

To be continued...