Four Seasons - 3

11th October. It's now seven months since Nepgear entered my life, and two months since we're a couple.

The first days after our beach trip were... Awkward at best. Because we're a couple now, we have less intimity towards each other, but because of that, we have more moments where I reach my limits and need to refresh myself with cold water. She's rather understanding in that aspect, even though I sometimes have the impression that she's pushing for me to break.

Outside of that, it's really strange for me. Waking every day in a hug and some kisses is a wonderful situation, but I can't help but keep in mind that one day, she'll have to go back to Gamindustri. And while no one from there knows we're in a relationship, I have the feeling that we may be in trouble should it be known. Especially with both Neptune, who is very protective of her younger sister, and Histoire, who may not appreciate how our relation grew when I was only supposed to take care of her.

However, what I had in mind was something else, as she woke up. And I mustn't spill the spaghetti. At all costs.

"Hello, dear. Had a nice sleep ?"
"Hello, Onii-chan. I slept well, and you ?"
"Same here."

First kiss of the day. Always the best to bring me back to reality. I woke up and brought her a cup of coffee.

"Oh, thanks."
"No problem."
"So, you have something in mind for today ?"
"Nothing in particular."
"I do. We have time, though, since it's only morning. So, first, don't move."

I went away, to quickly come back with a plate with the breakfast.

"Awww, thanks."
"I knew you'd enjoy it."
"But... Why ? Is there a reason behind that ?"
"Maybe the fact that I love you ?"
"Me too. Come on, sit near me, I want to share it with you."
"I made it for you, not for us. In addition, you know I'm ill when I eat too early. I can make me some coffee to drink while you're eating, though."
"Go ahead, then. I just want you near me today."
"As you wish, my love."

The meal happened without problems. It seems weird, but it's these little moments that make every day interesting and full of happiness. One of the many things she made me understand.

"Delicious."
"Good to hear. I begin to have a better grasp at your tastes, I guess."
"Well, you got enough time to eat through it, so I'm not surprised. I enjoy it as it is, though."
"Thanks. Here, give me the plate."
"There... And now, what do you have in store for me ?"
"Perhaps a little walk ?"
"Nice idea. Wait some minutes, I'm preparing myself."

Even though we made ourselves used to it, seeing so much skin of hers is always a miracle I'm enjoying every time. She told me she enjoyed just as much seeing me barely nude, which surprised me since I lack any semblance of muscles, but I got a "It's the way you are" as the only answer.  We gave ourselves a rule of not going at less than underwear, though, until we were both ready.

A change of clothes later, we were both going outside. The wind was blowing hard and the sky was covered by clouds, but it didn't matter. Going down the road, hand in hand, was a chance I was enjoying every passing day.

"Where are we going ?"
"I need to go and check for groceries, but outside of that, the choice is yours."
"Then, what about the usual route ?"
"I knew you'd propose that."
 "It reminds me of Planeptune, that's why."
"I can understand that. Oh, and what about your sister ? You went both in contact longer than usual, last day, and I fell asleep through it."
"...I told her, for our relationship."

I stopped, surprised.

"You did ?"
"Yeah. She answered a simple "I knew it'd end like this, but as long as you're both happy, it's for the best." "
"I expected an angrier reaction towards me."
"Onee-chan is worried about me, but I know she always wanted me to find true love, instead of those arranged meetings that were thrown at me."
"And I thank her for that."
"However, she will contact us again today, as she wants to talk to you."
"At midnight, as usual, I guess ?"
"Yes."
"I'm fine with that. I'll just need extra armor, I guess."
"She won't reach you through the screen, you know."
"Not yet. But when she'll be able to, I'll be in for a world of pain."
"I'll protect you."

She clinged to me.

"Even if it comes from Onee-chan, I don't want anyone to hurt you."
"Thanks. I'm glad you're here."

We started walking again, after a small kiss.

"By the way, I wondered something these last days, Onii-chan."
"What is it ?"
"...What was that letter you teared up last day ?"
"I thought you didn't saw it."
"I did. It wasn't the first one you received, right ?"
"Yeah."

I walked again, perhaps a bit faster.

"It's a letter from my father."
"Your father ?"
"Yes. He wants to meet you."
"...And why didn't you ask about it to me ?"
"Because I don't want to see that man anymore, after what he did."
"What he did ?"
"...He indirectly killed my mother..."
"...I understand."

She stopped, holding my hand.

"Let's stop at the usual shop. You'll talk to me about this."

The "usual shop" is the one where we stopped for eating during Valentine's day. Since we've become used to walks together, it has become a frequent stop, and we've become regulars, being greeted by the ones working there and the other regulars, having frequent reductions and so on. We quickly reached there and sat at an isolated table, with our food and drinks quickly served. I took a bite before beginning.

"My parents got divorced, and I decided to go to my mother's side since all my father did was drinking, nearly forcing my mother to drink and hitting me at every contrariety."
"It should have been hard."
"Not that much since I don't remember it that much. What was hard to endure was what came after that."
"What happened ?"
"Since what I already explained you at the beach trip, I spent most of my time alone, openly avoiding others in fear of what might happen, so no one cared about me in return."
"It doesn't explain what happened with you."
"The problem came when my mother got health problems and was sent to a hospital. It was discovered that she was allergic to alcohol, and that all the alcohol my father nearly forced her to drink completely destroyed her from the inside, in addition to a grave illness. She died at the hospital, two days later."
"And... What did your father do ?"
"He accused me of this, telling me that it happened because I forced my mother to drink. Of course, no one believed him, but when I accused him back, no one believed me either, and he knew it. Which led to the doctors declaring my mother alcoholic, in the end."
"...That's horrible."
"Yeah. And now, my father understands he's becoming old and will need some support sooner or later, and he tries to turn back to his only son, with fancy letters and semblances of interest about my life."
"I shouldn't meet him. It's better for him."
"Yeah, I think so."
"...You really had a bad life thus far, Onii-chan."
"Life has given me a second chance, seven months ago."
"You're giving me too much importance."
"And I have no problems with this."

I took her hand as she was about to take another sip of coffee.

"You gave me a chance to redeem myself. A chance to accept that I have value. A chance to accept that I have merit. I won't give that chance up. No matter what."
"I accept it gladly, then."
"And I..."

I froze myself, after watching at the entrance. And especially at the person entering. A person who took his time flirting with one of the employees, before asking for a coffee, then coming directly at our table, taking a chair in the process.

"Excuse me if I join you."
"...What are you doing here ?"
"You know exactly what I am doing here."
"What you told me in that letter ?"
"Yes. Meeting my future daughter-in-law."
"Ah, so I guess you're Leo's father, then ?"

His coffee arrived on the table, while he smiled as much as he could.

"Exactly. The name's Leon, but you can call me Dad."
"I guess I'll stay with Murderer as a name, thanks, Sir."
"Oh, and polite with that. What is your name, little girl ?"
"You do not deserve to know it."
"I deserve to know whoever is in a relationship with my son, little girl. Now speak or go away."
"She's in the right. You do not deserve to know her name, or to stand at that table for that matter."
"Lower your voice and your eyes when you speak to me. Or maybe do you want a little punition, like when you were a kid ?"

The contents of his coffee got spilled on his face. I never saw Nepgear that angry.

"Lower your eyes and know your place when you speak to me or my important one, sir. Or maybe do you want a little punition, like you never received in a lifetime ?"
"Provocating me, little girl ?"

His hand flew. However, we both blocked him, me at the wrist, her with her hand blocking his arm before twisting it in a blunt move.

"Provocating me, old man ?"
"You do not know who you're attacking."
"Neither do you. Now, let's make things clear."

Her mouth approached his ear, making herself sure no one outside of us three listened her.

"One more move against either Leo or me, and I'll make sure using every means available to make sure you'll never see the light of the day again, even should that cost me millions."
"You do really think you have enough money at your disposal."
"Never underestimate me, for it is a grave mistake."
"Pfff... Why doing this for such a larva, for such an insignifiant kid like him ?"

His hand got twisted further.

"Because I feel something for him that you never will. Now get out and never come back, you filthy Dogoo."

She released him, and he answered with a furious eye whose focus switched between her and I, before regaining his composure and going off, without even paying for his drink.

"...What a... "
"Gear ?"
"...Please, Onii-chan... Never become... Someone like that... Okay ?"

She turned to me, her eyes full of tears. Without a moment of hesitation, I hugged her, and she let herself go, crying like never before in my arms.

"... Excuse me, sir ?"
"Oh, sorry for the trouble. Can you bring me the addition for both of us, and the man who spilled his coffee ?"
"I'm afraid there will be a little more for repairing the damages."
"The damages ?"
"Look at the third chair."

It was broken in the process.

"...No problem. And sorry for the trouble my father caused."
"It happens occasionnally, when one of our customers is too drunk. Don't worry, we'll make it pass that way, you won't have any problems."
"Thank you."

The addition wasn't that heavy, even taking in consideration the broken chair. I directly paid with my credit card, with another round of excuses in the process, and left some time for Nepgear to recover before going out.

"You want to go to the park ?"
"...Why not ?"

I felt how shaken she was. Still trembling with a mix of anger and fear, and with her head clearly messed up by the encounter.

"Now you see how it was."
"...With such a thing every day of your life, I understand how painful it was."
"This was one of his good days. On his bad days, we were in a constant battle."
"...He will never hurt you again."
"On that matter, you impressed me."
"I did ?"
"I never saw you so angry... And I never saw someone as strong as you."
"...My strength is part of the Planeptune training program. As candidates and CPUs, we have to be able to defeat monsters on a daily basis. If we don't have enough strength, we just can't do it."
"I see."
"...As for my anger... I never wanted to show you that side of me, Onii-chan..."
"...You want to know my opinion about it ?"
"...Go ahead, I'll understand if you hate me after that."
"Someone told me a day that I didn't have to hide myself, because she loved me as I am, with my past and my flaws. And that someone should do the same, because I love her as she is too."

I accompanied these words with a kiss.

"You... You don't mind me acting like that ?"
"I enjoyed you acting that way. I enjoyed you standing for me and giving the old man a well-earned correction."
"But I was... So angry, and violent..."
"I'd probably be the same if our positions were reversed, if not more violent. This is called protecting the people close to you, not acting out of anger."

On these words, we reached the park, and she sat on a bench. I kissed her with a smile.

"And now, the main event."
"...Onii-chan ?"

I sat at her side, before pulling a little box from my pocket.

"I know our situation. I know how hard it's gonna be in the following months, especially with how much Histoire is working on the dimensional link. But I also know that there's nothing that makes me want to stay here outside of you. So I have something to ask you."

I pulled a little silver ring from the box and passed it at her finger.

"Will you let me follow you to Gamindustri and live the rest of our days together ?"

She only answered with a hug, crying all over again.

"Onii-chan... ! Onii-chan ! I love you ! I love you so much !"
"Me too, Gear. Or else I wouldn't have taken that step. Also, there's something I want to tell you."
"W...What ?"

I approached my mouth to her ear.

"...Happy birthday."
"How did... How did you knew ? I never told it to you..."
"Neptune told it to me a month ago. She asked me to make your birthday unforgivable."
"So..."
"She didn't know about both of us until you told her. But I expect her to have an idea at the thing I'd offer you."
"This ring ?"
"Yes. Along with the rest of my life."
"I'll take both of them, then... But..."
"But ?"
"You don't have a ring."

I answered by pulling off one of my gloves.

"It was always there. Since the moment we went off."
"...You really thought about everything."
"I didn't expect my old man's appearance. But it changes nothing, all it did is confirm my thoughts."
"...I love you, dear."
"Me too."

We kissed, again and again.

"I'm a mess now, Onii-chan..."
"Don't worry. You're still the most beautiful girl I have seen."
"Sweet talker."
"You want to go home ?"
"...It's better, yes."
"Fine then."

We stood up, and she clinged to my arm.

"...Onii-chan ?"
"Yes ?"
"I love you."
"Me too, Gear."
"Hehe. You're cute."
"As long as you think I am cute, it's okay."
"And I'll aaaaalways think about you that way."
"So it'll be the same for both of us, I guess."

Chit-chatting our way through home, we reached it faster than usual. What I didn't expect at the moment was Nepgear hugging me at the very moment I closed the door, going for a kiss that was much more intense than usual.

"Onii-chan... I have a request..."
"...Go ahead."
"Follow me."

Taking me by the hand, she attracted me to what was our bed since the beach trip, since none of us felt it was needed to have different beds when we could just share the same, before kissing me again, with the same intensity. An intensity that made me sit down, with her sitting on my knees, then lying on the bed, with her on top of me.

"Onii-chan... Please..."
"I..."

I couldn't say anything else, so I attracted her to me for another deep kiss, our tongues going wild at each other. Then, as suddenly as it began, it stopped, with her devouring me with those eyes of her.

"...I'm ready... Onii-chan..."
"...I am too."
"...But... I'm scared..."
"I understand."

To give her a better idea, I took her hand and slid it under my shirt, right on my chest.

"I've... Felt your heart like this... At the beach trip."
"Yeah... But it's different this time."
"...How ?"
"I'm still scared as hell... But I'm more scared by something different."
"What ?"
"...I want to make... Your first time... As memorable as possible... But I know nothing about that."

She smiled.

"Then let's discover that together, my love."

She kissed me again, her hand still on my chest, before removing my shirt. A bit ashamed, I looked away, but she grabbed my head with her hands and forced me to watch her back.

"You don't need to fear me, Onii-chan."
"It's not fear... I'm just ashamed of myself."
"You shouldn't."

She kissed me on the neck, before going down on my torso.

"You are cute."
"Not as much as you."
"I'm not. I'm small. Everywhere."
"Really ? I don't think so."
"Then... Check it by yourself."

I removed her shirt, then got some difficulties with the bra before removing it.

"So... What do you think... About it, Onii-chan ?"

I answered by kissing her the same way she just did to me, making her moan a little.

"You are cute."
"Not as much as you, Onii-chan."
"...Thanks for everything, Gear."
"Why so suddenly ?"
"It's not that sudden..."

I attracted her to me for a hug.

"...Every passing day, I thank whoever is responsible for making us meet, and for putting you in my path. Because thanks to that, I met the most important person in my life. And I'll never be glad enough to say it."
"...Then swear it to me, Onii-chan."
"How do you want me to ?"

She interwined together the fingers wearing the rings.

"Swear to me that, no matter what, you'll love me as much as you can. That you'll always be at my side. That I'll always be able to count on you."
"That's a promise."

I grabbed her finger with mine, before kissing her again. Our lips only separated for us to take some breath, as we discovered the whole of us for the first time, which took us quite some time due to our inexperience. It is only after four hours and a long long moment of fun that we stopped, laying besides each other.

"...I'm done. I'm completely done. And Neptune and Histoire will probably kill me for that."
"I'll protect you. No matter against what, no matter against who. I'll protect you and stay at your side like I did today."
"I entrust you with my life, then. That's why I sweared on our rings, isn't it ?"
"Exactly. And that's part of why I love you so much, Onii-chan."

While we went for another kiss, the screen lighted up again. We only had the time to cover ourselves before the screen showed us the two faces I was expecting the worse against.

"O... Onee-chan... Histoire... Hello..."
"...We heard some strange echoes coming from here, so we decided to go against our usual measures and to open the link early... And it's to find you both in such a situation ?"
"It's... You know..."

Busted as we were, there wasn't any point in hiding it, so I held Nepgear's shoulder with a hand passing behind her.

"...It's as it is. We're in a relationship now. A really deep one, to be honest."
"Since how long, Sir Leo ?"
"Two months. And we just... We just consumed it."
"...Neptune, do you want to tell them your opinion ?"
"Sure, Histy. Can you leave us together ?"
"Of course."

Histoire left the screen, and Neptune waited for some seconds to continue.

"...Nepgear, you know the consequences of it, do you ?"
"I do. And I have no regret."
"And for you, Leo ?"
"I have never been so happy to share someone's life. I'm ready for everything anyone can throw at us."
"I hope it isn't vain words you're throwing around."

I have never seen such seriousness in Neptune's eyes.

"...Those eyes you're having at me."
"...Yes ?"
"Nepgear had the same ones at that moment. And I accepted them."
"I see. That's how serious both of you were, and how commited to each other you are."
"Exactly."
"Now tell me how it happened. I want to hear every part of it."

I didn't hesitate a bit and explained everything to her. How my life was a mess before our meeting. How she managed to give me the second chance I always hoped for, but never expected.  And how everything went, without any expectations from me. She just answered with a smile full of tension.

"I understand. Nepgear, you chose well."
"Thanks, Onee-chan."
"Now, you both know some of the consequences, but... There's still two of these you don't know, and that I must inform you. Are you ready to listen them ?"
"I am, Neptune. And you, Gear ?"
"So am I."
"Fine... First, the problem lies about the incompatibility between CPU powers and men. Can you tell me again what are the powers given to a CPU and her Candidates, Nepgear ?"
"...A temporary growth of one year, for the Candidates, or five years, for the CPU. Boosted physical and magical strength and resilience... And a much higher lifespan."
"There lies the first problem. As a human, what is the usual lifespan ?"
"The oldest humans reach 120 years, but people usually die around 80 years."
"With the powers bestowed to Candidates and CPUs, our lifespan goes between 300 and 500 years. You both understand what it means ?"
"...It means I'll have to transfer my powers to someone else and to abandon my status as a Candidate or CPU of Planeptune, Onee-chan. And I'm fully ready to accept it, if that means living and growing old at the same moment as my love."
"...We don't have Candidate replacements. You know what this implies ?"
"That you're gonna be the last Planeptune representative."

Nepgear's voice was strangled by saying those words. And I understood it full well. But this was her decision, and not mine, to take.

"However... There's another thing."

I felt a bigger tension in the air.

"...Histoire has taken her decision."
"...And what is it ?"
"...The portal to come back will be ready on the day after tomorrow. And from that day on, you have two months."
"Two months for that ?"
"Two months to come back definitely."

Neptune's face was becoming darker, like as she was crushed by something, while the connexion got a bit glitchy.

"And should you not come back... The orders have been settled..."
"What are these ?"
"...You are to be... Taken back here... By will or by force... And the one... Who emprisons you there... Shall be slain by my hand."
"NO !"

The connexion got shut down instantly, as Nepgear broke into tears. All I could do was slam the side of the screen, in a display of anger.

"Is that a joke... ? IS THAT A FUCKING JOKE ? ANSWER ME ! NEPTUNE !"
"...It wasn't... A joke..."
"Gear..."
"Oracle's orders... Are absolute... And can't ever... Be defied by the CPUs... Or the Candidates..."

In an instant, the world and the reality fell down on us. A world that never would allow either of us to stay together. A world that gave me a second chance only to crush it. I sat on the ground, only able to say one thing.

"...Why ?"