Who wrote it?

Chapter 15: Lingering love.

Sonia fiddled with the skirt of her dress. She'd left a note at Gundham's cottage asking him to come to hers, but at the moment, she was wondering if he'd even received it. If he even cared. Three heavy knocks rang through her cottage. With her heart drumming in her chest, Sonia stood up from her bed. That was him. It had to be him. No-one else knocked like that. She stumbled over to her door, paused to take a deep breath, and opened it up. As she expected, Gundham was standing in the door opening, both of his hands were touching his scarf. He never touched his scarf like that. Was he nervous as well? ''Gundham,'' Sonia breathed, ''Come in.'' He nodded curtly and walked inside the small cottage. Gundham then sat down on Sonia's bed, as they always did when they were talking inside her cottage. There was simply nowhere else to sit. ''I am sorry, I have not prepared tea or anything of the sort.''

Gundham raised his hand. ''It's fine. Sit down. We shall talk.''

Sonia sat down next to him on the bed with a sigh. She rubbed her thumbs over each other. ''The pornography,'' she started.

''Yes, I presumed that that was what you wished to speak about.''

''Why?'' She asked, ''Why did you write that?''

Gundham pulled the collar of his scarf up to his chin. ''I shall not lie to you, my Dark Queen. I'd already written it a couple of days prior to the incident. I asked Nekomaru about it the very same day we arrived at the Funhouse, and started writing accordingly. If there was any hope of getting out, that would've been the end of it.''

''You merely wanted it?''

''At first, yes. However, when I saw you in that sorry state on the fourth day of our incarceration... I couldn't merely sit by and do nothing. It hurt me to see you that way. You looked dead like the rest of the class, you weren't hungry anymore, you weren't struggling anymore. There was no means for living like that. It is an animal's right- no, an animal's duty to struggle. Struggle through life and its hardships. To see you at the edge like that, Sonia...''

She felt his hand on her hand. Sonia looked over at Gundham. He wasn't making any eye contact with her, but she could tell exactly what he was feeling. He wasn't lying. Seeing her lustless at the Funhouse really did hurt him. And he willingly touched her. That meant... that meant that he still loved her, right?

''I couldn't merely stand by and watch you shrivel away like that. I had to do something. That's when I hatched my plan: I would do the exact opposite of what that cursed bunny wanted. I'd write another pornographic text and plant it in the student's sights as to show her that even leashed dogs can eat children.''

''Gundham, I-'' Sonia sighed, ''Why Nekomaru?''

''Because, sometimes, all a man wants is to be pleasured by another man of peak performance. I also thought you were too pure for the sins I had prepared.'' He squeezed her hand. ''This all could've been avoided... if I'd spent more time training my mind-reading abilities... I was simply not aware that it'd make you hurt.''

''Then... why did you not write me as someone akin to Nekomaru? There is no reason for you to write me with the anatomy I possess naturally.''

''Again. I was under the impression it'd cause you offence.''

''... And that is why you chose Nekomaru instead?''

''If you wish... I could rewrite it. With you instead of Nekomaru.''

Sonia glanced up at Gundham. He was blushing a bit. ''No.''

He glanced down at her. ''Whatever you wish, my Dark Queen.''

''No, instead, let us write one together. You and I.''

Gundham's eyes widened. ''My Dark Queen!'' He exclaimed, ''Would you truly be willing to partake with me in a writing ritual of the breeding ritual?!''