Love Far Beyond the Ashes

Showing Them Around

Suisei pov: It's been a long while since I was in this position; it is time for me to take initiative and show the others around the council room.

"Hey, Azkichi, look at me!" I said that after getting her attention, I took my axe and grabbed my hair, slicing a huge chunk off.

"Why would you do that!?" Mikochi questioned

"Do what?" I asked.

"Cut your hair!" She shouted

"Honestly, your question should be, how the hell did she cut it into a perfect hairstyle?" Azkichi said

"Shut up, Azaz!" Mikochi yelled

"That's a new name," Azkichi said, "are we really on that basis?"

"Of course we are, we are teammates, but don't change the subject!" Mikochi yelled

"You pull it off, sis," Anemachi said.

I jumped in shock. I completely forgot she was here; I didn't see her when we fell into the boundary or whatever, so how long has she been with us?

"Thank you," I told her.

"So you are going to show us around the council hall?" Sora-chan said happily as her eyes glowed up.

"Are you sure you know how to traverse the council hall? It's been awhile," Robochi said.

"No, it hasn't, it's only been a day." I said

"What the hell is time?" A-chan questioned

"Who knows?" Nodoka stated

Mikochi began to walk, but she tripped and fell onto her face.

"Okay, Mikochi, ride me," I said softly.

"W-what!" She shouted in shock.

"I'm just giving you a piggyback ride," I said.

"Awww, that's adorable," Azki said.

"I'm going to cut you up." I said

"I'd like to see you try," Azkichi teased.

"Uhm, Sora-chan, you should stop them." Mikochi said

"Oh, they're always like that; it doesn't really matter; they never fight to the death." Sora-chan stated

"Okay, the fact that they fight at all is kind of concerning." Roboco said

"Well, they are best friends." Sora-chan stated

"Okay, I'll just show you the council hall now," I said as I let Mikochi onto my back.

We walked down the hall and skipped over the usual room since we aren't going to go into a torture device even if it's shut down, then I showed them the portal room. Next, I showed them each individual room for each council member.

"This is the break room," I said as I showed them into the servants' lounge.

"Damn, I'd work here," Mikochi said.

"Yeah, but then I'd have to quit because I'd have to look at your face," I said.

"What if I worked here?" Azkichi asked

"I'd like us to have a shared room," I told her.

"That's not fair!" Mikochi cried

"I'm sorry, but you are kind of annoying," I told her.

"Okay, that's rude." Sora-chan stated

"Yeah, I am actually really sorry about that, Mikochi. I promise I won't insult you much," I said.

Roboco stuck her leg out, and I tripped over it, so Miko and I fell, noticing our faces were mere inches from each other. She was blushing, but I felt nothing; my heart wasn't even racing nor was it skipping beats.

I don't think I've ever felt such disinterest toward a woman before. I remember when I first found out I loved women, which was when I was singing with Azkichi. Even now, she makes my heart skip a beat. But what about Mikochi? Doesn't she make it do that?

I wonder: I'm usually not picky when it comes to women, but my heart races when I'm with Kanatan, Towa, and Coco, but that is different, and Aqu-Tan is also cute as all hell, but they are just naturally sexy.

I'm confused I've been around Mikochi for longer than all of them besides Azkichi, yet she doesn't make my heart race or skip beats; you'd think I'd have developed feelings for her or something.

Maybe I don't know the type of person I'm attracted to, "Sui-chan." Azkichi questioned she was leaning over the two of us, mostly over me, and my face grew red.

This is what I mean. I know Azkichi has a fiancé, but that doesn't stop me from blushing at her; she's just too cute for her own good.

"Are you okay?" Azkichi questioned I nodded rapidly and accidentally headbutted Mikochi.

"Owww!" She cried

"I'm so sorry!" I said as I shook off my trance, "It won't happen again."

"If you aren't alright, then we can stop walking around." Sora-chan said

"I'll keep pushing..." I said

Anemachi walked up to me and dragged me to the side, asking, "Is my adorable Imōto worrying about women?"

"How do you know that?" I questioned

"It's an onee-chan's role to know how their little sister feels," Anemachi explained.

"You are way too attached to me. You are a sisc-" Before I could finish, she cut me off.

"This isn't about how much I like you; this is about you and your love life," Anemachi said.

"Can you tell me why I don't feel anything for Mikochi?" I asked

"Well, maybe it's because you don't trust her." Anemachi said

"I don't trust her." I was confused by that.

I thought about it, and yeah, I really don't in a way; I've changed. I want things to go right, and she is extremely stubborn and doesn't follow directions, but that can't be it.

"Maybe it's because to me she doesn't feel like a woman." I told Anemachi.

She looked at me and tilted her head to the side, questioning what I meant. "Elaborate," she said.

"Well, have you seen her?" I asked

"Yeah, but she feels like a woman," Anemachi stated.

"Actually, she kind of reminds me of you in a way," I said.

"Don't compare me to her." Anemachi hissed

"Okay, maybe I just need to evaluate where I stand," I said.

"Yeah, do so figure out your type first, okay?" Anemachi asked

I nodded as we returned to the others. What type of woman do I like? I wondered.