Love Far Beyond the Ashes

The Real Plan

Koyori pov: I stared at the three viles of blood I siphoned and began to laugh. Iroha just stood there staring at me, not knowing when to speak, amidst my laughter. "This is great!" I told her

"What is?" She asked with genuine confusion and interest in my happiness.

"With this blood, I can now get to the next step of my plan!" I told her cheerfully that she seemed confused by me.

"So what is the blood for exactly, and do you need mine?" Iroha asked eagerly as she put her sword up to her arm, preparing to slice it open.

"Wait, I don't need your blood!" I frantically told her, "I'm using theirs for something special." I continued

"Oh..." She said in disappointment.

"Iroha, I'm trying to make those three into my loyal servants. You are my right-hand woman. I don't want to brainwash you and force you to do anything," I said to her.

"Really, you hold that much regard for me?" Iroha questioned I nodded in response to her question.

"Of course," I stated to her nicely, getting a soft, gentle smile from her again.

I glanced at the three unconscious girls in front of me as indecent thoughts filled my head: "How easy it would be to dispose of them." I sighed only to shake those feelings off since I needed them around for my plan to have some success.

"Iroha, I want to incorporate your pacifistic nature into my plan. You don't want to harm anyone or anything, but I want to destroy and rebuild, so how do we do this?" I asked

"Koyori, destroy anything and anyone you want. I will look the other way. Then we can rebuild. I won't care!" Iroha said

"This nonsense again, Iroha. Speak up for yourself, please. I don't want to force you to do anything. This is an equal partnership, no?" I asked her

"You always say that, but I want you to decide for me!" I told her

"Look, I love you way too much to want to restrain you like this," I mentioned to her.

Iroha nodded as she thought about my words yet again. Mumei-senpai gave me her blessing to destroy civilization, and I'm not going to pass up on this opportunity unless Iroha takes the opposite side. I will not yield to my beliefs.

Iroha suddenly got worried. "You look pale, Koyori; are you okay?" She asked

"Ugh-yeah, just my head hurts." I panted in ever-growing agony.

"Koyori?" A man's voice echoed. I instantly recognized it.

"Papa..." I growled under my breath while trying to steady your breathing.

"Koyori what's wrong?" Iroha asked as she looked around, trying to find my father.

I turned around and stared right at him, not knowing how confused Iroha was. My papa was smiling at me; his grin was inhuman; his jaw was practically broken; and he began to laugh at me. "You think you are so smart?" He laughed

"Shut up..." I snarled

"Your mother and I are disappointed in you. Did you know we wanted a better child?" He asked

"Please...shut up!" I said it louder as I felt my breathing speed up more.

"You are worthless." I was told. This broke me. I lifted up my arms and began to violently claw at my face, only to be stopped by Iroha, who hugged me from behind and pulled my hands away from my face.

"Please stop!" She demanded of me, "There isn't anyone here!" She yelled; her voice tore into me, snapping me out of my deep trance, and all of a sudden I began to laugh lowly.

"I remember...they put something in my head so they can perpetually mock me!" I laughed like a crazed woman.

"Koyori, can I help you?" Iroha asked

"Hug me longer," I told her as I began to feel liquid stream down my face, making my nose runny.

"I love you, and you aren't worthless, Koyori; you are the greatest woman I know." Iroha said to cheer me up

"Thank you!" I cried out, I need to get this damn chip or suggestion out of my head so I can go on with my plan, and then I'll get rid of my problems for good.

All of a sudden, reality crashed back into me. I saw Iroha's hand was a little banged up from earlier. I gently kissed her hand, surprising her. Sorry, I didn't tend to you," I told her.

"Why are you apologizing?" Iroha asked

"Because I feel like my happiness in succeeding in my plan has blinded me, and I neglected you. You're hurt, and I didn't think to heal you." I said

"That's not true. Every step of the way, you asked if I was alright. You showed concern every time something happened to me, and that made me really happy!" Iroha claimed

I have no reason to think anything she says isn't genuine because she doesn't have the wit to think about a lie on the spot like that. It is true that I was concerned, but after the fact, I can do more.

"I'm sorry, but even though your injuries are minor, I still think I neglected you," I said.

Koyori, please stop. It's not that big of a deal. You can give me a quick inspection, but just know that I don't feel neglected by you," Iroha said to me.

I was hoping that she didn't feel like she was neglecting me. I don't want her to worry about me, and I don't want there to be a rift of any kind between us. We need to be in sync and have perfect synergy. We need to get these feelings out.

"Are you hurt, though?" I asked her

"No, besides minor bruising," Iroha stated.

"Thank goodness!" I sighed in relief. She laughed at me all of a sudden.

"You're so worried about me that I forgot to be worried about you!" She said

I laughed a little bit. Maybe we have a bit more to work out after all; we both think we aren't concerned about each other enough.

"By the way, babe, I have mayonnaise; do you want it?" Iroha asked as she showed me the bottle to entice me.

"Of course I do!" I told her while snatching it from her. I immediately popped the bottle open and began to chug the delicious mayonnaise inside.

Maybe we don't need to work a whole lot out after all; we have the love down and we both know how to treat one another.