Nine Tales [BL]

6.2

Renshu's muscles strained against Idan's grip, a fierce determination burning in his eyes as he broke free, his gaze locking onto Idan's with fiery intensity. "Why are you here?" His voice dripped with contempt.

Idan froze before dropping his arms. His eyes almost seemed to bulge out of his head with how hard he drank in Renshu's form. "We followed you."

"We?" Renshu repeated, skin crawling where Idan touched him. He wiped his body, fingers twitching at the thought of just burning his clothes and the first layer of his skin off, but he held back. Instead, Renshu crossed his arms tightly across his chest.

Idan watched him, fists clenched at his sides. "Do I disgust you so much?" he asked, his voice tinged with hurt and frustration.

"What do you think?" Renshu shot back, his glare unwavering. "Did you honestly believe I would enjoy being imprisoned by you, trapped in your delusion of us being lovers?" His chin lifted. "I am being courted by someone else, someone who will kill you if you don't back off."

"Lover?" Idan's body twitched, a dark undercurrent surging in the cracks of his skin. "Who is this lover?" He took a jerky step forward. "When did you meet them? Have you been seeing them in other worlds?"

"Have you been following me?" A sickening possibility wiggled in the corner of his mind. Renshu narrowed his eyes, flames surrounding him when Idan tried to grab him.

Idan jerked back, fury filling his features. "We've always been together! You loved us! You love me!"

"I don't," Renshu stated, his voice cutting through Idan's screams. "The one I care for is Virus."

Idan's screams ceased abruptly, leaving behind a stunned silence as he stared at Renshu, his expression blank and devoid of emotion.

His chest convulsed, face contorted into a twisted smile as he erupted into fits of laughter, each sound echoing through the room like a deranged symphony.

What had happened to Idan? Renshu had known him to be unstable, but this was beyond anything he had witnessed before. Staying with him isn't worth it but can I even leave? Do I have to kill him? Again?

Renshu's eyes narrowed, his tails bristling as he conjured a flickering blue flame in his hand, his muscles coiled with tension.

"I knew it! I knew it!" Idan continued to laugh, doubling over as if in hysterics. The cracks on his skin seemed to widen, a disturbing sight that sent a shiver down Renshu's spine. Idan's laughter subsided into a long sigh as he locked eyes with Renshu. "I knew you loved us."

Renshu set his jaw, resisting the urge to clench his hand so the flame wouldn't snuff out. The inkling in his mind grew into a nagging suspicion. "Are you Virus?"

"Yes! Yes!" Idan nodded eagerly, taking a step closer. The flames around Renshu surged, but Idan's gaze remained fixed on him, the fire licking at his legs. A memory flashed in Renshu's mind, another figure who had traversed his flames. The flames around him snuffed out.

Idan's eye glowed with intensity. "I knew you cared."

Renshu's mind raced. He needed answers but Idan was unstable. Who knew if he would give him the answers he wanted or if he would stab him then and there? Maybe I should just try to get my answers, kill him, take his weapon, and try to get out of here? But if he's the virus....

Licking his lips nervously, Renshu longed for Rein Nett's presence, wishing for their guidance in this perilous situation. Finally, he made a decision, swallowing his fear and offering Idan a disarming smile that froze the man in place.