Gate Guardian - Tale of the Blazing Heart

Phase 39: Kiss

Phase 39: Kiss

[Grove of Beginnings]

[8:12 PM]

She dragged me with my wrist back to the grove or lake or whatever. The waters are wide that you can call it a lake, but there are mangrove trees in the water that you can call it grove. Or you can safely call it a spring. I don't know what's the difference between those three.

As I was dragged in the center of the lake, Quintessence balls became thicker. The waters here are cold, and it only reaches my bellybutton. That's how shallow it is. But this place makes me somewhat relaxed. I can hardly think of any of my problems here. Not my current one.

Erylle suddenly stopped when we're on the middle of the lake. She glanced at me with her furious eyes and clenched her fist, never letting go of my poor hand.

"Are you trying to peep at me!?" Erylle shouted, pushing her face forward.

"I-I-I-I didn't know that you're s-s-s-still here!!"

"I'll kill you, pervert!!!"

Scared, I curled up protecting my head like an armadillo. I'm so scared to even open my eyes.

Nothing happened. Erylle chuckled a few moments later. When I open my eyes, she was covering her breast with her left arm, and her right arm held her hips. It's a shame that the water is hip-high, really.

"Turn back!"

"A-Aye!"

I did what she said. Then a soft hand touched my back, where my opened scar was. I felt that she's sketching something with her wet fingers on my back, but I don't know what it is.

"Why didn't you make any excuses?" Erylle pouted.

Oh yeah, Erylle's Guardian Abilities are activated. She can hear all of my thoughts.

"You didn't give me time to explain-aaargh!"

She poked my wound that made a slight stingy pain, but it disappeared immediately. Maybe it's because of the healing powers of this Grove.

"This...wound... I'm sorry for having these because of me..."

"It's okay. You also burnt your hands trying to protect me, right? We're even."

She leaned her head to my back and gently held my shoulders. Then she started to cry at my back. I held her hand on my shoulders, and tried to comfort her.

"I'm sorry about Atlas...I-If only I'm just powerful enough like him, I would've dragged him back to you..."

Her soft cries stopped. Then he forced me to turn around, facing at her. She's holding both of my shoulders that left her breast unguarded. Alas, my shadow covered her. I can't see her body clearly. Wait, why am I thinking like this?

"It's not about Atlas. I'm more worried of losing you.... I know everything...I know Atlas was in the Dark Legion in the first place."

"W-Whaaaat?!"

"Yep~" She grinned again. "I can hear thoughts, remember? I noticed his thoughts the first time we had our battle in the summit...I'm just bothered why he joined the Dark Legion."

There was a silence. I've been thinking about asking it to her, but I'm too afraid.

"What is it?" She slightly tilted her head.

"U-Ummm... D-Do you still h-have feelings for him???"

There was a silence again. Only the breeze that went to the grasses and daisies around made a noise.

"...You believed that rumor too?"

"What?"

"That's what's bothering you?"

Then Erylle laughed like a villain witch in fantasy movies. Then she glared and pushed her face to me.

"There's no way I could fall into a gay man!!!"

...

WHAAAAAAAAT!!!!?

"Yup~" Erylle chuckled. "He's gay, just like you!"

"I'm not!!!" I cried.

"Ooooh, there's another nickname for you. The one Neo uses...little girl!"

"Enough with the gay jokes!" I yelled. "Is that...true!!?"

"It is! We may be living on the same roof, eating lunch at the same time, and watching romantic movies together, but it's just a show! Since he's a hunk in our school with great body, he must protect his image as a MAN even though he's not one...He even has a crush on Zion!"

So it was all a show, damn it. I don't know what to react so I kept silent, passing out with my eyes open and feet standing. I can't believe I just got a love triangle with a gay man.

"Yohan..." Erylle suddenly became serious. "You should not tell anyone, even Asumi...."

"About Atlas being gay?"

"IDIOT!!! About Atlas being alive! We can't afford Asumi crying over and over again if she knows that his precious nii-san is alive and serving the Dark Legion... So I need you to shut your mouth in this matter."

"Roger that!" I nodded "...But Zion also knew. Atlas killed one of his friends, so he might reveal it later."

"That's why I need your help to convince Zion too...Is that a deal?"

"I don't really have a choice, so...deal!"

Suddenly, she removed her left hand to my shoulder and switched it to holding my chin. She pressed her face forward. My heart raced as she did this.

"Close your eyes~"

I did what she wanted me to do. A soft hand touched my cheeks and then...

Chu~

Soft tender lips touched on my forehead. I couldn't resist but to blush my face and open my eyes in amazement. Then she went back to her original position, but still touching my left cheek with her slightly burnt right hand.