It Doesn't Matter || Sting Eucliffe Love Story (Book 1)

~ Chapter 22: Flashback Of The Thing You Fear ~

Akiko slammed the two dragon slayers faces into the ground, her hair just missing getting hit by the dragon's claw. "You two seriously have to pay attention to your surroundings," she muttered.

"Ow...," Sting mumbles. "You have seriously--"

Everyone's eyes widen. Shiro hissed "Didn't we just have this conversation?"

"I.... Don't know," Akiko's voice shook as her body began to tremble.

"Akiko?" Sting said, but he didn't get a chance to say anything more as the dragon attacked.

He quickly grabbed onto Akiko and all of them dodged the attack. He placed her on the ground, her body trembling like a leaf. She clenched her fist on the ground, her eyes shadowed by her hair. Sting looked at her worriedly, that vision must've gotten to her bad.

---

He didn't get to finish his sentence as Akiko appeared right in front of him in a heartbeat, his eyes widen as he heard her murmur one word.

"Kill."

Blood splattered to the ground as Akiko sliced Sting's stomach.

---

He shaked his head as he remembered it. No, Akiko would never do that... I know it, he thought to himself. But just to be sure. He said "Shiro, stay with Akiko. Don't get yourself killed."

"I know. I've already figured out the mistake of me dying," Shiro responded.

He slithered over to Akiko, wrapping himself protectively around the black-haired female. Sting gave his mate one last worried glance, looking at the white mark with slight curiosity before joining Rogue in the fight, leading the two dragons away from the trembling female.

Akiko's body trembled as she tried to get a grip on herself. Her right hand on her stomach while her left hand was clenched on the ground, almost clawing at the dirt.

That feeling... It actually happened. I can feel that darkness so freshly, I haven't felt it in a long time. It's scary. And the thrill, that thrill I felt when I... Killed him... It's still there.

Past. Present. Future.

That was the future. Blood was in the past.

What about the present?

---

Sting murmured, a smile on his features "You're so cute sometimes, I can't resist myself."

---

That's right... I still have a future with Sting. As cliche as it sounds, I ain't dead yet and neither is he. And I've still got to learn about that idiot. A smile came to her lips. So let's go dragon hunting. Her body stopped trembling, and she stood up.

Shiro hissed "Got your grip together?"

"Of course," Akiko said, her eyes serious. "Now, let's go!"

She ran over towards Sting and Rogue, she yelled "Ice God Serpents!"

Large ice serpents came out from her hands and traveled towards the dragons. The dragons roared as the serpents wrapped themselves around them tightly, trying to choke them. Sting yelled "Akiko!"

She stopped in front of them, she said "Sorry for the wait. I just needed to get my act together."

"About time," Sting said, grinning. "Now let's defeat these dragons together!"

"Right!"

---

The dragons began to glow, and before they knew it, they disappeared. "So uh, was that us?" Sting asks, a bit confused.

Akiko mutters "I highly doubt that."

The two dragon slayers sat down, exhausted. "Man, that was totally pathetic," Sting stated.

"And we call ourselves dragon slayers," Rogue said. "What a joke."

"Just goes to show how tough those things really are," Sting pointed out. "And Acnologia is even more powerful than them."

Rogue commented "Honestly I rather not think about that right now."

"No doubt."

Akiko stared at the beautiful night sky. It doesn't seem so dull anymore, now.

"It's weird, but we fought all those dragons but now that they're gone," Sting began. "It sure doesn't feel like a victory."

Rogue corrected "It is a victory," they looked at each other. "We protected our friends, didn't we?"

The black-haired female looked down at her hands, before clenching her fist. The bloodstains won't go away.

No matter how hard I might try. They will always be there. She turned around, looking at the two dragon slayers. She hugged the blonde, white dragon slayer. But as long as I have him and the others. I won't go down that path again. I know it.

"Hey!" He said, stumbling slightly. "What's with the hug now?"

He didn't mind, but Akiko was not the type to just hug him out of nowhere. "Does it matter?" She countered. He chuckles, and hugs her back.

"I guess not," he replied.

She murmured "Promise me something," he raised an eyebrow. "Don't die on me. Both of you," Rogue's and Sting's eyes widen. "Just promise, please," her grip on Sting tightened.

He noticed, and slightly smiled. "Promise."

"We promise," Rogue clarified.

A small smile came to her lips. "Good."

"You two look so cute together!" Shiro mused. "I should get a photo!" Akiko growled slightly but didn't say anything.

I guess I do like this idiot.

Not that I'm going to admit it to him.