Eros. (Benimaru Shinmon)

七十七

Benimaru's gaze was unwavering as he looked at me, the intensity in his eyes making it clear that he wasn't done with his questions. His voice was low, almost a murmur, as he asked, "How did you make them feel as if they were on fire? Those Shadows... it was like their bodies were being consumed from the inside out."

I exhaled slowly, the weight of the night's events pressing heavily on my shoulders. "I'm a hybrid," I began, my tone measured. "A mix of both third and fourth generation. That means I can manipulate flames to the hottest degree, but I can also control electricity, especially when one of my swords is positioned just right."

Benimaru listened intently, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in my explanation. I continued, "The concept I used is based on pyrogens—substances that cause fever by stimulating the release of inflammatory cytokines in the body. In biological terms, pyrogens trick the body into thinking it's under attack, which raises the body's temperature as a defense mechanism. What I did to those Shadows was similar. I tricked their bodies into believing they were fighting off a massive threat, and their systems responded by increasing their internal heat to a dangerous level, creating the illusion that they were burning alive."

Benimaru's expression didn't waver, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—perhaps awe, perhaps concern. He nodded slowly, processing what I had just explained.

I sighed, leaning back against the wall, my gaze drifting out the window to the dark, quiet night beyond. The weight of everything that had happened tonight settled heavily on me, a mix of exhaustion and uncertainty gnawing at my thoughts. The moonlight cast a pale glow across the room, and for a moment, I allowed myself to get lost in the stillness, trying to make sense of the chaos that had unfolded.

Before I could fully retreat into my thoughts, Benimaru moved with a quiet determination. He stepped forward, his strong arms reaching out to pull me away from the wall. Before I could react, he had guided me to sit between his legs, pressing my head gently against his chest. The sudden closeness startled me, and I could feel the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath my ear, grounding me in a way I hadn't expected.

He spoke softly, his voice a low rumble in the quiet room. "You did good, Inori. But you've been pushing yourself too hard. Take it easy for a while. Focus on your teammates. You're welcome to stay here as long as you need."

The warmth of his words, combined with the steady comfort of his presence, began to melt away some of the tension I had been holding onto. But then, he couldn't resist adding with a teasing edge, "Besides, you'll be staying here when we're married, watching over the twins along with our six kids."

The comment caught me completely off guard, and I felt a rush of heat flood my cheeks as I pushed against him, trying to ignore the blush spreading across my face. "Two kids, max," I muttered, my voice a mix of embarrassment and indignation.

Benimaru's chuckle vibrated through his chest, and he leaned down slightly, his breath warm against my ear. "I'm not taking any complaints right now," he said, the playful note in his voice unmistakable.

Despite myself, I couldn't help but smile, the tension from earlier easing away as I closed my eyes, letting the moment wash over me. His arms wrapped securely around me, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to relax, knowing that for tonight, at least, I wasn't alone in carrying the weight of the world.

As we sat there in the quiet of the night, Benimaru's voice broke the silence, low and thoughtful. "You know," he began, his words almost a murmur against the backdrop of our shared stillness, "that house of yours I rebuilt... it needs to be filled with life again. Like it was back then, when you had your garden."