Eternal Melody

TOH

Sumire suddenly scrambled out of his arms. "Turn around."

He raised his eyebrow. "Is there any need? I'm already going to help you bathe."

"That's different."

Toh truly didn't understand what was different about it but nodded as he turned around. Even with his back turned to her, he could hear the sound of her slowly removing her clothes. Each second that went by led to his lower body heating up. Is she doing this on purpose? She is really driving him crazy.

When Sumire tells him to turn around, she is already in the tub and bubbles help conceal her gorgeous body. Toh sighs deeply, it's not like he hasn't noticed. Though Sumire has been allowing him to hold her, Toh notices how she maintains a distance now.

Toh watched Sumire lean against the tub. "So about Akane-chan." Sumire started. 

"Do we really have to keep talking about her?"

"Mmm, you're not that indifferent to her."

"Like I said, friends."

"It's not fair to keep you tied to me. You can date other women you know?"

"Didn't I try that already?" Toh jokes.

"That wasn't your choice." Sumire bit her lip. "I wouldn't mind if it was Akane-chan, she's a good person and you like her enough to call her your friend."

"So you say while almost breaking the edge of the tub."

Sumire's cheeks coloured and she looked away. "It's not like that."

His lips curve to a smirk. "I understand beautiful."

Sumire sighed deeply. She extended her hand out. "Help me wash my hair?"

"Of course." Toh gathered her hair in his hands as he kissed the strands softly. 

"Did you know about Lucifer's curse?"

"I did, but just recently. I had my suspicions after being with him for so long."

"and the reason you followed him?"

"Other than him saving my life. There was a time, I believed in his vision of the future."

"But now?"

"After I met you, I realized his idea of justice is twisted." Toh mumbled.

Lucifer's vision of the future involves far too many sacrifices and too much pressure on this girl in front of him.

"I see, but it's not like my idea of justice is any better."

Toh proceeds to refute her claim but Sumire shakes her head.

"In the end I am no better than Lucifer. If it's for the sake of the person I love, I will stain my hands red repeatedly with no remorse. I don't know what his plans are exactly. But, there is no doubt that he is doing this for my sake, because he truly believes that doing this will lead to a better outcome." Sumire trails off. "I remember a lot of things I didn't before, and I noticed a pattern. After the horrors experienced in our first life together. Lex strived for a better future, a better world. One where I wouldn't get hurt."

"But, a world like that isn't possible." Toh mumbled.

Sumire nodded. "Getting hurt, and hurting others? That's just how life works. It contributes to the balance. A world with no pain doesn't exist and if it ever came to be. It would be due to a huge sacrifice. A sacrifice I won't let him make."

"Do you suspect what it is?"

"I think so, but until I am too sure I can't share it."

Toh shakes his head. "It's okay, beautiful. I'm glad that you're not completely sympathising with him."

Sumire sighs deeply. "Even if I wanted to, my current position makes it very difficult. With Aki going rouge, what do you think that means for me?"

Toh blinked at her question. "Right now, your leading the holy knights and all the groups that have pledged themselves-"

What a frightening thought, more than three quarters of the underworld have pledged themselves to the Holy Knights. 

Sumire sighs frustrated. "When I find him, I'll snap him out of whatever possession he is in. How dare he put me in this situation, when I have my lovely family to care for, and my career?"

"You don't seem to be too worried."

"That's because I know him. If he has truly been harbouring that other soul for years, and nobody suspected anything. It means, the one with control is him. Aki can suppress it if he wishes too. For him to loose control, he must have been triggered by something. If I retrace his steps the past few months, and perhaps before I left star town. I may be able to find out."

She really is a smart one. If anyone else were in her position, they wouldn't be able to remain calm.

"Are you thinking of going back to star town?"

Sumire nodded. "At first I was going to wait until I finished up my university studies, but the situation isn't good right now. So, I'll finish up the rest of the year and then head back."

"I'll be following you beautiful."

Sumire laughed. "Mm, even if you didn't. I would have asked you."

"You would have?"

Sumire nodded. "I've been relying on you a lot. It would feel weird if we were suddenly apart."

His gaze softened at her words. "You don't have to worry about that. Just like you said earlier. Even if Terashima returns, I will be by your side."

Although, he will maintain some distance. He won't touch her as much. 'I shouldn't be touching her at all. But, a hug and a kiss on her forehead shouldn't do as much.'

"Mm."

Toh picks up the bottle of conditioner and applies it on the girls hair. Even without this, her hair is so soft.

"I wasn't with you last night, were you okay?" 

"Uh." Sumire laughed nervously. "I don't think I slept very much."

Toh frowns at those words. "I'm sorry about that beautiful. I'll make sure to stay by your side from now on."

"I feel comfortable when I'm with you."

"I know you do, turn around beautiful. Let me wash your back for you." 

Sumire turned around, seeing the scars made his gaze darken. It's not like this is the first time he has seen her scars. However, it still upsets him when he sees it.