Eternal Melody

"It would be."

"Why?"

Toh bent down and brushed his lips against her ear as he placed one of his hands on her knees. "Because, my love, I am one of a kind." For a few seconds, he let his lips linger there.

Sumire\'s face turned red, and he laughed as he drew back. Sumire looked at him furiously. "I-I thought we set up boundaries. You\'re not supposed to be getting close to me like that."

"I thought the rules you set mainly involved us doing it."

"T-then, let me change-" He cuts her off by appearing before her again. "Toh-"

"Just relax, don\'t you know me? I will never force you to do anything against your will."

He will always leave the choice to her. But he never said anything about not touching her. Besides, his touches clearly reassure her. Sumire was looking at him with a complicated expression on her face. It seemed like a part of her must have understood what he was thinking since she sighed and nodded.

The rest of the meal went well, and they enjoyed a nice conversation. He thought the kids would wake up and interrupt them, but it seemed like they were still sleeping. Sumire had left to check on them and was clearly upset when she came back.

"I think they have my fever," Sumire mumbled. "At least Huan does. He seems warm."

Toh frowned. "Hold on." He picked up his phone. "Mamoru? Are you close by?"

"Yeah! I\'m like five seconds away from your doorstep." Mamoru said cheerfully. 

"Key is in the usual place; grab it and go upstairs quickly," Toh said hurriedly.

Toh walked back over to Sumire, and she looked at him worriedly. "Is it something to worry about?"

"We will find out."

....

Mamoru must have sensed the urgency in his tone since he used his powers and arrived there quickly. Greeting Sumire with a smile, but seeing her state made him frown. He must have thought she was the reason why his tone was urgent, but he simply pointed to the room.

"Your son."

At those words, Mamoru rushed inside. 

Tsueno Huan wasn\'t just sick. His entire face was flushed red, and an unusual glow was around his body.

Mamoru placed his hand on Huan\'s forehead and rolled up the boy\'s sleeves where there were small circles. He even put his face on the kid\'s chest. 

"It\'s the hanyou fever. You don\'t have to worry. He simply needs blood."

Toh knew, even without looking at Sumire, how horrified she was. He knew that the current her had yet to accept the drinking blood thing. Now she is faced with the knowledge that her son had to do it.

"If he doesn\'t drink, it will get worst, won\'t it?" Toh cut in.

Mamoru nodded. "He certainly won\'t get better, and that light around him will get stronger. I don\'t think you want your neighbors seeing that."

Sumire raised her hand and was about to get her knife out, but Mamoru shook his head.

"Let me do it. I am his father if he drinks from me, who has the same ability. He will recover faster." Mamoru scanned her up and down. "Toh, are you sure you feeding her? She looks awful."

Mamoru didn\'t mean that as an insult, but that didn\'t stop Sumire from tugging on the sweater she wore. His sweater he has to add. It was a pleasant surprise seeing her wear it. Not that she had much of a choice; the clothes she had been wearing previously were covered in vomit. 

Her cheeks flushed, embarrassed. "I-I have been eating."

Toh squeezed her hand. "Look, your frightening her."

"Uh." Mamoru looked away. "I wasn\'t trying to insult you. I\'m just worried, Ki."

"I-I know." Sumire stammered.

Toh sighed deeply, sensing the odd aura around them. It seems like this is one thing that doesn\'t change about them. He coughed and put his arms around Sumire\'s back, pulling her closer to him.

"I\'ll take her back to rest, do your thing here and join us later."

Mamoru nodded, and Toh didn\'t waste any time dragging Sumire away from the room. The scent of Mamoru\'s blood immediately filled the hall. Sumire, however, didn\'t turn to look back, and her attention seemed to be on his hand, which was on her arm. 

She starts to laugh softly, breaking the silence between them. "What is it?"

"It\'s just, don\'t you think it is silly to get jealous when we already live together despite all the odds?"

Indeed she makes a valid point. Right now, the one who can get close to her is him, not Mamoru. But it\'s almost like it was a natural instinct to him to act this way,

Toh sighed. "I hope it doesn\'t bother you. Your nobody\'s possession. I don\'t own you. But when other guys get near you. When you and Mamoru get close-"

Sumire squeezed his hand. "It\'s okay. You don\'t have to explain. It\'s normal for you to feel this way. I see you for who you are, Toh."

He knew, even without looking at her face, that she meant each and every word. She truly didn\'t need him to explain his behavior, even if he was acting strange and unlike his usual self. Unlike the person, she got to know. 

She already accepts everything.

He didn\'t think it would be possible for him to fall in love with her anymore but look at this situation now. He is already so love-struck after a few days of being by her side again.

It did not take long before they reached the room, and Sumire dived back into the comfortable sheets of his bed. For a minute, he just stands there watching her get comfortable on his bed, still wearing his shirt like a dress.

He could smell his scent on her, and it was driving him crazy.

\'She is mine, mine.\'

Sumire picked up one of the pillows and hugged it against her chest. "I was thinking this morning. We could sit and chat."

Toh ran his fingers through his hair and still stood in the doorway. He was afraid that if he got any closer to her, he might lose control of himself.

"About?"

"Whatever you want. Um, actually, I have a few questions to ask you about your brand and your life abroad. Is that okay with you?"

Such simple questions, and yet she is looking at him with so much caution. Toh could see the fear in her eyes. What does she think he will do if he refuses to answer those questions? A thought came to mind, a very disturbing one.

It can\'t be. She has been sheltered and protected by Terashima and even Narasaki all this time. But why is she displaying signs of being afraid of- Toh didn\'t finish that thought when he saw the look in her eyes. 

He walked over to the bed and sat down. The minute he did so, he extended his hand out to caress her cheek. But Sumire immediately shut his eyes, and his gaze dimmed. Now he was closer, he saw her shoulders shaking.

Toh immediately understood.

Nagawa fucking Sano.