-???-
"Argh, my head hurts," Yuto opened his eyes and found himself surrounded by fog.
He tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over him, causing him to wince in pain.
He reached up and touched his head, feeling a throbbing headache that made it hard to think straight.
"Where am I?" he muttered to himself, wincing at the volume of his voice.
The fog around him seemed to distort and shift, making it difficult to discern anything, "F-Freya, M-Mizuki, anyone there?"
He called out, his voice echoing faintly, disappearing into the depths of the fog. There was no response, and there was no sign of anyone nearby.
The loneliness of the place began to settle in, and Yuto hated it, "Where am I?"
He carefully got to his feet, but his legs felt weak and unsteady. He took a few steps, trying to find a way out of the suffocating fog.
But no matter how far he walked, the fog remained thick and disorienting, and he felt like he was walking in circles.
"Oh wait, System!"
No response, even after waiting for 5 minutes
Yuto frowned, feeling a mix of unease and frustration. The lack of response from the system added to his isolation. "Damn it, so the system's also not here with me"
He tried to focus and call upon it again, but only silence greeted him. "Well, what the hell do I do now?"
Yuto muttered to himself, the hopelessness of the situation began weighing on him.
He had never felt so alone, was he used to having someone around?
When did being alone feel so lonely?
He slapped his face, "Focus, there has to be a way out, I can't stay here!"
He stumbled forward, his eyes straining to pierce the fog, he thought he saw a hint of something in the distance, but as he approached, it dissolved into mist.
Frustration welled up inside and he clenched his fists, his mind racing, "This is starting to get old fast!"
He turned to another direction, resuming his aimless walking, "Fog, fog, fog, is this all I'm going to see?"
10 minutes of walking
"HELLO!!!"
"I have no idea why I'm here, please answer!"
…
"Just keep walking Yuto, all I have to do is keep walking"
30 minutes of walking
"If someone is here, please answer me!"
…
"Kinda don't like to be left in the dark"
1 Hour of Walking
"I can backflip if that helps. Nothing?"
"... Just keep walking Yuto, keep walking"
And finally after 3 hours of walking
"This is pointless…I should lay down; my legs hurt," he said as he prepared to sit down when a voice called out to him.
"Is someone there?"
Yuto froze at the sound of another voice, he turned towards the direction it came from and ran, "Who's there?"
The voice chuckled, "No no no, I asked first, which means you have to answer first"
Yuto felt slightly annoyed at the reply but pushed such pointless thoughts aside.
After all, he was in an odd situation, where he needed answers.
"My name is Yuto Akimitsu, who are you?"
The voice stayed silent before it spoke with a hint of shock, "I'm sorry but what was your name again?"
Yuto's frown deepened as, "Yuto Akimitsu, is my name odd?"
He took a step forward, trying to better understand where the voice was coming from.
"Mind showing yourself, it feels rude leaving me in the dark"
The voice agreed and walked closer, adjusting themselves to Yuto's vision. As he got closer, he could feel his blood go cold. It was his future self, whom he had seen two years ago.
"H-how are you?"
His future self also looked confused, "What are you doing here?"
Yuto swallowed the lump in his throat, his heart beating like a drum. This odd situation left him disoriented and uncomfortable.
"I-I don't know," his voice stammered.
"I just woke up here, wandering this seemingly endless fog for hours"
His future self was shaking his head, "Do you even know what this place is?"
Yuto shook his head, his eyes still fixed on how amazing he became, "No, I have no idea. This place, the fog, and now seeing you…It's all so strange and confusing"
"Hmm, if I had to describe it, this place is somewhere outside of reality, influenced by my will, I'm trying to figure out how you made it here"
Yuto nodded, somewhat surprised at what he was hearing, "I-I see, I've been wandering this place for a long time, I have no idea how to get out of here"
His future self smiled, "It's weird seeing me, correct?"
Yuto let out a bitter laugh, his exhaustion and frustration seeping through. "That's an understatement. Meeting your future self doesn't happen every day, you know?"
"Hmm, well you can call me Saika for now so as not to confuse us"
Yuto nodded, the name seemed suitable for some odd reason. "Alright, Saika…can you tell me how to get out of here?"
"Well before I answer that, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"
Yuto shrugged, feeling uncertain but willing to answer anything to get out. "Sure, go ahead"
"How are you doing, you know being alone?"
He paused for a moment, taken aback by the question. He had expected some kind of riddle or puzzle, not a personal question.
"What do you mean by me being alone?"
"Well you know, since our family's death, it must be so lonely"
["What?"]
Yuto was confused and scared. What the hell was he going on about?
"Hey, Saika, only Dad died"
"What!"
Yuto was thrown off guard by Saika's reaction. "What? You didn't know?"
"What about Mom, Cynthia, and Aunt Lily?"
Yuto's eyes widened as he tried to process the emotions rushing through him.
"They're okay, nothing has happened to them," he said firmly but the concern on Saika's face told him he didn't know.
"This…how is that possible?"
Yuto shook his head, the situation getting more confusing, "I don't understand. Why do you think they're not okay?"
Saika looked up, "Yuto, have you met Mizuki yet?"
["Yeah you gave her to me, did you forget?"]
"Of course I have, 2 years ago we formed our contract, why do you ask?"
"How old are you, Yuto?"
"I just turned nineteen a few months ago, why do you need to know?"
"Fragments, how many fragments have you collected then?"
"One for now and this we've just started our journey"
"This is…impossible"
"What? What is it?" He asked, growing more perplexed by Saika's fractions.
"I'm afraid I cannot answer any of your questions at least not until you find more fragments, else I will be breaking the rules even further"
Yuto let out a frustrated huff, his confusion turning into annoyance. "How much more?"
"That will be answered in due time"
Yuto gritted his teeth, his patience wearing thin. "This is ridiculous, why can't you just tell me what I need to know?!"
"... Don't be greedy Yuto"
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Yuto clenched his fist, his irritation flaring up, "Greedy?"
"I'm trying to understand what you all want me to do, being so needlessly vague. How on earth is that greedy?"
"The system won't tell me more than what it can provide, if you can't answer me then keep your damn mouths shut!"
Saika looked apologetic, "I'm sorry, I truly am but until you collect more fragments, I cannot answer you"
Yuto took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He knew there was no use arguing with his future self. "Fine," he said through gritted teeth.
"I'll find more fragments but you better keep your word and answer my questions!"
Saika chuckled as he walked closer, placing a hand on Yuto's shoulder, "Of course"
Yuto exhaled, the thought of having to collect more fragments, was just feeling like a burden.
"Alright, is there anything else you want to tell me before I go?"
Saika chuckled, "Well who else besides Mizuki is your companion?"
"Well, it's Mizuki and an elf girl named Freya"
"Freya?"
Yuto nodded, "Yeah, we met her like a month ago, do you know her?"
Saika began letting out small laughs, "Let me guess, she became another lover of yours?"
Yuto nodded shyly, "Uh, yeah, she did," he replied with a hint of defensiveness in his voice.
"Why does it matter?"
"Nothing, just wait until you meet the rest, especially Kana"
Yuto raised an eyebrow, "Kana? Never met someone with that name, who is that?"
"You'll have to see for yourself," Saika said with a chuckle as he pushed Yuto through a hole in the ground.
Yuto stumbled backward, completely taken off guard, before he could mutter a word he found himself falling through the hole, the fog swirling around him as he dropped into the unknown.
"Wait at least tell me how we can meet again!?"
"Oh, don't worry about that when the time comes, we will meet again"
Yuto felt the sensation of falling deeper, making his stomach lurch.
…
Saika looked at the small portal on the ground and sighed before he heard a familiar voice from the back.
"Was that an okay thing to do, Yuto?"
Saika turned around to see a hooded figure. She was wearing a red dress, her black heels making it obvious who it was.
An elf beauty like no other, and was deemed a hero in her time, "Do you need to hide your face, Ernaline?"
She chuckled as she removed her hoodie, "Well a bit of mystery is fun, you of all people should know!"
"Why are you here?" His tone was soft and had a hint of warmth.
She smiled as she walked behind him, wrapping her arms around his neck, "I just wanted to see you," Saika no Yuto sighed, he turned around to face her, taking her hand and kissing it.
"After 1,000 years you came to see me?"
"It took a while to track you"
He chuckled, "I can't leave this place, you know that, so I doubt it would take so long to find me"
"So please be honest, why did it take so long to see me?"
She hesitated before answering, "I guess I was a bit scared to see you after so long"
"Why?" He asked with a shaky voice.
"Because you are no longer the man I knew"
He lifted her off her feet and into his arms, "I still am that man, I'm just…different"
She laughed as she kissed his forehead, "So how long until you think he will find all the fragments?"
He stayed silent, his eyes looked dead before answering, "Five to Six years, making it faster than my record"
"Do you think he will reach the end?"
Yuto looked at the hole before them, "We can only hope because this is our last time"
-Meanwhile-
Yuto who was still falling braced himself for a rough landing but just as he was about to hit the ground he felt a gentle cushioning, as if a soft blanket had cushioned his fall.
Knocking him out as his body finally relaxed.
-???-
Yuto opened his eyes slowly, looking at an unfamiliar ceiling, "Where am I now?"
He tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over him, causing him to slump back down onto the bed.
He rubbed his temple, trying to clear the buzzing feeling.
Then the door to the room opened, and Freya poked her head in, a relieved smile on her face, "You're awake!" She walked into the room and took a seat beside him.
"Freya-"
"Shhh," she scolded him gently, placing a finger over his lips.
"Don't try to talk as much. You've been unconscious for two weeks. You need to rest and recover"
Yuto laid back down with a chuckle, "So what happened when I was unconscious?"
Freya let out a small sigh, her expression becoming serious, "You don't remember anything?"
"Nothing"
She shifted to a surprised tone, a slight pang of worry in her eyes. "Do you not remember the fight with the Demolisher?"
"No I know we won, I want to know what happened after I passed out"
Freya nodded and proceeded to tell him what happened.
- 2 Weeks Before -
"Yuto!" Freya shouted, her voice filled with panic and fear as she saw Yuto collapsing.
She lunged forward to try and catch him, the weight of his body pulling her down as she struggled to keep him from hitting the ground.
"What's happening Mizuki? Is he going to be alright?"
Mizuki kneeled to check his pulse, Freya's heart was racing and her mind was picturing the worst possible outcomes.
After what seemed like an eternity, Mizuki looked up, her expression was calm, "He's asleep"
"He's asleep!" Freya repeated, the relief in her voice was undeniable.
She looked down at Yuto's unconscious body, his chest slowly rising and falling steadily.
"Is that why he passed out, how badly hurt is he?"
"Do you not see the amount of blood he lost? I'm guessing his passive didn't activate because you healed him, don't worry he just needs to rest for a bit, he's going to be fine"
Freya nodded, "So he's just asleep then?" She wiped the strands of hair covering his eyes.
Her father and the guards finally came into view as Senki ran forward, "Freya!"
Freya turned around, and Senki's usual stoic expression was replaced with worry. "Father!"
They both ran to hug each other, both relieved that none of them were hurt.
"Freya, what happened?" Senki asked, his eyes scanning Yuto's unconscious body, ["This freak of nature was hurt?"]
"Yuto's just asleep," her voice was low, trying to be steady.
"But he lost a lot of blood, so he needs somewhere to rest and recover"
"Is that so? I guess I owe him an apology?"
"An apology, why?" Freya raised her eyebrow, puzzled by her father's statement.
"Why do you want to apologize to him?"
"Freya, look around us, the level of destruction from this battle. It would have taken the lives of all our people to stop the demon"
"Yet, he did it, he killed it and awakened the power dormant in you, he kept his promise"
Freya realized, that not a single elf died, he had not only saved her but her people as well, "Yes, you're right but in the process, he almost lost his life"
Senki kneeled and placed his fingers on Yuto's forehead, "I acknowledge this young man"
"I'm glad," Freya said with a small smile tugging at her lips.
"You should tell him that when he wakes up Your Majesty," Mizuki chimed in, she said this in a respectful tone which caught both Senki and Freya off guard.
"Perhaps I should, for now though, we need to begin rebuilding our kingdom," he stood back up and looked at the ruins.
"Yes," Freya said, her voice firm but weary.
"We will rebuild and make it better than before!"
- Present time -
"So then where are we right now?"
Freya shifted on the bed, making herself more comfortable, "Well, we move at a rather fast pace and because you killed so many demons, they backed off and let us rebuild"
"So then Freya, where are we?"
Freya with an oddly big smile, clapped her hands, "You're in my room, my father thought it best for you to recover in a comfortable place"
- Royal Palace, Princess Freya's Chamber-
Yuto looked surprised, "I'm in your room? There is no way the old man let me stay in your room!"
Freya let out a small chuckle, shaking her head indulgently, "Yes, shockingly enough, he did," she said with amusement.
"Don't worry, he trusts you"
"Hah, so saving the lives of his people was the way to open his heart?"
Freya gave a small nod, "It seems so, you've earned his respect and now sees you as someone worthy of trust"
She reached out to take Yuto's hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. It was reassuring to feel his hand, his pulse strong and steady.
"How are you feeling, by the way? I can only imagine how sore you must be after everything"
["That's what she said"]
"Cough, I feel a bit better, it seems most if not all my wounds healed"
Freya let out a sigh of relief, "That's good to hear," a small smile creeping onto her lips.
"Your healing must be quite strong if you're already feeling better after two weeks"
"But don't push yourself too hard. You need to take it easy and give your body time to recover"
Yuto nodded as he adjusted himself back down, "Yeah, yeah, I get it, I'll take it easy for now"
Freya stood up, giving Yuto a small peck, "Good, I'll be back, I need to speak to my father to tell him you're awake"
She ran to the door, stopping at the entrance, "Oh, and Mizuki should be coming to see you soon"
"Is that so?"
Freya nodded, giving a small laugh, "Yes, she was pacing the halls like a puppy, she's been worried sick about you"
Yuto let out a chuckle, "Well okay, I'll see you later then"
"Yeah, I'll be back soon, I promise!" She gave one last smile before walking out of the room and shutting the door behind her.
Yuto sighed as he stared at the ceiling, "Now what?"
Knock Knock
"C-come in"
Mizuki entered the room, a smile on her face as she saw Yuto awake, "Hey, how are you feeling?"
"Better, I guess I must have scared you as well, Freya told me the gist of it"
Mizuki chuckled as she took a seat on his bed, "Scared is an understatement, you were out for two weeks"
"Hah, did you miss me that much?" He asked with a smug look.
She rolled her eyes playfully, unable to hide the fondness in her expression. She punches his arm lightly.
"Oh, shut up"
Yuto grabbed her hand and pulled her closer, "I'm serious, did you miss me?"
Mizuki found herself closer to him, their faces just inches apart.
Her heart quickened, and she could feel a warmth spreading through her.
"Oh?... "
She gave a small pout, feigning annoyance at his comment.
"Don't get too full of yourself. You were unconscious for two weeks. Of course, I missed you"
"Ha, I thought you would be all over me, Freya did say you were worried sick"
"A bit of affection would have been nice"
Mizuki let out a small huff as she gently punched his shoulder.
"Oh, shut it. You were the one unconscious for two weeks. How was I supposed to show affection when you were out cold?"
"Well, can you show me some affection now?"
A blush formed on her cheeks, but she tried to maintain her composure. She leaned closer, their faces now millimeters apart.
"Oh? And what exactly do you want me to do now?"
"Hmm, well Freya was satisfied with a kiss …"
She raised an eyebrow, a smirk forming on her face. She moved even closer, their noses almost touching.
"Is that so? And you think a simple kiss will suffice for you too?"
"I think not"
Mizuki reaches out and gently brushes strands of hair from his face, her voice taking on a playful tone.
"Oh, you're feeling cheeky, huh? Just a 'simple kiss'? Is that all you desire from me?"
Yuto looked her up and down, a small smirk building up as he looked her in the eyes.
"Still in the kimono, I see?"
Her smirk widened as she playfully adjusted the fabric, letting it fall off her shoulder, revealing a sliver of skin.
"Hm? And what about it? You don't like my kimono?"
"I find it beautiful on you," he said bluntly.
She leaned in closer, their faces now so close she could feel his breath on her skin.
"You have a way with words. But I know you want more than just my kimono"
He let out a soft chuckle, wiping the tear from his eye, "You know me too well"
She trailed her fingers lightly down his chest, feeling his warmth and longing for more.
"Yes, I know you all too well, and I know exactly what you're thinking right now"
"Well don't keep me in suspense"
Mizuki bit her lip, mischief building in her eyes as she leaned in, her lips hovering over his ears, her words coming out in whispers.
"You want me, don't you? It's been a while since you've seen what's underneath this kimono, right?"
Yuto stayed quiet as he reached for her back, "..."
Mizuki shivered as she reached behind, undoing the tie of her kimono, letting it fall open, revealing more glimpses of her skin.
"You're the one who's been so impatient"
She pressed her body against his, her heart racing at the feel of his skin. She ran her hands down his chest, feeling the wounds and bandages.
"... You want me, so show me how much you want this!"
Yuto was a patient man, managing to learn his father's technique that would make his emotions null, but for a man who has fought constantly and has been put in a 2-week coma, he could no longer hold back his thoughts.
"Month…"
"Huh?"
"It's been over a month, of course, I want more than just teasing!"
…
"A month, huh? You must have been pent up then"
"Guess you've been craving my touch, aching to be connected again?"
"Enough teasing, focus on me!"
…
"As you wish"
She trailed kisses down his neck, her hands and lips exploring all the open skin he was showing him, her eyes filling with desire.
"Is this what you want, love? Me, all to yourself?"
"Yes," he was breathless as his face was going red.
She pressed her body even closer, practically molding herself against him, she kissed his collarbone, her fingers teasing below, "Yes, only yours"
"So, for right now, focus on me, Yuto"
Yuto nodded as she caressed his stomach before planting kisses on it, she looked up to see his reaction, and she moved even lower, pressing kisses along his hips.
Then tracing the lines of his lower abdomen, she glanced up, her breath against his skin, "Teasing is so much fun, just touching and tasting, isn't it?"
"Well, I'm still a bit bruised and covered in bandages, so this does help"
A soft smile appeared on her lips, as she gently brushed a hand over the bandages covering his chest, "I guess I'll have to be a bit more gentle with you"
…
"No, I like it when you're rough"
A smirk formed on Mizuki's lips, she leaned in close to his ear, "You do don't you?"
She pressed more kisses as her mouth moved lower, closer to the edge of his pants, she bit gently at his hips, her fingers toying with the edge of his waistband.
"But are you sure you can handle it, considering you're still recovering? I could get a bit wild"
…
"Please don't tempt me"
She chuckled as her fingers continued to roam his body, her touches growing more possessive and needy.
"Oh, but I like tempting you. I like seeing you this way, wanting and needing me so desperately"
Snap
1 hour later
"What happened to your cocky attitude?"
Mizuki's breath came out in a quick gasp as he lay there. She buried her head in the crook of his neck, she chuckled lightly, her voice slightly shaky.
"You…you're the sly one, you know that? I think you broke me"
"Well you did start it by teasing me"
She looked up, her eyes still hazy from their heated exchange. Her neck and chest had a few love bites, and her hair was disheveled, a result of Yuto's possessive nature.
She let out a lighthearted laugh, "And you certainly finished it. You were relentless…"
…
"Mizuki"
"Yeah?"
"Are you okay with this?"
"Huh, okay with what?"
"Well me having a second lover"
…
"Well I did say you could have more lovers"
"Yes you did say that but that was two years ago"
"And I stand by my word"
She adjusted herself, getting comfortable as she leaned back, a soft smile tugged at her lips, "I can't be the only one fulfilling your…needs, now can I?"
"Mizuki"
"Yes, my love?"
He held her hand and kissed it, "Thank you, I am lucky to have the both of you"
A smile formed as she let out a laugh, her thumb caressing his hand in return.
"Still a charmer I see. Still, I'm sure the two of us aren't the end of it"
"Huh, what do you mean?"
She chuckled, a sly sparkle in her eyes, "Oh, you know what I mean, I have a feeling that we're not the only two lovers you'll have"
"Always with the teasing"
Mizuki leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a slightly seductive tone, her lips against his ear.
"You know you love it when I tease you"
She bit lightly at his ear, her fingers tracing the line of his jaw, her touch light and teasing.
"Admit it, you love it when I get you all flustered and worked up"
…
"Yeah, I do"
A satisfied smile curved her lips, she slid her body against his, and her touches and kisses slowly became more intimate, almost possessive.
"Good, because til the end of time, I'll continue teasing you"
"I like that"
They were becoming lost in the moment before the sound of footsteps approaching snapped them back to reality.
The door opened, revealing Freya and her father, they looked at Yuto as he slid out of the bed and used the blanket to cover Mizuki.
"Heh, reminds me of when Cynthia broke our door, what can I do for you?"