Moonlight Demon (GL LITRPG)

Chapter 54

Ash

The half-demon couldn't remember the last time she was this tired. 

While everyone had been walking to Jade, due to the fear of potential attacks on the way, everyone remained awake throughout the entire journey. Because of this, they got to the capital far faster than they would have if they had taken time to rest. However, at the same time, Ash could feel the weight of her fight on her shoulders, dragging her body to the point where she wanted to sink into the ground. 

It took every bit of restraint she had not to fall asleep on the first couch she saw when everyone got to the Savior House. 

She noticed though that not all of the Saviors went in. Akiven and Mizaki both remained outside. 

"So, this is where you'll be staying?" Mizaki asked. "Cute place!" 

"Uh," Kaori asked. "Will you be going somewhere else?" 

"Yeah, I know a guy," Mizaki shrugged with a smile. Even though she had the same bags under her eyes like everyone else, she offset it with a bright grin and an energetic wave of a hand. "I might be back later to see if I'm needed or whatever. See ya!" 

"Same," Akiven yawned. "I was going to crash here but... Shit, I used to live around here..." He looked around at the buildings nearby with nostalgia in his eyes. Ash didn't know him very well, but it was an expression that seemed to hint at some connection with this city. "Figure I may as well just go back home. Anyway, yeah. Have fun, sugar tits." 

Kaori blushed but Ash paid that remark no mind and instead, walked into the house's living room. 

Well,  Ash thought,  what now? 

The half-demon was sat at a nearby couch, staring up at the ceiling as she leaned back on a ripped-up chair. The only other Savior, out of the ones Ash didn't know too well, Kasumi, had picked out a room upstairs. Ash hadn't noticed it before, but this house had a second floor, as it was designed to serve as a resting place for large groups of people. 

Thankfully, that meant that she probably wouldn't be coming into too much contact with the stranger who would be with them for the next couple of days. She crossed one leg over the other, taking deep breaths.

She closed her eyes and instantly, she was right back at Pearl in her mind, watching Takomaro be turned into a Nightmare right in front of her. Sighing, she rubbed her temples.  So, the Nightmares are all Saviors.  She thought. That means... If Kaori were ever to be turned... 

That was a train of thought she didn't want to continue. 

A hand fell on her shoulder and Ash opened her eyes. 

The very woman she'd been thinking about was in front of her, a kind smile on her face. Of course, Ash's eyes naturally fell on her missing left arm. However, after the small amount of sadness that bubbled up inside of her at the sight of it, something very different came to mind as well. 

Fuck,  Ash's eyes went from Kaori's own pupils, down to her lips and then to her neck. How long has it been since we...?

And then, she realized something, as her heart began to speed up. She hadn't noticed it because she'd been distracted for the past several hours, thanks to the events that happened at Pearl and the long walk to Jade. 

Because she'd used her Demon Form, she gained a stack of Lust.

Lust: 2/4

And, now that her mental space wasn't being taken up by the battle and its consequences, Ash could feel desire blossoming inside of her. 

... It would be pretty nice, right?  Ash thought.  I mean, a hard fuck after a fight like that. Maybe that's just what I need.  She leaned a little closer. 

"How are you feeling?" Kaori asked. 

"Fine." 

Ash replied, her eyes half-lidded both from being tired and suddenly horny. 

"I see," Kaori replied. "It's nice that we finally get to rest, right?" 

"Mhm." 

Ash stood up. Placing her hands on Kaori's armored shoulders, she tilted her head slightly. Absent-mindedly, she began to lean in to press her lips against Kaori's, but before she finished doing so, she saw Keiko behind Kaori. 

The Zayama had her eyes slightly raised as she watched. Ash hadn't noticed her standing there as well. 

"Uh, Ash? Are you okay?" Kaori asked with a raised brow, maybe not noticing what her intentions had been. Ash nodded. 

"Yeah, what's," she yawned, "what's up?" 

"Oh, uh, nothing, we were just thinking about where we would be sleeping," Kaori said. 

"Yes, uhm, I..." Keiko took a step forwards, lowering her head shyly. "I, I mean, there are a multitude of available rooms, of course, so I was wondering if we'd, well, you know, sleep separately or if..." 

"Hm?" Ash raised a brow. "Listen, between being tired as shit and my eyes trying to get me to stare at your tits, it's hard to focus. You're going to have to spell it out for me." 

"Eh!? I- oh... Right, your... Your Lust thing, right?" Kaori, who was inches away from Ash, replied. 

"Mhm. So," Ash looked back at Keiko, "what is it?" 

"I, well..." Keiko breathed in. "I wanted to know if you wanted to sleep together." 

Ash heard that and shrugged. 

"Sure."

"R-Really?" Keiko asked, blushing.

"Whatever." She didn't really have a more complex answer to give than that. 

"O-Okay then..." Keiko nodded. 

"Well," Ash yawned. "I'm just gonna go ahead and call it for today." Her shoulders sagged. "I don't think I can really function like this." 

"Um... In that case," Keiko trailed behind her, as did Kaori. 

That was how the three of them ended up in the same bed, a sheet thrown over them with Ash in the middle, and the others at her sides. A part of her wanted to bask in the feeling of both of them flanking her like this, but mostly, she just wanted to get some sleep.

"Wow..." Keiko muttered. "This is, uh, hehe, pretty weird, is it not?" 

Her question went completely ignored as Ash's eyes closed and wouldn't open for the next 12 hours. 

---

Keiko

Shortly after Ash went to sleep, both Kaori and Keiko joined her, as they were equally as tired. 

And that morning, Keiko had a dream that recalled events she hadn't thought of in a long time. 

---

The blindfolded girl was the only person occupying the Zayama Compound's training area. Everyone else, to her knowledge, was out doing far more impressive things than she was. She was, after all, the family's current most infamous failure. 

Unfortunately, this moment in time was before Keiko achieved her current prominence with the weapons she trained in. Instead, all of her proficiencies were at a 3, and she was working on getting her Spear proficiency to 4. 

At the center of the room, she thrust, pulled, and spun with a training spear in her hands. She was alone, as the only teacher who would usually put up with her lack of talent was absent today. So, no one shared the space with her as she attempted different techniques. 

At least, until she swung her spear and felt someone catch her weapon. 

"W-What!?" Keiko got out of her fighting stance as her spear was pulled out of her hands. 

"A grip like that won't be too helpful in a fight, seiyo." 

She didn't recognize the voice. All she could tell was that it belonged to a young woman. 

"Y-yes, seiya. I am sorry." She bowed instinctively. 

"Hehe, don't worry... So," paired with the voice, Keiko heard footsteps circling her. "Do you train here alone often?" 

Does she not know of me?  Keiko thought.

"I... Yes, of course," she replied. "I want to get better, after all." 

She tried to get a read on the kind of person who had just come in. Of course, since she couldn't see her, Keiko had to rely on other means to figure out what she was like. Her voice, its tone, the way she seemed to carry herself. She tried to focus on those things as the woman spoke to her. 

Unfortunately, she made that difficult.

"Hm. Your dedication is admirable." The woman told her, with a slightly energetic-sounding demeanor. "So, seiyo, what's your name?" 

"Keiko, I'm sorry, I should have introduced myself earlier." 

"You apologize a lot, don't you?" The girl giggled and Keiko felt her blood rushing up to her cheeks. 

"I'm... yes." She stopped herself. 

"Good save," she said. "Well... My name's Honoka. It's a pleasure to meet you, seiyo." 

"T-The pleasure is mine."

"Oh? I haven't even had time to charm you yet, let's talk more before you make such a statement." 

Keiko's throat choked up a little. She had no idea how to react to that. 

Honoka laughed. 

"You're cute," she said. "Here, let me help you out a bit."

Already, Keiko could tell this "Honoka" was going to be bad for her heart. However, as the woman offered her some tips during her training for the next hour, she did come to the conclusion that she felt just a bit less lonely thanks to her. 

Before her memory could progress though, Keiko's eyes opened. 

---

For the first time in her life, upon waking, she looked around. 

Ash was turned away from her, and Keiko could hear her speaking to Kaori. 

And then, Kaori let out a moan.

Hm?  Keiko thought, blinking.  How long has it been? Did something wake me up?  She asked herself. 

"... like this?" She heard Ash whisper in a slightly deeper voice than she usually spoke with. 

What?  Then, Keiko looked down and saw that Kaori's had an arm on Ash's shoulder and that Ash had an arm extended between Kaori's legs. What's going on? 

"H-Hey, not right now... I'm... She might wake up." She heard Kaori respond, embarrassed. 

"Hm? I mean..." Then, as Ash turned around, she and Keiko locked eyes. "Fuck." Ash sighed. "Sorry." 

"I... What?" Keiko blinked. 

"My fault," Ash said. "I uh... Yeah." 

Keiko turned away. 

"Sorry." The Zayama replied. 

"... Well, this got awkward," she heard Ash say. 

However, at that moment, Keiko got a feeling in her chest. One she hated as soon as it appeared. It was a feeling she'd only felt a few times in her life, and not much recently.

What is this?  She reached up and put a hand to her chest. 

Is this... Jealousy?