Chapter 16:

Different Man, Same Body - Desecration Arc

Engulfed in Darkness - Becoming a Villain in Another World (Part II)


Bibi walked down into the open training area they had in the forest. Her mind flooded with thoughts, all bad. She was getting very overwhelmed, and she began hyperventilating at an alarming rate. She got onto her knees, unable to stand. Grabbing her throat, she made the most awful scream at the forest. It couldn't be happening. After all these years, her father was alive, just to find out that he hated her and wanted her dead.

Not fair. Not fair. It wasn't fair!

She leaned down and began in a pool of tears again. She didn't know how to handle all these emotions been thrown at her at once. At that moment, all Bibi wanted was death to take her.

Before her mind could wander off anymore, a pair of strong hands wrapped around her stomach, while she was still kneeling. She had never heard or seen them approach. However, she didn't even need to turn around to know whose hands they belonged to.

"Tomo?" Bibi managed to get a word out between her sobs, and Tomokazu hugged her tighter, which made her feel safe and warm.

"Yes, Bibi?" Tomokazu asked, his voice low and soft. Comforting. Bibi had never seen Tomokazu this caring before. He was always off training or being distant, so much so that she felt like he avoided her sometimes. This time, Bibi was top on his list of priorities.

"Did you...lie to protect me?" Bibi managed to say out loud through her gasps. Tomokazu stopped hugging her and stood up, getting in front of her and kneeling down to her eye level. He looked deeply into her eyes. He had never noticed how beautiful her eyes were. How fragile she was. Underneath that funny, goofy exterior, was a broken woman that wanted an easy way out. Tomokazu cursed himself internally. He should have taken care of her more, rather than focusing on training so hard.

He was so selfish.

And Hiroshi hated that. No wonder Hiroshi was so mad at him. It all made sense now.

"Yes, I did. I'm sorry I hurt you physically. I think...emotional pain can be worse, but I had no right to try beat you out of the team. I just...I don't want to see my sweet angel cry."

Tomokazu almost gagged at how corny and cringe that sounded, but he kept it down. He wanted Bibi to know he was serious about this. About them. Bibi let out a little giggle, before looking into Tomokazu's eyes, and slapping him in the face. The man rubbed his face in shock, his mouth open in surprise.

"Hey! What was that for?!"

"That was for trying to get me off the team!" She chuckled, then saying "And this is for being honest and apologizing," taking him into a deep kiss. Tomokazu had never kissed before, but he could see the appeal. It was warming. Comfortable. Lovely.

The two stayed with each other for a while, before heading back to the house. Hiroshi was already waiting for them, and he was glad to see them smiling and laughing. Wisteria was excited herself to go to Titania, especially which the strengthened bond between the team, but Kage had been talking to her about Hiroshi.

"Watch yourself out there, Wisteria. I know you love Hiroshi, and that is totally fine. I wanted you two lovebirds to get together. However, something is different about him now. His power has skyrocketed, unnaturally so. I think Kuro-Yami is slowly taking over his brain, causing him to make more rash decisions."

"Can't you talk to him?!" Wisteria had asked in a high-pitched voice, but Kage just gave a soft sigh in return.

"No matter what I say, I have a feeling he will just deny it, or get aggressive. Just watch out for him. Hiroshi is not the same man. Will you still love him after this as much as you do now?"

Those words were still spreading around Wisteria's mind like wildfire. She could hardly think about anything else. 

"We ready?" Hiroshi asked Tomokazu and Bibi, who both gave a big smile each. "We sure seem ready."

Bibi held onto Tomokazu's arm tightly. Hr enjoyed that sensation. The feeling of her needing him. It was cute.

"Can you not teleport there, babe? Makes my flight easier," he smirked, happy to get a small pout out of Bibi.

"Of course not! How can I teleport to a place I have never seen, or can't see it at all, for that matter?!"

"Oh my mistake, m'lady."

"Don't call me that!"

Wisteria and Hiroshi smiled to themselves at their bickering. At least their relationship seemed to improve a lot. 

And so did theirs.

Hiroshi nodded to Wisteria and Tomokazu, who signalled back that they were ready. It was time to head to Titania. They took off in flight, and they took their time flying there, taking five seconds instead of five nanoseconds. They landed outside the huge wooden gates of the capital of Titania, Sunchel.

Walking though the huge wooden gate, Hiroshi got a sense of déjà vu, reminding him of walking into Lodestown for the first time. However, this city was different. It was a lot like Tokyo at home. Big flashing neon signs. Cars driving in the streets. Businesses booming, the streets covered in people.

"This...this country was held back by Acebia?" Hiroshi asked. "Lemme guess...Kage?"

"Kage." Tomokazu nodded, letting Bibi down off him gently. The four were about to make their way into the city, when somebody from Titania pointed him out. The people all wore well dressed clothes, and they seemed well educated, so the pointing seemed off to Hiroshi. The man had fear in his eyes. 

"Look! It's him! Run!"

The streets eyes immediatly darted to Hiroshi, and sure enough, the crowd ran and screamed in a panic.

A figure looked from afar, entertained by the confusion of the man that they mistaked for him.

Yuto_104
icon-reaction-1