Eternal Melody

YUHI

Yuhi ran his fingers through his hair. "So we go with Mamoru. But," He pointed to the mark on her forehead. "-that stays invisible."

Sumire blinked. "Does it have to? I don't get why it bothers you so much."

'Of course it does my love, that's a mark from another man.'

The oblivious girl continued to speak. "Besides, I probably won't need to use it much with you around my dearest. You'll keep me safe won't you?"

"Do you need me to keep you safe? You're strong enough."

Sumire sighed. "Once in a while, you should let me act like a cute damsel in distress."

Yuhi's lips curved to a smile. "You are very cute, so I don't think you need to act there."

"Right? I'm so adorable, of course your natural instinct would be to protect me."

"My natural instinct wants me to be inappropriate to you."

Sumire blinked. "If you wanted to give me a morning kiss, you just had to say."

Yuhi chuckled. She can still be so innocent. A morning kiss huh? He cupped her pretty face and brought his lips to hers.

Kissing Sumire really is the best.

"Yuhi, I know you have work to do." Sumire mumbled.

"Yes, I know. My schedule is packed this morning."

'They are on a goddamned cruise. Why do I have to work all the way out here?'

"Then-"

"Just one more time."

But even after the second, third, fourth and fifth kiss. He couldn't stop kissing her.

Kissing aside, at one point he had lifted the girls shirt.

"Yuhi--Yuhi, you big dummy. You're really late now."

He took his time with each kiss, savouring her mouth, and their tongues intertwined.

"It doesn't matter." Yuhi mumbled.

Actually he is surprised Hino hasn't kicked the door down. Sumire probably doesn't have any work this morning. Hino really does have a soft spot for her.

After a few minutes, Sumire pried him away. "Now I'm late!"

"Did you have work?"

Sumire shakes her head. "I promised to meet Miya and hang out."

Right, that girl.

Yuhi ran his fingers through his hair. He was still feeling quite worked up.

"Maybe I can spare a few more minutes?"

At her confirmation, Yuhi is kissing her again. But he stopped when he recalled the discussion he had with the others yesterday. Yuhi pulled her into his embrace as he explained. To his surprise Sumire didn't seem shocked, instead she nodded.

"Mm, I thought something was wrong. So I asked Toh for a favour. He checked and it seemed like Futaba was being held in one of their warehouses, so he sent the location to Ran."

Yuhi frowned. "You couldn't have asked him to have her released? Ran got injured."

Sumire shook her head. "That would be too much. Him giving us the location like that was already risky for him. I know it's easy to forget, but Toh is still a member of the black alice organisation."

"I'm surprised you're acting so calmly."

"I wasn't calm. I panicked, so I called her."

Yuhi blinked. Where on earth was he when all of this happened? It does feel like they spend a lot more time together since his return, but there are still occasions where he cannot be by her side.

"I'm glad you two had a conversation." Yuhi gave her hand a gentle squeeze as he said those words.

"Really? You don't hold a grudge anymore my dear?"

Yuhi cringed when she said those words and Sumire giggled. "I get it. I know why you were being so stubborn before, I'm thankful. You got angry for my sake, you reacted for me because I could never bring myself to get angry at Futaba. She truly means a lot to me, I was never close to my sister. So, Futaba is the closest I have had to a sibling."

"I know."

He knows, and that's why he- his thoughts break off when Sumire kisses him. "My dear, a few more minutes?"

Yuhi nodded. "Yeah, your lips are tastier than usual today."

 ______________________

Sumire's meeting with her friend happened to be near his interview. The entire time he was watching only her. Remembering how those lips were on his not too long ago. Yuhi sighed.

'I really can't focus with her around.' It's good that they are getting the same jobs now, but her presence is truly a huge distraction. Maybe he ought to stop pouncing on her so much. But even if he stops, Sumire won't. How is he supposed to refuse her when she wants him?

"Terashima-san? Terashima-san?"

The interviewer was asking another question, but the last thing on his mind was answering. The interviewer's words blurry as he continued staring at Sumire.

Jun was shaking his head. "It's no use, this guy is lovestruck. You can put that in the article, how much Yuhi is obsessed with his wife."

"Uh but I thought they weren't married."

Kou chuckled. "Now, now. The ceremony will happen sooner or later."

Tetsuo nodded. "Let's not worry about the title and focus on what you can see."

Yuhi could hear his friends speaking in the background, but his focus was still on the girl. The image of their legs entangled and her underneath him as he moved inside her. Her unsteady breathing and those flushed cheeks as she cried his name. Those lips-

"Yuhi." Sumire called out as she walked over.

"Um." She laughed softly. "You keep looking at me, is something wrong?"

"I just want to look at you." Yuhi admitted. 

He wants to engrave every single part of her to his memory. 

"Can I borrow him for a few minutes?" Sumire turned to the others.

Kou chuckled. "Can you two finish in just a few minutes?"

"I wouldn't put it past them." Jun said. "Previous data have suggested it's possible."

Sumire's cheeks coloured and Yuhi shakes his head. "Quit teasing her, come on." He dragged the girl to a quiet corner.

"My dear, what's wrong?"

He just can't stop his want for her. He needs her more than anything. No matter how many times he has her, it is never enough. Since when he wonders, since when did he become so addicted to her? There is no doubt that he fell in love with her the moment he laid eyes on her in the facility. 

No, from the moment he was still Yi the phoenix god, there has never been anybody else for him.