Chapter 102

Nikami POV

"No, I don't love Hameru. It's you, it can really only be you." Raijin took a step forward and I did the opposite movement.

"You don't, you really can't. What do I have that she doesn't? What am I to you?" I asked, glaring at her. This must be a lie. I have been completely terrible to her, I don't deserve anyone here. I'd rather go back to being the fake perfect queen than her telling those lies to me.

"Well, for starters a sense of responsibility, being sassy, blunt, and not afraid to call out weaknesses. I know you feel bad, Nika, but I-"

"WHAT DO THOSE HAVE?" I exasperated, "Against that... Melting kindness that you deserve, that you need, what do I have? I am clearly someone who isn't fit for you. Fire and ice are never meant to be together, and what did I do? I used you. I used you Raijin, she wouldn't do that. I'm a terrible person. Don't you understand that?!" I yelled at her, panting right after I did so. I don't deserve her, I don't. I need to make sure that she knows what I did, stop looking at me with your pink covered lenses and take it off! Look at the real me! I'm... Toxic.

"AND I'M A TERRIBLE PERSON TOO!" She countered my yelling with her own, hissing fire though her teeth and grabbed my shoulders. "I got jealous and lashed out on you, I wanted to keep you for myself and each time you look at that girl I immediately pull you away, I purposefully used the fact that you need me to feel like yourself to satisfy my fantasies!" She gripped my shoulders, the sudden squeeze made me sharply inhale.

"I used you too. We both used each other. As I said, Nika, we can both grow together. A lot of things went wrong, but I know and I can see that... It can really only be you. The one that I long for the most. All of your talk about being different from Hameru made me think too, am I still really the Haiki that I thought I was?" She softened her voice, looking at me eye to eye, gulping.

"And then, I decided that it didn't matter. I don't care about my identity, I don't care about who you are, I only care that I am in love with you! With YOU! Right now! My love may have been coming from someone else back then, but I know right now that I love you, why are you being so stubborn to understand that?!" She shook me, sniffling up her sobs and glared at me. I couldn't speak, not even jumbled angry garbles were said.

She softly pressed her forehead against mine, wrapping her arms around the back of my head and she closed her eyes.

"You are the only person who understands that horrifying realization of turning into someone else, you made me believe we can get through this without disappearing. That no matter what fate does to us we can make our own path and slice through any situation. I'll gladly drink any poison you give me, since I know, you don't mean harm." Light as a strand of hair, her chocolate words made me let out a small giggle.

"What are you, an idiot?"

"I always have been, if I'm completely honest." She opened her eyes, trailing her hands down to my waist and pulling me. I could taste strawberries in my tongue, paired with the sweet bitter cocoa.

"Kiss me then, idiot." I cupped her cheeks and the last of my toxic residue fell down my cheek, flashing a light smile.

"I like how you're so demanding too, Hameru can never be like this." When she leaned forward, I parted my lips in anticipation. Landing like a feather on my lips, the heat of a candle met my mouth. My fingertips touched the side of her cheek, closing my eyes with her twinkling dilating irises.

Her hot breath contrasted with my cold mist, our mouths parted yet I didn't open my eyes. I didn't want to, I wanted more, I needed more.

"You're the fire raging through this frosted heart, I won't let you escape easily from my grasp."

I opened my eyes, lashes fluttering while I placed an index finger on her chest and pushed it. While startled at my actions, her eyes remained half closed and body limp, fully allowing me to take control of her. She laid her body on the bench, hair lopsided with pleading eyes at a lower angle.

I gulped, taking a sharp inhale to keep in that burning sensation before I glanced to the side. I calmed myself, balling my fists and sat on her closed lap. As my gaze trailed down her forehead to her collar bone, a large gust of wind fed the flames inside of me, staring for a moment.

I shall sit here being consumed by lust, then.

Ew. A child is watching.

Hameru is most certainly not a child, Shirmoru. Don't ruin this moment for me.

I don't care about that, just get going already.

"Uuhh... Just staring?" A whisper came from Raijin, snapping my head back to look away. I opened my mouth to answer before she gave me a certain look that made me gulp, "Are you not going to do anything or...?" A whining and pleading mumble came from the usual gruff princess.

"I feel as though... It is a bit early, forgive me. We still have other things to worry about." I bit my lip seeing how her soft face gave a smile. "It's fine, I understand Nika." I really don't deserve you. How are you just... This kind? Why do your words make me blaze out of control?

A cold heart shouldn't melt, unless I want to keep slipping and tearing up.

"Huh? You're crying again! Wai-wait did I do something wrong? FUCK! What did I d-" I stepped down, standing in front of her. "What are you doing?" I sniffled, not answering and took off my glove, creating a small item using ice magic in my hand.

"I said to Shiromoru that I'm going to give her my body for a while, so I can have a chance to say sorry and talk to you. And I just want you to know that... She might do some things you won't like, to be specific with Yasachu. But underneath all of that, I still adore you more than anything. I know you get jealous and I understand, I want to give you something to reassure you. I can't express my love for you in words so... Actions it is."

"Huh? You did that? For me...? Wait, why are you kneeling? N-...Nika?"

"I understand we are already engaged but... As they do say, it's the thought that counts." The end of one of my knees were softly planted on the ground, grass tickling my skin while I adjusted to look up at her. The sun at its peak, the light caught on her chocolate locks, a shimmer of a delicately made ice ring in the palm of my hands, I smiled so brightly even a universe exploding in the distance can't compare how much I was shining.

"Marry me, Raijin Gakerumi." I popped the question, her raising chest and holding breath made me gulp. No sweat came out of my skin, yet I was panting more than ever.

"Oh, sorry. That must be too forceful-" Our gaze brightened to cyan, and a tug of her lips relaxed my shoulders. She lunged and clung at me, landing gently on the meadow. "AH?!"

"No shit! I'm going to say yes, Nika!" She declared, sitting up on my waist.

The woman beamed, ecstatic tears glittered like flowing stars. She leaned down and hugged me, pulled me to straighten my back. We both embraced each other while the grass brushed my thighs, her robust legs on top of my slender ones.

Snug in her arms, I let out a chuckle, "You're too excited for this."

"Shut up Nika, you proposing to me is something that I thought would never happen. Let me be happy." She pulled away, a dimple on her cheeks formed while she lifted her hand.

"I'm sorry I don't have a proper ring, I think it would melt. Your hand flaring up randomly after all." I grasped her hands, placing it on top of my palm as she titled it diagonally.

"Ahahaha, yeah. I guess that's why our country has earrings instead of rings, just gets in the way of magic. But I don't care, I'm just happy that you did this." Raijin snickered, sniffling her tears of joy while a twinkle of red flared her eyes.

"I can just make another one. I promise to you, along with this makeshift ring, that everywhere we go, no matter how the gods keep us apart, I will make my love out of nothing if I must." I trailed my fingertips on her right hand before I kissed it, relishing this moment while she gasped. "The love that destroys fate will forever last."

I finally slid the ring in her fourth finger, peeking up at her from below. She was biting her bottom lip to keep herself from crying any further, letting out a squeak, "That was so fucking chessy." She tried laughing it off, but to no avail.

She continued sobbing on the spot, using her free hand to try and wipe away the tears. I gripped her ringed hand as to comfort her, the whines and whimpers increasing. "I'm so sorry for crying, I feel like overreacting."

"I wish I could cherish this moment by crying like you, but all I feel right now is airheaded happiness. Please, cry all you want. Don't let my calm demeanor hold you back, Rai, you have all the right to do so." I lifted my hand, her tears running down my fingers while I wiped them off.

"Ahahaha! My ring it's..." She looked down, breathing to calm her tears, "So sleek, polished. It doesn't fit my rough hands. So cute and tiny..."

"It belongs to you, Rai. So what if it doesn't fit? You're happy with it, aren't you?"

"Mhm." She mumbled within laughter, the tears halting.

"Better call yourself Nikami Gakerumi now." She slithered her legs around my waist and leaned in, my face overheated, blinking blankly at her. "Yes, my queen." I retorted back, trailing my fingers to the back of her hips.

"I can never seem to get you embarrassed huh...? So much for being a swoopy prince..." She whined, pouting as flames sprouted on top of her head.

"To me, you're a sweet princess." I laid my lips on the side of her neck, blowing frost to cool her flushed expression down.

I let you talk with Prince Raijin, not full on flirting with her. Come on, we have things to do and masks to break.