Kojo walked into the room, bringing with him some pastries and a bird in a cage.
"I didn't know what you ate, so I brought this bird just in case,"
Sharone giggled.
"What?" Kojo asked nervously.
"It's nothing. I'm just surprised by your thoughtfulness," she said with a smile. Kojo blushed.
"S-sorry if I offended you,"
"No, no, it's fine," she said, taking a bun from his hand and taking a bite. She then brought it closer to her face, studying it with serious scrutiny.
"What's wrong? You don't like it?" he asked.
"This is soooo good," she said, gobbling it down and taking more. Kojo smiled, relieved.
"Where did you get these?"
"I made them myself. I talked to the receptionist, and she allowed me to use their kitchen." Sharone looked at him in admiration. "I never knew you could cook."
Memories of him in a kitchen flashed through his mind.
"What's wrong?" Sharone asked, noticing him lost in thought.
"It's nothing," he said, coming to sit on the bed.
"So, what should we do today?" she asked.
"I was thinking of getting a job."
"But we have money."
"True, we do have money, but it's gonna run out eventually, and I'm gonna run out of monster parts to trade." He got up and picked his jacket from a chair.
"With that in mind, I think I'm going to become a raider. I learned from the cooks that they're bounty hunters who hunt monsters and basically whatever bounty's out there and make cash according to the grade of the mission. There's a bureau where I could go register."
"You can't just leave me alone here," Sharone protested.
"You were captive to those men, and that must have weakened you. Besides, I did promise to take care of you, so..." he noticed her looking at him dreamily.
"You've already taken initiative and put plans in place to take care of me."
"What, wait, that's not what I..."
"I promise I'll be a capable housewife and take care of the children to the best of my ability."
"What children?"
"That being said," she said seriously, "I cannot allow you to shoulder this responsibility on your own. I'll come support you. You'll find that I'm not as fragile as I appear. After all, even roses have thorns."
Kojo looked at her, trying to think of a way to decline, but her determination to join him was almost palpable.
"Fine, you can tag alo—"
"Thank you," she said, hugging him and knocking him onto the floor.
"But I'll need to see what you can do before I allow you to register with me."
"Oho," she said seductively, tracing his chest with her finger, "don't worry, I'll make sure you're satisfied." Kojo's face turned red.
(Heat)
Sharone got off him.
"Let me change." She got off him.
"What's with this girl?" he wondered.
(You need to make yourself more open. At this rate, nothing's gonna happen.)
"What are you talking about?"
(You'll know when you're older.)
"************************
Kojo and Sharone stood facing each other in an open field outside the city.
"Do take it easy on me," Sharone said. She stretched her hand. Blood slowed down, then solidified, forming a massive blood scythe. She spun it and stood facing him in a battle stance.
"Blood magic," Kojo figured. "Well, she is a vampire, and based on what she's told me, she's a highborn. Meaning she's tougher than your average blood sucker. Her being able to eat food and walk in sunlight is proof. I have to be cautious."
(Try not to lose. It will be bad for your image and may delay things.)
"What are you talking about?"
(Nothing, it's just that birds can fly, that's all.)
Kojo groaned. "You can really be a pain in the ass sometimes," he thought, pulling the axe out of a portal.
(I love you too.)
"Hey Kojo, let's play a game. If I win, you're going to make me anything I want to eat for a month."
"I don't think that's necessary," Kojo replied.
"Oh, I was going to let you give me a massage," she said, tugging at her shirt to expose more cleavage. "Ah well, I suppose..."
Kojo released his energy and charged at her.
"I'm not going to lose," he said, swinging the axe. She blocked, then kicked him back.
Kojo charged again. This time, Sharone met him, and they clashed, creating a small shockwave. The two locked, trying to overpower each other.
"You're stronger than you look," Kojo commented. Sharone smiled and blasted him with red fire.
Kojo fell back and touched where he'd been hit. He smiled, throwing the axe into a portal. He made a massive fireball, then compressed it into a ball at his fingertip, then fired. Sharone put up a barrier just as it hit, causing an explosion. Kojo then extended his claws and charged at her.
Magic circles appeared behind her, and she fired blasts of magic at him. He ran in a zigzag, going on all fours to avoid the blasts. He jumped into the air and swung at her. She blocked with her scythe and pushed him back.
Using wind, he caught himself in midair and landed before charging again. The ground under where he had stepped began to glow. He looked down and saw a magic circle. He jumped back as it exploded, the shockwave throwing him back. Sharone put the scythe on her shoulder. The magic circles multiplied, covering the entire field.
"Let's see how you're going to get past my BLOOD MINES."
Kojo looked around.
(She has you cornered.)
"Hmm," he saw the smirk on Sharone's face. His gaze dropped to her chest.
"I'm not going to miss this chance," he yelled before stomping the ground and freezing the surrounding area. He then created a cloud and floated up while breaking the ice with a wave, causing it to trigger all the mines simultaneously.
Sharone realized this too late and was thrown back. Kojo then leaped off the cloud, propelling himself with wind.
"I win," he said, about to deliver the final blow, but he noticed the blast had caused her clothes to rip, and instead of finishing her, his hand went to her chest. He was about to touch it when Sharone caught his arm and slammed him into the ground before pinning him to the ground and putting the scythe to his throat.
"No distractions," she said.
"I yield," Kojo said.
"Yay," she said happily, the scythe disappearing. She got off him.
"You don't have to get up," he thought.
(Pervert)
She stretched her hand toward him. Kojo looked up at her and took it.
"Now I see why those guys put that collar on you. You're strong."
"So are you," she looked at the craters in the field.
"I wonder what would happen if we were to fight each other seriously," she said thoughtfully.
"Well, let's hope that day never comes," she said, snapping out of it and looking at him with a smile.
"Let's go back. I want to see what other delicacies you can prepare," she said, grabbing his arm and leading him back into the city. Kojo smiled.
(You lost your chance.)
"When opportunity doesn't knock, make a door."
(Pervert)