Dimensional Descent

Leonel hugged Aina so tightly that at any other time, he might have thought he had a chance at crushing her. But at least right now, with the gaps in their strength of body having widened once more, that wasn't something he had to worry about in the slightest.

He took in her warmth, her heartbeat, her soft...

'She's naked,' Leonel suddenly realized.

Even so, he didn't have such thoughts right now. He only wanted to hold her in his arms for the first time in what felt like forever.

Aina, herself, was a bit confused. She felt the familiar scent envelop her, and she instinctively knew that it was Leonel, but what had happened? Why was there such a large gap in her memories? Weren't they in a Zone? And hadn't she been in the body of...

Aina's eyes widened, her heart trembling. Hadn't she died?

Her body subconsciously wiggled as though to make sure that she was still all in one piece, but her senses flared as her Ability Index kicked in. Her eyes widened.

Just what had happened to her body all of a sudden--

Aina's thoughts were cut out when she remembered Leonel. He was still holding onto her, and he didn't seem to have any intentions of letting go. He cradled her head in one palm, sweeping up her waist in the crook of his other elbow. He pulled up at her so hard that she was forced onto the tips of her toes just to accommodate his height, and yet she hardly felt her own weight at all, he was carrying it all.

Aina's eyes watered beside herself. Leonel had just lost her father, then he had likely thought that he lost her in quick succession. He could remember the rage and anger in his voice. He only barely stopped short of calling her a stupid woman back then, and maybe she would have deserved it if he had.

That beast obviously wasn't here any longer, which meant that Leonel had done something to defeat it, something that she obviously couldn't accomplish even by putting her life on the line.

Her brimming tears began to soak Leonel's chest. She had wanted to be useful, but had ended up being his burden.

erratic

stupid again, okay? I can protect you, I

drummed upon Aina's heartstrings, making her tears fall

these words so familiar? They were words she used to say to Leonel all the time, when she wanted him to stop risking his life to save people who had nothing to do with him. It was the main reason they had separated once before,

it was she who

okay..." Aina said softly between her

buried his nose and lips into Aina's hair. Just a while longer. He just wanted this peace

...

cuddling up in lap like a happy little kitten. She rested her head on his collarbone and shoulder, her eyes closed

or steamy about the atmosphere, but it was probably more intimate than they had ever

in the warmth of their other

with my

peaceful lull, felt his heart skip

"What's wrong? Where?"

for the answer on his own as though he couldn't wait

giggled. "You saw an excuse to feel me up and just

which was soon followed up by the realization that he had

hours and you haven't even

said with a humph. "It took you three hours, four minutes and seven seconds before you