When the kila hit Ryouma's chest, it knocked the wind out of him. A sudden, sharp pain sent a jolt through his body as the kila broke skin. While it wasn't a true blade, it did form a point, causing it to penetrate Ryouma's chest from the force with which Midoriko drove it downward.
She reflexively wanted to pull the kila out as soon as she saw blood, but her instincts told her to hold steady. As she kept it firmly embedded in Ryouma's chest, the kila's light-fragmenting aura pulsated and grew stronger—a phenomenon only visible to Midoriko.
Tiny electrical shocks jolted through Ryouma's muscles as a burning sensation spread throughout his body. It was like the complete opposite of the sensations Midoriko's touch brought him—or rather, it was that warmth and energy dialed up to the max. He could only grit his teeth through the pain, hoping it would be over soon.
"L-Look!" Xiaoming called out as Ryouma's curse started to retreat, starting from the tips of his right fingers. Bruised and injured skin was revealed as it retreated from his arm, then his face and torso.
"What the hell is happening…?" Akira looked at Ryouma's skin, perplexed.
The curse flowed into the kila like it was being sucked into a straw. Its glow shone brightest as the kila absorbed the last vestiges of the curse. It heated up like hot coals, becoming unbearable to touch. Midoriko was forced to let go.
When she released the kila from her grip, the beautiful glow became overtaken by an ominous black smoke that smelled like resin. Midoriko quickly pulled the dagger out of Ryouma's body and tossed it aside. Remnants of the curse absorbed into the kila instantly dissipated from her touch.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" she cried, putting pressure on the wound. The kila hadn't stabbed him more than a centimeter deep, but it still bled like crazy. "F-first-aid! We need a first-aid kit!"
"Don't…ngh! Don't worry about that," grunted Ryouma as he sat up. He placed his own hand over Midoriko's, pressing it into his chest. "I can handle this much."
A soft gasp escaped Midoriko's lips as she saw the warm glow of his healing magic radiate around their hands, then fade away. When Ryouma removed their hands, the bleeding had stopped, and his wound was closed.
While the fight from earlier left Ryouma a little worse for wear, he otherwise no longer looked to be on the verge of death. The color was returning to his complexion, and his breathing was steady.
"P-Papa!" Itoko threw her arms around his neck, pushing Ryouma forward as she hugged him from behind.
"Oww… I know you're excited, but you've gotta be gentle with me," he said with a laugh. Ryouma reached over his shoulder to pat her head. "Papa's body hasn't fully recovered."
"This is incredible… It's completely gone," Xiaoming mumbled, examining Ryouma's formerly cursed right arm. "Master, how do you feel now?"
He smiled weakly. "Heh… I feel like shit, actually. But, I'm still alive."
"Wh-What the hell was all of that?! It was coverin' half your body and then… Poof! Gone!" Akira joined the others crowding around Ryouma.
"...Why are you still here?" he sneered.
Midoriko pinched herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming. The way the atmosphere had instantly changed after everything was so hopeless minutes before was surreal. As she watched Ryouma smiling and joking with the others, Midoriko was hit with a sense of catharsis.
"Midoriko-nee, why are you crying?"
"Huh?? I am??
Itoko let go of Ryouma and put her hand on Midoriko's head. She began stroking her hair in imitation of that same comforting gesture Midoriko often performed. "There, there…"
"Haha… They just don't seem to stop," said Midoriko, trying to wipe her eyes dry. "I don't even know why… Maybe I'm relieved?"
Ryouma pulled Midoriko into his lap, cradling her with one arm while he brushed his fingers against her wet cheeks. She could feel his intense longing in the way he looked at her and touched her. Then, he kissed her softly near the corner of her eye.
Midoriko's cheeks flushed, remembering that there were still others in the room with them. "R-Ryouma, w-wait…" she mumbled.
Akira cleared his throat loudly. "Ahem! Ahem! Anyway, why don't you brat– I mean kids show me around!" He pulled Itoko and Xiaoming to their feet.
"Don't wanna!" whined Itoko, trying to kick his ankles.
"Yeah! Why should we?" snapped Xiaoming.
"Tch! Can't you see those two are having a moment?" whispered Akira, nodding towards Ryouma and Midoriko.
"Ah…" Xiaoming grimaced. He quickly ushered Itoko out of the room while Akira closed the door behind them.
Midoriko could scarcely let out a sigh of relief before Ryouma went on the offensive again. He pushed her glasses up onto her forehead, planting soft kisses on her eyelids and cheeks.
"Midoriko…" The way he murmured her name so close to her ears made her melt in his arms. "Do you do this on purpose? You're so beautiful when you cry…"
"Wha–?! What are you–"
Ryouma suddenly licked tears from her cheek, sending confusing shivers through her whole body. If anything was going to get her to stop crying, it was that.
"S-Stop…!" She pushed his face back before he could continue acting like a dog. "Wh-What the hell is that about?! I've got blood on me!"
"Yeah. My blood…"
Midoriko yanked her hand away as he licked her palm. "Did you lose all sense of reason along with the curse?!"
"Mhm… About that…" A mischievous smirk crept onto his face. "You said that thing wasn't sharp… But that really hurt, you know?" He gripped her chin in his hand, giving it a slight squeeze. "What are you gonna do to make it up to me? Hmm?"
"Wh-What do you want from me now?" Midoriko avoided his intense gaze as she adjusted her glasses.
His demands seemed to escalate every time he wanted something from her. From sorting his collection of cursed objects, to living with him and holding his hand daily for pain relief—she could only imagine what kind of perverse thing he'd ask of her at this point in their relationship.
"Tell me you love me again."
Midoriko's eyes widened at the surprisingly wholesome request. Ryouma just smiled bashfully and shrugged.
"I…I like you!" She cupped his face in her hands, forcing herself to look him in the eye as she let her feelings pour out. "I like you a lot! I love you! I love you so much! Ryouma, I'm in lo–"
He pressed his lips to hers before she could even finish her sentence. Ryouma kissed her deeply over and over until they were both out of breath.
"Um… What should we do about my father?"
"Hmm…" Ryouma squeezed her tightly and rested his chin on her head. "What do you want to do about him?"
"I… I don't know." Midoriko knew that he probably wouldn't give up so easily. She was valuable to him even if Itoko no longer was. If he couldn't have her, would he burn everything around her down just like he'd done to her mother?
"Do you want me to kill him?"
"I…" Midoriko choked on her words. She knew she couldn't just ignore the problem, but she didn't want that either. Ryouma had killed for her before, and he would gladly kill for her again—especially if the order came from her.
Midoriko swallowed hard. She didn't want to become a person like her father, who eliminated obstacles through violence. "I… I want to talk to him."
"And what do you think that will achieve?" His voice was calm, but there was a coldness to his words.
"I don't know!" Midoriko couldn't deny that he had his own reasons and justifications for heading down that path, but still, she stood her ground. "But… I want to resolve this peacefully if I can."
She braced herself for his counterargument. No matter how warmly he treated her or opened up, his personality was still incredibly domineering. He had a knack for shutting down dissent during arguments.
"Okay."
"I knew you'd say tha– Huh? Wait? What?"
"If that's what you want, then let's try it." Ryouma kissed her tenderly on the top of her head, then pressed his forehead to hers. "But if your way doesn't work, then we'll do it my way. Deal?"
"Uh… Sure…" Midoriko blinked in surprise. Even if he was only going along with her way because his own method was the backup plan, she hadn't expected him to go along with it so easily.
"Mm… We should probably clean up first, huh?" he grimaced.
"Probably…" Midoriko laughed and nodded. She had his blood on her clothes, hands, and face, while he was an even bigger mess of his own and other people's blood.
***
Akira let out an exhausted sigh as he sat down on a wooden veranda overlooking a koi pond and garden on the huge property. He may have been a highly desirable neutralizer, but there was no way he hadn't just put an enormous target on his own back by betraying Shishiba like that. And for what? He gained nothing and lost the girl.
As he lit a cigarette, Akira heard a sliding door open behind him. "Hm?" He turned around to see who it was, only to find himself being stared down by none other than the bastard he'd just lost to.
Ryouma stood there with a suit jacket draped over his arm, glaring at Akira. The man who'd been beaten, bloodied, and on the verge of death not long before had cleaned up especially nicely. Akira realized that compared to someone like that, he probably came across as completely juvenile in the looks department.
"Uh… Um… Good evening…?" he greeted Ryouma meekly.
Ryouma pushed Akira off the veranda with his foot. "Move. That's my spot."
"Um. It's cool if I smoke here, right?" Akira put some distance between the two of them.
"Do what you want," Ryouma mumbled, lighting up his own cigarette using his powers. "Just don't make a mess."
It was dark, but Akira still tried to take in his surroundings. They seemed to be in the middle of a forest, so there wasn't really anywhere for him to run if Enishi Ryouma decided to follow through on his threats. As Akira's unsteady hand brought the cigarette to his mouth, he could only hope that guy would let bygones be bygones.
Ryouma just wanted to kill time in his favorite spot while Midoriko cleaned up and changed, but he hadn't expected the turncoat to be there too. It was highly amusing watching him squirm. He wanted to wear him down a little more.
"Hmm. I'm still wondering what I should do with you," Ryouma taunted. "What kind of punishment do you think a perverse little voyeur who watches women through hidden cameras deserves?"
Akira choked as he took a drag off his cigarette, smoke puffing out as he coughed. "H-Hey! I helped y'all out, didn't I?"
"Let's see… Voyeurism, stalking, breaking and entering, kidnapping…" Ryouma started counting off charges on his fingers. "Um, what else? Molestation?"
"Now you're just making shit up!" he snapped. "I did no such thing!"
Ryouma just shrugged and blew smoke rings.
"L-Look… I know I'm scum, but aren't you the same as me? No… Actually, you're worse than me!" Akira laughed nervously. He couldn't believe himself. It was like diarrhea of the mouth—the provocations just kept pouring out uncontrolled. "Y-You've killed people! I'm at least not a murderer!"
"Ha! You're right." Ryouma blotted out his cigarette in the ashtray he brought with him, then stood up. With each step forward, Akira took a step backward.
"Uh! Um! S-Sorry, I…"
Ryouma grabbed Akira by the tie, preventing him from backing up further. Akira closed his eyes and gritted his teeth as Ryouma pulled back his fist.
One hard punch and he was down on the ground, seeing stars. Akira clutched at his nose as blood gushed out. When he opened his eyes again, Ryouma was standing over him, smiling.
"Midoriko might get upset if I beat you to a pulp or kill you. I don't want my wife crying over other men, so I'll let you off easy." He squatted down and pulled Akira up by the collar. "You can stay here for one day, only because you did help us out. After that, I don't care what happens to you."
"R-Right…" Akira mumbled, pinching his nose to stop the bleeding. "Th-Thank you."
"Hey! What are you two doing?!" scolded Midoriko from the open door.
Ryouma let go of Akira and stood up. "We were just talking," he said, walking back to the house.
As they closed the door, Akira felt around for his still-lit cigarette and blotted it out. Then, he flopped onto his back, laughing. That bastard is fucking crazy. Akira decided he'd buy a lottery ticket when he got home since he was feeling very, very lucky.