The clock now read 1:18 AM. A deathly quiet ruled the room, broken only by the rustle of futon sheets and Ai's steadily increasing frustration. Her fingers clawed lightly at her pillow as she stared murderously at the ceiling, then at Shin, then at the tiny human roadblock wrapped around his chest like a tactical vest made of innocence.
"I'm not giving up," she growled under her breath, more to herself than anyone else.
"I didn't think you would," Shin whispered, eyes still half-lidded with amusement, but also weary from the impromptu parenting situation.
"He's gotta get tired eventually, right? Little arms can't cling forever."
"He's seven. He's got the stamina of a demon." Shin adjusted slightly, his arm brushing over Asahi's back gently, trying to soothe the boy into an even deeper sleep.
Ai moved closer again, stealthily. This time she didn't go for Shin's hand. Instead, she started with her foot, brushing it up against Shin's calf under the blanket. It was a signal, a plea, and a tease all at once.
Shin shivered slightly at the contact, whispering, "You're playing with fire."
"I want to burn."
He bit back a laugh that might've jostled Asahi. Ai shifted again, the futon whispering under her weight. Her body pressed against Shin's from behind now, spooning him with silent intent. Asahi still lay between them, but Ai's hand slipped across Shin's waist, fingers sneaking under his shirt just enough to make him tense.
"Ai," Shin warned softly, voice already starting to lose its edge.
Then whispered hotly, "I hate this. I hate that I'm jealous of a literal seven-year-old. I want you to push me down so bad it's ruining my life, Onii-Chan…"
Shin grinned faintly. "I think he'd cry if he saw that."
"He doesn't know what any of it means!" she hissed. "He thinks I'm trying to steal his toy."
"You kinda are."
"I'm trying to ride his toy."
Shin nearly choked on air, clapping his free hand over his mouth. Ai's smirk widened.
"I can't sleep like this. Not after what we did. After what you did to me... how you looked at me. How you touched me. How I screamed your name into your mouth."
Shin exhaled, his cheeks coloring even in the dim room.
"Ai, I'm trying. He's—"
"—a wall," she finished for him. "An adorable, unrelenting cockblock."
Suddenly, Asahi stirred again. This time his voice was clearer.
"Onii-chan smells like Onee-Chan..." he murmured.
Ai's eyes widened in delight. "He noticed. That's almost a compliment."
"He's asleep."
"Still counts."
Asahi shifted again, rolling slightly away from Shin, one arm still loosely draped across his chest. The space it created was narrow, but Ai saw it instantly.
"This is my moment."
"Ai, it's like five centimeters wide."
"Then I'll squeeze through like a hungry cat sneaking into a fish market."
With precision that would make a spy jealous, Ai rolled into the gap. Her bare legs slipped between Shin's, and her arm latched across his stomach. Her face buried into the crook of his neck as she whispered, "Now you're mine again."
Shin's body reacted, drawn into the warmth of her, the scent of her skin, the ghost of memory from only hours ago when they'd made love again and again. Ai shifted her hips slightly against his, her breath hot on his neck.
"I still feel you inside me," she whispered. "And I hate that you're not there now."
"Ai..."
"It's not fair. You did things to me that I can't stop remembering. I ache. And this child keeps robbing me of your body."
"You're going to go to hell for being jealous of a sleeping seven-year-old."
"I'll go to hell smiling."
Her hand was slipping lower, brushing over the waistband of his pants.
Shin's body stiffened. "Ai... he's right there."
"I don't care. I'll stop if he opens his eyes. Maybe."
But before she could do more, Asahi shifted again, face scrunching like he was having a bad dream.
Then, in a sleepy voice: "Onee-Chan... don't steal Onii-chan. I'm watching you."
Ai froze, eyes wide. "Is he... awake?"
"I don't know. He's half-possessed, I think."
"Maybe he's a medium. A child medium sent to cockblock me from beyond the veil."
Shin tried not to laugh and failed miserably. The soft sound shook his chest.
"He's got ghost powers now?"
"Yes! Because only a ghost would be this invested in keeping me away from you at 1:30 AM."
Asahi's voice came again, sleepy and mumbled: "I love Onii-chan... forever..."
Ai groaned. "Okay, that was adorable. Still mad, though."
She flopped back onto her side of the futon, whispering harshly, "You owe me tomorrow."
"I'll make it up to you."
"You better. I want you to touch every inch of me like you're mapping a forbidden country."
Shin muttered, "You're gonna get me arrested just by talking."
Ai muttered, "If I get any more frustrated, I might arrest you."
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END OF CHAPTER : 141 : CLINGY DEMON!
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