*BOOOMM!! *
A sudden explosion shook the entire base.
The water in the bath rippled — tiny waves lapping against the stone edges. A wooden bucket fell from its hook. Somewhere in the distance, an alarm beeped once — then silence.
"What are those girls doing down there?" Yurei asked.
She soaked her feet in the warm bath water — her body completely covered with a black towel. Her cleavage slightly showed as the towel struggled to contain her chest — the fabric strained, stretched, barely holding. Her lean arms and feet were totally on display — each bearing different types of scars, long faded into pale silver lines against her skin. Stories written in flesh.
The elegant bath around them was softer than the one downstairs.
The stone was polished obsidian — dark, reflective, catching the lamplight like a still pond at midnight. Lanterns hung from wooden beams — their flames flickering gently, casting warm orange light across the water. Cherry blossom petals floated on the surface — real ones, brought in fresh — their faint sweetness mixing with the scent of jasmine oil and steam.
A small wooden tray floated near the edge — carrying a ceramic teapot and two cups.
This bath was reserved.
For officers only.
"It's just… girls being girls, Captain," Bailey answered.
Her body was completely submerged — only her head and shoulders showing above the water. Her blue hair spread around her like a silk fan — floating, drifting with each small current.
"But seriously…" Yurei snickered — a rare, genuine sound. "…they're going to destroy the base one of these days."
A pause.
Then —
"Hey, Hiro…" Yurei's voice cut through the steam. "…how long are you going to just stand there?"
Hiro stood in one of the washing stalls — his back firmly turned to them already in his human form.
"Damn…" he thought nervously. "…the moment I look… I'm going to pop a boner."
Just like any healthy young man, Hiro was tempted to join them. But knowing his weak, perverted mind? He was going to shame himself in front of them.
And there's no telling what would happen if that happens… he thought — his heart racing.
"Hiro…" Yurei's voice dropped — lower, firmer. "I can feel your nervousness from here. Come join us. Now. Otherwise…"
A pause.
"…I will make you."
Her tone left no room for discussion.
A chill immediately went up Hiro's spine.
Mechanically — stiff-legged, robotic — he walked toward the bath.
"The mountain is vast and the sea is endless…"
"The mountain is vast and the sea is endless…"
"The mountain is vast and the sea is endless…"
He repeated the chant in his mind — like it was his lifeline.
---
Ignoring his antics, Yurei turned to face Bailey.
"So… who is going on the tour tomorrow?" she asked.
"We can send Marian. Only her."
"Right…" Yurei muttered. "…the people in that place love her."
"But, Captain…" Bailey's brow furrowed. "…is it necessary for you to go? Cause… you know what will happen."
"Relax, Bailey." Yurei smiled — confident, sharp. "Even if I was alone… I wouldn't lose to people like that."
She glanced toward Hiro — still muttering his mantra, still stiff.
"With Hiro now here…" Her smile softened. "…my chances of losing are even lower."
"What is this talk about losing?" Hiro's ears perked. "Are we going to fight someone?"
Both Yurei and Bailey looked at each other — exchanging a glance that carried years of unspoken understanding.
"You'll see when we get there."
"Why are they being all mysterious and stuff…" Hiro thought.
"Another issue…" Yurei pointed at Hiro. "…is this guy."
"Wait — what did I do?"
"The others will begin to make their moves. Especially the Generals."
"Are you guys talking about the other princesses?"
"Yeah." Bailey's voice was grave. "We're not the only ones with access to that satellite feed. So the others are most likely aware of your presence by now."
"Which is a… bad thing?"
"You already know the weakness of Lover's Chain, right?"
"Yeah… the double-edged sword thing."
"The princesses just have to eliminate one of you…" Yurei's eyes met his. "…to take you both out as threats."
"Wait — they can do that?!"
"Not officially." Bailey shook her head. "But… yeah. They can. Especially with some of them having backing from some of the Generals."
"Who are the Generals?"
"Absolute monsters." Yurei's voice was low. "Second only to the Matriarch herself."
Hiro swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
His throat felt dry.
"Well… that's bad." His thoughts raced. "Isn't the Matriarch like… the strongest person in the entire URG?"
"Relax, Hiro." Yurei's voice softened — just a little. "They can't make any official moves until the Succession Wars."
"The Succession Wars… the final rumble…"
"But until then…" Bailey added. "…they would want to target some of our soldiers. Which are already… a mess."
"So that's why we're going on a tour?"
"Pretty much," Bailey answered.
She fidgeted ,her fingers drumming against the stone edge.
"Captain…" She looked at Yurei — then away. "…there's something I wanted to talk to you about —"
She stopped.
"Nevermind."
Bailey turned away — unable to make herself ask such a question. A crimson blush bloomed across her cheeks.
"What's wrong with Bailey…?" both Hiro and Yurei thought.
"Captain… if you will excuse me…"
Bailey exited the bath — water cascading down her body and disappeared behind a folding screen.
Shoji doors slid shut.
---
And just like that —
Only the two of them remained.
The steam curled between them — thick, warm, intimate. Lantern light flickered. Cherry blossom petals drifted across the water's surface.
"So…" Hiro wondered — his heart pounding. "…what's going to happen now?"
The thoughts of the previous night came flooding back.
The link.
The feeling.
The way her emotions had flooded into him — and his into her. The way the chain had glowed — brighter than ever before. The way their bodies had responded — without permission, without control.
Yurei looked at him from the corner of her eye.
"Come on, Skyfall…" she thought — steeling herself. "…this is the main reason why you called him here. You can't be flustered by such an issue."
"It's not like we'll be a… c-couple… or something."
But —
Yurei would never admit it to herself — not fully — but she found herself attracted to Hiro.
Not from the beginning.
But the moment he agreed to forsake his freedom to save the city.
It wasn't love.
Just… attraction.
But that attraction was deemed sufficient by her blessing.
So it obviously meant something.
---
Yurei steeled herself.
She walked toward him — across the opposite side of the bath. Her feet rippled across the water — step… step… step… — each movement slow, deliberate, graceful.
The water lapped against her thighs.
The towel clung to her curves.
In a few moments —
She stood in front of him.
At the level of his waist — because the bath pool was lower.
She had to look up to meet his eyes.
"Yurei…"
"Shhhh…" She raised a finger to her lips. "…don't say a word."
Her other hand reached for him.
The chain on her wrist glowed — faint silver — pulsing with her heartbeat.
And somewhere deep inside Hiro's mental mindscape —
The crimson door hummed.