CHAPTER 34: DRAGONS & KEYS

Haru and Shion sat side by side on the same edge of the bed, watching their sleeping children.

Shion squeezed his hand tighter, his eyes full of hope as he looked at their two little ones.

"They’re calm... their movements are peaceful. They don’t cry like me and Ayame used to. That means the curse has been broken. Otherwise, they’d be crying all the time and nothing could calm them down. Haru, I thought you were the key to my curse, but it turns out you were the key to the Hoshigane curse. You broke it. I’m so happy. I’m so happy that you’re the mother of my children."

"Oh, darling, stop before I melt," Haru replied, resting his head on Shion’s shoulder.

"Sorry I’m late," Maldie said as she entered, in a surprisingly good mood. "How are my grandchildren doing?" she asked almost in a sing-song tone.

"They’re fine, thanks for asking," Haru said with a smile.

"Maldie, I owe you an apology. I was too harsh yesterday... but your words about Ayame hurt me."

"No, Shion. I said some harsh things about her leaving. I shouldn’t have let my anger take over. Tell you what, why don’t you two take another day for yourselves? Go somewhere romantic. I promise I’ll take care of them the best I can."

"What’s with the sudden enthusiasm?" Shion asked curiously. "Yesterday I thought you wouldn’t even talk to me for a week after our argument. But thank you for caring so much. Actually, there’s somewhere I wanted to take Haru once the babies were born."

"Then today’s the perfect day," Maldie said cheerfully.

"Wow, Maldie you’ve got some energy today," Haru said, surprised.

"Something... unexpected happened last night. Never mind that. Haru, sit at the desk. I’m going to give you a perfect makeup for a queen and mother."

"Oh, that’s nice. Of course, t-thanks."

While Shion kept an eye on the children – watching over their sleep, playing with them when they woke up, watching them with fatherly tenderness – Maldie outdid herself. She put soft pink eyeshadow over Haru’s eyelids, painted fiery blue patterns around his eyes, and thickened his lashes, coating them in so much golden glitter that they shimmered like molten gold. Then she chose a pink kimono patterned with golden cherry blossoms.

It was not only stunning but done with impressive speed. Maldie was honestly proud of herself, she had just created another makeup masterpiece in record time.

A few moments later, Shion and Haru left the chamber. Maldie didn’t rush them, she didn’t want her true intentions to be noticed.

When she was certain they were gone, she opened the door and Gari went inside.

Maldie sat on the bed, Gari sitting on her, faced turned to her. The maid leaned forward and kissed the half-dragon.

"W-wait, Maldie! Are you sure we can do this here? This is the royal chamber!" Gari stammered shyly.

"We’re not having sex here, silly. After all I have to watch the babies. Besides, I wouldn’t have the nerve to go that far here... ugh, why are you even worrying about that, you stupid lizard? Just kiss me!"

"O-okay," Gari murmured, pressing her lips softly against Maldie’s.

The half-dragon’s innocence was so disarming that Maldie couldn’t resist any longer, kissing her deeply, passionately, with a fire she couldn’t hold back.

From time to time, she broke the kiss to check on her adopted grandkids... but then, to make it up to Gari, she wrapped her arms around her waist and pulled her in, their mouths meeting again with hungry desire.

*

"B-b-burgundy..." Ayame mumbled under her breath. "B-burgundy wants violet, but can’t, because gold. Violet is gold."

"Good grief, woman, you’re rambling nonsense," the dragon said, puzzled. "And yet, somehow, your mind isn’t lost. It’s as if someone cursed your tongue."

The dragon’s golden eyes fixated on Ayame’s lips.

"Oh... that’s the Hoshizuma curse," he said after a moment. "A particularly bad one, even I can’t undo it. I’m afraid you’ll be babbling nonsense for the rest of your life."

"By... the fountain of stars... he’s watching... I’m scared..."

"So am I. Anyway..."

The dragon leapt down from the cliff, landing before her. The blast of wind sent Ayame’s clothes fluttering wildly. Then, before her eyes, the dragon’s form shifted –

into a humanoid figure.

He was slender, petite and clean-shaven, with shoulder-length burgundy hair. He wore feminine clothes: black shorts and a matching cropped top that covered his chest only halfway.

From his shoulder blades sprouted a small pair of wings, and there was a neat hole in his shorts for a long, elegant tail.

He wore thigh-high stockings the color of wine and light red leather boots with heels.

"As I said, I can help you. Maybe not completely, but a little," he continued, extending his hand toward her. "You know every one of the Four Primordial Beings demands payment for their help. But first let’s get to the point."

A wave of chaotic visions and voices in Ayame’s mind suddenly quieted... at least partially.

"Your... name..." she whispered slowly, touching her lips in surprise.

When she focused hard enough, she could now form very simple or broken sentences. For the first time in ages, her words were her own.

"You already know it," he said proudly. "But fine, I’ll say it first. I’m Hayate, and for my help, I want your brother!"

"Y-you can’t... he... and... curse..."

"Well, his wife’s already done her part. Perhaps Hoshizuma didn’t tell you the truth, so let me explain. Haru – Shion’s current partner – was simply the key to resurrect one of us. Nothing more. The curse you all suffered was a payment, paid in installments. The last one was completed on your birthday. And now, I’ll take what’s mine."

"Without her... you can’t... how... u know... much..."

"Do you really think it depended only on her?" Hayate laughed. "Shion must have some extraordinary magical essence to achieve something like that. Enough talk. Our deal’s over. Now, let me go claim my reward."

He was already spreading his wings to take flight when Ayame raised her hand – its surface glowing gold – and fired a blast, just enough to throw him off balance.

"How dare you..." Hayate hissed through clenched teeth. Usually calm, he now burned with fury.

He looked at Ayame with his golden eyes, now glowing ominously through the dust. With a flap of his wings, he cleared the air.

Ayame was gone.

"You think you can outsmart me that easily?" he growled, flying into the sky.

From above, he spotted her – running desperately toward the palace. Of course. She meant to warn them. To reach her brother first.

Hayate dived towards her.

With one clean, slicing motion, he severed both her legs.

Ayame fell forward, screaming in agony, terror filling her eyes.

Yet Hayate wasn’t cruel. He used magic to seal her wounds, though then her legs were reduced to ashes with his fiery breath.

"You vile... I... never forgive you..." she gasped, her voice trembling and broken. Her throat burned, something deep inside her had torn. She might never speak properly again.

"You brought this on yourself," Hayate said coldly. "That’s what happens when you raise your hand against one of the Primordials after our pact is complete. Now, excuse me. I have what’s mine to collect."

He spread his wings and flew toward Shion’s palace.

Ayame bit her lip hard and began crawling forward.

*

Hoshizuma blinked slowly.

"That fool Hayate has no idea what he’s doing. All he cares about is extending his existence through offspring, because he knows that unlike me, he won’t live forever."

"Do you really have to talk about that now?" Shien let out a sharp breath.

He lay on his back under the blanket, still catching his breath, his flushed face said everything.

"A few minutes ago we were making sweet passionate love, and now you just like that, thinking and fixing this weird cosmic shit again?! What about a little cuddling afterward or kissing or saying how much you love me?!"

"Don’t make a big deal out of it. I know you like it when I’m cold."

"N-not true!" Shien mumbled, turning away, pouting. Now he lay back against Hoshizuma.

Hoshizuma sat fully clothed, facing the opposite way.

"I can’t let Ayame die. She’s too important for the world’s future," he said under his breath – not to Shien, but to himself.

He was the most powerful being that ever existed.

But even he couldn’t defeat the combined might of gods and their countless celestial and infernal legions. Back then, sheer numbers outweighed quality.

After those wars, after what the gods did to him, only a fragment of his strength remained.

Still, that fragment was enough to bend reality.

He focused. His eyes shimmered with golden light of galaxies.

Someone has to save her. Let that be a good and pure person.

His command rippled through the fabric of the universe.

Moments later, Hoshizuma collapsed, falling onto the bed with a soft thud.

"Hey, are you okay?" Shien asked, turning over with a sigh.

He did it again. He’d be unconscious for who knows how long...

He thought this with both sadness and pride.