"N--nothing."

"Lila."

"R--really, don't do anything weird." Lila stammered. "I'm pregnant remember?"

Honestly this girl, she must be messing with him. Haruka took the doc.u.ments from her hands and placed it on the bedside table.

He laid her down on the bed and Lila covered her face with her hands.

"You should know by now that I won't do anything you dislike."

"I-I know." Lila stammered.

"Then don't get so nervous, you'll make me look like a bad guy." Haruka trailed off and parted her bangs. He bent down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "We won't do it, but let's gradually get back into the habit shall we?"

"Oh uh okay."

........

Following morning - XX Base - 9:00am 

When he receives an urgent message from the others.

Haruka didn't hesitate in taking any action. Although for now, it's difficult to pinpoint exactly what they are doing. He can't just sit around and wait for everything to fall into place before taking action. 

As the other guys scanned inside the base, he stood by the doorway and pulled out a cigarette. He has not smoked in a long time; and yet he carries them with him and unconsciously finds himself lighting them in remembering the old days. 

He stopped because the others found countless leads using his singing voice as a medium. He does not mind that his voice is being used as a tool of war. 

He does not mind sacrificing it if it means being able to protect her. But he does mind her using her voice as a tool of destruction. HQ plays it cool and all, but it's clear what they are up to.

He won't allow them to use her.

Knowledge has always been a double-edged sword. It was something he had told Lila during their partners.h.i.+p. Back then she was still a newbie with no knowledge at all of how corrupted the world is - no, even then her gaze was dark like she was already made to witness bloodshed. When they first stumbled upon several corpses in a job, she merely bent down to examine it. He could tell she was afraid since he had seen her s.h.i.+ver and yet she spoke to him calmly. What an unusual reaction for a young girl such as herself.

He is a liar. He promised her to protect his voice and yet here he is again. 

Haruka didn't tell her that recent nightmares have plagued him.

He discovered that he often smoked on rainy days like this. He does not like being away from her. Does not like waking up without that small frame pressed against him. Even though he savored the taste of her lips and her body before she left, it feels like that warmth is already disappearing. 

He could easily go over there and visit her, it won't take long. Three hours at the most, an hour if he's really in a hurry. But not only has it only been a week and a half, he knows right now there is something she wishes to accomplish without him there.

She is selfish and yet so is he, he wants her. He wants to constantly have her beside him. He wants to constantly devour her body, mark it, and hear her moan his name. He wants to see her bright smile and hear her beautiful voice say his name. 

He wants to not only feel her warmth but have everything about her. He cannot keep going this way, the more he fantasizes about it the more he will loose his urge again.

Haruka frantically shook his head. 'Don't think of such strange things.'

"Hey did you find anything?" Kiryu asked as he entered the room.

"Not yet." Haruka sighed. "I'm sure it's here though, unless Zane came back for it."

It can't be possible. In the last few years Zane has not gone back to New York. 'That' should still be here.

"You're all working hard! I bought the refreshments." A familiar voice said. 

The owner of the voice was none other than his wife. She carried several bags in her hands. Kiryu who was beside him was suddenly by her side in seconds, he grabbed hold of the bags.

"Where is Arata? How could he let you carry these?"

Lila laughed. "Im okay Kiryu. But could you help me distribute it?"

"Of course."

Haruka's gaze fell towards her and she briefly looked over at him. But Lila quickly turned away. In that split second he saw her red cheeks. 'Geez, still embarra.s.sed huh?'

From: Unknown

Haruka frowned when he saw the sender. He clicked the open b.u.t.ton and immediately the pictures loaded up. Different angles of a woman having s.e.x with a man.

'Rikka.' Haruka immediately identified the woman in the pictures.

His gaze dimmed. 'How bothersome. Why do people keep annoying me about her?' She isn't the sender of these photos. But whenever Rikka is mentioned now, he gets very annoyed.

Haruka closed his phone only to spot Lila peering at him curiously. "I thought you were avoiding me?"

Lila extended her hand out and he sighed. "Come here."

She nodded and rushed over. Haruka pulled her into his arms. "Are you still embarra.s.sed?"

Another nod followed by her stammering. "T--that..uhh…"

"Don't be so nervous. It's not like I haven't done that before."

Lila's face turned even redder at his words. Haruka however continued. "If that isn't to your liking, we could do something different."

She frantically shook her head and she pulled away slightly. "That's not it, I just.. It's bad for my heart. If you hold me so gently and tell me you love me."

"It's bad to say I love you?"

"No, but you never used to…"

Haruka sighed when he heard her words. "That's right I didn't before. But I thought we went through this already Lila."

He grabbed hold of her hand and dragged her until they reached the hallway. He vent down and kissed her, tasting her sweet lips.

"S--stop."

"..."

Lila looked down at the ground and took a deep breathe. She slumped her head on his chest. "I'm just confused. I.."

Haruka cupped her cheeks. "Confused about?"

"You see I think my feelings for you grew again. So…"

That's all? He thought it was something major. But now that he thought about it, she behaved oddly before too. Haruka flicked her forehead and Lila let's out a large yelp.

She pouted. "Hubby, I'm confessing to you. Why are you acting violent?"

"You're so stupid."

"Wahh, an insult."

Haruka sat down on the porch. "You performed your new song right? How was it?"

"Un! It was well received."