The moonlight poured through the thick canopy of the forest, its silvery glow bathing the surroundings in an otherworldly shimmer. Shadows danced among the trees, shifting with the gentle sway of leaves in the cool night breeze. A campfire crackled softly, its flames casting a warm orange hue against the silvery night, sending sparks spiraling upward like tiny fireflies before disappearing into the dark sky.
The glow of the campfire danced wildly as Syl tossed small branches into the flames, each crackling spark illuminating her face in flickering orange hues. The branches hissed as they caught fire, sending spiraling embers into the crisp night air. Syl smiled to herself, hands on her hips, watching her handiwork.
"Well, that'll do it. I'm really reliable, ain't I?" she murmured, pleased with her contribution. Her eyes then shifted toward Kibo and Lily, who were seated beneath a tree not far from her.
Lily clung to Kibo, her arms wrapped tightly around his bare torso. Kibo's muscular frame was exposed, the firelight accentuating every contour of his chest and arms. His katana, sheathed, leaned against the tree, balancing precariously as if it were part of the night itself. He glanced toward Syl with a faint sigh, his expression exuding calm indifference despite Lily pressing against him for warmth.
"Sure, Syl. If it weren't for you, I don't know what would have happened to us," he said, his tone dry yet acknowledging.
Syl puffed out her chest and crossed her arms proudly.
"Hmm, I think you'll have to learn a thing or two from me," she retorted. Her gaze flicked to Lily and Kibo, and her tone shifted into one of exaggerated irritation.
"But why are you both being so comfy together?" she exclaimed, her voice rising as if scolding them. Lily smiled sweetly, unfazed by Syl's outburst.
"Sorry, Syl, but I'm still cold from Aunt Sora's ice aura," she replied softly, her cheeks slightly flushed as she nestled closer to Kibo. Kibo pulled Lily even closer, his blue eyes meeting Syl's with a teasing glint.
"I don't see why that's a problem, Syl," he said smoothly. "Unless… you're jealous? Do you want to get comfy with me too?" His lips curved into a playful smirk, knowing his words would fluster her.
Syl's face turned a bright red, and she pointed at him accusingly.
"As if! You're just a walking furnace for her!" she huffed, trying to mask her embarrassment. "Besides, who would want to cuddle up with someone like you? You'll probably crush me to death with those stupid muscles!"
Kibo chuckled, running his hand through Lily's hair.
"Right. That's why you keep staring at them," he replied nonchalantly. Syl froze, her eyes widening.
"I-I wasn't staring!" she sputtered, but Kibo just raised an eyebrow at her. Lily, oblivious to the tension, tilted her head.
"Syl, are you cold too? You can join us if you want," she offered kindly.
Syl waved her hands frantically.
"N-no! I'm not cold! I'm perfectly fine!" she insisted, though her gaze kept flickering to Kibo's exposed chest. "Besides, it's not like I'm jealous or anything! You two can do whatever you want!"
Kibo smirked knowingly.
"Sure. Whatever you say," he teased.
Syl grumbled under her breath and plopped down on the opposite side of the fire, clearly trying to avoid looking at him. Lily, meanwhile, snuggled even closer, resting her head on Kibo's shoulder.
"Your body really is warm, Kibo," she murmured, eyes half-lidded with contentment.
Kibo's gaze softened as he looked down at her, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"Good. I'll keep you warm," he whispered, making Lily's cheeks turn a deeper shade of pink.
Syl, peeking over the flames, tried to look uninterested, but her face betrayed her frustration.
"You two are so shameless," she grumbled, folding her arms.
Kibo just shrugged.
"Or maybe you're just lonely," he shot back, earning a glare from Syl.
"I'm not lonely!" she snapped. "Just... annoyed that you two are acting all lovey-dovey while I'm stuck babysitting the fire!"
Lily blinked innocently, not understanding Syl's frustration.
"You don't have to be alone, Syl. You can come here if you want," she said sincerely.
Syl hesitated, glancing between them and the fire.
"I-I don't want to bother you two..." she mumbled.
Kibo let out a low laugh.
"You're always bothering me anyway. What's one more time?" he teased, and Syl pouted, glaring at him.
But after a moment, she let out a frustrated sigh and made her way over to them, settling beside Kibo with a huff.
"I swear, you're just trying to mess with me," she muttered.
Kibo just smirked.
"Maybe."
Her gaze flickered nervously between Kibo and Lily before she slowly leaned against his other side, trying to act nonchalant despite the blush on her cheeks.
"Don't get the wrong idea! I'm just... resting," she insisted.
Lily, still completely oblivious, smiled warmly.
"That's okay, Syl. I'm glad you're here too," she said cheerfully.
Kibo couldn't help but chuckle.
"Look at you getting all flustered. You really are hopeless," he remarked.
Syl just huffed and turned away, mumbling something under her breath.
"I don't want to do this... I've never done this before. This will be my first," she muttered as she settled beside him.
Kibo tilted his head, an amused expression spreading across his face. "I have no idea what you're talking about," he replied, his tone laced with a hint of teasing.
Syl hesitated before settling closer beside him, her arms tentatively wrapping around his torso. She let out a soft sigh, trying to ignore how his body heat seeped into her. "I can't believe… you're really warm," she murmured, sounding almost vulnerable.
Kibo glanced down at her, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "I guess I'm just naturally hot," he teased.
Syl rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the faint smile on her lips. "Oh, shut up," she grumbled, lightly nudging his side. "You're always so full of yourself."
He chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest, and Syl couldn't help but lean a bit closer, letting herself relax against him. Her gaze drifted to Lily, who was sleeping soundly against Kibo's other side. Kibo followed her line of sight and smiled gently. "Yeah… you should rest too. Tomorrow's going to be a hectic day."
Syl adjusted herself, resting her head lightly against Kibo's shoulder. "Kibo?" she whispered.
He turned his head slightly to meet her eyes. "Yeah, Syl?"
She hesitated, her cheeks flushing as she averted her gaze. "Not to make me sound like I'm into… certain things, but… aren't you, like, in heat? I mean, with the two of us so close to you?"
Kibo smirked, blatantly replying, "Of course I am. What do you take me for? I'm a boy, you know." His playful tone carried a hint of mischief, but Syl's mind spiraled, her face growing even redder. Her thoughts betrayed her, fear and embarrassment intertwining with something she didn't want to admit.
Kibo noticed and quickly added, "Don't worry. I'm not going to do anything you're thinking right now."
Syl immediately blurted, "Why not? I mean, what I meant was, why wouldn't you want to?" Her words stumbled out in a flustered rush, and she mentally slapped herself for sounding desperate.
Kibo raised an eyebrow, his smirk growing wider. "Who's the pervert now?"
Syl's face burned, and she lightly punched his shoulder. "Shut up! I was just… curious!"
Kibo's smirk softened, and he looked up at the night sky, his expression thoughtful. "Honestly… it's not that I wouldn't want to. It's just… I don't want to take advantage of you. Or Lily."
Syl's eyes softened, her teasing demeanor fading for a moment. "You really are… annoyingly thoughtful sometimes," she mumbled.
Before Kibo could respond, Lily stirred, mumbling in her sleep, "I miss you, big brother…" Both Syl and Kibo turned to look at her, their gazes meeting awkwardly before drifting back to the night sky.
Syl hesitated, then, after a moment's pause, tightened her grip around his torso just a little more. "Just… don't go getting the wrong idea," she muttered.
"Sure," Kibo replied with a teasing grin. "Wouldn't dream of it."
She yawned, her voice softening as sleep began to overtake her. "What about your shirt? It must be stained with blood."
"I took care of it when we found this spot for the campfire," Kibo replied casually.
Syl's voice trailed off as she muttered, "Oh, okay… you're a really caring person," before succumbing to sleep. Kibo smiled inwardly, his gaze softening as he watched her peaceful expression. A few minutes later, he carefully arranged Syl and Lily together, ensuring their backs were supported against the tree trunk. They looked serene as they slept, their breathing steady and calm.
Kibo crouched down, leaning in to place a gentle kiss on each of their foreheads. Just as he straightened up, the familiar voice of Ignis echoed in his mind.
"So, this is what you've turned yourself into, brat? Cuddling up to your little harem while your guard's down? Pathetic."
Kibo's face twitched in mild annoyance. He moved a short distance from the girls, checking on his shirt hung to dry on a branch. "Sigh… you really know how to push my buttons, Ignis," he muttered.
Ignis chuckled darkly, the sound dripping with amusement. "I don't see anything wrong with it. In fact, I want you to be doomed. That way, I can at least laugh while you get torn apart like the reckless little shit you are."
Kibo sighed again, brushing off the jab. "Sure, if that's what you say. But let me ask you something—how would you rank Aunt Sora?"
The mention of the name brought an unexpected laugh from Ignis. "Your aunt? Oh, she was truly magnificent. I see why she's your aunt, brat."
Kibo climbed onto the tree branch where his shirt was hanging, settling into a comfortable perch. "What exactly do you find so magnificent about her? Don't tell me it's just because she beat me…"
Ignis's laughter deepened, full of wicked humor. "Don't get me wrong, brat. I'd love to see that again, but no. That woman was leagues above you, even while holding back. She didn't want to kill you or your… companions. She pushed you to your limits and made the girls act. That's commendable. She didn't need to, but she gave you a chance. If it were me? I'd have killed all of you on the spot."
Kibo smirked, leaning back slightly. "I really like how honest you are, oh wise one."
Ignis's tone shifted, irritated now. "Don't get the wrong idea, brat. I don't care what happens to you."
"Is that so?" Kibo replied, still smirking. "Then why is it that you told me to listen to Lily?"
"What does that have to do with anything, brat?" Ignis snapped, clearly annoyed. "But let me give you some advice. Learn to perfect your healing magic so you can do it internally, without needing your hands. Make it subconscious. That way, even in the heat of battle, you'll be healing. Your fighting style… I'll admit, it's satisfying to watch."
Kibo chuckled softly, nodding to himself. "Ignis sure is right," he thought. "The drive I feel when fighting someone stronger is truly magnificent. Thanks to Sora, I've learned a lot. Still, Syl and Lily really did well today. Maybe I should let them fend for themselves more often. But…" His gaze softened as he looked at the two sleeping girls. "…it's not so bad having someone to look out for you."
Gripping his hand tightly, Kibo stared into the distance. "I wonder how tomorrow will be," he murmured, the night enveloping him in its quiet embrace.