87 Date II (1/2)

By the time they reached their destination, the sun had started to sink lower in the horizon. The husband and wife had been strolling casually, hand in hand.

Nocturne sometimes snuck glances at Nine, happy just being able to see Nine, whom he had not seen for the past couple of days.

They were standing before a picturesque lake, which shone, reflecting the colours of the setting sun. The lake waters rippled gently under the passing wind, not another soul in sight.

Nine twitched her fingers, calling out a wooden boat from the inside of her interspatial ring. If anyone else had seen this, they would have gawked at the sight, both for having enough space to fit it inside, as well as wasting the space inside to put a wooden boat of all things!

No matter how you looked at it, the wooden boat didn't look like anything special, but there were no oars that Nine pulled out from her ring.

Nine stepped onto the boat with light feet, holding out her hand to Nocturne.

At this moment, the palette of the setting sun paint its colours onto Nine, dazzling Nocturne. The Nine in front of him looked exceptionally soft today, and that smile on Nine's lips matched with the soft eyes directed at him.

Nocturne would never have imagined falling in love with someone like this. He had never put much stock into looks, just because he himself was so exceptionally outstanding, but before Nine, he really could not hold a candle at all.

He never thought that he would one day have to rely on his own looks to fight for a place by Nine's side, of all things.

Nocturne took Nine's hand and prepared to step into the boat, when Nine tugged him forward instead, causing him to fall into her arms.

Nocturne let out a stifled gasp, looking up at Nine with wide eyes, somehow not having expected that.

Nine let out a low laugh at the look on his face.

The husband and wife sat down on the same end of the boat, Nine cradling Nocturne on her lap. The waters under the boat gently moved through Nine's magic, carrying the boat into the middle of the lake. They drifted slowly, the waves gently rocking them.

Whilst Nocturne should have just sat back and enjoyed it, he was filled with several doubts. What exactly was so nice about hugging another male body?? Then again, he did look rather feminine, but that didn't mean he *was* a female!

His lack of masculinity had always been a problem, but –

Nine buried her face into the crook of Nocturne's neck from the back, practically purring at the scent carried on Nocturne's skin. Naughtily, a red tongue darted out from Nine's lips, licking his neck.

Nocturne let out a squeak, his body stiffening in Nine's embrace. He trembled with faint anticipation for the bite to come but received none.

Baffled, he looked back, only to find Nine struggling to hold in his laughter. Nocturne scowled, looking away into the distance of the sunset.

Laughing, Nine poked his cheek. ”Don't be mad. Did you want me to bite so badly?”

Nocturne made a strangled sound. ”I didn't!”

”What are these red cheeks, then?”

”Anger!”

The two messed around for a while more before the sun completely set in the horizon, bathing them in the darkness.

Their surroundings were pitch black, and one practically wasn't able to see in front of them even if they stuck out their hand.

The two waited in silence, just basking in the presence of their significant other after not having seen each other for days.

Slowly, bits of light started lighting up at the bottom of the lake. One by one, something under the waters started giving off a soft glow, filling the lake with countless twinkling lights.