Return of the Fallen Volume 5 Chapter 69
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Author: Blue_Rat
ch69
Kazuki caught a large bird while Asuna and Nunully giggled behind his back. Kazuki ignored them. He did act a bit foolish but bringing up marriage can do that to a guy sometimes.
The bird was nearly 6 feet tall and resembled something akin to an ostrich. Asuna couldn’t help but wonder out loud.
“This is what you caught, its wings are so small, how is capable of flying?”
“Hmm.”
Kazuki inspected it with his ki and felt a beast core within it. He could tell it used wind magic.
“It can use the element of wind, that must be what keeps it in the sky.”
Nunully inspected the bird as well and recognized it from a book right away.
“Kazuki’s right, that’s a Gentachi bird. You can tell by its bright yellow color and the small red rings around each feather. Not only does it use the element of wind to help it fly but it’s feathers are also capable of expanding, maximizing its ability to maintain flight. Kazuki you caught a good bird, these things are supposed to be pretty nice to eat.”
Kazuki and Asuna stared blankly at one another before Asuna said.
“Nene, you really know a lot.”
Nunully felt a little embarrassed.
*Ahem*
“I don’t know too much, I just remember reading about it long ago back at the Dancing Gazelle.”
Nunully tried to downplay her knowledge. She didn’t want to seem too smart in front of Kazuki. She had heard from the other girls at her mom’s establishment that men didn’t like girls that were too witty and that it was best to play slightly dumb in front of a guy, especially one you liked. Kazuki knew none of these thoughts and just commented.
“Heh, Asuna maybe you should hit the books. Nunully has both beauty and intelligence while you have beauty and anger. Nunully holds the advantage here.”
Nunully blushed.
“Eh, you like smart girls?”
Kazuki raised a brow.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
Nunully’s eyes lit up.
(I guess the girls back in Treia don’t know men that well after all. Hehehe, Kazuki likes whats in my head.)
Nunully started to think of how she would use this to her advantage, while Asuna on the other hand was annoyed.
“Don’t compare me to other girls Kazuki. If we’re gonna start this whole dating thing then don’t do that. It makes you look like an ass, got it?”
“Hmm, how so?”
“You think a girl wants to be compared to others, to have her weak points pointed out. How would you like it if I did the same to you? You may be handsome but there are plenty of others with better looks.”
Asuna felt like she had got him back but Kazuki smiled and turned it on her.
“Oh, Asuna you admit that I’m handsome.”
Asuna’s mouth fell open but no words came out.
“Asuna you’re too easy. I understand though. I won’t compare the two of you and if I forget, you’ll be there to remind me right.”
Asuna turned her head away.
“Damn straight I will.”
She then snatched the bird from Kazuki’s hands.
“I’ll deal with this, so you make a fire.”
“Eh, Asuna you can cook?”
Nunully was genuinely surprised. She had never witnessed Asuna make a meal. It was always Tsura who made food. On occasion, Danny would help out as well and even Kazuki but Asuna, she had never seen it.
“Of course I can. I usually don’t because Tsura enjoys it and she makes the best food I’ve ever had but back on Earth, my mom and dad worked late a lot and so I would cook for me and my little sister. I wasn’t that great but I could make simple things and sometimes my little sister would help out making things fun.”
As she mentioned her little sister and parents, a wave of heartache washed over her.
Nunully grabbed her hand.
“That’s amazing. I can’t believe you know how to cook.”
Asuna was about to take that the wrong way but Nunully followed up with.
“I was sheltered growing up and never got to try things like cooking. I’ve been wanting to ask Tsura but she’s so great at it, that I felt uncomfortable asking her. I also didn’t want to mess up and then everyone would know and blame me for ruining dinner. Asuna, can…can I help you?”
Asuna went red in the face.
“Do…do what you want.”
Nunully almost squealed and she began to drag Asuna towards the water. Nunully took out a clean cloth and the two sat down and begun to clean the bird up. Asuna showing her step by step.
Kazuki didn’t know what just happened but he was just happy since the two weren’t fighting.
Kazuki willed his magic and using the element of earth, a large lump of stone came out of the ground. The mass was cube-shaped and resembled a stove. With a simple wave of his hand, the lump of stone started forming the shape he imagined. A hollowed-out inside and a door formed in seconds. Creating a few well-placed holes near the bottom for airflow, and a few other things, and like that, it was done.
The problem now was the fire. Kazuki grabbed a few of the wood chunks, Asuna had created when she drop-kicked a tree earlier and shattered it. Kazuki grabbed plenty of them but there was a slight problem. This wood was still fresh and wouldn’t burn easily nor maintain a flame very well. Kazuki solved this easily. Grabbing the wood he emitted a flame and cooked the wood at the perfect temperature, turning it into charcoal. Usually, this is something that could take days but by burning the wood and removing much of the oxygen as well as controlling his water magic and pulling the moisture from the pieces of wood, he made the wood almost pure carbon in a matter of moments.
Afterward, Kazuki tossed a good amount in the stove and lit them. Now though he had nothing to do.
He could see the two girls were smiling and laughing with one another and he felt a little left out. He wondered if he should intrude or not and kept glancing over like a lost puppy. The two noticed and Asuna called out.
“What’s wrong with you, why do you keep staring at us? Just so you know, neither one of us is ready for that right?”
Nunully blushed but she mumbled under her breath.
“Says who.”
Asuna ignored her.
“Who says I was thinking that? Rather isn’t that on your mind a lot if that’s the first thing you bring up when a guy stares at you?”
“Ah, you…you.”
Asuna didn’t know what to say. Kazuki felt stupid though for getting like this and just said what was on his mind.
“I was staring because I already finished my task and wondered if you two wanted some help since I have nothing to do.”
“Who the hell needs…”
Asuna stopped her words mid-sentence.
“Fine, just don’t get in the way.”
“I’ll try my best.”
Kazuki sat down next to Nunully but Asuna wasn’t having that.
“Kazuki, sit in the middle. Are you doing this on purpose?”
Kazuki smiled but said nothing before he scooted over and sat in between the two. After that, the three prepared the bird together. Plucking its feathers, removing the unwanted parts, and then cleaning it, the three chatted and a nice atmosphere was created.
Kazuki brought out other ingredients from his ring. A few vegetables and spices and before they knew it, they had finished cooking and started eating. As soon as the juicy meat touched their tongues, they all became astonished at how good it tasted. The meat was delicate and slightly savory yet the flavor was strong, closer to red meat than a bird. It was beyond tender and moist and reminded Asuna of duck.
As soon as they took their first bite, they all exclaimed.
“Delicious!”
“So good!”
That was it. The three-spoke no more or rather they couldn’t as they began shoveling the food in their mouth like animals. Nunully was embarrassed at first and felt this wasn’t very ladylike but seeing Asuna and Kazuki going ham on the food, she forgot about her manners and just stuffed herself silly.
It wasn’t long before they each and seconds and then thirds. At this point Nunully was completely full but Kazuki and Asuna had only just begun. With their bodies being enhanced, they needed more than an average person, much more. The two ate and ate and ate until the entire bird was nothing but bones and then they ate the bones as well.
*Burp*
The three laid out on the blanket and enjoyed the feeling of fulness as well as the gentle breeze and the fragrant field of flowers. Though most of them had been wrecked due to Asuna’s rampage, you could still smell them on the wind.
Laying there quietly, Nunully’s hand moved on its own and she took this opportunity to be bold. Her heart was racing and beating so loudly that she knew both Kazuki and Asuna could hear it but she didn’t care. Her hand moved slowly over the blanket until it found Kazuki’s hand. At first, she simply touched her hand to his and remained there. This alone was almost too much for her. Even though she had touched Kazuki’s hand many a time and even seen him naked on a few occasions. For some reason, none of them made her heart race as much as touching his hand in this situation.
With no negative reaction or rejection from Kazuki, she gingerly moved her pinky until it tapped Kazuki’s hand. Agia, no reaction.
(Does this mean I can hold his hand or has he really not noticed? No that shouldn’t be. Kazuki would absolutely feel this. Then is he just not saying anything because he doesn’t want to actually hold my hand or maybe he wants to but he’s nervous like me? That can’t be it either. Kazuki wouldn’t be nervous to hold a girl’s hand, not after all the things he’s done with mama. Damn you mother, why did you have to get to him first. No no, don’t think about that right now, no distractions. I have to focus. I’ll grab his hand and just leave it there and I’ll move accordingly. In 3…2…1…)
Nunully couldn’t do it. Her mind was in a scrambled mess and she was too nervous and scared to go any further. That’s when.
*Squeeze*
Kazuki grabbed her hand and gently squeezed it. Nunully froze on the spot at this unexpected turn of events but as Kazuki held her hand, she felt its warmth and that melted her heart. Her body went soft and her face dyed a deep red. Kazuki said noting to her and just held her hand like that. Asuna noticed this and her jealous expression showed it. Kazuki wasn’t one to leave others out, especially in this situation. He reached out with his other hand and grabbed hold of hers.
Asuna was terrified and angry. She tried to take her hand away but Kazuki wouldn’t let her go. She tried to shake his hand away forcefully but he still hung on. She turned red as well but for different reasons. She was angry that Kazuki thought he could just hold her hand without permission as well as embarrassed. She grumbled under her breath for a bit but she also didn’t hate the feeling. After about a minute of struggling to free her hand, she gave up. She glared at Kazuki from the side.
“What is it Asuna?”
“You know exactly what. My hand, just how long are you going to hold it?”
“Hmm, since when did I do that?”
“Stop playing games and let go already.”
“Why should I? Do you really hate it that much?”
“Hate it, of course I do. Now let me go.”
Kazuki smiled.
“Are you sure? Once I take my hand away, I don’t think I’ll be giving it out much after that.”
Asuna went quiet.
“Hmm, Asuna, are you listening. Fine, you win, I’ll let go.”
Kazuki went to open his hand but Asuna squeezed it hard and hung on.
“Does this mean you’ll hold my hand?”
Asuna ignored Kazuki.
“Asuna, are you hearing me? I guess this means I have your permission to keep my…”
“Shut up, do whatever but just shut up already.”
Kazuki went quiet and held both her hand and Nunully’s and the three just laid there and watched the clouds float peacefully by.
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