Chapter 214 - Capiche? (2/2)

Nik followed the direction in which Shinobu stealthily moved and jumped up over the mansion while controlling his strength for him to easily reach the tiled roof. Gingerly walking through the top ledges, Nik made his way across the roof and finally reached the inbuilt platform over to the roof that seemed to be constructed specifically for drinking while gazing at the open sky.

On the platform sat a peaceful Shinobu donned in a white yukata with purple flowers flowing across the dress and a purple belt to keep the cloth in place. The light clothing loosely traced her body and even her hair remained worn in a slightly loose fashion as her wavy hair flowed down to be tied into a low ponytail.

With a jug and two small cups placed beside her, Shinobu kept her back towards Nik and the upward tilt of her head made Nik realise that Shinobu had kept herself busy for a few moments by gazing at the starless sky and thickly veiled moon.

A few steps allowed Nik to reach next to the placed jug of wine. Sitting down, Nik let his gaze fell on Shinobu's profile, much of her features remained hidden due to the lush locks of hair that framed Shinobu's face but her plump lips remained exposed. The gentle curve on them seemed a bit different than usual. This smile didn't hide Shinobu's emotions, in fact, the story behind this particular smile seemed to be far richer than any historical event.

Finally, Nik looked at the jar of wine and finally picked the extremely praised wine and let the contents drain over to the two small cups and finally served Shinobu a cup while her gaze never lowered down.

Without even looking, Shinobu took the passed cup and let the translucent surface of wine reach the line of her gaze, observing the reflective surface of wine while barely holding he emotions in.

”Sometimes...” She parted her lips and brought the cup towards her lips before gracefully draining the contents in one go. Not a single change touched her expression.

”... I feel scared... terrified, even.”

Nik looked at the cup with a silent doubt. If this wine was just as strong as Shinobu proclaimed, then Nik could only imagine how much of the content should be drained to be tolerant enough to not have a visible effect on one's expression.

Still, Nik softly whiffed the enchanting scent of the wine and drained its contents in one go, too. This was a mistake that couldn't be prevented any longer for the moment the viscous liquid touched Nik's tongue, an extremely, unsavoury taste kissed his tastebuds and filled his throat with a painful inferno.

Of course, Nik suppressed the grunt his lips almost leaked and his head buzzed for a moment.

”I feel scared of death... isn't that embarrassing? My only drive to grow stronger is to get vengeance and now... after growing up...

I feel so scared...”

Her voice choked softly as Nik, in all his silent coughing, could see Shinobu's lips curving down into a slight purse while the lady unceremoniously grabbed the jar itself and aligned the opening of the jar against her lips, downing a rather large stream of content before placing it down.

Not giving Nik a single glance, Shinobu continued, ”My sister died to a demon. Holding a strong belief that demons and humans could coexist...

I really want to believe her... Nik.

I really, really miss her. I am trying so hard to become like her, I— I... euk!”

Shinobu bit her lips with a glimmering streak of teardrops rolling down her cheeks. Somehow, for a moment, Nik forgot that his throat was still burning and finally, couldn't help but feel a little emotional due to the atmosphere.

Damnit! No one should put onions on a rooftop!!

Nik wasn't a stranger to sadness. He had cried... a lot. No matter how warm or comforting his mother was, Nik still remembered volumes of tears hidden from his mother. Crying in front of his mother was same as proclaiming that she did not do her best.

But, she gave her best, Nik remembered it. But still... Nik also remembered many times his lonely session with weeping being discovered by his mother, who would also occasionally break down, comforting Nik with her own presence. That day, he knew that tears weren't his weakness.

To hide his sadness, his emotions.

That is what a weak person would do.

Running away from their own emotions.

”Your sister will be proud...”

Nik whispered and finally calmed down. His heart itched to take advantage of Shinobu's vulnerability and just become the apple to her eyes. But what good would that be? Nik's hands settled when he finally recalled the day his journey started.

The day he met Megumi.

The day he committed the blunder of leaving Megumi alone.

A certain sensation boiled deep within Nik's body as he felt his morality of not taking Shinobu's advantage thinning down to the extreme. The sensation was comparable to the wildest of typhoons leaving the land marred in destruction and chaos.

His throat started to dry a bit. It wasn't alcohol, Nik knew this much.

”Hey... Nik... what should I do?”

Finally, for the first time, Shinobu evened her gaze down and faced Nik, there was no sense of maturity over her tear stricken face. There remained no mature mischief in her dark violet pupils.

She was just a girl with unending tears rolling down her cheeks, her gaze filled with confusion and grief while her body quivering. The cold wind couldn't make even the weakest of the pillar shiver and yet, Shinobu was quivering.

Somehow, Nik did not know why but the scene of Brian stating— Capiche?— and— Capiche— passed by his consciousness and Nik finally inched forward with his arms moving faster than his thoughts and pulled Shinobu into a deep, warm and compassionate embrace that left no room for the grieving Shinobu to struggle but simply wrap her arms around his back and cry her eyes out.

As it turns out, the booze wasn't the addiction Nik gained that night, it was Shinobu herself.

***

Alternative Title: Capiche

***

A/N: I have received a bit of suggestions regarding the increasing number of harem and lemons and the slow progress. I am not pointing anybody out when I say this— The original intention of the novel, from the very beginning was to delve deep into harem. At least, give each of the girls a proper experience till Nik is in their world instead of glazing over the facts such as, ”Oh, Nik found Rei alone without clothes, her pale bunnies exposed, and yes, he had to fuck of course.” (Yes, i rhymed it.)

And well, many of you have said that you have not read jojo or demon slayer. That is something I can take caution of next time. Like, even if I have to make a crossover, I'll do it with a popular world, like— One Piece, ATG, Bleach, Soul Land— You catch the drift, right?

Either way, I would like to thank all my readers for such a wonderful support because we have reached 6000 collections!!! Yay!