Panic erupted in the pitch-black hallways, but Yuu remained calm. His True Eye adjusted instantly. Even with the moon hidden behind clouds, he could see the silhouettes clearly.
He heard footsteps—rapid, light, and coming straight toward Natsue. It was Ichiro Hatamoto, the "weak" artist. He was holding a kitchen knife.
Wait, he's supposed to release Takeshi and then stab himself to frame him, Yuu thought. Why is he coming here? Is he attacking Natsue? No... he's coming for me!
Yuu realized his presence had altered the timeline. Ichiro, driven by a twisted, incestial obsession with his cousin Natsue, was jealous of how quickly Yuu had charmed her. He wanted to eliminate the rival.
Yuu smirked. He could disarm the boy in a second, but a better idea formed. He would play the hero. He would let Natsue see him "sacrifice" himself for her.
"What happened? Why are the lights out?" Natsue cried out in terror.
Yuu lunged forward, wrapping a powerful arm around her waist and pulling her flush against his body. Her soft curves pressed into him, and she let out a small gasp.
"It's me. Don't be afraid," Yuu whispered in her ear, his breath warm against her skin. Natsue instantly relaxed into his hold.
Just then, Ichiro swung the knife. Yuu moved with practiced precision, his hand shooting out to strike Ichiro's wrist. The knife clattered to the deck. But Yuu's eyes widened as he saw Ichiro pull a heavy iron pipe from behind his back.
Shit, the kid is packing, Yuu thought. He raised his arm to block.
CRACK!
A sharp pain flared through Yuu's forearm as the pipe struck bone. He let out a deliberate, pained groan. Ichiro swung again, his movements surprisingly precise for a shut-in.
"Miss Natsue, get back!" Yuu shouted, acting as if he were struggling. "The killer is here for you!"
"Aah!" Natsue shrieked, clutching onto Yuu's shirt. In the chaos, Yuu "accidentally" let his hand slide upward, firmly cupping one of her full, supple breasts. He squeezed the soft mound through the fabric of her dress, feeling her nipple harden instantly against his palm. Natsue let out a choked sound—half sob, half moan—but she didn't pull away. In her terror, his touch was the only anchor she had.
"Don't worry," Yuu wheezed, pretending to be out of breath. "I'll hold him off. Just hide!"
Yuu grabbed the pipe mid-swing, his grip like a vice. He could have ended it then, but he waited. After a few seconds of "struggling," Ichiro realized he couldn't win and fled into the darkness.
Once the footsteps faded, Natsue was all over him. "Yuu! Yuu, are you okay?" Her small hands franticly roamed over his chest and arms, checking for wounds.
"I'm fine, Natsue. But he's gone," Yuu said, pulling her trembling body back into his embrace. He began to stroke her back, his hand dipping low to graze the swell of her hips.
"He tried to kill me... because of the inheritance?" she whispered into his chest.
"Most likely. Come on, we need to get to the engine room. It was probably just a tripped breaker."
He led her through the dark, using his phone's flashlight. The narrow beam made the shadows around them seem even deeper. As they walked, Yuu kept his arm draped over her shoulder, his fingers tracing the delicate line of her collarbone.
They reached the electrical room and found a simple delay device: a candle burning through a string attached to the main switch. A classic trick. Yuu flipped the power back on, and the ship flooded with light.
Natsue immediately grabbed his arm, pulling up his sleeve. A massive, dark purple bruise was already forming on his forearm. Her eyes filled with tears. "Oh god, Yuu... it looks terrible. Does it hurt? We need a doctor."
"It's nothing," Yuu smiled, his voice dropping an octave. "Protecting you was worth it."
The air in the small room became heavy with tension. Natsue looked up at him, her eyes red from crying, her lips parted. She looked devastatingly vulnerable. Yuu didn't hesitate. He leaned down and captured her mouth in a searing kiss.
Natsue's eyes flew open, then slowly fluttered shut. Her small hands gripped his shoulders, her resistance melting away as his tongue pushed past her lips, exploring the sweet heat of her mouth. It was a hungry, possessive kiss that left her breathless and dizzy.
When he finally pulled back, he brushed his nose against hers. "Let's go, Natsue. Let's find out who did this."
"Yes... Yuu," she whispered, her legs feeling like jelly. She leaned into him, her hip bumping against his as they walked back to the dining room.