Initial Release End. More Chapters to come if they haven't already.

  Chapter 8:

  Yandere's Resolve

  Bryan Callister. I would be a fool not to know who he was. An A-Rank Pyer and poster boy for the Hawks Guild. A damage dealer utilizing a spear, he rose to fame pretty quickly for his fshy style and good looks.

  His face was pstered on so many advertisements that it was a wonder he even had time to be do his job as a Pyer. Instead, he acted the pyer elsewhere. Right now, he was utilizing that to interrupt my date with Elizabeth, and something inside of me boiled just at the sight of this man.

  His ostentatious suit was overdone and just begging for attention. Embroidered with a gold leaf design along the sides that stood out against the bck of the material itself. His smile told me that he thought himself better than everyone else. The hubris of those coddled and sucked up to for far too long.

  "Is there a reason you're interrupting our meal?" I asked him, a bite to my words.

  His eye twitched, though he kept his composure admirably well. Behind him, I recognized two of his squad mates, B-Rankers Henry and Vergil, looking slightly uncomfortable as they looked around.

  Henry was a big man, the tanker of the group, and looked like he was about to burst from the dark blue suit he wore. Sunkissed skin and balding head, he was an older gentleman with hazel eyes.

  Vergil held a middle-ground for the team. Being an off-tank and sub-damage dealer. These types were known as bruisers. Not full-on tanks, but not quite damage dealers. A hearty middle ground. His darker skin gave off a slightly warm, golden undertone in the light of the restaurant. His hair was cut short and had clean, well-taken care of waves in it.

  Vergil wasn't as rge as Henry, though he had some bulk on him, as shown by how tight around his body the bck suit he wore was. I knew then that Bryan was just doing whatever he wanted, much to the distress of his teammates, who read the situation a lot better than him. Every so often, they would cast a fearful gnce at Elizabeth.

  "Miss Falcrest," Bryan chose to ignore me, speaking as if I wasn't there, "Since you're here already, how about we-"

  "Excuse me," I spoke up with a bit more force than intended, but went with it, "She's here with me. I would have thought someone in a pce like this would have at least the bare minimum of manners, but it seems they just let in any dog from the streets."

  The air grew frosty as Bryan gred at me. My heart was beating quickly as adrenaline coursed through my body. I knew I wasn't a match for someone who was an A-Rank Pyer, but something in me wouldn't let this slide.

  I knew about him and his teammates because, as with almost everyone, I was fascinated with Pyers. Those who protect us and keep us safe from the monsters. I wanted to be a Pyer myself, but I never awakened, and I don't think I ever will.

  Still, as with all my hobbies, I researched it intensively. That included looking up what information I could about all the popur pyers. The only mystery was Elizabeth. I knew she was strong, but all information about her was kept hidden. My memory fshed with moments of admiring her from afar. Watching videos and reading articles.

  I never thought that she'd be a regressor, let alone someone with an interest in me. I woke up from a daze today, thinking I had never seen her in my life, only to realize that she had existed, and everything else was but a dream. Those dreams now fading away, repced with another dream. That of me sitting at the same table with her and having dinner.

  Only, this stupidly handsome man was ruining it. I could admit when someone was good looking, but his personality made shit look delicious.

  "What did you just call me?" Bryan asked with venom on his tongue, "Do you know who I am? I'm-"

  "An asshole?" I finished his sentence without hesitation, causing a flustered, angry expression to appear on his face, "Yeah, I'm aware. Do you make it a habit of interrupting other people's meals?"

  From the corner of my eye, I saw Elizabeth smirk in amusement, even letting out a short yet stifled ugh. Bryan, in his frustration, made a mistake. I felt a fsh of heat as I closed my eyes from the blinding light that had appeared. As it faded, I slowly opened my eyes to a sight that caused my heart to flutter.

  Elizabeth's right eye was abze with a blue-green fme as something dematerialized from Bryan's hand. Her expression was one of threatening deadliness. Holding a butterknife into the side of Bryan's chest, it dug in, and I saw a dark stain begin to appear around it. Blood. Bryan was frozen in pce and all eyes were now turned towards us.

  "You dare try to summon your weapon here?" Elizabeth growled under her breath, keeping the conversation local, "I have no interest in you. Raise your weapon against Lucas again..."

  Elizabeth dug the dull knife further into his side, causing him to grimace in pain as he tried to keep his composure.

  "I will not hesitate," Elizabeth narrowed her eyes, a promise in her words.

  With her final words, Elizabeth pulled the butterknife from his side unceremoniously. Grunting, Bryan immediately pced a hand over his wound. His teammates quickly came to his aid, though he waved them off angrily. Gring back at me, he begrudgingly lowered his eyes before turning to leave.

  As he walked away, I let out a deep breath that I didn't know I was holding.

  "Lucas..." Elizabeth called to me gently, the fme around her eye dissipating, "Are you okay?"

  "...Yeah, I'm fine," I gave her a reassuring smile, though I noticed her watching me closely, concerned, "What's wrong?"

  Elizabeth casually pced the bloody butterknife into a cloth napkin and folded it up before setting it off to the side. Her brow furrowed in thought.

  "Why...did you do that?" She finally asked, and it was then that I saw the pain in her eyes, and I felt incredibly guilty, "If I wasn't here, then-"

  "I'm sorry," I had no excuse, not really, but I felt the need to apologize and expin, "I know you could have handled it, and I know it was stupid to antagonize him, but...seeing him try and hit on you while you were with me, and that arrogant attitude all because he looks good...It pissed me off."

  Sulking a bit, I looked off to the side. It wasn't like I regretted my actions, but I didn't want to see her upset. I can only imagine what she's gone through in her past lives, and I didn't want to add to that pain.

  "You're right, it was foolish..." Elizabeth stated, and I felt a sudden breeze pass over me.

  Within a blink of an eye, Elizabeth was standing before me, my chin tilted up towards her. I felt my heart skip several beats as her eyes filled with obsession looked unwavering at me. A slow smile curling her lips.

  "However, I loved seeing you defend what is yours," She stated, running a finger under my chin before cupping it firmly, "Because I am yours, as you are mine. Promise me though. Don't ever do something that puts you in danger like that. Please."

  The way she said please was almost heartbreaking. I knew in that moment I never wanted to hurt this woman. I only wanted to see her smile. I acted as if on instinct based on the feeling deep within my heart.

  In one, smooth motion, I leaned up and kissed her. I didn't care who saw. I didn't care where we were. All that mattered in that moment was her.

  A look of surprise, her yandere persona dropped as it was repced by one of an adorable, blushing mess. Pulling away with a smile, I looked lovingly into her eyes.

  "I can't say I won't be in danger again," I told her honestly, much to her consternation, "However, I promise you that I won't purposefully put myself into danger. I want to live, and...I want to get closer to you. I know that sounds weird, but-"

  "No, it doesn't," She interrupted gently, her expression softening as she looked at me, though the glint in her eye sent a shiver throughout my body, "However, until I know you're safe, you'll have to be watched very carefully for a while."

  "W-What?" I asked, suddenly nervous, "What do you mean...watched?"

  "Oh, nothing much," She stated with a sweet smile, "I'll take care of everything. All you have to do is stay put for a while."

  I ughed nervously, seeing that possessive look in her eye. I forgot for a brief moment just who I was dealing with. No matter how adorable she acted or just how cute she was, in the end, she was still a yandere. "Well...this isn't so bad, right?" I reasoned, admiring the smile she held upon her face.

  -----

  Elizabeth was fangirling hard inside of her mind. Her heart was fluttering like crazy and she could hardly contain herself. Lucas was just too damn cute. Not only did he show his territorial side, but had also made a fool of that annoying bastard from the Hawks Guild.

  It was one of the things she hated the most when regressing. He was a constant parasite, and if not for the fact she needed every high ranker avaible, she wouldn't have given him just a warning. However, no matter how many rankers she needed, if he didn't fall in line then she would go through with her threat without hesitation. Lucas was all that mattered to her.

  She could find someone to repce Bryan, but Lucas was irrepceable. She wouldn't let anything happen to him. Not this time. Which is why, even with a heavy heart, she locked Lucas in his apartment with Maya watching over him.

  She could trust Maya, who has been with her for a long time. She was the one constant, besides Lucas, that she gathered whenever she regressed. Maya had her own circumstances and was also one of the only people Elizabeth cared for. Not to the extent of Lucas, but she definitely wanted to see Maya thrive.

  Maya had strict orders to ensure Lucas remained inside. There were only a few times he tried sneaking out, only for Maya to lift him up like a kitten and toss him back inside. Ever since, her watchful eye had been on him. It was for his own good, but he was just restless.

  Elizabeth couldn't help but squeal to herself thinking about him trying to sneak past Maya's keen eye. It was just too cute. In her mind, it pyed out as him being a small little cat, sneaking past Maya's overlord visage, beams coming out of her eyes as she spotted him. His panic followed by the relenting of his fate caused Elizabeth's heart to burst.

  "He's just too cute!" Elizabeth excimed delightfully to herself, but outwardly her expression was cold. Soon, she'd reunite with him and he could walk freely. A part of her felt guilty, but another part of her resolved herself. Until she was sure he'd not be in danger, she had to be strict.

  "Do you understand why this isn't okay?" Elizabeth asked coolly, staring down the head of the Hawks Guild, "Not only did your poster boy interrupt my date, but even pulled a weapon on a civilian. Do you know how many eyes there were?"

  Elizabeth was currently sat in the office of the Hawks Guild. Before her was an aging man with grey hair and a dignified appearance. His ste grey eyes looked out over his hands that were csped before him. He was nervous, a little bit of sweat dripping down his weathered fair skin.

  "Miss Falcrest, you have our deepest apologies," He stated, trying to keep a cool and professional tone, "We-"

  "I'm done with the apologies, Edward," Elizabeth interrupted, a bite to her words, "This isn't the first time it's happened. I've overlooked his behavior before, but this crossed the line. My personal life is mine. I'm here as a courtesy to you, not him."

  Edward had no response, recoiling at her words. Elizabeth cast an icy gaze at the man in question. Bryan Callister retreated into the leather couch in the Guildmaster's Office. He was but a child, and if a child acted out you had to punish them, or they'd continue to think what they did was correct.

  "Starting from today, the contracts for Ogram's Mine and Forest of Mist are revoked," Elizabeth informed them, causing Edward to balk.

  "B-But those-!" Edward stammered, only being silenced by the look Elizabeth gave him.

  "If you cannot control your people..." Elizabeth's tone turned dangerous, "Then I have no choice but to take action. These are the consequences of your choices. Do not bme me, but look to the one who put you in this position."

  Edward cast an angry eye at Bryan, who recoiled from his gaze. Ogram's Mine and Forest of Mist were two lucrative dungeons for the Hawks Guild. They were under the control of the Aegis Guild, loaned to them via a contract. Elizabeth had every right to revoke their access.

  "Now then..." Elizabeth stood from her seat and turned to leave, pausing for a moment as she looked back, a dark look in her eye, "I'm sure I don't have to remind you, but if either of you try to take retribution instead of rethinking your life choices and becoming better...I'll not hesitate to bury you."

  She left them there with the executioner bde over their heads. This was her one and only warning, and they knew that. She had made herself a power unparalleled. Raising her family to heights unheard of in her past lives.

  Each regression was different. The point of emergence wasn't always the same. The more she regressed, the further back that point in time began. This time, she started as a little girl. She pnned for years before the appearance of dungeons began.

  This world bowed at the feet of Aegis Unlimited. The Falcrest Conglomerate rose to be a superpower in the world with its amount of wealth and technological advancements. All so that she would ensure that, this time, she could live with Lucas peacefully.

  -----

  Nikushimi