Chapter 12:Grandmother

  Azure slept in Lucas's p while he himself rested his head against Elizabeth's shoulder. Her heart pounded from being so close to him, as it always did. She smiled lovingly down at the pair of them, for it was good to see his smile. Likewise, he was happy to see hers.

  "Thank you, Ellie," he said for what felt like the hundredth time already.

  "Lucas, it's fine," Elizabeth chuckled, "You don't need to thank me so much.""But I do!" he protested, pouting with that all too adorable face of his, "I've never been able to have a pet before, and to think I was able to get such a cute one...it's all thanks to you, Ellie."

  Elizabeth squealed internally at him calling her Ellie. Her heart wanted to escape her chest. Clearing her throat, she composed herself, though she felt her face burning up.

  "It's really no problem, dear," she stated sheepishly, pcing a hand on his head to hold him closer to her, "I'll take care of you, so don't you worry about a thing."

  He rexed into her with a gentle smile. If moments like this could st, Elizabeth would be eternally happy, but just her luck that things weren't so simple. The sound of her phone's ringtone going off ruined whatever peace there was for the moment.

  Azure woke up, stretching adorably in Lucas's p as he sat up to allow Elizabeth to grab her phone. Seeing the number upon the screen, she sighed with annoyance. It was the Pyer's Association. For a moment, she contempted declining the call. She had just returned to see Lucas.

  "You should answer it," Lucas told her, pcing an awkward, nervous hand upon her leg.

  Most likely, he was still anxious and unsure about what he should and shouldn't do with her. She found it so cute to see his face became a little red from embarrassment. He could do anything to her, but he had to learn that. To show him that it was okay, she pced her free hand over his and held it there fondly.

  "Do I have to?" she asked, giving him a smile that told her she didn't want to.

  "I'll be honest..." Lucas began, and for a moment she was hopeful, "I don't want you to, but if they need your help, then you should go."

  Elizabeth pouted, sullen at him telling her she should go. Time spent away from Lucas felt like hell. No, it was hell. How many years has she spent without him? How many lifetimes?

  "You got this," he encouraged, making it even worse, "The best Pyer in the world, right?"

  Sighing, she couldn't ignore those eyes of his. They sparkled with wonder and awe. He had faith in her strength and was enamored with the fact that she was a Hunter. She couldn't very well disappoint him, could she?

  "...Speak," Elizabeth stated bluntly into the phone as she accepted the call.

  She did her best to ignore his looks of amazement. It was as if he worshipped her. Seeing a Pyer working must be interesting to him. He was always obsessed with them, even if there were certain lifetimes where he didn't want to be one. He had always wondered at what it would be like.

  "Ms. Falcrest, the President wishes to speak with you," a prim and proper feminine voice spoke from the other side of the line, "Shall I patch you through?"

  "The old woman?" Elizabeth inquired, curious and confused, "What does she want? I haven't heard from her in months and now she calls?"

  "I do not know, Ma'am," the voice replied, "Though, you probably shouldn't call her...that."

  "That?" she asked, raising an eyebrow in amusement, "Old Woman? Heh, she'll get over it, but I'm a bit...urk!"

  Elizabeth was wanting to deny the request to talk to the President of the Pyer's Association, but the moment she gnced at Lucas, she was put in a tough spot. Both him and Azure were looking at her with wide eyes of wonder.

  "The President of the Association!?" Lucas excimed in a whisper so as not to be too loud, "I knew you were amazing, but wow!"

  "...Patch her through," Elizabeth sighed in resignation, her heart stabbed by his childlike glee.

  "Very well, Ms. Falcrest, please hold," the dy responded as a dial tone rang before another woman picked up.

  "Old Woman, huh?" A slightly deep, sultry voice spoke over the phone, "Is that any way to treat me? We haven't talked in months you know."

  "I am aware," Elizabeth responded, "What do you want...Grandmother."

  "No fucking way," Lucas gasped before wincing as he held his head, "How could I forget that."

  Elizabeth looked at Lucas with a pained smile as she produced two pills and a bottle of water that he took gratefully. Downing them, he looked too adorable. Chuckling softly to herself, she had set everything up this time to eliminate as many threats as possible. Including pcing her grandmother as head of the Pyer's Association.

  "Was that him?" Her grandmother inquired, "The boy you've talked about before?"

  "...What do you want?" Elizabeth sighed, shaking her head as she tussled Lucas's hair.

  He ughed, smiling as he shook free of her hand, and held it in his. He pyed with her fingers while she spoke to the woman over the phone. She didn't hate her grandmother or anything, she was just a little...overbearing.

  "Can't an old woman call to talk to her granddaughter?" she sulked, "We're both so busy tely that we rarely get the time to chat."

  "You wouldn't call just for that," Elizabeth told her while watching Lucas with a fond smile, "What's happened?"

  "Hmph, spoilsport," she pouted, though quickly turned serious, "There's a meeting of Guild Leaders soon. I wanted to give you a heads up. You know how they are."

  Elizabeth's blood froze as she heard this, only unthawing as Lucas wrapped her free arm around him and snuggled close, with Azure licking at her hand before nuzzling it. Still, she held a deadly glint in her eye. The Guild Heads were always trying to fight and vie for resources and dungeon rights. They had no idea what was coming for them and still squabbled like children.

  "I appreciate it," Elizabeth responded while pying with Lucas's hair, twirling his silver streak between her fingers, "Was there anything else?"

  "So cold!" Her grandmother stated with a pout, "Come on, won't you have tea with me? It's been too long. You can even bring that child you're so infatuated with."

  "Grandmother!" Elizabeth excimed, embarrassed at being called out, "He's..."

  Lucas was looking up at her with eyes that told him he wanted to go. It seemed that she had been just loud enough for him to have heard. He wasn't a social person, but when he got excited about something, like meeting not only the President of the Association, but her grandmother, there was bound to be no resisting for her.

  "Fine..." Elizabeth sighed, much to Lucas's excitement, "However! You better behave yourself."

  "Hmm? Oh, I will!" Lucas stated almost immediately, though he seemed confused.

  Pulling the phone away for a second, she leaned down towards him with an amused smile.

  "Heh, not you, love," she said with a kiss to his cheek, "You're fine, I'm talking to my grandmother."

  "Hey! I can hear you, you know!" she excimed with defiance, "I'm not so old that my hearing has gone bad!"

  "Yes, yes," Elizabeth dismissed as she returned the phone to her ear, "Does today work for you then?"

  "I'll prepare everything right away!" Her grandmother said with giddiness and immediately hung up.

  Looking at her phone screen, Elizabeth simply shook her head with a half-smile. Putting her phone away, she looked down at Lucas while letting out a sigh.

  "Well, you heard her," she told him with a slight ugh, "Guess you're having tea with my grandmother today."

  "...Did you not want to?" Lucas inquired sullenly, feeling a little guilty, "I'm sorry, I-"

  "Don't be," Elizabeth put a stop to that nonsense by pcing a finger over his lips, "Whatever you want to do, so long as it isn't dangerous, I will. My grandmother is just a bit...overzealous."

  "She loves you, doesn't she?" he asked while pressing his face against her hand for her to caress.

  "She does, yes," Elizabeth nodded, smiling affectionately at Lucas, "I just hoped that today would be just us, but we have all the time in the world. I'll make sure of that."

  Lucas caught the determination and sorrow in her voice and immediately wrapped his arms around her. Azure flew out of his p to give them space. Nuzzling his face into her neck, his presence soothed her.

  "I'm sure you will," he mumbled, his words filled with sympathy, "I know it can't be easy, so please...don't try and hide it. If you ever need me, let me know, oka-woah!"

  His words were suddenly cut off as Elizabeth took control of the situation. He was being too damn cute and considerate. She couldn't contain her emotions at the moment. Her heart beat like crazy as she pushed him backwards onto the backseat of the car. She leaned over him, his face red from blushing as he looked up with innocent eyes of surprise.

  "You're the most dangerous thing to me," Elizabeth told him, her eyes becoming filled with obsession, "You know that, don't you? How am I supposed to keep a clear head if you're doing such cute things like that?"

  "S-Sorry," he stated with a nervous ugh, "What...are you going to do?"

  He held his hands to his chest, looking up at her with near anticipation.

  "Oh, I think you know," she told him as she leaned her head down close to his neck, "The second war has commenced."

  He shivered at her words, her lips passing over his neck as she began to assail him with affection. Maya gnced back through the rearview with a smirk, shaking her head as she rolled up the security and privacy window of the vehicle as Azure flew through it just before it closed. They were all alone now. Nothing to stop her.

  -----

  I was completely out of breath. I continued to pce myself in dangerous territory with Elizabeth. For some reason, I kept forgetting she was obsessed...or perhaps I didn't and just like the thrill of it. To see that look in her eye...I was obsessed myself. That look fueled me.

  Every time I saw it, I couldn't believe that someone like her loved me that much. Now, I was even meeting her family. My heart was beating nervously as I attempted to readjust myself after Elizabeth's affectionate assault. She had won the Second Kiss War. It was my complete defeat.

  I had been so caught up in the excitement of meeting the President of the Association, that I had forgotten myself for a moment. Like adding fuel to the fire, Elizabeth burned intensely. I could hardly contain my heart from leaping from my chest.

  "Are you able to stand?" Elizabeth teased as I made my way out of the vehicle, stumbling a bit.

  She helped to catch me, her hand holding mine while the other held my shoulder. I blushed, nodding as I stood with an unsteady posture.

  "Are you sure, I can carry you," she stated, which only made me more embarrassed.

  Particurly because of the fact that I actually wouldn't mind that, but I simply shook my head.

  "No, I'm good. I'm fine," I told her, taking a deep breath.

  "Yes, you are," Elizabeth smirked, her eyes devouring me.

  "U-Uhm..." I had no response, for I still wasn't used to someone liking me this much.

  Elizabeth smiled amusingly, wrapping her arm around mine with our fingers intertwined. There was a twinkle to her eye that caused me to become quite flustered, but nonetheless, I was happy. All of this was too insane to wrap my head around and so I simply went with the flow.

  Holding her hand tightly in mine, I walked with Elizabeth into a building I was actually quite familiar with. Being a courier for the Pyer's Association, I often came here to pick up packages and deliver them all throughout the city to the various guilds and other smaller branches of the Association. This was their Headquarters.

  A rge compound that spanned a couple blocks. A marvel of modern engineering and high-tech architecture with a bit of art-deco. It had a main facility building that housed reception, training rooms, and various exchanges for Pyer information. The material of the building looked to be made out of metal and stone in an elegant fashion.

  A beautiful pza led up to the main building itself. Complete with trees, flower bushes, and a fountain within its center. It was a spouting fountain that sprayed water up in beautiful arches. Several golden statues depicting nondescript Pyers, or Hunters, were settled within the fountain itself on a raised ptform.

  Pyer's Association HQ was written on a rge sign above the entrance to the building's entrance. Within the center of the main building were two different towers that rose into the sky. One shorter than the other, but connected at various intervals by skybridges. In the shorter one was housed eating areas and dorms for Pyer's who didn't quite have a pce to stay.

  Teams and various smaller guilds often rented offices from here as well, for those who couldn't afford their own buildings. There were courtyards throughout the entire compound where employees and Pyers could rex. It was all around a very extravagant building.

  However, it was the rger of the two towers that was our destination, and we didn't even enter normally. Maya had driven to an underground garage which was meant for the privacy of certain Pyers who, like Elizabeth, were quite famous or didn't want the fanfare which came along with the territory. That, and she was being considerate of me.

  "If I know that old woman, she probably has people waiting at the entrance..." Elizabeth mumbled, gncing down at me, "I'm not ashamed of you, but it'll be difficult if so much attention is put on you all of a sudden, yes?"

  "...Yeah," I smiled softly, "Thanks. Honestly, with so many fans, I'll probably become the number one most hated person in the world."

  I ughed, but it was true. With my mind and the memories within becoming a lot more stable, I was beginning to piece things together. Sifting through what was in this reality, and what had simply been dreams. Memories of a past that I had lived.

  It was blurry now, but because of this conflict, a lot of my memories of this lifetime was confused. Just like how I had completely forgotten who the President of the Association was. It was no wonder that Mr. Park had been taken care of so easily. That bastard rode my ass harder than a jockey at a horse race.

  He'd constantly give me deadlines that were near impossible to make, and when I was even a minute te, I'd be reprimanded, and my pay docked. It was fucking ridiculous, but it was the only job I could find and get. It paid the bills...barely. Sighing to myself, it seemed that Elizabeth caught my apprehension as if she was reading my mind.

  "Don't worry, love," Elizabeth spoke sweetly, though her eyes held a dangerous glint, "That man won't bother you anymore."

  Mr. Park had always been a pain in my ass. On the surface, he looked like your typical businessman. Wearing pristine suits and always maintaining a well-groomed appearance. A middle-aged man with dark, peppered hair combed back. Grey-blue eyes and a rugged face with a fair complexion. Decently built, which was honestly to be expected of a C-Rank Tank. Yes, Mr. Park was a Pyer. He was hired by the association as a manager. He oversaw most of the Couriers.

  Beyond this outward appearance, he was a lecherous individual who many employees, male and female, constantly compined about. It was like his eyes were always undressing them. He'd make off-handed comments all the time, passing it off as harmless workpce banter. Whether it was because of his rank or what, nothing was ever done about it.

  "I'm sorry you had to deal with that for so long..." she stated with a sullen tone, "That was an oversight on our behalf..."

  Seeing her so sad, I was reminded of a dog who felt like they had done something wrong and I felt the urge to reassure her. Reaching my hand up, I patted her head. Her eyes went wide as I felt the softness of her hair.

  "It's alright," I stated with a smile, "He was an ass, but tolerable. Things happen. You get busy, and in an organization such as this, things are bound to slip through."

  Like a puppy who was just praised, I could imagine the ears perking up and a tail wagging as her eyes sparkled with gratefulness. "So cute..." I thought, my smile widening as I felt my heart beat wildly in my chest. How could a woman like this look so adorable? It was illegal, I tell you!

  "Thank you, Lucas," she mumbled, kissing me upon the cheek, "Even so, we have to do better. So, we got rid of him and all those who had allowed his behaviour to continue."

  I didn't ask for any eboration. Instead, I held her face to mine. Forehead against forehead.

  "What matters is that you took care of it," I told her, closing my eyes to enjoy the moment, "Thank you for caring so much, Ellie."

  "You've no idea how much I do," she responded, and I believed it.

  There was a heaviness to her words as she tilted my chin to face her and kissed me deeply on the lips. It took my breath away. As she reluctantly pulled away, I opened my eyes to see that yandere gaze upon her face. Full of obsession and a promise to do anything to keep me safe.

  So many lifetimes were behind those eyes. So much pain and so much love. I could get lost in those eyes, but more than that, I felt a familiar pull in my heart. One that told me I didn't want to ever see her in pain again. I wanted her to smile. To see that brilliant, shining expression.

  "I don't know," I teased with a smirk, "I have a pretty vivid imagination. Want me to take a guess?"

  As if a realization hit her, she was knocked out of her yandere mode and into flustered schoolgirl mode.

  "N-No, I'm good..." she stated, clearing her throat, "We don't have to go there."

  "Oh? A shame," I chuckled, wrapping an arm around her waist, "Was going to ask where the wall of pictures of me were."

  "..." Her silence and blushing face was all I needed.

  All traces of sadness had vanished from her face. Repced by a flustered embarrassment. A yandere would be a yandere, and what is a yandere without a wall of pictures depicting the one they were obsessed with? I knew all their tricks. Just...not how they did them.

  "A-Anyways," Elizabeth cleared her throat again, shifting to stand properly, "We're almost there. As a warning, my grandmother can be...overwhelming."

  "That's alright," I told her, my hand becoming firmer against her waist, "As long as you're with me, I can handle it."

  Gncing down at me, she held a loving smirk upon her lips. Her eyes sultry with desire. Azure suddenly flew up into my face, mewling as if to say that they were there as well.

  "Yes, and you too, Azure," I ughed, reaching my free hand up to pet them.

  Looking past them, I saw Maya gncing back with a wry smile. It was then that I realized something. My anxiety was completely gone.

  "Maya as well," I mumbled, looking among all three of them, "How can I be anxious when I have all of you with me?"

  "Easily," Elizabeth teased, nudging me pyfully.

  "Hey!" I protested, my face heating up from the truth of it, "I was trying to be nice!"

  Elizabeth ughed delightfully, music to my ears, as Maya let out a soft chuckle of her own. Azure perched upon my shoulder, purring into my ear.

  -----

  Meridith Falcrest. Matriarch of the Falcrest Family and President of the Pyer's Association within City W and most of the East Coast. Despite the chaos of the world, there were still many factions within it. A lot of the governments fractured and what did remain was an amalgamation and poor imitation of what things used to be.

  For the United States, it became fractured into several territories. East, West, and Central mostly. Though there was the South as well. To better coordinate those who became awakened within each area, the Pyer's Association delegated each region to a leader. The President of the Association oversaw these leaders and the overall structure of the Association. You could say that they even founded the Association.

  It put a lot in perspective for me as my head began to throb. Thinking on such issues was a surefire way to induce a migraine. As quick as it appeared, Elizabeth was just as quick to produce medicine to help.

  "Lucas..." Elizabeth spoke softly, her tone worried, "Don't overdo it, please. What's on your mind?"

  "Sorry," I told her, smiling awkwardly, "I was just thinking. Your grandmother helped start the Association, but because of...well, you, that means-"

  She held a finger up to my lips, cutting me off with a mischievous smile.

  "Shhh," She chuckled as she shushed me, "Thinking on such things will only cause you to become dizzy, but yes. We needed organization. Before, it was just a fucking mess."

  Smiling against her finger, I nodded in understanding. Right now, my head was killing me, though the medicine soon kicked in. Taking some breaths, I changed the way I thought about it. Pushing aside the regressing and all sorts of changes that Elizabeth most likely caused, I simply thought on what was.

  Meridith Falcrest helped found and organize the Association to better help and utilize Pyer's and their talents. From helping them start guilds to all the legal issues that arose with their awakenings. It helped protect them along with taking responsibility for punishing them whenever they stepped out of line. In a world with super powered individuals, there had to be safety nets.

  Though the United States was fractured, it still clung to its past. At least, it attempted to. With Washington, DC, being no more, there were bound to be changes. Even with City W as a sort of repcement, it wasn't the same. With its sprawling cityscape now skirting the edges of the old capital, there was debate on if it could still be considered the capital.

  This sparked heated debates followed by conflict that ultimately caused the fracture. Especially with the opening of dungeons and the loss of several major cities. Political tensions from before the dungeons also came to a head amidst the chaos. Thankfully, eventually a compromise was reached following the Associations lead.

  They reigned in the Pyer's with the help of the current government. They were able to barely stay in power. Barely. States and borders were changed in an instant. Leading not only to a change in geography, for several reasons, but also a change in the fundamental structure of government.

  However, as I said, it was a poor imitation of what it used to be. Four territories. Four votes on who gets to be President. All chosen by the people within each territory and finalized by the governor of each. Those who weren't Pyers, anyways. Pyers weren't allowed to vote. Not really.

  They were governed by the Association and considered unique citizens. The only thing they had to worry about were the rules imposed upon them by the Association. This included following what ws were set by the government. They wouldn't tolerate criminals, after all.

  However, it also meant that they were denied voting rights unless a unique situation arose. They were to only ever focus on the dungeons and protecting the normal citizenry.

  Because of this system, however, a tie could take pce during the election. That's where the fifth and final vote came in. The Association's vote. They were the fifth entity within the United States and capable of pushing a candidate one way or the other. Was this the best system? No, but it was the one they got after the dust settled.

  All of that was headed by one person. The Association President. In other words, she was the most important person in the United States. Capable of swaying the political scene on both ends of the spectrum at her whim. After all, the Pyers listened to her, and if the government wanted to keep control, they'd listen to her as well.

  For the most part, however, she kept things to governing just the Pyers. That's how important she was, on top of being Elizabeth's grandmother. That's why I had been so nervous and excited to meet her. That's why, as the doors to the elevator opened, I was not expecting the sight that met me.

  "Elizabeth!~" A sweet old voice called out, and before I realized it, I was in the embrace of an older woman with Elizabeth.

  Both of us crushed by the hug this woman pced upon us. I felt Azure being pressed against me under the sudden weight, it's pleas for release going unheard. She smelled of cinnamon and some sort of flower I couldn't pce. It wasn't a bad smell, just...unique. Her body felt tough, and her arms were strong. However, I was having difficulty breathing all of a sudden.

  "Grandmother, please...you're suffocating Lucas," Elizabeth sighed, prying her grandmother from us, "And crushing Azure..."

  As she was pulled away, I was able to finally get a good look at her. Grey, curly hair in a bob framed her face. Emerald eyes sparkled with life and skin that seemed to have been touched by the sun. Its complexion giving off a golden undertone in the light of the luxurious hallway beyond her.

  She held a wide smile upon her surprisingly smooth face. She wasn't at all what I expected. Far from the stoic images I saw of her on the news, the internet, and in magazines.

  The neat business suit she wore did nothing to hide her well-developed body. I had heard that the President of the Association was an Attacker, a Pyer focused on offense, and it showed. She wasn't rge, by any means, but defined in such a way that was abnormal for most women her age. Hell, for most men as well.

  Looking at her, it was no wonder that Elizabeth was as well-built as she was. It must run in the family. Either way, I was surprised and slightly overwhelmed.

  "Well, you must be Lucas then!" she excimed with a wide grin, "And you're Azure. Aren't you the cutest!"

  Ruffling Azure's head, they quickly flew out of their grip and onto Maya's shoulder to avoid being further crushed. They promptly began to groom themselves. Chuckling to herself, and in a grandmotherly fashion, Elizabeth's grandmother suddenly pinched my cheek and I winced. She was strong. Immediately, I heard a sp of a wrist and saw Elizabeth glowering at her grandmother.

  "Easy," she warned, a dangerous glint to her eye, "He's not a Pyer...and he's mine."

  Instead of being upset at her granddaughter, her smile simply softened.

  "Ah, my apologies," she stated, seeming genuinely sorry, "In my old age, I often forget to hold back, or maybe it just runs in the family."

  She gave her granddaughter a mischievous, knowing smile.

  "I heard that someone proposed on their first meeting," she teased, "Well, come on! No time to waste. Don't just stand there, follow me!"

  With my face no burning from remembering my first meeting with Elizabeth, I looked up to find that she herself was flustered. It was honestly adorable, especially as she entwined her hand with mine and squeezed it fondly. I subsequently returned the gesture, smiling up at her.

  "Shall we go, then?" I inquired.

  Nodding, Elizabeth led me from the elevator, with Maya and Azure in tow.

  -----

  Nikushimi