Akeno sprung her arms around his neck again. His arms were now a deadly trapdoor she no longer trusted. Igor didn't let go. On the contrary, he laughed.
"Hahahaha~!"
"Meanie!"
Akeno was indignant. He always teased her at the worst of times. She swore that once she knew how to fly, she'd bite him to death.
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|DxD|- Chapter 49- Teaching Her To Fly 2
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Evening drew closer. The skies greyed and the sun lingered on the horizon. Igor stood before Akeno with his arms crossed. There was fierce determination on her face—at least that's what she thought.
[So cute.]
He kept a casual smile without betraying just how sweet he felt inside. Just yesterday, she was a little infant who pooped her diaper while she slept on him. He felt old.
"Alright, Akeno. Remember what papa taught you. Get a feel for your light energy and spread your wings."
"Mn!"
Akeno nodded and clenched her fists. She concentrated and puffed her cheeks in exertion.
"Don't force it, Akeno. This should come naturally to you. Guide your energy towards your wings. Don't rush."
Akeno wordlessly complied and pulled her energy towards her wings. Her feathers stiffened and her body shivered.
"It's hot, Apu~."
"That means it's working, little eagle. Is the heat on your back?"
"Mn…"
"That's fine. Let your energy into your wings. You got this, little eagle."
Igor focused intently on the flow of energy in Akeno. Her energy pathways were like river channels that steadily widened under the yellow infusion of light energy. The biggest hurdle were her wings, but she was letting the energy into them very soundly.
"Very good. Just a little more. You're almost there."
Light energy flowed through her wings and branched out into her feathers. Her wings flapped a few times out of reflex. It would be the first time she'd use them to fly.
"I'm done, Apu~."
"Good girl. I knew you could do it."
"Hihihi~."
She took his hand and placed it on her head.
"Congratulate me~!"
Igor paused…then smiled.
"Of course."
He stroked the top of her head and her body relaxed. Under that cheery expression, Igor wondered if he would agree to anything. It was a weakness of his that must be addressed…someday.
"Alright, Akeno. Now what I want you to do is flap your wings a few times. Don't rush to fly. Just get used to the movement."
"Okay~."
Akeno leaped back. Or rather, she glided back.
"Apu!"
"Relax."
Igor sped forward and held her before she could go slam against the fence. He set her down and once all the fear evaporated, all that was left was excitement.
"Apu~! Apu~! Did you see? I flied! I really flied!"
"Yes you did, little chick."
"Of course I did. And I'm not a little chick, Apu~."
Igor crouched down to be level with her and held her by the waist.
"Then prove it to me, little chick. Right here, I want you to fly, okay? Flap your wings. Use your light to fly."
"Hmph. Then watch me."
Akeno flared out her wings and began barely flapped them before she began hovering.
"Waaa?"
"Don't be surprised."
She slowly rose like a balloon. Igor kept a soft hold on her as he stood up.
"Flap slowly, Akeno. Match my beat. One…two...one…two...one…two…"
On his third count, they were both hovering above the house.
"Keep steady, Akeno. You're doing fine. Feel your wings. Feel the energy in you. It's yours to control. Yeah?"
"Mn…"
Akeno was getting shaky. The higher they went, the more she didn't want to look down. The absence of ground on her feet was making her very nervous.
"Big brother. Can I…can I hold you?"
"Hmmm…"
Igor pondered for a moment. They'd already cleared the treeline.
"Alright, Akeno."
He pulled her against his stomach and steadily leaned backwards.
"W-What are you doing?"
Akeno tightly held onto the fabric of his long-sleeve. She was almost straddling Igor like he was a magic carpet.
"Lie down on me. We're going to pretend you're carrying me, okay. I'll hold you very tightly and you must control your wings so that we land."
"I-I don't like this, big brother."
"Come here."
Igor pulled her close and laid her head on his chest.
"You can't see the ground anymore, right? Look at the skies and keep lowering us until you see the house. You can do this, Akeno."
"..."
Akeno looked at the horizon. His beating heart was calming her down. If he wasn't scared, then she shouldn't as well.
"Alright, big brother. I'll try!"
Igor smiled at her sudden confidence.
"That's my little sister."
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|DxD|
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The scent of freshly brewed tea wafted across the living room. The fan was on and the curtains were open. Shuri relaxed on the couch with a book in hand and a cup in another. The contents of her book were interesting, but she'd long since paused on this one page for something far more attention grabbing.
Her two children were outside, the elder teaching the younger one how to fly. She didn't need to be outside. She could hear them clearly and 'see' them through her senses.
"How time flies…"
From 1991 to 1996—the years just blurred by. One seemingly reckless decision changed everything for her family. The boy who once questioned if English was a person was growing to be a fine young man. An Ariyan lived in her home…and she had no regrets.
[As long as he's doing well.]
A lot has happened over the years. Igor had moved from being Cleria's contractor to being a mercenary. Both were things she instinctively did not agree with, but forced herself to offer her support knowing the repercussions that came with.
Her pride was that Igor never crossed any moral bottom lines and that he was getting stronger. Perhaps he was stronger than her now—not that she was a frontline fighter in the first place.
"Oh. I shouldn't forget my appointments."
Shuri stood up to go get her logbooks. Ever since Baraquiel and Igor took to paying for everything, she had more leeway to freely volunteer her healing to the hospital. If her memory served correct, she had to go tomorrow for a shift. But it never hurt to confirm.
Shuri returned to the living room shortly after with her book and all the appointment dates she recorded. She set the book down on the table and barely took her seat when her phone rang.
"Who is it now?"
She was a bit miffed, but nonetheless reached over and took it from the table.
"Cleria?"
"{Shuri-chan! Let me reincarnate you!}"
Shuri winced and pulled the phone from her ear.
"No, Cleria."
"{Ohhhh…}"
A groan came from the other end.
"{Fine. But I'll never give up, Shuri! We'll be best friends forever one day.}"
"I appreciate the sentiment, Cleria."
"{So you'll let me reincarn—}"
"No."
"{Tch.}"
Shuri resisted the urge to laugh when Cleria clicked her tongue. It never ceased to amaze her how a woman over seven decades older than her acted like a spoiled younger sister.
"I'll bring you some of my cooking next time, Cleria."
"{Really?! *Cough*. I mean…thank you. Anyway, anyway: I almost forgot. Sooo…I have some news.}"
Shuri sighed. Instinct was screaming at her to hang up, but she'd rather know what was coming.
"What is it, Cleria?"
"{My cousin is coming to see Igor! Bye!}"
*Duuuuuuuuu…*
"..."
Shuri had a change of heart. She hated devils.
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Chapter 49
END