-Chapter 36: The Things He Holds is What I Desire

I stare at Oma Zi-O as he ends his transformation, not doing the usual thing for it, and I swallow hard. I don't know what to say to him. I'm kind of nervous and kind of scared right now. He's putting me on edge.

"You always would give me that look once you saw what I became," he states. "Even in your old and last days, you remained as beautiful as a flower. You hardly aged in your final years and I think that is where Shinji gets his youthful looks from."

"Was I scared of you?" I ask, tears going down my cheeks. I don't know why I'm crying once again, but I can guess it has to do with how stressful this has been for me and Sougo.

"I don't think scared is the appropriate world, Marina, but I do think worried is. You were always worrying about me and how I was," he answers, smiling a bit. "How about you walk with me? Don't worry, no one will touch you."

I take in a deep breath and nod my head. I guess I should follow him around and see what he wants me to see. He has a lot to speak to me about and I have to listen and hear him out. I can't shut him down instantly.

"Does this make you hate me?"

I let go of the air in my lungs and shake my head. "I can't hate you or him. I don't have that in my heart," I answer, being honest with him as I look into his eyes. "Oma, I won't ever hate you."

He nods his head and he steps towards me, holding out his hand towards me. "I know what you mean about that, Marina. I did a lot yet you never turned from me. You were forced to decide on raising your children in the shadows. We did have a fight over Shinji at some point and he went into my care."

So, that is why Kurena didn't get raised with Shinji? Oma Zi-O raised him the rest of the way and so he turned out to like his father while Kurena didn't? But how come they didn't know they were related? 

"I asked you to keep it hidden from them due to you wanting to raise Kurena out of the public eye. Shinji ended up in my little army on my side and you didn't want to have her live in harm's way," Oma explains. "Now you can take my hand."

I step forward and place my left hand on his hand and he wraps his hand around it, holding onto me gently. "I wanted to raise them like that? Why did I do that to them? They had no idea until recently."

"Ah, right," Oma says. "You're pregnant right now with Shinji. How is it going so far? Sick still?"

"I have medication to ease the want to vomit," I tell him as he moves forward with me. "Where are we going to walk to?"

"It isn't anywhere special," he tells me. "And I'm glad that you're not wanting to puke anymore. You didn't change even when you had Kurena. She really made pregnancy tough on you. She was a wonderful surprise to us due to our age."

I bring up my free hand to my face and wipe it off. "She's tough even as a baby, huh? She takes after you, I guess."

"She really is like me when I was younger, but a lot more stubborn. Once she has her heart on something, the girl never lets go. She may pretend that she is going to let go, but she won't. How is her crush on Woz doing?"

"She's pretending like it isn't there and is wanting to be with some other guy named Tsukasa." I am easily talking to this man who is cruel and to be feared. I kind of feel bad that we're getting along so well.

"She doesn't get her views on romance from you. You are loyal to only one person and it isn't like you had much of a choice. I instantly caught your attention and you just couldn't take your eyes off of me."

"It was your aura." 

He turns to me. "Marina, I think it was more than that and we both know it. It was our destiny to meet each other and be together. The world desired us to be together and we accepted it. That is what it is and how it always will be. I believe that you will come back to me again at some point."

"Like how I'm here now, right?"

"That is correct."

"Oma, why did you stay with me after you got your powers? It isn't like we got married. You could have ditched me at any moment." And he could have left me and my kids to fend for ourselves.

"Because I couldn't do that to the woman who stayed by my side and loved me no matter what. We went through a lot together and while you didn't agree with my every move, you allowed me to live my life and I allowed you to live yours. We would sneak off together and have fun." 

I look away, my face heating up. "Oh, really?" My heart is pounding hard now just because this old man Sougo is telling me how we would sneak around and have sex in secret. 

"You provided me the best moments of my life and I was sad to lose you when you saved Kurena's life. You did what I wished I could have done for her, but none of expected it to happen that way. You died the moment it happened and it was my fault. I only regret that."

I look back at him as my heart pounds faster. Old man Sougo really knows how to make a girl feel. Of course, I'm trying to ignore the big bad part of him right now.

"Kurena only went back in time because she wanted you to live. She didn't want to live in a world without her mother. It didn't matter to her at all when I told her it could make her not exist," he tells me.

"But I want her to exist. Oma, I want to be your girl," I state. I know I seem crazy for doing this, but I don't want to make my kids not exist. I want to stay with Sougo no matter what and hope that things can change for us.

Oma releases my hand and places a hand on my head, touching me softly. "You were always radiant and full of that energy when I would suggest breaking up for your safety. If the world knew we were together, they would have tried killing you. You said you didn't care and took the risk."

"I guess I got carried away." I am so soft right now. This man is melting me by being so sweet and perfect to me. I just gotta keep ignoring the bad stuff about him.

He removes his hand from my head. "It is odd seeing you like this when I love you so much. I want to kiss you, but I don't think it is appropriate to kiss you at this time." 

"Kiss me?" Oh, because he's so into me still. I can somewhat understand how he is feeling right now since I would totally go for him still. He is Sougo after all.

"It'll be weird for you to cheat on me with myself."

"That is true, Oma," I respond. "But you can kiss me on the cheek you know. That's not cheating and is friendly."

He laughs and nods his head, looking as regal as ever. "I will do that instead. Marina, I know that it is difficult for you both right now, but please don't stray from my younger self's side. No matter what he decides, you will have you children and be happy." 

"I will stay by you two no matter what. I won't condone what you have done and what he will do, but I will not leave your side. My future...no matter how painful or tragic, I want to have. I want to spend my life with you." I have to be honest now. I won't change a thing because I love Sougo no matter who he is and I can't stop it now. 

He leans down and places his lips on my cheek gently, giving me a soft kiss. I close my eyes as my heart pounds even faster, wanting to break free from my chest. So, this is the man I will have in the future? I must deal with it then.

He pulls back and I open my eyes, staring at him in confusion. Why did he stop? I thought he would want a longer moment with me.

"You need to go back now. He has made his choice and you will have to see it out. Do not worry, you will still have Kurena in your lives," he tells me. "Shinji too."

He transforms and holds out his hand, making a portal appear. Now he's just flashing me his suit because he can. He's flexing on me really good right now.

"Take care," I say, my voice low. I don't know if I can keep it loud enough much longer now that I'm all weak inside. He is really good at making my heart beat so fast. 

"You too. Take care of our child," he tells me. "He's inside you and he's going to bring you a lot of joy." 

"Alright."

"Buckle your knees when you go through. If you don't, you're end up falling over," he advises. Oh, so it is like a bus' drill then? "Yes, it is like that. I love you so much, Marina."

"I love you too, Sougo," I respond and I rush into the portal.

It is time for me to head home and see what is going on.

~.~

I land on the ground as Sougo's belt shatters into nothingness. I look over as Kasshin disappears and I gasp. Oma...he knew that this would happen, but how? Did he know Sougo would do so?

"That was the solution all along, huh?" Sougo asks and I turn to him, gasping. He really did that didn't he? 

"Marina, you're back?" Tsukuyomi looks me over. "You're a bit red in the face. Did something happen to you while you were there? Did he do something to you?"

I shake my head. "Nothing," I lie. "It wasn't anything that is harmful to me. He was very nice to me and told me some stuff." I'm still going to have my kids as planned since that part of the timeline is still here.

"We should go and check out what is going on outside," Kurena suggests. "It is weird that I am still here in existence."

"Time travel," Geiz answers. "Some stuff isn't easily to explain."

We all head to the exit of the building and rush outside, eyes going up to the where those Dai-Mazines are. Hey, that one is going away! So, this means?

"The world won't be destroyed now, right?" Sougo asks. 

"As long as you don't plan on becoming an evil overlord, yes," Geiz answers. I look at Geiz and he stares at me and Sougo. Hey, even Tsukuyomi is staring at us!

"You can return to your own time now," Sougo tells them. "You too, Kurena."

"But I'm here with my mom," Kurena says. "I don't want to go."

I turn my head and stare at her in the eyes, nodding my head. "You have to go, sweetheart. You really should return home and be happy now that there is no evil ruler there. We'll be an actual family."

"We won't meet again," Sougo says. "You know that, right?"

"That is why I don't want to go! Geiz can go, but I am going to stay put!" Kurena shouts, defying us. 

"We're going," Geiz orders. "Come on, Tsukuyomi."

He turns and Tsukuyomi follows, not willing to go really. So, this is how it ends? We're going to not see each other again and Kurena is just going to stay here, huh? Odd.