"...Ok, new tact." the succubus muttered darkly for a moment, before -as if flipping a switch- gaining a happy demeanor again. "How about we do a give-and-take conversation, hm? Like...I'll tell you something that I rarely talk about, while you tell me something you rarely talk about."
Yuki's eyes narrowed imperceptibly, as if uncertain. "...Why are you so insistent on this all of a sudden? Can't this wait?"
Maria tilted her head, then her eyes strayed upwards towards the sky as she put her finger on her lips. Seriously considering the question.
"Well...I suppose it's just that...we don't really talk to each other much, ya know? We talk to one another, sure. We go through experiences together, yeah. But...talk? Like really talk? I don't think so. Truth be told, I only know about you through Naruto-sama, but that's pretty much it. So...well...why not I guess?"
The young human's eyes scanned the succubus for any indication of her words being a joke, finding nothing.
Which only left her with one option left.
"Fine." Yuki relented, shifting into a sitting position to pay attention to her her partner's words. "If you want to talk so bad, then fine. But let's not take too much time with this."
Maria squealed, clapping her hands in joy. "Yes! Ok! I'll go first!"
The hero didn't even get a chance to reply before the succubus crawled closer to her, with her purple pupils shining, as if she was actually a child that was about to get candy.
...She was regretting this already.
"Do you have someone that you like!?" Maria whispered conspiratorially, a shit-eating grin accompanying it.
"Yes."
...
There a long moment of silence between the two females, as Maria gave the completely straight-faced human a completely confused look.
"...Wait...really?" the silverette couldn't help but try and confirm, that was waaay too easy...
Yuki simply nodded. "Of course. I like otou-sama, my comrades in the Hero Tribe, and of course Naru-"
"Ah! Wait a minute!" Maria cried out loud, shaking her head vigorously in protest. "That's not what I meant!"
The hero frowned visibly in uncertainty. "What do you mean then?"
"It's obvious isn't it? I meant...do you have someone that you really like?"
Yuki's eyes bored into her partner's head, as she stayed silent for a long moment that stretched even longer than the last one.
"...Why are we doing this again?"
"Oh come on! This is the perfect topic for a conversation anyways! You're at the cusp of womanhood and your hormones must be raging throughout your body! Surely you must like someone!" Maria pressed.
The young human closed her eyes, did she have such emotions for someone...?
She thought about all of the people she knew, if there was ever someone who she deeply cared about. Beyond what was normal...
...
"I...can't say that I have. Heroes rarely have such time to engage in such relations, so it's not really that unusual I think..." Yuki eventually stated, nodding at her own reasoning.
Yellow eyes trained themselves on purple again, curious to see her reaction.
She was surprised to see that it was disappointment that categorized those orbs.
"Oh...that sucks. To think that you'd be a cat lady at such a young age..." Maria shook her head in sympathy, looking genuinely apologetic.
The hero's eye twitched, what exactly was that supposed to mean?
With that last parting comment, the succubus stood up from her position on the ground and casually stretched her back. "Welp, I just realized that I forgot to grab my bags by the spring where I found the water. I'm gonna go back and get it, see ya!"
Almost as fast as she has arrived, the silverette dashed away, leaving Yuki behind without hesitation.
The human female could only watch in faint fascination. What went on in that girl's head?
She could only shrug. She didn't even care too much that the succubus dodged the 'give' portion of the talks.
Yuki laid her back on her bag again, using it as a pillow to let herself fall asleep. All to prepare herself to what would probably be a busy day tomorrow.
Though, inexplicably, her thoughts went back to a certain blond that night.
Darkness, that was all she could see.
Why was it so dark?
Last time she checked...it wasn't dark...right?
Golden eyes ever so slowly revealed themselves to the world again, unfocused and unseeing as the little girl slowly gained some sense of self again.
Those bleary eyes looked around, trying to get rid of the blurriness that clouded her sight.
The soft light of the fire kind of helped a bit...
...Wait...fire?
The young girl focused entirely on the little fire that was crackling besides her, one that illuminated the darkness around her and provided her warmth.
Despite her growing uncertainty, she couldn't help but allow the heat soothe her senses...
But still...where was she?
Kunou slowly got up from her downed position, turning her head to scan the area to find out what was going on.
Rocks...rocks everywhere. A cave?
Why was she here?
.
.
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