Romantic Kiss

Izashi's words were nothing like the harsh rejection she'd dreaded. Instead, they felt like a warm embrace, wrapping around her fears and melting them away. Her vision blurred as tears welled up, and before she could stop herself, Akeno flung herself into Izashi's arms. She buried her face in his chest, her shoulders trembling as she let out all the tension she'd been holding in.

"I was so worried… Thank you for accepting me… Thank you, Izashi-kun," she sobbed, her voice muffled against him.

Izashi's hands rested gently on the back of her head, fingers threading through her dark hair in a soothing gesture. "Akeno," he said softly, his voice full of warmth, "I don't care about your race or where you come from. What matters to me is that you're my friend, my queen, and most importantly, my family."

Akeno lifted her head, her tear-filled eyes searching his. She felt a surge of emotion, her heart swelling with feelings she could no longer hold back. "Izashi-kun," she whispered, her voice shaky but determined, "I love you. I love you with all my heart."

Izashi's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected her to confess so soon, thinking she might wait until they were older, perhaps in high school. But here she was, laying her heart bare before him. For a moment, he was silent, processing her words, and then his expression softened.

Without a word, he gently took her hands in his, pulling her closer until their bodies were almost touching. In a swift motion, he spun her around, gently pushing her onto the bed so that she was lying beneath him. He leaned in, his breath warm against her skin as he whispered, "I love you too, Akeno. I love you so much."

His words were like a balm to her soul, soothing all her fears. As he lowered his head, she could feel her heartbeat quickening, the distance between their lips shrinking until there was none left. Their lips met in a tender kiss, one that started slow but quickly deepened as their emotions poured out.

For Akeno, this was her first kiss, and though she was inexperienced, she let Izashi take the lead. His lips moved against hers with a mix of passion and gentleness, guiding her through the unfamiliar yet exhilarating sensations. When his tongue traced the seam of her lips, she parted them willingly, allowing him to explore further. Their tongues met, and it was as if an electric current passed between them, sparking a fire in her heart that blazed brighter with each passing second.

Izashi, too, was caught up in the intensity of the moment. This was his first kiss in this world, and it was with Akeno, someone who had come to mean so much to him. The more they kissed, the more he felt his affection for her growing, intertwining with the passion that surged through him. He could feel the warmth of her body beneath him, the softness of her lips, and the taste of her lingering on his tongue, all of it combining to create a heady mix that he never wanted to end.

But eventually, they had to break apart to breathe, their chests heaving as they sucked in air. Akeno's eyes were half-lidded, a dazed expression on her face as she gazed up at him. There was a fire in her eyes, one that mirrored his own. "One more time…" she breathed, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Izashi smiled at her request, leaning down to kiss her again, but just as their lips were about to meet, they heard a loud shout that made them both freeze.

"Izashi-kun, where are you? Answer me now!" Rias's voice rang out, closer than they had expected.

Izashi groaned inwardly, knowing that their moment had been cut short. He gave Akeno a quick peck on the lips, a promise of more to come later, before pulling away. Akeno pouted slightly, clearly not satisfied, but she understood the need to keep their relationship under wraps, at least for now. There was a certain thrill to the secrecy, a forbidden allure that made her heart race even more.

Izashi stood up and headed toward the door, pausing to give her a reassuring smile. "We'll continue this later," he promised before stepping out into the hallway.

"I'm here, Rias-chan," he called out, his voice carrying down the corridor. "Why were you looking for me?"

Rias heard him and began following the sound of his voice. Izashi, not wanting her to get suspicious, quickly made his way to the garden, choosing a spot under a large tree where the moonlight bathed the ground in a soft glow. It wasn't long before Rias found him there, standing amidst the serene beauty of the night, a faint aura of red energy still lingering around him.

She approached with a mix of relief and irritation on her face. "There you are," she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Let's go back to our room."

Izashi nodded, falling into step beside her as they made their way back to the house. On the way, Rias glanced at him curiously. "What were you doing out here, anyway?"

Izashi shrugged, offering her a smile. "Just needed some fresh air. It's been a while since I've had the chance to enjoy a peaceful night like this, without any training or responsibilities hanging over my head."

Rias seemed to accept his explanation, but Izashi could tell that something was bothering her. There was a tension in her posture, a slight furrow in her brow that hadn't been there earlier. He decided to probe gently. "So, why did Father call you earlier? What did he want to talk about?"

For a moment, Rias didn't answer, her gaze fixed ahead as they walked. Izashi noticed the way her shoulders stiffened slightly, the way she seemed to retreat into herself. He didn't push further, knowing that she would tell him when she was ready.

And she did, once they were back in their room. As was her habit, Rias immediately began undressing, slipping out of her clothes without a second thought. Despite having seen this countless times before, Izashi still felt a rush of warmth in his cheeks. He tried to avert his gaze, but his eyes seemed to have a mind of their own, drawn to her slender form.

"Rias-chan," he started, his voice a little strained, "we're not kids anymore. You really shouldn't be sleeping naked with me."

Rias pouted, clearly unimpressed by his attempt at modesty. "But I can't sleep with clothes on. And besides, you're my little brother, Izashi-kun. You can look at your big sister all you want."

Izashi sighed, though a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Rias was as stubborn as ever, and there was no point in arguing with her. He let his gaze linger for a moment longer, taking in the sight of her developing figure before shaking his head. He'd have to learn to control himself better if this was going to be a regular occurrence.

As they settled into bed, Izashi could feel the tension in Rias's body again. She was lying close to him, their bodies almost touching, but there was a stiffness in her posture that hadn't been there before. He reached out, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close. Her body relaxed slightly against him, and he leaned in to murmur softly in her ear, "Rias-chan, now tell me. What did Father say to you?"

Rias hesitated, her voice trembling slightly as she finally answered, "Father… he said that he's arranged my marriage. With a guy named Riser from the Phenex Family."

Izashi's eyes widened in shock. "What? A marriage? With the Phenex Family? Why would Father do that? Why didn't he ask you first?"

Rias's voice broke as she continued, tears welling up in her eyes. "He said it's to strengthen the familial ties between the Gremory Clan and another High-Ranking House. He thinks it will give us more power in the Devil Council. And… and because I'm the heir to the Gremory House, I should do what's best for the clan."

As she spoke, the tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, and she buried her face in Izashi's chest, her body shaking with sobs. Izashi's heart ached for her, and he gently stroked her hair, trying to soothe her pain.

But his mind was racing. 'So it's as I thought. Father called her to talk about her marriage with the Phenex Family. But what about me? I'm also an heir to the Gremory Family. Has he arranged a marriage for me as well? And if so, with whom?'