Succumania

Friday - two days before Vinum's "evaluation"

Morning basked its golden rays on Luka's house once more, a day had passed without death nor sex for once. 

However, the broadcast of the Hatman had stirred anxiety amongst the Lilith Sisters, and in that aspect, a sudden visitor came into the house to bring some news. 

With everyone gathered in the living room, she stood before them—arms crossed, tail flicking nervously from side to side. Her emerald eyes swept over each face, lingering just long enough to gauge their reactions.

"Now that you're all here, I can explain the situation," Saki began, her voice steady despite the tension in her stance. "As you saw yesterday, the Hatman faced Minagi in a brutal battle that claimed thousands of lives. Fortunately, Minagi emerged victorious, and for now… there's no further sign of the Hatman."

The Lilith Sisters exchanged nervous glances but Saki cut their unease as quickly. "She's recovering in my room," she assured them. "If all goes well, she should be able to move by tomorrow."

They exhaled a breath of relief, and the tension in the room vanished. 

"Now, about you," Saki turned her attention to the small white-haired succubus, Vinum. "Unfortunately, we still don't know where your book is. Or at least…" She hesitated, her expression uncertain. "I believe it belonged to you, yes?"

"Yes," Vinum nodded. "But if you don't find it, we just have to hope she didn't escape."

"Right," Saki sighed. "I'll keep an eye out for any disturbances, but for now, everything seems calm."

Vinum lowered her gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. "At last… Myusca and Nemea were avenged."

A brief silence followed, heavy with remembrance. Then, with an awkward chuckle, Saki attempted to lighten the mood.

"Well, since most of the news is good, I'll leave you be." She turned toward the door with a small wave. "Bye-bye!"

"Oi." Luka stopped her with a stern look. "Don't you forget about me you dumbass."

Saki let out an awkward chuckle, scratching her cheek. "Ahah… I think I hear voices calling me, so I'll just—"

Before she could slip away through her portal, Luka's hand clamped down on her shoulder with a firm grip.

"Come with me," he said flatly, dragging her toward the garden.

She barely had time to protest before he shut the door behind them, sealing them in the crisp morning air. The sounds of the house faded, leaving only the rustle of leaves and distant birdsong.

Saki shifted uncomfortably, rubbing the back of her neck as Luka turned to face her, his expression furious.

"Okay, okay, I know you're mad," she said, forcing a sheepish smile. "Buuut, you're doing great so far, aren't you?"

"I have a few questions for you, Saki," he sighed. "Which concussion did the Hatman give you that made you think this trial you gave me was a good idea?"

Saki winced, but just as quickly, she masked it with her usual bravado, arms crossing over her chest. "Oh, come on. It's not that bad."

She tried to deflect, gesturing vaguely toward the house. "I mean, look at all these…" She hesitated, biting her lip hard, before forcing the words out. "…beauties around you, having you all to themselves…"

Luka narrowed his eyes.

Saki coughed into her fist, suddenly finding the ground very interesting.

Then Luka smirked. "If you're that jealous, you could try behaving like them."

Saki visibly bristled. Her tail flicked erratically, and her face twisted into something between annoyance and embarrassment.

"Hah?! Jealous? Me? As if!" she scoffed, but her voice was just a little too high-pitched to be convincing.

"Why put me through this trial in the first place? You didn't give me a choice by removing my pleasure immunity."

For a moment, she looked like a deer caught in headlights, her emerald eyes darting everywhere but at Luka. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, clearly struggling for a response that wouldn't dig her into a deeper hole.

"Well, uh…" she began, her voice wavering as she uncrossed her arms and started fidgeting with the hem of her skirt. "It's not like I did it just to mess with you! There's… reasons! Big ones!" She finally met his gaze, though her expression was more defensive than confident. "You think I'd go through all this trouble for no reason? Come on, give me some credit!"

Luka's smirk faded into a hard, expectant stare as he crossed his arms tighter, waiting. "Then start talking. What's the real reason? Because I'm not buying the 'it's for your own good' crap anymore."

"It's your punishment…" she whispered in a barely audible voice.

"What?" he asked, leaning in to hear better.

"It's your punishment for leaving me alone for so long! There! Twenty years alone while waiting for that idiot Goku to revive everyone!"

Luka blinked, his expression shifting to one of utter incredulity. "I WAS DEAD!" Luka shot back, his voice echoing in the garden.

Saki crossed her arms again, her tail flicking furiously now as she glared at him, her cheeks still flushed with embarrassment. "Also, you traveled with me for two years and you always refused me like I was some kind of cockroach annoying you!" she snapped, her voice cracking slightly as years of pent-up frustration spilled out.

"You're seriously telling me this whole trial—removing my immunity, throwing me into this mess with the girls—is because you're pissed I didn't… what? Fall all over you back then?"

"It's not just that!" she muttered, though her tone lacked conviction. "There's another good reason but I can't tell you right now…"

"It better be good otherwise I'll give you a spanking you'll remember… And NOT in a good way!"

Saki's face turned a shade darker, a mix of indignation and something else flickering in her emerald eyes. "Hah?! You think you can just say that and get away with it?" she huffed, taking a step forward, her finger jabbing into his chest.

Luka didn't flinch. If anything, he only looked more unimpressed. "Oh, I know I can."

Saki clenched her jaw, her tail flicking so aggressively it was practically whipping through the air. She opened her mouth for another retort, but nothing came out. Instead, she stomped her foot on the ground like an impatient child.

Luka pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing. "Let me get this straight—your brilliant idea for dealing with your abandonment issues was to throw me into a trial where I get seduced left and right with no way to resist?"

Saki averted her gaze, mumbling something under her breath.

"What was that?" Luka pressed.

"…I may have overdone it a little," she admitted in a voice so small it barely existed.

"NO SHIT!" Luka's eye twitched. "I got dryfished twice already! Imagine if I couldn't come back from the dead!"

Saki finally turned back to face him, puffing out her cheeks in frustration. "Well, excuse me for wanting a little revenge! Do you have any idea what twenty years of loneliness does to a person?!"

"YOU SPENT MILLENIAS ALONE! DON'T GIVE ME THAT SHIT!"

Saki flinched, her mouth opening, but no words came out.

The air between them hung heavy with silence. Luka watched her, arms crossed, waiting for whatever excuse she'd pull out next. But she said nothing. She just stood there, her tail finally still, her eyes flickering with something far more complicated than anger.

For the first time in this whole mess, she looked… lost.

Luka sighed, his irritation waning just a little. He wasn't letting her off the hook, not by a long shot, but there was something else going on here.

"…Saki." His voice was quieter now. "What's the real reason?"

Her lips pressed together. For a moment, she looked like she might answer—

Then, without a word, she took a shaky step forward and collapsed against him. Luka stiffened as her forehead rested against his shoulder, her hands gripping the fabric of his jacket. Her tail coiled around one of his legs, clinging.

"Saki—"

"Just…" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just let me stay like this for a second, okay?"

Her body was warm, but she was trembling.

Luka hesitated, his mind screaming at him to demand answers, to push her away and force the truth out of her. But then he felt it—something damp against his shoulder.

She was crying.

Not loudly. Not the over-the-top whining she sometimes did to get her way.

Just silent, shaking, hidden tears.

Luka let out a slow breath, his arms lowering from their crossed position, wrapping around her.

"…Fine," he muttered. "Just for a second."

Saki didn't reply. She just pressed herself closer, clinging to him like she was afraid he'd disappear.

And for the first time since this trial started, Luka finally understood.

This wasn't about revenge.

It wasn't about punishment.

It wasn't even about desire.

Saki was scared.

And that meant whatever was coming next… was worse than he imagined.

Saki remained silent for a long time, her body pressed against his, trembling just slightly with every breaths. Luka's mind raced, but he didn't push her away.

The last time she cried like this was when he was about to sacrifice himself. 

This is bad… isn't it? Like really bad, bad… he thought, his arms clinging onto her tighter. 

She pulled back just enough to lift her head and meet his eyes. Her face was flushed from the heat of her emotions, and the faintest trace of tears still clung to her lashes.

"I'm not okay , " she whispered, her voice strained. Her eyes held a deep sorrow, a weariness Luka had never seen before. "But I can't… I can't tell you."

Luka felt his heart twist at the rawness in her voice. He reached up to gently brush the tears from her cheeks, his thumb lingering there for a moment, almost reverently.

"Why?" he asked, his voice barely audible. "Why can't you tell me, Saki?"

Saki said nothing. Her head lowered, her gaze drifting to the ground as if she could find an answer there. Luka could feel the tension in her, the quiet war that was raging inside her, and for a moment, he didn't know what to do. He wasn't used to this—this vulnerable version of Saki. She was always the one who had the upper hand, the one who controlled the situation. But now…

Now, she was falling apart.

Luka tightened his hold around her once more, not wanting to let go, not wanting her to slip through his fingers. He didn't have the words to fix this—hell, he barely understood it himself—but he had to try.

"Saki," he whispered, his voice thick with concern. "If something's happening, you have to tell me, okay? We said no more lies, right?"

"I know," she whispered, her breath steadying as if she was forcing herself to stay strong. With a sharp inhale, she broke the embrace and snapped her fingers. 

A portal opened near her.

"Luka…" she swallowed audibly, her voice still trembling. "Just have fun for the month, okay? Don't think too hard about it. That's all I want for you."

"Have fun?" he blinked. "I'm getting whiplash from all this cryptic nonsense," his hands balled into fists at his sides. "Saki, you can't just drop a bomb like that and then tell me to 'have fun'! What is going on? You're scaring me here."

Saki's smile faltered, her emerald eyes glistening with unshed tears as she held his gaze for a moment longer. "I know," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "And I'm sorry. I really am. But… I can't drag you into this. Not yet." She took a shaky step toward the portal, her tail flicking nervously as she glanced back at him. "Just… trust me, okay? For a little longer?"

"Even so!" he shot back. "Having fun here? When I fought Astaroth yesterday I barely tried because I couldn't focus on anything except her—" He gestured to his chest with an exaggerated motion, as if groping imaginary breasts, "—humongous boobies! If this keeps going I'll like being dryfished!" he exclaimed with a smile to lighten the mood.

Saki blinked, a mischievous smirk tugging at the corner of her lips despite the tears in her eyes. "I mean…" she began, her tail flicking with a hint of mischief despite the tears still shimmering in her eyes, "I wouldn't be surprised if you were kind of subby, considering how shy you were when I met you…"

Luka's face flushed a deep shade of red. "Please don't destroy my dignity further…"

Saki let out a shaky laugh, the sound fragile but genuine, as she wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand

Seeing that it worked to lighten the mood, he continued. "Well, okay! Being dryfished isn't THAT bad, but I still die you know? That's terrifying on its own."

"You don't look that traumatized to me…" she chuckled. 

Luka crossed his arms, a mock frown tugging at his lips. "I'm just trying to maintain some dignity."

"Don't worry," Saki said, shaking her head as her tail flicked playfully, a bit of her usual spark returning despite the weight still pressing down on her. "You'll have to face something far worse against me when the time comes."

Luka's brow furrowed, concern creeping back into his voice as he shifted his weight. "By the way…" he said, his tone more serious now, "you were serious about draining me dry?"

"I am," Saki replied sternly, her emerald eyes locking onto his with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine. "But I don't want you to die—that you can believe me. I'll try seriously too, though."

Luka swallowed hard, his bravado faltering as her words sank in. "I-I will die…" he muttered, his voice tinged with a mix of dread and disbelief.

Saki's stern expression softened slightly, a flicker of guilt passing through her emerald eyes as she took in Luka's reaction. "I mean it, Luka. I'm not here to kill you. But… I can't hold back either." Another tear threatened to spill from her eyes, but she blinked it away quickly.

Luka managed a weak chuckle, though it was thin and forced. "Well, at least I'll go out with a bang, right?"

Saki's eyes widened in panic, and she quickly stepped closer, her voice rising in urgency. "H-Hey! Don't talk like that! No loser mindset, okay? You must not die! I won't let you!"

Luka sighed, scratching the back of his head, still trying to make sense of it all. "Sometimes, I don't understand you at all, Saki…" he muttered under his breath.

"Maybe you don't," Saki replied softly, her voice holding a bittersweet edge. "But that's okay. Just… just stay with me a little longer. Please?" Her voice wavered at the end, as if she was going to cry again.

Luka's heart clenched. "Fine, fine! I'll do my best!" he sighed. "I'll probably get eaten a dozen more times but, whatever."

Saki's lips quirked into a faint, relieved smile, though it was still tinged with worry. "Just don't be an idiot."

"I'm trying to remember that, but that house is distracting," he muttered with a playful smirk, trying to lighten the mood.

"Right, right," she chuckled. Then, Saki winked at him, a mischievous glint flashing in her eyes. "Also, always remember…" she paused dramatically before taking a step back toward the portal. "…The way to a succubi's heart is through her stomach!"

"Oi! Don't joke around with that!" he snapped, but she already left, the portal closing behind her.

Luka stood there for a moment, staring at the spot where the portal had been. His hand dropped to his side, and he let out a deep breath, his gaze shifting to the house.

"Guess it's just me and the dryfishing for now…" he muttered to himself before shaking his head. "I feel like I'm getting all the fucking I wanted back then in a few days."

Enjoy your time, huh? 

"Well… As long as I don't lose my mind I don't care. I already 'died' many times in Tamia, nothing too hard to bear."

"Besides, it's not all too bad."

His mind flashed to Astaroth hugging him, the imps taking care of him, Alma Elma's kindness... 

His mind flashed to Astaroth hugging him, the imps fussing over him, Alma Elma's unexpected kindness... If he had to die in bliss a few times for them to warm up to him, then why not? In moderation, of course.

"Anyway, let's get back to work," he muttered with a smirk, rolling his shoulders as if shaking off the heavier thoughts. "I've got to do better."