Yearning for More

After returning, Ruan Mei left those words behind and went into the laboratory alone.

Because she was with Yomi, Kiana couldn't very well go inside with her, so she simply gave up the idea of observing from the sidelines and instead took Yomi for a walk around the area.

I introduced this place to Yomi.

"The plants and animals here have all had their genes modified by ARuan; they can't be taken out into the outside world."

Kiana introduced some plants she was familiar with and added a brief description of the area at the end.

Yomi nodded.

These plants were strange, but they held no appeal for her.

They traveled together for several days. Although she and Ruan Mei had little interaction and didn't talk much, her observations over the days helped her figure out the relationship between Ruan Mei and Kiana.

I just don't have much time to be alone.

She felt it wasn't appropriate to bring up this topic.

Now Ruan Mei has left.

The timing was quite right.

When the three of them are together, there are many things they can't say when other people are around.

Kiana.

"What's wrong?"

"If Ruan Mei wanted you to stay by her side forever, what would you do...?"

Yomi ultimately couldn't let go of this matter.

Kiana said those words to Ruan Mei.

And what about her?

Yomi had been holding back his anger for many days.

"That's impossible."

Kiana shook her head and said decisively, "Mei, don't overthink it. ARuan's interest in me stems from the Honkai. Once she solves the mystery of the Honkai, she'll lose interest in me."

"I've always understood."

Kiana wasn't sad. She had always known what kind of person Ruan Mei was, and she held a special place in Ruan Mei's heart.

Therefore, she believed that even if Ruan Mei lost interest in her, they could still be friends.

Have you lost interest in Kiana?

Huang Quan carefully recalled Ruan Mei's attitude towards Kiana, and Kiana did indeed make some sense.

But Ruan Mei, this genius, this mad scientist.

Is it really just an interest in Honkai?

97

Chapter Ninety-Seven: Yearning for More

Yomi didn't want to talk about "what ifs".

Suspicion is pointless.

She simply kept this question in mind and then asked Kiana for an answer.

"We'll always be together, right?"

"I finally found you, Mei, so of course I can't bear the pain of separation again."

Kiana understood why Yomi had asked that question, and took her hand. "Even if you try to drive me away, I will never leave. Because I love you, and I'm going to stick with Mei for the rest of my life!"

Hopefully, doing this will make Mei feel safer and feel better.

"... That's enough."

Regardless of whether Kiana's attitude towards Ms. Ruan Mei was special, he would always be Kiana's lover, and that would never change.

There's no need to ask any further questions about Kiana's opinion of Ruan Mei.

Knowing that her place in Kiana's heart would never change was enough for her to relax and stop thinking about other things.

"Is that enough?"

Kiana winked at her, gently kissed the back of her hand, and said, "It's only fair if Mei feels the same way about me."

The spot where I was kissed felt like an electric shock, a tingling sensation that was impossible to ignore, like a current shooting straight to my heart.

Although my feelings have been made clear.

I've known this for a long time.

However, her interactions with Kiana were limited to holding hands and hugging, which were expressions of affection.

Seeing the surprise in Kiana's eyes, Kiana gently left a kiss, stirring ripples in her heart.

A simple kiss flipped a switch in her body, and looking at the person she loved in front of her, Yomi felt a strange heat.

His gaze unconsciously fell on Kiana's lips, which had just kissed the back of his hand.

Noticing Yomi's gaze, Kiana felt a little nervous, but mostly excited.

Want to give it a try?

She met Yomi's gaze, her eyes burning with an invitation.

She had wanted to do this for a very, very long time.

But they lacked a suitable opportunity.

Back when her feelings for Mei hadn't reached this level, in order to get closer to her and be able to get close to her, she shamelessly asked Mei.

He pulled his hand away from Kiana's tightly clenched grip and gently brushed Yomi fingers across her face.

They like each other and want to do this kind of thing...

That should be normal, right?

The thought flashed through his mind, and under Kiana's expectant gaze, Yomi lowered his head, yielding to the thoughts deep within his heart.

Approaching slowly.

Their breaths mingled, and they experienced the complex and ever-changing emotions of tension again after a long time.

Even she felt the tension and sweating in her palms while doing this.

Kiana...

She closed her eyes and kissed her lips, the suppressed emotions in her heart exploding like fireworks.

There was no time to think about anything else.

She felt completely relaxed, and the wonderful sensation made her immerse herself in it.

A desire for more.

After a long while, Yomi finally reluctantly let go of Kiana. Although he wanted to do something more, now was not the time.

This is, after all, someone else's territory.

If...

Yomi suppressed the fleeting thought and gently tucked Kiana's stray hairs behind her ear.

Kiana's cheeks flushed slightly from the sweetness of the kiss, the lingering sensation of their lips still fresh in her mind.

If she puts in a little more effort, perhaps she can find a suitable time to knock Yomi down!

She's finally made it to this day.

Kiana took a deep breath, rubbed her burning cheeks, and, under Yomi's somewhat scorching gaze, pondered what she should do next.

She has no experience in this area.

How about... we do it again?

Well, let's just forget about it. We'll take it one step at a time; there's plenty of time ahead.

"Um... how about I take you to meet Sakura?"

Kiana changed the subject.

Because they had just kissed, her voice carried a hint of embarrassment and shyness.

That sounds rather alluring.

Mei's expression remained unchanged as she said, "Yae Sakura? I remember you mentioned that she's currently in Stigma consciousness state."

Kiana nodded, coughed, composed herself, and said, "The Stigma is currently in the lab. ARuan is storing Stigma in her Ido."

"Then let's go take a look."

Yomi gently patted her head and said softly, "After all, we're old friends we haven't seen in a long time."

"Okay, I'll take you there!"

Kiana immediately led the way back, feeling a little guilty about leaving Yae Sakura standing there for half a year.

However, it has everything that the Stigmata world should have.

Yae Sakura has her sister with her, so even if they haven't seen each other for more than half a year, she probably won't feel lonely.

With this self-comforting thought, Kiana led Yomi to the laboratory where the Stigma were kept.

Kiana was initially worried that she might disturb Ruan Mei, but after entering, she discovered that Ruan Mei wasn't even in the laboratory.

The Stigma, submerged in the Ido, floated within it just as they had when they left, only now their colors were more vibrant than before.

It's mostly thanks to Ido.

Ido can indeed bring some benefits to the Stigmata world; at the beginning, no obvious changes can be seen.

Now, more than half a year has passed.

Upon returning, Kiana compared the Stigma before her with those in her Remembrance and easily noticed the difference between the present and the past.

Yomi looked at the Stigma, which stirred up Remembrance of his time in Izumo, but he didn't think of Yae Sakura.

It was the day Kiana gave herself the Stigma.

--Thunder Soul Imprint.

This Stigma still remains on her body, carrying all her feelings and memories of Kiana.

Looking back, as Yomi saw Yae Sakura's Stigma, Yomi recalled how Takemikazuchi was about to break free and how Yae Sakura came to the shrine to take away Narukami.

This incident allowed her to completely open her heart to Kiana. It was also this incident that led her and Kiana to come into contact with Kishin, embarking on a path of slaying demons.

"Mei?"

Yomi was shaken, which brought him back to reality from his past memories.

"Sorry, it reminded me of some things from the past."

"It's alright. Do you want to go see Sakura?"

Kiana shook her head and said, "We've known each other for so long and been through so much together."

"Then let's meet."

They were comrades-in-arms who had been through a lot together, so Yomi certainly wouldn't callously say there was no need for it.

Regarding what happened that day...

She still wanted to hear the details.

"Let me talk to her first."

Yomi recalled that he was able to ask Yae Sakura about the specific circumstances of the Great Honkai.

"Kiana, why don't you go see Ms. Ruan Mei? She probably has something she'd like to say to you privately, just like me."

"... Is there?"

Kiana was slightly taken aback, recalling Ruan Mei's reaction. She really didn't feel that Ruan Mei had given her any hint that she wanted to talk to her alone.