Wicked Reincarnation

Chapter 207: Regret 3

After Lia truthfully told Zero everything, he remained quiet. Zero only continued to heal Lia. His concentrated face didn't reveal any emtions. Lia felt much better thanks to Zero.

Not only because he healed but because she could tell him the truth. Lia raised her hand and then patted Zero on the head. Slowly tears ran down his face and he retracted his hands before THUD threw himself into Lia's arms and started wailing again.

Snot stuck to Lia's clothes but Lia could only hear Zero's words echoing in her mind, "I'm angry but I forgive you. I forgive you for using me because- because you taught me to be a good person. This is what a good person does."

"Thank you Zero," Lia kissed the top of Zero's head when her view accidentally fell on Yano. The sulking male stood in the kitchen with a pan in his hand and turned his head away being caught peeking.

"I-I didn't know the Ghost King was such a bad person but of course he is! He he tried to kill you," Zero finally raised his head.

Lia slightly smiled but didn't say anything. She didn't want anything to happen to Zero, that was why she didn't want Zero to stay close to her. As for Yano she would accept his help but stay far away from him. It wasn't good to foster new relationships that could be instantly severed again.

"Zero, we should eat breakfast," Lia lightly pulled Zero off and then looked at her clothes. Not only was snot clinging onto her but dirt and blood. Lia fell asleep yesterday.

"I'm sorry" Zero looked embarrassed but it should be Lia who was, "I'm going to shower quickly."

After Lia cleaned and changed herself, she sat on the table next to Zero, opposite to Yano. Lia tasted the food Yano cooked and her lips quivered. Yano has improved his cooking lot. When did he have time for that while fighting the ghosts? Lia tried hard to keep her expression indifferent because Yano was looking at her with expectant eyes and Lia didn't want to elevate his hopes.

So, she said nothing and continued to eat in silence. Disappointed, Yano's wagging tail lowered. Instead, it was Zero who spoke up, "Hmpf, it's only edible. I can't believe you dare to feed tea- Lia this."

Zero's face was scrunched and Lia could understand his anger with Yano after all that idiot locked him up.

Yano sighed, "For a little boy, you've got quite the attitude. I've cooked Lia so many times and she ate it all, so I know more than you in this aspect."

"No! That's a lie! Lia say it's a lie!" Zero panicked tugged on Lia's arm while Yano playfully smiled at Lia. These two really had to bicker.

"Don't bully a little child."

Zero gasped and Yano's smug grew wider.

"I-I'm not a child. I'll grow! I'll become taller and stronger than him!" Zero wronged shouted out. He couldn't believe Lia saw him as a child and gave that bad guy over there the win. Lia only now realised that she said something causing Zero grieve, "I'm sorry. His bad energy is manipulating me."

But then Lia was reminded of how Xavi always denied being a little child too and Lia's nose turned sour. She took a deep breath and her eyes turned blurry. Xavi wasn't here anymore and wouldn't come back. None of them would.

"Lia," Yano wrapped his hand around Lia's and with the other gently wiped her tears away. Lia blinked, seeing the warm expression on Yano's face so clearly she panicked pulled away.

"Don't touch her, you brute!" Zero protectively shielded Lia with his arm.

"How am I a brute? Well, I can be if it's Lia's preference. I can vouch for myself to be pretty good in bed, I mean if you-"

"AHHHHHH!" Zero's innocent ears were tainted by the pervert, "You! Don't you know any shame?"

Zero's face was flushed red but Yano only laughed, "You're already old enough, right? You aren't a little child, so sooner or later you'll be introduced to the pleas-"

"Shut up!" Zero only grew redder, "Y-You keep your activities to yourself. Who knows how many women you-"

"I'm a virgin," Yano bluntly said.

Silence hung in the air. However, when he said it he was looking at Lia, "I'm serious. I'm a romantic. I'll only give my first time to someone I truly love. So, Lia if you-"

"Be quiet," Lia turned to Zero, "Don't take any words he says seriously."

"Yes, I won't!" obediently Zero nodded and then started bickering with Yano again.

Lia didn't believe someone like Yano would be a virgin. If he really was, he wouldn't proudly flaunt it. No one wanted to admit being inexperienced. Although Lia wished she was still a virgin.

It didn't matter though. Anything that Yano said could only be taken with a grain of salt.

Lia had to silently admit his words moved her a bit. A romantic huh.

Right before Lia left the Mortal World, she grew closer to Yano and didn't want to leave him. Now it only seemed ridiculous to her.

Things needed to happen faster. Lia didn't want to be stuck here playing family while almost all of the Immortal World wanted her dead.

"We should move on," Lia's cold voice made Zero flinch and Yano turn serious, "There's no time to waste. Yano you said you'll help. We should head to Neverland and prepare a plan. Zero you sh-"

"No! I'll stay with you!" Zero shook his head vigorously and his white hair flew around his face.

"Zero you-"

"No, I can be of help! You need someone to heal you and-"

"Zero-"

"NO!" no matter what, Zero didn't want to be left behind again but Lia's unbending tone brought tears to his eyes.

"Let him come with us," Yano surprisingly defended Zero, "As he said, he's useful and " Yano stopped, however, he could see with one glance that Lia closed herself off again.

She was being cold, reluctant, hesitant, afraid to open up and get closer to someone. Right now, Lia was incredibly vulnerable even if she didn't notice it herself. It was understandable after what has happened and what she's been through.

But that was precisely why Yano couldn't let Lia hide behind her walls again and become lonely, all alone. She needed people who care about her and who she cared about. If Lia cut off all ties here, it'd do more harm than good to her. It was a normal reflex to avoid everyone after losing so many but this unhealthy thinking couldn't be fueled.

If Lia needed time it was ok, but if she had no one around her, if she completely shut herself off, then it was the worst thing she could do. Yano wanted her to be happy and not make herself suffer.

"No," Lia was adamant about keeping Zero away from her.

"Yes!" Zero defiant said. Zero really looked too pitiful and kinda adorable, Yano felt like he liked the kid a bit more.

"Lia, it'd be the safest for Zero to come with us. He can stay at my place and keep out of the dangerous situations."

"Yes, I won't participate in anything dangerous! Lia please," Zero tugged on Lia's sleeve.

Lia watched the big, watery eyes of Zero and felt her heart strings being pulled. She slowly rubbed his head and sighed, "Ok, but you have to promise me to stay out of danger."

"Yes, yes, I'll promise!" Zero leaned against Lia and wiped his tears away.

Lia unwillingly looked at Yano, "Are we leaving now?"

Yano smiled at her as if he was looking at his whole world and Lia, not being able to stand the gaze, instantly turned around.

"No, we'll leave tomorrow. It's fine here for now, I made sure no one will find us. So rest today."

Lia only hummed in agreement. What Lia desperately wanted wasn't really revenge or being the Immortal King, what she actually wanted was happiness and that it would all finally come to end and pass. But she knew deep down that she was terrified and afraid of happiness. Once it seemed to be within her grasp, it only plunged her back to hell.

So, she had to climb out again only to catch a glimpse, catch the tail of happiness before it kicked her down one more time. Over and over again. After a while, it'd get tiring. More than that fear rose if Lia would ever be able to attain the happiness she deserved.

Looking at the kindness, the care Yano provided her with, she couldn't help but imagine everything would be alright, the happy life she wanted but experience told her otherwise.

"By the way, Zero how did you get to the store?" Lia didn't think Zero would be able to escape the capital on his own during that brutal slaughter.

"Oh," Zero stopped pulling on Yano's hair who unbothered sat on the sofa, "A woman helped me. She claimed to know you. I didn't want to go with her but there wasn't any chance because soldiers came after us."

"How did she look?"

"Oh, she had"

Maria. The person Zero was describing was Maria. So, Maria should be fine. However, Maria didn't help at all during the battle. Lia knew why but it still made her angry.

"Lia!" Zero's shout made Lia wake up from her thoughts, "Yano's bullying me again!"

"I'm just showing him my love," Yano shrugged his shoulders as he tickled Zero. Zero's helpless laughter filled the air.

"You you brute hahahasto-ha-stop!"

"I told you I'm not a brute."

Lia watched them, a smile formed on her lips. Yano saw it and winked.

Yano.

Lia didn't know if he did that on purpose to make her smile but Lia closed her eyes. Only the future could tell what the future held.