Wicked Reincarnation

Chapter 215: New Way 7

The grass and the flowers swayed in the wind. Behind the mansion, the grassland went on endlessly. The beautiful landscape was the last retained fragment of what the Neverland used to be. Only held together by the measly power of an old man.

Yano stared at the far back of this scenery. He looked ethereal and a hint of nostalgia floated across his face. But one person had no time to admire this outstanding appearance that could grace an existence.

"Don't act like the lost hero of a damn film!" Zero gritted his teeth as his sore body laid on the ground, "Dammit! Was this necessary?"

Over and over again. Zero was flipped like a pancake on the ground. And Yano had the audacity to say that it was necessary. Basic training. Timo said that too but he didn't resort to such methods.

Zero could guess it was because Yano did not want him to get close to Lia. This petty-

"Lia went through the same," Yano tore his gaze from the scenery and turned to Zero with a smile.

"Don't lie to me, you'd never do this to Lia," Zero didn't know Yano for a long time but this short while was enough to figure out what a soft spot Yano had for Lia.

"Of course I was gentle but she really had an affair with the ground in front of my eyes," Yano solemnly said and Zero growled.

"I can see why Lia's like that to you."

"Like what?" Yano curiously looked at Zero. He wanted to know how he and Lia looked like to others.

"Cold, indifferent and annoyed."

"You little brat-" Yano narrowed his eyes but then rubbed Zero's head while the latter sat up.

Zero also knew Yano wasn't a bad person. He was always playful, teasing and most of all cheerful. Completely the opposite of Lia. Yano might be annoying and irritating at times, but one couldn't hate him. It was also hard not to secretly like him.

As someone who was loved by everyone by putting on an act, Zero was a bit jealous of Yano.

"I want to train my power," in the end that conversation came to a full circle.

"I told you, you need to become physically stronger. Look at your weak body, you can't even defend against any of my half-assed punches."

"You're really like your father."

Stab. Cough.

Yano bitterly laughed out his pride. Zero by now knew a weakness of Yano's to exploit. Yano hated himself for revealing so openly a sore spot Zero could take advantage of.

"Don't ever say it to Lia," Yano started to reprimand Zero but then, "Say to me what?"

Lia stood behind them and looked at the ridiculous sight. She just came back to Neverland and since Yano gave her the permission to enter and leave freely, she could just come in. Then she heard some dramatic noises and found those two here.

"Lia!" Zero jumped up and ran into Lia's arms.

"Have I been gone for long?"

"Only two days," Yano's stare made it painfully obvious that he also wanted to hug Lia.

Lia ignored his burning gaze and nodded, "What were you doing here?"

Zero immediately froze in Lia's arms. He barely was able to turn his head and sent help signals to Yano who sold him out, "I'm training Zero."

"You are doing what?"

Zero felt Lia's anger and quickly retreated behind Yano.

"Don't worry," Yano hastily said, "It's only self-defence. Even if it's safe here you might never know if the whole Immortal world would turn into a battlefield. It's best for little Zero to able able to fight at least, right?"

Lia calmed down and her expression softened. Yano was right. They wouldn't know what would happen in the future, it'd be best to be prepared.

"Ok," Lia sighed as she saw Yano triumphantly smirking at Zero who unknowingly revealed admiring, sparkling eyes.

Also, having Yano as the trainer was the best any exorcists could wish for.

"Zero, can you leave us alone for a second."

Lia smiled at Zero who narrowed his eyes at Yano now and retreated from the smirking male. He ran to Lia, "If he does anything to you, shout!"

"Ok, ok," Lia laughed lightly and Zero excitingly said, "You'll be amazed by my cooking skills!"

Then he ran away. Lia watched his jumping form before he disappeared, then her gaze fell on Yano who wore a knowing smile.

Lia scowled. This guy seemed to have the wrong idea. Just as Lia thought, Yano opened his arms and said, "Come here, I know you've been waiting."

Yano looked foolish with his arms stretched out and eyes closed, humming away. Lia sighed. Yano was truly unbelievable. Just where did his confidence and strength come from?

After being given the cold shoulder by Lia for so long, how could he so happily chase after her? Even Lia chasing after Min knew the pain and ache, although she still continued holding onto nave hope, being rejected by Min for so many years damaged her a lot.

Yano's arms looked tempting. His warmth, comfort and smell all of it made Lia surprisingly feel at ease. Yano stood there for a few seconds before he started to feel awkward.

He knew Lia wouldn't come to him and just mockingly stare at him. That was why he slightly jumped up when he felt arms slung around his back, a small head nestling against his chest and soft hair tickling his chin.

A brilliant smile formed on Yano's face before he tightly embraced Lia and kissed her head. Lia didn't want to be cruel to Yano anymore just as Min was. Even if she didn't want to be close to him, even if she wasn't sure about her feelings for him, at this point, she couldn't keep refusing Yano.

Seeing him like this made her heart ache as well. And so for a while, it felt like an eternity of bliss, they stood in the middle of the dazzling landscape while the wind playfully surrounded them.

Then Yano whispered, "I was worried."

He put Lia's hair behind her ear and took her face into his hands. His eyes only had Lia and Lia was taken away by him. Towards Yano, she-

"Having a lovey-dovey time, I see," a bright voice appeared behind them. Yano scowled, having the moment ruined again by a familiar culprit.

"Couldn't you guys come later? If you already saw us, then just leave. I was so close on getting my first ki-"

"Be quiet," Lia coldly turned away and saw two familiar faces smirking at her.

"Mil, Skyla," Lia was shocked to see them, even though she knew they lived here, she never thought they'd come back so fast.

"Kim, I thought we were on the same wavelength, did you really abandon me to fall for this idiot?" Skyla teased but pulled Lia into a hug.

Kim that was right they still didn't know who she was.

"Let's go inside. My old man's not there now. Luckily," Yano muttered under his breath.

"Still feeling embarrassed for uncle?" Mil laughed before following into Yano's house.

"You don't need to see your family?" Lia asked.

"Already been there," Mil made himself comfortable at the dining table while noises came from the kitchen.

"Who's there?" Skyla's ears perked up.

"Maybe we should tell them everything?" Yano sat next to Lia and waited for her approval.

"Yeah, they should at least know the truth," Lia nodded while Mil and Skyla perplexed looked between Yano and Lia.

"You got really close to him," Skyla looked in disdain at Yano.

"How's the Mortal World?"

"Good, good, no worries, tell us," Mil was curious about the truth.

"Alright."

***

"Oh wow..."

"So you... Oh..."

Skyla and Mil were at first shocked then gradually became flustered.

"That's why Yano-"

"Yano what?" Lia expected their reaction but then looked at Skyla.

"Nothing," Skyla sighed, feeling Yano's gaze on her.

"So, you're Lia," Mil repeated over and over again.

"It's hard to digest. I'm sorry for deceiving you."

"No, no, it's normal under the circumstances. It's just how in hell did Yano already know, goodness," Mil was as competitive as ever with Yano.

"True love doe-"

"Be quiet."

"Yes."

Skyla and Mil wordlessly watched the exchange and Yano's puppy ears appearing.

Everything made sense. No wonder Yano was all over Kim. She was actually Lia. The Lia and now the Lia became the Immortal King and the Lia was also again hated by the whole world. Lost everything again.

They couldn't help but try to be cautious but seeing that Lia was fine, they wanted to keep up this good atmosphere. It seemed like Yano did considerable work.

They haven't seen the broadcast but it must've been horrible.

"Lia, I'm fini-"

Zero came bolting out of the kitchen and then his face contorted in panic, "You didn't tell me you had guests. I don't have enough food prepared!"

Zero turned into a restaurant cook caring about his customer.

"So this is Zero," Skyla watched Zero with a twinkle and the boy gulped.

He felt like he'd be eaten up any seconds and ran back into the kitchen shouting, "I-I'll cook more so don't eat me!"

"Food? Food?" Mil's ears perked up.

"You've picked up a cute student," Skyla mused.

"I'm the only cute one she needs."

"Yano shut up."

"Actually, there's something I wanted to talk about," Lia turned serious. She couldn't tell them about heavens in the abyss but briefly told them about the encounter with Eri.

"Eri huh," Skyla reminisced, "She was always in her own world. Untouchable, but in the end she sided with the Ghost King."

Lia forgot that they went together to the academy with Eri, no with most of the captains.

"I'm against it," Yano said after hearing Lia's story.

"I know it's dangerous but if someone's really-"

"It's a trap."

"I thought about it too," Lia retorted but it didn't make sense, "Instead of a trap she could've just captured me. I was at a disadvantage and there were soldiers outside patrolling."

"It doesn't matter," Yano crossed his arms, "What you want is straight walking into the lion's den again! Do you even know what it means? I said I'll help you but I won't support your suicide attack!"

This was the first time Lia saw Yano being angry at her. She understood and knew what he said was correct.

It was a stupid move, "But if we combine it with the plan-"

"No, what you want is to do it right now, you don't even want to wait until then," Yano saw right through Lia.

Lia bit her lip. Yes, the curiosity desperately ate her alive.

"I think we can try," Mil spoke up after listening to everything.

"Third parties should stay out of it," Yano even glared at Mil.

Lia sighed. There was only one way to convince him.