Capítulo 34: Dreams Great Red Hard at Work
Hinata's dreams that night were restless; plagued by images and emotions, she couldn't control. She stood in a dimly lit courtyard, the air heavy with the scent of blooming flowers. It should have been peaceful, but a cold dread settled in her chest as laughter echoed around her.
In front of her was Leo, a bright smile on his face as he held a small child in his arms. Beside him, Shizu-sensei stood radiant, another child tugging at her sleeve and calling for her attention.
"Mama, look at me!" the older child exclaimed, running toward Shizu with a wooden sword.
Hinata's breath caught in her throat as she tried to take a step forward, her hands trembling.
"Mama...?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
The younger child in Leo's arms turned to her, tilting their head curiously. They giggled and reached out a chubby hand.
"Aunty Hinata!" they called sweetly.
The words hit her like a blade to the chest.
Aunty?
She glanced at Leo, her heart aching, but he didn't seem to notice her pain. Instead, he turned to Shizu, a warmth in his gaze that made Hinata's stomach churn.
"You're amazing, Shizu," he said softly, brushing a strand of hair from Shizu's face. "I can't forget the day I met you."
Shizu's laughter was light and genuine, her cheeks faintly flushed as she looked up at him. "You're too much, Leo."
Hinata wanted to scream, to run toward them and demand an explanation, but her feet were rooted in place. The scene shifted suddenly, and she found herself on the outskirts of a grand castle.
Laughter echoed again, but this time it wasn't just Shizu. A group of women surrounded Leo, beautiful, radiant women who all seemed to adore him. They clung to his arms, their smiles bright and flirtatious.
"Leo, you're incredible!" one of them purred, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Our king is the best," another chimed in, holding his hand possessively.
Hinata stood in the shadows, watching as the harem of women fawned over him. Each one seemed perfect in its way, strong, elegant, or enchanting. And Leo? He basked in their adoration, his carefree smile unwavering.
When one of the women noticed Hinata, her expression turned mocking.
"Oh, it's the cold one," she said with a sneer. "Didn't you hesitate too long? What a shame."
Leo turned at the remark, his golden eyes locking onto Hinata's. For a moment, she thought she saw recognition, a flicker of the bond they had shared. There was sadness, but he turned away as if she didn't exist.
"Some people fear attachment," one of the women said with a smirk, her words like venom. "That's why they end up alone."
Hinata clenched her fists, her chest tightening. She wanted to speak, to shout, to tell Leo how she felt, but no words came.
The dream shifted again. She was in the middle of a battlefield, her sword in hand, fighting shadows that seemed endless. She fought alone, her body heavy and exhausted, while distant laughter echoed.
"This is what you wanted, isn't it?" a voice whispered, cold and mocking. "You didn't want attachments. You feared them. And now, this is all you have."
Hinata woke with a start, her heart pounding and her face damp with tears. The room was silent, but the echoes of the dream lingered, haunting her.
She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to steady her breathing.
"It's just a dream," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Just a dream..."
But the ache in her chest felt all too real. As she sat in the dark, staring at the faint light of dawn creeping through the window, a single thought burned in her mind:
"I won't let that happen. I can't."
(Next day)
Hinata drifted into a deeper sleep, her mind pulling her into another vivid dream. This time, the atmosphere was warm and peaceful. She stood in a sprawling garden filled with vibrant flowers and the sounds of laughter echoing all around.
Children, so many children, ran through the garden, their laughter mixing with the gentle rustling of leaves. At the center of it all was Leo, his bright smile more radiant than ever. He sat on a stone bench, one child on his shoulders and another tugging at his arm.
"Papa! Tell us another story!" one of the children squealed, their eyes wide with excitement.
Leo chuckled, his golden eyes sparkling as he playfully ruffled the child's hair.
Nearby, Shizu stood with an air of grace, holding a toddler in her arms while keeping an eye on a group of older kids practicing their swordplay. Her serene smile made her look almost ethereal, and it was clear the children adored her.
Hinata's chest tightened as she watched from the sidelines. She noticed herself standing there, but something was different. A soft weight pressed against her hip, and when she looked down, she saw a pair of tiny hands clutching her dress. A small girl with crimson hair and piercing eyes a spitting image of Leo, looked up at her.
"Mama, come play with us!" the girl said, her voice bright and full of innocence.
Hinata froze, her breath caught in her throat.
Mama...?
Before she could respond, two more children ran toward her, calling her the same name. They clung to her, laughing and begging her to join them in their games.
The warmth of the moment was overwhelming. For the first time, she felt a sense of completeness, a life where she belonged, surrounded by love and family.
But then, her gaze wandered to Leo again. This time, he was surrounded by not just Shizu, but other women as well. Each one of them radiated beauty and confidence, their children playing nearby. They spoke to him with ease, their affection for him clear.
Hinata's heart wavered. She looked down at the children calling her Mama and then back at the women around Leo. A pang of jealousy and doubt twisted in her chest.
The dream shifted again. She was in a grand hall, her hand intertwined with Leo's as they greeted guests. Shizu stood by his other side, their smiles harmonious, as if they had long accepted sharing their lives together.
"Hinata, are you happy?" Leo asked, his voice soft and genuine.
She hesitated, her gaze shifting to Shizu and the others. The warmth in his eyes never faltered, but her heart felt a storm brewing.
"I..." she began, but the words wouldn't come.
Hinata woke abruptly, her heart racing and her cheeks flushed. The echoes of the dream lingered in her mind, the warmth of the children's laughter, the peace of the garden, and the shadow of her own doubts.
She buried her face in her hands, frustration bubbling to the surface.
"Why do I keep dreaming of such things?" she muttered under her breath.
Her thoughts drifted back to reality, where Shizu and Leo had been spending more time together recently. She had noticed the way Shizu's usually composed demeanor softened around him, the way her gaze lingered just a little longer.
Hinata's chest tightened again. She didn't understand why it bothered her so much.
"He's free to do as he pleases," she told herself firmly. "Why should I care if he's with Shizu-sensei or someone else?"
But deep down, she knew the answer. The dreams had shown her a side of herself she tried to suppress, a longing for connection, for love, for a family. And yet, the very idea of opening herself up to such vulnerability terrified her.
"I'm such a fool," she whispered, her voice cracking. "Why am I so afraid?
She clenched her fists, trying to push the emotions away. But no matter how hard she tried, the image of Leo's warm smile and the laughter of the children stayed with her, refusing to be forgotten.
It was not only Hinata but some one else too.
Shizu drifted off into a deep, unexpected slumber that night, her body succumbing to the exhaustion of her duties. As her consciousness faded, a vivid dream enveloped her.
She found herself in a lush, sunlit garden. The scene felt surreal yet strangely familiar, as though she had been here before. Children's laughter echoed around her, and she glanced down to see a small, crimson-haired toddler clinging to her leg, giggling.
The toddler had Leo's unmistakable eyes.
"Shizu-mama!" the child called, reaching up for her. Shizu instinctively lifted the toddler into her arms, a soft smile tugging at her lips.
"Mama...?" she repeated, her voice filled with disbelief, though she couldn't deny the warmth in her chest as she cradled the child.
Looking around, she saw other children running and playing in the garden. Some sparred with wooden swords, others painted pictures, and a few climbed a tree under the watchful eye of Hinata, who stood nearby.
Hinata's expression was unusually soft, a rare sight that struck Shizu deeply. A part of her had always seen Hinata as a guarded, self-reliant figure, someone who struggled to open her heart. Yet here she was, laughing and guiding the children with a gentleness Shizu had never seen before.
Shizu's gaze shifted to the center of the garden, where Leo sat on a bench surrounded by children clamoring for his attention. His warm laugh filled the air as he entertained them, his carefree demeanor a stark contrast to the calculating mind she had come to know.
Shizu began to approach, but then she noticed something else a group of women standing near Leo. They were elegant and beautiful, each with an undeniable aura of confidence and charm. They all watched him with affection, their camaraderie clear as they exchanged smiles.
One of them leaned in closer to Leo, whispering something that made him laugh. A pang of something unfamiliar settled in Shizu's chest, but she ignored it, telling herself it didn't matter.
Yet, her dream self's feet faltered.
The dream shifted, and Shizu now stood in a grand hall, dressed in an elegant gown. Leo was beside her, holding her hand. She glanced down to see a wedding ring glittering on her finger.
Her breath caught as she looked up at him, his eyes meeting hers with warmth and certainty. But before she could speak, she noticed Hinata standing nearby, her hand also adorned with a similar ring.
The scene felt so natural, as though this was how things had always been. Hinata seemed content, even happy, but Shizu could see the lingering shadow of hesitation in her eyes.
Leo turned to Shizu. "Isn't this what we wanted? To protect everyone and build something together?" he asked, his tone genuine.
Shizu's heart clenched.
"Yes... I think it is," she heard herself say, but her voice sounded far away as if her own doubts were tugging at the edges of her mind.
The dream shifted once more, and Shizu found herself sitting by a fireplace in a cozy home, holding a baby in her arms. Hinata sat across from her, watching the flames with a thoughtful expression.
"Did you ever regret it?" Shizu asked, surprising even herself with the question.
Hinata's lips quirked into a faint smile. "Maybe... but I think I'd regret more if I had let fear hold me back."
Shizu woke with a start, her heart pounding. She stared at the ceiling, her mind racing to make sense of what she had just seen.
The warmth of the dream lingered, but so did the questions it stirred.
She glanced out the window, the moonlight illuminating her calm yet troubled features.
"A family... children... is that what I want? Or was it just a fleeting thought buried in my heart?"
Her thoughts turned to Hinata. In the dream, she had seemed so... whole, yet conflicted, her usual coldness tempered by something more tender.
And then there was Leo. His presence in the dream, so effortlessly central, felt undeniable.
Shizu sighed, leaning back against her pillow.
"I'm too old to be dreaming about such things," she muttered, trying to push the images away. But as much as she tried, she couldn't forget the vision of the children's laughter, the warmth of Leo's hand, or the quiet companionship she had shared with Hinata.
For the first time in years, Shizu found herself questioning what she truly wanted, and whether she was brave enough to reach for it.
It was even more pleasant that, for the first time, she didn't feel Ifrit fighting for control over her body, making her sleep peacefully.
~~~~
It is half plot, it is not been counted as a chapter, many guys doesn't like such things so I have uploaded it after the main chapter.
Let me cook and the target is 1000 Power Stones 🥲
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