Dazai shook Alexandria awake, his hands firm on her shoulders. She groaned, stretching lazily across her bed, the silk sheets slipping from her bare skin.
"Wake up, Alexandria, I think I got it now," Dazai said, his eyes bright with determination.
"This better be worth it, mortal," Alexandria muttered, her voice husky as she extended her arms and arched her back.
"You bet it!" Dazai grinned, the boyish excitement on his face impossible to hide.
The three of them moved together into the dining area, where the morning light spilled faintly across the table. Dazai picked up a knife and an apple, holding them carefully as if performing some ritual.
"I kept on trying to merge the two objects by force," he began, his voice steady, "but Jorax made me realize it isn't meant to be like that. Your mind is meant to be a canvas, where you paint both objects together."
He inhaled deeply, his focus sharp. In his hand, the apple and knife melted into one, seamlessly fused as though they had always belonged together.
"About damn time," Alexandria smirked, folding her arms across her chest.
"That's my master!!" Jorax squealed, leaping onto Dazai and clinging to him like an overjoyed child.
Her warmth pressed against him, soft and intoxicating, but Dazai tried to keep his composure.
"Now that you've got the basics down," Alexandria said, strolling toward the fridge with her usual careless grace, "you need to learn how to apply it to combat." She grabbed a jug of milk and poured herself a glass.
"That's true, master, you need to learn its true applications," Jorax chimed, leaning close over his shoulder, her lips nearly brushing his ear.
"You've said something reasonable for once, dog," Alexandria scoffed, collapsing onto the couch with her milk. She flicked on the television and stretched across the cushions like a lounging queen. "Okay, you're going to teach him."
"I was going to do that without you telling me!" Jorax shot back, her cheeks puffing as she raised her voice.
"Yeah, yeah," Alexandria waved her hand lazily, her eyes already on the screen.
"Come on, master, let's go," Jorax said, her small hand grabbing his tightly.
Dazai let her lead him outside into the cool air of his backyard. The grass was still wet with dew, and the moon lingered faintly behind thin morning clouds.
"T&R at first use doesn't seem like a fighting technique, right, master?" Jorax asked, her golden eyes fixed on him.
"Yeah, I guess. I can't think of any battle applications," Dazai admitted.
"On the surface, it does seem like that, yes," Jorax said, pacing in front of him with her hands clasped behind her back. "But there are ways to apply T&R to battle. Though…" Her expression softened into worry. "It does have a drawback."
"Tell me the applications, Jorax." Dazai's tone turned serious, his eyes locked on hers.
"T&R has five slots for each Touch," she explained carefully, "meaning you can store up five materials you've touched to anything you want to replace. For example—on your own body."
"Meaning," she paused, her gaze deepening, "you can change up the physical makeup of your body parts with that of another organism."
Dazai blinked, stunned. "Woah, that's cool. Meaning I could get the speed of a cheetah, the strength of a gorilla, or the agility of an ape." His grin spread wide across his face.
"Yes, but as I said before, there is a drawback," Jorax said, worry heavy in her tone. "With every use of it, you stand a chance of changing your genetic makeup permanently."
Her words lingered in the air like a curse.
"It doesn't matter," Dazai said simply.
"What are you saying, master!" Jorax gasped, her voice breaking with sorrow.
"All my life," Dazai continued, his eyes distant, "I've been ashamed of myself for being too weak, for being miserable. I blamed other people for my misfortunes. I'm tired of that. With this, I can finally help people and be someone." His lips curled into a bitter smile. "And hell, I've already tried killing myself once. A second time won't hurt."
The sincerity in his words made Jorax's chest ache. Her eyes shone, and then she launched herself at him, knocking him down to the ground.
"You're so cool, master," she whispered, straddling him, her weight pressing into his chest. She leaned down, her lips soft as they captured his in a sudden kiss.
Heat surged through Dazai's body. Her tongue teased his, her small frame grinding against him with instinctive hunger. His hands found her waist, feeling the warmth of her body through her thin dress. Her breasts brushed against his chest, nipples hardening from the friction as if begging for his touch.
She pulled back just slightly, smiling against his lips. "So when are we going to the zoo?"
Breathless, Dazai smirked up at her. "We will have to sneak in late at night to be able to touch the animals."
Her grin widened as she nuzzled against him, excitement bubbling in her golden eyes.
Night fell, heavy and secretive. The two of them moved through the darkness with hushed footsteps, their shadows long beneath the streetlamps.
"This is so exciting—sneaking into somewhere we're not supposed to be late at night," Jorax said, bouncing happily at his side.
"I don't think someone is supposed to be happy while committing a crime," Dazai chuckled.
They reached the zoo, its looming gates casting sharp bars across the pavement. Dazai scanned the area, confirming no one was around. With a silent nod, he vaulted the fence, Jorax clinging to him as they landed lightly inside.
"Woah, look at the size of that trunk," Jorax said in awe, pressing her hands to the glass of the elephant's enclosure.
"Oh yeah, you've only seen them in books," Dazai said softly, watching her. The way her eyes sparkled at something so simple made his chest tighten. He walked up beside her, captivated by her wonder.
"I guess we can spare a bit of time before we do what we came for," he thought.
Together they wandered the zoo, hand in hand. Each animal brought new laughter, new fascination, and a closeness that neither wanted to let go of. Jorax leaned against him, her body warm against his.
"This is the best day of my life," she whispered, hugging his arm and pressing it tight between her breasts. The softness of her curves molded against him, her hardened nipples brushing faintly through the thin fabric of her dress.
Dazai's breath caught in his throat, but before he could form words, his eyes widened. "It's been really ama—woah."
He froze, stunned by the sight in front of them: two monkeys tangled together in raw, animalistic intercourse.
Jorax burst into laughter. "What's there to be shocked about, master? Isn't that what all organisms on earth engage in, including you?"
Her voice lowered into a sultry whisper as her hand slid down his thigh. Before he could react, her palm pressed against his groin, rubbing firmly through his trousers.
Dazai gasped quietly, heat rushing through his body. The friction of her touch set fire to his veins, his length hardening under her playful strokes.
"She's really wild," he thought, trembling under her teasing. "She wants to go right—"
But the air was broken, shattered by a cry in the distance.
"Help me, please!" a girl's voice screamed, desperate and trembling.
Both Dazai and Jorax turned sharply, the moment torn away as they spotted a figure collapsing to the ground at the far end of the zoo.