Sorcerer Hunters Fan Fiction ❯ Perpetual Thoughts ❯ The Trip To The Beach ( Chapter 7 )

The knocking of fist against wood was loud and sudden, and Gateau didn't wait for a reply before he opened the door (it slammed against the wall with enough force to wake up both sleeping Glacé brothers); seemed that Carrot and Marron had been asleep, before he'd walked into the room. Still, no matter. Today was the day they'd been waiting for all month - today, the Sorcerer Hunters were going to go to the beach! Gateau didn't understand how come Marron and Carrot weren't awake yet... didn't they feel the excitement? Gateau himself had been up since dawn, throwing punches to the air and posing in the mirror; today, he'd have an audience. Today, he'd say 'look' and people would. He loved going to the beach!

 

Carrot and Marron still weren't waking up. On hearing the slam of the door, Carrot sat up suddenly, rubbing his eyes.

 

"Huh...? Wha...? Whassarush?"

 

"Come ONN, you two! We're going to the beach today! Today's the day Salad said she'd take us to the beach! Remember?"

 

Carrot suddenly lost all traces of sleepy feelings on the mention of the fair lady Salad; he gasped in realization and nodded quickly, "I remember, I remember! We'll get dressed as fast as we can!"

 

Gateau smiled happily, happy that his excitement was shared, even if for different reasons. Now, if only Marron would be so excited... on that note, Gateau felt excited for Marron... the Sorcerer Hunters often went to the beach, but... this time... this time would be the first time the two of them would go to one as a couple...

 

Still, that didn't mean Gateau had to tone himself down any, he felt. Posing for the masses was just what he did, it didn't really matter, it wasn't as if he wasn't going to return to Marron at the end of it all, anyway.

 

Leaving the room to let the Glacé brothers get on with their morning routine, Gateau left to practice his poses a little more. No harm in doing what he always did.

 

It had been a while since anything had happened of anything at all, in Eden. Salad had told the Hunters she'd contact them with the date of the beach trip, and she had. Missions from Big Mama had been few and far between, and even those undertaken by the Sorcerer Hunters hadn't been difficult, just sealing this one piece of magic away, checking the seal on another... perhaps it was just to do with the time of year, or the warming of the weather, or perhaps it was nothing to do with anything at all, but the Sorcerers of the Continent seemed strangely quiet.

 

No-one was going to argue with that, though.

 

So, because of that, the Hunters had generally spent their days quietly, as they always did. After the dream Marron had witnessed Carrot having, Marron had wondered whether he should tell Carrot of that, or not. Tell him what he'd seen... but then he realised that there would be nothing gained through that but Carrot's embarrassment. Marron didn't mention anything from the dream and Carrot didn't seem to remember anything from the dream to mention; a day or two later a memory was spurred and Carrot remembered something about his brother having breasts, and he mentioned it to Marron during idle conversation... the two of them laughed it off, and no more was said or remembered on the subject. Which was perhaps for the best, given the circumstance. Even Marron would likely have been surprised at the content of Carrot's dream.

 

Aside from that, things progressed in their usual quiet manner. Marron would watch quietly as Tira and Chocolat would drag Carrot out to the shops, and witness as they returned, Carrot sporting his usual bumps and bruises. When alone together at nights, Marron would heal Carrot's wounds, and listen to Carrot's bitching about Tira and Chocolat's behaviour. He just smiled quietly, feeling somewhat glad for the rockiness of their relationship.

 

And as for Gateau, he'd kept to his promise of wanting to act a little more romantic. A little ending up as a lot; always one to show off, Gateau seemed to feel the need to convince Marron of his love; after talking so heatedly at the start of the month about how it'd all been a lie, surely it couldn't be the truth, as the end of the month approached, Gateau was hellbent on making a good impression.

 

Marron didn't seem to know what to do with the attention. Gateau knew to be quiet during missions, he knew Marron was somewhat shy in front of the others, and while Carrot didn't mind the relationship, he likely wouldn't want it presented so suddenly in front of him... but when they were alone and Gateau would be comparing Marron in his roundabout way to a carefree cloud in the sky or a green leaf on a tree, Marron would just blink and frown and nod. Gateau was hardly poetic after all, but he tried his hardest. There wasn't a lot that rhymed with 'Marron' though, and some of the haikus that Gateau came up with instead were borderline pornographic... which was amazing, in it's own way. Carrot at least found such things hilarious, when Marron would tell him about them.

 

Gateau seemed to realise that such things embarrassed and flustered Marron, but he didn't stop. He often commented on how a blush looked so cute on Marron, and it was true, it was. At least he had things to talk about with Marron, though. The more he practiced the easygoing flirtation, the easier it came to him. The sexual things didn't matter, the relationship could be innocent. They'd go out for meals together, Gateau would lavish Marron with gifts, Marron would feel guilty for not getting Gateau anything (he wasn't sure what to get), but Gateau would insist that it was alright.

 

The Glacé brothers' bedroom was now liberally decorated by vases of flowers. Hell for anyone who might have an allergy, but they certainly brightened up the room, even if Carrot was constantly knocking them over and having to mop up the carpet afterwards.

 

Marron couldn't help but regard the relationship with a smile, when he thought about it. It really was quite relaxing, wasn't it... Carrot was alright with it, Gateau was alright with it, and on the surface level, Marron was alright with it too. It was fun, really. A few times he'd fallen asleep on Gateau's bed, and Gateau had fallen asleep beside him, and felt so happy to be beside someone so beautiful... and then Carrot would storm through in the morning and yell at Gateau (waking Marron and Eclair up in the process) that he was stealing Carrot's brother away from him, but... nothing was serious...

 

Usually, things tended to become more serious the more they developed, but this relationship seemed the opposite... and Marron liked that. It was something different for him to experience, and as long as he kept his sexual feelings far away from the situation, it was purely fun. And nobody was confused towards that.

 

Coming to terms with the fact that Gateau probably wouldn't be able to help him with his sexual feelings, Marron had resigned himself back to his previous mindset; he realised that, the past little while, he'd been allowing his thoughts and feelings to conquer his body, and it angered him. The meditation from before... for that time, he'd been in control of his emotions, and he'd managed to push those feelings away from him! Now he knew that there really didn't seem to be a solution, it was almost comforting. He knew the solution, and he knew the solution was unattainable. Back to the meditation he went, and he became calmer for it. Hormones and sexual feelings only seemed to serve to fry his mind and confuse his thoughts; the days were happy normal sunny days, there was no point in clouding them with his own confusion and emotion. Indeed, he felt grateful for being able to do such a thing; Carrot had no control over his hormones, his hormones controlled him, and it was easy to see where that got him...

 

It had been a while since the Sorcerer Hunters had gone to the beach, though. They seemed to go quite frequently, but it had been a while. So this trip would be a welcome one, and this trip too, to Marron's mind, seemed like it should be an enjoyable one, with everybody around and in the same mindset... he probably wouldn't have a chance for his daily meditation, but he felt he was back in the habit well enough to be able to miss one day. It wasn't as if anything would happen during the day to disturb his schedule after all, was it?

 

Little was he to know that it would. But nobody could have predicted what would happen later on in the day, least of all Marron.

 

At that moment, he was still asleep; it was quite late in the morning, to say that Marron hadn't woken up yet. But, Carrot thought as he rustled around the bedroom to find an appropriate pair of shorts to wear, sometimes people just needed a lie-in. But this wasn't one of those times! Carrot leapt over to Marron's bed, shaking his brother by the shoulders.

 

"Come on, come on, come on!"

 

"Uhn... hn... niisan...?"

 

"Today's the day we're going to the beach! Come on, Gateau's already ready, I'm getting ready... is there anything you want to get together? What are you gonna wear? I thought I could wear these shorts," Carrot held up a pair of dark green shorts, "What do you think?"

 

"Ah... I'll find one of my lighter robes, I think. But yes, niisan... I think those shorts would be wonderful. Are they clean?"

 

"Yeah, they were in the drawer. But hey, no way! We're going to the beach, Marron! Not a mission or anything! You don't need to wear those stodgy robes this time around!"

 

Marron frowned, "... stodgy? My robes are... stodgy? I... always thought them quite elegant, myself..."

 

"Well, okay, not stodgy, but... it's the beach! You don't have to wear what you always wear... surely those robes are too warm to be wearing on such a sunny day! Don't you have a t-shirt or anything? No, I guess you wouldn't... you could borrow something of mine, if you wanted. Though, I think you're a bit more broad-shouldered than me? I don't know. Just wear something different!"

 

Sitting up in bed, Marron watched as Carrot slipped the shorts on underneath his nightshirt, then pulled the nightshirt off over his head. Carrot didn't catch the appreciative warmth in Marron's eyes... that was one of the nice things about going to the beach. A welcome opportunity to see his brother wearing very little indeed without having to feel guilty about it...

 

Carrot looked up at Marron, "So, what do you think?"

 

"Oh, ah... I'm not sure, niisan..."

 

Hefting himself up from where he'd been sitting, Carrot walked over to the wardrobe that held most of their clothes. Opening it, he was presented with his selection of wearable shirts and tanktops, and Marron's array of robes.

 

Since gaining independence, the brothers had been able to choose their own wardrobes. No longer would they have to wear the things bought for them...!

 

Not that that really mattered; neither of them wore clothes too different than they had done when they were children, Marron especially. Robes had always seemed to suit him, lending nicely to his mysterious, deep air... but that didn't help when they were going to go to the beach. From plain to ornate, none of Marron's robes suited the occasion.

 

With a ssht-kthnk and a sigh, Carrot closed the wardrobe. He went over to the drawers instead, and rustled around in there for a few moments. He found what he was looking for - something black and skimpy that looked more like something Gateau would choose to wear than Marron. Carrot pulled them back and let them twang in Marron's direction, where they fell into his lap. Marron blinked and picked the undergarment up, "Nii... san?"

 

"Why don't you wear something like that?"

 

Marron couldn't help but blush, "N-niisan! I... not something like that...!"

 

"What's wrong with showing a bit of skin? I'm sure Gateau would appreciate it, hm? He's always flashing himself around, anyway. Yelling for people to look, and everything. Why don't you give people something to look at too?"

 

"N-niisan... I burn easily, you know that..."

 

"Well, put some of that ointment you have on when we get there. I just want you to relax a little, okay? You're always so dedicated and stuff, you gotta let your hair down occasionally. Oh, but you might wanna wear it tied up today, it does look like it's gonna be hot outside, and you know how bad dark hair absorbs the heat, you and me both... how about some shorts, instead?"

 

A pair of shorts sailed over in Marron's direction; they were like the ones that Carrot wore currently, but they were a dark shade of red. They seemed a better idea than the thong-like thing Carrot had suggested previously, at any rate.

 

"You wanna wear one of my tanktops?"

 

"Ah..."

 

"Or a t-shirt? I know you haven't got any, but I've got a couple in here. Let's see... not a black one, you'll get overheated... a white one? A white t-shirt and those red shorts, they'll go great together. You don't have to be flashing gratuitous amounts of skin to look good, I guess. Just wear your normal shoes, they'll match the shirt."

 

"I'm not sure..."

 

"Marron, have you even seen the sun this morning?"

 

The way it was shining in through their bedroom window, it was impossible not to. For all intents and purposes, it was the perfect day to head to the beach; the sun was hot and shining, the sky was blue outside, no missions or anything to worry about... Carrot walked over to where the curtains were partly drawn, and yanked them apart. The room was hit with the full power of the sun outside, Marron quickly raised his hand to his eyes to shield them, with a noise of discomfort.

 

Catching that, Carrot turned to face Marron, smiling happy.

 

"Was that a bit quick for ya? Sorry, Marron. Anyway, I'm gonna go take a shower now, okay? Unless you wanted to take one first..."

 

"No, no, it's alright, niisan. You go first if you want to."

 

"Okay, I'll be quick."

 

Carrot dispensed of the shorts he'd put on, letting them fall near the door to the bathroom. Marron surreptitiously caught sight of his brother's naked body from behind for the briefest of brief moments, and then the door closed, and the moment was over.

 

Falling back onto his pillow, Marron stared up at the ceiling. The white of the walls, of the ceiling... all seemed magnified for being shone on by something so bright. Turning to face the window, Marron narrowed his eyes, trying to make out the landmarks that were usually there so easily. From his bed, Marron could usually make out a few treetops outside, but today, even looking for them hurt his eyes... he turned back to face the ceiling.

 

For some reason, he felt strangely groggy, he noticed. Likely just the product of the need of sleep catching up with him, but still. It wasn't as if they'd done anything especially exhausting over the past few days, but that was perhaps the problem, Marron wondered. Sometimes, doing nothing at all was just as tiring as doing many things at once...

 

Still, today would be something different to do. The beach visit, all the things that came along with beach visits... usually Potato getting up to some kind of mischief, Carrot getting into trouble with Chocolat and Tira, chaos breaking out along the waves... but, in a funny kind of way, Marron felt he didn't want it any other way. Chaotic as the chaos was, it was usual.

 

A few meters away, Carrot was naked. Quietly cleansing himself, touching his naked body all over, and... stop. Marron allowed his thoughts to drift just slightly, then stopped them in their tracks. He'd allow himself that slip-up as a means to slowly ease away from those thoughts, but he still felt shamed for feeling them. He'd promised himself he wouldn't...

 

Quietly fighting with himself, Marron was caught unawares when the shower stopped and the door from the bathroom opened, revealing Carrot wearing a towel around his waist and little else... Marron looked up, Carrot smiled at him.

 

"Shower's free now, if you want it."

 

He spoke easily enough; Marron smiled, his smile feeling false. His mind worked so furiously behind his smile, "He's your brother, you shouldn't think of him in that way. You DON'T think of him in that way. The blood you have is the blood you share... there's no necessity for a closer relationship..."

 

The words were empty to his mind, repeated without meaning... but he had to reclaim his life. He had to reclaim his control. He couldn't let his hormones dominate him - his hormones had no means for release, being attached to such a forbidden feeling, and were therefore useless. A frustrating feeling with no outlet was a frustrating feeling until it went away, after all.

 

In the shower, the water was quickly warm from where Carrot had been running it previously. Closing the door behind him, Marron brushed out his hair behind him. It clung quickly to his wet skin. Water rained down upon him, beading onto his skin and running away quickly... Marron could hear Carrot moving around in the next room. Such moments were the difficult ones; perhaps the day would be a little more trying than he'd first presumed... Gateau would be around to help distract him from his brother, but perhaps a little early-morning focusing wouldn't go amiss.

 

Marron leant against the back wall of the shower, falling into a comfortable position, closing his eyes.

 

"Carrot is just a brother to you."

 

His own voice addressed him in his mind; Marron went through his repertoire of statements.

 

"As unprepared as you are, he is immature; he isn't looking for that kind of relationship from anybody at the moment... least of all YOU."

 

Breathe in...

 

"This is all your fault in the first place."

 

... breathe out.

 

"If you hadn't cultivated such thoughts and feelings in the first place then they wouldn't be such a problem at this moment."

 

Hold the breath, just for a moment.

 

"You'd be able to experience orgasm."

 

Just for a little too long...

 

"Gateau is what you need."

 

Breathe out.

 

"He can offer you everything."

 

Everything...?

 

Time spent with Gateau was quite different to time spent with Carrot; the time spent with Gateau was easygoing and carefree, but it was still different as to how times spent with Carrot were... ah, but that was inevitable. After all, Carrot was just a brother, was he not? Of course things would be different with him than they were with Gateau. The two of them were such different people, and they filled perfectly different positions in Marron's life. Carrot was the elder brother, the figure of protection and comfort... Gateau was the lover, full of lust and desire, and with a lot of love to give.

 

"He can give you the things that Carrot can't."

 

Sexual feelings could be easily shared; between two such people, that kind of thing was normal, after all... it was a good thing to love Carrot, of course. With the amount of beatings he seemed to get from the other members of the group, he needed all the love he could get, but... the feelings Marron felt, he'd noticed, seemed to focus more on his own feelings than Carrot's feelings. He felt sad because he couldn't be with Carrot. He was frustrated because he couldn't achieve orgasm. It was always about him.

 

The situation was dangerously close to excluding Carrot totally; just the figure of Carrot in Marron's mind, motivating him... it was important not to lose sight of the real person that Carrot was. He was flawed, just as everybody else was. It was impossible for even Marron to think of him as perfect...

 

The door to the bathroom opened, Marron snapped out of his thoughts. It was Carrot, of course... what did he want?

 

"Nii... san?"

 

"You've been in there for ages, you wanna turn into a raisin or what? Anyway, just wondered how much longer you were gonna be. I mean... it's the beach! The sooner we leave, the sooner we get there! So hurry up, okay?"

 

Marron nodded quickly, "A-ah... ye-... yes, niisan."

 

Carrot smiled, nodded, then left the room; Marron turned back to face the wall he'd been facing, hugging himself tightly. It didn't help when Carrot walked in right in the middle of his supposed meditation, though it happened sometimes. So unsuspecting... Carrot could never suspect the things he thought about...

 

Quickly shaking that frame of mind away from him, Marron turned the shower off and went to find a towel to dry himself with. If he was going to indulge in his thoughts, he'd do it later, perhaps with Gateau or perhaps while alone. For the moment, he was about to embark on one of the many beach trips he and his friends took; such an event was no cause for melancholy.

 

Driven by the urge to keep to his target of not being controlled by his hopeless emotions, Marron steeled himself to just not think about Carrot. In practice this was hard, Carrot was always there and he always seemed to be doing something that seemed like a secret signal for Marron alone, but... Marron felt that the more he told himself to distance himself, perhaps one day he'd start listening.

 

****

 

The trip to the beach had been calm and uneventful. Salad had arranged transport, being a Sorceress seemed to give her such opportunities... and the group was accepted as being with her, so there was no question.

 

Marron had felt somewhat self-conscious as he'd left Eden that morning. He hadn't realised how strange it'd be to not wear his robes, until he actually wasn't wearing them... once he'd stepped into the sunlight he realised how hot the weather really was, and he was quite glad for the short-sleeved t-shirt, the shorts, having his hair tied back... but it was just strange. It was the little things that seemed to call up a memory from his skin... he wasn't wearing his ankle-wraps, he wasn't even wearing long trousers... he almost felt naked without feeling those against his skin. And the roominess of his robesleeves, the certain tightness of his buttons, the way he could feel his collar when he leant from side to side... this was not like that. His t-shirt was a little too baggy and caught in the wind just slightly, when the light breeze blew. He felt the smoothness of his sandals on his feet, and when Gateau had seen him, he'd been amazed.

 

It'd been quite embarrassing; Gateau often took the chance to stare at Marron, ogle him, tell him how beautiful he was... but Gateau had just looked at Marron like he'd never seen him before, then he'd circled Marron, told him how good those threads looked on him... the usual sensation of blushing behind his hair was gone, and Marron felt vulnerable...

 

Still, it was only a trip to the beach. Stupid things often happened at the beach, but nothing especially life-threatening... not really... and just in case, Marron brought along a small bag, it contained his ofuda and other needed things. Just in case.

 

Also, those had been the clothes that Carrot had suggested he wear... Marron felt he would have been more comfortable in his robes, but... even Carrot had complimented him on how he looked, so it wasn't that bad.

 

Marron wondered if his thoughts would have been as warm had he been wearing something Gateau suggested he wear... though something like that would probably be like what Carrot had originally suggested, something so skimpy that he'd never consider...

 

The others, Marron had thought as he'd looked around during the journey, were happy with the situation as they travelled. Dota and Sirius had ended up staying in Eden, and Eclair had arranged to go shopping or something with Dota, Marron wasn't sure on the details. So it was him, Carrot and Gateau, the Misu Sisters, Potato, Jeeves and Salad, and Milphey.

 

Eventually, the beach was reached. At first, everyone had gone off to do their own thing - Carrot had run off to chase girls, and been berated by Tira and Chocolat. Gateau had wandered off to pose and flex, Marron was quite sure he'd seen Milphey follow. Salad was already sunning herself at the water's edge, and Potato and Jeeves... well, no-one knew where those two were. No-one really worried, just as long as they weren't getting in the way of anything.

 

Marron had chosen a spot a way away from the water's edge to sit, throwing out a towel he'd brought with him to sit on so he didn't get too sandy. He wondered if he should have at least brought one of his magic books... just sitting around with little to do was at best boring and at worst risky... he didn't want to risk thoughts of his brother going over his mind. He didn't want to get caught in an embarrassing situation, he didn't want anybody to ask what he might be thinking...!

 

"Hey, Marron!"

 

Hearing the voice, Gateau's voice, Marron looked up.

 

"Mmm?"

 

"LOOK AT MEEEEE!!!!!"

 

Purely for Marron's benefit, Gateau threw a few oft-practised poses; Marron wasn't sure how to react. Ignore them, like how he always had? Compliment Gateau on his physique, as he was now entitled to? Marron just stuttered Gateau's name while looking away, "Ga-Gateau..."

 

Gateau didn't seem to mind Marron's embarrassment, "Heh, still can't get a reaction outta ya. Oh well."

 

Gateau dropped down next to Marron, rolling onto his back and leaning his head on his hands. The sun shone down uncomfortably into his line of sight, he closed his eyes as he went to talk to Marron some more.

 

"Nevermind. So, what do you think you're going to do with the rest of the day?"

 

"Oh, ah... I'm not sure. I thought I could stay here, perhaps... marvel the sea..."

 

"Get a tan?"

 

"Ah..."

 

Before Marron could speak, a voice spoke from behind him; he tensed slightly, it was Carrot's voice.

 

"You're asking Marron to get a tan? Good luck, then...! Never tanned easily, that one. Or at all... if we ever left him in the sun to tan he always tended to go all crispy rather than tanned..."

 

Marron hugged his legs to his chest as Carrot sat down next to him, happily enough. Recalling events from his childhood... yes, that'd often been the case. Tira and Chocolat were often capable of getting attractive tans, and Carrot's skin was naturally that bit darker than Marron's own anyway, but Marron... he'd always been quite pale, and no amount of sitting underneath the hot Spooner sun seemed to rectify that. This time wouldn't be any different, since those events in his childhood where he hadn't even been able to lie in bed without hurting somewhere, when even putting clothes on made him wince, he'd taken pains to find something that would help. Eventually he'd managed to locate a kind of ointment in the shop he bought his ink and ofuda parchment from that seemed to prevent him going, as Carrot had put it, 'crispy'. He'd made sure to bring several jars of it in his bag, knowing he'd be under the focus of the sun and nothing else for most of the day.

 

Gateau sat up on Marron's other side, and nudged Marron's shoulder.

 

"So you don't tan, then? Shame, I'm sure you'd look sexy if you were all tanned and gorgeous. Heh, not that you're not already sexy and gorgeous...! Still, if you burn easily, then shouldn't you stay in the shade?"

 

Marron shook his head and brought one of the jars out of his bag, "I have this, it prevents me from burning... I made sure to put some on before we came out."

 

Taking the jar from Marron and inspecting it, Gateau seemed quietly enthralled.

 

"I see... some weird oil or something, I guess."

 

He unplugged the top and carefully felt what was inside, something that was smooth and cool to his fingers. With a laugh, he handed the jar back to Marron; "Feels like jelly!"

 

"Ahaha, it's something like that, but I don't think it'd do anybody any good to eat it..."

 

"You shoulda told me you were putting something like that on, I woulda happily put it on you for you!"

 

"Ga-Gateau..."

 

"I know! Why don't you put some of that stuff on me?"

 

Another little flirtatious gesture that both Marron and Carrot caught. Marron raised his eyebrow and Carrot just watched carefully; he'd known, when he'd seen his brother and his brother's boyfriend just sitting there that maybe they'd be all flirtatious... he was a little curious. How might Marron react? It was always strange to see, Gateau flirting with Marron, and occasionally, Marron flirting back... he'd been right when he'd talked to Milphey earlier on in the month, Marron did seem to be changing and Carrot wasn't sure he liked it... still... it wasn't as if he could change it, or anything... if Marron wanted to act like that with his boyfriend, then surely he was entitled to.

 

Even if, Carrot couldn't help but think, Marron didn't love him... Carrot still hadn't managed to broach that certain subject after previous events. Marron hadn't said who it was he loved back at that time, and Carrot hadn't mentioned it since... he figured it was best just to leave his brother to his own devices, even if it did all seem just a bit weird.

 

Let Marron keep up the act for however long he wanted to. Carrot liked to think that Marron would slip up eventually, and tell Carrot what he wanted to know... it really was a mystery. Marron, so quiet and closed to other people, in love? Really in love? The thought preyed at Carrot's mind, it seemed quite monumental. And his silly little lovesick brother didn't even want to tell his concerned older brother who his ohso unrequited feelings were directed towards...

 

Carrot was determined to find out somehow. If it wasn't Gateau, and it wasn't Milphey, then who was it? Maybe Marron had been bluffing, but... why not just say who it was? Surely it'd be better on Marron's own mind if someone else knew, if he could share the burden with someone...!

 

Marron just blinked at Gateau, "Gateau...? I would have thought you'd like to develop a tan..."

 

"C'mon, don't I already have a bit of one already? Besides, do I have to have an excuse to want to feel those gentle hands of yours?"

 

That smirk... that last sentence had been spoken quietly, but loud enough for both Glacé brothers to hear. Sitting a little behind Marron as he was, Carrot couldn't see or judge Marron's reaction... he heard Marron's sigh, "Well, if you insist."

 

Gateau let out a happy laugh, and rolled onto his front; it could be like a massage!

 

Watching Gateau do that and Marron go to lean over him, Carrot felt he had to interject, "H-hey, Marron, you don't have to do that if you don't want to! Gateau can just put it on himself if he wants, surely?"

 

Taken aback slightly by Carrot's statement, Marron glanced over his shoulder with a warm smile, "I don't mind, niisan."

 

With that, he went to brush Gateau's back down from where any dust or sand clung to it.

 

Carrot just watched. Gateau lay there, leaning his head on his hands. His eyes were closed, and he had this contented little smile on his face... Marron was opposite Carrot, the jar to his side, some of the ointment on his fingers and hands. He'd rubbed it into his hands and was rubbing softly, slowly over Gateau's back... Gateau's skin shone slightly under the sun, seeming that bit more shiny for whatever it was Marron was putting on him...

 

Marron seemed preoccupied with his task, not seeming to notice that his brother watched him so closely... he didn't want to look up at Carrot. It was embarrassing enough to do something like that to Gateau, though he didn't quite mind... but... with Carrot watching...!

 

"Mmmnn... Marron, that feels great! You should do this more often."

 

"I'm just doing what I have to..."

 

That phrase seemed to stir Carrot again, "Marron, you don't have to do things like that-!"

 

Looking up with a warm smile that he didn't quite feel inside, Marron laughed softly, " Ahah, niisan, I meant... I meant that I have to do this to apply the ointment... how else would you suggest I do it? I could pour it onto his back, but... somehow that wouldn't be as effective, I feel..."

 

Was that a sulky look on Carrot's face? Marron caught that look for just a second, then looked back down to Gateau's gleaming skin, turning his attention away from Carrot once more. He wouldn't let himself be tempted... he wouldn't let his thoughts wander like that... Gateau... Gateau... he had to concentrate on Gateau...

 

His hands moved lower. There was a moment of hesitation as he reached Gateau's backside - after all, he was only wearing his thong, and that was another place that could theoretically become sunburnt... he didn't let his hesitation become evident, though. It was just another area of skin, it wasn't anything more embarrassing than what he was already doing...

 

Carrot couldn't help but raise his eyebrow, "Man, Marron, you're shameless! Fondling his ass in broad daylight!"

 

Just a little shocked, Marron looked up quickly.

 

"Ni-niisan, I... it's just somewhere else that has to be taken care of, I, I, it's not that... ah..."

 

"Idiot, why'd you have to wreck the mood! Marron, carry on, it's still feeling great... unless you wanted to wait until, y'know. Tonight..."

 

"Ah, I'll finish this now..."

 

Marron quickly made sure Gateau's rear was tended to, then moved on to the backs of Gateau's thighs, his legs, other areas that perhaps wouldn't afford so many stares and possible comments.

 

Once Marron had finished, he sat up into a kneel, "I'm finished, Gateau."

 

"Already? Hmn, I don't want to move just yet. You should open a massage parlour or something, you're... it's hard to explain, it's like, you're firm and gentle at the same time... I feel so relaxed, I could just fall asleep here, or something!"

 

Marron got up for a moment, walked around Gateau, and sat back down on his towel. Carrot looked up at Marron as he did so - he seemed happy... it seemed strange. Marron wouldn't have done something like that before, would he? Back before he and Gateau had got together, Marron would have just walked away had Gateau suggested that he more or less give him a massage in front of so many people on the beach...

 

Feeling irrationally jealous, Carrot snatched the jar from Marron before he could put it back into his bag, "Hey, aren't you worried in case I get sunburnt too?"

 

"Niisan? You always tend to tan, that's not really happened before..."

 

"Even so, don't you want me to put some of this stuff on too? Hmm?"

 

"You can use it if you want..."

 

Carrot pressed the jar back to Marron, holding it against his brother's chest with two fingers. He shook his head, "Not just that, I mean, I want you to put it on me!"

 

So much for avoiding temptation.

 

"N-niisan!?"

 

"What? It's not like I can reach around and put it on my back myself, is it? You put it on Gateau so easily, surely you should be able to put it on me too?"

 

Gateau leant up on one arm, "Carrot, I'm his lover, you're his brother, there's a difference there."

 

"I know that!! That doesn't matter, right? Marron, you'll put this on me if I want you to, right?"

 

"Hey, and weren't you the person saying Marron shouldn't do things he doesn't want to just before? Marron, let that idiot put it on himself if he really wants some, he shouldn't need you to do everything for him!"

 

"Ah..."

 

"Marron, please? I want you to put that on me..."

 

"Y-yes..."

 

Gateau let out a 'hmph', "Surely you could use that as a new pick-up line for the ladies, hm? Go 'round asking them to put that on you, not that they would... where's Chocolat? I'm sure she'd be only too happy to put that on you!"

 

"I want Marron to do it."

 

Marron was already rubbing his hands together, ready to do the same to his brother as he'd done to Gateau. As long as he didn't think too intently on the situation...

 

It was quite strange, though. It was understandable if Carrot was flustered because of what Marron had been doing, Marron could understand that, but being so insistent on having Marron do it to him too? What did that mean?

 

He wasn't sure.

 

Maybe it just didn't have a meaning. Maybe Carrot really did just want to be protected from the sun as well... and if Gateau was anything to go by, then Marron's hands really were good at doing their job...

 

Why was Carrot even sitting there with them anyway? Usually on the beach he'd be running off and chasing girls like always... and earlier he had been doing that... maybe he was just taking a break. Tira and Chocolat didn't seem to be anywhere nearby, maybe he was hiding from them? Not a very effective hiding place.

 

Still... Carrot was in the same position as Gateau had been in, resting on his front, his eyes closed, leaning his head against his hands. A little nervously, Marron placed his hands over Carrot's shoulders, pressing his fingers against Carrot's soft skin. He hoped that his brother wouldn't notice how much his fingers were shaking... he kept moving, in the hope that he wouldn't be noticed.

 

Carrot didn't dare say anything, but Gateau had been right to be so happy with what Marron was doing - it'd sounded strange, but he'd been right... Marron would press firmly in places, but still be so gentle... he was firm, but never rough. Lying there, the sound of the waves lapping at the beach somewhere in front of them, the heat from the fierce sun shining down unrelentingly... Marron's hands moving still and Carrot falling into a serene state of relaxation... somewhere in Carrot's mind, he wondered if maybe he should be imagining it was some hot woman doing that to him. After all, how nice would that be, a hot woman, big breasts, the massage... but... that never really seemed to figure, not in Carrot's mind. Women were women, but for the moment, it was nice to think of the situation for what it was; Marron massaging him softly, making him feel so good...

 

Letting out a sigh, Carrot wondered what his thoughts meant. He wondered if Marron would ever do something like this again, if asked... probably. But wouldn't it sound weird, coming from Carrot? Not that he meant anything by it, but... it did feel good, really good...

 

And Gateau had the access to ask for something like that at any time without it seeming weird at all. Such injustice there was in the world.

 

All too soon, Marron was finished, and he moved away. Carrot sat up quickly, "Y-you're done already?"

 

"Yes, niisan. Unless you wanted me to-..."

 

His sentence stopped abruptly. Carrot looked at him curiously, "Unless I wanted you to... what?"

 

"N-nothing, niisan."

 

Marron had been about to say 'Unless you wanted me to do your front as well' or something similar, but the mental image of what he was suggesting had hit Marron just before he could finish. No, he couldn't risk that. He'd managed to stay quiet and distant enough while working on Carrot's back, but if Carrot was on his front... it'd be just that bit closer to the things Marron felt he really shouldn't be thinking about...

 

"Well, if you're sure..."

 

Before Marron could say anything else, Gateau had sat up, stretched, and rolled over onto his back. Marron gasped, "Ga- Gateau-!", but hadn't managed to stop him. Gateau opened his eyes, "Hmm?"

 

"Your back... you'll have sand stuck to it now..."

 

Gateau sat up again. He brushed at his shoulder, indeed it was crusted with sand.

 

"Damn, you're right. Well, hey, you know what this means!"

 

"Gateau?"

 

Gateau stood up and held Marron's wrist, making Marron stand up too; he grinned widely, "That means we gotta go hit the waves to get rid of it! C'mon, let's go swimming!"

 

And before Marron could protest, Gateau was running off (still holding Marron's hand) to the water's edge.

 

Carrot glanced down at Marron's towel and bag. He put the jar of whatever it was back in Marron's bag, lifted the towel, shook sand out of it, and folded it up to put it in the bag too. He'd look after Marron's things until later, couldn't risk leaving them out on the beach like that.

 

He stood up. Scanning the sea in front of him, he couldn't see Gateau or Marron... or Salad either, hadn't she been over there at some point? Well, probably. It didn't really matter, Carrot was, amazingly enough, just not feeling in the mood.

 

A sigh. He knew it was petty and irrational, but... he couldn't help but feel just a little left out. Not that they'd meant it towards him or anything, but Gateau and Marron had run off so fast, too fast to follow... and he didn't want it to seem like he was following them around all day. If Marron and Gateau wanted to do stuff alone together, he didn't want to get in the way.

 

Would there be anything to get in the way of...?

 

Carrot wasn't sure, and he didn't know if he liked the thought of that. He sighed again, and turned his back on the waves. What else to do... maybe go get something to eat or drink, he was pretty sure Marron had brought some money along with him. Maybe find some of the others... well, Milphey or Salad. Chocolat and Tira would likely want to punish him and tie him down for some obscure reason, and Potato and Jeeves... Carrot never had a desire to see either of them.

 

Somewhere else on the beach, a plot was being hatched. Hatched, and watched.

 

Potato had gone off to some quiet corner of the beach with Jeeves; apparently he had something he wanted to show to Potato. Chocolat had heard them... Tira had wanted to see if there were any beachballs for sale, so Chocolat had let her go and see, maybe they could throw it around later on. In the meantime... what were Potato and Jeeves up to? Something Jeeves wanted to show Potato... morbidly curious, Chocolat had quietly followed the two of them.

 

Once they came to a halt, Chocolat skirted around until she was somewhere hidden, but close by; she ducked behind some tall grass a few meters away.

 

Jeeves brought something out of his waistcoat, "THIS, is what Master Potato needs!"

 

"What'th that?"

 

Chocolat parted the grass with her hands; she could hear them perfectly well from her little hiding-place, but she couldn't quite see... she shifted until she could, it seemed that Jeeves was holding some kind of bottle. Her curiosity was definitely roused now... Jeeves always seemed to have different potions, always when they went to the beach, things would happen, usually because of Jeeves and Potato...

 

"It's a potion I spent all night making just for you, Master Potato! At long last, you should be able to woo the girl of your dreams! With rare ingredients that took years to locate and longer to combine, you should at last be able to find a girl who'll be willing to love you!"

 

"That'th... that'th... Jeevth, how'th thith thuppothed to work?"

 

"Ah, that's a deep secret! But it's a combination of many things, and it has a... special effect on the mind and body... once you give this to somebody, they won't be able to help but want you!"

 

"R-REALLY!?"

 

"Indeed! Please, Master Potato! Take this, and find the girl of your dreams!"

 

Potato quickly snatched the bottle from Jeeves' outstretched hand, and hugged it madly. At last, he'd be able to find a girl to love him!

 

From behind the grass, Chocolat just watched. So... that potion that Jeeves had given to Potato... it was a kind of love potion, was it?

 

Then, perhaps... just maybe... if she managed to get hold of it, then... just maybe...

 

She smirked.

 

Carrot could be hers!

 

Deciding to make her entrance, Chocolat stood up; the movement disturbed Potato and Jeeves, they looked up, shocked. Chocolat feigned a sigh, wiping at her brow with the back of her wrist; she sighed loudly once more, "Oh, Potato, Jeeves... you wouldn't happen to know where I could find something to drink... would you? Only... I'm so thirsty... I think I might just faint..."

 

"Mi- mi- mith Chocolat! A- a- ah, th- th-... that ith... I... I... I have thomething right here!"

 

"Oh, you do? You're so wonderful, Potato! Please may I have some?"

 

Potato nodded dumbly, offering the bottle up towards her; Chocolat was very pretty, and if she drunk the love potion, and said she loved only Potato... well, that'd be something he'd have over that stupid Carrot! Even if it was someone Carrot didn't seem to like, he would have scored, and Carrot... Potato didn't even know where Carrot was, probably somewhere else on the beach trying to find unsuspecting girls to hit on... oh, what an idiot. He didn't have such a secret weapon...!

 

Chocolat smiled warmly, "Oh, thank you! Ah, but..."

 

"But...?"

 

"My sister, Tira... she was also very thirsty... I came this way and she went in the opposite direction, we were both looking for something to drink... do you mind at all if I take this to her so we can share it? Then we could both... feel the effect it'd have..."

 

Chocolat played the scene out for all it was worth, staring all wide-eyed and eyelash-batting at Potato, holding her arms underneath her breasts to emphasize them... surely Potato would like that idea, the thought of both Misu sisters drinking the potion...

 

Potato fell for the bait hook, line and sinker. The thought of both sisters declaring their love to him... that'd would be... that'd... that was like a dream come true!

 

"YETH! Yeth, yeth PLEATH! If the'th thirthty too, then- then- yeth, let her have thome too! But pleath..."

 

"Hmm?"

 

"Bring the bottle back to me when you're finithed?"

 

That would be when he'd strike... Chocolat just nodded, still smiling.

 

"Oh, of course. Thank you so much...! I'll be back in a little while. Thank you again!"

 

She waved loftily at Potato and Jeeves as she walked away, watching their reaction with amusement. Potato really was naive, wasn't he... thinking she'd drink something from him so quickly! But she knew what Potato didn't think she knew, and... where was Carrot, anyway...?

 

Chocolat made her way across the beach. It was likely that, unless Tira had found and reprimanded Carrot already, he was girlchasing, or something... she'd have to act quickly. She had to find Carrot soon, before it was time to head back to Eden!

 

By that time... she couldn't help but giggle to herself. By that time, Carrot would be hers!

 

Looking around desperately, Chocolat hoped she'd find Carrot on his own... but still couldn't believe her good luck when she did...!

 

Carrot was still walking around on his own, looking for someone, anyone, please. Gateau and Marron still seemed to be swimming, and when Chocolat called his name, he looked up, and he couldn't help but feel pleased to see her... she was smiling so warmly and so happily, such a contrast to how she'd been yelling and hitting at him earlier on in the day. But that didn't matter; a familiar face was a familiar face, and Chocolat didn't seem to be angry with him at the moment... he looked up and waved to her, she ran closer.

 

"Oh, darling! I was wondering where you were..."

 

"I was just walking around a bit... I'd been talking to Gateau and Marron, then they decided to go off swimming, so, you know how it is. Just thought I'd get some exercise, y'know. Seen any of the others?"

 

"Tira's off near the shops, I think... I haven't seen anybody else since we came here, though. I was worried I wouldn't even be able to find you! But I found you easily. Oh, ah... I bought a drink, would you like some? If you've been walking around like that for so long, then surely you must be thirsty..."

 

"Hm? I hadn't really thought about it, but... yeah, maybe I could do with a drink. If I couldn't find anyone I'd thought of maybe going up to the shops, but... if you don't mind..."

 

Chocolat happily handed Carrot the bottle; it was clear as was the liquid inside, plugged with a cork, and looked nice and harmless.

 

"Come now, darling! Why would I mind giving anything to you? You can keep it, if you want. Drink all of it, it's very refreshing...!"

 

Not thinking anything of it, Carrot uncorked the bottle and, on Chocolat's request, downed the bottle empty in a few gulps. He nodded, "Aaah, that hit the spot! Thanks, Chocolat. I owe you one."

 

He caught the look in her eye; she seemed to be watching him very closely, it was almost freaky...

 

"Chocolat?"

 

"Is there anything you want... to say to me...?"

 

"Huh? Like what?"

 

"Maybe it takes a little while to work, like a painkiller... N-nevermind. Hey, why don't we go somewhere a little quieter... see if we can find anyone else... I think I saw Salad over here a little while ago... she went into... into..."

 

Walking along the back edge of the beach, Chocolat saw the ideal place; there was, what looked like, an abandoned wooden shack, perhaps used for keeping beach equipment in or something. Maybe somewhere cool for people to go, stay out of the sun. Whatever, it didn't matter. Chocolat guided Carrot over, opened the door, and quickly pushed him inside.

 

"... in here! Maybe she's not here now. Ah... darling... would you stay here for just a little while?"

 

"Ch-Chocolat, what are you doing?! You're being weird!"

 

"Ahaha, I think you'll be the one acting weird soon... you see... Jeeves was going to give that potion to Potato, apparently it'll make someone fall in love with somebody else! Potato tried to give it to me, but I gave it to you... oh darling, I can't wait for you to love me!"

"WHAAT!?"

 

"So, you just stay in here while we wait for it to have an effect. I'll be back in about half an hour, darling! I'll bring some icecream with me. Then perhaps we... could have a little fun with it? Ahahahahhh~n!"

 

Chocolat smartly slammed the door on Carrot; there was a chain and a padlock on the doorhandle. She wrapped the chain over and through itself several times, not wanting to shut the padlock in case she couldn't open it once more. She pulled the chain taught, it seemed to be sturdy. Carrot was pounding on the door from the other side, and he couldn't seem to be able to open the door... Chocolat smirked to herself. Perfect.

 

Carrot ran to the small window next to the door - he could see Chocolat walking away from the shack. He pounded against the door a few more times, "CHOCOLAT! CHOCOLAT! CHOCOLAT, COME BACK HERE AND LET ME OUT!!! CHOCOLAAAAT!!!"

 

But she didn't hear him.

 

Feeling hopeless, Carrot spun around and leant his back against the door. He slipped down into a seated position, looking around.

 

The door was behind him, and the window was to the left of the door, not the kind that opened... and that was it. The shack wasn't so large, probably a little smaller than his and Marron's bedroom back in Eden. There wasn't anything in the shed that he could use to help him escape... no other entry... he growled to himself. He was trapped, and Chocolat had trapped him! And she'd been acting so nicely, too... this was just the kind of stunt she always pulled! Potions from Jeeves... damn them, damn that entire family with the exception of the lovely Salad-san!

 

Standing back up, Carrot pressed himself against the window. Maybe someone would walk past, someone he could ask for help from... he wasn't sure what the potion would do to him, but he knew that he really really didn't want to be in the shack when Chocolat returned. If he was going to tell anyone that he loved them, he wanted it to be on his own terms, he wanted it to be his own decision! He was determined not to let any potion cloud his judgement! He wanted to get as far away from Chocolat (or Tira or anyone else) as possible!

 

Somewhere else on the beach, Marron was walking around, feeling a little worried. After he and Gateau had gone off to swim, he'd remembered his bag and towel; Gateau was still swimming somewhere, but Marron felt he had to find his things... not least because the sun lotion was in there, and he'd been swimming, so he'd have to put more on...

 

He'd covered the length of the beach several times, and was starting to feel a little overheated. He'd taken his hairband out to swim, and his dark hair was attracting the heat nicely... and of course, walking around with his t-shirt stuck to his wet body, he'd come to the attention of many ladies who were sunning themselves... he'd asked some of them if they'd seen his things, some had offered to help him search, but he'd declined. Maybe he was just looking in the wrong place.

 

It was while Marron was walking, that he felt it. Just that little shiver, that little feeling he always seemed to get when Carrot was somehow in trouble somewhere, and he wasn't there to help... his bag forgotten, Marron immediately called upon the spinner trace he'd put on his brother's back; he wasn't stupid enough to let Carrot go off with no way of being reached - he quickly followed the trail to where his brother might be.

 

The trail seemed to lead him to a small wooden shack. Strange, but the trail definitely pointed to the shack... Marron approached it, "... nii... san?"

 

Carrot banged on the window, "MARRON! Marron! Marron!"

 

"Niisan, you are there!"

 

"Oh, god, Marron! I'm so pleased to see you...! I... I... please, you..."

 

Marron frowned. Carrot wasn't making a lot of sense... Carrot was also bemused by this. He'd just been standing there quietly, but suddenly, he felt... he felt strange. The inside of the shack was cool, being out of the sunlight, but... Carrot felt like his body was burning up, much more intense than when he'd been out in the sunlight...

 

Going to open the door of the shack, Marron found the chains twisted around the doorhandle, preventing it from being moved. He unchained the door, and opened it.

 

"Niisan, are you alright?"

 

Carrot had fallen back to the floor of the shack, "I, I... um... that-... that is..."

 

Shutting the door quickly and being happy to be finally out of the sun, Marron quickly dropped to a kneel next to his brother. He put a hand to Carrot's forehead, "Niisan! You're burning up...!"

 

"I... I feel strange... I'd... I... have to get away b'fore Chocolat gets back..."

 

"Chocolat? Niisan, what... what happened?"

 

"Need to get out of here... s'hard to move, but I... I have to..."

 

"Niisan, perhaps you have a fever, or sunstroke... don't move if it's difficult. But... Chocolat, what's she got to do with this? Did she keep you here?"

 

Carrot nodded, "Y-yeah... s'a potion thing... Potato..."

 

Marron frowned, the beginnings of a picture starting to build in his mind. Carrot was here in this shack, and... there was something to do with a potion Carrot had taken? One of Potato's potions? Maybe this was why he was acting like this now...

 

"Niisan... you shouldn't trust anything Potato gives you...!"

 

"N-no... see... Chocolat... she had it... I.. I was thirsty, so I had it, and she was happy... then... then... in here, n' the door all chained up, 'cause the potion's supposed to make me love her or something... s-so, I can't be here when she, she comes back...! She'll... she'll... I don't know... she'll do something...! Marron, I, I, I have to get out of here!"

 

"DAAARLIIING!!"

 

From outside, Chocolat's cry carried; Carrot looked up with shock, "N-no! She... she... I can't... I... Marron, do something!"

 

Spotting his bag over in the corner, Marron quickly reached for it and brought out four ofuda; he placed one in each corner of the shack, and chanted something Carrot couldn't hear; the ofuda glowed, and some kind of blue light shot from corner to corner of the room; the light seemed to overtake the walls of the shack, and then it died away. Carrot looked at Marron, "Wh- what...?"

 

"It's a kind of seal, niisan. She won't be able to enter. We won't be able to get out until I move the ofuda, of course... but we're relatively safe in here."

 

"A-ah..."

 

Outside, Chocolat seemed to have noticed that the chain she'd tied so tightly around the door had been discarded, it lay to the side of the shack. She frowned; had Carrot managed to escape? She tried to open the door, but somehow it wouldn't... had Carrot locked it from the inside? Even so, that didn't explain the chain... she knocked on the door.

 

"Darling...? Are you in there? The chain came loose...! I brought icecream..."

 

Marron looked to Carrot, who just shook his head. Marron nodded in understanding, "Chocolat, it's me, Marron... niisan is... he seems to be ill, at the moment... it seems as if he's contracted some kind of fever, he's burning up to touch...! I think it'd be best if he just stayed here for a while... he's... he's fallen asleep at the moment..."

 

"Whaat? Well, um... Marron, you go... do something else, I'll look after darling!"

 

"I'd rather take care of him myself, Chocolat. He seems to be in a delicate state at the moment... I placed a seal over this cabin so we wouldn't be disturbed... I think it'll be best to let him sleep, just until he wakes up."

 

A silence; Chocolat didn't know what to say, her plan had been thwarted. And what if the potion came into play while Carrot was with Marron...?! No, that... that was too weird, that couldn't happen...!

 

Still, Marron seemed to think Carrot just had a fever, so... if he said anything strange, he'd probably blame that on the fever too... Chocolat sighed. It obviously couldn't be helped.

 

"Alright, alright... I'll go find someone else to share my icecream with... I'll come back soon to see if darling's any better, okay?"

 

"A-ah, yes..."

 

Carrot mouthed 'Is she gone?' to Marron; Marron stood up, looked out of the window... Chocolat was walking away dejectedly from the shack once more. Marron sat down against the wall beneath the window, nodding.

 

A sigh of relief; "Man, I'm glad. I don't know what I woulda done if you hadn't been here, Marron... um... but you don't have to stay here if you were doing something else, you, you, you can go back to be with Gateau if you want..."

 

"Niisan, I can't leave you here while there's something wrong with you..."

 

"You don't have to always look after me..."

 

"Yes I do."

 

Marron's statement was so straightforward...! There wasn't any argument with that. Carrot frowned and looked at Marron, questioning him. Marron's facial expression softened slightly, "I... I have to make sure you're alright, niisan. Besides, while Chocolat's out looking for you... might she not try to do something subversive?"

 

"Mmn, you have a point..."

 

Carrot was sitting against the wall right of the door, to Marron's left. The two fell silent; there wasn't much to say. Carrot tapped his fingers against the wooden floor, looking around at the walls... there wasn't anything to look at, though. He sighed, trying to think of something to say.

 

"So, uh... tell me about your day. How's it's been? Done fun things?"

 

"Ah, well... after Gateau dragged me away, we swam for a little while... the water's very cool outside, niisan. Perhaps after you're feeling a bit better, perhaps you could swim there also... we took turns to see who could swim from one point to the other, the fastest... then Gateau wanted to see how far out he could swim, I had to persuade him against that. We don't know what's in those waters, it's best just to keep to the shoreline..."

 

"Ah..."

 

Carrot nodded his agreement, encouraging Marron to carry on.

 

"... so we swam along the shore for a while... we had quite a few people watching us, too. In the end, Gateau managed to reach the other end of the beach before me, he's probably had more practice swimming than I have, but I don't think I did so badly. I wouldn't mind competing against him again perhaps, or... or maybe with you, niisan... I'm better at swimming than I was when I was a child!"

 

"Mmn..."

 

"Would you like to do that, perhaps?"

 

"Ah? U-uun..."

 

Marron couldn't help but notice that his brother had fallen into monosyllabics. It wasn't that he didn't seem interested... just... preoccupied. Like he wasn't paying full attention... still, Marron felt it'd be best if Carrot at least had something to try and keep attention on, likely whatever it was that Chocolat gave him was starting to have it's effect... Marron continued, not letting the strange look in Carrot's eyes distract him.

 

"... and at one point, we were swimming, and it seemed that a small child was scared of a jellyfish... so we helped to rescue him, and the mother was very thankful..."

 

And so, Marron continued. Carrot tried to listen, but... all of a sudden, he found it difficult to even work out what it was Marron was saying... so he stared at Marron, keeping his concentration on Marron himself rather than what Marron was talking about.

 

What was happening to his mind? His body still felt like it was burning up, and his mind felt numb... he was sure his vision kept wavering, but he couldn't remember if it kept happening or what... it seemed so hard to keep concentrated on things... so hard even to keep his body held up, he leant back against the wall of the shack, just staring at Marron...

 

At that stare, Marron faltered and came to a stop.

 

"... Niisan? Niisan, are you alright?"

 

Carrot was watching him so intently, so strangely... his eyes narrowed slightly, staring unblinking yet aware... he was flushed from what Marron had thought had been his fever, and his breathing was loud. But that stare... regarding Marron as if he was... as if he was... as if he was Marron didn't know what...

 

Whatever had been in Jeeves' potion was now starting to have the originally desired effect on Carrot's mind. Rational thought of 'what's happening to me?' long gone, Carrot was no longer quite himself. He stared at Marron in that way, but as he laboriously lifted himself from the wall and crawled along to where Marron was, he seemed to see his brother in an entirely new light...

 

Carrot's vision still seemed to fluctuate, but he could still see this person in front of him. Pretty. Beautiful, even. Female? Questionable. Attractive? Undoubtedly. Familiar? Quite, so. Dangerous? No. A possible target? Well, yes...

 

Marron watched Carrot as he moved. Carrot hadn't responded at all to his previous question, and didn't exactly seem in the mood or the mindframe to do so anyway... Marron was slightly worried. Had whatever Chocolat had given him started to kick in? Was there anything he could do? Carrot seemed to have come to a stop, still in his crawl, in the middle of the room. Marron tried to call to him again.

 

"Niisan... niisan, say something...!"

 

On hearing Marron's voice, Carrot's ears twitched, he looked up. His eyes met Marron's eyes. Marron's eyes widened.

 

There was something odd about Carrot's eyes. They seemed dulled somehow, his look seemed hazy... his actions and movements seemed as if he were drunk, or drugged... Marron supposed Carrot had been, in a way. Marron wished he could go and find Jeeves, find out just what was in that potion and what the hell it was supposed to do, but for the time being, he had to stay with Carrot. For Carrot's own safety, if not everyone else's...

 

Carrot advanced, something almost feline about his movements. Marron's mind raced; Carrot had said that Chocolat had given Carrot the potion in the hope of it being a love potion or something, hadn't she? If this was the effect it was having... was this what Chocolat had wanted to happen?

 

"... Ma... Marr... on...?"

 

"Y-yes, niisan?"

 

"... Marron..."

 

Yes, that was his name, wasn't it? Marron. Marron. Even the name was quite pretty, in it's own way. He looked scared at the moment, though. He was scared? Why did he look scared? What was there to be scared of? Ah, but he probably didn't have that feeling, did he...

 

Many people would have joked that Carrot was controlled by his libido, but at that moment in that shack, he was literally so. Nothing else was getting through to him; the burning in his body had settled - he was still burning up, but there was a reason for that... his body shook slightly with the strength of the arousal within him, and his mind was closed to anything other than sex.

 

Love potion, powerful aphrodisiac, same kind of thing.

 

"Niisan, you... what's happening to you...?"

 

The room was locked off to the outside world, Carrot's mind dimly remembered that. People outside, there were people outside he wanted to hide from. Inside... it was so hot inside, wasn't it? And he was inside with this one other person... this other person was worried about him, wasn't he? Someone special, he remembered that. Someone close. Someone who'd do anything for him.

 

Anything...?

 

"Nn... Marron..."

 

Carrot had reached Marron by this point, and was knelt in front of him somewhat, his hands on Marron's shoulders. He was panting softly, and he still had that dull look in his eyes. Despite that, he still stared directly at Marron, never breaking eye contact... Carrot was sure there were things he was supposed to be remembering, but in that state of mind, it was hard to remember to even remember, let alone remember what he was supposed to remember...

 

One hand went to Marron's hair. It was still slightly damp from where he'd been swimming, but Carrot didn't seem to care. He stroked Marron's hair with a deceptive gentleness, quietly observing his brother.

 

"... Y-you... are you... you're... you're scared...?"

 

"You're acting strangely, niisan..."

 

"... m... mm?"

 

Marron breathed deeply; this was just an effect of the potion, Carrot was just acting strangely, it wasn't as if anything would happen... and besides, thinking like that was wrong, it was best to focus on Gateau, Gateau could give him what he needed, Carrot would never be able to give anything like that, he'd never see Marron in that way, and while Marron was going through his supply of mantras in his mind, Carrot kissed him, brutal and passionate.

 

Obviously he wasn't willing to wait for an explanation on how he was acting strangely. Did he even see his behaviour as strange?

 

Marron gave up, at that point. That kind of kiss... wasn't this the kind of thing he'd been telling himself Carrot would never do to him? Wasn't this the kind of thing that was impossible and wrong?

 

Ah, but Carrot was drugged... had to keep that in mind... had to remember that...

 

His movements of before may have been hazy and delayed, but now that an outlet for his state of mind was apparent, Carrot quickly geared into action. He kept Marron pressed against the wall of the shack, but then they both fell to the floor; Carrot shifted from being in front of Marron to being on top of Marron, his arms keeping a tight hold of Marron, never ceasing his kiss.

 

Marron himself was feeling quite dazed. Carrot's body was hot against him, and he too felt himself burning up... he'd often imagined what his brother's kiss might be like, but to actually experience it... Carrot would pull back slightly, his lips against Marron's lips, soft and pliant... then they'd move to cover Marron's lips, claim them, push between them... Marron surrendered, feeling his brother's licks and nibbles... he could taste his brother, so close, no specific taste but that of him, of Carrot...

 

And then... then of course, Marron could feel... that... his brother's hard arousal, pressing against him... so that was what was controlling him, everything seemed so apparent, and Marron felt his breath quicken. Against him like that... he wanted to melt, knowing that his brother was like that and they were alone and in that frame of mind, just what might Carrot do?

 

Surrendering himself to Carrot's kiss, Marron moaned fervently into it. His brother seemed so powerful, like this...! But his was not the only need... Marron hungrily kissed back, wanting to feel, wanting to be claimed, wanting to give himself to Carrot, only to Carrot... any feelings he'd been pushing away from himself over the past month were dangerously close to surfacing once more...

 

The kiss was broken as Carrot pulled away, just slightly. His lips still hovered a centimetre or so from Marron's lips, but they didn't touch... he stared at Marron once more, Marron sorely wished he knew what was happening in his brother's mind... what frame of mind was working behind those eyes...?

 

Not that Marron was to know that, but Carrot's mindframe seemed to have reverted back to a primal mindset; somehow he needed to do something to this person in his arms, and then something would happen. Whatever that something was, he really had to do it. Really.

 

"You'd... you'd... wouldn't you...?"

 

"Niisan... niisan, wh-... what?"

 

"If... 'f I wanted you to... you... you and me... me... you'd help... with this..."

 

"Niisan, I'd... I'd help you with anything you needed help with, if it was in my power...! Even if it wasn't, I'd do my best... niisan, what... what is it you need?"

 

"Something... something I don't know... something 'bout this feeling..."

 

"Feeling, niisan?"

 

"M-mm..."

 

Carrot shifted Marron along so they weren't quite so pressed up against the wall. Carrot had Marron pinned to the floor, their bodies together... Marron felt light-headed. He was sure that he could feel... something... he knew he could feel that... no, but... not that, surely...? Surely that... surely that wasn't what Carrot meant...? He could never feel like that... surely... but it seemed that he did, so suddenly...

 

There were so many things Carrot felt he wanted to say. He wanted to say how beautiful Marron looked to him, vulnerable and maybe a little scared like that below him... he wanted to talk about how Marron was the only person he could do this with, he wanted to wax lyrical on his brother's looks and everything else, but all he could do was growl against Marron's neck as he pulled the t-shirt away from his brother's body.

 

They were both humans, were they not? They had the potential to do anything like that with each other... they were both humans, and the human below Carrot was warm, and soft, and obedient, and willing... the t-shirt thrown aside, Carrot was gazing hungrily down at his brother's chest. Marron's skin was still as pale as it'd always been... warm from the sun outside, soft from that same warmth... oh, but it needed to be marked and claimed, it needed someone to bite it and brand it and make it strong... Carrot felt himself an able contender of which to do so.

 

Marron stared at one of the far corners of the shack, a little hazy himself. Carrot was nipping, biting, licking and sucking against his neck and a little lower, and everything felt so unreal. He'd whisper softly, but Carrot was either ignoring him or genuinely couldn't hear...

 

"Ni-... niisan... please... n-niisan..."

 

Whether he was pleading for Carrot to stop or to carry on, Marron wasn't sure. On one hand... they couldn't do things like this, could they...? Carrot was drugged up with something, would he even remember the things he did now, in the future? And besides, hadn't Marron been convincing himself so hard for the past few weeks that lusting after his brother was wrong?

 

Such things seemed sent to test him.

 

But on the other hand... could he stop Carrot? Well, he probably could. Another barrier type spell, or something just to shield himself away until whatever was affecting Carrot had worn away, that wasn't an impossible thing to do.

 

However... did he want Carrot to stop? That was an entirely different matter. Carrot seemed like a thing possessed, growling against Marron, leaving marks against his skin... even if it was a brutal experience, might anything similar ever happen again? Marron had long since been telling himself that nothing could ever happen between he and his brother; the situation wasn't perfect, but now something was happening between them... in the face of that, Marron was powerless to stop it. He might never have another chance, he thought to himself...

 

The thought of being powerless to stop his brother's raging passion was also an attractive thought in itself. Marron didn't dare encourage his arousal, but he couldn't help but think about it, and before he could stop himself or chant any of his (theoretically) calming mantras, Marron was aroused also.

 

What might Carrot do to him? What might Carrot make him do? He remembered that dream he'd had so long ago that'd made him think so much... where he hadn't been in control... when he'd been the slave to all those people, he hadn't even known who they were, but... maybe... maybe like that... maybe Carrot would force him to do things, give him no say in the matter, and because it was Carrot, maybe, just maybe, Marron would finally be able to reach his climax...

 

Marron looked up at Carrot, his eyes wide, his fingers shaking and stroking his brother's cheek.

 

"Niisan, this... this is real... isn't it?"

 

"Ma-Marron...?"

 

Feeling a powerful rush of feeling wash over his body, Marron lay his head back against the floor. He couldn't stop Carrot, could he? He was Carrot's plaything, to be done to as however Carrot might wish...

 

"Niisan... whatever it is you feel you must do... please do it... I... I'm yours...!"

 

Those words were so hard to say, but in this situation, somehow, Marron could say them... blushing and subordinate, but he could say them... it all felt so strange, things seemed to be happening too quickly, but Carrot was horny and pressed against him and Marron was also aroused and pressed against Carrot... it felt like a strange, fevered dream... but it was real, it was all real...

 

"Need... need to do things, Marron... you'll... help me with them... right?"

 

"Things... what things, niisan?"

 

Carrot pushed away from Marron, sitting away from him for a moment, pulling his shorts away. They caught against his legs in his haste, he growled in frustration, then threw them away to the side.

 

Now, Carrot was naked.

 

"Want to be touched... you... want you to touch me... you'll touch me, won't you...?"

 

Marron couldn't help but just stare at Carrot for a few moments. That... that was what he'd always wanted to see, wasn't it? Carrot's naked, aroused body... the body that haunted his dreams more than he cared to admit... all the times he'd had to imagine, but now, he'd seen... entranced, Marron crawled over to where Carrot was, lying alongside him, still staring down at Carrot's erection.

 

"I-... I... o-of course, niisan...! If you want me to..."

 

Carrot wrapped his arms around Marron's shoulders, nodding against Marron's neck before leaning up to kiss against his cheek, "Yes... yes, I want you to...!"

 

Shifting back so they were leaning against the wall once more, Carrot sat against the wall with Marron next to him. Carrot's head was leant against Marron's shoulder, one of Marron's arms was around Carrot's shoulders, and the other arm worked frantically against Carrot's erection.

 

So that was what it felt like to touch... that was its size, its feel... Marron wanted to taste it, know his brother's taste, but Carrot was holding him too tightly to want to move. Maybe later... for now, Carrot seemed so desperate, his mind taken by that potion and his body taken by his arousal... Marron felt it was his very duty to bring about his brother's climax. It didn't matter about his own feelings, not just yet. For now... this was what Carrot wanted, and Marron felt he'd work his hardest to give it to him... perhaps deeper things could come later...

 

Carrot's erection felt hot in Marron's hand. Marron felt a dim memory of Gateau in his mind, of what Gateau felt like like this... Carrot's erection was understandably smaller than Gateau's, but there were all kinds of differences there, age, physical fitness, all of those things... but Gateau wasn't Carrot, and Marron at that moment didn't want to be touching anybody but his brother. He always wanted to know what Carrot felt like, he always wanted to be able to remember... he touched his brother as gently as he could while moving as fast as Carrot wanted, he didn't want to hurt him... the shaft feeling warm and smooth to his fingers, his thumb brushing over the tip, feeling the difference in texture there... Carrot was moaning and gasping against Marron's shoulder, he occasionally felt Carrot's teeth bite against him. He didn't mind.

 

The bestial mindset was still within Carrot, but in such a different way now. Before, he'd needed to persuade this other human of what he needed, he needed to know if his needs could be granted... if they couldn't, then perhaps the animal within would have had to have been a little forceful, but his need could be satiated, and now he didn't have to worry about having something to conquer; he had somebody touching him, and now, literally, all he could think about was his orgasm.

 

His hips shuddered continuously against Marron's hand, thrusting rapidly, helping him along. The feeling from before had been powerful and overtaking, the lust, the need, the want... now he had what he needed, and his feelings were pooling inside him - he didn't need, because he had... he'd found the means to his climax, and now all that was left was the climax itself... and Carrot's mind was clouded with it. He couldn't concentrate on anything, he didn't want to concentrate on anything. His fingers dug against Marron's shoulders, his face buried against Marron's neck... he could smell his brother's skin, so close. His brother's heat, the scent of his hair not too far away... looking up at Marron, he watched. Marron was so preoccupied with watching his hand and his hand's movements...

 

Was there really something Carrot had to remember about this? All he could feel was Marron's hand working against him, as wonderful as any kind of magic... every movement was bringing him closer and closer... it didn't matter if there was anything wrong with their scenario. All Carrot could feel was that this was someone he loved and trusted enough to do this kind of thing with, even if he couldn't quite remember why that was. He'd needed to make sure. He was sure. Now, there wasn't anything else he wanted.

 

Marron looked down slightly, "Niisan... niisan, is this...?"

 

A nod, "M-mmn..."

 

Their eyes meeting momentarily, then for longer... Marron couldn't tear himself away from his brother's eyes, and Carrot was gazing at him with such desperation... that look on his face, pleading and desperate and longing all at once, he wanted to ask Carrot what it was he wanted, but then Carrot leant forward for another kiss, and Marron knew.

 

He never stopped his hand's movements, but Carrot's kiss... it was different than before, it was... almost more submissive, almost as if, Marron thought wryly, he was now the one in charge, as it were... well, whatever Carrot wanted him to do. Whatever Carrot needed him to be. He'd do anything. And it seemed Carrot desired his kiss, so, as best he could, he kissed him...

 

Then there was a knock on the door; Carrot didn't seem to notice, still moaning and gasping against Marron's kiss as he was. Marron pulled away suddenly and looked up, shocked. There was a window right across from he and Carrot - if somebody was there, might not somebody see them?! Wasn't that... hadn't Chocolat said she'd return after a while? If she saw them-!

 

It wasn't Chocolat, though. Marron looked up; he saw a blurry figure with purple hair attempt to peer through the window, but fortunately he couldn't see much at all; the heat inside the cabin was so much that the window had steamed up, and condensation trickled down the windowpane. Marron could hear Milphey's voice outside.

 

"Marron-chan? Carrot-chan? Are you two in there still? Chocolat-chan said that this was where you'd be..."

 

Marron blushed hotly, staring at the floor.

 

"Y-... yes, Milphey... we're... we're still in here..."

 

It was too surreal, talking to somebody while doing something like that, and that person having absolutely no idea...

 

"Ah, that's good. I was worried we might not be able to find you! You might want to open the door a bit, it must be really hot in there, the windows have steamed up quite badly... Chocolat-chan mentioned that Carrot-chan was feeling sick... is he still not very well?"

 

"Ah, well..."

 

Carrot was still gasping. Surely Milphey would be able to hear...

 

"... he's still feeling strange, yes..."

 

"MARRON... hnn... ahnn..."

 

Marron tensed. Was Carrot getting close? With Milphey just a few meters away, separated only by a thin wooden wall... now was really not the most ideal time...

 

"Gosh, what's happening to him?"

 

Mind racing, Marron said the first thing that came to his mind, "He... he... he's sleeping, but he appears to be... having a dream, I think..."

 

"I seeee... well, at any rate, I came by to say, be ready to go in about half an hour or so, okay? That's when Salad and the others are going to head back, and it wouldn't be very nice to miss the ride home now, would it? You'd have to walk, and I'm sure you wouldn't want to do that. Especially if Carrot-chan's ill. Anyway, try and get Carrot-chan to wake up, Salad said she'd meet everyone at the palm trees at the top of the rocky path, you know, the one we used to get here? Sure you do. We'll meet you there soon, alright?"

 

A pause, the sound of Milphey walking away. Carrot pulled away from Marron's neck slightly, sounding breathless.

 

"You... someone you were talking to... that was... who was that...?"

 

"Milphey, Milphey was here, niisan..."

 

Carrot spoke as if the name was familiar but he couldn't quite recall who it referred to, "Mil... phey..."

 

Hugging Carrot tightly with the arm around him, Marron kissed at Carrot's forehead, "Shh, shh... don't worry about it, niisan... he's... not somebody you need to think about at the moment..."

 

"Ah-... HAHHN..."

 

And so they continued, despite the limited amount of time available to them. Marron silently cursed Salad for deciding to leave so soon... that didn't leave he and Carrot a lot of time, did it? Still, the most important thing was to bring Carrot to his climax. That was obviously what he wanted, what he needed... if anything else happened, then it'd be welcome, but... his own feelings, his own body, those didn't matter. He hadn't had an orgasm for so long, even in such a situation, surely it was just another day... a day where he'd helped his brother to orgasm... a day where he'd felt his brother in his arms, those shuddering thrusts against his hand, his panting breath, his moans, his gasps, those little half-aware desperate nibbles...

 

Even Marron was finding it difficult to concentrate on things by that point. They only had a short amount of time left, but... he wanted to make Carrot feel as good as was possible...! His brother's feelings would be his own feelings... Carrot's joy would be Marron's joy, he felt so determined to take his brother to that extent of emotion...

 

He quickly pushed his head between Carrot's head and his neck, nibbling and kissing against Carrot's skin as much as Carrot had been doing to him... he didn't want to leave any kind of mark, he didn't want anybody asking where Carrot had got those marks from, but... he could feel the rise and fall of Carrot's chest, the pounding of his heartbeat.. he leant up and kissed him, he became so bold.

 

Even if this all had to be resigned to dream-status in the future... oh, what a dream...!

 

Carrot was whispering now, "Have... have to... have to come... nn... mnn... NNNH... oh-... Ma-... Marron...? P-please... this... this, I... have to...!"

 

"Yes... yes, niisan...! I... I'll help you to do this in any way I can... I'll do anything... niisan...!"

 

That word, over and over. That word that Marron kept saying, 'niisan'... Carrot's mind idly ticked over as it numbed over with the feelings that were overpowering him... that wasn't his name, was it? No, his name was... his name was Carrot, he was quite sure of that. But that word, 'niisan'... it was quite familiar. It was what this person touching him always said, wasn't it? What did it mean, again... brother, surely? Older brother. Ah, so they were brothers.

 

Somehow, that fact barely registered on Carrot; by that point, it was too late for him to be affronted by anything, and the nature of the potion's effect on his mind meant he couldn't be shocked by anything anyway... even if Marron was secretly an evil tentacle monster from a neighbouring planet, as long as he was making Carrot feel good, did even that matter...?

 

Marron still hugged Carrot tightly while touching him. His body was hot, so hot... both his own body and Carrot's body... their shared heat made Marron feel like he was burning. Already it felt like so long ago Milphey had been talking to him... they had to leave soon, but not just yet...

 

Carrot was getting closer and closer, though. Just the little movements he did, the pitch of his cries, they changed so subtly... he whispered over and over against Marron's skin that he was coming, he was going to come, he wouldn't be able to stop himself... then one more broken whisper, "I... I'm coming..."

 

Becoming a kind of animal in Marron's arms once more, Carrot kept to his word. His body tensed out against Marron's hold, his hips still thrusting to the air, thrusting against Marron's hand. His arms and hands, around Marron's back and shoulders, dug their hardest; they'd leave marks, but that wasn't at the forefront of Marron's mind. All he could do was watch as his brother closed his eyes and tensed in his arms, moving so desperately and finally releasing his seed, which Marron moved to catch with his hands... indirectly, it was a chance...

 

Carrot lay panting and spent against the wall of the shack. His eyes were closed, and it seemed all he could do to just rest there and remember to breathe... Marron quietly licked up what his brother had given him, savouring the taste as best he could. It was different as to how he remembered Gateau to taste, it was a little like his own taste, but there was something about it that was undoubtedly Carrot...

 

They couldn't really start anything else, there wasn't enough time... Carrot opened his eyes, and gazed at Marron with that slightly confused stare once more.

 

"We're... brothers...?"

 

Momentary panic, "Ni-... niisan-!"

 

"That's... what does that... mean...? Can't... can't quite remember... to be brothers... s'what you 'n me are, but... can't quite... don't know..."

 

Marron paused, then smiled softly, warmly, realizing.

 

"Niisan... you and I... it means we're very close. It... it means we can love each other. It means we'll always be there for each other. It... it means we'd do anything for each other... I'd do anything for you..."

 

"A-ah..."

 

Marron replaced his arm around Carrot's shoulders, "Niisan... are you alright now?"

 

Carrot stared up at Marron. Was he alright? What did he feel? His mind still felt hazy and unknowing... he'd just felt something so powerful, hadn't he? That had been because this brother of his had been touching him. Maybe it was possible to feel like that again? Maybe there were other things they could do?

 

Pinning Marron down again, Carrot felt somewhat overwhelmed. That feeling... he wanted to experience it again, as much as he could...! And Marron could help him with that... couldn't he?

 

"Let's... let's do that more... I... I want to feel that more... again... as much as I can... I... can you feel something like that...? Want you to feel it to...! Want to... I... you... there's... there's somewhere inside you... I could... we... I could... I could fuck you..."

 

The words seemed to reveal themselves to Carrot as he continued. Marron froze as Carrot spoke; Carrot... really planned on that? He really wanted to do... something like that? He'd be willing...?

 

If Carrot was willing, Marron was also. If his brother wanted to take him, even if he was afflicted like this, Marron didn't want to refuse him. How could he refuse him...?

 

No, but... then the others... the time... now... they couldn't...! The others might wonder where they were, the others might come to the cabin to find them, and what could be done if they arrived while Marron was being so taken? If they said they were leaving at that moment, was Marron supposed to crawl from the shack with his brother still on his back, inside him and crazy?

 

Marron didn't want to stop, he desperately didn't want to stop - might this not be his only chance...? How could something like this ever come up again... but despite that, it... it had to be stopped... he couldn't continue... he needed time, and that was the one thing they didn't have.

 

But then, could Carrot really be stopped?

 

"Niisan... no, we can't... we have to stop now..."

 

The words were an alien concept to Carrot's mind. No? Marron was refusing him? And... they couldn't? Why not? Why couldn't they? What was stopping them? And the thought of stopping... well, that was an impossible thought. Stopping? That meant not carrying on. And not carrying on, surely that meant that he wouldn't be able to feel that feeling anymore?

 

No, impossible. Wasn't Marron someone who'd do anything for him? He wouldn't stop, he wouldn't let himself be stopped. His lust was his driving force, and where that was concerned, he had limitless energy. Nevermind if Marron said no, that didn't matter. He'd take him anyway.

 

In that frame of mind, Carrot easily pulled Marron's shorts and underwear away from him. Maybe he could express his need through actions rather than words... if Marron felt the feeling also, then surely he'd realise how wonderful it was too, and want to feel it as much as Carrot did...? Marron was light-headed at the feeling of Carrot touching and stroking his erection, surely it'd be so easy to just sit back and let whatever would happen, happen... just forget about the others, be able to exist in that world of just he and Carrot, do the things that other world did... even if it wasn't really with Carrot...

 

Not... really with Carrot...

 

This was Carrot... wasn't it? It was him, it was undoubtedly him, but... had it not been for whatever Chocolat had drugged him up with, then... surely Carrot wouldn't be doing anything like this?

 

Carrot was in a strange frame of mind, he wanted to do these things more than anything else, but... surely that was taking advantage of him...? Even if Carrot was the one in control, even if he was the one on top, as it were... he was only doing those things because his mind was twisted into doing them... if he was with Carrot just normally, Carrot would never dream of doing any of this... it was like a dream in itself, but it was reality... and if they did... things... and Carrot remembered... surely there'd be regret...?

 

If Carrot was going to do anything like that, surely it was best to wait for him to want to do them of his own free will, not just because he was drugged to do them... obviously Chocolat didn't have those kinds of morals, or maybe she really felt that the situation would have worked to her advantage, but... had she really expected that Carrot would love her unconditionally after screwing with his mind to make him want her? What about when the potion wore off? Surely it eventually would...

 

As much as Marron felt his brother wouldn't want Chocolat taking advantage of him... also he felt Carrot wouldn't appreciate Marron doing the same. Carrot obviously thought that he so needed to do these things, but in a normal state of mind, he never would...

 

Marron felt suddenly so guilty. He couldn't let his brother do things he'd regret...! He couldn't use his brother for his own ends like that, even if Carrot didn't know it was something he'd regret...

 

Letting out a slight sob of frustration, Marron pushed Carrot away with all his strength, then went to grab his bag. Carrot leapt for Marron's legs, holding them tightly, but Marron already had an ofuda... he closed his eyes, pressed the ofuda to Carrot's forehead, cast the spell. Again were flashes and glows, and then Carrot's hold around Marron's legs fell slack. Marron had managed to knock Carrot unconscious.

 

He sighed deeply. Something of that power would probably make Carrot sleep for hours, at least until they got home... that was for the best though, he felt. Marron didn't want to risk Carrot remembering or saying anything in front of the others. Or, even worse, if the potion didn't wear off while Carrot slept, and if he tried to do things to Marron with all the others watching...

 

Marron shuddered powerfully. It was over. That kind of thing that would never happen, it had happened... and it could have gone further, had he been willing to be selfish... no, he couldn't be. He couldn't let something like that happen, not with all the possible repercussions it might have had in the future... he wished so fervently that he could have carried on, let Carrot do whatever he wished, but... that was in nobody's best interest but his own.

 

Still he was aroused, though. He brought himself to a shakingly cross-legged position, quietly focusing his thoughts. He had to escape the physical and embrace the spiritual... he had to get back into that previous mindset, the one he'd managed to uphold for most of the month... he had to be like he was before, he had to convince himself that it was wrong, it was all so wrong, lusting after his brother was wrong, it was sinful, it was evil...

 

Even though said brother had just been very persuasive in his actions...

 

No, but apart from that. Apart from that, nothing could ever happen...!

 

It had. Something had happened, and other things had almost happened...

 

They wouldn't happen normally. Such things were bad to feel. The others, they seemed to let their libido control them, but Marron... he wouldn't let his libido control him...! Didn't people always commend him for his level-headedness, for his steady calm demeanour...?

 

Marron continued to mentally berate himself until he felt so guilty and wicked that arousal was the last thing on his mind. He really was a disgusting person, wasn't he... lusting after his brother in such a way... how horrible.

 

He dressed himself and his brother as much as he could, and took away the seal from around the shack. Carrot was still unconscious and blissfully ignorant of anything around him... obviously he wouldn't be able to move... Marron sighed, lifting Carrot up onto his back; he looped his brother's arms around his neck, and held them there. That'd be enough until they got back to Salad's transport. Making sure he had everything, his bag, the things that were in his bag, his brother, Marron closed the door on the shack, and quietly walked to the place where Milphey had said everybody would be.

 

Marron hoped nobody would ask him how his day had been, or what had happened during his day.

 

He wasn't too sure he'd be able to tell them.