Fate’s Slave - Shadow Slave X Honkai Star Rail

Deciding to permanently keep the Ghastly Hunger summoned, Sunny contemplated the best position for him to take a nap.

'It'll be another three or four hours before I can go back to the Waking World. Being an Awakened Demon really halved the necessary time…'

He wondered how quickly he could leave the Dream Realm after becoming a Devil. Once he was a Titan, he might be able to leave thirty minutes after sleeping!

Not that he planned on being stuck as an Awakened until he became a Titan.

Sunny constantly rotated his body, laying on his left side, right side, and stomach. Not finding that sweet spot, he could only sigh as he laid on his back. Seemingly unable to go to sleep, he planned on staring blankly at the ceiling until he could…

'…Why is my ceiling on fire?'

It was a small flame, around the size of his torso. Strangely enough, the fire didn't spread whatsoever. It burned silently, a soft crackling sound being emitted from it as he felt the warmth it exuded.

A baffled expression on his face, Sunny turned to look at the Sparkle doll he had — the one with a very special opening. Ignoring that, he narrowed his gaze at it's smug face, feeling as if there was a hint in it's eyes.

"…Oh."

Suddenly, a figure leaped out of the flames, barreling straight for Sunny. Before he could roll out of the way, he felt a pair of legs jab into his stomach. A breath of air was forcefully pushed out of his lungs, causing him to gasp. Despite the chaos, he caught a glimpse at a pair of flower-shaped pupils, two black dots, and a grin that currently infuriated him.

Rolling off the bed, Sunny immediately sprang up to his feet with a scowl.

"What was that for?!"

'This demoness was really has a twisted way of showing affection…'

Casually taking a seat at the edge of his bed, Sparkle crossed one leg over the other, causing the bottom of her kimono to rise up for a few moments.

His eyes locked onto the prize for a second, before returning to her ever-smiling face. Was it just him, or did it grow a little wider?

Resting her head on a hand, she used the other mindlessly played with a strand of hair. At least, it would have been mindless if a Clown like her didn't have such absolute control over her body.

"Punishment. You've been a naughty little shadow recently~"

Sunny grimaced.

"Wait, don't speak like that. If you talk about perverted stuff around me after kicking me in my stomach, I might actually throw up."

Her expression didn't change, but a strange glint appeared in her eyes. It was one that sent shivers down his spine.

"Is that so? Then maybe playing tonsil hockey with that purple-haired pal of yours will make you feel good again."

…Interestingly enough, he didn't feel the urge to answer Sparkle's question. It seemed that rhetorical questions weren't considered to be something he had to answer.

However, he found himself rather confused.

"What's tonsil hockey?"

He had no idea what a hockey was, nor did he know what it had to do with tonsils. Some sort of game?

Sparkle paused for a second, before turning around. Revealing her porcelain back, she suddenly wrapped her arms around herself, making wet noises with her mouth. Feeling as if she was trying to make him sick, Sunny glared at her admittedly enticing back.

…Had that tattoo always been their? It looked loosely like a red flower, but it was much more abstract than the one that was on her collarbone.

Ignoring it for now, he watched as she practically groped herself… it looked like someone else was…

'…So that's what it is.'

Pursing his lips, he felt a little worried for his safety. It looked like she used her special means to figure out what he had been doing. Did she have a strand of his hair for situations like this?

'What a bothersome Aspect.'

As she turned to send him a knowing look, Sunny averted his gaze.

Although he felt guilty, he didn't necessarily regret his actions… or inaction. He didn't feel anything in particular for Seele or Veliona, so he certainly should have stopped the latter from feasting on him. Despite this, he couldn't help but indulge her — the same applied to Seele as well.

It was the same with Sparkle. Even though he wasn't really the same person she knew, lacking the thing that connected people to each other — memories — once she expressed herself to him, he couldn't simply abandon her.

Sunny felt guilty for being having been more intimate with Veliona, a person he barely knew, then Sparkle, someone he should have known for years. However, he didn't feel guilty about the act in particular.

Actually it was the opposite.

It reminded him of something his past self had said before Nanook gazed at him. He was told about how great the feeling of being needed was.

At first, Sunny had brushed it off as either a tirade about the importance of bonds, or the ruthless logic to take advantage of such things. However, he now understood that it was neither.

It was a drug. One that heavily confused Sunny. He didn't have any personal attachments to… anyone, really. He acted amiably with those around him — to a certain degree — and liked it when others complimented him. It was simply a matter of liking the words that exit someone's mouth, instead of actually caring about the person who said it.

Natasha was an exception. She gave him free medical services!

Although he exposed a fair amount of his secrets, it was simply a matter of efficiency and the removal of distrust. He had exposed his True Name to Seele by accident due to being lost in the moment, but it wasn't much of a loss either way. Currently, AR-26710 made it so his True Name couldn't be used against him. He hid the existence of Shadow Bond, and had told Seele to keep both his own True Name and hers a secret. This way, she would most likely assume that it was a general safety precaution.

Besides, even if he didn't trust his master, he trusted in his… or her ability to stay alive. With the ability to heal herself at the level of a Divine Aspect, there was almost no chance that she would die.

Not unless she went up against something she had no business even looking at.

As for his Flaw, Sunny found that his ability to manipulate the truth was refined enough where it wouldn't be too problematic. In fact, the reason his Flaw was so debilitating in the first place was because of Shadow Bond. Again, as long as AR-26710 lives, then he wouldn't be vulnerable.

The exposure of his Flaw was necessary, as Dan Heng and March had both exposed their own to him. If he had kept it a secret, it would have caused problems later. Besides, even Sunny knew that it was basic decency…

Outside of Sparkle, he didn't consider anyone to be his friend. Even for her, it was more like she was the old Sunny's friend.

…At least, he assumed so. Maybe his past self shared this issue.

Now that he thought about it, there were plenty of issues. He was obviously attracted to women, but he didn't necessarily desire a romantic relationship. The only exception was the reluctant formation of a Legacy Clan — he didn't like those guys — but even then, the only reason he would do so was for world domination.

Despite this, he didn't vehemently resist Veliona's advances, and he would do the same for Sparkle if she stopped requesting something as disgusting as sex.

Both girls were… clinically insane. At least, he would assume so. The former was too obsessed with killing him, which certainly sounded like a mental illness. The latter was… annoying. So annoying that she might as well be a lunatic.

That was not the only similarity. The two of them both desired Sunny in a manner that befitted lunatics. Veliona would aggressively lock lips with him, while Sparkle would aggressively — although not to the same degree — solicitate him.

And this was the high he grew somewhat addicted to.

Was there any greater compliment than for someone to need another more than all else? Sparkle, who was a vehement follower of the Elation, loved Sunny even more than the Aeon of the Path, Aha. As for Veliona… she was just a weirdo. Still, her twisted form of affection was a shape of love in it's own way.

As previously stated, it was like a drug to him. Even if it was something that might get him killed, it was a feeling of power like no other.

Actually, he might end getting killed right now. He wouldn't blame Sparkle for wanting to do so. If he had felt that way towards someone, he would naturally do the same.

The corners of his lips curled up, an unnoticeable, wretched smile appearing on his face.

'If Rain needed me even a fraction that Sparkle did, then I might have killed myself just to have that feeling be my last.'

…He then came to a startling realization.

Had his desire to be needed by his sister been warped to this… whatever this is?

Meanwhile, Sparkle simply stared at him in amusement, as if she was able to read all the thoughts going through his head.

"You have that I'm-thinking-about-my-sister-more-than-any-sibling-should look on your face. I know your character development went through a reset, but forget about her for a second, will ya?"

Sending her an annoyed glare, Sunny said:

"I'm not going to be forgetting about Rain. What do you want?"

She childishly pouted, crossing her arms as she turned her head away from him.

"Nevermind. I have nothing to say to someone who obsesses over his little sister even though a perfectly elegant, beautiful, and adorably charming girl is sitting on his bed. Not only are you a slut, but you're also a sis-con. What do I even see in you?"

'For someone with nothing to say, your mouth moved quite a bit.'

Silently lampooning, Sunny didn't bother to say anything. He pulled out a chair and sat on it, staring at Sparkle unblinkingly.

'Now that I think about it, she isn't really wrong… I'm sorry mom, your son has become the type of person who treats the feelings of women the same as drugs!'

Although he was disappointed in himself, he had no plan of stopping.

It wasn't addiction! He could stop whenever he wanted!

Sunny stared at Sparkle, and Sparkle stared at the wall. After over a minute of contemplation, he decided that he should probably apologize. Indirectly, of course.

Just as he was about to open his mouth, Sparkle dramatically sighed, turning back towards him.

"Well, you still owe me. Come here Mr. Dark and Broody."

Patting a part of the bed directly next to her, Sunny hesitantly stood up. Last time they were on the same bed, she asked him to… to do things to her!

At the same time, he grumbled:

"I'm not dark. Or broody."

Somewhat tense, he sat down next her. Sparkle reached for the doll that imitated her features, bringing it up to his face.

"…What are you doing?"

She pushed it further against his face, blocking his view of her own.

"How many times did you kiss the purple one? That's how much you owe Little Sparkle."

Blinking, he tried to recall how many times he had done so.

"…Two times. What am I even supposed to give it…? I mean her!"

Seeing the way she peeked at him from behind the plushie, he couldn't help but correct his words.

In response, she simply pressed it further towards his face.

Frowning, he sent the doll a look of disbelief. It's smug expression truly pissed him off.

With a heavy heart, he leaned forward and quickly pecked the Sparkle doll where it's mouth was. Repeating the process one more time, he found that the feeling of cotton on his lips was quite inferior to Seele and Veliona's…

'Why am I even comparing?'

Once he was done, Sparkle placed her doll lookalike down. Then, she turned back towards him before wrapping her arms around his neck.

"…What do you think you're doing?"

With a teasing grin, she simply said:

"If you kiss the purple one twice, then you have to do the same for me and Little Sparkle. If you kiss her again, you'll owe us one more."

"…What?"

She rolled her eyes.

"What's so hard to understand? I don't want a girl to be kissing you more times than I did."

…That made sense.

No it didn't!

Before he could say anything, she planted a finger on his lips.

"Save it for later. Right now…"

Pulling him in towards her, and her towards him, Sparkle greedily devoured his lips. Meanwhile, Sunny accepted his fate, not knowing how he was supposed to react.

The soft, yet domineering feeling of Sparkle's lips was different from Veliona's. Although he had been making countless comparisons between the two, he couldn't help but find more.

While the crimson-eyed menace was just as violent in such manners as she was in combat, opting to simply go all-out on her opponent — whether it be Nightmare Creatures or Sunny himself — Sparkle was neither gentle nor overly aggressive. Rather, she teetered the fine line in between, teasing him with no remorse as she attempted to bring out a response.

However, Sunny had no idea what he was doing. The only thing he could do was sit there and enjoy the sensations while they last.

He was startled when she suddenly parted away from him, feeling that she would normally go for much longer. He didn't know why he made such an assumption, but he felt like he was correct.

…His chest stung a little when Sparkle looked at him in disappointment. Was his unbeating heart having problems?

"…Don't tell me you were this passive with purple-haired… yeah, you were. It's a good thing I have two goes then…"

Sunny blinked as Sparkle got close enough for their noses to touch. He gulped in anticipation.

"Listen up shadow boy. When a girl kisses you, you have to do something. Anything! Alright? It makes you look uninterested if you don't."

Slowly nodding, he was immediately assaulted again.

He found it awkward as he moved his lips against Sparkle, attempting to stimulate something. When he leaned forward too much, his teeth crashed against her. After slightly parting his lips, her tongue dove in like an eldritch tentacle, flailing around like a fish out of water.

And so, they separated once more. He noticed that they had went at it much longer than the previous time.

'…Doesn't she look a little… unhinged?'

She seemed to be on the border of surpassing the threshold of her Flaw. Was kissing her really that great, even if he completely messed everything up?

"…Hey, that thing with your tongue…"

"Oh, that? I thought it'd be funny."

She grinned.

"So, how about it? Like a drug, huh?"

Blinking in surprise, Sunny narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

"Were you—"

"Reading your mind? Nope, can't do that. Your thought process is just really simple — like a thirteen-year-old. You were probably thinking about how much it turns you on when people need you, right? Well, I'm certain that you like me at least a little, and probably even the purple one. In reality, you just made up a character flaw in order to make yourself feel cooler. Not that you need to feel any cooler, since most of the universe already thinks you're cool, even though you're just an idiot. Wait, am I a pedophile if you're mentally thirteen?"

Sunny wasn't sure how to feel about being dissected open so casually. Couldn't one live in his delusions for a while? Although he exaggerated it, it was still true to a certain degree.

Seeing her slowly start rambling, he found that he was going to be stuck here for a while.