Tokyo

It was a quiet blissful night within the city of Tokyo. The citizens were chatting contently with each other, conversing about their earlier activities.

Within the penthouse apartment of Issei Hyoudou, the former and his wife were sleeping contently in their bed. His wife, a pale beauty with silky long black hair and dark-gray eyes, held onto him in her arms, her grip in a possessive stance. Issei's soft breathing synced with his wife's sleeping sighs.

BEEP BEEP

Ophis the Ouroboros Dragon's eyes shot open at the random noise, and she turned her head to the side, spotting her mate's cell phone on the night stand. Gazing at the device momentarily, Ophis shrugged and held onto Issei tighter, attempting to fall asleep once more.

BEEP BEEP

The Infinite Dragon God narrowed her eyes and sent a childish glare towards the vibrating cell phone, seconds to decimating the damn device for ruining her sleep. With a faint huff, Ophis reluctantly removed her arms around Issei and sat up, brushing a strand of hair out of her face.

BEEP BE-

Ophis snatched the cell phone off the nightstand and placed the phone on her ear, expecting it to be either Genshirou Saji or someone else who dared to interrupt her slumber.

"What?" She flatly greeted the caller.

Ophis?

The Ouroboros Dragon's annoyed expression lifted up just slightly at the sound of the curious voice.

'Cousin Leiko? Why is she calling at this time? This is the time in which I spoon my sleeping mate with absolutely no interruptions.'

"Cousin Leiko. " She began as a form of greeting, "How are you?"

I'm fine. How are you?

"I, am fine. What is your reason for calling here?"

The Dragon assumed it made no sense to beat around the bush, even if the person calling was her mate's cousin. If it had been anyone else, she would have hanged up the moment she heard his or her voice.

Ise-itoko and I are supposed to go to a midnight movie tonight. I was just calling to remind him so he wouldn't forget.

Ophis removed the phone away from her ear and looked at the time.

'10:45 p.m. I, see Cousin Leiko's decision to call at a much earlier time.'

"I, care not for what the movie is. However, I must know how long the movie is going to be."

Oh, it's only eighty-four minutes, Ophis. It really shouldn't be that long.

"An hour and twenty-four minutes? If the movie is this long, it is not that important enough for my mate to spend that much time away from me spooning him."

Well I…wait. What did you just say?

"Spooning." Ophis repeated, her monotone showing no embarrassment, "I, am spooning my mate. It is an act of affection in particular that I enjoy, Cousin Leiko."

If the two women were in the same room together, the Ouroboros Dragon would've noticed a crimson blush present on Leiko's cheeks. Ophis could practically hear Leiko's heart beating from the phone.

I…I...

Ophis tilted her head as she waited for Leiko to stop in her stuttering. The Dragon was always blunt in her words, so she was a little confused by Leiko's reaction. As soon as Leiko fell silent, Ophis took the initiative.

"When the movie is over, you will bring my Issei back immediately."

Huh?

"Why are you confused? Do you intend to not bring Issei back to me?"

N-no of course not! I was just going to suggest that you come with us too. I can get an extra ticket for you.

"I, have no interest in watching a movie, Cousin Leiko. You may take my mate to this 'midnight movie'. But you will also bring him back as soon as the movie is over. Is that understood?"

Um…sure. Are you sure you don't want to come with us?

"I, am sure. My mate will arrive to your location shortly." Ophis replied before ending their discussion.

Placing the cell phone on the nightstand, Ophis adopted an annoyed expression, which slowly softened as she sent her gaze towards her sleeping mate.

She then checked the time on the cell phone again, finding that it was now 10:50.

"Stupid Cousin Leiko," The Ouroboros Dragon muttered in annoyance with a cute pout, "Interrupting my spooning with my precious Issei."

Outside of the Cinema

After making sure to placate his wife by promising to bring some sweets when he got home, Issei set out to find the cinema of where the midnight movie would take place. The Solar God was dressed in a white-buttoned shirt which was covered by a black jean jacket, blue jeans, and black boots.

Trying to sense his cousin's energy signature within the large crowd of people outside, Issei looked around calmly. He lifted his wrist to his face, peering at his watch.

"11:25. I've still got enough time. I just need to find Leiko-san."

"Ise-itoko! Over here!"

Issei reacted to the sound of the voice by looking around, only to widen his eyes in confusion. A young woman was waving to him, making it clear that she was the one who called him. Issei blinked several times as he looked at the woman.

He was sure it was Leiko. It was just that the elder Hyoudou looked a little different from the last time he had seen her. And it wasn't even that long ago. The woman waving to him retained the same brown hair and forest green eyes.

…Wait.

Forest green eyes?

"Leiko-san? Is that you?"

The forest green eyes were definitely unfamiliar. The style of her brown hair was far different than Issei had ever seen it. It was no longer long and straight, but short, frizzy, and shoulder-length. Leiko's attire consisted of a black top, blue jeans, and light brown shoes.

Issei blinked again as he slowly walked over to the apparent Leiko, who huffed in response to his question.

"Come on," She said, "I don't look that different."

The Solar God begged to differ, but only one person called him 'Ise-itoko', and that person was Leiko. At least he could be sure that it was indeed his adoptive cousin.

"What happened to you, Leiko-san? What happened to your hair and your eyes?"

Leiko smiled as she crossed her arms, enjoying the look of confusion on her younger cousin's face.

"I've decided to go for a new look, Ise-itoko. I cut my hair and got some contacts."

"Contacts?"

"They're thin lens placed directly on the surface of the eye."

"So you didn't change your eye color?"

"No, but as long as I have the contacts on, it just looks like I have green eyes."

"What about your hair? Why'd you cut it?"

Brushing her new short hair away from her eyes, Leiko sent Issei another smile.

"My Ise-itoko has much to learn, doesn't he?" She teased slightly.

Issei only blinked in response, prompting Leiko's smile to widen.

"I thought about everything that has happened lately, Issei. The contact with the supernatural, finding out that your cousin is a Super Saiyan, meeting the Shinigami and God Herself, and gaining two Dragons as cousin-in-laws, is a lot for me to take in."

She noticed her cousin's confused expression at the 'Super Saiyan' remark, and she prevented herself from laughing by continuing her words.

"Now that everything's peaceful again, I decided it was time for me to change my style a little. You know, to start anew."

"And that's why you cut some of your hair?"

"That's right. The hair's a part of my body, Ise-itoko. So when I cut my hair, it meant that I chose to live a new life. It's my choice."

"...So it's a sign of maturity?"

"Exactly."

"Oh. "

The elder Hyoudou's facial expression suddenly morphed into a look that exuded slight coyness. She held her arms and placed them behind herself, biting her lip, seemingly in a fit of shyness.

"So what do you think, Ise-itoko? Does it look okay?" She asked.

Issei placed his hands in his pockets, his eyes locked onto his cousin. With a tilt of his head, Issei offered Leiko a nod.

"It's a little strange, Leiko-san. I'm used to seeing you with longer hair. Hmm."

The 'shy' look on Leiko's face noticeably dissipated in response to Issei's answer. Before she could open her mouth to respond, Issei continued his words.

"It's pretty though," He amended with a smile, "A little weird, but a good weird."

Leiko went to open her mouth, and then paused as she closed it immediately. Issei's last sentence caused her mind to stop momentarily. Although the statement was innocent at best; at least she hoped it was innocent; it brought a strange wave of lightheadedness over her.

Issei's smile disappeared as he noticed something strange happening to his older cousin.

"Leiko-san? Are you all right? Your face is glowing like a tomato."

In response to Issei's concern, Leiko finally caught her momentary lapse in silence, and touched her face. Her forest green eyes widened as she felt the heated touch of her face, and removed her hand away immediately.

With an eyebrow raise, Issei lifted his hand up and placed it on Leiko's forehead, oblivious to the latter's quiet squeak of surprise.

"Hmm," Issei hummed, "So this is what Red was talking about."

At the mention of the Apocalypse Dragon, Leiko's surprised expression morphed into her normal look of annoyance. Trying to ignore Issei's touch, Leiko let out a scoff.

"What did he say this time?"

"He said that whenever your face turns red you're either angry or delving into your cousin complex tendencies, or whatever he was talking about."

Leiko's eyes widened in a comical fashion, and with a scowling pout, she clenched her fists.

"HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY IT?! I DO NOT HAVE A COUSIN-COMPLEX!" She screamed.

The crowd of citizens that stood near the Cinema started to quiet their voices down at the sound of Leiko's declaration.

Taking a few deep breaths, Leiko looked around her surroundings, and noticed that all eyes were on her shaking frame.

Widening her eyes, Leiko's jaw fell open, unable to believe what she had just done. Very reluctantly, her forest-green eyes traveled over to her 'Ise-itoko', who stared at her with surprised brown eyes.

"I…didn't say you had a cousin-complex, Leiko-san." He said with a confused tone, "I don't even know what that is."

Leiko felt her face heat up completely, her appearance resembling a tomato in clothing. She found enough willpower to lift her hand up and close her mouth, her blush not even close to leaving her face.

Blinking several times, Issei finally removed his hand from Leiko's forehead, and placed his arms to his side. Leiko resisted the urge to sigh in tiredness, cursing the Apocalypse Dragon to oblivion, knowing, just knowing that the jackass was probably laughing his ass off in the Dimensional Gap.

Dimensional Gap

"Pfft! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! Oh man, that shit is priceless!"

Back at the Cinema

It was now 11:55, with only five minutes remaining until the midnight showing. The citizens in front of the Cinema had fortunately resolved to forget about the twenty-four year old woman who was clearly in denial about her 'cousin-complex'.

Leiko, her face still red, was fuming inside, planning to somehow successfully get back at the Great Red. What could she do? She could wreck his motorcycle. But then he would just create another one.

…

Screw it. She would just get Ophis to beat him up. It was better than nothing.

"Hey, Leiko-san."

Leiko turned to look at her younger cousin, who was looking at her with a combination of concern and hesitance.

"You ok?"

The elder Hyoudou went ready to open her mouth, until she closed it immediately. With a deep sigh, she offered Issei a soft smile.

"I'm fine, Ise-itoko. I guess I got a little carried away. Hahaha." Leiko said as she chuckled a little.

Issei blinked and nodded his head, seemingly satisfied with Leiko's answer. Looking at his watch, the Solar God perked up a little.

"Movie's about to start. We should get going."

"Hmm," Leiko hummed, "Yeah, we should."

As he and Leiko followed the crowd into the Cinema, Issei turned to look at his cousin in curiosity.

"By the way, Leiko-san," Issei began, "What movie are we seeing anyway?"

"Drag So-Ball Evolution." She answered.

Issei stopped in his pace as he adopted a hesitant expression.

"We're watching that?"

Leiko stopped to look at her cousin, and she tilted her head.

"Yeah. Why? Do you not want to see it?"

"It's just that the guy who lives in the apartment above me told me about this movie. Morisawa, I think his name was."

"What did he say?"

"He called the movie an irredeemable abomination."

Leiko blinked at Morisawa's apparent choice of words.

"That's a little harsh, don't you think?"

Issei only shrugged in response, prompting Leiko to roll her eyes and grab hold of her cousin's arm. With a bout of reluctant eagerness, Leiko dragged her cousin into the Cinema.

84 Minutes Later

Citizens stormed out of the Cinema, cursing out storms towards the movie. Following them, were a rather traumatized and wide-eyed Issei, and a enraged Leiko.

Shaking himself out of his weary state, Issei cautiously looked over to his cousin, noticing that she was trying to hold in her curses. He also noticed that Leiko's face was sporting that tomato-red color, and absolutely knew that his cousin's face wasn't red because she was blushing.

"…Leiko-san?"

"Drag So-Ball Evolution?! Ha! Evolution my ass! More like Drag So-Ball Devolution!"

Issei closed his mouth shut, having the strange feeling that he was going to be subjected to a long rant.

Oh well. At least he got to spend some time with his cousin.

'I wonder what Ophis-chan is doing. I hope she's doing all right at the house. I gotta remember to get some sweets for her.'

Issei's Penthouse Apartment

"Uno out."

"You did not say Uno when you placed your second to last card on the table."

Ophis glared at her opponent with a cute pout, and she placed her card on her lap. Her opponent stared at her with her emotionless green eyes.

"You did not say Uno in our previous match either."

"That is correct. However, the rules do not apply to me."

"Why is that?" Ophis asked, not really wanting to know the answer.

The 'Above' Entity tilted her head as she maintained her gaze on the Ouroboros Dragon. Sitting inanimately near her was a plush version of Issei Hyoudou.

Ophis noticeably bristled at the plush version of her mate, but held her tongue, knowing that the real Issei was hers.

"Because I am God."

"So?"

"As some mortals would say in this world," The 'Above' Entity began, her voice gaining a tone of emotion, "Screw the rules, I am God."

Yo. What's up, everyone. I've been struggling to write something on Fanfiction for the past few days because college work is literally taking a bit of free time out of me. With some good news on the way, Chapter 48 on Rise of the Solar God is still being written, but not done completely.

This fic was an attempt to get me back on track with Fanfiction. Hopefully, it might have succeeded in getting me back onto the site.

P.S. I'm going to confirm it right now, just throwing it out there. Leiko does indeed have a 'cousin-complex'. She's just in denial. Great, great denial.

See you guys later. Hope you liked it, and have a good Thanksgiving.

Read & Review :)