Forbidden Love

      Author’s Note:

      My quest to populate AFF with fics from surprisingly unpopular games continues. Just as a heads up; this story contains sex between minors (according to canon Hyuga is 17, Lumia is 13) so if that's not your cup-of-tea please don't read it. For everyone else, enjoy!

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      Chapter One: One Fine Day

      Hyuga Ryght couldn’t believe it.

      This whole thing had started out as a bet, but now it had gone further than he could have imagined. He was in love with Lumia, Ethan’s sister.

      At the time the bet was made, he needed the money. He had bills to pay and he wasn’t making any income since he’d yet to be accepted into the Guardians. He was catching a bite to eat to with his friend Colin at an outdoor café on Parum, when the two noticed a gloomy Ethan being dragged around the shopping district by his kid sister.

      Hyuga and Colin were always competing when it came to women, constantly trying to one-up each other in the game of romance. Although Hyuga liked to think of himself a bit of a charmer, Colin was sometimes a bit too forceful when trying to get the ladies attention. Hyuga would never forget the time they’d had a few drinks together on a bar on Moatoob and Colin tried to force himself on a Newman girl. It filled Hyuga with dread to think that if he hadn’t been there to pry his friend off her and talked some sense into him, Colin could have well ended up raping her that night.

      He felt something similar when Colin proposed the bet - if Hyuga could successfully date and make-out with Ethan’s kid sister, he would give him five thousand meseta. Colin further bet him (thought probably partly jokily), that if he could end up bedding her that he would earn an additional five thousand meseta.

      Hyuga was reluctant given her age, but five thousand meseta was a two month and a half’s worth of rent and bills, so he grudgingly accepted. The two shook hands on it, with Hyuga noticing a worrying glint in Colin’s eye as he watched Ethan’s sister. He half suspected that Colin fancied a chance at Lumia, but was holding back after that incident at the bar.

      After finishing up lunch and parting ways with Colin, Hyuga decided to leave his morals behind. He wandered after Ethan and Lumia, who had not noticed him and Colin earlier, with a deceitful plan in mind.

      ‘Hey Ethan!’ He called out, having found that the two hadn’t wondered very far, having slowly made their way down the parade of shops.
      ‘Oh, hey Hyuga.’ Ethan replied glumly, his sister still gripping him by the hand.
      ‘Doing some shopping I see?’ Hyuga said, having caught up with them outside the G.R.M. mall.
      ‘Well, SHE is, I don’t know why I’m here…’ Ethan moaned.
      ‘You’re here to spend some time with your only sister.’ Lumia replied sternly, tugging on his arm sharply as if to punish him for that remark.
      ‘You must be Lumia?’ Hyuga enquired, having heard her name mentioned many times by Ethan. She looked up at him with her big blue eyes.
      ‘That’s right.’ She said politely. ‘I’m Ethan’s little sister, but after getting to know us most people find HE’s the immature one.’
Ethan let out an audible huff.
      ‘Well Ethan should count himself lucky, I only have brothers, and none of them are as cute as you.’ Hyuga said, risking a compliment at this early stage. ‘I’m Hyuga Ryght, by the way. It’s a pleasure to meet you!’ He smoothly extended an arm and shook Lumia’s hand, her soft skin feeling pleasant in his gentle grip. She smiled sweetly at him with her perfect white teeth, seemingly genuinely pleased to meet him.
      ‘If you want a sister, you can have her,’ Ethan replied, pushing Lumia toward him. Hyuga suddenly felt blood rush to his cheeks. ‘She’s making me miss the zero-gravity football game for this little shopping trip.’ Hyuga quickly regained his suave composure.
      ‘That’s a shame Ethan. My favourite sport is the G-flyer races, but it’s out of season right now. I was just wandering around the shops myself, I’m taking the day off from combat training.’
      Suddenly, Ethan looked up at him sharply. ‘Hey Hyuga, buddy,’ he said, a bright glint in his eye. ‘I don’t suppose you wouldn’t mind taking Lumia off my hands for a few hours?’
      ‘Ethan!’ Lumia snapped. ‘The whole point of this was to spend some time with me.’
      ‘Really? I thought the point was to spend Aunt Ada’s meseta on clothes for you…’ Ethan replied sardonically.
      ‘Well, that too.’ Lumia answered, having seemed to have mellowed somewhat. Ethan then walked around to face her, kneeling on the ground in front of her in a begging fashion.’
      ‘C’mon sis, you’re more than old enough to go shopping by yourself or with your friends these days… and you always seem to want to go during the game!’
      ‘It’s not my fault your football happens to be on when I’m not at school and want to go shopping…’ Lumia almost mumbled, staring down at her feet. She seemed to have become decidedly less aggressive towards her brother, appearing disheartened and passive.
      ‘If Hyuga agrees to take you to a few shops can I go home and watch the match?’ Ethan said sweetly, doing his best to convince her. Lumia squirmed for a few seconds, before finally looking Ethan in the eye.
      ‘Seeing as you seem to be leaving me in such pleasant company,’ she said, glancing up at Hyuga, ‘I guess you can go…’
      ‘Yes!’ Ethan exclaimed, his face erupting into a smile. Swiftly rising to his feet, he grabbed Lumia, lifting her off her feet, hugging her joyously. He then plonked her down, kissed her on the forehead, and than ran off down the street hollering and cheering in jubilation. As Hyuga and Lumia watched him shrink into the distance, he turned round finally and yelled: ‘Have her back at our Aunt’s before 1800 hours colony time Hyuga!!’
      ‘He seems to really love his football.’ Hyuga quipped.
      ‘Yes, sometimes I think he loves it more than me…’ Lumia sighed with a smile. Hyuga wondered whether she really felt that way for a few seconds, before resuming pleasantries.
      ‘Shall we go, mi’lady?’ He said smartly, offering her his arm. She cooed excitedly, wrapping her arm around his as they set off around the shops.

      They spent the next few hours touring the shops of Holtes City. Unlike Ethan, this didn’t bore Hyuga. For one thing, Lumia was showing him shops he never even knew existed. Furthermore, he was learning more and more about this intriguing young lady.

      For one thing, he was surprised at how mature she was. Despite her façade of a thirteen year old girl with pig-tails, she was remarkably sure of herself, not at all shy about what she wanted and where she was headed. Hyuga often looked for passivity in women, but he had to admit that he found this self-confidence refreshing. It felt good as well; that a girl so sure of what she wanted was choosing to spend time with him.

      It helped their conversations that they had one important thing in common; Ethan. She often talked about her brother in a motherly manner, about her attempts to teach him responsible and to steer him on the right course.

      It wasn’t until they reached the clothes shop when Hyuga had to deal with a growing physical attraction he felt towards her. He was already uneasy following her through the ladies’ section, since going clothes shopping with women has long been an anxiety of men; human, newman, beast (and probably even CAST) alike. However, when it dawned on him as she was picking out different clothes that she was going to be trying on different outfits he began to get hot under the collar. She hoped that she didn’t notice the sweat secreting from his palms as she led him over to the changing rooms.
      ‘Wait here and tell me what you think of these outfits okay?’ She said, disappearing into a booth with a sliding door.
      Hyuga began to pace nervously as he waited, fully aware that she was getting undressed in there. Pull it together man, he told himself. You’re seventeen years old, you shouldn’t be getting worked up by such a situation. I can do this, he thought.
      Eventually, the door slid back and she stepped out. She was wearing a short-sleeved tight-fitting blue top with pink trim around the neckline, arms and bottom. She was wearing an almost unfeasibly small pair of shorts (it was very fashionable for human and newman girls to show off a lot of leg) which were barely visible thanks to the overlapping top.
      ‘What do you think?’ She asked, giving him a twirl. I can handle this, Hyuga thought. He’d already seen her bare legs, since the cute white skirt with blue polka dots she had been wearing all day left them on display.
      ‘Very pretty,’ he said, relaxing somewhat. ‘it suits you.’
      ‘Thanks, I like it too.’ She smiled, studying herself before returning to the booth to try on more clothes. She tried on and modelled a few more outfits for him, and Hyuga was finally starting to relax when Lumia’s muffled voice said from within the changing booth:
      ‘I’m going to try on a couple of swimsuits now.’ Hyuga’s eyes widened, his mind suddenly racing with a frustrating mix of testosterone and anxiety. This is exactly what I didn’t want, he thought. Okay, think pure thoughts and I’ll make it through this.
      ‘I’m coming out now.’ Called Lumia. Hyuga wiped away a few beads of sweat from his brow, before trying to assume a casual stance.
The booth door slid open, and Lumia stepped out, as Hyuga felt warmth filling his cheeks once again. She was wearing a small bikini set, which was red with white spots. He could see quite clearly the small bulges of her underdeveloped breasts which were accentuated by the thin material of the bikini.
      ‘What do you think?’ She said, giving him a bashful twirl, tantalising showing her cute behind as she turned. Hyuga could feel a tingling down below, but quickly fought the feelings back.
      ‘I think the boys on the beach would be all over you…’ He said unaware that his jaw had dropped at the sight of her. She giggled, her cheeks having reddened slightly.
      ‘I’m going to try on one more.’ She replied. She turned and headed back into the booth, with Hyuga watching her ass wiggle as she went. He tugged at his collar, as if steam was about to shoot out. Shortly, she reappeared wearing a similarly revealing blue number. She turned her back to him and stuck her butt out.
      ‘I like this one, but I’m afraid it might make my butt look big.’
      ‘Nothing could make your butt look bad.’ He replied, feeling like a starving koltova unable to graze. In fact it almost felt if she was teasing him. He wondered what it would be like to touch her butt…
      ‘Which one do you prefer?’ She said, turning at facing him.
      ‘Oh… erm… this one. It goes better with your hair colour.’
      ‘Hmm, I think you’re right.’ She agreed, putting a thoughtful finger on her lower lip. ‘Okay, I think I know what outfits I want. I’ll be back out shortly.’ She smiled, disappearing into the booth one more time.

      Hyuga was relieved when they finally paid and left. After a few hours they grabbed some drinks on the high street. Maybe a nice cold drink would cool me down, Hyuga thought. Sitting down at a table outside in the Parum sun, the conversation took a diversion from Ethan and shopping.
      ‘Ethan sometimes talks about a friend at Guardians training who is a bit of a ladies’ man.’ Lumia said, setting her cup of cola down on the table. ‘That’s you isn’t it?’
      Hyuga laughed.
      ‘Ethan said that?’
      ‘Well, not in those exact words. I think he might be a bit jealous of you in that aspect. You are quite the gentleman after all.’ She looked bashfully into her cola, stirring it slowly with the straw.
      ‘Well, I’ve had one or two girlfriends in the past,’ he said modestly. ‘If people want to regard me as a ladies man who am I to disagree!’ The two shared a laugh together.
      ‘I’ve bet you’ve had a lot of girlfriends,’ she said, looking up from her cola with those sincere blue eyes. ‘and I bet you made them very happy to be with you.’ Hyuga broke eye-contact, blood rushing to his face again. She seemed to be being awfully complimentary of him; was she showing signs of attraction to him?
      ‘I’d like to think so.’ He said somewhat bashfully, aware of her eyes on him. He looked to his wristwatch, not sure of how to break this awkwardness. He noticed on the colony time readout that it had gone 1700 hours. ‘I guess I should be getting you home soon.’ The light over Holtes City had also started to fade. Lumia looked at her own watch.
      ‘Yes, Aunt Ada expects me home for dinner.’ She put the straw to her lips and finished the last of her cola, before standing up from the table.
      ‘Does she live on Parum?’ Hyuga asked, also standing.
      ‘Yeah, she’s looked after me and Ethan for many years since our father died, although Ethan moved out a few weeks ago to the Guardians colony as you know.’ She started to pick up her shopping bags and Hyuga, ever chivalrous, helped carry them as they walked the darkening streets of Parum toward Lumia’s aunt’s place.

      ‘You know, I had a really good time today.’ Lumia said, as they stopped outside the apartment building.
      ‘Yeah, me too.’ Hyuga replied, being reminded that it was the bet that had been the catalyst for such an unforgettable day. He handed Lumia her additional shopping bags. Their hands brushed against each other momentarily as they made the transfer, which elicited a nervous laugh from her. She looked up at him for a few seconds, with Hyuga at a total loss for words.
      ‘Well… I can’t thank you enough for today.’ She said with that endearing sincerity. ‘Will I see you again?’
      Hyuga fumbled for words.
      ‘Well... if you want to… I mean I would… like to see you again, that is.’
      Lumia smiled, knowing behind the tangle of words he definitely wanted to see her again. She calmly put a hand on his arm, pulling him down slightly as she stood on her tip-toes and planted a tender kiss on his cheek. Hyuga ceased his babblings at that very moment, their faces hovering closely together. The scent of her skin so close to his face wafted into his nostrils, reminding him of a fresh field of Parum sunflowers. Their eyes were locked together by an unperceivable force. Hyuga felt himself lean forward, being drawn towards soft pink lips. Her eyes closed, ready to accept his kiss. Hyuga was about satisfy both their desires…
      … when suddenly his conscious forced himself to stop. He watched her, a thirteen year old girl in the Parum dusk about to be made-out with by a seventeen year old. It was probably her first kiss too!
      Hyuga felt a deep disappointment as he pulled away.
      ‘Hyuga, what’s the matter?’ Lumia said, having opened her eyes. Hyuga stepped away nervously.
      ‘This! This whole thing just feels wrong!’ He exclaimed, holding has hands against his face ashamedly with his back to her. She stood for a few seconds, trying to comprehend why he had not kissed her.
      ‘Is this about my age?’
      ‘Yes... mostly.’ Hyuga sighed, the emotional pain cracking his voice.
She placed her shopping bags on the sidewalk and approached Hyuga, and placed a hand on his back.
      ‘You feel you’re taking advantage of me?’
Hyuga didn’t turn round, but nodded.
      ‘I’m not an expert on these things, but it isn’t taking advantage when both people want the same thing.’ She said wisely. Hyuga slowly turned around, and took the previously comforting hand that hand been on his back into his.
      ‘It’s not just that.’ He said, Lumia seeing an almost tormented look in his eyes. ‘If we carry on we’ll find ourselves going down an impossible path. Four years is just too difficult an age gap.’ Hyuga found himself amazed at how one action had led to such a serious conversation.
      ‘So what would you propose? That we wait until I’m sixteen? I doubt that people will treat us much differently when I’m that age and you’re twenty.’
      Hyuga released her hand.
      ‘At least I wouldn’t get in trouble then. If the authorities found out I could face a criminal sentence. I could be kicked out of the Guardians. I could lose everything!’
      ‘You could be throwing away something important right now!’ Lumia shouted with tears in her eyes. ‘Three years is a long time to wait for something I want right now.’
      Hyuga looked at her, with a determined gaze on her face despite the ambivalence of emotions she must be feeling. His heart wanted to say yes, but everything society had taught him told him no.
      ‘Lumia, I can’t…’
      Her face creased in anguish, as a tear fell from her cheek. Hyuga approached her, taking both of her small hands in his. ‘If there were any other way I would.’
      She sniffed trying to regain her composure.
      ‘Okay…’ She said eventually. 'I’ll let you go… but you have to do one thing for me first.’ She looked into his empathetic blue eyes, knowing that he would do whatever it took to accommodate her. ‘That you kiss me… not a peck on the cheek but a proper kiss like you were going to earlier. And, if you still feel like you can walk away you can, but if you find that kiss so powerful that it changes your mind… so be it.’
      ‘Lumia, I can’t do that.’ He replied in a sort of sad frustration. ‘I can’t be your first kiss; you need to save that for someone special of your own age.’
      ‘If you decide to walk away… consider it a sort of consolation gift to me.’
      Hyuga thought for a moment, not wanting to leave the girl upset and with a terrible first experience of relationships.
      ‘All right.’ He said after much deliberation. He approached her collectedly. He put his hands on her dainty hips, gently pulling her close and looked her deep in the eyes. ‘I leave you with this gift…’ He leaned inwards, their eyes closing in unison and their mouths reaching. Warm and heady emotions rushed around Hyuga’s mind as he slipped his tongue into Lumia’s small mouth, experiencing a rush of indescribable exhilaration as he passionately engaged her tongue with his. After the initial strangeness of this new and intimate act, Lumia let herself go as their warm tongues danced together, bringing her arms up around his back. Hyuga too had lost himself, not wanting this to end.
      Lumia knew that he was enjoying himself, while she had instantly lost track of time since they had began the kiss, she sensed that Hyuga would not be breaking off anytime soon. As much as she hated doing it, she disengaged herself. They held each other closely, trying to catch their breathes for a few seconds.
      ‘That was… amazing…’ Hyuga gasped, his eyes still closed, their foreheads resting against each other.
      ‘If that is not worth staying around for… I don’t know what is.’ She replied. Hyuga opened his eyes and leaned back to get a good view of her face. Her chest was rising up and down as she breathed in and out.
      ‘But how could…’ he started.
      ‘We could keep it just between us. It’s not like Ethan or my aunt keeps close tabs on me these days. Besides school I don’t have many other commitments. We can make this work.’
They stood breathing heavily for a few more seconds, still clutching each other tightly.
      ‘After careful consideration,’ Hyuga said. ‘I think it’s worth the risk.’ He pulled her close again for another breathtaking kiss.
      ‘It’s been one hell of a day.’ Lumia gasped, breaking the kiss briefly before reengaging the exploration of hands and tongues.