LinieBaru: ObsessionIF: 02 (Patreon)

An early chapter. But, I wanted to show you which direction this story is going.

Subaru landed softly on the edge of what appeared to be a small village. The buildings stood low and simple with clay walls and thatched roofs that spoke of older times. Trees surrounded the settlement and cast long shadows across the dirt paths. She adjusted her hold on Stark who remained unconscious on her back. His weight felt steady and important against her.

She moved forward with careful steps toward the largest structure which looked like a church. Its wooden doors stood slightly open and a faint light came from inside. No one moved in the open areas around her. The place seemed empty at this hour. She stepped through the doorway and the air inside carried the smell of old wood and incense. She scanned the space and found no immediate movement. One human presence lingered somewhere deeper but it felt still like sleep. 

She walked to a long bench and lowered Stark onto it with gentle care. He lay there with his breathing uneven and blood still seeping from his wounds. The sight pulled at something deep inside her. Who would hurt someone like him. Another demon perhaps. Or maybe the original owner of this body she now wore. It did not matter in the end. She had not caused his pain. She would fix it instead.

She worked slowly to unbutton his jacket. Her fingers moved with focus over the fabric. Then she opened his vest beneath it. His toned figure came into view and she stared for a long moment. The lines of muscle and the marks of past fights held her attention. Fascination mixed with a deeper feeling that made her chest tight. 

She shook her head to clear it and looked around the church again. She needed supplies. Her eyes found a raised area at the front and she moved toward it. Behind a section of the wall she discovered a box filled with dried herbs and small containers. She lifted several and turned them over in her hands. She did not know which ones helped and which ones might cause more harm. The risk of poisoning Stark felt too great. She stood there with the herbs in her grasp and uncertainty pressed on her thoughts. What to do now.

Footsteps sounded from the back of the church. 

Subaru turned quickly and saw a man in priest robes. 

His face showed immediate shock when his eyes landed on her. “Demon…” The word came out in a shaky voice. 

Subaru moved fast. She appeared in front of him and clamped her hand firmly over his mouth. “Shh. Stark is resting. We cannot wake him.”

The priest struggled under her grip. His eyes widened further. “S-Stark…?” 

“Ah yes. That awesome boy over there.” She pointed her finger at him. “You see he is hurt and I do not know what to use.” 

The man tried to pull away. He threw small green lights from his hands that burned a little. The pain flared sharp but she held on. Nobody can harm her except Stark. Because he is hers. She is his. 

“Don't you attack me!” The words left her in a low tone. 

The priest muttered something under her hand. “Oh Megami, protect me from the devil.”

Subaru paused at the prayer. Is he a religious man. “Do you know how to use healing magic?”

He ignored her at first. She slapped him hard across the face. He fell to the floor and shook with visible fear. “Do you know healing magic?” The question came sharper this time.

“I do. I do. Please do not eat me.” His voice trembled. 

“Heal Stark then. Or I will kill you. She said it plainly.”

The priest crawled away from her on his hands and knees. His robes dragged across the stone floor. He reached Stark and lifted his shaking hands. Green light began to form around his palms as he tried to apply it to the wounds. 

Subaru stood nearby and watched every motion. Impatience stirred inside her but she kept it in check. She needed Stark whole again. The priest worked slowly. His fear made his hands unsteady. Subaru paced a few steps back and forth. The church felt smaller now with the three of them inside it. The smell of blood from Stark mixed with the incense and created a heavy atmosphere. She kept her eyes on the priest. Any wrong move would end him. She had come too far to lose Stark to incompetence.

Her thoughts ran deep while she observed the healing process. Stark had become the center of everything for her. The loops had shown her that truth over and over. His presence filled the empty spaces left by her old life. She loved the strength in him even when it hurt her. She loved the way he never gave up. Now she would protect that strength. The priest represented a tool for her goal. If he failed she would remove him without hesitation. The idea did not disturb her as much as it should have. The loops had changed her sense of right and wrong. Pain and repetition had worn those lines thin. She focused on Stark instead. His breathing still sounded rough but the green light seemed to help. She stepped closer to see the wounds closing slowly. The sight brought relief mixed with a possessive satisfaction. He would live because she had found this place and this man. He belonged to her care now.

The priest glanced up at her once. His eyes showed pure terror. Subaru met his gaze without blinking. “Keep working. Do not stop.”

He nodded quickly and returned his attention to Stark. His hands continued their work but the shaking remained.

Subaru wondered what he saw when he looked at her. The horns and the dress and the determination in her face. Did he see a monster or something worse. The thought sent a small shiver through her but she pushed it aside. What others thought did not matter. Only Stark mattered. She recalled the moment she had defeated him in the forest. The fear of losing him then had been overwhelming. It had pushed her to breathe life back into him. That memory strengthened her resolve here. She would not allow weakness or error to take him away.

Time passed slowly in the church. The green magic continued its work. Stark's breathing evened out gradually. Subaru stayed close and monitored every change. The priest sweated under the pressure. His robes clung to him and his face showed exhaustion. She did not offer comfort or rest. He would finish the task or face the consequences. The love she felt for Stark demanded perfection in this moment. She thought about their shared history in the loops. Thousands of encounters had built this attachment. Each death had taught her more about his movements and his will. Each reset had drawn her closer to this possessive feeling. Now it guided her actions in the village church. She would take what she needed to keep him safe. The priest was simply part of that process.

She spoke again to keep him focused. “Faster. He needs to be good soon.”

The priest nodded but his hands trembled more. Subaru leaned in slightly. The smell of fear came off him in waves. It mixed with the blood and herbs in a way that felt almost comforting to her now. She had grown used to strong emotions directed at her. Stark had given her that through his hatred. This man gave it through his terror. Both fed the same need inside her. She watched Stark's face for signs of improvement. His color looked better. The bleeding had slowed. Satisfaction grew in her chest. She had made the right choice by bringing him here. The north had led them to this village and this help. She would remember that when they left.

The priest finished the main healing and sat back on his heels. He looked up at her with pleading eyes. It is done. He should recover with rest. Subaru examined Stark closely. The wounds appeared closed. His breathing had steadied. She nodded once.

“Good. Now stay quiet.” She moved to sit on the bench near Stark's head. Her hand rested lightly on his hair. The contact felt grounding. 

The priest remained on the floor watching them both. His fear had not lessened. Subaru could sense it in the way he breathed. She considered what to do with him next. He had served his purpose but he knew too much now. The thought of silencing him crossed her mind. It did not feel shocking. The loops had taught her that endings could be necessary. Still she held back for the moment. Stark might need more care later. The priest could prove useful again.

Her mind wandered while she sat there. The church around them felt like a temporary shelter. The clay buildings outside and the trees beyond created a world separate from the forest loops. Yet danger could still find them. The silver haired elf remained a memory of threat. Other forces might search for a demon girl carrying an injured warrior. Subaru would not allow them to succeed. She had carried Stark this far. She would continue to protect their connection. The love she felt had roots in the repeated deaths and the attention he had given her. It had grown into something that controlled her choices. She accepted the control because it kept Stark with her. The priest shifted on the floor and she shot him a sharp look. He froze immediately. Good. He understood his place.

Stark stirred slightly on the bench. Subaru leaned closer to watch. His eyelids fluttered but did not open fully. The sight brought a rush of emotion. She whispered his name softly. Stark. The word felt right in this new setting. She had earned the right to say it. The priest remained silent and still. His presence added a layer of tension to the church. Subaru enjoyed that tension in a quiet way. It reminded her that she held power here. She had taken control of the situation. She had forced healing for Stark. The actions aligned with the love she carried. They protected what belonged to her. She ran her fingers through Stark's hair again. The strands felt coarse under her touch. She memorized the sensation. Every detail about him mattered now.

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Stark felt soreness spread through his entire body as awareness returned. He blinked slowly and stared at the wooden ceiling above him. The room held dim light from a single candle on a nearby table that had burned out. Morning rays came through a small window and cast soft patterns on the floor. His axe rested against the far wall in clear view. He moved his fingers and felt bandages wrapped tight around his torso and arms. The wrappings suggested someone had tended to his wounds with care. He wondered if Frieren had found him after the fight with that demon girl. Or perhaps Fern had arrived in time. Either possibility meant he had survived. Relief started to settle in his chest.

He turned his head to the side and froze.

The demon girl sat on a stool right beside the bed. Her eyes fixed on him without blinking. A wide smile stretched across her face in a way that sent unease through him. The expression did not look natural. It held too much intensity for the situation. She watched him like he was the only thing in the world that mattered.

"You're awake." She lunged forward quickly from her seat. 

Instinct took over in Stark. He swung his fist to push her back. A sharp tug stopped his arm midway. Something cold and heavy pulled at his wrist. Chains held him to the wall frame. 

The punch still connected with her face but the restraint limited its force. She flew back a short distance and landed on the floor. She stayed there motionless for a moment. Then she pushed herself up. Blood trickled from her nose but she seemed unbothered. Her smile returned even brighter as she spoke.

"I'm soooo glad that you woke up. I was really scared whether you were in coma or not. I can't just let you leave me."

Stark stared at her. His mind struggled to process the scene. Pain from his injuries mixed with confusion. He tested the chains again but they held firm. The metal dug into his skin with each movement.

"What is this place?"

"Oh, it's a church."

"Church?"

"Yeah. I had to take you somewhere to heal you. You were bleeding so much."

He remained stunned by her words. A demon helping him made no sense. Demons brought death and destruction. They did not offer aid.

"Why would a demon help me?"

She looked as if she had waited for that exact question. Her eyes lit up and she leaned closer.

"Because I love you. You're so awesome. You have such strong feelings for me and you care so much. You're cute. Um, that makes me feel giddy, and, and..."

She continued without pause. She listed details about his fighting style and the way he gripped his axe. She mentioned the scar on his forehead and how his jacket fit across his shoulders. The words poured out in a steady stream. 

Stark had no idea what was happening. This creature had attacked him in the forest. She had worked for dangerous forces that targeted humans. Now she claimed love. The shift felt wrong in every way. Perhaps this was some trick to lower his guard. Demons used deception as a weapon. He kept his body tense despite the chains and bandages.

"Oh, and you smell so good." She finished her list and sat back with clear satisfaction on her face.

"I don't understand. Demons don't like humans."

"I'm not a demon. I was a human who woke up in this body. I'm a human like you."

"How is that even possible?"

"I don't know. But I'm glad I came here, met you." She moved closer again and reached out to hug him. He pushed her away with his free hand. The chains rattled loudly in the quiet church.

"Get away from me. You tried to kill me. And you suddenly make up a story?"

She looked nervous for the first time. Her hands twisted together as she searched for the right response. The smile faded slightly but did not disappear completely.

"What can I do to make you believe me?"

Stark considered her question carefully. His mind worked through the pain and confusion. An idea formed slowly. If she truly wanted to prove herself she would grant him freedom. He tested the chains once more before speaking.

"Let me go."

"No. You will run away. I can't lose you."

"Just what is wrong with you?"

"I love you. That is nothing wrong."

Stark began to think she had lost her mind. He had never heard of demons going crazy in this manner. What could she gain from pretending such affection. The questions circled in his head without clear answers. He watched her face for any sign of deceit. The chains felt heavier with each passing moment. The church around them seemed smaller and more confining. Morning light continued to filter through the window but it brought no comfort.

The demon girl stood near the bed and maintained her gaze on him. Her smile returned gradually. She appeared pleased simply by his presence and attention. The intensity of her focus created an uncomfortable pressure in the room. Stark shifted against the chains. His body ached from the bandages and the restraints. He needed to find a way out of this situation. Talking to her might reveal weaknesses in her story. He kept his voice steady when he spoke again.

"Where is this place?"

"I don't know. Some place north."

"North?"

"Yeah. I flew here and saw this village. I took shelter in the church."

A demon entering a church without causing harm struck him as unusual. Such creatures typically avoided holy ground or destroyed it. He pressed for more details.

"Did you kill anyone?"

"No. Do I look like that? I only took the priest's help."

"Is he alive?"

"Of course. Now be a nice boy while I bring you food." She walked toward the door and opened it with a light push. The hinges creaked softly in the quiet space.

Subaru returned with a plate of food. Bread and tea sat on it. She held the plate toward him. Stark stared at it with clear suspicion. The thought clicked in her mind. He believed it was poisoned. She spoke to reassure him.

"It is not poisoned."

Stark did not believe her. He refused to eat. Subaru explained that he would not heal without proper food. She placed the plate on the table. She left the room for a moment. When she returned she dragged the middle aged priest with her. The man shook as she pushed him forward. She instructed him to eat from the plate. He hesitated and shook more. She hit him across the face. He cried as he took a small bite.

Stark yelled at her to stop. She flinched as if afraid of him. Still she respected his words. She spoke again.

"Yes of course. I was just proving that it is safe. Look. He is not dead."

Stark understood then. She would hurt the priest more if he refused. He ate quietly from the plate. The food tasted plain but it gave him strength. He realized the demon girl was mentally unstable. He could not reason with her in a simple way. The best path was to comply for now. Fern and Frieren must be searching for him. When the chance came he would kill her. The thought settled in his mind like a steady plan.

A call came from the hall outside. Someone asked for the priest. Subaru narrowed her eyes. She wrapped a cloth around her horns in a turban style. She held the priest by his collar. She spoke in a low voice.

"Not a word about me. Understand. Just play along."

The man nodded in fear. Subaru gave Stark a smile as she closed the door behind them.

Stark assessed the situation in the quiet room. He could not call for help. She would kill anyone who came close. He needed to send a message to Frieren through the window by someone passing by. For now he would wait. He was not as clever as Frieren or Fern but he could not break the metal chains with their strange magic. The soreness in his body reminded him of the fight. The bandages held tight. He tested the chains once more. They did not give. The axe rested against the wall out of reach. He would bide his time. Compliance would lower her guard. The love she claimed felt like a chain tighter than the metal on his wrist. He had seen unstable people before. This one carried danger in her obsession. He kept his face calm and waited for her return.

Subaru walked with the priest into the hall. A woman stood there waiting. She greeted the priest warmly. Then her eyes turned to Subaru. She spoke with curiosity.

"And who are you, miss?"

"I am Subaru. Clueless and broke so here I am."

"Oh, a traveler?"

"Yes, that is it."

The woman paused. She looked at the turban on Subaru's head.

"That is a strange headwear."

"Is it? I guess it is a family thing. I never take it off." Subaru tugged at the cloth to adjust it.

"Where are you heading?"

"Uh, north."

"Oh, unexpected. Anyways, Father, we are opening the shop this afternoon so can you please come to bless?"

The priest hesitated. He glanced at Subaru. She would kill him if he said something wrong. Subaru answered for him.

"Of course he will come. I will accompany him too."

The woman seemed pleased. She left with a nod. Subaru kept her grip on the priest as they returned to the room. She closed the door once more. Stark watched them enter. His eyes showed calculation. Subaru felt a rush of satisfaction. He was thinking about her. He was focused on her even in chains. That focus fed the feeling inside her. It grew stronger with every look he gave.

She sat near the bed again. The priest stayed back against the wall. His fear filled the air like a heavy scent. Subaru ignored it. She turned her attention to Stark. The food had done some good. Color returned to his face. She spoke softly.

"You ate. Good. You will heal faster now."

Stark did not answer right away. He studied her face. The chains on his wrist rattled as he shifted. The sound reminded Subaru of their time in the forest. Each strike of his axe had marked her. Each death had brought her closer. She loved the memory of it. The pain had shown his strength. The strength made him hers. She leaned forward slightly.

"I know you do not believe me yet. That is fine. I will prove it. I saved you. I brought you here. I made sure the priest helped. No one else would have done that."

The priest made a small sound in the corner. Subaru shot him a look. He fell silent. Stark noticed the exchange. His expression hardened. Subaru saw the disgust there. It did not bother her. Disgust was attention. Attention meant he cared enough to feel something strong. She spoke again.

"The woman outside wanted a blessing. We will go with the priest. You will stay here and rest. The chains keep you safe. I cannot lose you."

Stark tested the chains once more. The metal held firm. He spoke in a measured voice.

"You say you love me but you treat me like a prisoner."

Subaru tilted her head. The horns under the turban shifted slightly. She answered with simple honesty.

"Prisoners can leave. You cannot leave me. That is different. I need you here. You need me too. You just do not see it yet."

The words hung in the room. The priest trembled against the wall. Stark kept his face neutral but his eyes showed the calculation. Subaru felt the pull of that look. It reminded her of the loops. He had focused on her completely then. He would focus on her now. The love inside her grew with the thought. It wrapped around her mind like a living thing. It fed on his attention. It demanded more. She stood and moved to the window. The morning light touched her face. She spoke without turning.

"Frieren and the others will search. They will not find us here. This place is quiet. North is safer. We will go further when you are strong."

Stark remained silent. He watched her back. Subaru sensed the weight of his gaze. It sent a shiver through her. Not fear. Satisfaction. He thought about her. He planned around her. That made her part of him. She turned back to the bed. The priest stayed in his corner. She addressed Stark again.

"Eat more if you want. The food is safe. I showed you that. I will not hurt you. I only want you well."

The morning stretched in the church. Subaru sat on the stool once more. She kept her eyes on Stark. The bandages on his body marked the places she had caused pain in the forest. Those marks belonged to her now. She had healed them. The cycle felt complete. Death and life both came from her hands. The love she felt twisted with that power. It made her chest tight in a way she welcomed. Stark shifted against the chains. The rattle filled the quiet space. Subaru smiled at the sound. It meant he was there. It meant he existed for her.

The priest coughed softly. Subaru glanced at him. The man avoided her eyes. His fear fed the atmosphere in the room. It reminded her that she controlled this place. She controlled the help Stark received. That control extended to Stark himself. He would see it in time. The chains were temporary. The bond was not. She spoke to the priest in a low tone.

"Stay quiet. Do not speak unless I say. The woman will return for the blessing. You will act normal. I will be with you."

The priest nodded quickly. Tears still marked his face from earlier. Subaru felt no pity. He served a purpose. Like the food and the bandages he helped keep Stark alive. That was enough. She returned her gaze to Stark. His expression showed wariness. She understood it. He had fought her so many times. Trust would come slowly. She had patience now. The loops had taught her that. Time repeated until the pattern changed. She would change this pattern too.

Hours passed in the church. The light from the window moved across the floor. Subaru brought more water when Stark looked thirsty. She held the cup to his lips. He drank with reluctance. The act felt intimate to her. She provided for him. She kept him safe. The love inside her fed on these small moments. It grew stronger. It demanded she keep him closer. She adjusted the blanket over his legs. Her fingers brushed his skin through the fabric. The contact sent a spark through her. Stark tensed but did not pull away. That small acceptance meant everything.

The woman returned later. Her voice called from the hall. Subaru stood quickly. She adjusted the turban on her head. She grabbed the priest by the arm. She spoke to Stark before leaving.

"Rest. I will return soon. Do not try anything."

She closed the door behind them. The hall felt cooler than the room. The woman waited with a basket in her hands. She smiled at the priest. Subaru kept her grip firm but hidden. The priest spoke with a shaky voice.

"I will come to bless the shop. This traveler will join me."

The woman nodded. She looked at Subaru with mild curiosity. Subaru answered before questions came.

"I am learning the ways here. The father is kind enough to show me."

The words satisfied the woman. She led them toward the door. Subaru walked beside the priest. Her mind stayed with Stark in the room. He would think of her while she was gone. The thought brought satisfaction. The love twisted tighter in her chest. It felt like a living presence now. It whispered demands. Keep him. Protect him. Own him. She pushed the whispers down. The woman chatted about the shop. Subaru nodded at the right moments. The priest stayed silent except for short answers. His fear leaked into every word. Subaru found it useful. It kept him obedient.

They reached the shop after a short walk. The building stood simple with wooden shelves and goods laid out. The woman asked for a blessing on the new stock. The priest performed the ritual with trembling hands. Subaru stood in the corner. She watched the door and the windows. No one suspicious appeared. The village felt quiet and unaware. That quiet protected her and Stark. She would keep it that way. The blessing ended. The woman thanked them. Subaru spoke before they left.

"We must return. The injured traveler needs care."

The woman wished them well. Subaru dragged the priest back toward the church. The walk felt longer this time. Her thoughts returned to Stark. He had eaten the food. He had listened to her. Small steps built the bond. The love inside her demanded more steps. More attention. More control. She tightened her grip on the priest. He whimpered but kept walking. The church came into view. Subaru felt a rush of anticipation. Stark waited inside. He existed for her in that room. The chains held him but her words would bind him tighter in time.

They entered the church. Subaru closed the door. She released the priest. He slumped against the wall. She moved to the bed where Stark lay. His eyes met hers. The look sent another spark through her. She sat on the stool. Her voice came soft.

"The blessing went well. No one suspects anything. We are safe here for now."

Stark did not answer immediately. He studied her face again. Subaru let him look. She wanted him to see her. To know her. The love twisted with that desire. It made her hands shake slightly. She steadied them. The priest remained silent in his corner. The room held its heavy quiet. Subaru spoke once more.

"You will heal soon. Then we can move north. A place where no one finds us. Just us."

Stark remained chained but his mind worked. Subaru saw it in his eyes. She respected that work. It made him strong. It made him hers. The morning light shifted further across the floor. The church felt like their world now. Small and contained. Subaru sat with her eyes on him. The love fed in the silence. It grew with every breath he took. It demanded she keep this moment forever. She would try. The priest coughed once. Subaru ignored it. Stark was the only presence that mattered. The only world she needed. The chains rattled as he tested them again. Subaru smiled at the sound. It meant he was alive. It meant he was here. The love inside her answered with a deep pull. She leaned closer. Her voice barely above a whisper.

"I will take care of everything. You only need to stay."