Chương 53: Mine!

Earth - College Classroom Riku sat in her usual seat, absently twirling her pen between her fingers as she waited for Tim to arrive. The classroom buzzed with the typical pre-class chatter, but her attention was drawn to a conversation happening just behind her.

"Oh my god, have you seen Jones-sensei lately?" Yuki whispered to her friend, her voice carrying that breathless quality that made Riku's eye twitch.

"He's gotten so... muscular."

"Right?" Hana replied with obvious interest.

"Like, when did he get abs? And those arms? I bet he could teach us way more than just English grammar."

"I'd love some private tutoring sessions," Yuki giggled, and Riku's pen snapped between her fingers.

"Maybe we should ask him for extra help after class," another girl chimed in.

"I'm sure he'd be very... hands-on with his teaching methods." The group dissolved into giggles, and Riku felt something dark and possessive unfurl in her chest. These girls were talking about Tim like he was some kind of conquest, completely oblivious to the complexity of what he'd become, the strength he'd earned through struggle and pain. He's mine, the thought came with surprising intensity, was it Varek's masculine possessiveness bleeding through their connection or was this her.

They have no idea what he's been through, what he's capable of. When Tim walked into the classroom, Riku's breath caught despite herself. The past weeks of cultivation and training had continued transforming him in subtle but undeniable ways. His button-down shirt, once loose and conservative, now fit snugly across a chest that was clearly defined. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing forearms that had become corded with lean muscle. But it was more than just the physical changes.

Tim moved with quiet confidence now, his posture straight and commanding as he set his materials on the desk. When his eyes swept the classroom, there was an intensity there that made several students sit up straighter.

"Good morning, everyone," he said, his voice carrying that new edge of authority that made Riku's stomach flutter. Behind her, she heard Yuki whisper, "God, even his voice is sexy now." Riku's hands clenched into fists under her desk. Cultivation World - Palace Training Chamber"You're distracted," Varek observed, lowering his practice sword as Lia's latest attack went wide by several inches.

"That's the fourth technique you've botched in ten minutes." Lia straightened from her failed stance, pushing a strand of hair from her face with obvious frustration. The past week of training had been... complicated. Ever since their kiss in this very chamber, the air between them had been charged with unresolved tension.

"I'm not distracted," she replied, though her purple eyes kept drifting to the way sweat made Varek's training shirt cling to his chest.

"I'm just... thinking about strategy."

"Strategy?" Varek's grin was knowing and entirely too attractive.

"What kind of strategy involves staring at my abs while you're supposed to be attacking?" Lia's cheeks burned.

"I wasn't staring at your—that's not—you're so arrogant!"

"I'm observant," Varek corrected, moving closer with that predatory grace that made her pulse quicken.

"And right now, I'm observing that you've been thinking about more than just combat techniques." The problem was Tim's male mind. Every time Lia felt herself responding to Vanek's flirtation, Tim's masculine consciousness would reassert itself, creating an internal conflict that left her feeling frustrated and confused. Part of her wanted to close the distance between them, to run her fingers through his hair and see what would happen.

But Tim's mind kept interfering, stopping her from really embracing these feelings.

"The tournament is in a week," Lia said, trying to redirect the conversation to safer ground.

"We should be focusing on—""On this," Varek interrupted, stepping close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his body.

"Whatever's been holding you back, Lia. We can't fight as partners if you're at war with yourself." His hand came up to cup her cheek, thumb tracing along her jawline in a gesture that made her breath catch.

"I can see it in your eyes. You want something, but you keep pulling away. What are you afraid of?" Tim's male mind recoiled as Lia's female mind swooned while both were controlled by the same confused consciousness. Earth - College Classroom, After Class The lesson had dragged on interminably, with Riku forced to listen to whispered comments about Tim's "transformation" and increasingly bold suggestions about "private study sessions." By the time he dismissed the class, her patience had evaporated entirely.

As students filed out, several girls lingered, approaching Tim's desk with transparent excuses about assignment questions. Riku watched Yuki lean over his desk, deliberately positioning herself so her uniform shirt gaped open.

"Jones-sensei," Yuki said with exaggerated sweetness, "I was wondering if you could help me with... conjugating verbs? I'm having trouble with the more... physical aspects of the language." Tim, to his credit, kept his expression professionally neutral.

"Office hours are posted on the syllabus, Naka-san. You can schedule an appointment."

"But I was hoping for something more... immediate," Yuki pressed, her fingers trailing across his desk.

"Maybe we could grab coffee and you could teach me some... practical applications?" That was it. Riku shot to her feet, her chair scraping loudly against the floor.

"Naka-san," she said, her voice carrying an edge that made the other girl step back.

"Didn't you mention you had a date with Kenji-kun? You should probably go get ready for that." Yuki's eyes narrowed as she realized she was being dismissed.

"I don't think that's any of your—" Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

"I think it is," Riku interrupted, moving to stand beside Tim's desk with obvious territorial intent.

"Especially since Jones-sensei and I have study group planning to discuss." The other girls exchanged glances, sensing the tension but not quite understanding its source. One by one, they gathered their things and left, though not without shooting curious looks back at Riku's unusually assertive behavior. When the classroom finally emptied, Tim turned to look at Riku with raised eyebrows.

"Study group planning?"

"Emergency meeting," Riku said firmly, grabbing his wrist and pulling him toward the door.

"Right now." Cultivation World - Training Chamber Lia stared up into Varek's dark eyes, feeling the weight of his question settling over her like a challenge. What was she afraid of? Tim's male thoughts in her head, constantly telling her this felt wrong? The complexity of their situation? The way Varek made her feel things that were purely, undeniably feminine?

"I'm not afraid," she said quietly, though her voice lacked conviction.

"Liar," Varek replied, but his tone was gentle rather than accusatory.

"You've been holding back since our first kiss. Every time you start to let go, something pulls you back." His other hand came up to frame her face, forcing her to meet his gaze directly.

"Whatever your male bodies thoughts are telling you—ignore it. Just for a moment. Tell me what you the female Lia wants." Lia felt Tim's male consciousness stirring, ready to interfere with thoughts of it being unnatural. But suddenly, she was tired of fighting this bodies female desires.

"I want..." she began, then stopped, her courage failing.

"Say it," Varek encouraged, his thumbs stroking along her cheekbones. Earth - Supply Closet Riku had practically dragged Tim through the hallways, her grip on his wrist unbreakable as she navigated toward the janitor's closet on the third floor. Students and faculty they passed shot them curious looks, but Riku was beyond caring about appearances.

"Riku, what are you—" Tim started to ask as she pulled him around a corner.

"Shut up," she said firmly, checking to make sure the hallway was empty before yanking open the closet door and pulling him inside. The space was cramped, filled with cleaning supplies and the scent of industrial soap. In the dim light filtering through the crack under the door, Tim could barely make out Riku's face, but he could feel the intensity radiating from her small frame.

"Those girls," Riku said, her voice low and dangerous, "were talking about you like you were a piece of meat."

"Riku—""No," she interrupted, stepping closer until her body was pressed against his in the confined space.

"They think they can just... claim you. Flirt with you. Ask for private lessons." Her hands came up to grip the front of his shirt.

"They have no idea what you really are." Tim's back hit the wall of the closet, and suddenly Riku was everywhere—her small hands fisted in his shirt, her body heat overwhelming in the enclosed space, her dark eyes blazing with possessive fury.

"And what am I?" he asked quietly, his voice rougher than he'd intended.

"Mine," Riku said with absolute certainty, and then she kissed him. Cultivation World - Training Chamber"I want you to stop asking questions," Lia said suddenly, her voice carrying new resolve.

"I want you to stop being patient. I want you to stop giving me space to overthink this." Varek's eyes darkened with satisfaction.

"What else?"

"I want..." Lia's breath hitched as she felt Tim's consciousness receding, overwhelmed by the intensity of what was happening on Earth. Without his interference, her feminine instincts surged forward with startling clarity.

"I want you to kiss me like you mean it," she finished, her voice steady despite the way her heart was racing. Varek's smile was pure masculine triumph.

"Finally," he murmured, and then his lips were on hers. Earth - Supply Closet The kiss was fierce, desperate, claiming. Riku poured all her frustration, all her possessiveness, all her desire into the connection between their lips. This wasn't the gentle, exploratory kisses they'd shared before—this was a declaration of ownership. Tim responded immediately, his hands coming up to tangle in her hair as he kissed her back with matching intensity. The cramped space made every movement deliberate, every touch electric.

When Riku's tongue traced along his lower lip, he groaned softly against her mouth.

"Those girls," Riku whispered against his lips between kisses, "don't get to have you."

"No," Tim agreed, his voice rough with desire.

"They don't."

"You're mine," she said again, biting gently at his lower lip.

"Yes," he breathed, and the certainty in his voice made her surge against him with renewed intensity. Cultivation World - Training Chamber Varek's kiss was everything Lia had been denying herself—confident, passionate, overwhelming. His hands slid from her face to her waist, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them. When she melted against him with a soft sound of surrender, he deepened the kiss with obvious satisfaction.

Without Tim's male consciousness fully engaged, Lia's body responded with pure feminine instinct. Her arms wound around Varek's neck, her fingers tangling in his hair as she kissed him back with abandon. Every doubt, every rational argument, every complication faded away until there was nothing but the warmth of his mouth and the strength of his arms around her. When they finally broke apart, both were breathing heavily. Varek's dark eyes were blazing with triumph and desire as he looked down at her flushed face.

"Now that," he said with satisfaction, "is what I've been waiting for." Lia laughed softly, feeling better than she had in weeks.

"Shut up and kiss me again." Earth - Supply Closet They broke apart when footsteps echoed in the hallway outside, both of them breathing heavily in the cramped space. Riku's lips were swollen from kissing, her hair mussed despite the dim lighting. Tim looked equally disheveled, his shirt wrinkled where her hands had gripped it.

"We should..." Tim started, then trailed off as Riku's hands smoothed down his chest with obvious possessiveness.

"Should what?" she asked, her voice carrying a dangerous edge that suggested she wasn't done making her point.

"Get back to our normal lives?" he suggested weakly. Riku's smile was sharp and entirely predatory.

"Tim," she said sweetly, "after what just happened, nothing about our lives is going to be normal." She straightened his tie with deliberate care, her fingers lingering against his chest.

"And the next time some college girl thinks she can flirt with my man, she's going to learn exactly why that's a bad idea." The possessive certainty in her voice sent a thrill through Tim that he didn't entirely want to analyze.

"Your man?"

"Mine," Riku confirmed, pressing one last, firm kiss to his lips before opening the closet door.

"Don't forget it." Tim stood in the doorway, watching Riku's confident stride as she disappeared around the corner. The taste of her kiss still lingered on his lips, the memory of her fierce possessiveness sending heat through his chest. Mine, she had said with absolute certainty. No hesitation, no confusion about their dual existence—just pure, determined claim. He could feel what was happening in the cultivation world through their shared consciousness.

Lia responding to Varek with the same passionate intensity, her body melting against his without Tim's rational interference. For the first time since their souls had split, Tim stopped fighting it. The moment Tim's resistance faded, Lia had felt the change like a dam breaking. Without his masculine consciousness pulling her back, she had kissed Varek with abandon, her hands fisting in his shirt as she had pressed closer. Tim's male mind let it happen accepting the situation now.

Obviously it was him in both bodies but he was learning to let each body work a little different and now without the emotional wall. Tim smiled, running a hand through his disheveled hair as he straightened his tie.

"I guess we're dating in both worlds," he said quietly to the empty hallway. Earth - Hallway(Riku) Riku walked down the corridor with a satisfied smile playing at her lips, her heart still racing from the intensity of what had just happened. Through Varek's consciousness, she could feel Lia finally surrendering to the kiss without resistance, melting against him with the same fierce passion she'd just claimed from Tim.

Now that's how you claim someone in both worlds, she thought with deep satisfaction, her stride confident and purposeful. No more hesitation, no more overthinking, no more letting other people think they could have what was hers. Tim belonged to her just as surely as Lia belonged to Varek, and anyone who forgot that would learn otherwise very quickly.