[Ikki tenses when Marco approaches to the tree, ready to fly for it if the man gives chase. But he doesn't and Ikki relaxes, as much as possible at the moment, which isn't much. If it was anything else he would be more rational, but this is something he has never had to confront, something buried deep down and ignored since forever together with his mother's death and other things. Those weren't even things he carried as luggage, he had buried them down the road and moved on, trying to forget.

And now they come chasing, and if it was someone other than Marco he would fight it, or ignore it, run away even. But it's Marco and even if he heard the man say it himself he still can't believe that he would do that. The bird shakes his head energetically as Marco speaks.]

Hand in hand? No. I loved Kotomi-chan and I never even thought of doing that to her! They don't have to go hand in hand, the people who say that...

[Another shake of his head because he had to be stupid enough to remind himself of Kotomi. He hates Luceti.]

I know what sex really is, don't think I don't just because I have never done it. I heard it all, I saw what it did to my mother, she brought him home because she loved him and he had sex with her, and all she was left with the next day was a child who still didn't know who his father was, another one being formed inside her and pain and regret! That's what sex is! When you love someone you "make love" to them, not have "sex"!

[The explanation probably sounds childish, because it's basically a child what's saying it, or at least a child's thought pattern because the adult was never forced to deal with that.]