"Umi, are you listening to me?"

"Yes."

"Then why are you not responding to me?"

"Because I don't want to participate."

"It isn't a choice."

"..."

"You have to participate. It's for the family name."

"And why should that have anything to do with it?"

"Umi, we've talked about this. You better watch yourself when you say things like that."

Umi growled almost inaudibly and she could feel a rage bubbling in her chest that she daren't let out. It was here.

The games were here.

Letting out a small breath to regulate herself, she looked her father dead in the eye.

"Just because you participated and so did mother doesn't mean I have to. I'm sure people are falling over themselves for even the slight chance to be a part of…" She felt a shiver run up her spine. "The players."

"They're called hunters, Umi," She clamped down on her bottom lip before she retaliated. "And if you don't take part, we're going to lose a lot of things. It would be a scandal. None of us want that. My ancestors have built this family and I am not going to let it fall just because my own blood won't take part in something she should have no trouble taking part in, understand?" His tone had a harsh edge to it, devoid of any affection, if there had been any in the first place.

"I understand. Now leave me be, please…"

Her father looked down at her and gave her a curt nod before he turned and shut the door to Umi's bedchambers rather roughly. When she was sure he had left, she felt like screaming, like crying, like breaking anything she could in the room. The games… She grabbed a fistful of her own hair at the roots, ignoring the pain and she sat on her bed. Why did they have to be now? Why did they have to be so soon, and how could she have forgotten the time was nearing?

And worst of all, she had to take part. She was to be a player… A hunter in the games and she had no choice. She cursed her parents for not having another child she could shift this onto. Her father would remain adamant about this and she didn't doubt he would drag her by the ear and throw her onto the stage if he had to. With a sigh, she let go of her hair, standing up and leaning on the windowsill to look over the forest. She was out there somewhere and she had to warn her, she couldn't let her get caught.

It was already late, but Umi didn't feel like sleeping at all. All she wanted to do now is run into the forest and look around for her. Look for Kotori. She would be lying if she said she never thought about living in the forest with her, but that would be a restless existence. They'd send out search parties and they would be constantly on the run. It seemed like an impossible relationship and Umi couldn't figure out a way to make it work.

With a sigh, she collapsed on her bed anyway; her face buried in her pillow and she just wanted to cry. But she was a Sonoda after all, and Sonodas were not known for their tears. It seemed like an eternity to her, but she eventually drifted off into a not-so-restful sleep.

Umi hadn't been dreading the next moment she was going to see Kotori, rather, extremely apprehensive and all the more worried they'd be found. With a sigh, she knew she had to, or else Kotori would worry. She'd taken her bow out again, as to not arouse any suspicion and headed off to the designated area she was sure that she would know the way to even if she was blindfolded.

Kotori greeted her with a tight hug which she gladly returned and the close contact made her feel a lot better before her mood plummeted once again at even the slight reminder of what she had to do. And she had to tell Kotori about it. That was undoubtedly going to hurt.

Kotori noticed the tenseness in her body, yet it also felt slack and lethargic, she pulled back slightly so she was face to face with her. "Is everything okay?" When she didn't respond quickly enough and her eyes glanced away, she gave her a more concerned look. "Umi?"

"I-I er… Have some bad news…" Umi admitted sheepishly, her hands on Kotori's sides. She blushed profusely at the way she was being held and the way she held the other, but she pushed the words out of her mouth as Kotori's head tilted and her eyebrows knitted together.

"What's wrong? Can't you see me anymore?"

"A-ah that might be part of it… Only temporarily though. Y-you see…"

Now came the hardest part. Having to explain to the very person whose species was being hunted that an even bigger, more garish event than normal event would be put on to glorify the whole act.

"Every few years, the people in my city hold a… A hunt. An event is put on where the most prominent figures in society are supposed to… Hunt down fauns for publicity…"

Umi then heard Kotori mutter something along the lines of, "So that's what happened to her…" Before she went quiet again to let Umi continue.

"Basically… Long story short is… I-I'm being forced to participate. I don't want to and it's really terrible and I'm sure my father's going to make me… K-kill just one… I don't want to Kotori, I really don't want to…!" It was at this point Umi realised she was indeed crying. Not sobbing, just shedding tears and Kotori hugged her tightly yet again and Umi couldn't find the strength to do any more than cry into her shoulder. When she finally pulled back, Umi found Kotori had joined her, probably halfly in empathy, halfly in sadness for her species and the brutal event.

Kotori rested her forehead on Umi's, bringing her hands up to cup her cheeks and wipe away her tears with her thumbs. "It's okay Umi. It's not your fault."

"I didn't want to be born in this world anyway! I-I never wanted this loveless family, I never wanted this damn bow and I never wanted to be part of such a disgusting lineage…!" Kotori wiped away more tears that had been shed.

"Shh, Umi. Don't think about it, don't say anything, okay?" Her voice was only slightly shaky as she tried to remain strong for the other. Umi didn't have the capacity to feel ashamed, nor embarrassed at this point. She was with Kotori, where she could finally be open. "I must have done something truly awful in a past life to deserve this…" She managed to mutter without sobbing.

As she calmed down and sobs stopped wracking her body, Kotori spoke again, "Are you feeling better?" Umi could only nod in response. "Follow me. I want to show you somewhere and I was saving it for a bit later, but… It seems like you could really use it now, so… Come on." She smiled gently and took Umi's hand, walking her through the trees and for around ten minutes there was silence. Umi couldn't think of a conversation topic and Kotori felt like it would be for the best if Umi was given a bit of time for now.

A few moments later, Kotori halted at a series of branches blocking up the way in a curious fashion and Kotori gave her a quick smile before pushing them aside, revealing a sight that took Umi's breath away and stopped her slacking.

Kotori had revealed to her a hot spring, slight amounts of water vapour wisping from the top of it, the tree canopy shading the area, yet the occasional ray of sunlight that reached through reflected off the surface and as the breeze made the tree branches rustle softly and change the trajectory of the rays, so a new reflection danced off of the water every second. Rocks lined the edges, some submerging in the water and they could conveniently be used as seats.

Kotori nudged her gently as she'd finished taking in the sight and led her towards the edge. Eventually, she let go of her and began stripping her clothes off, much to Umi's pure embarrassment and she averted her eyes and choked out, "Ko-Kotori, what're you-"

"Umi, it's a hot spring. You can't go bathing with your clothes on."

Umi swallowed and conceded to her point. "S-still…!" Kotori, it seemed, had grown up without nudity being a huge deal, unlike Umi.

"I'll look away if it makes you feel better, okay?"

"Y-yes that would help…" As Kotori turned, Umi hesitantly followed suit and she heard the other getting into the water herself and she sighed quietly, covering herself with an arm, despite Kotori's back being to her. She tied her hair up so it wouldn't get wet and swallowed nervously, slipping into the water as well beside her and immediately loosening up and Kotori turned to face her.

"It's not so bad is it?"

"Well… I-it might still be embarrassing after all…"

"Come over here then, I'll make you feel better about it, okay?" Umi flushed red at the sudden request, yet she complied. She found it difficult to say no, after all. She shuffled slightly closer and Kotori leant on her shoulder, wrapping her arms around Umi's waist, noting her well-preserved figure. Umi looked into the barely disturbed water and saw her reddened eyes. How much of a mess had she been in the morning anyway? She hadn't even bothered to brush her hair, it seemed, but either Kotori hadn't noticed, or she had noticed and she simply didn't care. It was most likely the latter.

Kotori shifted just then and planted herself on Umi's lap, much to her surprise and she immediately became flustered, unable to even move her arms to hold her there. Kotori didn't seem to mind however. She instead leant down and brushed her lips against Umi's, kissing her cheek, then over her jawline and she then kissed the tip of her ear, causing Umi to shudder and let out a small yelp. Kotori leant back again with a light giggle, "So they are sensitive."

"K-Kotori…! You can't-"

"Does Umi not want me to?"

"Well… I…" Come to think about it, it was more the shock of being kissed so suddenly and on an erogenous area for elves, rather than her actually not wanting her to do it. Umi sank down slightly, her nose just above water level.

"Hey, hey…" She stroked her cheek with her thumb under the warm water and Umi could have sworn that her head was emanating steam rather than the water. "I'll stop if you want me to." She looked up and her mind swirled at Kotori's expression. It was gentle and loving and Umi had never felt such affection in her life. She brought her mouth up over the water.

"N-no, it's fine… Please just… K-kiss me more…" She found herself craving more of Kotori's love, and she forgot all about the games, about the fact she'd have to go home back to an unloving father and a mother who was more dutiful than caring. She'd been taught that life was about honour and status, yet years of indoctrination were being undone by a faun.

Kotori smiled and gladly obliged, kissing her cheek, her jaw, leaving a trail down her neck and planting a couple on her collarbone. "Mmn…" Umi grunted softly and closed her eyes, and the other pulled back, massaging her shoulders. "Can I go further?"

"Mm? What do you mean?" Kotori giggled and then one of her hands broke the water's surface.

"Like this…" Kotori blushed softly and felt Umi jolt and tense underneath her as she touched her core gently. Umi tried her best to relax as Kotori gave her a chance to get used to the sensation and she opened her eyes. Umi was bright red ever after slight stimulation and her head lolled back a bit, trying not to make any noise.

Umi forced her head on straight and Kotori cupped her cheek, planting a kiss on her lips and holding her there, slipping her tongue into her mouth, as she pressed down gently and Umi shuddered, letting out a muffled groan into Kotori's mouth and her body went slack. She split off and stroked her cheek and let Umi recover.

"Do you feel a bit better now?"

"Yeah…" Kotori giggled and slid off of her lap.

"Good."

When Umi had finally recovered, she frowned. "I should probably be… Going back now." Her voice betrayed more than a hint of pain, as Kotori easily picked up on it.

"You'll be fine Umi, okay?" She gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "How long will… It last for and when will it start?"

"It starts in four days and lasts over the course of two days… I'll see you for the next three days and then I'll be expected to take part in the playe- Erm… Just the introduction with the reveal of who's taking part. Then I'll be prepared for the next day and…" Umi shivered despite the warm water around them and Kotori could tell she was on the borderline of a breakdown yet again, so she simply held her and whispered that she didn't have to say any more.

"You should go now, yeah? I'll be waiting in the usual place every day." Umi could only nod in response. Kotori turned her back again as she got out of the water, a small smile appearing on her face. She found it amusing how she'd just touched Umi in the places she didn't want her to see.

As Umi wiped some excess water off of her body, she carefully put her clothes back on, trying not to get them too damp before she gave one last glance towards Kotori, who had since rested her arms on the rocky bank of the hot spring and gave her a reassuring smile before Umi waved and disappeared back through the branches, which conveniently moved back to mask the spring.

Kotori sighed and looked back up through the trees, the sunlight peeking in and the water still steaming. She hugged her legs to her chest and could only think about how her life was about to be endangered even more so within a few more days.

Authors Note:

Hello, everyone! Thank you for being patient with me, I know I must not be putting myself up to be the most reliable of authors, I must admit ^^; But I was pretty happy with how this chapter came out I suppose? And I didn't want to write anything too extravagant for the smutty part, because this fic obviously isn't about a sexual relationship, more of a loving one (plus I'm not too confident in my smut writing abilities, so I spared you some overly long drivel).

I will try my best to keep my updates consistent and with luck and an upcoming holiday away from school work, I should be able to finish this either before or after the new year! And I'd like to thank everyone who's sticking with me and those who have shown support, I didn't really expect to get a lot of attention if I'm perfectly honest.

I'm probably just rambling now, but I hope you'll all continue to stick with me through this!