Chapter Four
Nori is playfully chasing a blue butterfly in the woods, next to Tomoe's lair. Tomoe, on the other hand, is watching her intensively. She is like a small, innocent child and Tomoe couldn't help but smirk at the thought of comparing her to a kid.
Nori kept chasing the butterfly until she fell on the ground and bruised her knee. She didn't show any reaction that she is hurt, instead, she giggled when the butterfly landed on her nose.
"Are you alright?" Tomoe is hovering over her.
"Oh, yeah… It's just a scratch… No big deal." She shrugged it off.
"Let me see," he ordered while kneeling down to be eye leveled with her.
"It's fine, Tomoe," she insisted but Tomoe roughly pulled her leg up and saw that her kneecap is scraped.
She blushed that he has a tight grip on her ankle but she gasped out loud when his tongue began to lick her kneecap!
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! STOP!" She shouted.
"Quiet, I am simply cleaning your wound. Relax," he said in a hum.
Nori struggled until Tomoe dug his claws a little into her ankle. She groaned and gave up yet she couldn't make eye contact with him. This is simply embarrassing for her…
*~*~*~*~*Bruised & Broken*~*~*~*~*
After Tomoe licked her wound clean, they went back inside the lair. Tomoe is drinking some sake while Nori kept watching him.
"Is something wrong?" He asked.
"I want some!" She raised her voice.
Tomoe began to laugh. "One sip and you would pass out!"
"I would not!"
"Have you ever had sake before?" He raised an eyebrow.
Nori bit her lip and shook her head. "No…"
Tomoe chuckled some more but he began to think, if he gets her drunk then she will be all over him… All the drunken women get loose and touchy when they are with a man, so he wonders if it will be the same with Nori.
'Here," he whispered while pouring her sake in a small dish. He then handed it to her and she took a big gulp but the sake burned her throat, causing her to cough violently.
"Take sips," Tomoe smirked at the naïve girl.
Nori pouted but she did as he said. "Does it always burn your throat?"
"You'll get used to it," Tomoe answered before finishing his sake. He immediately poured himself another glassful as Nori stared at him in awe.
"Are you a lush?" She asked.
Tomoe snorted. "No."
Nori knew he was lying but she simply didn't argue with him. Instead, she kept taking big sips of her drink. She is already feeling lightheaded.
Tomoe leaned into her and felt her forehead. He chuckled when he realized she is already tipsy.
"What is so funny?" Nori snapped.
"Nothing at all," he said innocently.
Nori finished her drink and Tomoe didn't hesitate to pour more in her dish. He sat even closer to her, knowing she is slowly getting drunk for him.
"How are you feeling?" He questioned seductively.
"Strange," she whispered.
Tomoe wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her on his lap. She rested her head on his chest while he is stroking her hair. He wonders why the gods have given her to him… He is nothing but a murderer yet this girl came to his aid out of nowhere.
"Tomoe?"
He looked down to examine her. "Yeah?"
"Thank you for saving me a couple of days ago… I never got to express my gratitude because I was upset about the whole situation, you know?" Nori slurred her words.
"It's not a problem. I will always protect you," he said sternly.
"Tomoe…"
He held her tight in his arms as she continued to drink her sake. Her body is so warm and her vision is beginning to get blurry. Tomoe lifted her chin up so she would meet his gaze. He then leaned in to claim her lips for the first time but he stopped himself. He can't believe this, but he feels guilty for taking advantage of her.
Tomoe took a deep breath and just played with her long black hair while she nuzzled into him. He cursed himself for growing soft…
"Tomoe?"
"What?"
"Are you going to keep killing people?"
Tomoe's eyes widened. He actually hasn't thought about killing another ever since he's been with Nori… He wonders if she is changing him for the greater good? He hardly knew her for that long, though…
"Only if someone threatens you," he finally answered her.
"No, don't kill anyone!" She whined.
Tomoe lightly chuckled. "Alright, fine... I won't kill anyone when you're not around."
"No, you aren't going to kill anyone no matter what!" She argued and groaned.
"Okay, I won't," he whispered.
Nori hiccupped and Tomoe patted her head gently. For an innocent girl, she sure is a handful, in Tomoe's opinion…
*~*~*~*~*Bruised & Broken*~*~*~*~*
Tomoe is watching Nori sleep peacefully on his lap. He couldn't stop smiling as he studied her yet he wished to claim her. He keeps having lust desires of her and these urges won't go away. It will be a waste if he forced her, though. He wants her to want it too. He wonders if she is still scared of him or maybe she would never want to be intimate with a Yokai…
"Tomoe?" She called out his name sheepishly.
"Yeah?"
"Oh, good… You're still here," she muttered.
Tomoe could tell that she is half out of it but he ran his claws through her silky hair.
"Of course. I'll always be here," he soothed.
"I'm glad," she whispered.
"Go back to sleep," he ordered softly.
A few seconds and Nori immediately fell back asleep while Tomoe continues to watch her. He never grew an attachment towards another before and it's strange to him. He fears that she will run away and leave me to be alone. He refuses to go back living a lonely life with sake and prostitutes…
"Tomoe?"
"I thought I told you to go back to sleep," he sighed.
"I'm not tired anymore but my head is killing me," she confessed.
"Maybe food will help you," he offered.
"No, I just want to stay like this for awhile." She blushed and averted her gaze.
Tomoe blushed too but he's happy she's showing a little affection towards him.
"Would you like me better as a human?" He asked out of nowhere.
"A human?" She blinked in confusion.
"Yes, would you?"
"No," she answered simply.
Tomoe grunted. She wouldn't even like him if he were a human…
"Why are you offended? I like you as a Yokai. Don't change, okay?" Nori giggled.
Tomoe couldn't believe his fluffy ears but he pushed her bangs back and kissed her forehead softly while she gasped out loud. She buried her face into his chest to hide her red face.
Tomoe felt content as he wrapped his arms tighter around her. She likes him just the way he is and he's glad… He wouldn't mind to changing for her, though.
"Hey, Tomoe?"
"Yes?"
"I know you're friends with Akura-ou, but he doesn't visit you, right?" Nori gulped.
Tomoe chuckled lightly. "You have nothing to worry about. He doesn't know where I stay…"
"That's good. I don't want to meet him." Nori laughed nervously.
"If you do meet him, I'll protect you. I won't let him touch you," he said with determination.
Nori snuggled into him and she felt safe. It's funny how she can find comfort from a cold, blooded murderer…