When Hayami woke up the next day, she was in a new place. It was somewhere she hadn't been before.
The last thing she remembered was falling asleep against Haku on the boat. Ironically, the same rocking motion that made her nervous had ended up lulling her to sleep.
She was obviously in a bedroom, since she was in a bed. She noticed there was no rocking sensation so she must have been on land now. She would have thought she were in a another place like the Embassy, but this room was too 'personal.' The room at the Embassy was rather bare and close to a hotel room in appearance. Firstly noticing, there was white and teal bedding that Hayami noticed had smelt like her demon. Then looking around the room was a bookcase with different kinds of reading material, a desk with a stack of paperwork, and a closet which probably had clothes. Haku had said he was taking her 'home.'
So.. Was this it?
And speaking of Haku, where was he? Hayami had woken up in the room alone.
As she had become more aware after waking up, a tasty smell had lured her out the bedroom and towards the source. Hayami peaked out into the main room from the hallway. She was cautious since she didn't know where she was yet. And surely enough, there was Haku.
The demon had his hair tied back in a bun as he cooked breakfast. He was humming but had stopped once he spotted Hayami out the corner of his eye. He smiled and greeted her. "Good morning. Did you sleep well?" Haku spoke again after Hayami had nodded. "Go ahead and get washed up and dressed. You can pick something out from the closet to change into."
Hayami made her way back into the hallway and found the bathroom. Like most houses in their world, the toilet and sink was separated from the shower and bath. Hayami found that a toothbrush was already laid out for her by Haku. After brushing her teeth she found a lone hair tie to keep her hair back while washing her face. She then finished up by patting her face dry with a towel and immediately left. In the bathroom everything was in plain sight. It felt almost wrong for Hayami to be going through Haku's things, even if it were only his clothes. This was the kind of thing that would get her in a lot of trouble when she was a slave. Even with Haku's permission, she got in and out of the closet as fast of possible, grabbing whatever she could. She changed into a pullover and loose pants before going back out to where Haku was. He had set up the table for them to eat just in time.
Haku addressed her with a smile when he saw her and led her over to a seat. He took a seat next to her before they both began eating. Haku would ask her if she liked what she was eating, to which his mate responded, but they otherwise ate in silence. Hayami only spoke once she had her fill and put done her chopsticks.
"Thank you... I really should have helped, though."
"I usually get up early, and used to it cooking myself. I thought you could use the extra rest, so don't worry."
Haku had been listless for years. He was so used to a routine he had to complete everyday in solitude that even he got sick of it. It seemed so meaningless to have no one to do anything for. With Hayami there now, he was happy to do anything for her. It gave him a sense of purpose he had been missing. He may have been happy to do things like this for her but he could clearly see that Hayami wanted to give back to. He didn't want to deprive her of feeling useful.
"Mind helping me do the dishes? I'll clean and you can dry them off."
A glimmer had entered Hayami's eyes and she smiled. She stood up with Haku and helped him bring all the dirty dishes to the sink to clean. She stood next to him with a towel in hand, taking any freshly cleaned tableware Haku passed to her.
After cleaning up, the two went to sit together back at the table. Haku had sat down first since his seat was closer. Before Hayami could also take her place, Haku had gently pulled her over to sit on his lap. Hayami instinctually placed her arms around his shoulders while her mate supported her back. The human's face was now so close to the demon's, and so suddenly too. The gentle look on Haku's expression only worsened the growing blush from his mate. While she was shy, Hayami didn't try to move away. Though she couldn't get bring herself to look into Haku's eyes either.
"There's much to do, now that you are here. Are you up to going out today?" He asked.
"I.. I suppose. What do we need to do?"
"We need to register you with the village.. Get you some of your own clothes.. And take you around so you get more accustomed." Haku listed off a few to name while playing with a lock of Hayami's hair.
Hayami hummed in understanding. Haku softened with her meek behavior, before releasing her from his hold so they both could get a move on with things.
Even though Hayami was freed from her captivity, she chose to stick close to her demon when they had gone outside. She always kept at least a hand on Haku. Knowing his touch calmed her, the demon also was conscious to keep a hand on her in turn. At least until Hayami showed that she would be okay otherwise.
The Village Hidden in the Mist was infamous for its high population of the supernatural. Even the former slave knew that. While Hayami was hyper vigilant of any eyes that would linger on her too long, she couldn't deny the intrigue she felt from the village. The streets were filled with many shops and stands, all selling different items from food to household goods. Coexisting with more urban life was vast amounts of greenery. There were many parks dedicated to the serenity that nature gave off, though it was also very much apart of the way the land already was. Most noticeable of all was the mist above the village. The farther you were outside, the more there was. Haku explained to Hayami that this defensive measure- the mist- was a tactic as old as the country itself.
Haku took Hayami to some official looking building. The two had been given a stack of papers to fill out. It was more to understand than what Hayami wanted to. Haku had chuckled at her reaction and offered to fill it all out while she signed. The demon was far too used to documentation unlike his mate. At some point, Haku had told her to sign with the character for 'Yuki' before her name. Hayami obeyed without question, though didn't really understand why. She never had a family name she went by or any kind of 'rank.' If she remembered she would have to ask him later. The two had finally finished and turned it all into the front desk. Some words were shared between Haku and the receptionist before leaving but that was that. Haku then said they'd now be getting to the fun part.
Hayami had never really gone shopping for herself. Her clothes would be already picked out and given to her in her former life. If she were being completely honest, she actually enjoyed wearing Haku's clothes. She appreciated that he knew to buy soft, comfortable clothes.
When they stepped into a clothing store, Hayami froze at the selection before her. It didn't help that Haku told her to look for some clothes she liked, and so casually.
Hayami cautiously separated herself from Haku and went to a section with the least amount of other people. She was nervous around other supernatural beings besides Haku, and she wouldn't be surprised if she were the only human in the shop. She still occasionally looked back at Haku for reassurance. The demon followed closely behind her and would smile at her when she looked his way. He only dared not to look her direction directly once Hayami had lead him to a isle with underwear. He stayed alert so no one could sneak up and scare her, but otherwise he acted like looking at her with such intimate pieces were a sin itself. Hayami wasn't in a much better position either. She was lucky that her chest was small enough she didn't need a bra but took the suggestion to get a couple nonetheless. As soon as she got her hands on them, she got out the isle with a demon in tow.
Whatever bags Hayami ended up getting, Haku carried them before giving her the chance. It actually wasn't many things. Hayami was quite modest when picking anything, to the point the demon had to assure her she needed more than one outfit. Haku had been wanting and waiting to spoil his mate whenever possible. In Haku's mind he had a lot to make up for.
The two spent the day out until the sun had started setting. Back at home Haku made room for Hayami to put away what she had picked out. They had dinner out so all that was left to do was bathe, dress and wind down for the night.
They took turns to use the shower and bath and met back in the bed once they had both dried off. Hayami had dressed into some clothes Haku bought her to sleep in at night. The material felt soft against her skin and smelled new and clean. It had no trace of Haku. She didn't like that fact and bundled herself under the covers of the bed. From under the blanket she heard a muffled chuckle, before another form joined her.
Obviously it was Haku who laid down beside her and pulled her closer to him. The first thing Hayami saw as she lifted her head was the demon's bewitching face. His skin similar to porcelain, like the day she first saw him. As was his silky black hair. But it was his eyes that truly lured her in. Every time the human looked at him, she seemed to be entranced. But it was the same kind of 'magic' for Haku too.
His skin was still a touch lighter than Hayami's, not that he paid the fact any mind. Although her face was untouched, he was well aware of scars she hid under her clothes. The memories of the visions he had acted as a reminder for him. But it didn't impact her beauty for the demon. There was too much for Haku to love about her. No- he loved everything about her.
"Did you enjoy today?" He asked her, as he began playing with her hair.
Hayami glanced away and shyly nodded. "Y-Yes." She managed to respond. Haku thought of her reaction as cute and couldn't help but softly giggle.
"J-Just... Never mind.." Hayami faltered. Haku raised an eyebrow and curiously asked her what she was about to say. "You can tell me anything," he told her.
Hayami moved away from the demon's body so she could sit up on the mattress. She sat on her knees, facing Haku once he had also sat himself up. He knew the motions she made meant she wanted to speak freely and sincerely, as he had seen her do before. It made the air around them a little tense, but Haku was far more pleased that his mate felt comfortable enough this way. He could only support her by listening and reassuring her with his smile and gaze.
"I... I know I'm your mate, but.. I haven't done anything in return."
"Simply you being here is all I need. Why do you assume you must do more?" Haku asked.
"Because.. You've been so kind to me since we met, and you even provide for me." Hayami took a breath before continuing to quietly mutter aloud. "I feel.. Completely useless, sometimes."
The demon's expression turned into sympathy as he listened. He just wanted to make her feel comfortable and safe, but not useless. But he then reminded himself that she wasn't used to such treatment. Hayami's eyes were now downcast on her lap and to get her attention, Haku leaned in closer.
"I'm sorry. I didn't intend to make you feel useless at all."
Once her eyes met his, she blushed from his face being so close. Haku took the hint and pulled back, since she was now looking at him again.
She was quick to ask, "are you sure that there's nothing I can do?"
Haku didn't know how to respond to the look in her eyes. It was a look he knew all to well but seeing it on Hayami caused his chest to ache. Of course, the demon longed to have her in her entirety; to freely love and make her laugh. There had already been occasions where Haku wanted to kiss her, for example, but refrained. His human mate was still in a rather 'fragile' state. He didn't want to force her and instead would wait for her cues.
"Or... Is it that I.. Disappoint you?"
Haku's eyes widened at her words in confusion and disbelief. What she asked was far from the truth. "N-No! That's not it at all. I just want your actions to be out of free will and not because you feel you must.. And as long as you are doing just that I won't ask anything more from you. You are free, you don't anyone anything you don't wish to give."
Hayami was confused on how to feel. As a human, their connection was strange. She didn't know Haku long and the fact that she naturally felt drawn to and comfortable with him caused even further confusion. She didn't know which side of her feelings to trust. While she wanted to submit herself to this new reality that seemed like a fairytale, her learnt cautiousness would hold her back. But then what use was she? What good was a human, as the mate of a demon?
Her emerald gaze silently searched his. She still couldn't believe that she was alone in a house with such a beautiful demon. Haku seemed like anything but one. Even by his looks, his features were more angelic than demonic. She still remembered the time he healed the wound on her neck, how it felt, and what she had thought in the moment. From what she could gather, he also enjoyed the moment of contact. In fact, his eyes seemed to light up and soften whenever she touched him. He did say he loved her, after all.
Was there really nothing she could do for him? She wanted to show her appreciation and also knew she would have to take another step forward sooner or later.
A thought came to mind. She couldn't suppress her blush but still bravely lifted her hand to his face. She would hesitate, not knowing if she had the right to touch him. She certainly felt like she didn't have the privilege of touching the ethereal demon. Haku's eyes looked to her outreaches hand and back at her. He softened when he recognized her nervousness. His own hand guided her's to the side of his face. He leaned into her touch and smiled sweetly at her.
He then told her, "don't be scared; I'm your's to touch."
"Really..?" She shyly replied with another question.
"You don't even have to ask."
Now that she definitely had his permission, her palm left his skin as she shuffled closer to him. She was nervous with what she was about to do but so was Haku. A faint blush appeared on his cheeks. He wasn't expecting this and especially so soon, not that he wanted it to stop either. Between them was a silent conversation with their eyes. Asking if it were really okay and assuring the other that it was.
Hayami's heart was beating with such excitement that it almost hurt. She had never willingly kissed anyone before. The more she leaned in, the more nauseous she felt. It hit especially hard when she was so close that she could feel his warm breath on her lips. Haku stayed still, letting his mate control the situation until he was certain she'd be comfortable. They were just testing the waters right now.
They both closed their eyes before Hayami pressed her lips against Haku's, also welcoming the hand that returned to rest on his cheek.
Suddenly, the uncomfortable nausea Hayami felt had transformed into something delightful. Now that this was happening, all the butterflies in her stomachs had settled and she could properly feel.
His lips held the slightest bit of pressure so it didn't feel like nothing. His lips were soft like velvet, warm and moist against her's. The demon thought the same of Hayami's lips. A wave of bliss washed over their senses, causing them to want to gasp if not for being focused on the moment.
Hayami put more pressure into her hand on his face as she slowly moved her lips against his. Her body was already moving itself, even though she was hardly experienced. It was the same for Haku. Occasionally they both would open their eyes while turning their heads, before closing them again. Haku's hands found their way onto Hayami's frame. His hold kept her in place and didn't force her any particular way. The human girl's other hand also grabbed onto Haku's top and clutched the material that covered him.
At first, Hayami had just wanted to show that she was taking a step forward and that Haku's efforts were not in vain. But she didn't expect that she'd actually enjoy the kiss so much herself. She had been forcefully kissed before and that experience was nothing like this one. There was no one forcing her body against their's, or any attempts to deepen the kiss by painfully biting into her lip until blood was drawn out.
No.. This kiss with Haku felt like everything right. Like how it was supposed to be.
Still in a kind of trance, Hayami had gotten closer and closer to the demon. The kiss hadn't deepened further but she still eagerly sought the contact between them. Once Hayami had pressed herself against him, Haku embraced her form against his. Thank goodness she hadn't climbed onto his lap or else she might have felt his growing hardness. Haku still allowed his mate to decide whether to continue or not, the euphoric feeling rushing through his head caused his self restraint to slip a little.
The edge of his tongue had escaped and quickly dragged across her lower lip. Hayami had reacted by gasping and increasing her grip on him for a moment. She didn't know how else to respond at the pleasurable shiver that spread throughout her body. The sensation felt so good but also foreign.
Her hushed gasp had awakened them both from their intimate moment. While reality had took over Hayami again, Haku realized what he had done and apologetic smile with a red hue on his cheeks. "I'm sorry, I moved too quickly there," He told her.
Haku had laid down and guided Hayami down with him, with one of his hands. She had always noticed how gentle his touch always was- sometimes he was even more gentle than her. Even though she felt a bit embarrassed by her actions, she felt too weird to stray away from him. She wanted to be close to him even more now. With no other person in the world had she felt so safe with.