The following contains unprotected handholding, reader discretion is advised.
In her dreams, Yukio found herself steadily marching towards a great precipice that stretched so wide, it was as if the horizon line were the end of the world.
And yet, her every step took her closer, her legs unheeding of her own desires.
… Perhaps the fall was her true destination.
Steps in continued defiance of her will, before she knew it, Yukio was at the edge of that great cliff, staring down.
At last, her legs stopped, but any second now, she knew she would be forced to take that one, final step…
And she had merely been offered a brief moment to accept the inevitable.
… A sandaled foot lifted and swung forward, nothing beneath it but endless, hungry gloom.
And so Yukio met her fate, and fell.
… Away from the cliff, landing on her butt in an undignified heap.
There in the empty dark, they glared, vivid as blood and as sharp as blades.
United in their fury, daring her to step into the emptiness, to fall and risk their wrath.
Blood-stained, glaring eyes, burning with silent demand that her quivering body had not the strength to answer.
And so that which those three eyes belonged to offered further incentive.
It was a wretched, and oh so beautiful sound.
Yukio felt her body scramble away from the ledge, away from that sound, yet with terror, came relief.
Her retreat blind and desperate yet her steps light, Yukio fled from her own demise, driven to escape disaster by the most gentle roar of the most dreadful demon.
Glacial blue eyes opened slowly as the traces of red in them melted away, like winter giving way to spring.
It was late afternoon, two days after Haruhiro had rescued Yukio from the Dungeon of Fallen Leaves. Though Iormu had treated her injuries, and not a scar remained, the Jormungand had counseled that rest was the only proper cure for Yukio's exhaustion, physical or otherwise
Thus their companion, newly reborn as a Tsurara-Onna, had been asleep ever since, and her mother, Yukine, had been by her side since the moment Yukio was tucked into bed.
So perhaps that was why no one needed to be told, when Yukio woke up- the inn was Yukine's Domain, connected to her on a spiritual level.
Gorou, Yukio's father, rose to his feet without a moment's hesitation and made his way down the hall, leaving behind the party who reacted more slowly to the sensation in the air.
Being within the Yuki no Yado Inn just suddenly felt better.
A gentle, subtle relief, as if even the walls around them had found peace.
Tio captured the essence of the feeling the best out of anyone, without needing to use words at all.
She just relaxed her body with a loud, long sigh, and smiled.
Without a word shared, the much relieved party agreed that they would give the family time.
Their daughter had changed.
But for the best, and that wasn't simply a mother being happy that her daughter appeared… healthier.
The underlying brittleness that their daughter had carried since she was small was now gone.
Looking at her, it was as if Yukio's weakness had melted away to expose her strength.
And her… 'warmth'...
She had immediately latched onto both of them, murmured 'ah, this is the best', and stayed like that for almost an hour, until they'd coaxed her to speak up about how she was doing, and…
"- And at the last second Haru swept in, and he was so cool, and so fast, I couldn't even tell how many blades he was swinging, and he got right in between me and… whatever it was and his back looked so strong and reassuring that it made my heart go 'lub lub' like crazy, and-"
Their daughter had changed.
Their daughter, who spoke slowly, and briefly, always seemed to use as few words as possible… had spoken more words in the past few minutes than she would typically use over the course of a week.
And almost all of them were about the boy she liked!
It was…
It was…
SO CUTE!
Blinking slowly, Yukine came to realize that her daughter's voice had grown much more quiet, almost to the point where she couldn't hear her speak at all, and…
Danna-sama gave a meaningful cough, and when she looked his way, Gorou glanced downwards.
Following the look, Yukine found her daughter' head buried face first in her cleavage, the place her arms had seen fit to drag her daughter face-first into.
Yukine mentally complimented her arms for staying faithful to her subconscious desires, but nevertheless loosened her grip so that her daughter could raise her head.
… And breathe.
"... Okaa-san." Yukio huffed in protest.
"Oops~" Yukine smiled back. "My baby girl was being so cute that my body just moved on its own~"
"It's a complicated feeling, to have our little girl talk so enthusiastically about a man," Gorou rumbled quietly. "But as a father, there's no way I could disapprove of someone who fought his way through a Dungeon alone to rescue my daughter."
"Mhm, mhm~" Yukine agreed, nodding blissfully. "And speaking of Haru, we shouldn't keep him waiting any longer, don't you agree~?"
She ended off with a sly glance at her daughter, who, at the suggestion, had immediately stiffened in her arms and begun to blush deeply.
"Okaa-san… I have this confusing feeling… it's scary," Yukio confessed.
Yukine's breath caught in her throat, but it was from anticipation, and not concern.
"... I love Haru so much it makes me want to shout it to the whole village… but I don't like raising my voice?"
Yukio gave her mother a curious look as she felt her mother's body quiver, almost violently.
"Ah… come to think of it, I have not said this… nearly as much as I should have," Yukio began, tilting her head innocently. "Okaa-san, Outo-san, I really, really love you, and I'm very happy I was born as your daughter."
There were several moments of shocked silence, before the whole inn heard her parent's response.
Yukio could only conclude she had been naive.
Her dear, precious companions had welcomed her back with open arms, and they were warm, and gentle, and relieved to be reunited once more.
And it was driving her crazy.
She loved them.
She loved all of them.
It felt like she'd never understood that until now, like she had only ever experienced a fraction of the feelings she held towards them, and that the 'missed emotions' of the past several months were welling up inside of her all at once.
Yukio seemingly being as terse, and quiet, as usual, was actually her attempt to rein herself in from responding to every question or remark with 'ah, I really love you'.
… It was the worst (also best) when Haru spoke or their eyes met; the 'lub lub' of her heart would get so noisy she could barely make out anyone's words.
Actually, it was somewhat frightening… was it not?
The last time she had gone 'Haru-crazy' she had nearly… she had nearly…
… Ah, it was very warm.
How lovely.
How blissful.
… Yukio had the vague feeling that she had been concerned about something, but that could not possibly be true, or else why would she feel so happy, and at peace?
"... Ehehe~" Someone who was certainly not her of all people giggled like a maiden.
"... Wow, Yukio's ridiculously cute when she gets more expressive." Tio murmured, wide-eyed. "I knew it, smooches really are magic!"
Yukio's sudden bout of 'worry' had not gone unnoticed by her surroundings, she had just been too wrapped up in overflowing emotion to realize that she was (still) the focal point of the room.
Haruhiro, sitting beside her, had had a moment of inspiration when he recalled the last time he needed to 'snap her out of something', and…
The result was Yukio gazing at him with a mixture of shock and delight, dainty cupped against her cheek to trap the warmth that still lingered.
"... Back in the room with us?" Rachnera teased, hiding her own relief.
"... Ah, I really love you," Yukio replied almost immediately.
As the Arachne choked and whipped her reddened face away, Yukio belatedly turned her way and said "ah… that was my outside voice."
Having watched her carefully as the hours passed, Centorea came to the conclusion that Yukio had, in some sense, given voice to words left unspoken.
Those self-imposed restraints on the ice maiden, that she had glimpsed now and again, had all but thawed away, and her dear friend was left all the better for it.
A chatty Yukio was a novel experience, but she hadn't been the only one to expect it wouldn't last, and Yukio had, in fact, more or less settled down by the end of dinner.
… After thoroughly flustering poor Sayaka, who had been in no way prepared for her once taciturn childhood friend to make it clear, in no uncertain terms, how much she was appreciated.
It was a remarkably child-like and innocent process to watch in motion, and none could match the fond way Yukio's parents watched her carry on until she was satisfied, giving free reign to all that she'd kept trapped within the frozen cage she'd placed around her heart.
It was not until the women of the party had entered the bath together that it finally clicked for her.
Something about Yukio had always seemed fragile, as ephemeral as a snowflake.
… But no longer.
Like the snow of the distant mountains that cared naught for the spring thaw, Yukio had found her strength, and grown all the more beautiful for it.
Long, smooth limbs (longer than she remembered, in fact) that quietly displayed a supple, subtle strength, an underlying sturdiness that had robbed Yukio of her fragility but none of her grace.
A charm that was poised but not distant, an allure that was sensual, but not wanton.
That was the Yukio who had been reborn from both ice and love.
Haru had certainly noticed, he would have had to have been blind not to, given Yukio's more… direct displays of affection, and Centorea couldn't help but smile at the thought of what that could mean.
She had not forgotten the 'exchange' meant to happen, and she was entirely convinced that both participants would be both willing and eager.
Though, speaking of the exchange, given that she was, as of yet, the sole possessor of… certain first-hand 'knowledge', was she not obligated to help her sister-in-arms prepare?
Yes indeed, one could argue that such a task was her duty.
Yukio met Centorea's gaze, then, and whatever she saw in those blue eyes, brighter than her own, left the Tsurara-Onna flushed red in the cheeks, but with an inexplicable sense of anticipation in her newly-thawed heart.
Which is why Centorea didn't notice that the other women in the party were suddenly looking at her, also gripped by a strange sense of anticipation…
Though it was more like 'professional curiosity' in Iormu's case.
Though nothing had changed about the onsen, the girls would later agree that the bath had been a good deal steamier than usual.
Sayaka felt no shame in admitting that the first time she laid 'eyes' upon Yukio after her friend had reawoken, she had cried.
Wept like a child, in fact.
The Daughter of Red Ice was… no more.
Instead, the Yukio her [Eyes of the Oracle] allowed her to see had been reborn as a smooth sculpture of ice that possessed on its many faceted surfaces, a demure, but impossible to conceal sparkle.
Just like Sayaka had imagined that the most perfect of gems must shine.
She had not meant to gaze so deeply, and felt somewhat remorseful for having done so unbidden, but in truth, Sayaka had merely been mesmerized by what she had witnessed.
Yukio's Fate was… full of possibilities but absolutely no certainty.
There was not one 'prescribed outcome' in Yukio's future.
Yukio had been… meant to die in the Dungeon, of that, Sayaka was certain.
Yet she had lived, and now, her choices were her own.
Sayaka knew precisely who she should thank for freeing her friend from the burden of a sad and lonely end.
That ragged, three-eyed 'emptiness' with no Fate of his own.
There was no way Haruhiro wouldn't feel happy to see a Yukio that seemed happier, stronger, and more attractive than ever before.
Once he'd gotten over the more important 'I'm glad she's not dead' phase, anyways.
And though Yukio, being a lot more talkative than normal, had been pretty cute (hadn't even raised her voice), he was kind of glad that there weren't too many changes to her personality, aside from her usually hidden bold side becoming more… blatant.
He hadn't told anyone, and he wasn't sure he ever would.
When he had saved Yukio from that Boss Monster, Haruhiro had slowly come to realize that he'd done something 'wrong'.
He'd done something he absolutely wasn't supposed to, violated some unspoken taboo.
His feelings on the matter could be summed up as something like 'so what?', though.
If saving Yukio was wrong, then he didn't care at all about being right.
And he couldn't deny that taking a knife to that taboo had been the most satisfying experience of his life.
Now, if only he could carry the same conviction about… 'that'.
The 'exchange'.
'Exchange' being a euphemism for sex.
The best way to keep Yukio safe, to help her get her powers fully under control, was to have sex with her.
Haruhiro was beginning to wonder whether or not he was in a hentai, except that he couldn't remember what a hentai was.
Probably something… 'adult-rated' he supposed.
It all sounded… convenient.
That was why it made him uneasy, that their first time… which let's be real, he knew wasn't far off… was serving 'some other purpose'.
He didn't know if he was worried it would cheapen the whole affair or just set a bad precedent.
Which meant he had to suck it up, and stop trying to puzzle it out on his own.
Embarrassing though the idea was, he needed to talk to Yukio about the matter, if they were ever going to get anywhere.
Ah… Haru wanted to talk with her, alone.
This naturally meant that Haru wanted to be with her, alone.
They could have just sat side-by-side, there on the porch in silence, and Yukio would have been wholly satisfied.
"U-um… look, don't take this the wrong way, but uh… about that… 'e-e-exchange'?" Haru began, nervously.
Yukio clamped down on that bolt of panic that whispered that he might not want-
"It's not that I d-don't want to…" Haru closed his eyes briefly, and took a long, slow breath.
Yukio felt that familiar 'lub lub' return with a vengeance as he turned his face to look at her fully, placing his hand overtop her own.
"It's not that I don't want that…" Haru started again, his voice still ever so slightly nervous but his tone clear. "It's not that I don't want you."
"Ah, I really love you," Yukio turned red at the same time Haruhiro did, "I mean… that… but also that your words make me so… very happy… more so than I can put into words. But there is… something that bothers you still, is there not?"
"Yeah, it's just… doing 'that' because we need to rather than just want to just doesn't feel… quite right?" Haruhiro said. "It's… hard for me to make sense of the feeling, so I decided I should just talk to you, and see how you felt about the idea."
"... So that is what she meant." The other girls in the party had noticed that Haru had been bothered by… something about the whole affair, and while Iormu had recognized it, she had declined to answer, saying it was important that they consider the issue themselves.
Haru was human.
As much as they all appreciated that no one gazed harshly upon the differences in race between them, perhaps they had overlooked what differences did exist between them, more than they should have.
For herself, and the other Liminals, having a clear cut benefit to Haru embracing her had simply seemed like an extra boon, a clearly defined blessing that would sweeten their time together even further.
They had seen the necessity of the 'exchange' as a benefit, whereas Haru had seen that necessity as something that threatened to lessen the shared experience.
"Haru," Yukio began gently. "Please know that I do not truly mean this as a criticism. That you are so gentle and considerate with me, with us, is something I love deeply about you, and I am far from alone in feeling that way. But," she said, emphasizing the word, "none of us would complain if you were a bit more assertive with what you want."
A careful shrug of her shoulder saw the hem of her yukata slipping open further, offering a deeper view of her plumb, pale bosom. Inwardly, Yukio felt a little thrill at how she could hear Haru's breath quicken.
"With what you want… and who." She crooned softly. "But I will speak for myself alone when I say that if you desire me… you need only give that desire… voice. I wish to be yours, Haru, and… if anything… having an excuse simply makes it…"
Curiously, she found she could not finish the sentence.
She could not bridge that gap.
Their hands connected them, and so did their hearts, but that was as far as her courage would take her.
With a painful clarity, Yukio recognized what had been holding her back.
The most assertive display of her affections had nearly killed him, how could she ever trust herself to-
… Ah, it was very warm.
How lovely.
How blissful.
It felt as if her body were violently melting, falling to pieces as it did.
Haru was kissing her.
Every bit as possessively as she had kissed him, when it all went wrong.
Rather than being afraid of what she might do to him, now Yukio could only laugh within the depths of her heart at her foolishness to think she'd have the composure to do anything at all.
Half-lidded eyes snapped open wide, the glacial blue of her irises driving away the white that surrounded them.
Something warm, no… hot was inside her mouth, tangling with and caressing her tongue. Haru's tongue was inside her mouth, aggressively pursuing and cornering her own, roaming about as he was claiming every inch of her mouth as his possession.
Dimly, Yukio became aware that even control of her arms had been taken from her- gently but inescapably, he'd pinned her limbs to her side when he embraced her.
Sloppy and muffled, Yukio felt as much as heard a moan echoing through their joined mouths, a strangely musical sound that she could only rightfully call 'erotic'.
Then the kiss was over, and she was left gasping and helpless in Haru's arms, bewildered, aroused, and completely incapable of recovering her own worries.
"Sorry, Yukio," Haruhiro rasped softly, his gaze warm. "I didn't mean to keep you waiting."
So warm, and so very kind.
Yukio was torn between the strange urge to either burst into tears or shout at the top of her lungs, and yet held the certainty that either action would be an expression of her joy.
"I forgive you…" she gasped back. "But I would not complain if… you felt the need to kiss me one more time."
"And what if I decide to do a little more than kiss?"
"... Eep."
Haruhiro chuckled softly as the Tsurara-Onna squirmed in his arms, waiting patiently for her to gather her wits.
The answer she decided upon, after a quiet little huff to psyche herself up, was returning the kiss.
They hadn't noticed it at first, and hadn't paid it much heed when they did, but at the back end of Yuki no Yado, tucked within a cozy, connected clearing, was a small cabin with its own small onsen, fenced in and designed for couples who desired more 'privacy'.
… On that night, the cabin had a worn, grayish blue scarf hanging off the fence post.
Yukio gasped as her back hit the door, and then again as Haru nipped gently at her exposed throat, tilting her head back to allow better access as he kissed a hot trail up the side of her neck.
One long, pale blue leg wrapped itself around Haru's waist, pulling him in closer as her pinned body writhed sensually against him, fingers digging into his back.
The leg that remained planted on the ground quivered pleasurably as Haru slid his hand up her thigh, pushing away the hem of her yukata to expose her inch by inch.
When Haru broke away from her tingling neck, Yukio feverishly sought his lips with her own, closing her eyes with a throaty moan when her wish was granted.
Her lowered leg was gripped at the back of the thigh and tugged upwards, and Yukio obeyed the unspoken prompt, tightly entwining Haru's warm, strong body with all four limbs.
When she did, Haru pulled her from the wall, easily carrying her across the room.
The sensation of her whole body held up only by Haru's arms was so… fulfilling, that for a moment, Yukio wanted nothing else.
… That changed rather quickly when her back met the bed, and Haru was leaning over her.
Though her disheveled clothing was just barely covering the minimum of what it should cover, Yukio felt wholly exposed to those rich, dark brown eyes.
… She loved it.
Haru stood up for a moment, gazing down at her, his smile gentle but a wildness in his eyes that Yukio dearly wished to set free.
And the way to do so seemed oh so natural- slowly, Yukio began to undo her belt, demanding that her shaking hands not rush the experience as her darling Haru watched her in silence.
A whisper of dainty hands here, a slight arching of her back there… a brief, coy giggle escaped as her large breasts bounced free of her yukata with an assertive jiggle, as if demanding Haru pay attention to them.
She felt so… sexy when his breath caught and his gaze was drawn towards the shake of her bosom as if hypnotized.
Left in nothing but a soaked, dark blue thong, Yukio was left feeling more attractive, more wanted than she had ever felt in her life.
And she knew the best was yet to come.
Playfully covering her tits with her hands, Yukio soon let those hands wander as she swayed from side-to-side upon the bed, drawing Haru's eyes down her body as she slowly traced her curves.
Biting her lip in bliss, Yukio let her hands stop with her thumbs hooked into the waistband of her panties, and lifted her hips.
She jumped a bit as Haru's hands suddenly covered hers, but her pounding heart rate spiked briefly as her hands were slowly pulled over her hips and down her legs.
Their gazes fondly interlocked, Yukio and Haruhiro took the last step to expose her body together, and the Tsurara-Onna let her hands slide out from under his as they drew close to her knees.
The ever so slightly air prickled against her skin, every inch revealed solely for Haru's pleasure.
A familiar delirium set upon her, and though Yukio recognized the feeling, she did not fear its return.
It was wholly different.
She was not losing control, she was giving it away.
Trust made all the difference.
Not just the act of giving herself to Haru, but knowing that he was willing to give of himself to her, even though she had hurt him.
The warmth she had sought had sought her out in return. Everything Yukio had wished for, yearned for, she found in that moment.
A quiet dream as fragile and ephemeral as a snowflake, cradled in a strong and gentle hand as it was carried into being.
A dream reborn as truth.
And to think… they hadn't even had sex yet.
In a strange way, the coolness of Yukio's body helped keep his thoughts centered.
Centered on her and only her, sure, but centered, and under control.
Even with the recent changes to her figure, Yukio remained the most delicate of the girls, but in that moment, that too added something uniquely special to the moment.
A clear sense of holding something precious in his hands, a beautiful thing that he was being trusted to treat gently.
Furthering that impression was how Yukio seemed content to let him take control, and so Haruhiro did just that, playful hands exploring her body, seemingly at random but with a clear intention.
He was warming her up in several meanings of the term, and it was strangely fascinating how his fingertips could tell by feel where they had touched her before.
Added on to her many enticing qualities was the discovery that Yukio was very responsive, even if she didn't get any louder the more she came undone.
Beyond the occasional inhale, sharp but quiet, or the rustling of the sheets, there was no noise from her as she squirmed and rubbed her thighs together, eyes dewy and unfocussed.
… Her eyes closing fully as she lost herself to the sensations was exactly what Haruhiro had been waiting for.
A breathy, startled scream filled the cabin, Yukio's back arching and her eyes going wide.
Haruhiro had touched her pussy for the first time, even if he'd only stroked her slit with a finger.
Eyes wide and trembling a bit, Yukio stared at the softly smiling Haruhiro.
For a moment, there was only the soft sound of her panting, breasts heaving with every breath.
Slowly, Yukio lifted her arms and beckoned him in with just one word.
"... More."
A second word wasn't needed.
Yukio was actually somewhat scared.
… Haru had barely touched her… there… and it felt so good already.
… Was she going to embarrass herself when he was inside her?
But Haru seemed to know that she was anxious, and as he leaned down over her, it was their lips that met first.
Kissing her gently, pressing down lightly with his weight and his warmth.
Her shivering vanished in seconds, though the kiss lasted longer.
Pushing himself back up onto his arms, Haru met her eyes, gaze gentle.
Yukio smiled back, and nodded once-
… Hot.
… Hot, hot, hot, hot…
"... Ah?" He was barely inside her- Haru was inside her-
"... AHHHH~~!?"
Haru was inside her…
A hot, stiff heat that felt like it was nudging at the edge of her womb was melting her from the inside out.
… They could have stayed like this for the rest of their lives and Yukio would have felt her life blessed.
Somehow or another, she'd wrapped all four limbs around Haru's strong, naked body, the distance that separated them briefly reduced to the absolute minimum.
But she followed his lead when he lifted his upper body, and was immediately rewarded by Haru's tender smile, followed by Haru's equally tender kiss.
Yukio moaned into his mouth as their tongues tangled sloppily, and then a bit louder when Haru began to slowly thrust into her.
Immersed in a fresh new bliss, Yukio gently began to move muscles she didn't know she had, her folds wriggling against Haru's cock as it moved back and forth inside of her.
Haru was gentle, but firm, and each time he hilted that glorious heat would crash through her senses like a tidal wave, forcing Yukio to cling to him as if he were the only shelter in a storm.
It was a delightfully lewd thought, but it felt as if the danger had been fucked out of her.
… Take too much from Haru?
She was barely certain she could take enough.
… Maybe a little worried she couldn't give enough to satisfy Haru, but she knew that all she need do was try again.
She had trusted Haru with her everything, and she would laugh in the face of anyone who thought her a fool for doing so.
Another one of those curious 'white flashes' occurred, when Haru hit deep and his heat stole her awareness away for a moment.
Later, Haru would admit to her that he'd gotten a bit worried once or twice, because she'd been too busy with mutual seduction to remember to tell Haru that it was normal for a Yuki-Onna to cum often and easily, and that Tsurara-Onna were probably no different.
… And there was still more for her to experience.
"H-hold on, Yukio," Haru growled suddenly. "I think I'm about to-"
He pulled back on instinct, but Yukio locked her legs around his waist with strength she didn't know she had, pulling him in deeper.
"... There is a reason you can… 'finish'(?) inside of me… but my head is too mushy to remember why." Yukio confessed. "But…"
… What were the words?
The dangerous, magical ones Cerea had taught her?
Ah… yes, that was it.
"I want to cum… together with Haru." She managed to rasp.
The words truly were magical, because Haru's eyes dilated like those of a predator, and he thrust into her, hard.
Yukio screamed as the heat violently flooded her body, and it was the loudest and most joyful sound she had ever made.
… Blue with no pupils, big, dewy eyes opened, blinking slowly as they refocused, like ice creeping over a deep cold lake.
A moan that could only be described as erotic followed, and Yukio smiled, rubbing her lower stomach where a curious warmth had settled, deep within her.
Her smile widened a touch as she reassured Haru of… something, and then she casually rolled over.
… And had to blink a few more times as, somehow or another, her rolling over had left her straddling Haru, her fingers splayed across his bare chest.
Haru looked up at her with a lopsided grin.
"Someone bounced back quickly."
"... This position is good too," Yukio nodded.
Still feeling a little… 'melted' and out of it, Yukio took note of how her body was moving, finding herself curious as to what she was about to do next.
Then the hips that she didn't know had lifted dropped, and Yukio threw her head back with a low, throaty cry as something stiff and hot filled her for pussy for the second time.
"... Ah, you're inside me again."
"Why are you saying that like it has nothing to do with you?"
Yukio gave a coy smile, and clenched her stomach.
It was Haru's turn to moan as her folds clamped down on his shaft.
A heady sense of excitement coursed through her- having 'adjusted' to that delightful heat, Yukio could keep her wits about her enough to focus on making Haru feel as good as she felt.
Okaa-san had been right- her body knew exactly how to devote itself to Haru.
Her body knew exactly how to physically demonstrate the depths of her love.
Trusting in that strange sense of certainty, Yukio began to slowly, rhythmically rock her hips, swaying her lush figure in the most intimate dance of all.
She could feel every twitch, both hers and his, follow the melody of every gasp and groan that intertwined in the warm air.
Wishing to be closer still, Yukio politely offered her hands with a soft, bewitching little giggle, pulling Haru upright when he accepted. Breasts squishing against Haru's sturdy chest as she embraced him, their smiles inches apart for the brief moment before they kissed.
A much more confident Yukio slowly took control of the kiss, enjoying the new sensation of having used her tongue to 'wrestle' and 'pin' Haru's… rewarding herself by leisurely exploring his mouth. Of course, she didn't forget to keep moving her hips as she did, sedately bouncing on his cock as they enjoyed a kiss every bit as intimate as the sex.
Far removed from a Yukio that had been afraid to kiss Haru ever again, her current self had firmly established that kissing Haru made everything better, up to and including sex with Haru.
It was a truly important discovery, she was certain.
The other important discovery was that Haru was approaching his second orgasm. His second, and her… one of many.
She'd lost track.
Yukio clung more tightly to Haru, guiding them towards a mutual finish, until-
Haru's mischievous spirit showed itself, and he sank his fingers into the springy curves of her round, firm butt.
Yukio's trembling cry echoed sloppily through their joined mouths as she was pushed over the edge, and her spasming pussy clenched hard on Haruhiro's cock, bringing him to completion, and sending her straight into another orgasm, as his heat spurted into her.
Yukio gripped him so hard Haruhiro felt his bones creak, her eyes rolling back in their sockets as she shuddered wildly in his lap.
Unbalanced, he fell back onto the bed, pulling Yukio on top of himself, barely managing to break the kiss before they bounced their faces together.
He pulled out, and they lay there for a bit, gasping and entangled, before Yukio surged up into a sitting position, glaring down at him with cutely puffed out cheeks.
"Haru's… sneaky."
"It's in the job description."
"Hmmph~!"
Haruhiro sat up as Yukio rose up off the bed, moving over to where her yukata lay discarded on the floor.
He hadn't… actually made her mad, had he?
Without touching her clothing, Yukio swept back over to the bed, gripped him firmly but not ungently by the cheeks, and leaned in for an aggressive, passionate kiss that left them both gasping by the end of it.
"I truly… truly love you." Yukio clarified without fully withdrawing, his cheeks still cupped in her hands and her cool breath tickling his face. "And I am… too happy to be the slightest bit angry."
"... Well that's relieving, but um…?"
"But I think I should stop there for now… as much as I could happily spend… every moment of the night, naked in your arms."
Was it weird that he immediately got an erection from hearing that?
Yukio didn't seem to think so, if her quiet, happy giggle was any indication.
"And it is very tempting… perhaps a bit too tempting, if that makes sense?"
… Oh.
"Sure, I get it." Haruhiro smiled gently. "If you say you want to stop, we'll stop, no matter the reason."
Yukio shivered, her still bent posture giving him a great view of her breasts jiggling with the motion.
"... Ah~" Yukio's gaze turned hungry for a split second, but with another shiver and a sigh, she reined herself in. "But it is… good you are still… energetic?"
It was Yukio's turn to wear a mischievous look as she answered his inquisitive look with a coy shake of her head.
"It will be… more fun this way." Yukio teased before continuing on in a much more serious tone. "Do you trust me?"
"Always."
The instant answer caused an elated smile to bloom across the Tsurara-Onna's lovely features, and she made a brief request without giving much away.
After nodding, Haruhiro watched her leave with a soft smile on his face, and, not ashamed in the least, let his eyes track all the interesting motions caused by the extra sway in her hips.
"Oops… hey, Yukio?" Yukio halted and looked over her shoulder, flashing him a curious look.
"I kind of forgot about… y'know, the 'exchange'?" Haruhiro said sheepishly. "Was there anything er… specific? Kinda never really explained-"
"Ufufu~" Yukio covered her smile with a demure hand as she turned. "There is… no cause for concern, Haru. It really was as simple as sharing love, deeply and thoroughly." Yukio caressed her lower abdomen as she emphasized the words. "There will always be a part of me that is… more dangerous than before, but… only in a fun way… from now on~"
Haruhiro's gaze softened, relaxing.
Yukio would be just fine, he was certain.
"Y'know, I don't think I said it, so let's start catching up," Haruhiro said suddenly.
A delicate brow arched as Yukio gave him an inquisitive look.
"I love you, Yukio."
"... Ah… I love you as well, Haru."
Their fond gazes lingered a moment before, wearing a satisfied and mysterious smile, Yukio turned on her heel, leaving the cabin and making her way back to the main building with quiet steps and clear purpose.
Centorea felt no shame at all when the… scent Yukio carried with her, smiling radiantly the whole time, encouraged an immediate sense of arousal.
Even if she hadn't known in advance, there was no way she wouldn't recognize the signs of what Yukio and Haru had shared between them.
… Repeatedly, she suspected.
Good for her.
Truly… good for her.
Yukio met her gaze, and flashed a mischievous, girlish wink before giving a meaningful jerk of her head.
Centorea's eyes widened slightly, and her ears perked up, before the Centaur began to smirk as well.
Indeed, she'd be a failure as a woman if she didn't assist to the best of her ability.
Moving carefully, Centorea casually cut off the target from the entrance to the bath that they'd intended to enter a little late.
Moving swiftly, Yukio closed the jaws of the trap.
"H-huh!?" Tio gave a little start, looking at Yukio with clear surprise as the Tsurara-Onna gently clasped one of her hands with both of hers.
"Y-Yukio? U-um I… I didn't expect to s-see you or… y'know, tonight, um, is everything… everything okay?" The gazes directed her way softened subtly, Rachnera and Iormu smiling wryly as they turned to watch, crossing their arms beneath their recently exposed busts.
"Everything is… wonderful," Yukio asserted softly. "Truly… wonderful."
"Oh! Oh, um, that's good, you kinda had me worried for a sec!" Tio grinned, beaming down at the smaller woman. It was easy to tell that she wasn't just saying that- she was genuinely and truly put at ease that her friend was happy.
"... Would you like to help me… make it even more wonderful?" Which was precisely why Yukio was there.
"Sure!" Tio agreed immediately and without motive. "What did you have in mind?"
"Close your yukata and come with me." Yukio said firmly, pulling on Tio's hand to lead her along.
Naturally, even with her newly increased strength, Yukio couldn't pull Tio anywhere she didn't want to go, but she had no issue capitalizing upon the Ogress' gentle and accommodating nature.
… Not if it was for a good cause.
But, Yukio did take a moment to meet 'her' eyes as well, and six red orbs blinked once, before a shake of the head saw lavender bangs swaying to and fro.
Yukio let her gaze linger, and then gave a minute nod, before returning her attention to Tio.
When they were gone, the owner of those red eyes took in the gazes directed at her, and sighed shortly.
"I appreciate it, but I'm gonna practice a little more before I go rock his world." Rachnera said, showing off her claws for emphasis. "The girls back at the shop have been helping out a lot, but we've had enough close calls with our Haru for one week, don't you agree?"
Without waiting for an answer, the Arachne turned, heading towards the curtain that led to the onsen.
She stopped at the curtain though, and turned her head back to smile in a way that made the temperature spike.
"But, I'll make sure Haru knows it was worth the wait~" Rachnera asserted with a sexy purr. "The whole village is going to know I'm worth the wait."
And then she was gone, Iormu's rich chuckle following her out.
"I can appreciate a woman who knows what she wants." The serpent smirked, sharing a sidelong glance with Centorea as she slithered after Rachnera.
Centorea lingered for a moment longer, smiling to herself as she stood there alone.
"It's only going to get livelier, isn't it?" She murmured. "I hope Haru's up to it, and if not, well… I'll have plenty of fun helping him practice."
Tio had obediently followed her, hand-in-hand, until they were almost behind the inn before she clued in and started to panic.
… Quietly, because it was late.
"H-hold on Yuki, where are we-!?"
Yukio, expression giving nothing away, turned to face the taller girl, and wordlessly offered her other hand.
Tio meekly placed her own atop Yukio's palm, and the Tsurara-Onna's expression softened into a gentle, understanding smile.
"Until tonight, Tio, I… did not truly understand how much I was holding myself back," she confessed quietly. "I hurt Haru, and… in truth, I have not quite forgiven myself for that. But I did not understand that… I had hurt myself first, out of fear. Fear of my own heart… fear of my own love."
"... Yuki." Tio's big red eyes watered a little bit as she looked down at her bitterly smiling friend.
"It was all so… pointless, Tio." Yukio admitted. "I hurt Haru… I hurt myself, and… all of you. Perhaps if I had been braver… no, it does not matter."
Yukio's bitter expression vanished like a snowflake drifting too close to a roaring campfire.
"Haru trusted me when I could not trust myself," Yukio said with a clear but quiet joy. "Haru loved me when I could not love myself. And I am certain that… he will do the same for you, if you let him."
"... Huh?" Tio had been caught up in the mutual joy on Yukio's behalf, so she honestly wasn't sure she'd heard her friend correctly.
"Also, I am at the point where… if I do not stop I believe I will want more than… I should… so… it would help me as well."
"... Wa-wait, hold on, um… I think I missed something?"
"Ah… was I being too vague?"
"... Maybe?"
"Go have sex with Haru."
"Too blunt!"
"Communication is… complex." Yukio complained in a flat tone.
"H-h-h-hold on!" Tio stammered, cheeks growing hot. "W-w-what do you mean, 'have sex with Haru'!?"
"... There is only one meaning to that phrase I am aware of?"
"B-but it's your night, Yuki!"
"... Isn't sharing it my choice… then? If so, I choose… yes, let's go."
"Huh, yeah, I guess you're right- as if I'd say that!"
"You mean you… don't want to?" Yukio gave her a profoundly skeptical look.
"O-of course I want to!" Tio half-shouted.
Yukio's smile returned with a vengeance, and Tio's voice trailed off into a whimper.
"O-of course I do… but… w-well…"
"Tio." Yukio said firmly.
"Y-yes?"
"Do you trust me?"
"Asking that's kinda unfair…"
Yukio just stared.
"... Yes." Tio admitted, giving into the silent pressure.
"Then… all you have to do is… follow." Yukio encouraged softly. "I will be… your courage until you… reclaim your own."
"... Okay, Yuki." Tio murmured shyly. "U-um… lead on… and um… thanks."
For a daughter of Winter, the smile Yukio showed was very warm.
The timing could not have been any more perfect.
Haruhiro walked into the room through the back door, wearing nothing but a towel, as Tio was led through the front door in nothing but a yukata and straw sandals.
Haruhiro blinked in surprise, and the confusion, smiling, but unsure of what was going on.
Yukio disentangled her hand from a stock-still Tio, and stepped somewhat to the side to leave the view between the two unobstructed.
Then, without the slightest expression, she reached up and firmly yanked Tio's yukata open, causing her massive, chocolate-colored breasts to enthusiastically burst free.
Haruhiro's gaze dipped on impulse and then jerked back up to meet Tio's, and then they both flushed red.
There was a moment of silence, and Yukio stepped a little more aside, hands clasped in front of herself as she waited politely but eagerly.
"... Ahhh I don't care anymore!" Tio yelled, embarrassed. "Haru!" She put her hands on her hips, thrusting her chest forward in a way she honestly didn't know if she intended or not. "I'm here, and I'm basically naked! What are you gonna do about it!?"
The oddly aggressive delivery just came across as cute, and Yukio had to hide her smile behind her sleeve.
Haruhiro gave her a brief, questioning look, and she beckoned him on.
Smiling ruefully, Haruhiro crossed the room, and offered Tio both his hands.
Delicately, the Ogress, once more feeling very much shy, offered her own.
Hand-in-hand with her, Haruhiro walked backwards towards the big bed, easily stepping back and up onto it without looking.
Conveniently, it put them much closer to eye level.
Tio's blush deepened, and then deepened even more when Haruhiro smirked, and leaned in.
"Well… I think I'll do something like this."
Tio squeaked in surprise as he kissed her, but the sound to follow was a good deal more sensual as he made the kiss deepen.
Satisfied with her work, Yukio slipped out of the cabin, and closed the door.
Outside, she took a moment to stare up into the starry sky, before closing her red eyes briefly, savoring a night that was more beautiful than she ever could have imagined.
Surprise! One lewd leads to one another!
Next chapter though. The inspiration spurred on the desire to link lewds, but I'll also need time to figure out Tio's lewds, so I think both chapter quality and release timing will work out better this way.
So… yeah. Haru 'melted' Yukio (sorry not sorry), and now she's… settled, somewhat.
She's still learning her boundaries, but she's drawing strength from both the love and the trust she's been offered.
So she's stronger than ever, and in more ways than one.
And Haru's growing too- learning to be more assertive as he drifts further away from the person he thought he was.