Chapter 22: The Master of Irrevocable (Part 11)
"Events seem to be weighing heavily on you, milady. Would you like a massage or three?"
"Would you like for your hands to be incinerated? Because if nothing else, I assure you that will be the end result should you attempt to touch me."
Chuckling merrily at Amaterasu's blunt and immediate response the shapeshifter eyed the goddess as she wearily sat herself in an ornate chair, inwardly smirking at her demeanor.
Already she was outwardly showing weariness and exhaustion in his presence as if it didn't matter what he saw, didn't matter what conclusions he drew from it. An understandable mistake, one he had practice cultivating. When he acted so wildly and boldly as if the consequences didn't apply it created an air of casualness, of reduced wariness and lack of attention to the finer details. Why bother putting on nice, polite airs and dolled up masks when the rabid dog only cared about what treats it smelled in your pockets?
"I see gods and goddesses are no more immune than humans in that regard. Well, no complaints here."
Strolling over to a nearby cabinet and leaning against it Harris lazily asked, "So I hear you wanted to meet with me. Seeing as how both my hands and person are intact it's not for the purpose of recreational stress relief as you punch the little gremlin hounding your steps into the dirt."
Amaterasu's expression shifted to something halfway between amusement and resignation at his eternal irreverence, instead replying with, "Negotiations have gone precisely nowhere and any attempt on my part to bring things to a more concise and decisive conclusion are stonewalled or ultimately lead to circuitous doublespeak. It's as if China fears any kind of actual decision being made and intends to wear our resolve down by being as obtuse and confusing as possible."
Her eyes flashed with an inner fire, voice taking on a cadence that reminded the man of the beginnings of a volcanic eruption, a low rumble that threatened to grow into something truly destructive.
"If that is their scheme then they will be sorely disappointed to discover that we have courage and tenacity greater than theirs."
Harris elected not to comment, instead reflecting that this was only further evidence of Amoghasiddhi's little scheme to implement the same curse he'd used on Kaiyo onto Amaterasu, or perhaps another member of the Shinto pantheon if they were a more attractive target. A clever scheme, if he hadn't wandered into the picture.
"You have concluded your investigations and spoken to the god in question. Surely by now you have arrived at an explanation or discovery that sheds light on this subject for better or for worse, yes?"
Hiding his grin that a shark smelling blood in the water would have recognized the male pushed off of the furniture, languidly plopping himself down in a nearby chair as Amaterasu watched his every movement like a hawk observing its prey.
"Wouldn't that be cheating in this grand little game of ours? To spoil the twist at the end when you are so obviously anticipating it above all else?"
It took the male's every last bit of self-control not to laugh at the goddess's apoplectic expression, said expression shifting into one of tight irritation as she frostily asked, "And I suppose I would need to ask politely to hear of this conclusion of yours?"
"You're stressed and worried, aren't you?"
Amaterasu's features curdled, nastily retorting, "Well aren't you just a grand inquisitor and expert in the art of reading body language?"
"Thank you for proving my point. I'm not particularly beholden to helping those that so cruelly and wantonly bully me you know."
He tapped his lip as if in idle thought, playfully commenting, "Those that did often found that I can stealthily depart when so desired...the less fortunate usually just died."
Fire and ambient heat intense enough to dry his eyes and crisp his skin roared to life in the room, Amaterasu's lovely orbs turning into miniature suns as Harris felt his adrenaline spike and heart race, lips peeling from teeth as he eagerly watched their final clash of wills play out.
And, as had happened for decades upon decades, his won out.
The fire subsided, the temperature returned to normal and while she seemed naught but composed the flicker of defeat was clear to see in the woman's eyes. He knew it, she knew it and they both knew that the information Harris held was more important than whatever else might have been at stake. How many other people could have directly threatened to kill the goddess to her face and gotten away with it?
"What do you want?"
Correctly identifying what the next topic of conversation was going to be Harris let his gaze land on the goddess, idly admiring her perfect facial features before traveling downwards to a thin neck and the concealing robes that didn't quite hide a figure that was neither too busty nor too lithe, to immaculate fingernails that slightly dug into her chair at his obvious attention-
"For telling you the basics of what I discovered I want both my companions and I to have unfettered leave to travel Japan as we wish and to be treated as honored guests if we just so happen to stop at any supernatural locales. We'll still be subject to local laws and trends so you don't have to worry about that but hospitality and freedom would be nice."
Amaterasu blinked, blatantly thrown off guard by his seemingly innocuous request as the man wickedly grinned, joking, "Pleased to see you think I'm that tasteless. Stop trying to predict what I'm about to do, it'll save you no small amount of headaches in the future."
Simmering down the Shinto goddess released an enormous sigh, grumbling, "Laying with you once might be more appealing a scenario than having to accommodate your presence in the future."
"Sorry, but those are my terms and I'm not budging on them."
Their gazes once more met, the woman offering up token resistance to his proposal that was more to save face than it was any real attempt at debating the matter. She'd given way earlier and that wasn't about to change.
"Then they are accepted."
While the words sounded like someone had dragged barbed wire through her throat they were genuine nonetheless, Harris smiling amicably as he laced his hands behind his head, stating, "Neat. Now the first thing you should do is stop being all uptight and tense."
He smirked.
"After all, that's how Amoghasiddhi killed Kaiyo."
"You know, our culture's kimono really looks good on you. Perhaps you should wear it more often?"
Charles gave Akito a narrowed look, even as her back straightened slightly due to the compliment.
"Was it really necessary for me to dress up so extravagantly for this? I'll admit that it's a wonderful piece of clothing but the many layers and wrapping seems a bit much."
Haughtily sniffing as he walked alongside his companion to the sprawling gardens that resided within the palace's deeper recesses the Kitsune replied, "Spoken like a true plebian. Why not bask in the glory that is your femininity and beauty that's merely accentuated by the kimono instead of denying it?"
"Because I've spent the last several years being a man?"
"Semantics. These flowers lose to you by a large margin."
Rolling her eyes at the compliment - pale skin being fairly poor at hiding the way her cheeks flushed prettily - the Vampire instead gazed around the artificial hills and valleys that were adorned with every type of flora imaginable, smiling slightly at the varied scents that began to tickle her nose.
"You seem rather focused on the topic of my gender today. I take it you wish to know why I posed as a man all this time?"
"The thought had crossed my mind, I'll admit it."
A less amused expression appeared on the Kitsune's face, tails idly curling.
"I'm aware that a significant faction of the Vampires consider women of less importance than even a great many human societies do. I take it that had something to do with you adorning the guise of a male?"
They paused in their walk, the bloodsucker kneeling slightly in order to inspect a collection of flowering lotuses, content smile peeling her lips upwards as she breathed in the scent of the floral arrangement.
"That's the majority of the reason, although there's some context to the rest of the tale."
Quietly huffing out a sigh she rose to her feet, continuing their stroll as Akito listened with rapt attention, one ear tilted her way so as to not miss a word.
"I was born into the house of Carmilla, a renowned line of Vampires of good breeding and nobility. Unfortunately, I was born as a weak-willed, frail of body and ultimately worthless girl that seemingly couldn't resist disappointing her family at every given opportunity. I had no real talent in the art of blood manipulation, control over bats, weaving of shadows…"
A self-deprecating scoff left the girl as she sullenly stared at one of the passing formations of roses, cultivated and enchanted to grow even in a climate far removed from their own.
"I was worthless as a broodmare, no one wished to poison the well with such worthless and defective bloodl. Thus, my family decided that it would be better if I was to masquerade as a boy. After all, a defective girl was sign of terrible breeding. A defective boy could at least be somewhat blamed as being weak on his own merits rather than the families."
A distant, morbidly contemplative expression crested her features.
"In all honesty I'm amazed my family let me live. It would have been the simplest thing in the world to make my death look like an accident - assuming they even bothered to go that far - and no one would have cared all that much. Weak Vampires aren't expected to thrive or make much of an impact upon our society."
An airy motion of her delicate hand.
"My capture was, as Harris would put it, the last straw. I wouldn't be surprised if my kidnapping and subsequent death by torture or enslavement was met with rounds of appluase back home or general disinterest."
Akito was silent for a moment, lip curled in obvious distaste before a heavy sigh left him, figuring that any attempts at reassurance would be largely symbolic or empty rather than comforting, considering how much time had passed.
"I'll consider myself incredibly fortunate, then. Even when I was captured there were people to look after duties I was unable to continue. And my return was a cause for celebration, not criticism."
His features turned wry.
"For the most part. There were a few vocal critics that suggested it would have been more honorable to end my life instead of suffer captivity. Sometimes I feel like we emulate the human's culture a little too closely."
He decided to mix boldness and empathy, lacing his fingers through Charles' and stating, "But I can empathize well enough with the struggles of having to deal with a predetermined image of what you should be like, of having to suffer through standards arbitrarily imposed upon you and feeling as if you'll never match up."
He snorted in morbid amusement.
"Before my capture I was honestly terrified and worried that I would never measure up to my mother's level of competency, even with Lady Amaterasu and the Yokai clan heads there to advise and instruct me."
"Funny what a little terror, despair and mild agony can do to motivate someone, isn't it?"
Akito grinned as Charles accepted his hand holding and even returned it a bit.
"You had two years to spend in the company of those three as well, I'm sure that did all sorts of things to you."
A shiver ran up the Vampire's spine, one intense enough that the Yokai could clearly feel it.
"They're all insane. Take this however you want, but your goddess is way out of her league trying to deal with Harris and the other two."
"That bad?"
"I'm mostly certain they're not even from this plane of existence."
"Huh."
They continued their walk in silence for a bit, Charles eventually stopping to inspect a Chrysanthemum as Akito found himself highly interested in the curve of her neck, its slender shape and pale skin causing the male to wonder if a Vampire liked being bitten there in return.
"I can't imagine our presence here is doing much to endear you to your people, though."
Snapping out of his less than pure thoughts Akito raised an eyebrow at the bloodsucker's sudden statement, being obliged as she nodded towards the distant guards that had been following them.
"Merlin and Robin can be mostly well behaved but I doubt Harris is winning any hearts and minds. Not to mention the fact that we've eaten up so much of both you and your sister's attention - especially me, during such a trying time - so I find it hard to believe we're seen as anything other than bad influences upon your person."
"Hmm...you're right, but I find myself not particularly caring in all honesty."
Ruby eyes snapped to meet his own, Charles incredulously replying, "You don't care that we're undoubtedly causing trouble and ill rumors to spring up around you?"
"No, not really. Yes, the loyalty and certainty in my ability to rule might be lost by some since they have little trust or familiarity with you but the certainty of obedience and flexibility others possess in dealing with outsiders is a boon just as valuable."
The Kitsune proudly grinned, as if his breaking with convention was something to be celebrated rather than scoffed at.
"It's a choice I'm happy to make. If our time at Gastofield showed me anything it's that all it takes to foster genuine goodwill and attraction between two different people is the right circumstances. I'll deal with the fallout of that decision if it means my typically insular people one day decide to interact with others in a manner more friendly than what we're currently dealing with in China. Lead by example, as they say."
Charles stared at him, seemingly unable to comprehend any of what he was saying...and released a snort of amusement, commenting, "You give up favor and loyalty of your own people in order to lay the groundwork for future good relations with people who may not even reciprocate the gesture? Akito, I don't think you're going to make a very good ruler."
Laughing at the Vampire's candor the Kitsune replied, "One thing mother always used to tell me is that while being a good ruler required you to be a bastard most of the time it wasn't all of the time. I get the impression Harris is going to be a bastard to most people right now so I'm just trying to provide a counterweight."
"I'm certain that's what you're doing."
The words were dismissive but a small smile constantly played across the bloodsucker's lips as they continued their walk, Akito asking, "Well since you seem quite acquainted with what makes both a good and bad decision why not inform me of any future plans you've concocted? I'm sure they're of incredible quality and brilliance, after all."
Retaking his hand in hers - the male roguishly grinning at her taking the initiative this time - Charles thoughtfully replied, "I think I'm going to return home, actually."
"...I find it offensive that you just criticized me for being a bad leader then turning around and stating that you intend to waltz right back into the clutches of the people that rejoiced at your abduction and likely death."
The words were jesting but the Kitsune's expression wasn't, Charles seemingly highly amused by the response as she further explained, "They're insane, but I can't help but admire what Harris, Merlin and Robin do. The confidence and certainty they hold when they decide to do something and then go do it. And they've taught me a bunch of tricks and other things that I can make use of, powers and abilities that will allow me to actually become a real, genuinely productive member of the Carmilla family."
A smirk adorned her lips.
"One that they should respect and fear. A true Carmilla shouldn't be afraid of who they are, whether man or woman."
Ruby eyes narrowed in reminiscence as she grumbled, "After seeing the insanity Harris routinely took part of I feel that there should be a woman out there who acts just as crazy as he does. Men do seem capable of some truly incredible acts of stupidity."
Akito sniffed, haughtily retorting, "We're not all that bad."
"Truly?"
Crimson orbs bored into the Yokai's own stalwart own as she archly asked, "What was all of that in the bathing area then? Coherence and deliberate actions on your part?"
"Oh us men are perfectly capable of acting as if our wits have left us. It's just usually when a woman we highly covet has left us tongue tied with her mere presence."
A brief pinking of her pointed ears had the Yokai smirking in victory, Charles huffing out a breath of annoyance upon seeing his minor triumph as they entered a grove of Niwaki trees that were artfully interwoven together in order to form a natural maze dotted with all variety of flowers of every geographical location, suffusing the place with aromatic ambiance.
"Your people really like showing off your gardens."
"We also like having private little areas just for ourselves. Watch."
Snapping a talisman into his fingers as they passed a particular bend in the area Akito held it against a seemingly solid wall of wood and greenery, the living barrier shifting and retracting as it admitted them inside, the Yokai sealing it behind them with a second application of the talisman.
"Behold, just one of the royal family's egotistical alterations that's for our exclusive use."
While it wasn't particularly big the enclosed area exuded an aura of peace and quiet, its only features being a slight hill, meandering stream and grasses that looked soft enough to fall asleep upon, the trees overhead casting everything into a hazy kind of twilight that lured the mind into a surreal state of being.
"Is it alright to bring me here? You said it was for royal use, right?"
A wistful smile decorated Aito's mouth, the Kitsune explaining, "And who knows when you'll return? I'd rather spend the time we now have in a memorable way rather than let it pass by."
He waved a hand, encompassing the private area with the gesture.
"Here? We can talk or argue without restriction, no outsiders able to cast judgement on our decorum. Or lack of it."
"Not suggestive at all, Akito."
Trying to get his seriousness across the male didn't immediately reply to her provocation, instead stating, "I'm worried about you. Returning to your home, well...I doubt it will be as simple as you make it out to be."
Charles nodded, waiting for him to continue.
"You could stay here, you know. There's no reason you have to leave, as a prince-"
A dainty finger placed itself on his lips, halting his offer in its tracks as the Vampire calmly said, "I get what you're offering and while I would normally take you up on it...I want to do this. To make something of myself on my own. And while you may not be bothered by it…"
She offered a wan smile.
"I'd always be aware of the stares. Aware of the judgments and troubles my presence would bring you. My mind is made up, Akito."
The Yokai unleashed a frustrated breath, narrowing his eyes while lowly grumbling, "Stubborn fucking woman."
Abruptly laughing at his lack of decorum Charles teased, "Well I apologize for not being a good little wallflower that you can admire whenever you want."
Rolling his eyes the Kitsune asked, "Well if nothing else, may I at least know your real name? I mean, I'm assuming that Charles isn't actually the name you were gifted at birth."
"Well it certainly took you long enough to ask."
Smiling at the miffed tone of the Vampire Akito teased, "Allow me to reiterate, us men can get a little stupid around the women we admire and covet."
"Evidently."
Shifting her weight for a moment the woman softly murmured, "Charlotte. Charlotte Carmilla."
"Charlotte Carmilla, hmm?"
Rolling the name around in his mouth the Kitsune found that it was to his liking. Very much to his liking.
"Well if nothing else I'll remember it. And should you ever require it…"
He shrugged, as if to imply that his offer wasn't that big of a deal.
"My assistance will likely be limited but I promise I'll send what I can, regardless of what my advisors no doubt will insist is a bad idea."
Smiling at the offer Charlotte wryly commented, "Ideally I won't need it, but who can say? And besides…"
A more optimistic and silly air came over the bloodsucker.
"Maybe one day we'll be able to unite our people. Wouldn't that be a sight?"
"Hah! Become King and Queen - or Emperor and Empress, if you prefer - of both Yokai and Vampires alike? And you accuse Harris of being ambitious."
To his surprise there was no immediate rebuttal, the Vampire instead shifting in nervousness before quietly mumbling, "Well we could, you know...we don't have to wait until that day, we can consummate our union right here and now."
Akito experienced half a second of disbelief that the shy and embarrassed Charlotte was the one offering what he thought she was offering-
-and then grinned like a predator spotting its first meal of the day, leaning in and purring, "Well if you're offering...then how about a taste?"
He leaned inwards, tilting his head so his neck was on display and causing the Vampire to stiffen as she heatedly asked, "Is...is it okay?"
"Oh don't you worry, I have plenty of blood to run both organs at once."
"Ugh. Men."
The complaint couldn't have sounded more hollow as Charlotte leaned in, sensually licking the Yokai's flesh as he grinned at the sensation-
-and briefly grimaced at the swift lance of pain before liquid warmth spread from where the young woman was drinking greedily from his veins, turning mild irritation into intimate bliss as he freely allowed his natural energies to flow into the Vampire's body, a plaintive and muffled mewl of pleasure escaping her throat as Akito abruptly found himself being pushed to the ground, Charlotte straddling him and slowly rocking her hips back and forth as she ground herself against him.
Lips peeling back from his teeth in mounting excitement the Yokai deftly moved his hands to the folds of his partner's kimono, professionally unwinding it and allowing the material to flow open, revealing the bloodsucker's slim and ethereal body that he'd caught a tantalizing glimpse of in the baths.
He was more than happy to explore it, fingers ghosting over cold and delicate thighs before cupping a soft and malleable ass, kneading the silken flesh as Charlotte didn't even seem to notice as she drank deeply from his well.
Eventually she rose up from her feeding with a breathy gasp, crimson dripping down her chin alongside flecks of drool as her eyes shone with a crazed lust, slight chest heaving and topped by erect cherries as she gazed with clear want down at the smirking Kitsune.
"And you labeled me a womanizer and irredeemable flirt."
"Then what's this, hmm~?"
Acting far more bold than he could ever remember her being the Vampire reached down and firmly grasped his cock through the layers of fabric, teasingly rolling it back and forth as a low groan escaped the Yokai, the woman's other free hand reaching down between her legs, uncaring of the parted Kimono as she peeled open heavily dripping lips of glistening pink.
"Do you want to be inside me, Akito~? You're so big I might just break in two~!"
While his ego appreciated the words she was obviously exaggerating, her hand able to comfortably fit around his girth-
-and the male found himself blinking as lengths of bloody shadow divested himself of his clothing just as swiftly as he'd done to her, length springing free of its confines as Charlotte greedily guided the dripping head towards her loins.
"Oh no, I'm not going to let her be the one who dictates the pace!"
Flexing his core he toppled the Vampire backwards, a yelp escaping her as his hands captured her arms at her sides, fox tails wrapping around her legs and forcing them wide, leaving the bloodsucker upside down with her dripping cunt directly in front of his salivating mouth, pointed teeth exposed in a predator's grin.
"You got to drink from me, now it's time I get to drink from you. Oh, and Kitsune's are the ones who do the dominating."
Whatever protest Charlotte had was lost in a shriek of base pleasure, the duo losing themselves in the next hours to a hot, forbidden passion.