The train slowed down. Kotonoha instinctively reached for Makoto, but he wasn't there. She lost her balance and fell against the side of the train. Pain shot through her shoulder.

"You okay, Miss?" an older man asked.

"Y-Yeah. I'm sorry. I got distracted."

With a hiss, the doors opened.

Kotonoha ran out. When she was on the platform, she adjusted her backpack.

The station was mercifully empty.

Kotonoha walked outside.

There was a blanket of snow on the ground. Her sneakers made crunching sounds with every step.

Despite the cold weather, she only wore knee-socks, a skirt, a hoodie and a coat. But it didn't matter. She barely felt the cold. She barely felt anything without Makoto-kun.

As she walked, it started to snow. Soon, the snow intensified.

She kept walking as snow started to pile on her head and shoulders. Her socks got soaked.

Eventually, she reached her destination. By now, she was freezing, although she could only sense this vaguely.

She looked at the house. While she didn't recognise it, she knew this had to be it. The address fit.

Kotonoha took a deep breath. She knew he was here. Where else could he be?

But if he wanted to be alone, shouldn't she respect that?

No, no. She had something important to say to him.

Besides, if she stayed out here, she would freeze. And her body wouldn't be of any use to him if it was frozen.

Kotonoha rang the doorbell.

She patiently waited until he opened the door.

Kotonoha nodded. "Sawanaga-san."

He started to sweat. "Katsura-san? What a surprise. How long has it be-"

"Where is he?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he evaded.

"I know he's here," Kotonoha insisted. "I need to see him."

"Okay, fine," Taisuke said. He stepped aside. "He's in the bathroom upstairs, shaving."

"Now?" she entered the house.

"Yes, he was going to come to you. He wanted to look good."

Kotonoha kicked off her shoes and went upstairs.

"Makoto-kun?"

A door opened. Makoto stepped out, with shaving cream on his face.

"K-Kotonoha?"

"Sorry for barging in here, can we talk?"

He hugged her. She tried to hug him back, but he suddenly pulled away.

"Oh my God, you're freezing."

"It's nothing," she assured him. Just feeling him made her feel warm again.

"Don't be crazy. Get out of those clothes, you need a hot shower."

She stepped inside the bathroom.

Makoto-kun helped her out of her clothes.

"You have any spare clothes on you?" he asked.

"In my bag," she said.

"Okay."

He turned on the shower. When the water was warm, he ushered her inside.

Slowly, the cold leaked out of her body.

While she warmed up, he continued shaving.

"How did you find me?"

"Where else would you be?" she said. "Your mom didn't know where you were, so Taisuke was the only other option that made sense. You have no other friends."

"Ouch."

"Sorry."

"It's okay."

He finished shaving and washed off.

"Do you want to join me?" Kotonoha asked.

"Maybe we should talk first?" he suggested.

"I understand."

"I'll be in the room next door."

Makoto gathered her clothes and quickly left her. Clearly, he was afraid he'd change his mind with her around.

Kotonoha finished her shower and dried off.

Then, she put on her red summer dress. No underwear, just the dress.

She checked whether her makeup and hair were still fine. When she was satisfied, she took out a tiny box and clutched it into her hand. Then, she went to Makoto.

She found him inside a bedroom.

Makoto frowned. "Why are you wearing that?"

"It seemed appropriate."

"For what?"

"What I'm about to do. Have a seat please."

"Kotonoha, listen. I was on my way to-"

"Makoto-kun. Can I just… go first?"

"Yeah, sure." He sat down on the bed. Kotonoha sat down with him.

Their fingers interlaced.

She swallowed hard. This was it. Either he would accept it or it was over, forever.

"I think the incest isn't a huge problem," she started. "No one knows apart from us and your dad has no reason to reveal it to anyone. Long term, it's probably best if we leave the country once we're adults. Given what happened with my parents, it wouldn't be smart to stick around. No one ever has to know about anything."

"But-"

"Please," Kotonoha said. "Let me finish."

"Okay."

"Now, I know that it would be a problem if we ever have kids. So let's just never have them."

"You're saying that now, but-"

"Makoto-kun."

"Sorry."

"Yes, I'm saying that now, and you probably don't believe me. But I'm serious. So I've figured out a solution."

Kotonoha took a deep breath.

Here goes nothing.

She got up from the bed and stood in front of him. Then, she went down on one knee.

"I know it's tradition for the man to do this, but I think it's more appropriate if I'm the one who gets on my knees."

"K-Kotonoha?"

She opened the little box and held it out. "Itou Makoto… will you marry me?"

"What?"

"Will you marry me?" she repeated.

"How… how does this solve anything?"

"Oh, yeah, I should have explained. That ring isn't for my finger."

"What do you mean?"

"It's the first ring for my pussy."

"What?"

"I'd like you to lock it up. Permanently. That way, I can never get pregnant, even if I wanted to."

"But what about sex?"

"I'll do my best to satisfy you with my mouth, tits and… and ass. And of course, you can fuck other girls whenever you want to."

"You could still have these rings removed," he argued.

"I'm gonna have myself sterilised as well. Just in case."

He looked at her, still on her knees. "You'd really do all of that for me?"

"Of course. You're my world. I'd do anything for you. Anything at all. Just please take me back. I can't live without you."

"I… I can't do this," he said. "Get back up."

"Why not?" Kotonoha asked without standing up. Her knees really started to feel the hardwood floor. But she couldn't get up. Not until he said yes.

"I'm not like my dad," Makoto said.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"I basically blackmailed you to do this."

"No you didn't," she argued.

"Yes I did. I left knowing full well you can't live without me. And that drove you to this."

"I choose to do this," Kotonoha argued. "And you choose to leave."

"It's crazy that I can ask you for anything."

"It's crazy that you won't accept that. Isn't this exactly what you want?"

"I…" he hesitated. Then, slowly, he reached out and took the iron ring from her. And then, suddenly, he said: "I want you to pierce your clit as well."

Kotonoha swallowed hard. "But… what if that makes it numb? I can't cum without my clit."

"Maybe you'll learn to cum from anal. Or from giving me oral. But if you're gonna lock up your pussy, I want you to go all the way. It should be completely off-limits."

"A-As you wish."

"Prove it," he demanded.

"I… this is gonna take some time to set up, Makoto-kun."

"Go downstairs and ask Taisuke for some clothespins. I'm gonna clamp your pussy."

An icy feeling spread over her body. He couldn't be serious about this. Yet, his intense eyes indicated he was.

"But-"

"Disobeying me already?"

"I…"

Why did he have to do this? Why did he have to embarrass her like that? It was one thing to do all of this in private, but to go to Taisuke and ask him…

She could never do that.

"You've convinced me," Makoto said. "This is the only kind of relationship I'm interested in. I don't want a fifty fifty relationship. I want to own you. I want to hurt you. I want to humiliate you. I want you to prove that you love me more than anything in the world. And I believe that you want that as well. If you don't, you're free to leave whenever you want to."

"No, I'll… I'll do it."

Slowly, she got up. Nearby there was a full length mirror. Kotonoha checked herself out.

Her knees were red from kneeling so long. Her hard nipples were clearly visible through the thin red fabric, making it very obvious she wasn't wearing a bra. And she was so wet it had started to run down her thighs. Any more and she would literally be dripping wet.

She had seen this before. In a dream, months ago.

Maybe this was who she was destined to become all along? Ever since she had first met Makoto-kun.

She shook off the thought and walked outside to the hallway.

Slowly, Kotonoha took the stairs down. She found him in the living room, watching tv. He didn't realise she was there.

Kotonoha stood there for a few seconds on shivering feet. When she had finally gathered her courage, she spoke up.

"I… Taisuke-kun?"

"Oh, Katsura-san." He turned off the tv. "Everything all right?"

"Yeah, sure."

She avoided his eyes. This was so embarrassing. And yet, she couldn't help but feel-

"Did you make up with Makoto?"

"Yes. Uhm… do you have…"

He frowned. "Sorry, I didn't catch that last bit."

"C-Clothespins."

The frown deepened. "What for?"

"Oh uhm… my clothes are wet from the snow."

"Just put them in the dryer."

"No, uhm… they are pretty delicate."

"Oh, well just hang them over a chair then."

"No, it's… I really need clothespins."

"Uhm, okay? They are at the washing machine. Go through the kitchen." He pointed.

"Thank you."

With a deep blush, she walked away.

"Katsura?"

Crap.

Her legs were shivering. Slowly, she turned. "Y-Yes."

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Y-Yeah. Don't worry about me, I have Makoto-kun."

"Hm. Okay then."

She let out her breath.

That was close.

Behind the kitchen, she found a washing room. The dryer was running.

Had Makoto put her clothes in there?

Anyway, that wasn't important now.

She took the box filled with wooden clothespins. Luckily, she could go back up through the kitchen.

When she entered the room, she let out her breath.

"Good girl," he praised her.

"Thanks."

"Hm?"

"Uhum, thank you, Sir."

"That's better. Now take off your dress."

"Yes, Sir."

She reached back and unzipped the dress while he locked the door.

Kotonoha neatly folded it and put it aside.

"No, no. Give it to me."

Confused, she handed him her dress.

Makoto took it and used it to blindfold her.

Oh no.

"Are you scared?" he asked.

"A little."

"Good. Lie on the bed and spread your legs."

She blindly reached out until she found the bed. Then, she got on the mattress and lied down spread-eagle. Then, she felt something close around her wrist. A leather bracelet of some kind. She heard metal noises.

"What are you-"

"Shh."

The leather closed tightly, but not enough to hurt. Her wrist was being pulled away.

He was tying her up. When he was done with one hand, he moved to the other.

Kotonoha tested her bonds. Metal chains, definitely. They didn't budge one bit.

Where had he gotten these?

Makoto gently pushed her thighs, urging her to spread wider. Then, she suddenly felt…

Fuck.

Kotonoha shuddered.

He was kissing her thighs. Soft, lingering kisses.

Makoto-kun had never gone anywhere near her pussy with his mouth. Was he really going to do this?

"I… I don't understand."

"Shh," he shushed her. "Just enjoy it."

Then, she felt his tongue brush past her labia. A moan escaped her lips.

He gently spread her lips.

"No, wait," she reflexively closed her legs.

"Keep them open," he warned her.

"S-Sorry." She moved her legs back where they belonged.

He spread her lips again. Then, she felt his tongue inside of her. At the same time, he rubbed her clit with his thumb.

Kotonoha felt an orgasm bubbling up deep inside of her. And he clearly sensed this as well. Makoto deftly worked her up closer and closer.

She would have to start begging for permission soon.

Just as she opened her mouth, the sensation changed. A sharp pain shot up from her clit. Kotonoha screamed. She tried to close her legs, but he forced them to stay open using both hands. She thrashed around but she couldn't do anything. The shackles were secure. She could turn sideways a bit, but her legs and arms were locked in place.

She was out of breath, which forced her to stop her screaming.

"Deep breaths," Makoto said. "Calm yourself."

She couldn't. Her clit was being crushed, how could she be calm? She had never felt anything like this before. Tears were stinging in her eyes. Luckily, they were soaked up by the blindfold.

When she had forced the bare minimum amount of oxygen back in her body, she started to scream and thrash again. His hand clamped her mouth to muffle her screams.

Kotonoha closed her legs. She felt the wood of the clothespin on her clit.

Then, she felt a hand reach down. The next moment, the intense pressure was relieved. The pain lowered.

Before she could fully relax, a loud noise shook her. A knock and the sound of a doorknob turning.

"What's going on in there?" Taisuke demanded.

Makoto removed his hand from her mouth. She felt him whisper something in her ear.

"Tell him."

She froze.

"What's going on? Are you okay?"

"I…"

"Tell him," Makoto repeated.

"I'm fine," Kotonoha said. "I uhm… I stubbed my toe."

"Why is this door locked?" Taisuke asked.

"I stubbed it while we… we were making up."

"Oh. Sorry. Uhm… I'll be going."

She heard footsteps go away.

Kotonoha let out a sigh of relief.

"So, where were we?" Makoto asked.

"Please," she begged. "Can we take this home? You can hurt me as much as you want, but please don't humiliate me any further in front of him."

"Fine," he said. "We'll get out of here. But we're not going home."

"What do you mean? Where are we going?"

Even blindfolded, she could feel his smile.

"You'll see."