(This is one of the few delays that I won't apologize for. Since it wasn't my fault. I got a nasty case of the flu last weekend. So the promised release was postponed by a week. Though I am sorry if it made someone cry.)
Next chapter will be released 23/3
Here is the second and longer part of the chapter that takes place before the story begins.
-Intermission- (2/2)
The tyrant born from privileges vs The jester born from suffering
The wind blew hard through the openings in the large tent. Making all the flaps and loose ends dance in the air. The rain smattered against the plastic walls of the canvas. Filling it with the sounds of the weather.
The night had brought ill news. Both in the form of the storm but also in the form of the military camp's unwanted visitors.
The large tent was dimly lit by some glass lamps. The fire inside the swaying lanterns flickering. The middle of the tent was occupied by a large table with some chairs around it but was otherwise empty.
There was a lot of tension in the room.
The six guest that had arrived just an hour ago were standing beside the table. Only one of them actually sitting on a chair. The other ones standing behind him. All of them wore cowls that covered most of their faces. Their robes gray and unassuming.
The tent also had some soldiers in it. Watching over the group.
The six visitors had appeared outside of the camp's main entrance, just half an hour ago. Refusing to give their identities to the guarding soldiers and demanding to meet the general that was currently in the camp. When they had been refused, they had started to threaten the guards. When the guards still refused them, they had killed two of them. Attacking out of nowhere by means the guards could neither understand or defend against. Using their teigus to completely destroy all the guards that refused them. Turning it into a gory scene.
It might have ended right there if the guards hadn't realized just how outgunned they were and started to retreat into to camp. Warning everyone in it.
The group of teigu wielders had then moved after them. Further into the camp. Moving at a leisurely pace. Killing the few men who tried to stop them. Making a show out of the brutal act.
But they didn't get too far before they were confronted by Tom-Tom and his men.
The appearance of the long and slender humanoids made the group halt as they were slowly approached by them. It was easy to see that the old man in the front was different from the footsoldiers they had killed on their way into the camp. The group could tell that this might turn out to be a proper fight.
Yet Tom-Tom didn't attack them when he reached them. He slowly asked them why they were there. After they had stated that they demanded to meet the general, Tom-Tom had simply nodded and turned around. Starting to walk away from them. After some moments, the group started to follow him.
He had led them to this tent and then left them there. Telling them that the general would be with them shortly.
Now they had been waiting in the tent for quite a while and the group of teigu wielders was starting to get restless. Making the few guards in the tent really uneasy. Afraid that the teigu wielders would take out their boredom on them. But before anything like that could happen, the person they had been searching for arrived.
They had waited for almost fifteen minutes when Tom-Tom returned to the tent. Holding up the flap that acted as a door to allow the man behind him to walk in without bothering about it.
The man sitting at the table smiled at the arrival of the pillager.
Makeias was wet from the rain and heavily hunched over. Holding a hand over his chest. When he had entered, he straightened up slightly and looked at the group that was waiting for him.
"Okay... okay..." he said silently to himself. He walked up to the table. Stumbling slightly as he clumsily approached them."I would welcome you to my camp but that would insinuate that I want you to be here."
"Ahh general, we finally meet." the man sitting at the table said loudly. "You are a hard man to find. We have been to three different camps, where we thought you would be, before we came here."
Makeias sat down at the table, on the opposite side of the group. His movements extremely awkward. Knocking over pens, papers and mugs that were standing on the board with his arm as he put it down on it to steady himself. The arm swiping across the table as he sat down. Makeias didn't seem like he cared or even noticed it.
"Yeah I heard about your little visits to my other camps. How many of my soldiers have you killed at this point?"
"Well, if you had just come to us quicker, then that number would have been a lot smaller." the man sitting in front of him answered in a somewhat nonchalant tone.
"I was occupied..." Makeias said and scratched his mid-section. Looking down at the table. Not really paying much attention to the group in front of him.
"Ohhh.. is that so?" the hooded man said in a condescending voice.
"Yeah. I came directly from the operation table just now."
"You're just full of secrets, aren't ya? I hadn't heard that you were a doctor, general." the man returned.
"I am not. I was the one being operated on." Makeias said. The words hang in the air for some moments. Leaving silence in their wake. "But they had to stop and wake me up since some annoying people arrived to the camp." he continued. His eyes moved up to the man in front of him. Properly looking at him for the first time. "Why did you come here?"
It took some moments, but then the man sitting across his table slowly reached up and pulled back his hood. Revealing the face of Syura. As he did, those behind him followed his example. Revealing themselves as the members of Wild hunt. Moving their robes back. Uncovering their attires.
Syura smiled at Makeias. "Do you remember who I am general? We have met before. Almost ten years ago."
Makeias straightened up and leaned a little bit over the table. Putting his other hand on it.
"Though it was during a ceremony, so I doubt it." Syura continued. "You were standing in the ranks and I was standing amongst the nobles." he said. His smile ridiculing.
"Excuse me." Makeias said and pointed towards his own head. "I think you have something on your face."
That stopped Syura in his tracks."What?"
"Yeah. Have you been working with some kind of paint recently? You have like a big..." Makeias gestured towards his own face. "Spot on your face."
Syura caught on to what Makeias meant. "It is a scar."
"Hmm. How unfortunate. It looks like you have a target painted right on your face." Makeias said and tilted his head to the side. "Are you a traveling group of festival workers or something? Like some sort of spectacle artist? Like those freak shows."
"Are you trying to insult us?"
"Ohh so what are you guys then?" Makeias said and leaned back. A smile on his face as his eyes wandered over to the people behind Syura. "Some kind of... Circus..." Makeias voice trailed off as he looked at the group in front of him. His eyes stopping on Champ.
Makeias turned around in his chair. Looking at Tom-Tom. "Are you seeing that?" he said and pointed at Champ with a finger. "Are the sedatives fucking with me or is that a big fat black man who has the face paint of an amateur clown?"
Tom-Tom's gaze moved up to the other group. Makeias turned back towards Champ. Pointing at the man with an outstretched arm "Right there. Between the samurai... and the.. girl with the bunny ears..." his voice trailing off in confusion. "What the fuck?"
Makeias hand fell down on the table again. He looked very bewildered. His eyes moved back to Syura. "Are you sure that you aren't a traveling circus? Cause you guys sure as hell look like one."
Champ was frowning. Glaring at the seated general. "I wouldn't expect an adult like y-"
"Holy shit!" Makeias shouted and jumped back in his chair. "It talked! Did you hear that? The ugly fat clown talked." he exclaimed. His face moving back and forth between Tom-Tom and Champ.
"Don't worry, general." Tom-Tom said slowly. "Your mind is not playing tricks on you. Our guests only seem to have gotten their clothes from the ruins of a bombed entertainment museum."
Makeias turned around towards Tom-Tom again. "That is horrible. Don't we have some robes or proper clothes that we can give them?"
"I doubt that we could find some that would fit all their different... sizes." Tom-tom said. The side of his mouth moving up into a smile.
The sight of it caused Makeias to start laughing loudly. Grabbing his stomach and bending forward slightly. Not able to hold back anymore. Tom-Tom and his guards chuckling him. Laughing at the guests and their appearances.
The group of teigu wielders did clearly not take lightly to the ridiculing. And they only knew of one way to answer such a slight.
They had all started to clearly emit hostility. Getting down in their stances. Getting ready to attack the other side of the room. Syura slowly started to stand up but when he did, Makeias reacted to his movement. He raised his fist and slammed it down on the table with such force that the old wood almost cracked.
"HOW CAN IT SURVIVE WITHOUT ANY CONNECTING TISSUE?!" he screamed out in fury. Causing the other side of the room to stop their movements. Everyone watching the general. "The blood still curdles as milk." he continued a bit lower.
The members of Wild hunt had all stopped their advance. Looking at each other. They didn't understand the general and it made them unsure.
It was not that they felt threatened by him. Nor that he was showing any sign that he was going to fight them at all. But all of them noticed that he seemed completely unperturbed by their very obvious preparations to attack. Which in turn made them wary. It was also that feeling that the general gave off to them. A subtle feeling of danger. Not in the sense that he was going to attack them or that he was hiding something intentionally. The group just felt that they shouldn't get near him. All of their well-trained instincts warning them. Telling them to put some distance between themselves and the man.
As if he was poisonous. Or diseased.
Makeias himself had started to sway slightly. Staring down at his closed fist on the table. After some moments, he spoke without looking up. "Why did you come here?"
Syura had stopped in his movement to stand up when Makeias slammed his hand on the table. Freezing. But now he slowly sat down again. He smiled. Trying to get things back to his pace. "We are gathering tools, general. Powerful tools." he said and spread his hands to the sides in an open gesture. "And we heard that you just got one."
"Yeah." Makeias said. Giving Syura a disinterested look. Still swaying back and forth slightly. "The imperial court sent me one. Sorry to disappoint you but it is completely useless. It's broken on some fundamental level. But you can have it if you want. I have no real use for it."
"Ohh I am not talking about the owl teigu, general. I am talking about the other one. The one you got by accident." Syura said and leaned forward a bit. "There is no use in denying it. I know that you have it here somewhere."
Makeias eyes returned down to his fist. "Ohh I have it alright." he said silently. "It festers and breeds. Both mentally and physically. It should be dead but we have started to believe that it was never alive in the first place."
Syura hesitated for some moments once again. The tent silent. The rain causing the only sound in it. "What do you mean?"
Makeias eyes moved up to his again. His expression empty. "Can't you feel it?" he asked. His voice blank. "It is trying to eat you at this very moment. But it can't quite reach your body. Since it is still confined to one flesh. But it is trying. God knows, that it is trying."
"Are you trying to threaten me, general?" Syura asked.
"Does the end threaten you? Do you feel threatened by the thought of growing old and withering away? Being put into the ground. Your body decomposing. Feeding other lifeforms. Giving way for new life. For that is all that a simple disease is. Many lifeforms being born from a single one. The circle of life. And it is terrifyingly cruel."
"A disease?" Syura said. Trying to understand the older man's rambling. Makeias once again seemed like he was talking to himself more than anyone else.
"That is what I am becoming. Though we are trying to fight it." Makeias said slowly. "But when you are looking at death's door and are unsure of which side of it you are standing on, then it is easy to see how horrifyingly temporary most things that we can understand are."
Syura had heard more than enough. He understood that talking would get him no further here. He rose up from his chair. "General Makeias, I have come here to take your newly acquired teigu. You can either hand it over to us willingly or we will take it from you by force. The choice is yours. We don't really care."
Makeias slowly rose up. Leaning on the table with both his hands. The group behind Syura got ready to fight and Tom-Tom and the guards had grabbed their respective weapons.
"Your father does, at least, have some subtility to his grim practices." Makeias said and looked at Syura.
That stopped Syura in his tracks. "What did you say?"
"Did you think that I had forgotten you, little Syura?" Makeias said and started to smile. "You have been training yourself I see. And you have changed your appearance a bit. But I still recognize you easily enough. You father and I do at least have an understanding."
Hesitation filled Syura's face. "So you do know my father."
"I understand that he gives you some free reins when it comes to internal matters. But do you think he would overlook you attacking an active military leader? One who is currently filling a near vital role in regards to the war at the borders."
The group behind Syura looked at their leader's back. Unsure of how to proceed. Syura himself was at a loss. He had not expected that the general would recognize him. He still had a lot of things he wanted to prepare before he returned to the capital. He didn't want his triumphant return to be ruined by negative reports and demands for his prosecutions. He wanted to show that he could handle things smoothly.
"There won't be any evidence or witnesses left." he said and snapped his fingers.
At that signal, Cosmina and Enshin flew past him, moving towards Makeias. The general quickly moved up and took a step backward. It looked like he was going to draw one of the spears on his back but then his eyes widened. Without a moment's warning, he bent forward and threw up. Black gooey liquid flying out from his mouth and nose. And not in small quantity.
It practically burst out of him. Immediately covering the table and the ground around it.
His two attackers slowed down by mere surprise. Wondering what was going on. Enshin stopped entirely while Cosmina simply jumped over it. Flying up a bit in the tent. But when she got closer, Tom-Tom had suddenly moved up to the side of Makeias. She hadn't even been able to see when he got there.
He swung at her with his staff. Holding at the end of the long rod. Striking with it as if it was a striking bat. Cosmina couldn't really counter it. The staff several times longer than her. And she couldn't stop her own movement since she was mid-air.
The staff hit her in the stomach and sent her flying back to the other half of the tent. Landing painfully on her back a couple of meters behind the rest of Wild hunt.
"Little kids should not play with such powerful tools." Tom-Tom said slowly. His eyes filled with contempt.
"Sorry about that." Makeias said and smiled as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "I don't honestly know what has gotten into me." he continued and then started to chuckle.
Syura was still unsure of what he should do now. The group behind him waiting for a signal. He didn't know if the general had some tricks up his sleeve. It sure looked like it. He didn't know if he had intended to spew out that black liquid or if he was truly out of control. Syura knew that if he was going to do this then he couldn't leave any witnesses. But now he was uncertain if they could accomplish that. The old giant beside Makeias had moved quicker than anyone Syura had ever seen.
Makeias smiled down at the table. "It hungers..." he said.
Syura followed his gaze and noticed that the black goo had started to move in their direction. Very slowly but it was visible to the naked eye.
He tsked loudly. There were too many uncertainties. They didn't know if the general was playing tricks and they had no idea of where the teigu they wanted actually was. Or if they would be able to stop everyone who knew who he was from escaping. They needed to retreat.
With a subtle signal from their leader, the group started to withdraw. Slowly backing out of the tent. Cosmina holding a hand over her stomach. Glaring at Tom-Tom.
"The next time we meet, you won't be so lucky." Syura said and turned around. He walked out of the tent as he pulled up the hood over his head. Wandering out into the rain. His teigu users following him.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Makeias said and scratched his mid-section. "Run off to your little games of blood and violence. The grown ups have a war to win."
With a couple of snorts and glares, Wild hunt left the tent. Disappearing out into the night. Leaving the tent silent.
Nobody moved for a little while. Everyone staying on their guard. But after some moments, Makeias fell down on his knees.
"What is happening?" he said in horror and looked at his hand. The black goo he had wiped from his mouth still on it.
Tom-Tom moved closer to him. "Is everything alright, general?"
"We need to get back to the operation. The teigu is gaining more ground by the second. Help me up, I can't walk on my own."
Tom-Tom grabbed the general's arm and hoisted him up. They walked out of the tent in silence.
Small comment: Always wanted Makeias to meet Syura and co. But Syura was long dead by the start of this story. This is what I imagined it to be like.
The scenario is comical in nature, if not in practice. Even in his prime with Morbus, Makeias would not stand the slightest chance against the entirety of Wild hunt. But during this meeting, he is too hooked up on sedatives and adrenaline to fully understand the group that he is talking to. While Wild hunt misreads this and thinks that he is too powerful to be threatened by their powers. That along with the repelling aura of Morbus made them believe that they might be up against an opponent of Esdese's caliber. And thus made their retreat.
Their first time
Tatsumi almost immediately noticed that something was different that night.
He was already lying in the bed when she entered the room. She had been writing letters in her study, which was positioned on the other end of her chambers. She had let him walk some rooms away from her but he doubted that she would allow him to leave her quarters. He had learned through experience that she was able to tell that he was close even when he was a couple of rooms away.
If he had still had Incursio then that might have been a different matter. But the great general had ordered Esdese to strip Tatsumi of all his power. And so she had. Begrudgingly. Though unbeknownst to Tatsumi, Esdese was already working on a solution to that. Trying to strike a deal with the prime minister about it.
But for the moment, he was bereft of the larger part of his powers. And while Esdese didn't enjoy seeing his strength reduced, it had made it a lot easier for her to control him. So she had let him wander around as she worked.
It was nothing new to Tatsumi. He had already discovered and explored every single part of her huge living quarters. So while the limited freedom was appreciated, he still didn't really have anything to do with his time. He could search for a good book to read. But most of those were in the study and he didn't want to go back in there. He could train for some time. But he didn't really have the energy for it.
He rarely had energy for anything like that anymore. Not since he had found Mine. He hadn't really cared about anything since then. He felt like an empty husk.
So after walking around aimlessly for a little while, he decided to go to sleep. He had been lying in the bed for almost an hour when Esdese finally came walking over.
He heard how she walked into the room and then got undressed and walked into the bathroom. She took a shower and was then back in the bedroom after some minutes.
She walked up to the large bed, behind his back. Stopping by the side of it. Wiping her hair with a towel as she looked at Tatsumi.
After some moments, she threw the towel to the side. The cloth landing on the end of the bedframe. She then lifted up the covers and crawled in behind him.
It was when she reached him that Tatsumi realized that something was up. He was wearing a small shirt and his briefs. She was wearing a buttoned up shirt. They felt each others clothes when their bodies touched.
She snaked her hand over his shoulder. Down his chest and stomach and then pulled his body back into hers from behind. Putting her nose into the hair at the top of his head. It was nothing out of the ordinary. They usually rested like this.
But Tatsumi noticed that tonight was different in the details. She wasn't really searching for rest. She wasn't relaxing. She still remained slightly tense and on top of things. She didn't try to fall asleep.
And just as Tatsumi expected, above his still and resting face, Esdese's eyes were open. Staring out at nothing as she thought about her intentions. She wasn't nervous but she wanted to think things through once more before going ahead. After some moments, she let out a silent "Hmph." as she smiled and decided to go for it.
Her fingers started to slowly stroke his belly. Her embrace becoming a little bit harder. When Tatsumi tensed up in her arms, she knew that he was awake. She moved her mouth down to his ear.
"Are you a virgin, Tatsumi?" she asked silently into it. The question caused Tatsumi to tense up even more. Which Esdese just found irresistibly cute.
Tatsumi had guessed that this would come sooner or later. He had realized pretty early on that Esdese wasn't asexual. She just hadn't found anyone that she was interested in having that kind of relationship with. But she still got her kicks and pleasure through other, often horrible, ways. However, she was very clearly regarding Tatsumi as her partner in love. And he knew that she wanted that to extend as far as possible. Now that she had found someone she actually wanted.
He slowly nodded.
Esdese's smile grew even larger behind him. Possessive joy filling her. She would be able to claim that part of him as well. "That's great, Tatsumi. I am as well."
Her hand grabbed his shoulder and pulled him backward so that he was lying on his back. She then moved over him. Standing on all four above him. Bent down a bit so that their faces were close to each other.
Esdese was smiling excitedly while Tatsumi's expression was bereft of any emotion. Meeting her gaze with an empty face.
"Let's do it!" she said in an enthusiastic voice.
Tatsumi thought about it as he looked at Esdese's thrilled eyes. He had already failed all those loyal to him. It was still only three weeks since he had hidden the bones under all the clothes in his drawer. Wrapped up in silk and bandages. Telling Esdese that they were just some keepsakes from his village. He had spent the last weeks thinking about how much of a monster he was. And if he now actually had become such a deceitful demon, then this was probably where he belonged. It didn't matter anymore. In his head, he couldn't get any lower anyway.
His eyes moved to the side. His head turned slightly. "Why not..." he mumbled.
Esdese's eyes widened slightly at his consent. His apathetic tone didn't bother her too much. "Let's see if I can't get you fired up." she said. Her confidence in her own body and charms showing through. She moved her head down and pushed it against the side of his. Moving his face back upwards. She then moved her mouth up to his, stroking his head with the motion and then kissed him.
It was not a delicate act. Esdese pushing his head down with the kiss. Just pressing their lips together at first. But soon enough her tongue moved out and started to force its way in between his lips. Demanding access.
Tatsumi didn't offer up much resistance. He opened his mouth and her tongue moved into it. At first, she just stopped when it had entered his mouth. Then it slowly started moving around. Exploring his teeth. Almost as if it was timid. Esdese's eyes staring intensely into his as their mouths remained connected.
And almost by instinct, his tongue moved up and pushed against hers. Checking the foreign presence in his mouth.
The moment their tongues touched, Esdese went on the offensive again. Encouraged by their interaction. She pressed his tongue down with her own and started to grind her lips against his. Moving her head a bit back and forth in pushing motions. Looking as she was trying to eat his face.
Her arms went down and around his chest. Slithering their way in between him and the mattress. When she had a grip around his chest, she lifted him up. She herself standing on her knees as she pressed his body against her. She straightened up with him in her arms. Until she was almost completely straight in her stance. The covers falling off them. Tatsumi's own arms only grabbing hers mildly. Not really having the same enthusiasm.
When she had straightened up, she moved forward and pressed Tatsumi's back against the bed's headboard. Making him sit down on their pillows with his back against it as she was standing on her knees. Bending over him. She remained slightly standing to emphasize their height difference. She liked how he looked when he had to look up at her. Her more primal side enjoyed the subtle power dynamic it displayed.
She moved her mouth away from his. Looking down at him. His lips and head moved after her for a short moment after their separation before he stopped. But Esdese noticed it. She smirked down at him with an assertive and confident smile. He was meeting her gaze. His mouth slightly open and his eyes concealing a slight wanting. But Esdese's instincts picked up on it. Not only because of his expression but also because of his heartbeats and slightly more labored breaths. This was going her way.
Her expression got slightly more victorious. She moved her hand down and lightly trailed the side of his face with her fingers. "Every reaction you give is adorable." she almost whispered.
"Thanks. I guess. Though it is hard to not worry whenever you look so satisfied. It usually means danger."
Esdese giggled."Well, I will admit, you would be delicious on a torture bench."
Tatsumi smiled slightly at that. Normally he would have been more worried about such a comment but now he just felt depraved. This was how he had felt since he found the bones in the ash. Like he had nothing left to lose. "Then why don't you? Why don't you end this imprisonment of mine with a single night in the torture chambers? Sounds just like you."
Esdese's hand stopped it's stroking motion and cupped the side of his head instead. "How little you understand about my love." she said and moved her face down. Closer to his again.
"You can't possibly claim that it is an easy thing to understand. You seem to be very fond of the idea of fighting me."
Esdese's nose touched his as she moved even closer. "Yeah. I would love that. Doesn't mean that I want to see your strength reduced. It is a risk that needs to be avoided if we fight."
"Violence and damage are two sides of the same thing. And you love them both."
"They are not the only things that I love." Esdese said. The hand that was holding the side of his face started to move down his chest. Her nails lightly clawing him.
"No. But they certainly are what you define yourself by." Tatsumi said. His tone getting bitter. "You live by destroying others."
But that only caused Esdese to giggle at his bitterness. "Despite all your strength and power, you are still such a tender little thing at heart, Tatsumi." she said. Her hand moved down and stroked the inside of one of his thighs as if to emphasize her point. "But don't worry. I will help you fix that. I will make your heart harder than iron. I will claim all your tenderness for myself and destroy what remains for anyone else. So no one in this world can hurt you but me."
It was said as a kindness but didn't quite come across as it. "That sounds truly horrifying."
"Don't worry. I will be with you all the way." Esdese said and put her forehead against his. "Speaking of which, you seem to be getting slightly harder in a more physical way right now." she said and very gently put her hand over the bulge in his briefs.
Her touch caused him to take a quick breath. His cheeks growing red. Looking down at her hand. She had never really touched him there before. She had seen him naked on several occasions already. They had often bathed together. Since Esdese didn't allow him to go too far away from her.
And while he certainly had gotten physical reactions from seeing her naked, she had never touched him there. She had just smiled at him or teased him. She had enjoyed the fact that she caused him to have that reaction.
Esdese's eyes widened slightly and her smile got a little more predatory at the sight of his innocent reaction. Her hand pressing a little bit harder against his crotch. Her cheeks growing slightly red. Though nowhere near as red as Tatsumi's was at the moment. She could feel how his heartbeats got stronger and faster. Even through his briefs.
"No need to be flustered, Tatsumi. I have already seen all of you. And I have told you many times over how much I like your body."
His eyes moved up to hers. His expression was somewhere between embarrassed and excited. Not sure if he wanted to tell her to stop or keep going. His eyes pleading her for something. Even if he himself was unsure of what.
But his gaze just made Esdese surer about what she was going to give him.
She looked into his eyes as she grabbed the sides of his shirt and started to slowly pull it up. Looking at his face for any objections as she gently undressed him.
She wanted to be careful this first time. Because Esdese was determined to make this work. One way or another. If he objected tonight or couldn't do it, then she would stop and back off. But she would try again. Maybe the next night or the next week, but she would try again. And she would keep trying until it worked. She was determined to make this progress. She wanted to have a deep physical, sexual relationship with him. She wanted their bond to be as strong as it could be. She wanted them to truly be mates. Partners in all aspects.
She didn't want their first time to be a bad memory for him. That might sour him to future interactions of this kind. So she would be careful now in the beginning. Mindful to not hurt him in any way she did not intend for. Even though she was confident that she could make him cross the line together with her by just her charm. She knew the sway her body had over his. She just needed to be careful about the rest of him.
But Tatsumi didn't protest as their eye contact was momentarily obscured as Esdese pulled his shirt over his head. Tatsumi moving his arms up to make the process easier. She threw the shirt away to the side when his arms were out of it.
She looked down at his well-defined chest. Nodding approvingly as she stroked his abs with her hand.
She enjoyed the sight of it. How it heaved with his now heavy breathing. She didn't know why she liked it so much. Most of her own subordinates were trained to this level as well. And many of them wore uniforms that showed it off. She could appreciate the beauty of their strong forms, yet she didn't feel the same attraction towards their bodies as she did to Tatsumi's.
She reasoned that it must simply be because she loved him.
She bent down and licked his chest in a long stroke. Her hands moving down and grabbing the lining of his underwear as she did. But when she started to pull them off, Tatsumi grabbed one of her hands.
"Hmm?" Esdese said and looked up at him. Her mouth in half a smile with her tongue on his skin. Her eyebrows raising slightly.
Tatsumi's face was red and his expression troubled.
"Don't you like this?" Esdese asked and withdrew her tongue. Her smile staying. Already knowing the answer to the question.
Tatsumi didn't know why he was so embarrassed and nervous. He had reasoned that these kinds of hesitations should have been purged from his body and mind. He had done such horrible things already. He had nothing innocent left in him. He shouldn't care about these trivial things. Yet when it came down to it, he couldn't help it. His reactions were almost instinctual.
When he didn't say anything, Esdese spoke again. "You got nothing to be embarrassed about."
"Am I the only one getting naked here?" Tatsumi blurted out. Without really thinking about it. Since it could be argued that she was way more exposed than him.
Yet Esdese only shrugged and straightened up again. So that she was looking down at him once more. "Shy boy." she said and started to unbutton her shirt.
She puffed her chest a bit forward. Deliberately close to his face as she opened up her shirt and let her breasts spill out.
Tatsumi's gaze went down from her eyes and stared at her big bosom. His eyes widening slightly.
Esdese looked down at him with an amused expression as she unbuttoned the last of the shirt, a little bit below her navel. "You seem obsessed with these, Tatsumi." she giggled lightly. "You often try to sneak looks at them when I am working as well."
"In my defense, you usually flaunt what you got quite a lot. Even with your uniform on."
"There is nothing wrong with being proud of yourself." Esdese stated plainly. "And it's fun in a way. Knowing that people want me. Desire me. Wanting something from me that I will never give them. Something that I will happily deny them."
"You even find a way to make your own charm into a cruel game for yourself."
"It isn't cruel to you, though, Tatsumi." she said. One of her hands playing with a bit of his hair. "Your desire for me will not go unanswered. In fact, I will do my best to reward and nurture it."
She reached down and grabbed one of his hands. She lifted it up and pressed its palm against her right breast. Looking into his eyes. Smiling invitingly. Her voice gentle. "Come on. Let's play around a bit."
The bizarre contrast caused Tatsumi to pause for a short moment. This was not the first time he had seen this sweet and gentle side of her. It was just such an extreme juxtaposition from what she was and did that it made him halt himself. But then his instinctual urges made him comply.
He put some force into his grip on her breast. Squeezing it lightly as he moved his face to her other breast. At first, he just stroked his head against it. Pressing his face into her. Feeling her nipple against the side of his face.
Esdese looked down at him with an approving smile. She actually had to fight against her instincts quite a bit at the moment. She wanted to be much rougher and harder with him right now. She wanted to take control more forcefully and do what her desires craved. She wanted to hurt him a bit. She wanted to make him squeal a little. She wanted to taste him. And the cuteness of Tatsumi's inexperience in this area only fueled that passion in her.
But she kept calm. Only allowing it to show through in her slightly more labored breathing. She would be gentle with him. At least this time.
Tatsumi was completely unaware of her inner struggle. Currently being way too engrossed in her breasts. He licked the one his hand wasn't squeezing and then put its nipple in his mouth. Sucking on it rather intensely.
"Ohh.." Esdese said in a slightly surprised tone. Her eyebrows rising slightly. "That feels surprisingly good."
Her words made Tatsumi do it even more intensely. His mouth moving over to her other breast.
Esdese put a hand on his upper back. Pushing him a bit further against her. Clearly wanting him to continue. "For some reason, it feels way better when you do it."
Tatsumi looked up at her but Esdese's eyes were on the wall above him Just focusing on the feeling itself. But after some moments, she felt his gaze and turned her head to meet it.
"You're doing pretty good by just following your instincts."
He moved his face away from her breasts and looked up at her for some seconds. Not saying anything. They looked at each other for some moments. Then Tatsumi's cheeks started to turn red again and that was more cuteness than Esdese could take.
She reached down and grabbed his hair with a hand and forced him up a little bit. Tatsumi's face contorting slightly from the pain. But she stopped pulling as soon as she was able to reach his lips with her own.
She put her mouth over his again. Forcing her tongue into his once more. This time, they were both a bit more sure about what to do and their roles. Their actions lacking a lot of the hesitations they had at first. Esdese pushing his head downwards and Tatsumi pushing back up. Taking turns in giving and taking.
After some moments, Tatsumi started to move his hands again. They had stopped and remained at Esdese's breasts when she pulled him up by the hair. But now they began to move again. Smoothly and gently at first but quickly growing stronger. Groping and massaging her bosom more forcefully. After a little while, he even pinched and pulled at her right breast slightly. Causing Esdese to lightly groan into his mouth. The sound encouraging him.
While she herself enjoyed the interaction greatly, she still refused to be outdone or subjugated. Even when it came to this.
When Tatsumi started to be a little bit more vigorous in his movements, she raised one of her knees and started to press it into his crotch. Grinding against the bulge in his briefs. Moving it back and forth. At the first interaction, Tatsumi tried to back off by instinct, trying to move his hips back. But it was almost impossible to do in this position. And if truth be told, he didn't really want to escape either. It didn't take long until his thighs opened a bit wider. Letting Esdese' knee do what she wanted as they kissed and caressed.
Just a little while after that, his hips were gently rocking to her leg's movements. But Esdese's precision was currently quite devastating to him. Slowly applying more and more pressure. Progressively driving him on. Riding between the point between pain and pleasure. Pretty soon he started to approach his limit.
"Esdese, I.. " he said into her mouth and looked at her eyes. Not getting his full message out. But Esdese picked up on it. Already well aware of how flustered she had made him. She moved her head away a bit. Smiling at him.
"Someone seem to be getting a little bit ahead of himself." she teased. Her knee moving away from him immediately.
"Esdese.." Tatsumi said in a longing voice. Way too wound up to be caring about acting resentful or showing restraint. Way too hot and bothered to keep calm.
Esdese almost felt her heart skip a beat at the sight of him. The longing in his voice and begging expression made a part of her go into overdrive. But she refused to let herself go wild. She needed to sweet and tender with him this time. She was going to stay in control. At least this time.
She moved her hand up and put a finger over his lips. "Ladies first."
Her hand moved down and grabbed one of his, that were still holding onto one of her breasts.
She moved it down and gently placed it between her legs. Looking him into the eyes as she did. Looking for some sort of reaction. Tatsumi didn't move away from her gaze as he felt the warm dampness of her sex on his fingers.
She moved her face a little bit closer to his again and then pressed one of his fingers into her with one of her own. Her chest rose and fell in a deep breath at the feeling of his hand as she slowly grinded it against her most sensitive area.
"Mhhh." she groaned and closed her eyes. "That is perfect."
She kept guiding his motions for a little longer. Pushing another one of his fingers in. Then she let go when he started to rub her on his own. Her hand moved away and stroked her own inner thigh in long strokes.
She moved her head down and started kissing him again. The hand that was wrapped around his back pressing him into her harder as his hand kept moving. Applying more pressure to his back at times. In rhythm with his hand's movement.
Esdese reached her peak a little bit after that. Her body tensing up. Both her arms moving up and pressing his head down into her chest. Pressing her head down against his. Her thighs closing as much as they could around him. Pressuring his hips from both sides as her entire body flexed and bent over him. Engulfing his body into her as much as she could.
After a little while, her grip lessened. A deep and strong shivers went through her. Making her shake ever so slightly. Her strong muscles quivered in absolute delight as the pleasure ebbed out in her. Her tall form still bent over him.
She didn't let him out of her embrace before her moment had completely passed. Enjoying it until she had descended from that top. Taking a few deep breath before she let him go after that. Moving away from his hand. Sitting down on his thighs as she leaned back from his body. Her long hair hanging down behind her. Her body slightly sweaty.
It took some moments before one of them spoke.
"Well.." she finally said between slow and satisfied breaths. Her eyes high above Tatsumi. Her cheeks still red and her eyes still showing traces of the delight. "That was something special."
Tatsumi raised his hand and looked at it with curiosity. It's skin glistening with the warm and sticky liquid.
"Take off you briefs." she said without looking down at him. Her tone a command now. Leaving no room for discussion.
Tatsumi did as he was told. Esdese separating her thighs a bit to make it easier for him to pull them down to his knees. His forehead touching the higher part of her stomach as he did. When he had done so, Esdese bent around and pulled them off the last bit. Shaking off her own shirt after that. She wanted them both to be completely naked. Nothing at all between them.
When she had done so, she turned around and looked down at his erection. Smiling slightly at the sight of it.
She moved a hand down and grabbed it lightly. Almost in a curious and interested fashion.
"I am always surprised by how warm it is. Compared to the rest of a boy's body." she said. Sounding like she was talking more to herself than him. She squeezed it lightly. Her smile widening when it grew even more in her grip. "You like that, huh?" she said and looked up at him.
Tatsumi just met her gaze. Not saying anything. His breathing heavy with excitement. Esdese moved her face a bit closure to his and started to apply more pressure with the hand that was holding him.
Esdese was not new to the male body. She had quite some experience in handling her different victims and pets. She knew how to get these reactions. But it was still very different this time. Now she wanted this to be as good as possible for him. And while she knew that some pressure and roughness would feel good for him, she was unsure of how much. Since sensitivity varied. So she attentively watched his face as her grip hardened.
After a little while, she passed the point of pain for him. He endured it for a little while but when it became clear that she was not stopping, he gave her a signal.
"Ahh." he said lowly. His eyebrows rising with the opening of his mouth.
Esdese's hand immediately stopped increasing the pressure. She let go of him with everything but her thumb and index finger. She had managed to get a good understanding of things. Even if it was still a bit tricky.
She knew that some of the sweetest ecstasies could be had if you pushed it right to the edge of pain. And sometimes even a bit beyond that as well. But she would be sweet and soft with him tonight.
She moved forward and positioned her hips above him. She could feel his manhood twitching in her grip. She knew that he probably didn't have much endurance left. She needed to get the main act going.
She positioned herself just over him. So that their parts were just touching. She smiled down at him. "Ready?"
Tatsumi just nodded in response.
In a slow and steady movement, she sat down on him. Joining them together. Tatsumi's full length engulfed in her soft flesh in a single movement. All the way down to the root.
They both gasped lightly in unison when the movement was done. Both of them losing their virginity in the motion. With the different experiences it gave them.
Esdese involuntarily squeezed him as soon as he had entered her. Just as a reaction to the unfamiliar thing that had been pressed into her body. The tightening making Tatsumi's entire body tense up. He himself overwhelmed by the pressure in itself. Already having a hard time enduring the new experience before she clamped down on him. The pleasure almost agonizing due to the sensitivity from his inexperience.
His arms went up around her stomach and he pressed himself against her. Almost doing it in something akin to panic. Needing to hold on to something.
"E.. Es... " he began but interrupted himself as she started to move.
She started to grind against him. Slowly at first but slowly picking up more speed. Tatsumi's hips being forced to move along with her rocking. Pushing his body back into the bed's headboard. Her movements not fast but still having a huge force behind them.
He kept hugging her. Pressing his head into her breasts. Looking like he was holding on to her for dear life as she rode him. Esdese movements were more grinding than thrusting yet he was still reaching his limit. Her folds and squeezing wet walls pushing him to the edge.
Esdese herself was unaware of how close he was. Even if it was hard for her to miss that the experience was intense for him. She was enjoying it greatly as well but it was more in an exploring sense. Trying to move differently. Trying to push him against different parts of her insides. She had already figured out what she enjoyed but she still liked to play around a bit. Curious about her own pleasure and experiences.
She was almost surprised when Tatsumi suddenly came inside of her. He wheezed heavily in a high tone into her chest as she felt his entire shaft twitch and throb rhythmically. His hips moving up against her in rhythm with the pulsation.
As soon as she realized what was going on she slowed her movements down a bit and squeezed him a little harder in beat with her grinding and his twitching. As if she was milking him.
When his body relaxed slightly, she kept doing that for a little while. Waiting until she was completely sure that he was finished before she slowed down and then stopped.
Tatsumi was panting heavily. Resting the side of his head against her chest. Esdese looked down at him with a smile. She considered whether or not she should keep going. She herself was good for at least a couple more rounds. She would actually like to. Since she still hadn't cum from his manhood.
But she decided against it. She didn't want to overdo it, this first time. Everything had gone splendid so far. No need to push it. This time.
She leaned forward a bit and just held him still for some moments. His back resting against the bed's big headboard. His head resting against one of her collarbones. She put her head down against his. They stayed like that for some moments. Then Esdese rose up on her knees a little. Separating them while still keeping him in her arms. She started to slowly lean to the right. Making them both fall down on the pillows. After that, she rolled around a couple of turns. Not letting go of him. Until only their heads were lying on the pillows. Or rather, her head. Tatsumi's head slightly below it. Partly lying on top of her.
"I can tell that you enjoyed that." Esdese said. Her voice happy and satisfied.
Tatsumi's head lay on its side on her shoulder. "Yeah... I did." he answered truthfully. Sounding like he didn't quite believe it himself.
Esdese nodded and let out a triumphant "Hmph." She had conquered this part of him as well. Now it was hers. And she would never let anybody else has it.
Tatsumi moved up a little bit and laid down on his side beside her. So that their heads were on the same level. Esdese turned to her side as well. So that they were facing each other.
"We are lovers, Tatsumi. So we will start doing this regularly now, okay?" she said. It barely sounded like a question.
Tatsumi simply nodded. Yet he couldn't help but smile a little at Esdese triumphant tone and happy face. "Can't say that I mind."
Esdese smiled her most rare smile at him. The one that had no malice, hunger, aggressiveness to it. She just looked pretty. Happy and pretty.
Her hand moved up and intertwined its fingers with the one of Tatsumi's that lay closest to her. Putting it on top his in a small and gentle motion. "Let's sleep now. We have an early morning tomorrow."
Tatsumi nodded. He looked at her for some moments. Then nestled his head down a bit into the pillow and closed his eyes. Esdese looked at his face for a little while after that. Smiling. Happy that everything had gone so smoothly. She reached out with an arm and pulled the covers back over them both.
Then she slowly closed her eyes. Going to sleep herself.
It was the first time ever that they slept like that. Usually, Esdese held on to him much more forcefully and in a much more restricting way. But now they were only holding hands. Only connected by that small and tender connection. The one thing that held them together.
They had been lying like that for almost twenty minutes when Tatsumi opened his eyes again. Staring at her peaceful and innocent face. He had stayed awake so that he could move away from her hand and turn around. Wanting to separate that little contact they had. Wishing to distance himself from her.
But now that he thought she was relatively asleep, he suddenly found it very hard to do.
Not because she was holding on to him or because he deep down knew that she would probably react to the severed contact. There was another reason. And he wasn't sure what it was. His instincts and emotions didn't want to let go of her hand.
There was something in that contact with her. Hidden under all the regret and pain. And it took him a long while to realize that it was happiness.
He had almost forgotten how it felt. But now he remembered it. And with it came a lot of other memories.
He remembered that there was still some sweetness to this world. Still some decency to existing. He had forgotten the joys of a happy life. He had forgotten why had fought in the first place. This little taste of something that resembled a pleasant moment had reminded him of what life could be. And now that it came back to him, he realized something.
He couldn't stop fighting yet. There was still something he could do. Still some things in this world that were worth protecting. His life still mattered. He could still make a difference.
He needed a plan. He needed to formulate a purpose for himself. Something that only he could do. Something only his unique position could accomplish.
He was awake a long time after that. Thinking about what he could do and how. Only falling asleep a long time after Esdese. Yet he never let go of her hand.
That connection, as feeble and small as it was, meant something to him. Their interaction setting something bigger in motion. Esdese had given him back something extremely powerful. Without realizing it herself.
Hope.
Small comment: This is where it started. Both sides of the devastating sword. Both his plans to topple the imperial court but also his love for her. I liked the thought of both of them originating from the same moment. One initiated by Esdese.
So with this, we will now begin the next arc. Expect it in about ten days. I will write the exact date at the top of this chapter in a day or two.