( Disclaimers must we really do this every chapter I think we know I don't own this)
CHAPTER 3: MIYABI
Miyabi slowly traces his finger from the top of my clothes down to my thigh. I frantically shake my head from side to side, but Miyabi's shows no sign of stopping.
(No…! What's wrong with my body…? Why won't it listen to me?!)
"S-stop…!"
"Did you know? Resisting like that is a turn on."
"What…?"
Miyabi's lips move slowly over my shoulders, exposed after he undid my zipper. He caresses my skin with his hand as he pulls my dress down, like it's in the way…
"When I touch your skin, it turns pink like a cherry blossom."
He tilts his head slightly, an enamored look in his eyes.
"…It's so beautiful."
My sense comes back to me with these unexpected words of kindness.
"You think it makes me happy to hear you say that? You… You don't even like me!"
The enamored look fades quickly replaced with that snarky look I've come to expect.
"What are you saying? I'm confident that I can love you like no other."
This had gone on for long enough. It was time to bring this chapter of his insanity to a close.
"That has nothing to do with the kind of 'like' I'm talking about!"
He leans into me forcing me back up against the wall.
"I get what I want. Whatever it takes. Ayakashi make love wildly, madly."
Miyabi Looks me over. I have tears in my eyes, and he smiles seductively.
"Besides, you shouldn't expect emotions like your 'love' and 'like' from me. To put it another way, there's no need for you to feel those feelings for me."
"I-I'd never have those feelings for you. Can you imagine? Me, falling in love with YOU…!"
"Miyabi."
"UGH… don't you think you're being a little hypocritical?! You have no romantic feelings for me, but I have to say your name? Just because we're going to be married…?"
The snide snarky behavior returned as though it had never left.
" we are going to be married, whether we share those feelings or not. We will exchange vows. We will have a child and live our lives together."
My head was spinning with frustrated confusion.
"But… Why? Why would we if we don't feel love or anything for each other?"
Miyabi tilts his head to the side snidely before responding.
"An Ayakashi and a human… it's meaningless for these incompatible partners to have feelings for each other."
His voice softens but the snark is still in it.
"However, there is no art to begetting a child."
This was the last straw! I turned my eyes to his and narrowed them to slits of anger.
"Art… You are talking about a child, you know!? A human being!"
I was tempted to smack that smirk off his face as it became, if possible, even more snide.
"Not a human. An Ayakashi."
I couldn't believe that this even mattered to him!
"That's not the point! Demon or human, what matters is what happens to that child's life? If the kid knew that he, or she, I was born from an agreement between the parents…"
I trailed off as I noticed the sudden hint of some hidden betrayal swimming within his eyes.
"…Just because two parents love each other does not mean their child will be happy."
(What…? Did something happen to him…?)
I was about to ask him what could've possibly happened to him, but the wicked grin fell back into place distorting his beautiful face.
"It's not only about having a child… We should enjoy ourselves as well."
He leans into me forcing me to lean back.
"So, how much pleasure will you give me?"
He brings his lips to the back of my neck. He kisses me, first softly… Then more aggressively.
"Ah…!"
"…You're too easy."
(What…what is this…? I don't want this… I don't want him to make me feel…, So why…?!)
My body trembles a little. I know that what it's experiencing is pleasure. But I don't want him to hear it in my voice. I desperately try to keep my mouth shut and turn away from Miyabi, not wanting him to see it in my eyes.
He chuckled softly causing his breath to caress my skin; it was almost too much to bear.
"There's a charm to seeing you tried desperately to resist, but I know the truth when I touch you."
My body once again trembles as it betrays me.
"See that? You want it, don't you?"
(why… I don't want this, really, I don't, so why is my body trying to give in…?)
Miyabi's lips part slightly as he looks over me a hungry look in his eyes. He stuck out his wet tongue and brought it lustily to my chest, like he was tasting me.
"Aah…!"
"… I like the sound of that. It's as I'd expect of 'the woman with special blood'. I've never tasted skin so sweet. I can already feel myself growing stronger."
(Special blood… I've heard enough about my special blood…!)
"I wonder what powers I'll receive if we make love?"
With these words, I finally snapped back to my senses hell I finally snapped! I rear back my hand and bring it down to slap his face.
He didn't even try to stop me, which had me wondering if he even knew it was coming.
"That's it! I've had it! Special blood special blood! Well I have news for you, I do not exist for the purpose of getting you guys power! I have free will, and I have no intention of giving myself to someone who doesn't even love me!"
"Stupid. You get to experience the pinnacle of pleasure."
I tried to slap him again but this time he stopped me by grabbing my arm by the wrist at first it was a fierce grip… but then his hand relaxed as though realizing that there was really nothing I could do that would hurt him.
"In a sense, there isn't anyone who can love you better than I can."
"That's not what I meant…! And you know that now get off me! And if you ever try this again I will never let you back in here!"
Miyabi relaxes his hold on me. I shake off his hand and retreat to the door.
My cheeks are hot… My body is shaking… but it doesn't make sense that it gets so excited. Even if he is insanely handsome.
"Hey, what's going on?"
"Looks like she excused herself."
"Ha. I guess Miyabi isn't such a big deal after all."
"I don't know. Out of all of us, Miyabi's the most….."
"I know. No other Ayakashi comes even close…"
(Huh? I hear voices coming from somewhere… Well hell.)
"Are they outside the room?!"
I hear a soft growl from behind me and before I know it, Miyabi is standing right in front of me, and he violently slides the door open.
They all topple down into the room appearing to have been leaning against the door as a group.
Shinra's muffled voice rose up from the pile of handsome men.
"Owww! All right, who open the door?!"
"I did."
Miyabi's voice was cold and sharp like a blade of ice.
The look in Shinra's eyes suggested that Miyabi had taken that blade and aimed it at his chest.
"Shit! Miyabi…!"
Kyoga didn't look so much frightened as he did just slightly alarmed.
"Huh? So you knew we were here?"
"Of course."
Chikage crossed his arms seeming both surprised and disgusted.
"Wait, so you approached her, knowing that we were watching?"
"You what?!"
I suddenly felt like I might throw up.
Miyabi's cocky expression fell back into place.
"I thought it might be exciting for Snow. Being watched."
"Who the hell would actually enjoy that?!"
"Snow…"
I looked up and saw Yukinojo smiling down at me the kindness in his eyes was a welcome change to what I had been forced to look at for what seemed like Hours.
He then turned his eyes a little less kindly on Miyabi.
"Miyabi , I must ask that you be more gentle… strange as it is for me to be giving you this kind of advice."
Yukinojo pinched the bridge of his nose.
"But why don't you hold back a little."
For some reason Samon suddenly chimed in.
"That's right, Miyabi. Starting up like this will only disgust her."
Miyabi's eyes suddenly appear alarmed as though he were seriously struggling with a bout of confusion.
"Why must I make allowance?"
And once again I am presented with his snarky side.
"I am disciplining her so that she will desire my body."
"Disciplining…?! All that you have done so far is prove how much of a pervert you really are!"
Miyabi then turns his snarky eyes to me.
"I shall take that as a complement."
(I can't take this anymore! This guy is a total creep…! and so are the people who talk to him like he's normal!)
I felt my heart start to hurt as my eyes caught sight of Samon looking at me.
A few days after Miyabi and the others came here…
"God… My house is full of weirdos now…ugh! And besides this is a shrine… is it really OK for demons to be here?!"
(Wel, I suppose it's OK, as long as they keep their demonic instincts from popping out in front of anybody normal… though, they don't seem like the types to trip up like that.)
Well, I don't have work today, so I decided to clean up the garden to clear my mind.
"Samon usually did this for me, but… why couldn't you have just told me that he was an Ayakashi too from the very start?"
(but Zashiki-Warashi I said to bring happiness to the house, so… and then there's Miyabi. He's just a dirty-minded, perverted, sadistic Kitsuné!)
I sweep away the fallen leaves and look over towards the pond. There was something floating in it that I've never seen before.
(Is that a frog? It appears to be belly up… Poor thing it's dead. But it's a weird color… Purple? I've never seen a purple frog.)
I try to get a better look when I hear a wrestling from behind a nearby thicket.
I turned around and I'm greeted by Sharp things inside a huge, open mouth.
(A… A snake?! Oh my God…It's so huge!)
Taking quite by surprise, the name that completely consumes my thoughts and comes out of my mouth is…
"Miyabi…Help me!"
"Geez! What are you doing?"
Before I can blink, Miyabi is standing between me and the snake. He snaps his fingers.
"Kitsunebi."
The flame rushes from Miyabi's fingers and attacks the snake like it has a life of its own. The snake is engulfed in fire, twisting and squirming until it finally stops moving and then falls to the ground as ash.
"Th-thanks…"
" I had just been thinking that I hadn't seen you for a while. And here you are… all alone no less have you not learned anything? You appear to have a genius for attracting danger."
He had just saved my life so I don't know why I was so angered by a statement that was so obviously true. I don't know but I just couldn't help myself I turn narrowed eyes on him and let him have it.
"The only danger around here is you!"
His eyes flicked mine something a flame in them that I couldn't quite decipher.
"What kind of person behaves this way to The one to whom she owes her life?"
(Ugh… he's right. If he hadn't come to save me right then, I would've been bitten by that beast of a snake. It was most likely poisonous as well…)
I suddenly thought of the purple frog floating in the pond.
"Wait. Is that… is that poison?"
"What?"
"That frog floating there in the pond… I was just thinking, maybe it had been poisoned."
"Frog?"
Miyabi's eyes open wide, startled by my words. He looks over at the frog floating in the lake and is openly disturbed.
It was almost humorous.
"Miyabi, the face you're making… Do you not like frogs?"
"They're not beautiful."
"Eh…?"
Can't say I was surprised by his response regardless of my involuntary reaction.
"The shape, color, and markings. It's all ugly. It makes me uncomfortable. Seeing things so utterly different from myself."
"So different… I mean, well…"
(So, he doesn't like looking at things that are a little grotesque?)
"Anyway, this frog… It looks like it's been inflicted with poison, as you said."
"Huh. Wait-really?"
His eyes narrowed, a hint of frustration or possibly worry within them.
"And that snake. It was like it's only target was you."
"You know, you're right… It was lurking in the bushes. It was almost like it was waiting for me to walk over to the pond and take a look at the frog…"
Miyabi looks down at the frog again a snarl in his expression.
"I see… So it's a declaration of war."
"Wait-a what now?!"
He turns back to me the snarl softens but the anger remains.
"It looks like he's telling us that he can poison you anytime anywhere."
"You don't mean…Nishiki?"
Miyabi looks away clearly frustrated again.
"I can't be sure… But seeing as it was a snake, it's a safe bet that Nishiki's behind this. It's probably a simple thing for him, using a snake for an attack."
(No way… So this is really happening? Snake didn't just happen to be there, and happen to attack me…?)
You can't seriously still be thinking that this doesn't have everything to do with you and that special blood that the demons so covet?
My pesky inner voice decided at this moment it would let itself be known within my mind.
Miyabi's eyes slide back to mine his brow twitching and irritation.
"You finally understand the gravity of your situation, do you? And from now on don't hang around unprepared. Stay where I can see you."
"What, so you're asking me to give up my freedom my life?!"
"Well, if you don't mind being poisoned and taken by the malicious Hebi clan, then I won't say anything more."
(Ergh…that hurt. Well, he's an arrogant fox. But compared to a malicious snake he's…)
"I don't know. It's a tossup…"
Miyabi lets out a sigh and I watch his back as he quickly returns to the house clearly upset about something.
"Well hell. Now I'm the jerk."
THAT NIGHT
(Now Miyabi says 'no wandering' every time we bump into each other. Sometimes it feels like he's watching me… so I haven't been able to relax.)
"At least I can have some peace and quiet in the bath… I'll get nice and warm and cozy. Though, the steam is kind of intense today… but it's not that hot."
As I step in to the bath I immediately sense that somethings off.
(Wait a second… Somebody in the tub? No, what am I…)
Warily, I look closely, and there is…
"You're late."
I was suddenly surprised and quite disgusted with myself that I wasn't surprised by this and yet I found myself screaming at him.
"You Perverted Fox!"
Once again completely unfazed by my outburst he just stares at me with a cocky grin.
" I see. Yes, that would be true, depending on the situation."
He slowly looked my body over hunger returning to his eyes. And then his eyes slide back to mine a smirk playing at his lips
"But you're The human who will be my wife. What's the fuss about?"
(That's right! I forgot he could care less what I call him, hell he even seems to be pleased with it! I got to do something to protect myself, and quick!)
I'm about to scream lunge at him when Miyabi snaps his fingers. The sudden lack of voice has me stopping in my tracks.
(What the hell?! I-I've lost my voice?!)
"If you scream then all those guys will bother us again. So, for now, I have sealed your voice away."
I try to lunge him anyway at least lunge towards the door but I find I can't move either and being in the tub with him is really starting to make me feel sick. Miyabi reaches out from behind my back and wraps his arms around me. His damp, bare skin touches my back, and my heart starts pounding.
"Ah…!"
(I was really starting to become disgusted with myself!)
"It's not such a terrible thing for me to get to know all the nooks and crannies of my future bride's body, now, is it?"
Flustered and quite irritated I struggle to get free but I'm unable to move. Why is he doing this?! His hands wrapped around my back and softly hold my body. His fingers then grays my chest, like he's testing me.
"Nn…!"
"Is it that good already; that you can hardly stand it?"
Finally, somehow, by some miracle, I'm able to move but my stupid body stumbles, and he tugs me close to him.
(What the…?! Why…? This is bad… This is really bad!)
He presses his face into the back of my neck and I swear he's smelling me and then tasting me.
"Mm… Supple skin. And you smell good… You really do have the sweet scent that Ayakashi like."
I can feel Miyabi's lips and the nape of my neck. My spine tingles with pleasure and once again my legs, they seem to lose their strength.
Then he says something that almost has me smacking that smirk off his face.
"It's too bad I see you on the way your voice. I thought this time for sure I get to hear the sound of your satisfaction."
(No… no, no…! I know that it's wrong… So why is it that ever since the other day, when Miyabi touches me, I…Ah…!)
"…That's good. There's plenty more where that came from."
Miyabi's voice echoes through the bathroom. His arm steady me by my waist, and a hand runs down my inner thigh.
"!"
I try to say something, but all that comes out as a scratchy breath. What the hell. Please tell me this isn't permanent!
(But… Even if I could speak, what would come out might not be a cry for help, but… no, I won't… No! I don't even have feelings for this jerk… I hate him!)
And yet, my body is responding in a way that's the opposite of how I feel. I'm even looking forward to the next stimulation that Miyabi's fingers and lips will bring.
(If I don't do anything, I'll… well hell I'm the freak…)
SPLASH!
All of a sudden, hot water jumps out of the tub, bringing me back to my senses.
"Where am I?"
A strange man dressed in what appeared to be Some kind of olden day ninja samurai outfit Came bursting out of the water Nearly whacking me in the chin with the top of his head.
I stifled back the shriek climbing its way up my throat.
"Whoopsie! A bath!"
The strange man spoke as though he had not just intruded on something incredibly embarrassing.
"I had aimed for the pond, but…"
Miyabi, however, seemed entirely unfazed by this inintrusion.
"Well, if it isn't the kappa, Hikobei!"
In fact, he seemed rather pleased to see this peeping freak!
"It's good to see you. It's been a long time."
The kappa then said something that had me wondering if all demons were perverts.
"Master…would you move that hand just a tad…?"
(That hand…?)
I glanced down to find that Miyabi has one hand over my chest and the other…
The second I see this, my voice returns.
"WHAT THE HELL?! GET OFF ME!"
Immediately after the bath of incident, we are sitting with the kappa in the living room.
"Why do I have to?"
Miyabi practically snarls at the kappa, "It is punishment for peeking at my bride's naked body without permission."
The kappa immediately began to whine, "Masterrr! You don't have to be so grumpy just because I interrupted your fun!"
Miyabi responded with a cynical smile before saying, "Do I have to burn you to a crisp to shut you up?"
A few beads of sweat slid down the right side of the kappa's face, "Y-y-you're joking!"
(Okay…so now there is a kappa here…Great, just flipping fanfuckingtastic…)
It suddenly occurred to me that if he and Miyabi knew each other, then that would mean he was most likely acquainted with the other as well.
(Oh for the love of-will this chaos never cease?!)
"Hey, human. What's with that look on your face?"
I blinked out of my thoughts and found Hikobei squinting at me with narrowed beady eyes.
"Excuse me?!"
"An ayakashi is sitting before you. Think you could show a little respect?"
I blinked again not quite believing just how rude this strange being was behaving. However, I decided to play along, seeing as I was far to exhausted to protest.
"Respect…? You're a kappa, right?"
"You-Don't you get all high-and-mighty with me just because you found favor in the eyes of Miyabi!"
This was becoming a bit much even for me.
I squared up and stared him straight in the eyes, "First off, I'm not, and secondly, where do you get off talking to me like this when you're the one causing trouble?!"
The kappa appeared to want to retaliate but I wasn't done with him, "I was only going to ask if kappa like cucumbers!"
Instead of just answering he continued to maintain his snarky attitude, "Kappa, kappa, kappa. I have a fine name, and it's Hikobei."
"Um, right, Hikobei."
"How dare you call me by name! As though we're familiars. And besides, kappa don't eat cucumbers in this day and age."
I had no response for that outburst of insanity. Instead I decided to focus on what he had said about cucumbers.
"Whaaat? They don't?"
(For crying out loud! Talk about preferential treatment. Why the hell is he treating me so different from Miyabi?! Especially considering the fact that this is my house! The stupid guy acts completely superior but only when talking to me!)
Miyabi's eyes flick to mine before veering back to Hikobei, "So, what? Are you living here, too?"
Before I could so much as shriek, hell no-
"Why, yes! Of course!"
"You're WHAT?!"
I turn to Miyabi, "Why do you hate me?!"
"You really are a rude girl!"
"Excuse me?!"
"I have been stuck coming and going, staying in that pond without you ever noticing."
My eyes widened and then narrowed in anger, "You damned squatter!"
(Dammit! So now a kappa, a river child lives here… This place has turned into a veritable haunted house..)
Finally I found myself in the comfortable confines of the library.
"Ughhh…"
(It feels like all I've been doing today is sighing, and wanting to cry, and getting angry… And why not, after all, today is the day that the kappa has joined the ayakashi squad!)
"Snow, are you feeling okay?"
A kind voice says my name. Flustered, I look up to find my handsome boss peering down at me, "T-Taro!"
"Is something troubling you? You have been looking glum for a while now."
"No, I'm fine! I'm sorry, I shouldn't be saying so much."
(Taro noticed, which must mean that he's worried about me…)
I found myself wondering why Miyabi never seemed to worry about me. I mean if he wanted me so badly like he says he does you would think he would treat me the way someone like Taro does.
But the fact that Taro was worried made me feel so happy.
"Your smile makes everyone around you happy. But there's no need for you to force it. You should talk to me if you're suffering."
"Thank you…!"
(Wow, Taro is so kind and caring… He's so different from that stupid kitsune who will shamelessly jump in other people's bathtubs and then do things to them that are so deplorably despicable it makes me sick.)
I'm still overjoyed as Taro glances over the room.
"So, that boyfriend of yours. He's not here today?"
"Huh?"
"Your fiancé… Miyabi, was it?"
I inwardly groaned in irritation at the mention of that jerk, "Oh, no… he's probably looking at the old and rare books."
I have tried, several times, to resolve Taro's misunderstanding since that day. But every time, I get interrupted somehow. In the end, Taro still thinks I'm engaged.
Taro's expression becomes one of grave concern, " Is your sighing by any chance due to things not going well with him…?"
"Well…"
How does one exactly respond to their boss asking them about their love life; especially when they have a crush on said boss?
Taro places a gentle hand on my shoulder, "I want you to talk to me. No matter how small the problem is."
"Taro…I…"
He quickly looked away, seemingly embarrassed and lowered his hand back to his side, "…I'm worried about you."
Before I knew it, my heart was pounding as I looked at the serious expression on Taro's face.
I couldn't help but wonder what he meant by that…? Was he really only saying that as my boss…?
(Or is it at all possible that he…?)
TO BE CONTINUED...
