Ever since Miyabi had had his way with me, he's been taking every chance he gets to touch me and do something dirty.
"I said that's enough! Your body can't possibly be that weak you jerk!"
I threw my pillow at him and it smacked him square in the face. If I wasn't feeling so humiliated, I probably would have laughed.
A few feathers stuck to his hair. I thought for sure he would get angry, however he just blinked at me in confusion before saying, "And? My abilities never grow weak."
I gaped at him, "Then why do you constantly touch me if you have no current need to replenish your powers?!"
He barely hesitated, "That has nothing to do with this. I just want to touch your skin."
Terrified that he might do just that, I tried to make a beeline for the door, but he easily cornered me until we were by my futon.
"It's the same as with kissing… Touches never run out. So, come now, don't be stingy."
"I'm not being stingy! I'm being sensible!"
"But don't let anyone else touch you either, okay? This," his eyes scanned the entirety of my body, "belongs to only me."
As he says this, he slipped his fingers up my shirt.
My mind screamed at me to smash his nuts with my knee, but, of course, my body was refusing to respond!
(This has to stop…! Every time Miyabi touches me, my whole body goes weak…And how is it that he still wants more even after we…)
He started to take off my bra and gently cupped my breasts with his hands.
I couldn't help but wonder if that god forsaken mark he had placed on my neck was somehow responsible for causing my body to react this way…
"Your skin is so soft…"
And just like that, my backstabbing body was once again giving itself up to pleasure in Miyabi's arms.
I knew I shouldn't be doing this. It wasn't normal!
But it was almost like my body had been waiting forever to feel this Miyabi's hands and lips…
"You want it?"
"N-no…!"
He wasn't convinced and why should he be?! Every time I attempted to protest; it would be released as a moan. I wasn't even sure that I was convinced anymore.
"If you want more…then…Say…More."
I struggled to get my words out despite my body's insanely poor judgment, "I'm not going to sa-"
"The look on your face says otherwise…"
He cocked his head seductive smile curling his lips.
Miyabi traced my lips with his fingers.
I was completely powerless to stop him even though he wasn't even holding me down.
He lifted up my shirt and started running his tongue over my skin, the way he always did, when…
"Masterrrr! Master Miyabiii!"
"What now," I squeaked.
Miyabi stopped also alarmed.
But then he glanced down at me and said, "Say nothing."
"Why?"
He continued to gaze down at me now with a crooked smile, "Fine, then call out to them…that is, if you don't mind being seen like this…"
Miyabi then continued what he had been doing, paying to attention to the sound of rushing feet.
I very much wanted to slug him in the face but the thought of being caught almost was too much to bare.
I cringed and shuddered, but he clearly mistook that to mean something totally wrong.
"Does the idea of being seen…turn you on?"
"Where the hell do you get off thinking that?!"
For some reason he actually stopped and let go, so I quickly shoved Miyabi out of the way and attempted to fix my clothes.
He rolled his eyes and sighed before calling out to Hikobei.
(Holy hell! This guy's touch is like a ticking time bomb…! I can't keep letting myself continue to get swept up like that!)
I risked a glance at Miyabi before quickly sliding my eyes to the floor. I felt suddenly very ashamed of myself.
(Was this part of an ayakashi's power?)
I glanced at him this time I didn't look away.
(Lately when he touches me, it's like I no longer have the will to resist him…)
"So here you are, Master Miyabi!"
Miyabi looked at him as if to say, "Where else would I be?"
"It's been decided," continued the Kappa, "The girl is to make her debut."
"Debut?" I glanced at Miyabi, "What is he talking about?"
Miyabi's eyes went wide, "Oh, that's right. I completely forgot about that."
"Do you guys mind filling me in?!"
Hikobei turned to me with a look that suggested I was being stupid, "You don't know? You inferior being."
"What's that," I shot back, "Did you say you don't need the honey dipped cucumber in the fridge?"
"What-I-! Aaahhg! You really are unpleasant." He finished in a quiet murmur.
I grinned, feeling confident that I had found his weakness.
(Hikobei's been completely obsessed with those ever since I had first introduced him to them.)
"So. What's this about my debut?"
Miyabi graced with another of his overconfident smiles, "It's just what it sounds like. We're going to introduce you to the people in the Mononoke village."
He paused for who know what and then added, "As my future wife, of course."
I suddenly felt sick again but this time from fear, "You're what?! Wait! This is all going to fast, why don't I get a say in this?"
Why his wife?! How many times do I have to tell him there is no way in hell I would ever—
"Wait! The Mononoke village…That's where you and the others are from, right?"
"Of course. It's not really all that different from where humans dwell."
I highly doubted that.
"You say that now, but…I would be the only human there, so…"
I hesitated a moment struggling with my next words, "Why would you bring somewhere so dangerous?"
Miyabi
"There's nothing to scared of. If anything happens, I'll be there to protect you."
And for some reason I believed that he really would.
He then narrowed his eyes as though he had just thought of something revolting, "Besides, I would never let another ayakashi touch you."
His eyes slid back to mine, "I promise I won't let anyone lay a finger on you."
Anger was beginning to boil up within me again, "Th-that's what you call protecting?!"
I suddenly realized I knew nothing of ayakashi customs. Like what does one do when visiting a Mononoke village? Should I perhaps bring a gift or…
Miyabi was, after all, coming to my rescue. I suddenly found myself terrified of the prospect of meeting his parents.
"Don't get in Master's way."
I gritted my teeth and turned on the stupid kappa, "And there goes your honey cucumbers for the week."
"Dammit! I curse you!"
"Wha-?! Wait-what?!"
As I, in a sudden panic, tried to recall if Kappa's were capable of curses, Hikobei left through the window, hurling insults as he went.
I decided to believe that he didn't since I had a strong suspicion that Miyabi would have stopped him if was.
I gave a heavy sigh and looked back to Miyabi, "So, when is this debut?"
"Day after tomorrow."
The guy didn't even hesitate.
"Say, WHAT?!"
"Is that a problem?"
"But I have a job…I-I haven't even put in a request for a day off!"
To this he simply said, "Just don't go. You can't keep working with Taro, anyway. This is a good opportunity for you to quit."
"You know I can't do that!" I shot back.
(What the hell am I supposed to do? It's going to land on a weekday! I just know that they'll refuse if I ask off on such short notice! A wake…A funeral…UGH, what is wrong with me?!)
"Should I maybe bring something? Like a small gift of some sort?"
"Small gift?"
"Well I can't just go empty-handed!"
Miyabi simply smiled, "You won't need to bring anything like that. You're going as my bride. You should exude confidence."
"Being confident and being kind are completely different!"
(I shuddered to think how many ayakashi I would meet and how they would most likely be judging my every word. But I should at least bring something for his family…Ah!)
I rush to the kitchen and start laying out all the ingredients for Inari Sushi.
"His family should love this what with being Fox demons."
It suddenly occurred to me that Miyabi never once spoke of his family.
"Do I smell Inari sushi…?"
Miyabi had apparently followed me into the kitchen.
He frowned upon examining the counter, "Awww. They're not done yet?"
"Because they're not for you. So don't even think about eating them."
He seemed shocked by this fact, "If you're not making it for me, then who?"
"I told you. I am bringing it to the Mononoke village as a gift."
"And I told you that you didn't have to… You're being too kind."
There was a lot of fried tofu out. Miyabi looked at it and tilted his head to the side.
"Humans are such incomprehensible creatures."
"Is that so? Oh, why don't you help?"
"What did you say?"
"First, you cut the fried tofu into pieces about this big. And I'll get the pot ready for boiling."
"Why should I…?"
He looked at me as though I had just asked him to lick the floor.
But after a moment, he reluctantly started to help.
"You're really good at this," I remarked as I watched him slice up the tofu.
"There isn't anything I can't do."
I rolled my eyes and then continued my Inari sushi lesson, "Okay, so next, we stuff them with rice. Like this… They'll tear open if you try to squeeze in too much."
Miyabi glanced down at his, "…It's too late."
"Wha-?"
I glanced over to see Miyabi holing fried tofu in his hand. It had basically exploded…
"Just how much did you put in there?!"
He looked up at me, completely clueless, "Only a little."
"But it's spilling out onto the counter! In what universe is that only a little…?!"
(And he was so good at cutting the tofu, too…)
"So actually…you screwed up."
Completely forgetting his remark about being able to do anything, "It's my first time. There's no reason I would be able to do it correctly!"
"This coming from someone who just got done saying they could do anything."
"What's more surprising is that there's something you're good at."
I had to struggle to not dump the bowl of rice on his head, "You Jerk!"
(Look at him looking all displeased. But considering how he normally acts like nothing can faze him, it was actually kind of refreshing to see this side of him.)
I wondered if this would be a good time to ask him about his family…but seeing him sadly eyeing the destroyed tofu I decided I could wait until we got there.
And now, two days later, I have finally stepped into the Mononoke world with Miyabi.
"The others won't be with us today so don't leave my side."
I nodded as I took in the beauty of what appeared to be a completely normal village; it wasn't scary at all. So I mustn't let myself forget that everyone who lives here is an ayakashi.
In fact one of them ran up to us practically squealing, "Look! Miyabi's back!"
And then several girl ayakashi practically flew up to us, " it is him! Everyone, it's Miyabi!"
"What's this all about?!" I narrowed my eyes at Miyabi but then I quickly looked away finding it hard to understand why I should even care that all these women were infatuated with a person I didn't even love.
I risked another glance at his face only to find that he appeared to be just as annoyed by this as I was.
He groaned in frustration, "We should've taken a back street."
And there I was, watching Miyabi become completely surrounded by a crowd of female ayakashi.
For ears, wolf ears, demon horns… I suddenly felt extremely out of place as I watch them all fawn over him.
One of the girls even threw her arms around him and for some stupid unknown reason I wanted to pull her off by her hair.
"Miyabi! I've missed you so much…"
"You'll stay here from now on, won't you?"
It was actually kind of depressing not being noticed by a single one of them as they were in a mad rush to talk to Miyabi.
The jerk didn't even try to fend any of them off!
Instead he just smiled at them as though he couldn't wait to go back to their houses and-NO-I wasn't even going to go there.
"I see I've made you all lonely, but I have to go back soon."
A fourth girl dropped to the ground in practically clung to his legs, "No! Please, take me with you!"
Yet another female ayakashi, this one with ginormous breasts, sauntered past him but not before whispering in his ear loud enough for me to hear, "Call me to your bedchamber again sometime."
I was suddenly nearing the feeling of defeat why would he bring me here and then allow this to happen?!
I mean he did all that…stuff with me when he had these other girls?!
A sixth girl slightly smaller than the others noticed me gaping at them, "Hey, look. She's glaring. Scaaary."
Another giant breasted woman just kind of looked at me like I was some kind of revolting insect, "That's the human with 'special blood'…? But she looks like she's just a little girl."
Seeing as the jerk wasn't gonna come to my defense I refused to let them see how much that it hurt to hear that. Oh who am I kidding? Compared to sexy girls like that, I probably do look like a little girl. I don't know what he sees in me-wait why do I suddenly care what he thinks?!
But it's not like the asshole has to show off like this!
Almost as though he had completely forgotten that I was there he suddenly turned and looked down at me his eyes wide and slightly as though he were confused, "What's wrong? Why are you angry?"
"What do you mean angry I'm not angry what makes you think I'm angry?!"
His mouth quirked into a crooked smile, "Geez… I just don't get you."
He's confused?! I'm the one who's confused! I don't even know why I'm this annoyed…!
You know what, never mind, stupid brain not to mention body!
I looked at the time and then back to the main attraction, "Miyabi, come on. Let's go. You said we're going to the castle?"
I grabbed his hand and started to pull him away from the rabid demonic females who of course all started to moan and whine but eventually they let him leave.
"Actually there's someplace I have to go first."
And just when we were about to change direction to go to this 'someplace', a child's voice, very snooty, carried to is from one of the alleys.
"What are you talking about? You're only half ayakashi!"
Then another child's voice almost shaky, "But I-I…"
I slowly turned around and I was shocked by what I saw, there were two kids ganging up on another smaller kid "Miyabi, that…"
But he wasn't next to me anymore. I hadn't even noticed that he had let go of my hand.
Apparently, he had departed so fast that I hadn't even noticed that he moved.
He towered angrily over the two kid bullies, "And just what the hell do you think you two are doing?"
There was a slight growl in his voice as he spoke.
One of the bullies immediately shrank back in fear, "Whoa, it's Miyabi!"
Miyabi repeated himself in a low, very cold tone of voice, "I asked what you two were doing?"
The second kid now also cowering in fear practically squeaked, "He… He's a weakling. We were just teaching them a lesson."
Miyabi's next words nearly had me choking on disbelief, "…The truly strong do not look down on the weak."
For a moment I thought I miss heard him but then he continued speaking completely out of character, "Having the power to protect another but using it instead to squash them… Only a fool would do that."
I felt like I was seeing him not just a different light but like he had become a completely different person entirely.
The current vibe he was giving off was seriously intense and the children escaped leaving the alley in silence.
I suddenly realize that we were probably going to be late if we didn't head out ourselves.
"Miyabi!"
Faster than I could blink he was back at my side, taking my hand in his, "Sorry about that. Are you ready?"
I didn't know what to say to his flat out apologizing for making me wait something that I never thought he would ever do especially to a human, so I just nodded and tried to smile and I found that it wasn't that hard this time.
As we started to head off, Miyabi stopped and we both looked down to see the victim of the two kid bullies tugging at his kimono smiling. It was adorable.
"U-um… Thank you!"
Miyabi The knelt down on the ground and gently ruffled the kids hair, "Make yourself strong so you don't have to put up with things like that. Otherwise, you'll always be a victim."
He took my hand once more and started to walk away.
"Hey, Miyabi…"
I slowed my pace so he wouldn't be able to ignore me, but he didn't seem to mind and slowed his own as well, "Did something happen to you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Never mind."
He was just acting so strange well in a way that I was not familiar with and I was terrified, but only because it was causing me to find him attractive.
He chuckled softly and then let out a sigh, "You really are a strange girl, Miku Snow."
And now he just said my full name without a sneer or a seductive smile what the hell was going on?!
Not once did he ever let his emotions show on his face around me. But still, he did help that kid… he may have been a little rough, but somewhere in there, he was trying to be kind.
I then heard a snooty female voice bickering about something quite like what we had just witnessed with the bullies, "You see that? Those two with their low blood, licking each other's wounds?"
I glanced up and could've sworn that her words had drawn attention back to us again.
Another woman just a snooty chimed in, "Hmph… Well he should act as self important as he wants while he still can."
I spot the two clearly arrogant female ayakashi watching us from a nearby building.
I suddenly wanted to scream at the two they were nothing but a couple of low rank whores but never mind that what did they mean by 'low blood'?
I turned to Miyabi to ask him exactly that when-
"Miyabiiii! You're late!"
I was so completely caught off guard that I almost hid behind Miyabi, but all he did was let out a heavy sigh that almost sounded sad, "So, you found me…"
I slowly turned around to find a tall older man standing a few feet behind us. But something seemed off about him he didn't look anything like the rest of the-
Wait-wa-was he…
The old man then proceeded to scold Miyabi, "I told you to come see me first thing when you got back, didn't I? How many times must I say this?!"
Miyabi slowly turned around and very much look like he wanted to hide behind me though not out of fear.
"Miyabi, is this by any chance your grandfather…?"
Miyabi mumbled a quiet, "Yeah…"
I literally thought my jaw would hit the ground. I mean, the man was human how is it that he ended up the grandfather of Miyabi?
Miyabi averted his eyes from mine, "…We have to go to that old codger's place before we can go to the castle."
The old man's voice shot angrily from his mouth, "I can hear you! Old codger! Really?!"
Miyabi rolled his eyes and let out a heavy sigh, "What good ears you have…"
I glanced over at my companion and noticed the hint of a frown tugging ever so slightly at his lips.
Shortly after all the drama, I find myself at Miyabi's grandfather's house together with a very depressed looking Miyabi.
I was oddly finding myself feeling worried for him.
Miyabi finally looks up at his grandfather, "I see, you're still living deep in the mountains."
Finally the smirk came back, and I felt myself relax a bit, "Isn't it about time you go back to the town, have someone look after you?"
the old man glared at his grandson as though Miyabi had said something insulting, "Don't you be treating me like an old man!"
Then turning to me with a smile, "Anyway, Snow, I'm glad you came. Please, do sit down."
As I sat down next to Miyabi I found myself impressed with how well he could handle his arrogant grandson.
I wondered what it was about him that caused Miyabi to fold so easily under the glare of a human.
"I'm sorry, I haven't properly introduced myself. I'm Isao, Miyabi's grandfather."
"I'm Miku Snow. It's nice to finally meet a member of his family."
Isao's eyes flicked momentarily to Miyabi, as though he didn't quite believe me, before sliding back to mine, his suspicion fading into a warm smile, "Well, it's very nice to meet you as well, Miss Snow." He then practically growls at his grandson as he says, "Miyabi, go fetch some water from the waterfall out back!"
Miyabi's eyes level with his grandfather's, "Why do I have to-" and for a moment I believed he would fall back into his arrogant ways, but then…
"We have to give Miss Snow some tea. Go on!"
My eyes flicked back and forth between the two. I really didn't want any trouble, least of all here, "Y-you really don't need to do anything for me."
But, Miyabi ignored me and glared at his Grandfather, "Ugh… Are you ever going to go retire somewhere?!"
But once again, he folds. He grumbled as he grabbed a bucket and left the house.
Isao let out a tired sigh and turned back to face me, "I'm sorry to cause trouble. I just thought that if he wasn't here, it'd be easier for you and I to have a nice talk."
I felt more to it than just that, "Sir. Is there…something you didn't want Miyabi to hear?"
He let out another tired sigh. Apparently, I was right, "That boy is always quick to make fun just to hide his embarrassment." His expression softened, "Still, Miyabi did bring you here…"
I had thought he seemed hart on Miyabi, but Isao was actually really quite nice…
"Well, Miyabi has been a great help. He always comes through-when I need him to."
Isao nodded in understanding, "Ah, well, you are a human girl… …Actually, the boy's mother is a human, like you."
"Oh…So that would make him only half…Ayakashi…"
Isao nodded again.
Wait that would make him half human!
"Why wouldn't he tell me?"
"Well, he's got a bit of an inferiority complex about it." His next words made my heart hurt, "If his mother were still alive, then perhaps things would've been different…"
So, his mother was human…and she's already passed away? This was the first time I've anything about it…
Wow…I really didn't know anything about Miyabi after all…
I glanced over at Isao, I needed to know, "Are there a lot of ayakashi like that?"
He frowned and slid his eyes to the ground, "Unfortunately, no. Basically, there's a kind of unspoken agreement that ayakashi are to marry only ayakashi. So pure ayakashi often scorn half ayakashi. Look down on them."
I suddenly recall the poor boy from the alleyway.
"Now that you mention it, there was a boy who was being bullied by another boy, and he had called him a half ayakashi."
(So this is what that was about…and may be why Miyabi helped that boy.)
Isao must have noticed my sudden concern, since he quickly added, "Of course, not everyone looks down on Miyabi. He's a little different, but he's blessed with good people in his life."
He glanced at the open doorway through which Miyabi had just left, "A besides, even if he is only half Ayakashi, the power he possesses is tremendous." He chuckled softly, "That tends to arouse some hatred amongst the pure-blooded ayakashi."
"Pure-blooded, huh…?"
I thought back on something that Miyabi had once said to me, "It's pointless for an incompatible ayakashi and a human to have feelings for one another."
Only now it made sense-it all did.
This all must be the reason he feels that humans and ayakashi are incompatible.
It all comes back to his personal history…
Isao let's out a heavy sigh, "The poor boy's birth, and therefore his personality…are difficult." He then glances out through the doorway to where Miyabi had gone to gather water, "But as for me, I think he's a great grandkid. Please, take care of him for me."
"Isao, I…"
I'd never forget the look on Miyabi's face when he threw those words at me.
Though, for some reason, now, I understood how he felt…at least I hoped I did.
