Warmth caressed his body, stirring him awake and crack open his weary eyes to the flutter of sunrise filtering into the spacious room through the window. His lips curve into a gentle smile as he basked in the sunlight, tipping his head downward at the speckles of colors decorate his bare skin. Strands of hair matted to his face and neck from the morning dew and he fumbled with straightening his hair from sticking uncomfortably, then restraining a pained hiss as soreness shot up through his being from the movement. The pain dug into his flesh of fangs that were once there, the phantom touch lingering like a lover's embrace.
Yet, despite the state, he didn't mind it. He never had, and it never stopped him from carrying out tasks either.
With a shift of his body to stretch his aching muscles, his head lulled to the side to get a glimpse of the presence behind him—and he held his breath.
Because of the thin layer of sweat coating her body, the light cast a luminescent glow of white to her resting form, causing her skin to glisten and her hair a soft red hue—a sharp contrast to the fiery crimson surrounded by a golden halo with the setting sun as the backdrop from the prior evening.
A fond smile graced his lips as his gaze lingered on the breathtaking sight, watching closely to the rhythm of her calm breathing and how relaxed her slumbering form appeared to be.
Rare moments of tranquility like these—he's come to cherish every one of them as though his very soul's sculpted out of memories stored in a treasure box belonging to her.
As much as he might wish to bask in her presence, the duty of a page still called over anything else. To go bathe and get dressed in fresh clothes, to dust the displays and scrub the window panes clean, tend to the horses, sort out guests who might have arrived early, bringing back tea for his lord to start her day with.
With those in mind, he pushed himself up and started climbing out of the futon. That was until a gasp escaped him as an arm darted around his waist and swiftly dragged him back.
"Milor—!" But his yelp got snuffed out as the side of his face got pushed into the bedding of the futon that muffled him. The weight of another body pressed down on his back.
"Did I say you can leave my side yet, Ran?" A purr slithered into his ear and shivers cascaded down his back. Although it's partially obscured from view, a smug smile still played on his lips.
Ranmaru's heart drummed in his chest as he managed out a muffled reply, one that elicited a faint hum.
"Oh, is that so?" The weight increased as Nobunaga leaned onto him, the junction of her lower half might as well be straddling him with the curves of her front pressed against his rear.
From his angle on the floor, he could barely catch glimpses of red hair between his own splayed black hair strands blocking out his peripherals—but did he need to even check? When he could sense the intensity of Nobunaga's gaze burning into him.
The arm holding under him moved, her hand sliding up and down his side before shifting it across his abdomen, only stopping briefly to caress his soft stomach, which drew out a faint moan at the pleasant touch. Her hand moved along again until she placed it firmly on his other hip.
A whimper slipped out of him as dull aches seared through him once more from the soreness, but made no protests against what his lord wanted. Should she desire to have her way with Ranmaru again, there was little to object, except on fussing over his lord to not overexert herself.
She eased her hold on his hip, slipping her hand back under him and roamed upward. Ranmaru arched his body to allow her more room, a small moan leaving him as his backside rubbed against her, followed by an apologetic whimper.
Now able to breathe easier, he relaxed his shoulder while Nobunaga brushed the back of his hair to the side to expose his nape and upper back. The firm softness of her lips going over every bump of his spine as she trailed upward made his nerves prickle and melt in ripples. Then she inclined her head to nip and toy with Ranmaru's ear in between her teeth, before letting go and lowering.
"Beautiful…" She murmured, pleased as she brushed her tongue over the abrasions, rubbing into every faded red nick and indent left on his skin.
"Lord Nobunaga…" Soft sighs of pleasure and contentment sounded out from Ranmaru whilst blissfully trapped in his lord's close embrace. A squirmy, warm sensation swam around in his stomach like a storm of a feeling he couldn't quite place—but never found it to be unpleasant, as it's only ever sprung up inside whenever they spent time alone together.
The licks continued, but instead of still being fixated on the marks, the length of her tongue dragged across his shoulder blade, then pressed her lips on his skin, sucking hard enough to leave fresh love marks. The sucks continued on their trail at different spots in close range across his back, leaving behind constellations. Love marks like these would hold his momentary fascination whenever he looked down at himself to see the art that Nobunaga painted on him by using only her mouth.
The mouth moved away, and he shivered slightly at the cool air until white flashed before his eyes as he cried out abruptly in pain and pleasure for only a moment as fangs sunk into the back of his shoulder. The flesh area under the bite throbbed as blood trickled down slowly, eventually licked up gently by her warm tongue.
"My, how delicious…" A deep chuckle reverberated from her throat, tightening her hold possessively as she murmured close to his ear. "Mine… Yes, all mine."
His breath hitched as sensations erupt from the very core of his being at those intoxicating words, to the point it was almost dizzying. The feeling churned in his stomach, yet he believed they were too good for a simple page like him. Aware that deep down, those words rang true to some extent, however wrapping his head around it being genuine toward him was a different story. After all, it was less about him , and about his service and the pleasures his body could give her, wasn't it—?
Mine.
Regardless—it echoed in his mind, tucked away in the corner of his soul filled with treasures of her. Before he could help it, his face broke into a smile into the crook of his arm, then glanced up with renewed spirit in his expression that shone radiantly,
"My lord… Everything of me is all yours. I, Mori Ranmaru, shall serve only you," he said with sincerity, not missing a beat.
In response, her body grinded against his behind and Ranmaru suppressed a whine, not wishing to give the wrong idea that he was in any discomfort, for his lord's pleasure was also his—no matter what Nobunaga desired to unleash.
Another chuckle rumbled out of her. "Yes, very good. You make me most pleased, Ranmaru…" Then her voice purred dangerously low. "You are all mine for the taking."
The grip under him loosened as she relinquished her arm, trailing her hand down his back and placing it on the curve of his arse, stroking it tenderly as she would marveling at a polished teacup.
Ranmaru relaxed as he let out a soft moan at the touches, turning his head further to the side and the rest of the hair strands of his bangs messily spilling over his brow to the other side. Not suppressing a pout this time, Ranmaru wiggled his rear playfully into her groping hand. "What are you going to do to me?"
Nobunaga couldn't help with the amused smile that then stretched across her lips, then light laughter right after at the antics. She patted his backside with a couple of gentle claps, then released him. "Rest. For I was rather thorough with you already. I was savoring the leftovers."
It wouldn't be incorrect to say that he missed her closeness already as soon cool air enveloped him. With careful movement on the futon, he set himself upright in a painless pose and swept the hair across his face back into its original position.
The morning sun rays danced about the room like fluttering petals due to the clouds rolling by, catching specks of glossy gold in those flickering moments the light swept over the paintings.
And, once more, Ranmaru watched on as his lord basked in this nature phenomenon while she gazed fondly upon the beauty of the artwork on the folding screens she commissioned.
Of course, they were gorgeous, stunning even—expected no less by such an extraordinary daimyo as her. But Ranmaru found her to be the most mesmerizing.
The way the sunlight would shimmer through her hair and enhance her form no matter where or when. It was a sight he never grew tired of.
"Hmm…" A hum sounded out which snapped him out of the trance, dropping the fond smile he wasn't aware of making, and instantly paying closer attention as Nobunaga pointedly glanced around in specific directions. Following her gaze, it was not difficult to discern what was on her mind.
"Ah, leave it to me, Lord Nobunaga!" Swift and quick-witted, he rose to his feet and sped toward the windows. Even in the current state, his steps had every bit the grace as though he was a well-practiced senior page with a fresh day start. Only Nobunaga would otherwise know better, while the rest would have naught a clue at all—for how skilled he was at enduring it for the sake of his station.
The paper shutters in the narrow windows shifted one by one to allow in the breeze easier, then the diligent page was on the move to the next destination. His mind had switched gears long by this point, nimble fingers already working on rolling up the futon and then putting it away in the closet behind a sliding panel. From within the space, he retrieved a simple robe and shook every wrinkle out of it before returning.
"Is this what you wished for, my lord?"
Stopping right before Nobunaga, he held his hands out with the cloth neatly presented to her. Nobunaga whisked the robe from his grasp and whipped it around her back, letting it hang off her shoulders. A short hum followed by her lips forming a thin line and closing her eyes for a moment. "You have always been the peculiar one, haven't you."
It would lead one to believe that Nobunaga closed her eyes out of indignation and would be on edge to face her judgment. Ranmaru, however, showed no sign of apprehension of having possibly upset her, as he'd seen that kind of seemingly exasperated expression enough times.
"I am merely doing my duty as your page, Lord Nobunaga," said Ranmaru with a fearless smile as he remained standing in case it could come to a need to fetch anything else.
Nobunaga slowly reopened her eyes, narrowing them to inspect the still nude young samurai before her. Without a word, a wicked grin broke out across her face as she darted an arm around Ranmaru's waist, pulling him.
"Ah!" At the buckle of his knees, he rocked and collapsed down into her cross-legged lap, his hands clutching onto her shoulders for support to not crash unceremoniously into her that could cause injury.
"L-Lord Nobunaga, you shou—!" But got cut short by her tongue entering his mouth for an abrupt French kiss. A loud whimper died out in his throat as Ranmaru became weak in a near instant and melted into the passionate act, now at her mercy.
His cheeks burned hot. Upon loosening his clutch onto her shoulders, he rubbed with gentleness to those areas as an apology for the careless tight grip, as he never wished to hurt her.
Ranmaru had been so captivated by it that by the time the kiss broke, he only registered the groping on his arse causing him to get flustered, which induced amused laughter from her.
"You always do well, however… I told you to rest." Nobunaga brushed his hair in slow, soothing strokes.
Ranmaru merely smiled with a breathy laugh of his own. "I am sorry, I could not help but to be useful to you to your every need."
The continuous pets to his head lulled him into a relaxed state, soaking in every bit of her body heat. Ranmaru's eyes fluttered open when a hand grabbed his chin to lift it up.
"Though, watching you…" She began as her fierce eyes peered into his as though looking right into his soul. A shiver ran down his spine, captivated under her gaze as she held his face in place.
"The way your form moves, such allure…" she trailed off once more, stroking his cheek. His heartbeats quickened in anticipation, as he hadn't noticed he was being watched all so closely when he went through the routine just minutes ago. Then, a laugh left past her lips. "...it makes me desire to devour the entirety of you all over again. Come here."
At yet another pull, a shade of crimson rapidly spread across Ranmaru's face as his insides burned hot. "M-My lord… you shouldn't overexert yourself! After all, I won't be going anywhere. Not ever."
It's been an instinctual response to be concerned over his lord's health, while completely ignoring his own state. That didn't seem to stop her initially, since she lifted him to maneuver his position around so that he was facing away from her on her lap. Ranmaru pouted, about to reach back to tug on the robe only to halt due to hot breath right next to his ear. A light murmur in a velvety voice that could either give those who feared her goosebumps or entrance the hearts of her admirers.
"That is right… you shall remain by my side forever. Very well, we shall both rest and take a bath soon. For now—come closer."
However, for the most favored retainer—Ranmaru of the esteemed warrior Mori clan—what he felt could hardly fit either of those. An indescribable gooey feeling resurfaced in his stomach as he gasped out on being pulled so close to her, then laughing as light as the breeze.
Soft purrs followed as her face nuzzled into the slope of his neck, she circled her palm around his stomach and combed her fingers through his hair with a gentle rhythm. Under such soothing circumstances, Ranmaru couldn't help but feel every muscle relax as he let his body sink into her embrace.
Ranmaru closed his eyes, barely restraining any sounds of contentment as he basked in the comfortable heat. One that he's all too familiar with about anywhere he went, both on the outside and the inside—always within proximity of the sole source.
To many, Oda Nobunaga was their star—the guiding light if they lost their way. Supposedly, there once used to be another that shimmered with gentle radiance until it flickered and disintegrated into dust long ago. It'd been to the point it detracted from the true brilliance of the brighter star until it ceded, making her the destined one to bring freedom that bestowed hope and good fortune to all that followed.
A trajectory that anyone would be thankful for regardless of the truth behind a local legend.
Not that Ranmaru thought much differently in what his lord stood for to her people, and yet—
Each day, he would rise at the crack of dawn, usually accompanied by an incredible force of nature through every waking moment. A presence so intense no being could ever be unaware of it as it persistently streaked across the high heavens and took on the world, Fiercely dominating and far-reaching, no domain would be left untouched. Cultivating prosperity in generosity, scorching all that evoked its wrath, and a warming embrace of comfort.
And—with nightfall, the sky burned crimson like a flame swallowed up by the black ink of the darkness as the blinding light of gold simmered off into the twilight. Even with the retreat to slumber, the illuminated reflections watched over in serene silence unnoticed.
How could he not liken Nobunaga to anything else but the sun?
The thoughts tugged a tender smile as pleasant warmth spread over his face, the unobstructed rays of light spilling back into the high room once the clouds drifted away. Blanketed in the serene tranquility, he lingered a hand delicately on her forearm.
And—once more, warmth cloaked his body by the sun.
His sun of the heavens.