Chapter 51: "Sweet Dreams are Made of This"
"Hey, Akiha. Do you think I look good in this?"
Yumizuka Satsuki spins around in a full-length red dress, similar to the ones I tend to wear, save for it being a little bit shorter. It goes down to just over her knees.
"Very pretty," I reply with a smile. "You look as gorgeous as the day you proposed to me."
She giggles cutely. "Thanks," she says, giving me a full kiss, along with a playful nip, on my lips.
Satsuki and I decided a year ago we would marry. The more we knew about the other, the closer we got, and before long, we decided that we were inseparable, much to Nii-san's chagrin. Although, in due time, he came to understand the reasons behind it.
It all really got started on that day that I hit my head in my dorm room at school. Where she looked me over worriedly and ended it with a kiss. A kiss I responded to. A kiss we both secretly desired, savored, and enjoyed.
In the end, it had turned out that my dream, of me having sex with Nii-san and Satsuki, was just that - a dream. She was quite embarrassed and surprised when I mentioned it, as was I... but she assured me I did not need Nii-san.
That night, she proved it - making me clutch her head in my hands and choke out her name as she delivered ravish upon ravish to my body, and even then, I found myself awakening still aroused and desiring more.
Desiring her.
"...You're thinking naughty things again," she says with a smirk.
"...I am not..." I try to lie my way out of it.
"C'mon. I know when you're lying by now. It's been five years, you know," she says with a laugh which shows her fangs. Satsuki has not aged a bit, but I have a little.
"...I, Is it that obvious...?" I state, blushing.
"Nah. Nobody else would know. But me..." She walks up, and quickly takes one of my hands under her dress, making me rub her bare rear. Satsuki does not wear underwear with that dress. "Me... I know very well when Akiha-sama wants some relief... and she could go for it now..." She moves my hand.
I blush a little as she guides my finger towards her crotch, feeling the gentle warmth and moisture, as her own body is turned on by the thought of her lover touching her there.
Shamelessly. Greedily.
Having long ago shed any of its inhibitions, any thought of "position."
Not caring that she is still technically my servant, though I do not treat her as one anymore. She has not been for some time.
All that it cares about is that it is from someone she loves. Someone she desires.
"What do you say, then? In the mood for a little bit of fun? You've had a long week, after all... and it's always the best when you've gone without for a few days..." She grins.
I blush, slightly timidly. I know that it is ultimately useless to fight this... especially since I can feel my own body gearing up for the activity. It wants it too. An almost weekly stress-relief ritual... like an automatic clock, it knows when to activate.
Satsuki gets no answer, but to her, no answer is needed. She can tell what my body wants, just as much as I can tell what hers wants...
"Then let's go, love... you know just where to make those fingers rub and where to put them..." Her grin widens like she had caught her prize, exposing small vampiric fangs, and I am practically dragged off.
It is going to be a long and exhausting night... but it will be worth every moment.
"It's a lovely day today, isn't it, Akiha-sama?"
"Yes, Kohaku. A fine early spring day."
Kohaku smiles warmly at my reply. It may be strange to say this, but... well, we are a bit more than master and servant now.
No, our relationship has transcended that boundary. We have become... well, romantic partners, to put it politely.
It all began when I realized that what Kohaku was doing was acting in my own best interests. That, simply put, she refused to just stand there and watch me endure the sort of life she had... one where she felt, for the most part, alone, isolated, and without any sort of thing to actually look forward to at all... merely hopes, dreams.
When I confronted her about this, she simply asked "What if it were true, Akiha-sama?" I began to reply something about how it was not Kohaku's business to worry about that, only to be silenced by a finger pressing to my lips... and then before long, her lips were pressing on my neck, on my throat, slowly working my body into a heated, excited state.
I really do not know why I did not stop her, but I know I was not terribly surprised when she began to pull clothing off of me. I do know that thoughts of stopping her were the furthest things from my mind when she began to... well, give me a "massage" that was, in so many words, very personal and intimate.
And so began an unofficial marriage... to one who is legally my servant, but privately, far more than that.
I shake my head at these nostalgic memories.
"Hm? Something wrong, Akiha-sama?" Kohaku asks.
"...No, nothing," I reply. "It is just that sometimes, I remember how this all started, and sometimes it seems like some crazy dream that I will never wake up from."
"When dreams become reality, they're often indistinguishable, aren't they?" Kohaku replies with a small, catlike smile. "That's because you have everything you finally want, and so there is no point in believing it is a dream anymore."
"…...I suppose you have a point," I concede.
"...And yet, when you get that look in your eyes, it's often a dreamy one." The smile widens.
…...Well, I cannot argue that, either.
It is certainly not something I planned, to eventually have Kohaku as my partner. Then again... it makes perfect sense when one looks at it from outside the box.
Kohaku knows every single secret of mine. There is no reason to hide them from her; there has not been for almost fifteen years now. She knows it all... and she accepts it all.
...And yet, she continues dutifully. Sweeping, gardening, and helping Hisui, who has settled into a happy life with Nii-san in Fuyuki.
It was strange to see her so willingly give up Nii-san for her sister's happiness. But all things considered...
…...Is that not what Kohaku has done all her life? Pull the strings from behind the scenes, doing things as she feels are necessary to stir up the correct feelings, and then once the revelation comes in, moving more towards true goals?
"Fufufu... you look like you're thinking about us again, Akiha-sama." Kohaku's words break my thoughts.
"...No, it is not that, I–"
"You can't hide it from me. I can tell what you want. And right now..." She bends down. "...You're wanting 'that,' aren't you?"
...That... by that, she means...
I feel my cheeks flush.
"But don't worry, Akiha-sama. I, your faithful servant, am more than happy to serve my mistress' needs... fufufu..."
Slowly, her fingers walk their way up my shin, then my thigh, inching closer and closer...
I feel a slight tickling on my stomach. My eyes flutter open.
The half-clothed form on Hanei Misawa is kissing me on my stomach. She looks up when she feels movement.
"Good morning, Akiha-chan! Did you sleep well?" Another kiss.
"...I slept quite well, Hanepin," I say as I smile.
It was a long road, and a bit difficult at first, but in the end, I decided Hanei was the one for me. She was, understandably, quite surprised when I confessed my feelings about her... and I was even more surprised when she accepted, even though she had never had a serious relationship in her life up to that point.
So, needless to say, when she finally felt comfortable with me taking our relationship to that next level, I made sure it was a night she would not forget. Thanks to a few prior helpful lessons from Souka, I had Hanei pulling on my hair and bucking her hips into my face, screaming my name as I brought her a pleasure she had never experienced even as she passed out from it.
Needless to say, by morning, she proposed to marry me almost on the spot. And so we did, because Hanei is who I wanted.
I pull her up towards me and embrace her, hugging her close and kissing her cheeks and neck. She sighs happily, dreamily almost, like this were a dream she never wanted to wake up from. Her large breasts push slightly against my stomach as she lays her head on one of my breasts, nuzzling her cheek into it and giving a moan of content from deep in her throat. Her arms tense slightly, squeezing my frame between them and into her slightly.
I stroke and run my hands through her long, brown hair. She presses into me slightly more.
"It is nice to wake up next to you, Hanei," I tell her.
"Yeah, it's nice to wake up next to you too, Akiha-chan." She smiles and kisses my neck, and then my throat, making me shiver slightly and my heart thump.
...The only problem with Hanei, really, is that ever since I... well, introduced her to the joys of her body... the girl has made no secret that her body has needs. Quite a bit of them, in fact. It seems like years of ignorance have bottled up plenty of hormones, and now that they have an outlet, they are built up.
...There have been many exhausting weekends, filled with virtually nothing but, as Souka would put it, "The Four S's – Shower, Shit, Sex, Sleep." I would be lying if I said I did not like these at some levels, but there are times when I remember Hanei's simpler, almost childish innocence, and it creates conflict, because this is the person I am being sexual with...
…...Especially when it is Hanei who is the one that is being sexual. Such as now.
I still cannot quite fully see her that way, even though to her it just seems like something normal. I bring her pleasure, and she brings me pleasure... so what is the problem?
Misawa Hanei cannot quite see things in the way I do. She does not see the old Hanei anymore. She just knows that "Akiha-chan" brings her happiness, and so that is what she wants the most.
I suppose I cannot blame her. Happiness is, I feel, a fundamental right. Some countries in the world are built guaranteeing people the freedom to pursue happiness.
...And happiness is something I wanted, too. I just did not think it would be like this...
The kiss soon turns into a sucking. I feel my eyes close, and a throaty moan comes out from my body.
"You like that a lot, Akiha-chan." She giggles and sucks harder with her lips, teasing my body and setting it afire, making it gasp with growing pleasure.
It is all I can do to pant helplessly, my head turning from side to side, as the love of my life worships my body. Giving me a few precious moments from all my worries and troubles...
"Just lay back, Akiha-chan. Hanepin will take care of it all."
...I blush as with a final kiss on my neck, she begins to kiss down to my chest, pulling down on my bra...
"Seo, I am home!" I shut the door behind me as I set down my purse.
After a few moments, she steps out from the kitchen, in an apron. "Welcome home, Senpai. How was your day?" She gives me a quick kiss on the cheek with a smile.
"Long and dull, as usual," I sigh as I take off my heels. "Thankfully, I am done there until next Monday."
"That's great, Senpai," Seo says with a smile. "Dinner will be ready in a sec, so just sit tight, okay?" She walks back to the kitchen. I cannot help but glance at her small but cute rear as it naturally gives a very soft wiggle as she walks off.
Strangely enough, despite all of the things I had thought would not make things work, I wound up confessing my love to Seo. It is hard to say who was more shocked, myself or her. And admittedly, she did seem nervous at first, but I promised her I would do my best to make it work, and she agreed after her father gave his blessing, much to my surprise.
It was a little awkward at first, but before long, we grew comfortable in each other's presence, and after only a little while, we were as one.
Despite being a happy couple, we still insist on calling each other "Seo" in my case and "Senpai" in hers. Some would not understand that, but it is not their life or their concern, it is ours. And as long as Seo is happy with it, then so am I.
Stranger relationships can be had, to be sure.
I plant my feet down on the ground, and feel more of my foot come into contact with it. After being on essentially the front half of my feet all day, it feels good to rest some of my weight on the heels of my feet.
After a few minutes just to stretch my feet and loosen them up, I walk to the dining room table. It has been here for years, but only two seats are ever used on a regular basis - mine, and hers. I put my blazer on the back of my chair and sit.
Seo comes back with dinner, and I immediately blush at what it is.
It is... a normal high school lunch. None but us would understand the significance here, either.
"...It looks delicious, Seo."
She smiles. "I'm glad, Senpai. Please, eat your fill."
"Is that not my line?" I say with a slight smile.
"Maaaaaaaybe. But I decided to take some liberties today." She smiles happily.
She sits down next to me, and rests her head on my shoulder. I run my hand through her soft purple hair that smells faintly of lilac.
I take one of the sandwich halves. "Well then... Itadakimasu." I smile.
"Itadakimasu, Senpai," she replies, her hand lightly supporting the other half of the sandwich.
Together, we take bites from the opposite ends of the sandwich until our lips meet and press.
"Akiha-sama? Shall I prepare the bath?"
"...Yes, thank you, Hisui. It has been a long day, so I suppose a bath would be a wise idea right now."
"Yes. Then I shall make it at once, Akiha-sama." With a smile and a bow, Hisui excuses herself, heading off towards the bathroom.
It has been a strange little twist of fate, to be honest. After Kohaku and Nii-san moved out together, it was to my surprise that Hisui decided she would stay behind to help me. She stated that if she left, I would be left alone and relatively helpless... and I admit, it would not have been incorrect.
She seems to have taken to the task rather well. Kohaku gave her a solid six months of daily cooking lessons before she left. I was, needless to say, very surprised when I learned that, one day, the delicious meal I had eaten had not been prepared by Kohaku, but by Hisui.
My praise that night made her both beam and blush with pride.
After this, we actually settled in surprisingly comfortably. The house was big with just two people, but both Nii-san and Kohaku visit, and it tends to be every other weekend. They know that, if need be, this is home for them as much as it is for us.
To make things easier on Hisui, her duties alternate every day. One day is dedicated to external cleaning tasks, and then the next to the things inside the house that require attention. It is, perhaps, not the most elegant system in the world, but it certainly works.
Of course, there are some things cleaned daily out of a manner of necessity. The kitchen, and its accompaniment of plates, bowls, pots, and pans. The toiletries must, of course, be maintained. And then...
…...There are the baths.
After all, good feminine hygiene requires a daily bath. There is simply no exceptions to this rule. A woman can never feel comfortable in her own skin if she has not bathed that day.
I gather my clean clothing for the night, and head towards the bathroom. As I approach the bathroom, the sound of water splashing into itself and the faint smell of cactus-scented bath oils fill the air.
I walk into the bathroom, closing the door with my foot, and begin to undress. My dress comes off, followed by my top, then my hairband, my bra, and finally, my underwear. Pushing them to the corner for now, I turn towards the tub.
"Ah. I see you are ready, Akiha-sama."
…...Only to find Hisui, herself, is in the tub and waiting. Just as nude.
I blush horribly. If... if Hisui is in the bath as well, then... that means a certain thing is on her mind.
A certain thing that starts in the tub... and carries on to the bedroom.
"...Well? Come on, Akiha-sama. The water is hot..." A slight smile spreads on her lips.
I sigh, resigned to my fate. As I approach the tub, I feel my body getting hotter already, and I can see that Hisui's jade eyes are fixated on my chest...
"Souka? Were you not going to the concert today?" I blink and look at my wife.
"Eh... I can always get a concert on DVD. Can't buy time with you, though." She smiles as she walks over to me.
"I suppose not," I say with a smile in kind. "Well then, I am here for you, you know that."
"Of course, Tohno," she says as she picks me up and holds me in her arms. I give a slight eep and blush as I am held by her. "You've always been there. You're always gonna be. Nothing ain't gonna change there."
Naturally, Souka wound up being the one I loved. How could I not? She was my first... and she spoiled me rotten. Nobody else could match up to her, really. Nobody could make me feel quite the same way she did, both inside and out. I learned that everyone's first sexual partner often becomes a person's sexual baseline, the one that they will compare any and all potential lovers to subconsciously.
They had no chance, versus Souka.
How could they, ultimately? The only person who was willing to fully accept me for who I was, in the end, was Souka. It is only natural that she be the one who finally won my heart, through dogged determination and stubbornly refusing to quit.
Although... tonight will not be a night that I can so easily just allow myself to be held in her arms – or have parts of me held apart by them, as her whims are sometimes directed to do. Because tonight...
…...I have "business" to take care of. And by "business," I mean "someone is threatening my city."
Obviously, this is something I am more than ready to handle and deal with. But...
"...You're gonna go out tonight and deal with things, huh." Her face takes a serious expression. A slight frown even.
...I can hear the slight worry in her voice.
It is only natural that Souka would be worried about whether or not I would come back. After all... none of my secrets are unknown to her. She knows full well of the nature of the Tohno... and of me.
She also knows that I will not go down without a fight.
"Yes. But I have come back, and always will, Souka. I cannot die while you still live... I will not permit myself to simply roll over and die.."
"Yeah... I know, Tohno. But you know what happens, just in case..." She smiles.
Her smile makes me blush. Because... whenever I go out to help Arcueid-san or Ciel-san or Nii-san, Souka makes it a point to make love to me, and for me to make love to her, before I go. Every time. Just in case it is "the last time"... which it, admittedly, probably never will be.
I still do not fully understand her logic, but then again, I never have. I suppose as a normal, if fit, human woman, and knowing fully about myself now, she knows she cannot help me in my duties as overseer of Misaki... but she knows she can love.
And it is loving that Tsukihime Souka does best to Tohno Akiha.
"C'mon then," she says with a happy smile and a rub of my rear that makes color fill my cheeks and my body begin to warm up already. "And don't worry about a thing, Tohno. You know you can give me my turn after you recover from your little nap." She carries me off into our bedroom.
Because with Souka... it never fails. I pass out every time, to this day...
...My eyes open.
There is nobody in my room, and I am on my bed. I look around, half-expecting someone, but I find nobody present.
…...I pinch myself.
"Ow..."
...Okay, I am awake this time. And me. Not an older me. My shapes are exactly what I am expecting them to be. Not bigger.
Those... those were all dreams of Yumizuka-san, Kohaku, Hanei, Seo, Hisui, and Souka. Of possible futures.
…...They felt pleasant. In every dream, I looked happy, and so did they. And... I felt happy, too, like I have not felt in a long time.
I... I want to feel that way. To come home to someone, and have them smile, and try to make my mind feel at ease...
I feel a sense as if some unseen being, some celestial god or goddess, is telling me that now is the time to decide. I do not know why I feel this way, just that I do...
...I do not believe in things such as fate. To think that some unseen force, or unknown entity, can be controlling my life... I do not attempt to put such a spell on myself.
There is no fate but what we make for ourselves. And I refuse to bow down to it in any case. Only one person will decide what is best for me.
…...Me.
I throw the covers off of my bed, and I crawl out of it, walking over to the large doorway that opens up to my balcony.
I look out the window. It is night outside. The sky is completely dark. No moon hangs outside. Good. Perfect, even...
...For the new moon is a time for beginnings. For new plans. For new phases.
…...For my new life.
I get up, and begin to get out of my school uniform and into my long red dress. Walks on nights like tonight never seem to fail to give me the answers that I seek.
I do not know what I will find out there...
But whatever it is...
...I am sure it will be something that will bring me answers.
Next Week (5/29/11) – Chapter 52: "Conversation with a Partitioned Mind"