Efflorescence
Chapter Sixteen: Of Great Expectations
by Autumn Win-Dow
(AoGA House Cup. Words: 500)
Kurike bitterly smiled at his reaction. "I knew you were going to regret your decision. I was expecting this the whole time that I waited. You were expecting to see something else."
Natsume remained silent. Despite his usual smart style, he was unable to come up with a way to argue with her- he knew that she was right, and so did she.
He silently raised his hand and cupped her hand- which held the candlestick.
Kurike was evidently put off guard by the sudden skin ship.
"W-Wait, what are you doing?" She questioned, as her hand tensed.
However, all Natsume did was retrieve the candlestick, in order to hold it for her.
Upon realising this, her hands unthinkingly snapped forward and clasped his own.
"What are you doing? You shouldn't be holding that! It's my duty to as a maiko!"
Natsume scoffed at her words and retorted, "It is, but did I choose you as my maiko tonight? I don't recall requesting for your entertainment for this meeting. Besides..."
While being pleasured with the soft texture of her skin on his, he reached over with his free hand and pinched her chin, this tilting her face upwards.
"You're in no state to entertain as a maiko, of all things. You're not even dressed for the role," He murmured as-a-matter-of-factly, as he scanned her body- of which was wrapped in a thinner kimono.
Kurike rolled her eyes. "Fine. Do what you want. So if I'm not your maiko right now, I can speak to you informally, right?"
Despite her irritated tone of voice, she stared at him with what he sensed as hope.
Natsume sighed, before replying, "...Alright. Whatever you want."
The unmasked maiko grinned at the thought of his acceptance. "This is exciting! Usually I would be the one giving orders, so this is new to me as a maiko."
He couldn't help but grin back at the happy woman. He couldn't remember a time when he actually basked in the joy of a woman other than his mother or sister, but seeing Kurike as she genuinely smiled at him without any ulterior motives forged a feeling within him which he for once couldn't explain.
Natsume had always been attracted to her ever since their bitter encounter in the ochaya, an he often considered the reason why as one of his gut feelings- which were usually correct.
But never had he been so thankful to his guts as he was then.
"By the way, our deal isn't complete."
Kurike tilted her head in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"I need to know you name too. We had a deal, right?"
As her face distorted into one of evident internal conflict, Natsume confirmed that what he had seen in her - both inside and out - was completely unexpected.
'Kurike' was absolutely divine.
He watched as she exhaled deeply, before giving in with a tender curve of her lips.
"...Mikan Sakura."
Correction, Mikan Sakura was absolutely divine.
A/N: Sorry I'm late. Real life takes priority, after all.