s.v's note to readers: Heartfelt thanks to (not in any order) Six, Incinerize, Tod and Radioactive for keeping me afloat these days. If not for ya 'all I would have gone under a long time ago and never come back. And Lovely, too. Your occasional antics (might not be the best expression, but they are fun and light-hearted) could always make me smile. You have kept me alive for as long as… ever? I don't know. But I have you folks to thank for everything. Thank you. Long live the Queen of Amurrica!

Chapter 10: Seduce

In the week leading up to the events of Chapter 7…

'Yes, that's correct. You can kick the shins too; those will hurt like hell and your opponent would be temporarily disabled, or at the very least thrown off.'

'But… won't that also break my toes?', asked a meek Kumi, on shifting heels.

'No, sweetie. You don't have to kick with your toes; either the ball of your foot or even – if you can manage it- your heel will do,' Asri smiled encouragingly at her pupil. She then stepped back to give her raven-haired apprentice plenty of space to prep her own stance before the girl executed a textbook low kick to her padded quadriceps- textbook as in slow, jerky, and much telegraphed- before following it up with another kick to her padded left shin. The girl did not retract her foot as she was supposed to and immediately Asri knew something had gone wrong, that, or the girl just sucked. There was a very subtle kuck! , an immediate yelp, then the raven-haired little angel before her fell over hugging her leg as she stared up at Asri with wide, glistening dark eyes.

Eyes brimming with welled up tears.

'My toe! I stubbed my toe! It hurts! AUGHHHHHHHHHHH!' Kumi cried as she clutched her foot. Oh my Lady…

Asri sighed and started to turn away. This is so not happening. She really did not want to look.

'Ugh…umm,' she hesitated, then bent down and slid one of the girl's arms around her neck, ' here, let's get you somewhere better to sit.'

Sitting on the hard clay would be a waste for as cute a butt as yours. Asri thought it but did not say it out loud. Pray the Lady; Kumi was even younger than her Ana…

She sat the pale-skinned girl down on one of the railings framing the training yard. Practice went on as usual; though scattered and few. It was, after all, rather late in the day and most of the people had gone off. In their little corner of the courtyard, no one paid them any heed.

As Kumi watched, Asri continued demonstrating the rest of the basic techniques for their lesson that day; mostly just more and more theory on why the low cut kick was as good as it was; execution, when to use it, why to use it, what to use it against, what to use it with- definitely not one's toes for sure- and some notes and reminders on when and how to utilize one's elbows in close combat. The bulk of the lesson; clinches- had not been touched upon.

But let's be realistic; clinches would be impossible to demonstrate when only one of the participants could properly stand for a few moments before having to sit down.

At the end of it all, Asri found herself pumped up, the blood running nice and hot in her veins, a fine sheen of sweat on her forehead. Physical exercise… ah… how could she ever live without it, she would never know.

Her pupils were dilated when she trained them on Kumi again.

'You know… earlier when we were doing hooks.'

'Y-yes, Mentor?', the girl's voice was just too cute.

'It's a common mistake and I'm not berating you. But for your crosses as well as hooks, you tend to let your guard hand drop when you punch.'

'That's a… well… it can be a costly mistake in an actual fight; you don't ever want to open yourself up in anyways; don't create windows for your opponents' counterattacks.'

'Aw. Uhm. Okay,' Kumi muttered. By the will of the Lady… she is just so adorable, Asri thought.

'Lean back,' she commanded, eyes kept averted now so Kumi would not be able to read her intentions. Her ward obeyed her in a heartbeat. Asri took great care in parting the girl's thighs. Realizing what was going on at the last second the flustered eleven-year-old clamped her legs tightly and shot her a bewildered, alarmed look. It was cute; the girl seemed to be asking Asri what was going on, almost as if she and Asri was on the same side and the hands grasping insistently at her young, untainted thighs belonged to a third person.

The little thing's innocence was such a huge turn on. Oh well, Asri lamented in her head, another pair gone…

'I need to get a better look at your leg, I mean, toe…', it was the lamest excuse she had ever heard, but Kumi was as naïve as a potato, and Asri knew from the blush on her face that no one, not even her own parents, had ever held her in such a position before. Sweet young thing; it was utterly confused by the tingles of nerves no doubt running along its thighs to pool in the wet heat below its waist. And yet, it would be too young to decipher those feelings and would only know to look to the nearest adult for an answer. For guidance, for help dealing with the… ah… wetness.

Kumi's wide eyes were extremely expressive; one of the things that made her so alluring to Asri. Those eyes were now riveted onto hers. Trust me, Asri planted the thought into the girl's head.

Her hand trailed agonizingly slowly from the outer thigh to the knee. She pushed said knee back, back…back until it was against Kumi's flat chest. In such a position the training tunic had easily ridden up to reveal…

Asri gulped, her eyes tearing them back to the out-stretched foot. Her hand trailed down, ghosting touches as she went against soft, smooth, young sensitive skin. Kumi quivered.

Asri's eyes raked the vulnerable form before her. So defenseless. She could just.

No.

'It will be fine.'

Dammit I'm soaked.

But to be honest, she did not even check the toe. She withdrew her hands and stood up swiftly, acting cold. It was necessary.

'That should be all for today then, goodbye Kumi.'

It was all part of the plan. Pull them close; push them out- make them want to come back for more~

The girl blinked. Once. Twice. Then she blushed as her eyes darted from her position to Asri, back to her position; the little thing had unwittingly spread its legs; a subconscious impulse- and now probably felt a prickly heat in its loins. Its face betrayed its emotions; Kumi was being sexually awakened.

It was worrying to the girl; Kumi had never gotten wet before- Asri suspected as much, although it did not faze her in the least bit. First times were always fun.

'T-thank you, Mentor,' she bowed and limped off quickly, a thousand and one convoluted thoughts on her mind.

Asri smiled when she was sure her pupil was gone. She never tired of this game. Show a youngling something as mundane as one touch, one accidental caress, one feel, and the spark would take care of it and turn into a fire. Curious, eager and wanting, they would come back for more. Pleasure drove every one of these self-proclaimed righteous Sefiran; from the oldest hags to the tiniest fledglings.

But who was the she to judge?

Asri herself had spoiled her panties just teasing her Kumi.

She only had to pull the right strings. Asri knew the next time, Kumi would not mind being touched as much. She would be reserved, but being an Instructor meant she earned the automatic trust of all her wards and the raven-haired girl would let her get away with one more touch, the poor thing burning to explore the strange emotions coursing through its veins. And the whole time, Kumi would believe that she could actually trust her mentor.

Asri she stared at her nails, mostly because out of boredom with no particular thought in mind, and then began taking off her protective gear. She mused with a quiet smile about just how Kumi's lips would taste like. The pale girl came from Northpass, which was a long, long way even if it was part of the growing Empire; and it wasn't- not yet. Situated at the foot of the colossal Mount Idra, isolated from the rest of 'civilization' by a thousand miles of tundra wastelands, the sun showed its face only one month a year and thus its people all had pale complexions and dark hair which made them stand out like a dandelion in a bed of roses. Asri looked forward with great relish to the day she could add the girl to her list of conquests. It was well rising into the double digits.

But then again, she pondered as she spotted a familiar figure… it was all only practice.

The object of her ultimate conquest was not the plucky little miss who had just ran off. Oh no, the object of her ultimate conquest was running to her right now.

'Asri,' her Ana cried out. There were tears on her cheek. Wait, what?! Please don't tell me she also just stubbed her toe…

'Asri!', her Ana melted into her open embrace, burying its head in the nook of her neck, 'Asri, I need you?'

Oh. Asri blinked. Once. Twice. She patted her Ana's hair softly, lovingly.

patpat*

Wow…

'Is something wrong sweetie?'

'Asri…', her Ana whimpered, '…help me.'

She smiled simply because she could not… resist it.

Oh boys… some might say I have my lucky stars to thank.

Sefiro believed in Divinity. Fallen put their faith in their Empress; Dark Lady Ayla the Sixth. Asri herself didn't believe in either, because to her preparation meets opportunity equaled luck and there was no such thing as an invisible hand that would be fate guiding their lives with invisible strings. The very notion of it reeked of ridiculousness.

But this… this was just too easy.

(break)

Later…

'Uhm.'

'Uhm.'

'Yes?', Asri could stand it no longer.

Not when her Ana was being this skittish about what was bothering her. Blushing while turning away, meaning yes and saying no. What the actual fuck?

'Speak you mind,' she frowned, despite herself, then thought to add in as an afterthought, 'please.'

Her Ana looked left, right. Down. Up. Sixty degrees north then in the three o-clock direction. Anywhere but at her.

It was adorable. And frustrating. But mostly adorable. It was also weird.

Or not weird. Well, maybe a little. Asri was having trouble making up her mind; she had her warm, soft Ana to blame for it. To think of all the things she could do to abuse the trust she had… the very thoughts made her gush.

'You run up to me, crying, asking for my help. You sob into my tunic for ten minutes and now, when I ask you if you are okay, you say you are fine?', she pressed, 'really, Ana? You looked heartbroken a few minutes ago.'

'So please. Tell me. What's going on?'

Asri despised the sound of silence.

'Uhm…'

'Enough with the uhm!', she snapped. Asri regretted it instantly. Her Ana was on the verge of tears again. By the Lady's will, do not cry…

'Is it Kayle again?', Asri laid a gentle hand on Morgana's thigh. The girl had grown used to it and did not push her away. In fact, her Ana leaned into her, and what started out as a subtle attempt at groping turned into another embrace. They hugged while Asri pawed at her ward with eager hands. Her machinations would have been clear to everyone except the very subject of her, well, machinations. Thankfully, the courtyard was mostly empty by now and with darkness setting in pretty much everyone had left. The girl was not supposed to be this warm, Asri realized, as the heat of the thigh she was caressing dawned on her. Ooh… someone' s getting excited…

But Morgana made no move to inch away from the Fallen pervert beside her. Ahh… is this what a wolf feels like when being in sheep's clothing?, the Master bladeswoman mused.

Asri liked to think of herself as a pervert; it was actually the least degrading of the long list of deprivatives that could all be applied to her, but pervert had a nice ring to it, in her opinion. The fact that the warm girl didn't resist her less-than-overt attempts at molesting her didn't escape her notice either.

It must have felt nice.

'Mhm… soooo', she drawled, 'it was Kayle again, wasn't it?'

'y-Yeah', her Ana looked up, 'how…how did you know?'

Asri mock-sighed as she ran her hand up one thigh while inching closer subtly. They were practically in each other's lap. Asri doubted, however, that her Ana was much used to the concept of cuddling. At least, not yet. She would cop as many feels as she could and she was not even going to be ashamed. You only live once, after all.

'It's always Kayle, isn't it? Tell me, dear, what is it this time?', Asri cooed. Morgana rocked back and forth within her arms like a baby being lulled off to sleep. The sight wouldn't have been out of place in a kindergarten where a little girl would curl up in her caretaker's arms.

As it was, Morgana was about to reveal that she was not too much different from the little tots.

'It will be just like the other day again? She won't come home and play with you?', Asri came out sounding more brusque than she intended, but it couldn't be helped; her opinions of Kayle had only gone south ever since the young woman became Justicar-apprentice.

'But it's my birthday!', her Ana bawled, sounding like her whole world had been devastated and all hope in life had gone away- truly a tragedy, 'and she said she was too busy to come!'

'AUGHHHHHH!', the cry was painful to hear; it was all Asri could do not to cringe, 'why did this have to happen to me?!'

Asri sniffed as a sopping bundle of warm female flesh melted into the front of her clothes. Now even her top was wet. Great. Now it's even more awkward.

'Uhm', now it was her turn to hesitate. Her Ana continued sobbing against her bosom. If the girl realized she was sniffling rather messily just one layer of fabric away from Asri's breasts, she gave no hint of it. This was just getting more and more awkward by the second. It was a pity, really; Asri wouldn't have minded being sobbed into if they were sitting somewhere with higher elevation so she could enjoy the sunset- sunsets in Citadel were marvelous; set up as it was by the giant orb of fire descending unto the Dark Mountains in the distance to create that majestic feeling.

'AUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!'

The cry had the same intensity as a thousand nails scratching a chalkboard. At a higher decibel, it would be a banshee's shriek. But even as it was, it was already debilitating to hear. Somewhere far, far away, harp strings snapped and baby seals lay spasming on the ice. Vases broke and little girls clutched their bleeding ears as they ran in the streets upturning upturned flower pots.

By the will of the Lady, make it stop.

'Ahh… you, uh… have…um… me!', Asri smiled maternally at her Ana. It had the desired effect; she eased the torrents of tears somewhat.

It didn't stop feeling awkward, however.

'Tell you what', Asri propped Morgana up and looked her in the eyes; those orbs staring right back at her were such deep, mesmerizing pools she felt like she could fall into them and never come back, 'why don't you come over to my house to celebrate your birthday?'

Morgana looked at her silently for a moment and Asri's gut flopped.

'You know', she fired off rapidly, 'since it's getting late and all and… and I don't think…', she paused for one second, then praised herself for her own stroke of genius, '…Kayle would be home to cook you anything at all right, right Ana?'

Kayle was a sore spot for Morgana and invoking her sister's name could almost always procure the desired results. A fresh torrent of tears seemed to be on the way until Asri patted her little angel's hair. *patpat* .That helped.

'Oh… um', Morgana hesitated, detaching herself from her mentor. There was just the slightest tinge of anticipation in her voice, 'really? I can come?'

'Of course, dear', Asri gave her Ana the biggest, most gracious smile she could muster, 'you are always welcome in my humble adobe.'

'Awww', her Ana swooned and clung to her again. Asri's hands burnt with the desire to turn this embrace into something much, much more intimate right then, right there; the entire yard was empty now save for the two of them. The silence was oppressive; it begged to be filled with lusty moans.

And… oh.

The darkness would make it so romantic; love under the moonlight and al-

No.

'Then let's get you home, Ana', she instead smiled as she took the girl's hands.

And off they went.

(break)

Later that night…

'Cheers!'

We clinked their glasses together, the woman and the girl, as we toasted health, peace, and everything and anything under the sun.

I excused myself as I left her to nurse her drink alone and sashayed into the kitchen, then came back and brought my younger companion two little dishes of fried chicken and boiled peas.

I placed napkins and chopsticks down before her and she gave me a quizzical look.

'Are chopsticks okay?' I asked the girl in a husky voice. She nodded. 'So… what would you like?'

'Uhm… er,' Ana was blushing for no reasons and it was just so cute. Her eyes darted between the two plates, her chopsticks in her hand hovering over them.

'It's boiled peas,' I said. 'It's delicious.'

She still seemed indecisive and so –not for the last time that night- I took the initiative for her by taking my own chopsticks, picking up a single pea, and bringing it to her lips.

Morgana stared at me with slightly-widened eyes, lips stubbornly not opening even as I gently pressed at them with the pea between my chopsticks. She narrowed her eyes at me and pursed her lips, blushing, as she turned away.

'Please, Mentor', she was positively pinkening now and it amused me. How could she be flustered and at the same time look so coquettish was beyond me and thrilled me in the most pleasurable ways, 'don't… feed me.'

As if to convince me that she could very well do it on her own, my lovely little Ana moved to pick up some peas with her own pair. To little success; I noted with the slightest hint of a smile. The rotund peas continued evading the fumble grasps of the young Sefiro, adding only to her barely-concealed distress. There really was no reason to be so… stressed out? Over dinner. And it was supposed to be a pleasurable affair.

Mhm...

Ana seemed to always be getting a bit… uncomfortable around me. And for what reasons? True, I always tried to create sexual tension around her simply because it was so fun. But she was a big girl, turning fourteen soon now, surely she had outgrown that? It was like I was her constant source of embarrassment or something. Of... perhaps familial shame? Like I was that book-worm older sister she had to bring along to her posh parties, if she even had those. Like I was... the polar opposite of her that she had to endure living with under the same roof.

Like I… like I was her older sister Kayle.

Thinking of Kayle brought dark thoughts to my mind.

Kayle.

If there was one word even viler than Sefiran to my lips, it would have to be the name of my Ana's elder sister; Kayle.

Kayle, who prioritized training above her own family. Kayle, who no longer bothered with cooking her sister meals because 'she was old enough to eat out alone'. Kayle who, on her sister's birthday night, was busy cheering her friends on at a pledging-in ceremony for a bunch of new Justicars. On her sister's birthday night!

What an atrocity.

Just thinking about my Ana's sister made my gut twist. Jealousy; black and stifling, consumed me. Who was she to get to sleep under the same roof as my Ana day in day out and not care about her? Who was Kayle to get to touch this… pristine skin, this… wonderful, wonderful flesh just because she was her sister? Who was she to even dare lay claim to any part of little Ana at all?

Kayle didn't care about her sister. She couldn't. She wouldn't .She was too busy with her own life. She would never be there for little Ana.

But I could.

Jealousy pulled me down. Jealousy swallowed me up.

I could be there for her.

To talk to her. To listen to her. To hold her. To take her...

A surge of maternal protectiveness overwhelmed me and I found myself leaning forward into her, her eyes widening too late- I had already pulled my Ana into an embrace.

'It's okay, I muttered to the girl, but then again, I might have been muttering it to myself, 'it's all gonna be okay...'

'Wat?', she sounded confused, 'why...er... why are you hugging me Mentor?'

'Call me Asri', I had the presence of mind to mutter. I was distracted. Oh so distracted. Her hair it... it smelled so good I buried my head in it and inhaled and just... went to heaven. I was bad at this. This whole... love, thing. The first time I spiked her drink, I was so scared of touching her out of nowhere that I just stared at her for hours on end without doing anything. The second time I drugged her in that same day, my hands could not take her in her sleep; my heart would have none of it. Stupid, conniving, stupid Asri. Who was I to think I could have everything?

I was terrible at this. At her. Oh, if it had been some other sweet young thing like Kumi I am quite sure I would have had no qualms about giving her an early induction into womanhood alright, but with my little Ana...

It was getting awkward.

The hug, I meant.

A teacher did not hug her student for a minute while unconsciously grinding her body against the latter without saying anything. It was simply not done. Yeah, that. That was a big no no. Lines exist and Ana was not a dummy; if she haven't got a clue already, it wouldn't be long before she saw me for who I was and run off to bring the proverbial torch-branding, sickle-wielding, chant-shouting townsfolks back in numbers.

It looked like I was in a predicament.

Hmm...

I had two options; push myself away now, and pretend I was just being over-sentimental and laugh it off awkwardly and we would spend the rest of the evening in stuffy silence and we would eat the peas and she would leave or stay but I would get myself drunk and go pity myself somewhere in the house, somewhere preferably dark.

That was one of the roads.

...

Or, I could try and kiss her.

I hesitated; I knew I was already out of time. I had to do somethig- anything. Anything but sit here and have this warm girl squirming in my laps, because she was so catching on to what I was doing.

Reluctantly, I pushed her away and held her at arm's length. Ana's eyes locked onto mine, full of questions. I could fall into them and never come back. I knew that. Oh...

Before either of us knew what was going on, my lips acted of their own accord and descended upon her. She tried to jerk away- too late- I was much stronger than she was, and I held on tight.

I kissed her there again, and again, and again; with an urgency that surprised even me.

Through all her futile- and weakening- struggles, I could hear a very confused girl speak;

'Mentor... w-why are you kissing my forehead?'