AUTHOR'S NOTES
Yeah, I watched the mating beads episode and now there are way too many ideas on how to use them. And Akane and Shion deserve more of the spotlight. Also, this has heavy spoilers on the twins. This is set after the end of Sotsu so Mion is in college while Shion is doing her own thing (I think she still works at Angel Mort?)
WARNING: THIS FIC CONTAINS EXPLICIT SEXUAL CONTENT BETWEEN TWO CONSENTING WOMEN. ALSO VERY HEAVY MOTHER-DAUGHTER INCEST! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. enjoy
CLACK!
Shion froze at the sound, her hands clutching her broom to her chest. She glanced to her side where Satoko stood. The blonde had also tensed at the sound but soon recovered. Satoko slowly turned to face the older woman. Between them was a teapot that Shion had knocked over with the very tip of the broom.
"Oops," Shion said, offering Satoko an apologetic smile.
Satoko bent to gingerly pick up the teapot. She examined it thoroughly, eyes narrowing as her thumb skimmed over a broken leg. She remembered that there was something important about this teapot. Something that caused a lot of trouble for her and her friends. What, however, Satoko couldn't recall. The ordeal had been decades ago in a world long passed. She vaguely remembered that something that had been sealed in the teapot was let loose and Rena being very affectionate. Rika had to conduct a blessing ceremony for both her and Keiichi. The whole incident had only lasted a day or two and no blood had been shed in the bargain. Satoko cautiously ran a thumb over the lid of the teapot. The sealing wax held firm and she couldn't find any tears. "Don't worry, Nee Nee. The seal isn't damaged."
The few seconds of relief Shion felt was replaced by a worrying suspicion. "Are you sure?" she asked, moving closer to have a better look herself.
Satoko shrugged and handed Shion the teapot. "Only the leg was broken off." At once Shion's eyes flashed to her thumb and Satoko held it out for inspection. "I'm fine, see? Not even a scratch." She studied the floor for a few moments before bending down to snatch up the broken leg. "I'm sure this isn't the first time something as delicate as a teapot was broken here. I don't think it's a big deal."
Shion looked back down at the teapot in her hands, still a little anxious. It was an ancient artifact of the Furude clan, and if it was hidden away here, there had to be a reason. One that the Furudes didn't want the other villagers to know. Shion glanced around the two women and barely suppressed a shiver of disgust. Bad enough to know what the members of the Sonozaki of old, and present, did, but to imagine sweet Rika involved in any of this was almost unbelievable.
All around the two women were various instruments of torture, or cooking if she were to believe Takano's research. With Rika studying to be a proper lady at Saint Lucia, the task of maintaining the Ritual Tool Shed had fallen onto their shoulders. Since Rika was the last of the Furude clan, a special council had been called to determine who would take over Rika's duties at the shrine. Shion remembered how quickly Oryou had put forth her name to take over the task. Shion had to swallow her rage with an effort at the suggestion. Of course the old hag would only remember her existence when there was dirty work to be done. Shion reminded herself that she had switched places with Mion for the day and if she spoke out against Oryou in front of the other representatives of the Three Great Families and prominent members of Hinamizawa, it could cause trouble for her sister. Still, it was difficult for her not to yell at the old hag about how hypocritical she was for excluding Shion from the Three Great Families and Hinamizawa itself for most of her life, only to shove her right in the middle of their bloody history without her supposed knowledge or consent.
Although Shion managed to maintain her composure, Rika had not. She shook her head at Oryou's suggestion and looked coolly at the old woman. There was a heartbeat that Shion had thought Rika was about to throw her cup of tea at Oryou. Even the old hag had looked mildly concerned before Rika took a deep breath and put aside her anger. Calmly, Rika put forth Satoko's name to take over her duties. She argued that Satoko would be a better candidate than Shion due to their close friendship. Rika had looked Oryou straight in the eye as she said that she considered Hojo to be a sister to her, a Furude.
Shion wasn't sure what was more satisfying. Rika's openly defying the great Oryou or the throbbing vein at Oryou's temple. It took a few moments before the old hag could suggest a compromise. Both Shion and Satoko. One of the Great Families and one of the village. Shion suspected that Oryou was about to say something quite different about Satoko's family. If she had, she would gladly hold Oryou's arms behind her back for Rika.
Rika had considered and accepted the compromise, although Shion could still detect the anger underneath the formal words. Shion nodded along with the rest. She might not relish the idea of cleaning instruments used to rip people apart, but with this new responsibility, she would have one more link to Hinamizawa. The other two links held the names of Mion and Satoko. Even if those two links were strong as steel, she only had two when most had hundreds.
"Okay, I think that's enough for today."
Shion's reminisce was interrupted by Satoko. She looked at the blonde who was eyeing the area around them with a calculating frown, already deciding what their next task would be.
"We can work on cleaning those next week." Satoko waved vaguely at the various instruments hanging up on the far wall.
Shion glanced at them and grimaced at the amount of rust. She knew that Rika had been a child when she took over the priestess duties so she shouldn't expect the other woman to be able to keep up with all the maintenance; but when she and Satoko first entered the Ritual Tool Shed, Shion had been shocked at the state of everything. It was as if Rika hadn't bothered to do even the bare minimum. It took her and Satoko a week just to clean up all the dust from the floor and shelves.
Grateful, Shion put away the broom and the broken teapot on its stand. When she was sure it wouldn't topple over again, she moved back and glanced down at herself. She had worked up a light sweat from all the cleaning and was looking forward to a shower. As she followed Satoko out of the Ritual Tool Shed, her eyes drifted over to the teapot. A sense of apprehension stuck in the pit of her stomach, but soon the sunlight hit her face and she sucked in a breath of fresh air, free of the dank scent of rust and the hint of decay. The feeling of dread was soon forgotten. "Do you want to come over for some sake?" Shion asked the blonde.
Satoko considered the offer for a few seconds before shaking her head. "Sorry, Nee Nee, but I have to study for my math exam tomorrow." She gave Shion a quick hug and muttered, "I hate studying," before she turned to walk in the direction of her house.
Shion watched her go. She was proud of Satoko for prioritizing her academics, despite how much she despised studying. Still, Shion would have enjoyed sharing a cup of sake with Satoko. She turned to start making her way to her own car. Something twinkling in the nearby grass caught her eye.
Shion picked it up. It was a white bead, in the rough shape of a seal. It felt warm in her palm, as if it was soaking up the sun's rays for the entire day. She pocketed the bead and continued on her way. After a few steps however, Shion took it out of her pocket and kept it safe in a clenched fist. Some instinct told her that if she didn't keep track of it even for a second, it would disappear to be found by someone else. She had the utmost certainty that she would regret losing the treasure with all her heart.
"Treasure?" she mused aloud. It was just some stupid bead. Shion opened her hand to further examine her find. It looked old. Very old. Shion went to scrape a nail against the white surface to see if the paint would flake off. The moment her nail touched the bead, she gasped. Her hand dashed to her chest as Shion panted at the pang. It was as if someone pressed the white hot edge of a knife against her thumping heart.
The pain ended as abruptly as it began. Shion shook her head, staring down at the tiny bead with both apprehension and wonderment. Was the bead protecting itself from any harm? Was that why nobody picked it up before her? There's no way, Shion declared silently. I'm just being paranoid. Still, she didn't attempt to scratch the bead again. She curled her fingers around it protectively and took comfort in the bead pressing against her palm.
Although she knew she shouldn't, Shion drove one-handed, not allowing the bead to leave her hand for a second. The drive was mostly uneventful, however there was one moment that the bead grew almost hot. It wasn't painful, in fact Shion felt all the tension leave her body all at once. She was pushed back through time to the bitter cold nights when she and Mion spent every second they could together, curled up tight in front of the fireplace as their mother brought them hot chocolate with whip cream and marshmallows. Shion licked her upper lip at the memory, tasting the whip cream. Neither her nor Mion had enough patience to wait for the whip cream to melt or the hot chocolate to cool. How many times did we burn our tongues on Mom's hot chocolate? Shion wondered ruefully. They might gasp and mutter naughty words under their breaths, but they never learned. They would snuggle up close in front of the fire during the next snowstorm and their mother would give them hot chocolate. As soon as their mother turned her back, they'd sip at their hot chocolate and burn their tongues once more.
Shion chuckled at the bittersweet memories as she pulled into an empty parking spot in front of her apartment building. She was surprised at how the time flew as she drove but shrugged it off at the idea of being ever closer to taking a nice, relaxing shower. Her feet seemed to barely make contact with the stairs as she drifted up to her apartment's floor. Usually Shion would save some choice words for the never ending stairway but today each step only spurred her on. She almost walked past her own door, her thoughts occupied with the other treats her mother had made for her over the years. Shion could taste each one on her tongue and even swiped her tongue across her bottom lip to ensure she didn't have a crumb on her lips. Shame, she thought as she unlocked her door. Mom makes amazing lemon bars.
Shion entered her apartment and kicked the door shut, humming a tune she vaguely remembered her mother singing. Or was that Hanyuu? Shion stopped short, clenching the bead in her hand. Who was Hanyuu? Do I even know anyone named Hanyuu?
After a few moments, Shion forced herself to shrug nonchalantly even as the tiny hairs at the back of her neck stood up. Hanyuu isn't important. She isn't, she promised herself. That was a nightmare. Just a nightmare.
To make sure, after Shion locked her door, she walked deeper into her apartment only to stop abruptly again, her ears pricked and catching every little sound. But there was no extra footstep, no one murmuring, "I'm sorry," at the very edge of hearing. She was alone in her apartment. Always alone.
"Always," Shion said to the empty apartment. The tiny bead in her hand pulsed, sending waves of warmth to wash over Shion that swept away her loneliness. She glanced down at her little treasure and carefully placed it on the kitchen's counter. At once she shivered at the loss.
Shion retreated to her bathroom and turned the shower on. She shrugged off her clothing, frowning. Weird. She could have sworn she only worked up a light sweat. But now her clothes clung to her body. When has it gotten so warm? Shion shook off the lingering thoughts as she stepped under the spray. She sighed in relief as the warm water washed away the sweat from the day's hard work.
When she was clean, Shion hopped out of the shower and quickly toweled off and put on some fresh clothing, a light blue shorts and a white tank top. She snatched up the bead, curiously still warm despite being left on the counter for half an hour. Shion curled her fingers around it, grinning a little as if the bead were a long lost friend. She went to her bed. As she laid on her back, she held up the bead to better study it.
Despite it remaining the same white shape that hinted at a seal, Shion was fascinated. She stared at it for a long time, wondering what she should do with it. "I could make it into a bracelet and give it to Satoko," she said aloud. Satoko would protest against the gift at first but Shion knew that the blonde would cherish it.
She imagined Satoko wearing the bracelet and clenched her teeth. MINE. The roar came from within Shion, deep, deep down in a place she never wanted to acknowledge. At once any thought of giving the bead to anyone, even her dear Satoko, was banished. Shion brought the bead closer, puzzling at what made her demon so fiercely possessive of it.
RING!
Shion was so startled by the sound of her doorbell that her fingers twitched. The bead slipped between the digits and fell just as she opened her mouth to yelp in shock. It went right into her mouth and Shion jerked upright. She sputtered and coughed as the tiny bead lodged in her throat. Unable to breathe or think, Shion did the only thing she could. She swallowed.
The doorbell dinged once more as Shion sucked in a mouthful of air. She stumbled to her feet, determined to give whoever was waiting for her behind the door a piece of her mind. But as she took the first step, a strange heat grew from within her, starting at her belly and spreading outwards to engulf her. Shion shook her head in bewilderment, somehow unafraid. It felt good, like being submerged in a warm bath.
"What?" she murmured, her voice slightly hoarse from choking a moment ago. Some of the heat settled in her throat and soothed the ache as if the bead had never gotten stuck there. Shion swallowed experimentally but there was not a hint of discomfort.
There was a soft knock, as if the person behind the door was reminding Shion they were still there.
With a few quick steps, Shion reached her door, the heat coiling inside her body, filling her with a certainty that she had to meet whoever was behind the door. She didn't even look through the door's peephole before she undid the lock and flung open her door.
Akane stood outside, wearing that ever present half smile, although Shion detected a hint of melancholy in her green eyes. "Hello, Shion," Akane said after a pause.
Shion didn't respond right away. The sadness welled up inside at the sight of her mother as it always did. She tried to shove the emotion back down but it lingered stubbornly. Not even the strange heat could burn it away. "Hey, Mom." There was another pause as the two women looked at each other. "So, uh, what brings you here?"
"I wanted to see you."
"Oh," was all Shion could think to say. She glanced away and wondered why her heart gave a slight pang. She looked back up and saw her mother taking in her outfit. Shion shuffled her feet, a little embarrassed as she realized how much skin the shorts and tank top showed. "I changed after helping Satoko clean up the storehouse. My other clothes got dirty." Just for a moment, she considered telling her mother about knocking over the teapot. The impulse passed. Some instinct told Shion to not speak of the teapot, or even the white bead she had swallowed. Besides, her mother was here and she was far more important than some stupid bead.
Akane's smile grew a little as her eyes softened. Shion hoped that she looked as beautiful when she smiled. She quickly buried the thought. "I'm proud that you're helping Satoko," Akane said. A moment later, she tilted her head quizzically as her eyes gleamed. "My, my. Why are your cheeks so red all of a sudden?"
Shion shuffled her feet again, wishing that the heat on her cheeks would go away. "I guess I'm not used to receiving praise." It wasn't far off from the truth, especially from her mother.
Akane must have sensed the unspoken words because the teasing glint was replaced by the same melancholy from before. "You should be," she said softly. "I um, I wanted to talk to you about something important. May I come inside?"
It was the moment of hesitation that decided Shion. Akane was never unsure of herself, she was practically the definition of grace and easy confidence. "Yeah, um, sure." Shion took a step to the side to allow her mother to enter the apartment. When she noticed Akane glancing about, it suddenly occurred to her that this was the first time her mother ever saw her apartment. Shion couldn't help hoping that her mother approved of her living space.
She followed Akane deeper into her apartment and saw her hesitate between the bed and the desk. After a few moments, she stayed standing in between. "So," Shion said into the silence. "Would you like something to drink?" She tilted her head toward the kitchen. "I can put on a kettle of tea if you like."
Akane's eyes lifted from the bed at the question. "I would prefer something stronger. Do you have any sake?"
Shion nodded and went to fetch the bottle from the fridge, along with two small cups. She filled both and handed her mother one. She took a long sip from her own and sighed as the burn of the alcohol added more fuel to the heat already inside her.
"Mm," Akane hummed appreciatively as she tasted the sake. "I do love the fuji apple sake." She took another long sip. "How many times have you and your sister snuck some in the middle of the night?" Akane chuckled at the look of shock on her daughter's face. "Did you think I wouldn't notice?"
"I guess not," Shion answered with an embarrassed laugh. She and her sister had thought they were so clever replacing the sake they stole with water so their parents wouldn't catch on. "Sorry about that."
Akane waved away the apology. "I did the same thing to my mother when I was a child. You're just lucky I didn't switch out the sake with vinegar like your grandmother did." She grimaced as she tasted the vinegar, even after all these decades.
Shion couldn't contain the laugh. "Oh man, that would have been hilarious! I need to remember that if Satoko ever tries to steal my sake."
"You and her are very close, aren't you?"
There was a note of remorse in Akane's voice and Shion could see her mother's eyes dimming with regret. "We are," she said, an edge entering own voice. Suddenly the sake didn't taste as sweet as before. She put down the cup with a tad more force than needed. "I'm her Nee Nee, afterall."
Akane was silent at that for a few heartbeats. "You two are as close as you were with Mion before,"
"Before you sent me away?" Shion finished. She saw Akane actually flinch and at once felt regret for her harsh words. It wasn't her fault, not truly. It was the old hag that banished Shion to Saint Lucia and after she escaped, her mother had bought her some time to hide while the rest of the clan searched for her. Shion moved closer to Akane and sighed. "I'm sorry, that was," she hesitated, searching for the right word, "unfair. I know it wasn't your idea and it was a long time ago anyway. Onee and I are close as ever now."
Akane shook her head. "No, I should have fought to keep you." Her voice was full of guilt and her eyes shone with longing. "I know you stopped being my daughter the day you entered that academy."
Shion opened her mouth to deny it but the words wouldn't come out. It was true. The second she stepped through that gate, Mion was her only family. And after she escaped, she nearly lost her dear sister to the other Sonozakis. They had been able to rekindle their relationship and it grew stronger as the years went past. But not with the rest of Shion's immediate family. She was closer to her uncles than her own parents. It was only because of Saotko and Mion's urging that Shion was even on speaking terms with her mother. "I," Shion began but then the heat pulsed, stronger than it had before. The comforting heat inside her body became an unrelenting inferno. Shion gasped and took a hasty step back, her ears pounding to the thumping of her heart. She was hot, far too hot. "Mom," she said hoarsely and suddenly Akane was there, holding her in her arms. Shion trembled at the warmth radiating off her mother. Instead of burning her even hotter, it helped somehow. Like Shion was moving from the sun's scorching rays to the comforting heat of the fireplace during those winter storms. "Mom," she repeated, a request for something she didn't know, didn't want to admit.
"Yes?" Akane prompted gently, hooking a gentle finger under Shion's chin and making the younger woman look at her.
Shion couldn't stop herself from staring at Akane, as if she had never seen the older woman before. When had they grown to the same height? Was her mother always so beautiful? Shion's eyes drifted down to Akane's lips and forced them to move back to meet her gaze. There was desire there, reflected right back to her. "I, I want," Shion tried again but she trailed off as her eyes drifted off to her bed, not sure of what she wanted. No. That was a lie. She knew exactly what she wanted, and that scared her.
"I know," Akane murmured, smiling sadly as Shion froze and her eyes snapped up to meet hers. She brought a hand to Shion's face and cupped her cheek. She brushed her thumb along her daughter's cheekbone, feeling the heat radiating off the skin. "I want it too. I want us to be close again. Closer, actually," she admitted with a little embarrassed chuckle that instantly reminded Shion of her sister. "I missed you, Mion."
Mion.
"I'm, I'm not Mion, Mom," Shion said hurryingly, but her voice sounded panicked to her own ears. Why was she so flustered? She had worn this name for so long that it should have been as easy to lie to her mother as she had been doing for nearly two decades. "I'm Shion."
Akane wore such a mournful smile that Shion's heart nearly stopped beating for a moment. The older woman studied Shion's face for a long time.
Somehow Shion knew that she wasn't searching for a hint of a lie. She knew the truth, but she was waiting for Shion to confess herself. Shion couldn't, however. She had promised her sister that she'd always protect her, so the silence continued. Akane studied her face and Shion stared right back, her thoughts muddled by the warmth of her mother's body and the sadness in her mother's eyes.
"Liar," Akane finally said, so soft that if she and Shion hadn't been pressed flush against each other, Shion would have missed it. "Do you think I can't tell my own daughters apart? I know, Mion. I've always known."
Mion heard the bare truth in Akane's voice. She swallowed and her eyes pricked with tears. It had been so long since she had been called by her true name, by anyone besides her sister. It sounded strange but so wonderful. Akane had known and kept it a secret to protect her daughters. For so many years, she protected them. "You knew," she said, her voice cracking.
Akane brushed away an errant tear that had fallen from Mion's eye. She nodded once.
Mion gave a shuddering breath before she hid her face in the crook of Akane's shoulder. That way her mother wouldn't see her tears or the fear in her eyes. "It's not Shion's fault," she said, her voice quivering. "Don't blame her. She's suffered enough."
"I don't," Akane vowed, running a soothing hand up and down her daughter's back. "I see how much pain both of you are in. I hate it." She turned her head to press a kiss against Mion's head.
Mion didn't know how to respond so she simply nodded. She let herself be held and the fear for her sister and herself melted away as the scent of Akane's perfume engulfed her. It smelled so comforting, so inviting. Mion nuzzled Akane's neck and her mother sighed contentedly. Before she realized what she was doing, Mion pressed her lips against her mother's neck. Akane gasped softly so Mion did it again and then again. The inferno inside her spurred her on, and her own demon purred as she nipped ever so slightly.
One of Akane's hands tangled into Mion's hair, keeping her mouth against her neck. "I miss you," she murmured, her voice husky. "I want us to be close. I'll do anything for us to be close." She pulled at Mion's hair just enough for the younger woman to get the hint. When her daughter pulled back, Akane saw the lust darkening her eyes. "Come," she said, taking a step away from the embrace, but she kept hold of one of Mion's hands. She led the other woman to the bed and pulled her down with her. When they settled, Mion was laying half on top of her, her lips once again peppering her neck with sweet and needy kisses. Akane stroked her hair as she tilted her head back to give Mion more room.
It didn't take long for Mion's hands to start wandering. Her fingers marveled at the silk of Akane's kimono as they glided up her mother's sides. When she felt the swell of Akane's breasts, her hands still. "Can, can I?" she asked against Akane's throat, suddenly nervous of Akane shoving her out of her own bed and ending this, whatever this was.
"Of course, sweet one," Akane murmured and she gently pushed Mion away long enough to sit up. She made quick work of undoing the sash around her waist and the kimono slid an inch down her shoulders. Akane shrugged it off, very aware of Mion's intense stare. As it pooled at her waist, Akane glanced up and saw the confusion and slight worry on her daughter's face. Akane didn't have to ask what had put Mion in that state. She could feel the wetness spreading over the bindings she used to cover her chest.
"What?" Mion murmured, perplexed. There were two wet spots at the tip of Akane's breasts. She moved her hand to the right breast and slid a thumb over the wet spot. Akane gasped and Mion felt the hard nub of her mother's nipple. "Is this, are you," Mion trailed off. There was no way that Akane was still like this, not after so many years. But what else would explain the spots?
"Leaking?" Akane finished for Mion. "The Sonozakis have a rather strange genetic defect." As she explained, she began unwinding the bindings from her torso. "Once a woman begins producing milk, it never stops. The amount produced will decrease after the baby stops breastfeeding, but it will never cease entirely until menopause." Once her chest was bare, the coolness of the apartment made Akane shiver slightly. Already there were tiny streams of milk following the curve of her breast. "Arousal will make the flow stronger however."
"Huh," Mion said, her eyes following along one of the streams. Suddenly she found that she was parched. She cupped one breast, squeezing a little to make more of the milk leak out. "Does it hurt?"
Akane shook her head. "Only when they're too full. But I use a pump so it never gets that far." She covered Mion's hand with her own, encouraging her to squeeze harder. Akane's breath hitched as some of the milk squirted out of her nipple. "You're being wasteful, Mion," she chastised lightly.
Mion's cheeks flushed and she mumbled an apology as her hand stopped massaging the breast. She glanced down at the covers of her bed. "Can you lay down again?" She waited for Akane to do as she was asked before she carefully laid on top of her again. Mion hesitated for a few seconds before the heat inside her pulsed, reminding her instantly of her body's needs and her parched throat. She looked up to see Akane watching her patiently, allowing her to take the time she needed. Mion grinned shyly at that. Her tongue snaked out and cautiously licked at one of the streams of milk. As soon as she tasted it, she was lost. Mion licked at the breast more firmly, dragging her tongue over the stream and gathering the sweet milk. When the left breast was cleaned, she moved to the right. As soon as she was done, however, the left breast once more had milk leaking out. Mion hesitated again but then a soft hand was cupping the back of her head and guiding her lips down. She obediently opened her mouth to take in the stiff nipple and sucked gently. Mion gave a muffled moan as milk flowed into her mouth. It was even better than lapping it off her mother's breasts! It was so warm and so sweet. Eagerly, Mion suckled, her body melting as her mind became blank of everything but the warm sweetness in her mouth and the hand in her hair.
"That's it," Akane panted, stroking Mion's hair again and holding her tight against her. "That's my sweet girl." She felt something rock against her thigh and held her leg up for her daughter to grind against her. Mion's moans were muffled by the nipple in her mouth but Akane could feel the heat of her sex even through Mion's jeans and her kimono. Her other hand glided down Mion's back to grab her hip, encouraging the younger woman to rub herself against Akane's thigh in slow, steady thrusts. "Do you want Mommy to take care of you?" When Mion nodded, still suckling at her breast, Akane tapped twice at her hip. "Lift yourself for a few moments." Mion did as she was told and Akane undid her belt and pushed down Mion's jeans and underwear to her daughter's calves.
Mion kicked off her jeans and underwear impatiently and was about to rock against Akane's thigh again when she gasped. Akane's fingers found her sex and stroked it with teasing, featherlight touches. She didn't need to touch herself to know just how wet she was. It wouldn't surprise her if she was actually dripping onto Akane's silk kimono. She rocked her hips down on the fingers and at once the hand was gone. "No," Mion whimpered at the loss, finally pulling away from the nipple. Maybe Akane remembered how wrong this was or she was disgusted with how excited Mion got from breastfeeding from her.
Instead of revulsion, Mion saw the teasing glint in her mother's eyes and wicked grin. "What's wrong, sweet one?" Akane asked, putting on an air of motherly concern that didn't match the mischief in her eyes. Right as Mion opened her mouth to give a retort, her hand returned to the younger woman's sex. The grin grew at the shocked gasp that quickly changed to a needy moan.
"You're bullying me," Mion accused with a groan. She tilted her head down to watch Akane's fingers slowly slide up and down her sex, stopping short of her aching clit each time. This time she kept her hips still even as fire inside her grew with each teasing touch.
"Am I?" Akane tilted her head innocently. "Isn't this helping you?"
Mion groaned again, biting back a retort that would surely only make her mother chuckle. She was not going to give Akane the satisfaction of hearing how desperate she was. Not like Akane couldn't already tell from how her fingers were coated with her slick. She glanced up at the older woman and felt the demon stur at the smug way her mother was looking at her. Her mother was enjoying teasing her far too much.
Abruptly, Mion reached down and grabbed Akane's wrist. She pulled the fingers away from her sex, much to Akane's obvious shock. "I can take care of myself," Mion declared as she sat back and spread her legs so her mother could see everything. She brought her own hand to her sex and found her clit. Mion gasped as she rubbed the hard nub in tight circles as her other hand pushed up her shirt and bra to grope her breast. "Fuck," she whimpered.
"Such a dirty mouth," Akane tssk'd, even as her eyes greedily took in the show before her. She laid a hand on Mion's lower leg and leisurely slid her palm up to stop right underneath her knee. She licked her lips and saw Mion shudder with a needy whine. Akane leaned down until her lips were a bare inch away from Mion's ear. "Are you sure you don't want me to help you?"
For a moment, Mion wanted to decline the offer, to make her mother only watch as she came to her own hands. But then her eyes drifted down to Akane's breasts and she noticed that milk had once more leaked out. So wasteful, she remembered. "I, I want more."
"Say please." Akane pulled away before Mion could grab for her. Her hand moved to her own breast and she gave it a little squeeze, letting milk flow out of her nipple to cover her fingers.
"Please," Mion moaned, her hips jutting up into her hand at her mother's commanding tone, her eyes watching as a few drops of milk fell from her mother's fingers. Mine, her demon growled at the loss. She moved the hand that had been toying with her sex to pull Akane's hand away from her breast before any more milk was wasted. "Please fuck me. Use your hand as I suck, please."
Akane's eyes gleamed in delight at Mion's begging. She pulled her hand from Mion's grasp and laid two fingers on Mion's collarbone. When she gave the lightest push, her daughter obediently fell to her back. "Good girl," she purred and saw how the praise made Mion's cheeks darken and her eyes light up. She positioned herself so her breast hovered above her daughter's face. Almost immediately, Mion leaned up to capture a nipple and began to suck lustfully. "Greedy little thing," Akane murmured, stroking Mion's hair with one hand so her daughter knew there was no sting behind the words. The other hand glided down Mion's body. The featherlight touches tickled her daughter and Mion giggled in between sucks. When she reached the apex of Mion's legs, she let herself savor the moment. Akane felt the softness of Mion's pubic hair and her fingers went further down to spread her lower lips. "So wet," she husked. She looked down at her daughter, the flushed cheeks and the eyes so green and open. "So beautiful."
"Shut up," Mion grumbled halfheartedly. She truly wasn't used to such praises and each one made her feel as if she were about to combust. She let her teeth nip lightly against the nipple in her mouth and at once the fingers stroking her hair tightened its grip as Akane hissed in both pleasure and pain. Mion did it again and saw Akane's eyelashes flutter as she moaned.
"Don't distract me, sweet one," Akane chastised softly. She was very tempted to push Mion fully down on the bed and straddle her face, but she had to take care of her daughter first. Mion's body was so warm and her muscles were so taught. Akane half expected her to come undone with the first stroke of her fingers. She lightly brushed her fingers against the hard nub and grinned as her daughter's body jerked and she gave a needy whine. "So sensitive," Akane purred as her fingers moved further down. She prodded Mion's entrance with two of her fingertips, giving the other woman time to stop her. But Mion only whined once more and sucked harder, a stream of milk escaping a corner of her mouth. Akane slowly pushed two fingers inside Mion. It was so warm and wet inside Mion's pussy that her fingers easily slid inside to the last knuckle.
"Please," Mion groaned, pulling away from the nipple long enough to beg. She tilted her head down to see her mother's hand in between her legs. She grind against the digits, panting. "Please, Mommy. I need you."
"I know, little one," Akane murmured reassuringly as her fingers began to thrust inside Mion. She had wanted to take her time exploring Mion's body but she couldn't deny her the orgasm any longer. She was teased with enough, at least for now. Akane curled her fingers and searched until Mion cried out, "There! Oh fuck, right there." Akane kept her fingers curled just right so each thrust inside would press against Mion's sweet spot. Her other hand continued to stroke Mion's hair as she leaned down to press sweet kisses against the top of her head. She could feel the walls tightening around her fingers and began to rub Mion's clit with her thumb. "You're close, aren't you?" Mion's moan was all the answer she needed. Akane kissed her head again and guided her daughter's lips back to her breast so she could continue sucking. "It's okay, you can cum whenever you want. I'm here for you. You're safe and sound in Mommy's arms."
Mion's entire body trembled as she fought to stave off her orgasm as long as she could. The milk on her tongue, the hand stroking her hair, the fingers inside her. It was all so good, too good. She didn't want this ever to stop. "I love you," she mumbled through the nipple in her mouth.
Akane must have understood because Mion heard her breath hitch and the next kiss lingered in her hair.
The climax came on without warning. Mion's body tensed as her hips frantically rocked against her mother's fingers, her sex clenching around the digits. "Mommy, yes!" she cried out. As she calmed down from her orgasm, Akane's fingers slowed and eventually stopped.
There was a wet slick sound as Akane pulled her fingers out of Mion. She hummed as she saw the digits coated with her daughter's cum. She brought the fingers to her mouth and sucked them clean, moaning appreciatively at the taste.
Mion laid panting, watching avidly. "Mom," she husked weakly.
Akane pulled her fingers out of her mouth with a little, 'pop.' "What is it, sweet one?"
Before her mother could react, Mion lunged. She wrapped her arms around Akane and rolled so the older woman was underneath her. As Akane yelped in surprise, Mion claimed her mouth. She groaned at the taste of her own cum on Akane's tongue. Her hands gripped the fabric of Akane's kimono and she tugged, hard. Perhaps it was the bead that gave her the strength, or her demon blood, but the sound of silk ripping filled the air. Mion pulled back to look down at her handiwork.
The kimono had been torn all the way down to the hem. It was completely and utterly ruined. "You know you could have just asked nicely," Akane grumbled up, but her eyes shone with her excitement.
Mion laid a hand on Akane's belly and slid it up to grope a breast. She gave a squeeze so more of that delicious milk leaked out. "I could," she agreed. "But I am a Sonozaki. We never undo a knot when we can rip it apart." She leaned down to lick up the spilled milk, flicking her tongue over the hard nipple to make Akane gasp. "Besides," she moved up to growl into Akane's ear, "I want to make you scream for me."
Akane's breath hitched as her daughter's breath tickled her ear and her words made her hips jut up against nothing. She couldn't remember being this aroused, ever. She loosely hooked her arms around Mion's shoulders. "Well? What are you waiting for?"
The challenge brought an almost feral grin to Mion's face. She dashed down to kiss Akane again, once more taking control of the kiss. She nipped at her mother's lower lip each time Akaen's tongue tried to sneak into her mouth. Akane never stayed good for long however and soon enough would try to take control of the kiss. "And you used to say I was stubborn," Mion chuckled as she moved to Akane's neck.
"No marking," Akane warned when she felt the threat of Mion's teeth.
For a few heartbeats, Mion considered ignoring Akane's warning. She relented with a soft growl. Her mother was right, her skin had best remained unmarked. Akane could leave as many love bites as she wanted on Mion's body, but they wouldn't dare leave even a tiny hint of what they did on Akane. She pulled back to look down at her mother.
Akane's skin glistened with beads of sweat and her hair had come undone sometime ago. It fell to her shoulders and framed her face. Mion brushed aside a few locks to cup her mother's cheek. When had those hints of crows eyes appeared at the creases of Akane's eyes, or those faint laugh lines around her lips? Mion's thumb traced Akane's lower lip, feeling the softness and marring the lipstick even more. How many lipstick stains were on her body, she wondered. How many more would there be by the time they were sated?
Mion's gaze drifted down along with the hand that was cupping Akane's face. She let her nails dig ever so slightly into Akane's neck, leaving red lines on the skin that would be gone in an hour's time. She could feel her mother's heart thump rapidly under her fingertips. Mion smiled at that and her focus moved further down. Already Akane's breasts were covered with milk that had been steadily leaking without a mouth to swallow it. Despite her age, her mother's breasts were still as firm as Mion's and the nipples that tipped them made Mion's mouth water. Mion leaned down for a quick swipe of her tongue to gather some of the spilled milk. Akane's breath hitched as Mion licked at her breast. Mion pulled back and squeezed the right breast to make more milk squirt out of the hard nipple. Even though it was wasteful, her demon was purring at how Akane arched her back to press her breast more firmly into her daughter's hand. "Be patient," Mion commanded in a low growl. Her mother gasped at that and pressed her thighs together. Mion could see several faded white lines on Akane's belly and sides from her pregnancy. She leaned down to press soft kisses against the more pronounced lines. A hand tangled its fingers into her hair at the act and Mion heard a shuddering breath from her mother at the tenderness. "You're so beautiful," Mion murmured against the soft flesh of Akane's belly.
Akane gave a light chuckle. "I'm getting old, you mean."
For that, Mion did nip at Akane's navel. "You're beautiful," she said once more. "You're one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. I always hoped that I would grow to be as gorgeous as you." She pressed a kiss against the spot she had bit and brushed away the remainder of her mother's kimono from her thighs. Mion's hands glided up Akane's legs, gently pushing them apart as she settled in between. Her fingers stopped short of the last article of clothing, Akane's underwear. There was a wet spot where her mother's pussy was hidden from her. Mion pressed against the spot and Akane's hips jutted up into the fingers. "Do you want your daughter to help you?"
Akane gave a breathy laugh as her own words were used against her. She slid a hand down her own body, smirking as Mion's eyes watched her raptly. With two fingers she slid her panties to the side so Mion could see just how wet she was. "Please, Mion," she purred. "Make Mommy feel good."
Mion's jaw slackened at the teasing plea. Her mother sounded so desperate and needy and her pussy glistened with her arousal. "Yes," she husked, laying her hands on the inside of Akane's thighs to keep them nice and spread for her. Mion peppered Akane's inner right thigh with lazy kisses, slowly making her way up to her prize. She lamented at having to keep herself from marking her mother, her thighs were so soft and warm and just begging for teeth marks and hickies.
"Mion," Akane breathed as she felt her daughter inch closer and closer to her sex. She had to stop herself from grabbing the back of Mion's head and pressing her lips where she needed Mion the most. Akane's eyes locked with her daughter as the younger woman finally reached her aching pussy.
"Akane," Mion murmured before her tongue snaked out to barely skim over her mother's slit. She moaned at the taste and hooked her hands underneath Akane's thighs to pull the older woman closer. Mion alternated between deep, firm strokes of her tongue to teasing laps at Akane's entrance. Soon her lips and chin were wet with her mother's slick and her scalp burned exquisitely as Akane gripped her hair. "Gods, you taste so amazing," Mion panted as she briefly pulled away from the other woman's sex. She used her thumbs to spread open Akane's lower lips and lavished the hard nub at the top of Akane's sex with her tongue. She took it into her mouth and sucked gently and was rewarded with a long moan as Akane's nails dug into her head.
Akane leaned up on her elbows to better watch Mion pleasure her. "So good," she murmured, brushing the bangs away from Mion's forehead. "You're making Mommy feel so good." It took all her strength not to hump against Mion's lips and tongue shamelessly.
Mion was panting as she pulled away. The grip in her hair tightened momentarily, as if Akane meant to pull her back to her sex, before the fingers loosened and let go of her hair. "Don't worry," Mion said, giving Akane's inner thigh a reassuring kiss. The tenderness of the act made the muscles under her lips twitch and Mion grinned. "I have an idea." She sat up and glanced purposefully at the nightstand next to her bed. "Can I use a toy on you?"
It didn't take long for Akane to understand what her daughter meant. "Of course, dear," she said, already anticipating what Mion wanted to do to her. She watched eagerly as Mion pulled away after a quick, intense kiss to move to the edge of the bed. As the younger woman bent at the waist to search underneath her bed, Akane took the opportunity to slide her hands up Mion's thighs and spread her sex.
"Hey!" Mion gasped as a wicked tongue wiggled against her clit. "You're going to make me fall!" she complained with a soft moan. She gripped the edge of the bed's frame with one hand and braced herself with the other against the floor just in case as she indulged in her mother's licking. Mion allowed Akane to pleasure her for a few moments, basking in the warm, nimble tongue, before she resumed her search. It didn't take her long, the box where the toy was hidden was right where she last left it. "I'm coming back up," she gasped and the mouth left her sex after Akane flicked her clit one more time. Mion pushed herself back onto the bed and dropped the box in front of her mother. "Think you can handle that?" she asked, half teasing and half serious as Akane opened the box to peer inside.
"Oh," Akane murmured as she saw the dildo inside the box. She took out the toy to better examine it. "Strapless?" she mused as she ran her fingers down the end of the toy that would surely go inside Mion.
Mion squirmed a little as Akane inspected the toy she wanted to use on her. "Yeah, it, uh, vibrates inside me while I fuck you." Now that she was explaining how the toy worked, she couldn't help feeling as embarrassed as Shion whenever she teased her little sister.
"I know how it works, dear," Akane said with a slight chuckle. She laid a hand on Mion's right thigh and encouraged her daughter to spread her legs. "Let me," she murmured as she guided the bulb to Mion's entrance. Gently, she pushed it inside the younger woman, watching her face for any sign of discomfort. She didn't need to worry however, Mion was so wet that the toy went in easily and pressed against her clit with a gentle push. "It's not even on and you're already moaning," Akane observed with a teasing tilt of her head as she stroked the other end of the toy as if it was a real penis. Mion whimpered as the bulb was jostled inside her, the tip pressing against her sweet spot as Akane stroked her. "You look like you're enjoying yourself," Akane mused before she lowered her head and took the head of the dildo into her mouth. Slowly, she moved her head up and down the shaft, humming as a hand tangled into her hair to guide her movements.
"You know I'm supposed to be on top now, right?" Mion said as she watched Akane take more of the toy into her mouth with each bob of her head. As her mother pulled back, the bulb pressed against her sweet spot and as Akane moved down, the ribbed end rubbed against her clit in the most exquisite way. Mion couldn't stop herself from rocking a little into Akane's mouth, her breath hitching as her mother dug her nails into her thighs to add some spice to the pleasure. "Mom, stop teasing," she groaned as Akane's nose brushed against her navel. "I can't take it anymore. I need you."
Akane pulled back and wiped her lips clean of her spit with the tips of her fingers. She wasn't even touching her daughter directly and yet Mion was already panting and flushed. "Ah, but can you handle me?" she asked as she turned and got onto her knees and hands for Mion. She lowered her torso to the bed, gasping as the sheets brushed against her sensitive nipples. Akane swayed her ass for Mion, smirking as the younger woman gaped at her openly. "Well?"
Mion swallowed, her eyes transfixed on Akane's pussy. She was so wet that even the insides of her thighs glistened with her arousal. She shouldn't be wasting any time and yet... "Actually, can you lie on your back?" Mion found herself asking. "I want to drink more as I fuck you." She managed to put a little authority in her voice at the request. She was supposed to be the dominant one now after all.
"Of course, sweet one," Akane purred, pleased that Mion still had enough fire in her eyes to struggle to take back the dominant role. She got onto her back and opened her legs, using one hand to spread her sex for her daughter as the other reached out to cup her cheek lovingly. "Please don't hold back."
Mion could only nod as she settled in between Akane's legs. "Let me know if it starts to hurt, all right?" She waited until Akane made a sound of assent before she guided the head of the dildo to her entrance. Mion rubbed the head against Akane's sex, gathering the slick and making her mother groan softly. She pushed the toy inside carefully, her ears pricked to catch any sound of pain from Akane.
"You won't break me, Mion," Akane said soothingly, her heart swelling at the tentative care Mion was showing. She crossed her legs behind Mion's back and pulled the younger woman closer, causing the toy to go deeper inside and making her moan. "I can take it."
"Okay," Mion said, thrusting deeper into her mother. She trusted Akane to know her limits and she was rapidly losing her own patience. The toy moved more than when Akaen was sucking on it and each time it pressed against her sweet spot or her clit a little more of her patience crumbled away. It felt so good and the way Akane was gasping with each downward thrust spurred Mion on even further. When her hips brushed against Akane's, Mion stayed fully sheathed, grinding against the older woman and searching.
"There!" Akane cried out, arching her back as her short nails dug into Mion's back. "Right there, sweet one," she murmured as Mion repeated the angle, the head of the toy pressing against her sweet spot inside.
Mion grinned at her discovery and pulled back until only the head was still inside. Careful to keep the angle just right, she thrust down, a slap echoing around the room where their bodies met. The moan Akane made was just as exquisite as the burn from her nails as they scratched Mion's back. "Fuck," she groaned at the initial sting, quickly repeating the movements so Akane would dig her nails into her back more.
"Just like that," Akane moaned, matching Mion's rhythm as her body was rocked from the force of Mion's thrusts. One of her hands found its way into her daughter's hair and she pulled down, guiding Mion's mouth to one of her aching nipples. "Good girl," she purred as Mion began to suck, her rhythm speeding up until every moment was filled with pleasure. "Mion, yes!"
"Mommy," Mion moaned, eagerly suckling as she braced herself with one hand fisted in the sheets. The other slipped between their bodies, gliding over slick curls until she found the underside of the dildo. With a practiced hand, she pressed a button.
Akane threw back her head with a long moan as the toy began to vibrate inside her. "Sweet one, I, I can't. Oh god yes, I'm so close!" Akane clung to Mion as her daughter toyed with her body. Everything was so perfect. Her daughter, her darling, precious daughter was finally back in her arms, finally they were together again. Akane bent her neck to kiss the top of Mion's head. Nothing could tear them apart again, not when they were like this.
Mion let the nipple slip from her mouth so she could nuzzle Akane's neck. She could feel Akane's heart pounding against her lips as she kissed her mother's neck. Somehow, she knew that it was beating at the same time as her own heart. Only one other person had the same heartbeat as her. Shion. Both her mother and her little sister hearts' beat in union as her own. The knowledge made Mion smile and pull away just far enough to see Akane's face. "I love you," she said breathlessly.
Those three words, said so tenderly and adoringly, were enough to send Akane over her limit. "Mion, my sweet daughter, Mion!" Akane muffled the rest of her moans as she tugged Mion close and bit her shoulder, or else all of Mion's neighbors would have heard her scream. Her body trembled as Mion slowed her thrusts to a lazy pace, the vibrating dildo helping Akane through her orgasm. But just as she felt Mion start to pull out, she pulled her close again. "Don't," she whispered into her daughter's ear. "Stay inside. This is where you belong, sweet one."
Mion nodded as she sunk deeper into Akane's embrace. A hand sought the buttons of the dildo and she tapped off the vibrations. Her own breasts pressed against her mother's and she felt the milk cool on her skin. Such a waste, she lamented but couldn't find the strength to move further down to drink. Akane had taken to stroking her hair and with each gentle sweep of her fingers, more and more of Mion's strength leaked out of her body until she could only lay on top of the older woman. "I love you," she repeated.
"I love you too, Mion," Akane said back, brushing the bangs away from Mion's face. She looked at Mion's face for a long time, as if trying to find something hidden there.
Mion looked right back, she had nothing left to hide. Well, except for one thing.
It was as if Mion had already confessed it to her. "How many times have you and your sister done this?" Akane asked, curious.
Any and all warmth escaped Mion at those words. She froze, the legs still securely wrapped around her hips making it impossible to bolt. However, the moment of terror was quickly washed away as another pulse of warmth spread from her belly, at the same time as she felt her mother grow unexpectedly warmer. With the warmth came the certainty that Akane wasn't mad or upset, she was simply asking a question. "I don't know," Mion admitted. She rested her head against Akane's chest, thinking. "We never really kept track. We keep saying that this would be the last time but sooner or later we would be alone and it just keeps happening."
Akane took her time absorbing the answer, running soothing fingers up and down Mion's back. "When did it start?"
Mion chewed her bottom lip, going through all her memories to find the exact moment she knew that their feelings went far deeper than sisterly. But had her feelings for Shion ever really change, even in the beginning? "I think I've always loved Shion more than I should," Mion finally admitted. "She's my little sister and I promised her that I would love her even when our family didn't." Mion felt the fingers at her back twitch and slow to a stop. She turned her head to press a comforting kiss against her mother's chest and the hand at her back resumed its stroking. "But the first time I kissed Shion was right after I escaped Saint Lucia. She hugged me and I could feel our hearts beating at the same time. I was so afraid that they'd fall out of sync while I was away." Mion placed two fingers over Akane's own heart, feeling it thump in time of her own. "I was about to tell her it when I saw the same relief on her face. She was scared of the same thing and was so happy to be wrong. I, I don't remember who first kissed who, maybe we did it at the same time? It just, it felt so right to kiss her. We didn't do anything after that for a long, long time. We didn't even talk about the kiss, even though both of us wanted to. I met Satoshi and Shion met Keiichi." Mion halted her story as nails dug into her back ever so slightly. She glanced up and saw the remnants of jealousy in Akane's eyes before she hid it away. "We both tried to make it work but it just didn't feel the same. I broke it off with Satoshi after a few weeks but Shion was more stubborn. She kept dating Keiichi even though she knew she belonged with me." A bit of possessiveness crept into her voice at the memories of seeing her sister so desperately trying to fall in love with Keiichi. Mion had even given her relationship advice from time to time, all the while bitterly thinking that Shion would be much happier with her instead of him. "Then they kissed during Shion's first semester at college." The nails in her back dug in harder but Mion didn't call attention to it. Still she was furious that Keiichi dared kiss her Shion. "I was so angry when she told me, even after she said that there was no spark. A part of me thought she was gloating that she got further with Keiichi than I ever did with Satoshi. I, I lost control, just for a second. We were talking on the bed so I pushed her off and she sprawled on the floor." Mion stopped for a moment, an ember of arousal igniting as she remembered Shion looking up at her, her cheeks reddening as she huffed and pushed herself up in a sitting position. There had been anger in her eyes, but desire too. "Shion grabbed my leg and pulled me down with her and we wound up wrestling and well," Mion trailed off, her cheeks warm.
Akane couldn't help laughing at the end of Mion's tale. It would be just like her daughters to have their first time right after arguing and fighting. "I can see that the demon blood flows strongly in both of you. That makes me happy." She stirred on the bed and gasped as the toy was jostled inside her. "Very happy," she purred, lazily grinding up against Mion.
"I can tell," Mion retorted before tightening her grip and rolling the two of them so she was on bottom. They were perilously close to the edge of the bed but that only added fuel to their lusts. She gripped Akane's hips and helped guide her as her mother began to rock up and down on the dildo. "We should invite Shion next time," she suggested, looking down at where Akane's leaking breasts were pressed against her own. Mion imagined suckling one nipple as Shion did the other and thrust up into Akane.
"Yes," Akane agreed in a content sigh. "We can take turns playing with her or at the same time, whichever you like."
Mion thought for a few moments before grinning. "Actually, how about we let her think that you still believe she's Mion. She tries to top me a few times after a council meeting. Her acting as the next head of the Sonozaki clan makes her bold."
"Tries?" Akane repeated, lifting herself from Mion's embrace to better drive the toy deeper. She noticed immediately that Mion became quite distracted, watching as her breasts bounced as she rode Mion's dildo.
It took a few moments for Akane's question to register in Mion's mind. "Tries," she agreed. "She'll probably do the same with you but just shower her with compliments and soon enough she becomes a true service bottom." Shion could act all high and mighty in front of the village and her club members, but as soon as the door closed and she's called a good girl once, she becomes more than eager to pleasure her Onee in whatever way Mion wanted.
"Like someone else I know," Akane teased, reaching down to cup Mion's cheek, tenderly swiping her thumb across her bottom lip.
Mion stared up at her mother, now matching Akane's rhythm without thinking about it. Hearing Akane moan for her brought her as much pleasure as when Shion was under her, begging for her Onee to take care of her and declaring how much she loved her Onee. "Maybe," she admitted before sitting up, her hands moving to Akane's ass to grope her. Her lips found one of the leaking nipples and she began to suck as Akane wrapped her arms and legs around her daughter tightly.
Home, Mion thought blissfully, and felt the bead inside her pulse in agreement.
AUTHOR'S NOTES
I originally had a whole other part planned where Mion gets involved but then I got sick. I hate being sick. Might add in another chapter, might not.