Note:

Flashbacks and thoughts in italics

I do not condone or encourage any behaviours in this story. It is simply a fictional story.

"Frankincense Burning"

CHAPTER 3

risqué study sessions

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Kasumi shoved his stooping trunk away from her body. He rocked back and forth on his feet while she sucked in air and drew out hastily. Kamo had the right to know what had gotten inside his house. Forced to say something, she tched. "Please get out. I'll help you. The air vent is wide." She implored, mouthing the last few words. If Kamo leaned close enough, he would be able to hear her. Miwa prayed to all the entities she knew didn't exist that he didn't. In situations like these, it is natural to wish that there were an imaginary being who could protect one from harm's way. No matter how she looked at it, at the end of the day, alphas and omegas were meant to attract each other from the beginning of the human race. Instead of being impractical, she braced herself to take action.

"Why should I jump out through the vent? I came to see you." Satoru jabbered, smiling now. He pulled at the t-shirt clinging to his skin uncomfortably, face flushed from alcohol. Beads of precipitation weltered down his chin, and when he slung his head to the mirror, his breath fogged it up. "You didn't come back." He spoke like a child making tantrums, voice rising in octaves and making Kasumi huff. "Did you forget our agreement?"

"I didn't. I swear." She shushed in vain. "I caught a fever and couldn't get out of bed for two days."

Satoru cackled, the heels of his palms clapping on the mirror. Kasumi winced, refraining from asking him not to break the glass. He tilted his face to look at her. "Then why are you here?"

For a moment, she deliberated on not telling him but gave in to the obligatory sentiments she felt. "I was on leave. I came to copy the notes from him." She almost scoffed, both in angst and aggravation. "Just get lost for now." She gripped back under her breath. "Please." How many more of that word will it take to reach his benchmark?

.

Beyond the bathroom threshold, Kamo strode back and forth along the breadth of his room before pausing resolutely. "That's it. I'm coming in." He announced loudly, breathing in that one scent he couldn't place. He perceived that he had inhaled it before, but when was it? He whacked a hand to his neck over the tingling glands, groaning from the other scent that stood out, consistently overwhelming him. Every intake of breath cost him to puff in copious amounts of it. He begs all his cursed ancestors to bless him with the control he desperately needs now, hoping that Miwa wouldn't go into heat. Things being what they are, he had been spreading himself too thin, a reason why marking an omega on a "group study" is not the ideal thing to do.

Miwa was his junior, and they had overlapping classes for specific subjects. Sure, for a Junior to ask for help from him is nothing to write home about. There is nothing wrong with it, lock, stock and barrel, although it's strange to see Miwa taking a leave. Other than what could be the occasional week of heat in between months, she had never taken one—what am I thinking? Yeah, sick leave it is. Every meticulous student has had their share of days. Kamo blames his meandering line of thoughts on the wretched hormones; for having himself obsessing on conspiracy theories on an otherwise typical thing.

Not to mention that marking an Omega is like notifying the clan that you're ready to have babies—which is unmitigated rubbish and undoubtedly something he will ward off. Maybe that was why he hadn't chopped the door in two yet. This is the microsecond of brilliance where Kamo gets hit with the epiphany of a brewing hypnosis consuming him. HEAT. Someone's going to heat in there! He forced his brain out of the gutters to the tracks. Of course, it's her! Darn it. Be that as it is, she owes him an explanation for this turmoil he has to go through—more than that if he gets into an induced rut to make matters worse. That will be messy, all because of that horny imbecile with zero sense of decency.

He hadn't even seen them yet, but he could already envision the blind joy of clawing over that depraved guy or girlfriend in there with her. He is nonplussed by their audacity to break inside his house, right under his nose, and for giving him the consolation prize of a slicking omega whom he must not touch, lest he has to marry his friend, ruin her life and make babies.

Heck, he didn't even know that she had a new partner after she had broken up with her previous boyfriend. Kamo hopes it's a partner and nothing else.

.

"Leave you like this? What will I do if that jackass bites you? Wanna hear what you smell like right now?" Satoru grunted, biting down on his hand to suppress the madness he felt. "You're reeking with slick. God—please put something—!" He pulls his shirt over his head, throwing it towards her. "Keep it between your thighs if you don't want to—why are you here if you're on your heat!" He cuts himself as if a switch has been flipped.

Miwa catches the cotton cloth, thrusting it between her clenching legs with a shriek. "I have scent blockers." Although it's not doing its job. She tacked on promptly. "I—I took suppressants. I thought it was over because I was feeling okay for a few hours."

The statement hung in the air like a dropped A-bomb. This woman is nuts, was the first thing Gojo thought as his mouth opened and closed like a fish. His tone became jagged, cutting when he came at her face. "Are you stupid? Even I know that heat lasts for more than two days. Has nobody ever taught you the basics of heats and ruts? And now, because of you, I'm about to—screw that." But who was he to reprimand her. She would've asked him if the circumstances were any different. Ashamed, Kasumi's face grew warm, ruddied up in flames. She remembers how she had blithely skipped those classes since they weren't mandatory for beta students. Back then, had she known she would have a delayed presentation at 18, she wouldn't have been so careless.

"Are you trying to screw yourself over? You should not take suppressants during the heat." Yes, suppressants are commonly used, but it is no secret that it disrupts the body's natural functions, which is okay to an extent. The effects become damaging if taken during extended periods, you could say, impairing the body's normal functioning. But suppressants used when in heat are a totally different topic. "It'll mess up your body."

Fleetingly, Kasumi speculated if Satoru was merely concerned about her health or something else... like fertility. Never had she meditated on bearing pups before, seeing that she didn't have to. That being said, the tides have changed, and now every two months, she jolts with these unbridled, intense episodes where unwanted thoughts like those rush through her like dying cinders. She wheezed, her core pulsing at the shirt soaked in his scent. "I'm-" Sorry? Why would she be? She withholds, not wanting to give him the pleasure of hearing it. "You're drunk." Instead, she changes the subject. "You're drunk. You cannot mate me like this." She says, wishing she gets the message across as soon as possible. "If you bite me now—you'll go into a rut." Kasumi turned her back on him, inclining on the quivering door. "It'll put me in a tough spot."

Gojo rolled his eyes languidly. His pupils were still dilated when he narrowed his eyes. "Alright. But on one condition. Get back to me before the day ends, or I'll have come to you." Momo's place, to be precise. She had told him not to do so. She cannot even fathom what her friends would say if they saw her with him. She'd never hear the end of it. Explaining this pathetic predicament she had gotten entangled in will be sheer torture. His nose poked at her shoulders, nuzzling into her neck from behind. Apparently, scenting her was a last-minute attempt at staying conscious. "Don't worry. I'll be watching to make sure you're safe."

Miwa mumbled a reluctant okay, and when she turned around, Satoru was gone with the wind. Do alphas have super speed or something? It's not fair.

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