[YUZUKI]
Yuzuki watched keenly as Ayami Araki crossed the river and the border to the Kurayami lands so casually, like she had always known this was a weak point. Of course, that could also be the reason why she had chosen to come to the side to train.
Perhaps the woman had always known that this would be her entry point to Kurayami if Kurayami went to war against Yamashita. It was a little too obvious, even for Ayami, and yet she didn't seem to focus on that at the moment.
If anything, she had her eyes set on the servant who was simply doing her laundry.
Ayami's aura was somewhat calming, which was strange for a woman who had been known to be the most lethal enforcer in the realm. She had no reason for being that calm.
However, as she approached where Yuzuki and Rinko were, she didn't seem to have any ulterior motives. Well, they still had to be careful because this woman was still as generous as she had been while standing on the other side of the river.
"Oh goddess, we are in trouble. We are going to be killed for this. We should have come to the river," Yuzuki rambled, letting her fear show as she stared at Rinko, who picked up real fast. It was a show that went out of plan, and it had to be the best one yet.
"We should run back, Yuzu. We don't have to be here," Rinko suggested.
They then began running away toward the river border. It was expected of people at her level in Kurayami, so when Ayami portaled right in front of them, stopping them, they managed to look scared.
"We don't want any trouble. Please let us go," Yuzuki begged as she held Rinko closely, like this was their only chance at salvation. They were scared, and the fear was as real as it could get, making Ayami stumble for a moment.
"Hey, hey. Focus. I am not here to hurt you," Ayami said, but Yuzuki didn't buy that. She looked like every Kuramitsu servant who had been trained to fear the Yamashita kingdom and warriors.
Everyone knew better than to come this far and while Ayami thought they were scared of her, any servant of Kurayami had only one fear. Their queen, Kuramitsu, which was why Ayami didn't find their little show out of order.
If anything, it was normal for her, and she almost felt bad for the two of them.
"You're a Yamashita warrior," Rinko pointed out shakily.
"I know. I know, alright? But I'm not here to hurt you, I swear on the goddess," Ayami said.
Yuzuki arched a brow at the woman. For someone who was used to sending the moon goddess's children back to her in battle, this woman had some nerve.
But then that wasn't what Yuzuki was here to focus on. This was their chance to figure out what the fuck was happening and why the enforcer had crossed the borders even though even she knew that Kuramitsu would fight her to the dead over this.
"But you—" Yuzuki whimpered.
"I only came because you were hurt," Ayami pointed out.
Yuzuki stared at her curiously.
The woman couldn't think of any instance in which she had been hurt.
"What?" Rinko asked, unaware of any pain that her queen was experiencing. It was crazy, really, yet somehow, Ayami seemed determined to make sure she stayed longer.
Perhaps that's why she kneeled next to Yuzuki's leg and lifted the apparent servant's slack up her knee. It was a shocker even for Yuzuki and so she watched in bated breath, unsure of what the fuck Ayami was playing at.
"I'm not hurt… you're just using me to get to our people," Yuzuki accused Ayami, chuckling softly like that was the most absurd thing she had ever heard.
Rinko, on the other hand, watched in amusement as her queen was touched up by the enemy.
"Oh, little dove. If I wanted to get into Kurayami, I wouldn't endanger the lives of the prettiest woman I have ever seen, right? I would come with an army and walk through the front gates of Kurayami so they knew it was me who came at them.
"Don't worry about your pretty little head and let me nurse you, aye," Ayami spoke so smoothly that for some reason, Yuzuki felt her brain short-circuit.
This couldn't be happening; this was too much of a coincidence, and she hated that she was leaning towards Ayami. All of this was too obvious and the moon goddess was a bitch for all of this.
But what if it was just a little show by the goddess to see how Yuzuki could handle herself this time?
"What?" Yuzuki forced out, her breath ragged, as Ayami tore a piece of her shirt and wrapped it around Yuzuki's knee that had truly been bleeding.
And for a moment, Yuzuki wondered if the scent of her blood had gotten the Yamashita enforcer to come over and break a thousand and one rules about boundaries.
It was not normal, and Yuzuki was curious about what this would entail; surely this was just what she was imagining, right? Oh, but it was so crazy.
"You'll be fine, little dove," Ayami said, and Yuzuki felt herself blushing at the pet name.
Maybe it was because that was what Matsui used to call her, or because this was her being excited about how she would face Kazuya once she had managed to use Ayami to get into Yamashita?
All of this was confusing as hell, and even Rinko, who was watching silently, was curious about it all even more. This didn't make sense. It seemed like a horrible tale of catch, and it was just annoying, to say the least.
But then she had a part to play with the queen beside her.
"Yuzu, we need to go before the high guards come and think we are entertaining the enemy. The queen will have our heads for this, fuck," Rinko rambled, her worry seeping through Yuzuki's excitement and reminding her that this wasn't how shit was supposed to happen.
This was just meant to be a day that Yuzuki went to the river to watch Ayami train and learn her tactics and shit. This was supposed to be a simple day, and yet as Ayami held Yuzuki's knee and kissed it softly, Yuzuki felt like all her senses were leaving her.
This was so out of order for Ayami too, clearly, because there were three women on the Yamashita border staring at her with disdain on their faces.
"I understand that you have to go… Yuzu. But next time you come to the river, be careful of the plants along the way. You're too pretty to be scratched up, little dove. Your friend is right, though.
"You need to get going before the Kurayami warriors find out that I crossed over. I masked my scent, so you won't be in trouble, but if this gets you in trouble, I promise to make it up to you next time we see each other," Ayami said as she got up—
… and kissed Yuzuki's cheek like it was nothing.
And then she portaled back to the other side of the river, leaving Yuzuki with a thousand and one questions, including the obvious one on when the fuck werewolves could portal through places.
"Yuzu, come on," Rinko said hurriedly as they did their laundry and made their way away from the riverbank. It's crazy how shit had turned out and yet even then, Yuzuki was excited to see what this would get into.
"Holy shit, that is unusual," Yuzuki said as they walked away, while Ayami and her friends stayed by the river watching them disappear into Kurayami. It almost felt unreal, having the hidden princess act like that, but Yuzuki was too thrilled.
"Very, but we need to get out of here as fast as possible," Rinko insisted, and Yuzuki couldn't agree more. She knew that what had happened was out of order, and it was possibly a trick that Ayami tried to use on her.
It was clear that the woman needed leverage on Kuramitsu, and strangely, the queen herself had that leverage. But was it so or were they just overthinking the little gesture that still had them confused as to when the fuck Yuzuki had gotten hurt?
"Peaches," Yuzuki said.
"What?"
"She smelled like peaches… so good, shit."
Rinko facepalmed.