The inside of the shrine building in the Boundary was quite different to what I had seen in the Material. It was richly decorated with white and crimson hangings, as well as golden ropes. It almost looks the part of a major shrine… I wonder what a huge shrine like the ones they have in Kyoto would look like…
My mind was wandering a little, the situation rather uncomfortable. Still, I was unable to escape as Eri and Shaeula each held one of my arms, guiding towards the back of the shrine until they found a suitable room. Entering, I swallowed nervously, as the small room was cosy, and contained what looked like a pile of blankets, again in white and crimson.
“This will suffice, will it not-not, Eri?” Shaeula asked, and Eri nodded, still pink from nerves, but her face was resolute, dark eyes showing strength.
“Yes, we… we can talk here.” She answered, and she pulled us down, so we were all sitting on the blankets, still tight together.
Well, I’m going to have to grasp the nettle here… “Eri, when Shaeraggo asked you who you were, you said that you…” I began, but Eri tightened her grip on my arm, forestalling .
“Please, this is hard enough. Just let us speak, all right?” Eri said, and beside her Shaeula nodded agreent, her own amber eyes shining with emotion.
“You know, I’m a selfish and possessive girl.” Eri smiled self-deprecatingly. “I don’t know if I used to be, but finally getting what I wanted, who I loved, after having given up… well, it’s changed , maybe. Or perhaps it just brought out who I’ve always been. Now I won’t ever let you go.” She looked down at her bare finger. “I hate it that my engagent ring isn’t here… I look at it all the ti, and it reminds that the dark tis are over, that we’ll always be together…” she turned her gaze on Shaeula, who was listening quietly, though her tension was plain to see, her hand gripping my arm so tightly it was a little painful, and I could feel faint tremors in her fingers.
“… if it wasn’t for Shaeula, and Aiko, and my parents, and even those two idiots back ho, I don’t think I’d have had the courage to take the final step and finally tell you how I felt. And if I didn’t, you never would have either, would you?” her obsidian turned, peering into mine so fiercely it was like she was seeing my soul. “I don’t bla you. I don’t. Though it does make feel a little sad.”
I opened my mouth to speak again but she blocked it with her free hand. “Shush now, I said we are talking. I get it, I do. Aiko and I, I guess we always rembered that day back then, when you stood against that dog, protecting us. And many days after, always there, looking out for us. You beca sothing giant in our eyes, a hero. So we never saw that you were suffering too, that you were fragile and in pain deep inside. Even if I could have…” she paused, shaking her head in annoyance. “I’m pretty selfish deep down, I’m not as nice as everyone thinks. I love you, Akio, I think I always have, even though when I was young I didn’t understand what that emotion even was. So I think…” a trickle of tears leaked from her eyes. “… even if you only agreed to be with because you felt sorry for , or because you thought you had to, I’d have accepted it, and I’d still have been happy. Though I’d have always been left wanting more. Like I said, I’m pretty selfish.” Her smile was brittle, and I shook free of her restraint, knowing I had to speak now.
“No, Eri, no. no!” I protested, sowhat annoyed. “You think I’d marry you just out of sympathy? Out of obligation? That isn’t true at all.” Not now, anyway. But if I’m being honest… at first…
“You are a poor-poor liar, my Akio.” Shaeula piped up from where she was watching in silence. “True, I can tell you have always deeply cared for Eri, and she surely is quite-quite beautiful, any male would be happy to court her, but at first, that night under those fireworks… you were simply carried away with thoughts of what would make Eri happy, were you not-not? Rather than your own happiness?”
“I…” true, it was very hard for to see her as anything but a sister at first, but that quickly changed.
Seeing pause, Shaeula smiled in triumph. “Do not-not mistake our questioning. We understand now that genuine love has blood. It is easy to see-see from the way you look at Eri. Those feelings of being a brother, wanting to protect, they have changed. Now you wish nothing more-more than to have Eri by your side, to love and hold her, spend your life with her. I am not-not wrong?”
How could you be wrong? Going on genuine dates, spending ti doing things lovers do… making love… I could feel my body heating up at the mories of Eri lying naked below , so passionate.
“It’s those eyes. I see it.” Eri said quietly. “When you look at like that I know you truly want , truly love , not as a child, but as a woman. When I see them, I’m deeply happy. The world just seems perfect, bright and full of hope. But…” I was drawn in by her poise. She looked so fragile, yet also so resolute. “… I see you looking at Shaeula with those sa eyes. It’s hard.”
I was shocked. I’m looking at Shaeula with eyes of love? “No, you must be wrong. Eri, when I promised to be your boyfriend, and later, when I asked you to marry , I promised you I’d always love you, always be faithful. I’m no liar, I ant every word. I’ll never betray you. how could I? I’m in love with you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“I know, I do, and it makes so happy to hear it. I’m the sa Akio, I’ll always love you too, I’ll never let any other man touch . The very thought sickens . I also want to spend the rest of my life with you! But…” she turned to Shaeula, who was still extrely nervous, her breath coming fast. “… Shaeula loves you too. As much as I do.”
I know. I’m not an idiot. When she’s spelled it out so much, and even kissed … but I’ve already…
“You rember on the flight ho from Las Vegas?” Eri continued. “You looked so cute sleeping.” She giggled. “But we had a talk. Shaeula and I. Later Aiko joined in. Hmph, your sister, do you know what she said?”
No, how could I? I shook my head.
“She said that she loved both and Shaeula, and since she couldn’t decide which of us she wanted as a sister-in-law, she thought you should choose both of us. She’s such a bad friend, isn’t she?” Eri’s laughter was mirthful, but with an edge of sadness.
“She seriously said that?” I couldn’t help but ask.
“She did indeed.” Shaeula joined in. “Your sister is wise, seeing past the bounds of your mortal conventions. I shall be proud-proud to have her as a sister-in-law.”
Whoa now, you are getting ahead of yourself…
“Anyway, we talked, and we realised a lot, about ourselves, each other. You.” Eri sighed. “It’s pretty similar to the horrible question you asked earlier. If we could benefit from … ugh, if I had to touch.. do… things with another man… could I accept it, could you accept it?” she shuddered, biting her lip.
She was still holding my arm tight, but I managed to manoeuvre it around her, pulling her deeper into my embrace. “That’ll never happen. I promise.”
“I know.” Eri said tearfully. “But if I thought it would save you, I could do anything, even that. Afterwards I think the guilt would eat away at , and I think… I think I would… not be able to live with it. Live at all…”
“No, just like we said to Shaeula, you can’t kill yourself.” I knew how her mind worked, and I needed to make it clear. “Even sothing like that, we could get through it. It’ll never happen, I promise, but I’d spend my life healing your heart…”
Yes, that’s just why I can’t return Shaeula’s feelings. Do I… do I like Shaeula? Yes, she’s adorable, loyal, haughty yet kind, her dreams are grand… Do I… do I love her? It doesn’t matter. I can’t. “I already made my choice, Eri. And I don’t regret it. if I did, it wouldn’t be fair to anyone. If I imagine how bad I would feel if you were to… well, you know. So I could never put you through the sa feelings of pain and helplessness that I would feel. I love you way too much to ever do that.”
“Yes, if you were to cheat on with so.. so whore…” she said the foul word with venom. “… I’d be crushed. I’m so happy you love enough to see that. But… do you really think Shaeula is just so vile woman like that?” she had more tears in her eyes as she turned to Shaeula. “I’m so sorry I called you those terrible things in Las Vegas. I wanted to say that for a long ti, but… no, I need to be braver, face what has to be faced. So, can you forgive ?”
“It is all-all in the past.” Shaeula patted her head with her free hand. “I understand your emotions were running high then. And I know you do not-not truly despise . When we talked on that plane, you listened, even though you did not-not wish too. And when you called yourself Akio’s first wife… Eri, thank you for accepting . I have pledged you shall not regret it, and I an it!”
“Just hang on a minute…” I broke in, panicked. “We were just saying there is no way I could ever put Eri through sothing like this…”
“And I am just saying Shaeula isn’t like anyone else!” Eri was starting to get annoyed, red-faced and tearful, and my heart jumped at the sight. She’s beautiful even when angry. “We all have to be honest here. Otherwise we’ll regret it for ever. When you saw her tears, when she thought she had failed, had lost you… Akio. Don’t lie to , to us. Akio, you love , right? As a woman.”
“I do.”
“And… you love Shaeula, right, as a woman? It doesn’t matter whether it’s allowed, or whether you can. Just say the words. Until we reach the truth we can’t solve anything.”
God, now I feel like the younger one. She’s being so mature, even though it hurts her. So, do… do I really love Shaeula as a woman? I’ve lived and fought with her for so long now, laughed and cried with her, our dreams are intertwined. And the soft, wet feeling of her lips, the touch of her hand… Fuck, I’m such a cheating wretched bastard. I’m the worst. But…
“I’m sorry Eri. I know it’s not really cheating, but… I’m my heart I’ve been unfaithful. I do. I do love Shaeula as well. We’ve been through so much, I don’t think any man could have resisted falling in love…”
At my words Shaeula started crying. She had told several tis I was the only male for her, but I had never explicitly returned any feelings. Shit, that just makes feel worse… I’m only making everyone sad…
“I don’t need excuses. I’m a little… well, no, a lot jealous, but… like I said, I can see it in your eyes when you look at , there’s love for , more than I deserve. So now, let be clear. Akio. I love you as a man, as my soon-to-be husband. And Shaeula…”
Shaeula mopped away her tears and waited, barely able to contain herself for the words that were about to be spoken.
“… you are a friend who is starting to be as precious to as Aiko. I’ll never forget how you pushed towards this happiness, how you’ve started training to defend Akio, how you said you’ll make my life full of joy… so I accept you. I accept us. I’m still first wife though. A privilege of being the childhood friend. Now, what do you say?”
Wait, this is moving way too fast, and nobody is asking for my input…
“I love Akio as a male. I want him to be the only one. He is the other half of my soul, the full moon to my new moon. I have told him this, but his loyalty to you-you is too great, Eri. I am a little envious of you. As for you… you are a precious friend to -, and I believe that together with Akio, our futures shall be bright indeed-indeed.”
“So, there. Everyone has spoken. So we all know. There’s no point hiding it any further, is there?” Eri said. “As first wife it’s my job to manage these things, so Akio… you love Shaeula, so don’t make her suffer any longer. Just… just don’t neglect either, all right? The wrath of a first wife is a terrible thing, right Shaeula?” she winked.
“If Akio is such-such a fool, I shall punish him myself.” She approved, her smile radiant.
No, no. no. Harems only work in stories, in real life it’s just cheating. It won’t be acceptable, even if Shaeula isn’t human. She’s living as one most of the ti so it’s still…
“Stop thinking too much. I’ve said it isn’t the sa. Sure, I doubt everything will go smoothly. There’ll be hard tis and tears, jealousy and worry. But… just like when you fought Shaeraggo, and hurt yourself so horribly…” her arm tightened, rembering the state I was in. “… as long as in the end we are all far happier than the sadness caused by the pain, we win, right?”
“A male is judged on the calibre of the females he makes happy. I have said this often.” Shaeula said, her gaze hot and intense. “You feel selfish, unworthy, I know. You think I would be happier having a male to myself. But you are still a fool-fool. You are ten tis the male any other I have t is. So even split with Eri, that still ans I have five-five tis the joy.”
“If you feel unworthy, just… be better.” Eri echoed. “I’m not sure how you can be, as we already love you so much. But if you just try… you’ll co to accept this. Even Aiko wants you to romance us both!”
“I can see your reluctance. It hurts my heart, and I am not-not happy. But I suppose your deep loyalty is part-part of your charm, and sothing I can respect as a Fae, bound to honour given word. But allow to remove your last excuse. You rember when we were both training our talents with the wind-wind?”
Of course I do. It was gruelling, but without that, the foundation would not be set for us to… oh, seriously? She wouldn’t!
“I triumphed, and you promised to honour one request I shall make without question, did you not-not? And now… my request is, please grant Eri’s wish, and do not-not feel ashad or guilty. It will be an act of love, for both Eri and for . It shall be the first step on your path-path to greatness as a male.”
“Akio. My love. My wish is, you’ll always love and treasure , and will marry . And you will also always love and treasure Shaeula. You’ll marry her too, though how we’ll make it work… wow, I wonder what a Faerie wedding is like?” in the mont she subconsciously imitated Aiko, which cut the tension.
I surrender. Eri, Aiko, Shaeula. They are the three most important people to in this world. And they all want this. And it… it isn’t as though it is so hardship, is it? I feel shitty, like I’m taking advantage of them, yes, but Shaeula is right. If I beco a man that can love them both and make them happy, what’s the problem? And if I’m honest… I’ve long looked at Shaeula with lewd eyes. She’s stunningly beautiful and very exotic… I’ve… well, I’m a healthy guy, of course I’ve dread of doing lewd stuff with her!
Seeing turn over the thoughts in my mind they both waited, Shaeula looking tense, Eri more relaxed, a knowing look in her eyes. Yes, she’s known forever, she can read too well…
“I hope you two won’t regret this.” I said at last, my mind made up. It was fighting the tide, which only ever ended one way, and besides… honestly, if Shaeula told she was marrying so other guy… I’d hate it. Yeah, I just have to face facts. I’m as bad as any other man, wanting every beauty that cos my way…
“We won’t, so long as you put in the effort. And you can do that for us, right?” Eri said, letting out a long, tense breath.
“Akio can do anything he puts his mind to. I have seen him work-work miracles. Loving such beautiful, charming females as us should be no hardship in comparison.” Shaeula was crying again, this ti bright droplets of joy. “So, it is settled, no?”
“I guess.” I was beaten. “I apparently did a bad job of Eri’s engagent by taking her to get a ring first, so it’s only fair I blow yours too, Shaeula. Will you marry ? I’ll figure out how it all works later.”
“Of course I shall!” Shaeula leapt on , pushing her lips to mine. This ti she forcefully drove her small tongue between my lips, seeking my warmth. Eri’s arm was still in mine, and I could see her blushing as Shaeula attacked . Sohow that just made feel hotter, more excited. I responded instinctively, and for a long mont we tangled our tongues together, before Shaeula parted from , a thin trail of saliva forming for a mont.
“That was indeed better than before.” Shaeula grinned, face flushed. “I no longer have to watch you with envy, Eri. I hope it was not-not too painful for you to see?”
“I was jealous, but… I can bear it.” Eri shook her head. “It doesn’t hurt as much as I thought it would. Anyway, I’ll leave you two to it… you probably want to…” Eri flushed scarlet.
“No need to flee.” Shaeula laughed brightly, pure joy in her tones. “We shall bond in the Fae way, a proper joining of spirits at last. I would be honoured if you can witness it as first wife and a female I respect greatly. You shall not-not be too embarrassed.”
Forgive Shaeraggo. I’m properly going to defile your beloved sister now…
“I don’t know about that…” Eri said quietly, before moving to the corner of the blankets, away from us. “… and I still really don’t know how I’ve earned your respect. But I’ll stay then. You two… enjoy yourselves?”
********
It had taken Shaeula and I a couple of hours to recover enough aether and elental essence after our hard Trials to be able to perform the mixing of our spirits. Eri’s nervousness had finally died away as we spent the ti talking about the situation and our future.
Yeah, it’s still hard to believe I’m one of those harem protagonists now, with two girlfriends… ugh, I still feel a sting of guilt. That isn’t all I feel though…
Shaeula was sitting on my lap, facing , having doffed her armour, only wearing her usual yukata, and since my clothes were scorched rags still, there was a lot of skin contact. Yeah, just like breathing and other bodily functions, libido seems to work just fine here in the Boundary. That still makes no sense though…
“So, are you ready, Akio?” Shaeula asked , face upturned. In answer I kissed her again, having done an awful lot of that during the last few hours. Eri had got jealous of watching us, so I’d kissed her plenty too. Shaeula laughed then and said that was the first wife making sure everything was fair…
“You know, I’m actually pretty curious now.” Eri said, now sitting comfortably watching us. With everything out in the open we had finally been able to reconcile the tangled ss of feelings we held, and so of Eri’s worries had finally been put to rest. “Do you think I’ll ever be able to do this?”
“I would say it is not-not impossible.” Shaeula answered. “After all, you have a lunar chakra now-now, though it is perilously fragile and will need much work. When it is stable, I see no reason why you can not-not join your essences like we can.”
“That’s a relief.” Eri did indeed look happy. “If I couldn’t, well, I wouldn’t bla you both, but I feel so much better knowing I won’t be left out. Oh, sorry, don’t let interrupt you two.”
As she fell silent, I looked into Shaeula’s eyes, grey into amber. Shaeula had explained what I needed to do, and it was very similar to how I had saved her life in the desert, but… even before then, when Shaeula tried to create a lunar chakra for , when we first t, she did sothing reminiscent of that to save . Perhaps this was predestined from the start, and fighting it was hopeless.
Drawing on aether, wind and fla, all the essences I possessed, I cycled them through , allowing them to soak through my chakra network, taking on the very flavour of my soul. Shaeula was doing the sa, and as we held hands I could feel a pulse within her. Closing my eyes I searched for it.
I can feel the bond we share, that she is my kin. But that isn’t all… through that bond I could feel small pulses of fla, wind and glittering aetheric energy, and each little burst reminded of Shaeula, rcurial like the wind, yet passionate as a fla, and loyal, driven… But there are more bonds too, just as deep… I could feel a link between Shaeula and my Territory, which was also then passed through to . It was the Throne of Heroes. But even then, there was more. There was another deep bond between us, that of her Pledged One, and it too resonated. As the energies welled within us, Shaeula spoke, her breath coming in hot rasps.
“Now-now, push outwards and allow-allow our essences to mix-mix, flowing to our-our lunar chakras.”
She’s getting excited again I see… energy flooded out of , reminiscent of last ti, but sohow far more intimate, erotic. Now that I understood what I was doing, and wasn’t in a panic, the feeling was exquisite. As energy was leaving , more was pouring in to take its place, and with it I could feel Shaeula’s emotions. Trust. Loyalty. Hope. Love. Any doubts I had were blown away as the energy penetrated deeply, moving up my chakras, circulating, while I could also feel myself penetrating her…
“This… is so much… more than I could-could have… ever… dread of!” Shaeula moaned, and her lips sought mine once more, her clasped hands clenching mine painfully. “Oh, by the King and Queen…” she moaned as my tongue slurped hers greedily.
“I don’t think you should be talking about other n right now, even if it is your king…” I gasped anly, and she responded by biting my lip aggressively, drawing silvery blood. I could taste cold iron, and her passion was inflad. One of her hands ca free from mine and was clutching my back, small nails scoring lines in my flesh. Since I had a free hand now I reached out and slid it inside her yukata, grasping her modest breasts fiercely, groping her soft skin, feeling her nipples harden under my caress.
“Uhh, was I this embarrassing when we did it…” I vaguely heard Eri mutter sothing, but it was lost from my thoughts almost instantly, as we continued our aggressive caresses, my mouth full of Shaeula.
“It is… it is… I am you, and you are-are !” Shaeula shouted, as our essences reached each other’s lunar chakra simultaneously. The heavy feeling of knowing each other magnified explosively, and energy gushed free in a great release, rapidly passing through the upper chakras of the throat, third eye and crown.
Shaeula squealed, and I was lucky I had withdrawn my tongue else I could have suffered a nasty bite as she spasd, her body shivering. I too felt a sudden shock, my whole body feeling as if it had been dipped in boiling water. Reflexively I pulled her even closer to , as if I was trying to rge her within . Our heartbeats were rapid, yet it was almost as if there was only a single heart beating, two as one.
“Oh Eri-Eri…” Shaeula managed to force the words out in-between rapid breaths. She looked so beautiful, almost ringed in a halo of glowing light, that I couldn’t help but continue to play with her, my hand sliding down her smooth belly, tickling her. “We must accelerate your-your training. You must-must try this-this. It is-is magnificent.” She was barely coherent, and let out another squeal as my hand slid down further, finding her pussy. My finger slid across the opening, stimulating her gently.
Wait, it isn’t just like she is surrounded by a halo… I can definitely see one…
In addition the silvery letters announcing a further class-up and various skill increases were also visible, but that wasn’t important right now. Seriously, why does sex always tend to strengthen ? Am I the protagonist of so erotic tale? I don’t think so! Seriously though… what is going on?
All around there was nurous strange sights. They were so exotic that I stopped my roaming hands, causing Shaeula to moan in disappointnt. I could see the burning halo of light within Shaeula, eight shining vortexes of brilliant white energy, though three of them were surrounded by orbiting rings of bright colour, yellow, green and both yellow and green respectively. I could also see fine branches of light all though her body, like twisting veins and arteries, only transporting glittering droplets of molten light rather than blood. There were other wonderous sights too, such as swirling clouds of various shades of green that swept around her back, and also the souls of her Kamaitachi that remained slain, in clear and vivid detail.
“You see it-it, I can tell.” Shaeula let out another hot breath, squirming against , her yukata sliding from her shoulders, exposing her sweat-slicked upper body. Her flesh was hot against mine, and it was arousing all over again. Still, I could be patient. Barely. “I can tell-tell everything about you-you! This is the world I see-see with my eyes-eyes.”
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