My long life has always been one of contentnt and satisfaction. I believed I had everything I needed, and that there was nothing else I wanted in life... Apart from the continued happiness of my own family.
Folks murmur and pester , saying I should "look more cheerful," or "smile a bit more."
However, I see no real need to smile when I already know I am satisfied with guaranteed outcos.
In fact, it marvels how people can easily curve their lips when sothing amusing occurs.
Strange. People are truly strange.
...I used to think so, and I still think so.
But this is here, pulling the arm of a man cheerfully... and finding it impossible NOT to smile. I’m such a strange being, myself.
Whenever I am with that person, I cannot help but smile. Ben-sama; the wonder god-touched from another world.
"Hey, I said stop pulling like that!" He whined and yanked off his arm from mine.
"We are already here, Ben-sama."
At my words, he looked at the scene I was pointing out to him.
It was a calm and wide lake near the plaza; a place my father used to co with his wives, where the moon around this ti shone it’s reflection on it.
It made the lake glisten and reflect back the moon, making it seem from a certain perception as if there were two moons; one in the sky and one under the water.
"When Haha-ue playfully told that one day I might co here with the one I love," I began, feeling the cool breeze on my hair, "I told her impassively ’I treasure Haha-ue and Chichi-ue’s matrimony, but it is very unlikely that I will partake in such.’ So it is ridiculously silly that I am standing before the lake with the one I love right now..."
Ben-sama was gazing at the lake with a serious yet amazed gaze.
"So..." Then he turned to , his blue eyes flashing at in warmth. "Shishi-no-su has a lot of lakes huh."
"I-Is that what you have to say?!" I felt heat creep up my face as I nudged him a little.
***
"Just kidding, just kidding!" He laid his hands on my shoulder, "If the cold Gin is smiling so much because of this place, then it is as well a wonderful place to . Making you smile for , for the first ti, was a lot of work that felt like an arduous but captivating adventure."
Silly man... It is not just about the location...
When I first t Ben-sama, I felt he was nothing special. I felt that he was just another weak-minded male for to play with.
But even before he conquered us, his eyes...
They weren’t looking at beautiful princesses; they weren’t looking at the opposite gender for sex...
They were looking at "ordinary girls," who happened to be disrespecting the people he loved. And he made us apologize without fear.
Sothing about him... reminded about Chichi-ue, but I could not quite put my finger on it.
I decided to observe and watch him closely... Until, one way or another, he was the one watching closely.
Asking what my favorite dishes were, what my favorite music was, and so "what if" questions that were utterly ridiculous to answer.
"Let’s say... Oh! Would you like it if you were reincarnated into another world as a spider?"
"...Ben-sama, I fail to comprehend the question you are asking ."
And before I knew it... I felt a tug at my lips that seed to show what I was feeling inside.
"See? You also look adorable when you smile, you silly fox girl. Smile more, okay? It reassures your loved ones that you’re all right, and they’d be put at ease."
And now that I believe I have found the person who can make smile everyday... He is now...
"Huh... Gin?" His voice cut through softly as I clung to him from behind, arms wrapped tight around his waist, cheek pressed to the warmth of his back.
"Ben-sama, the thought of you leaving us already is excruciatingly painful..." I began, my head on his back, "is there no way for us to be together?"
The words slipped out before I could pull them back; my raw and unfiltered heart cry pouring out in the cool night air.
My arms stayed locked around his abdon, as I felt my fox ears levelling slightly against my head.
The breeze picked up again, carrying the faint, earthy scent of the lake. His light brown hair, falling in those ruffled waves, brushed lightly against my forehead as he shifted.
I could feel the firmness of his back through the yukata, the steady rhythm of his breathing syncing with mine for a brief, comforting mont.
My tail fidgeted over and over again, betraying the nerves I usually kept buried under layers of indifference.
He was silent for a while, the only sound the gentle lap of the lake and the night breeze stirring the grass.
Then he turned abruptly and embraced back, our chests pressing together, and our hearts beating hard against each other through the thin layers of silk and cotton.
And those ice-blue eyes of his, which always were so piercing, even in the dim moonlight. He turned them toward with a mix of surprise and sothing softer, also thoughtful.
"Geez, is this what this festival will be all about?" He chuckled, with his voice light and neutral, carrying that familiar even tone that never needed to rise to command attention. "it’s a bit embarrassing to say out loud, but I know you guys love . A-And I love you all too... Because of that, trust , Gin..."
He raised my chin up with gentle fingers, then planted a firm kiss on my lips. It was a kiss of guarantee, lingering just long enough to make my ears twitch in pleasure and my tail curl tighter around his leg.
He pulled back slightly, but still holding in his embrace, his azure irises searching my face as the breeze chose that one mont to flutter his short light brown hair.
I fell in love all over again.
"I will never forget you all," he breathed, "You have all managed to beco my family too. Shishi-no-su, whether I like it or not, is now my second ho."
...The word "second" stabbed deeply, sharply and coldly.
Exactly, he had t the Amazons first. Their claims on him is solid. They have probably have heated battles with him, making their bonds even stronger. Not to ntion, their beds...
They ca into his view way before any of us did. Before , or any of my sisters.
"But!"
Suddenly, a shaky voice resounded behind us.
I and Ben-sama imdiately looked back.
Standing there were my sisters; halting in a loose line at the rise’s edge, the moonlight catching their kimonos and their fox features.
Sakura nee-sama was not among them, by the way.
Though, it wasn’t beyond her to have orchestrated this. Or perhaps she had chosen to watch from afar sowhere.
But the rest of my sisters, Ayaka, Sumire, Ayane, Kuro, Yukari, Aoi, and Midori, were there.
Ayaka was even the one who yelled, her eyes were already watery, and her fists clenched at her sides like she might charge forward any second.
Sumire clutched her chest, gritting her teeth so hard I could see the tension in her jaw.
Ayane had her arms folded, but the fine trembling in them gave away what her proud stance tried to hide.
Kuro kept her arms behind her back, gaze fixed sowhere beyond us on the shimring lake, her expression blank but her eyes bright with gloom.
Yukari’s lips were trembling, though she fought to hold a firm expression, her chin lifted defiantly.
Aoi stood with a depressing expression, her ears drooping low, and her shoulders hunched like the weight of the night pressed her down.
And Midori...
Midori was surprisingly, and oddly, all smiles. Not too far from her usual wild, depraved grin, but sothing more accomplished, almost content; like she had already made peace with whatever could co next.
It was a bit infuriating, though.
But wait, we promised to all wait our turns to say goodbye. Why are they here?!
I felt Ben-sama’s arms tighten around for a second. Was he being protective? Or was he seeking protection from my sisters?
But he soon loosened just enough to keep close while facing them.
Ayaka took a step forward, voice cracking. "We couldn’t... we couldn’t just stay back there. Hearing you say it like that... it hurt too much to pretend we weren’t listening."
Sumire’s gritted teeth parted just enough to mutter, "You talk about us being your second ho like we’re leftovers. Like Elyndor gets to keep the first piece of you forever!"
Ayane unfolded her arms slowly. "We changed for you, all of us, Ben-sama. And now you might walk away forever... I feel used."
Ben-sama exhaled, his neutral voice steady. "Hey, I’m not walking away tonight. I’m right here."
Kuro finally spoke, her voice flat and quiet. "When you were with us, you weren’t even thinking how much it would matter when you leave, no?"
I felt a pang in my chest... Because she was right.
I had been the last one he truly reached, I was quite stubborn and walled-off. Though, I watched it happen with the others, one by one, from the shadows of palace screens and district paths.
Aoi had—
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