On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

Spoiler

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“I still can’t get over how great you look in that outfit.” I gushed, holding Kana’s hand as we strolled through the bustling London streets, illuminated by street lights and Christmas decorations which wouldn’t come down for another couple of days. “I really am a lucky guy.”

“Yes, you are.” Kana agreed, tightening her grip on my hand, as of course we were walking intimately, her shoulder pushed against mine. Our breaths were steaming together in the cold winter air, and since Kana was a little shy, and didn’t want to attract too much attention, I’d woven a trace of light element around us, subtle, but enough to slightly distort our appearance and presence, meaning that the only looks we were receiving were due to Kana’s outstanding charms, not my fame.

“Of course, I am too.” she agreed. The other people around us were wearing thick winter coats, but Kana was in her daring dress, though the t-shirt beneath, which shared a shade with Hihi’irokane, prevented any untoward exposure. Even so, she looked gorgeous and classy, and I found myself smiling, my heart light. Yeah, spending time with Kana is always easy and pleasant. She’s just a very soothing girl…

“Though I admit to being just a touch jealous.” Kana added. “Considering that you probably did these same things with Eleanor on Christmas Eve. But…” Kana drew out the word, playfully puffing her cheeks, in a gesture which I knew was equal parts genuine and calculated. “…that was then, this is now. And you’re with me. Besides… this is another magical date and we’ve barely begun.” Kana gazed up at the skyline around us, the towering skyscrapers of central London a match for Tokyo’s, though in very different styles.

“Yes, we’ve got time to ourselves.” I agreed. “So, to start with, how about a romantic meal with great views over London? I’ve even managed to get a reservation myself, without relying on Hinata!”

“Oh, look at you, being a reliable boyfriend.” Kana leaned up and gently kissed my cheek, careful not to smear her lipstick. Despite Kana’s youthful skin, further enhanced by her stats and Ether Healing, she’d put on a little makeup, and I was rather astounded by her competence with it, as most schools frowned on girls wearing makeup, and usually only those seen as troublemakers, such as gals or gyaru, did so. But I can see why Kana put some on. She’s still retaining that youthful charm, but she also seems more mature, like a young university student, or a fresh-faced businesswoman.

“I have to match you.” I chuckled, looking up at the building named after its unusual appearance, the walkie-talkie. “Because since we’ve started dating, and even before, you’ve always been ready to help me, and provide good advice and emotional support.” We greeted the burly, black-suited doormen, and they checked my reservation, before very politely ushering us inside, a woman in black trousers, white shirt and waistcoat, dressed like a cocktail waiter, coming down to escort us to the lift and take us to our table on the top-floor Sky Garden. Since it was just Kana and me, I didn’t want to book a private room, I wanted to show off Kana, and in turn, show her the good life she and her family would be having from now on.

“Oh, and you’re also cute.” I added, as Kana was silent as we entered the lift, and the woman escorting us snickered quietly, as if urging me to go on. Kana seemed to agree as well, as she smiled, her dark brown eyes staring into mine.

“Just cute?”

“Hey, I like cute!” I countered playfully. “But no, Kana, you’re not just cute, you’re beautiful. Inside and out. Like I said earlier, I’m a very lucky man.”

The lift doors slid open, and the smartly dressed waitress showed us to our table, with great views from the floor-to-ceiling glass windows. I was a bit surprised that it seemed the woman was assigned to us as a personal waitress for our visit, but she gushed that since I was the Hero of Britain and my companion was on TV at New Year’s Honours, even if she wasn’t awarded herself, it was her and the Sky Garden’s honour to make sure our stay was spectacular.

Soon, I had a glass of wine in hand, as did Kana, the rich red liquid seeming the same colour as her t-shirt under the mellow lighting of the restaurant. We took sips of the wine, and after leaking a sigh, Kana leaned towards me, so our heads were almost touching, her expression serious.

“Emotional support and advice? Saying it like that makes me sound someone great. I’m not. I’m just a young woman who knows how to listen, and… let’s be frank.” Kana sipped at her own wine and took in the view of the London skyline at night for a moment before responding. “You’re comparing me to everyone else. And nobody’s ordinary. Oh, I suppose Yu-mi would be the closest. And she’s had more life experience than I have. Contrary to what my boasts would have you believe, I’d not dated before this. Turned down plenty, so you should feel honoured…”

“Oh, I do.” I nodded emphatically. And it’s true. As I imagined in the past, if I’d never returned to Nishimorioka, a girl like Kana… no, that’s a foolish dream. I wouldn’t have had the nerve to approach her, and she wouldn’t have paid me any attention, ordinary as I was…

Kana frowned, letting out a dry chuckle. “Since you think so highly of me, and this is a date… a key date at that… I’ll give you some advice. You keep imagining we read your mind, don’t you? We’re not all Haru-chan… Haru, I suppose now… keeping track of how close we all are to each other’s a nuisance, but… I was saying…” Kana’s smile was teasing as she stared into my eyes. “…we’re not telepaths, you’re just transparent. You may think your stats give you a great poker face, and they do…” She reached up with her free hand and poked at my cheeks, and I noticed she’d painted her nails the same shade as her t-shirt, a nice touch. “…but that’s a tell in itself.”

“I guess so…” I conceded, and she snorted.

“It’s not really date conversation, but then… what I expect out of a date has changed, you know?” Her expression was a little wistful for a moment. The waitress was eyeing me from a polite distance, just far enough away so she couldn’t be accused of eavesdropping, and at her nod, urging me to be more forceful, I grinned, leaning over and kissing Kana’s lips, which tasted of her, and of the crimson wine. She responded, her tongue seeking and tanging with mine, and I grasped her free hand, our fingers entwinning as our tongues did.

When we finally parted, our kiss long and passionate, she gently dabbed at her damp lips with the napkin, mock reproach in her eyes. “I was about to say something serious. Don’t you want to hear it? “

“I do.” I conceded playfully. “But like you, I’m delighted I’m on a date with someone I love, and what boyfriend doesn’t want to kiss his gorgeous girlfriend in that moment? Your expression was radiant.”

Kana’s cheeks reddened, and she snorted a laugh. “I get being desired, and… honestly, even when it was unpleasant, when my friends and I were hit on in cafés, or shopping, or hell, even walking home from school in our uniforms… it still made me feel worthwhile. I was so damn shallow. Because I didn’t have much else to be proud of. I was an okay student, nothing special, and I was charming and personable, but… awfully superficial, all flash and no substance. I wanted to be somebody, but… I’d come to accept I’d only achieve that dream through somebody else, and that hurt, see?”

Her tone was earnest, and I listened carefully, not sure how we got from my lousy poker face to here, but one thing I never tired of was listening to my women. Each of them was different, had hopes and dreams unique to themselves, and all of them… all of them opened their heart to me. It’s a graver responsibility than even what Lin passed me…

I imagined a retort at that, but again, Wisdom World was quiet. Eri, Shaeula and the others were having a mental conversation, but I didn’t feel the need to pry, sliding it to the side of my mind, wrapping it in Split Thoughts, as this was Kana’s time, no, not just hers, mine and hers.

“That’s more honest an expression. Annoying, but honest.” Kana pointed out. “Anyway, I know you understand, and like to hear what I really think, but… that’s the past. I still want to achieve my dream through you, Akio, because I love you…” Her blush, which had slightly faded, returned, a match to the flickering flames of the candles on our table. “…but I also want to be proud of everything I do. And I am… anyway, back to reading your mind. Don’t go blank or try too hard to appear calm. That’s a dead giveaway.” she chided me. “No, instead you tell yourself that you feel emotions you don’t and let your face naturally assume that expression. If you’re angry, but want to seem calm, fool yourself. Don’t go blank or adopt an opposite expression.” She gestured with her glass, before taking another long sip and finishing her explanation.

“Motoko, Natsumi and even Hinata are great at that. Miyu too. I think it’s taught to them from a young age so they don’t embarrass themselves. Me, I learned it when I realised I understood people. Of course, understanding others meant I understood myself too, but… that Kana’s long gone.”

“It trickled out of you…” I began and was delighted that my teasing hit home as she pouted fiercely, looking away for a moment until she could compose herself.

“Bastard! You promised me you’d forget that…”

“Nope. I forget nothing about you Kana.” I took her free hand again. “I would say not the good or the bad, but… there’s nothing bad about you, Kana.”

“Bullshit. But I’m glad to hear you think it, and unless you’re a fast learner, you’ve not put into practice my advice yet.” she countered.

“Yeah, I’m not that talented. It’s like how some of my Skills are higher Ranked than other people’s, but Skill Ranks alone don’t determine how well they are applied. Sure, it gives a certain baseline of competence, but… even now, with our stats equalised, I reckon Motoko and Natsumi would kick my ass in Tsumura Style.”

“No doubt. Anyway… your eyes are another dead giveaway. And your hands. I can usually tell what you’re thinking, not the specifics, I’m not Haru…” she repeated her earlier quip. “…but what the general emotion is. I… don’t hate that. Stay honest with us. But you’re an important man, and no matter how strong you are, you want to settle most things by diplomacy, don’t you?” Kana observed shrewdly. “Despite having the power to bend everyone to your will, you want things to be fair, for the world to understand and want to participate. It’s naïve but I love that about you. It makes me feel safe.”

“Yes.” I was serious now, gazing into her eyes. “Kana, follow me, and… I don’t know about your dreams, but… I’ll always keep you smiling. That’s a promise.”

“I believe it.” Kana pulled at her t-shirt, as if hot, and then bent artfully, a subtle gesture, which revealed a glimpse of her bra and the generous cleavage contained within, reminding me of her gestures the first time we met, when she followed Shaeula and I to a café, claiming she saw something strange about us. Yes, she teased me then, but it was to attract my attention and win me over, not… not because she wants me to admire her, to want her, like now. Seeing me glancing that way, she smiled triumphantly. “Don’t worry, I’ll take your hand. After all, I’m not an easy girl at all, am I? And I’ve resisted longer than most! But…”

“But…?” I swallowed at the raw sensuality Kana was suddenly exuding, and I wasn’t alone. Our starters, bowls of delicately scented soup, were placed down by our attending server, and her face was red as she glanced at Kana.

“But… it’s perfectly natural for those in love to be a bit more… intimate.” Kana gazed at me with some heat, scooping up a spoonful of soup and playfully drinking it, her tongue-work likely to be criticised by Motoko or some of the others. Even so, what she was suggesting was…

Damn, I don’t need a poker face, but I do need iron control of my groin. Kana’s certainly a tease…

“Yu-mi told me that. Not that I needed the advice.” Kana then winked. “Oh, aren’t you eating? Or is your appetite for something else?”

“If we were alone, I’d eat you up right now…” I joked, and she only returned a mysterious smile.

“I’m sure you would. Anyway, this soup is great.” This time she ate it normally, and I joined in. Yeah, not Japanese at all, but still great.

“The thing is, this is wonderful, but… it’s not what we do, but who we’re with. Even if we just sat around at home, so long as we’re together, then that’s fun. Even so, I’m still glad I’m making memories. Because…” she winked at me. “…they don’t have purikura in Britain, do they?”

“Not normally, no, but…” I checked my watch. “I think there are a few places that are like traditional Japanese arcades. We could certainly make it before they close… and it would be a date-like experience.”

“That gives me an idea or two.” The clinking of Kana’s spoon as she set it down rang out, and I poured her a fresh glass of wine, as well as refilling her water from the jug on our table, and she smiled warmly.

“Why thank you. Such a gentleman. You’ve changed a lot.”

“So have you, Kana. For the better. I’ll be honest, I really admire you. Oh, I love you too, of course, and you’re certainly a beautiful girl I want to hold and kiss and…”

“You can say it. I can’t say I don’t want sex. Like I said…” Kana took another sip of wine to orient her thoughts. “…I’m not an easy woman, but there’s nothing that can put me off you now, and I know you well enough, you’d never be able to dump me, or indeed anyone else, once they’ve entered your heart. It makes me wonder… Bondweaver… did you make the Path because you’re like that, or are you like that, and thus the Path? I don’t suppose it matters…”

“No, but it’s a good question. Anyway, you want to go afterwards? We’ve got all night…”

“We don’t, not really. If you miss the cruise everyone will be disappointed.” Kana added. “But we don’t have to rush, that’s true. Everyone agreed I’d have plenty of your time to myself here. They’re all so transparent. But…” Her face was red, and she remembered the sexy festivities of the previous night, and even if Kana had passed on the most erotic activities, she’d taken part in Motoko’s and Natsumi’s lewd idea. “…well, we’ve been on a number of dates now. Even counting the big ones, we’re past three. And to my mind, that shows a bit of class. So… want to take a set of purikura with me? It’ll totally be less awkward than with your sister.”

As we chatted, our main course was brought over, a delicately prepared lobster for sharing, alongside boiled and seasoned potatoes and a selection of salads. We weren’t going to eat too much, due to the cruise later, but we still wanted to enjoy the experience of having a fancy meal together.

“You…” I winced, and Kana grinned, picking up one of the lobster forks, spearing some tender meat, and pointing it at my mouth.

“Say ‘ah’!” she teased, and I didn’t hesitate, taking a bite. Kana then used the fork to ferry some to her own mouth, and as I watched on, she giggled. “Indirect kisses? Oh, please. There was last night, and even just a few minutes ago we were kissing deeply as if there was nobody watching.” She shot a cheeky glance at our waitress, who flushed and looked away.

Yeah, busted!

 “So I’m not embarrassed. Well, a little. But the others told me that when all the embarrassment goes, the enjoyment decreases. Probably why everyone’s desperate to push new activities on you in the bedroom. Well, that and the fact a lot of them like Eri, Shaeula and oddly enough, Hyacinth, are all perverts. Shiro too. I’m not even talking about the newcomers you’ve picked up.”

“It’s not exactly a done deal…” I began, before faltering. “…but I’ll be honest, I… don’t really see myself rejecting them now, unless something serious happens.”

“I know… mmm…” I fed Kana again, and she licked her lips with a mixture of playful seductiveness and innocent enjoyment. “That’s good. Damn, eating lobster with my super-rich boyfriend who just dropped like ten billion yen buying a hotel this morning, while looking out over London… even my wildest dreams of six months ago weren’t this exotic. I was a realist even in dreams, you know. Anyway… let Kana mindread you again. You were going to talk about Aiko, right? Give that one up.”

Kana shook her head, taking another swig of wine. “I’m of the opinion I’m just going to let it run its course. Unlike Eri… though I can see why she’s so invested. The three of you are absurdly similar, Shaeula was right. But also different. You all have a destructive impulse, but you each channel it differently. You’re one to sacrifice your own happiness for others. Eri won’t accept any happiness from, nor give to, those she doesn’t already care for, and Aiko… she’d deny herself what she wanted, perhaps… no, probably, for good reason, and just suffer alone, no matter who it hurts, be it herself, or you or Eri. But you’ve also all changed.”

As I gazed into Kana’s eyes as she talked, she grew redder and redder, but she didn’t falter, even if embarrassed.

“You still want to be the lead, but you’re prepared to accept help from others, and understand we feel pain when you do. Eri’s opened up to those around us… I did not see that coming when she met me at Shirohebizumi.” Kana shook her head, the memory now a fond one.

“She warned me off, then told me to go clean up your bedroom. If I’d have gone in there, I’d probably have gotten pregnant just touching your sheets.” She wasn’t wearing her golden torc, it didn’t fit with her dress, but it was surely in storage, as she glanced at her ring. “…Aiko, she’s finally able to ask for what she wants. It’s probably for the best, otherwise she’d have exploded eventually.” Kana then giggled. “You know, if things were different and you never met me, or anyone else, and just married Eri, one day she’d probably walk in and find you thrusting away into your sister, right there by the door. She’s got self-destructive tendances, has Aiko. Self-sabotaging. Whether it’s for your attention, I don’t know, but… yeah. Best to help her let off some steam before she blows up and causes real trouble, or does things to herself she’ll regret bitterly out of a sense that feeling anything, even negative emotions and pain, is better than empty yearning.”

Hmm. I wonder if that’s why she never won any tournaments before, despite being the best at some. I had assumed it was a case of nerves, or she choked, but… “If that scenario happened, Eri wouldn’t bat an eye at it, I bet…” I shook my head, and as we finished off the lobster, I nodded approvingly. “But once more… thank you. For being understanding. Oh, and you once again proved you really get people. I wish I had your empathy.”

“Don’t mention it!” Kana waved my compliment away, swigging wine to hide her pleasure. “You’re more the guy to go to for sympathy. Not that I’m complaining. We women like to keep a little mystery. Oh, anyway, speaking of your dear sister, remember that replacement book of wish tickets she’s going to give you?”

I nodded. There wasn’t any need, but when my sis had an idea in her head, she could be quite stubborn.

“Everyone’s contributed, but Eri’s the worst. Seriously, I’m impressed at Aiko’s patience. But… yeah. If you don’t use some she’ll feel bad, but… well, I don’t think my words can do it justice. But I do want to be there to watch your face when you flick through them…”

“I can imagine.” My tone was dryly amused. “Anyway, that’s enough about my sister and the others. Though again, I’m thankful you have been so level-headed and understanding.”

“I’m as jealous as anyone, but… I’m also pragmatic. I’m happy…” She paused as the waitress cleared away the plates, before continuing. “…and while life isn’t and can never be perfect… even a crazy situation like this doesn’t seem such a big deal, considering. I get the struggle though. But… you’re who we chose, and we chose everything that comes with that.” Her hand trembled a little, and I spotted it, remembering her advice from earlier, so I took it in mine, and let out a little flame element to warm her. She shot me an astonished and grateful look, and so I stole her lips again, another passionate kiss shared between us.

“Watch the hands, you said.” I chuckled when we separated. “So I did. And I’m also not Haru, but… I know it’s rough. And you’ll have to do it again, I’m not going to lie. Just… we’re all here for you, and those you killed were there for evil. Think of the lives you saved…”

“Yeah, I know.” Kana agreed. “And I’m almost always fine. It’s just… I’m thinking a lot about the future tonight. It’s… a big night.” She fell silent as the desserts were brought out, a selection of fine cheeses and biscuits, a British tradition, as well as a huge parfait in one glass, with a single spoon, to share like we did the lobster. They’ve really kept things swift. I appreciate it. I want to enjoy every minute I can with Kana…

“Is it?” I raised an eyebrow, and she giggled.

“It is if we want it to be. But you have to be a gentleman and set the mood… and less of a gentleman and take advantage of me when I show gaps.”

“I’ll do my best.” I promised, and to show willing, I slid one hand under the table, gently stroking Kana’s leg, and she frowned, pretending to be angry.

“I didn’t mean this minute… mmph!” She swallowed the spoonful of parfait I fed her, before she snatched the spoon from me, and red-faced, she dug deep and took a large heap from the dish, only to put it in her own mouth, and then kiss me again, her tongue pushing the cream deep. It was an achingly bold move, and my grip on her thigh tightened, but as I swallowed, her lips parted from mine, only for her eyes to widen as my tongue swirled out, licking her lips again.

“You had some cream there.” I insisted, and she broke her acting, lips curved into a smile.

“Giving you ideas, was it? Yes, best you destroy the evidence then. That or it was just an excuse to kiss me.”

“I don’t need an excuse. I always want to kiss you, Kana!”

“I’m sure you do. I… can’t say I hate kissing you either.” She went tsundere for a second, before shaking her head. “Of course I want to. Though doing it in public still makes my chest tighten… hey!” My gaze naturally went to her ample assets hidden behind her tight t-shirt, and she silenced me with another spoonful of parfait.

“All in good time…” she managed, and I nodded.

“I’m not going to say something trite, but…”

“Yeah, yeah!” Kana waved a hand dismissively, a habit mirroring Shiro, and it amused me how all the girls were starting to feed off each other, which was only natural considering how much time they spent together. “You won’t pressure me into anything, I’m a bold, confident woman. But if you don’t try and pressure me at all, I’ll feel unwanted. Besides…” We paused to feed each other for a while, before she finished her thought.

“…there are lots of reasons to celebrate, and also to deepen our relationship. After all, there are the newcomers, and… I’d like to show Haru that even a hesitant girl like me has nothing to fear with you.”

That’s why you’re so great, Kana. You may present, or at least you did, as a bit of an arrogant queen bee, but deep down you’re actually very compassionate, so long as people treat you right.

Ignoring Eri’s mental retort at that, and also briefly answering them about how things were going, I couldn’t help but smile warmly at Kana, and while I couldn’t pat her head, not after all the trouble she’d gone to with her hair, I did reach under the table again and squeeze her thigh.

“Hey, groping me under the guise of praise…” she paused playfully. “…good job! That’s seizing a moment. Anyway… yeah, I still don’t think how we’ll interact, how we’ll feel, will change.”

“Nope. We’ll still go on dates, hang out, spend time together. You’ll still get dragged to everyone’s pace…”

“Don’t remind me. Eleanor’s oddly bold, putting up with that so soon into your relationship. So sticky…” As if to illustrate a point, she scooped up the last of the parfait with her fingers and licked them off seductively. “…but then, I suppose many women, and not a small number of men…” She winked. “…would pay anything for your magical fluids.”

“Don’t remind me. Some of those extractions were much more fun than others.”

Kana shuddered, sipping at her wine before turning to her cheese, cutting a slice and putting it on one of the biscuits, alongside some spicy chutney, before taking a bite, as if to purge her memory of it.

“No kidding. Some of those needles… even my Eye transplant wasn’t so terrible.”

I don’t know about that. Those transplants are plenty awful…  I cast my gaze out over London, the lights in the darkness beautiful, and then turned my attention back to Kana. But right now, the most beautiful thing is you!

***

After finishing our meal, we’d had a couple of cocktails at the bar, enjoying the view and each other’s company, only talking about our own experiences we’d shared together. After that, we’d gone for a walk through the still busy streets of London until we’d arrived at Shoreditch, where a large, Japanese-style arcade was situated. It was mostly occupied by kids and young adults, and we did attract a fair few stares, and Kana remarked that it wasn’t so much we were famous, or she was beautiful… though I made sure to insist she was… but that it was because we were both wildly overdressed for such a place.

That’s half the fun, though. A few of the older people, a couple on a date here, a trio of young Londoners there, did recognise us, and while most were too shy to approach us, a few did, and we took selfies with them (though Kana was in my arms only, of course) and even played a few two-on-two games of air hockey and some old-fashioned 2d beat-em-up arcade machines. Which Kana and I won, as expected.

After looking around, and Kana declining the offer for me to win her something from the crane games, we ended up in the purikura booth. After putting in some money, the currency here unfamiliar to Kana, she started checking the options, humming to herself, while I watched on affectionately. After a minute, she paused, glancing at me, pursing her lips.

“Bored, are you? It makes sense. This is definitely a more girly activity, even if it has become a bit of a Tokyo dating tradition for those around my age…”

“In uni too.” I assured her. “Bored? Hardly. I’m just admiring your beauty. Crushing hard, if I’m being honest.”

“Oh, that’d be more persuasive if…” Kana then paused, seemingly annoyed with herself. “No, I’m not going to fall into that trap, and it’s such a petty, bitchy thing to say, and… that’s just not me.” She opened her arms and I needed no second invitation to kiss her, and this time, since we had a little privacy, if you could call the curtain closing the booth that, I let my hands roam a little more freely, groping at her ass through the black dress she wore, and even cheekily squeezing her chest, to which she responded with a wet gasp leaking from her luscious lips, which I sealed with my own, tongue twisting as if to suck up her voice.

“That was… I told you to take advantage, I know…” Kana’s face was scarlet now, sweat beading on her cheek, and I playfully licked it off, even as she pretended to punch me. “…but you’re going in for the kill.”

“The kill? Hardly. You’ve seen the kill…” I winked, knowing what she was about to complain about earlier, and bringing it up.

“Yeah, and I’ve no right to complain, but I’m still going to, at least in the privacy of my mind!” Kana’s tone was lighter now, and I knew the momentary annoyance was averted. “Seriously though? You’re falling hard for me?”

“Obviously.” I agreed, hugging her again, my hands playfully cupping her ass, and she slapped them aside.

“Not here! I’m not that kinky!” she grumbled. “I… am glad you’re eager though. But yes, you spent hours shopping with us, now this… you must feel bored sometimes.”

“Why?” I was genuinely puzzled. “Watching you smile is something many men and quite a few women…” I mirrored her earlier quote from dinner playfully, getting a smile back from her. “…would kill for. Me, I’d fight for that smile. And if I’m being honest, I don’t hate stuff like this.”

“Yeah, I suppose you have been dragged around by Aiko…” Kana conceded, and I shook my head.

“It’s not that. I feel content when you’re happy, Kana. When everyone is. Besides, I’m a simple, lonely otaku, or rather I was. And so my tastes run to this sort of thing. Anyway, everyone is entertained by different experiences, so… I have variety!”

“Oh, you certainly do!” Kana punched me gently in the shoulder. “Nobody has more than you! But… I’m glad. If I’m honest, Mio-chan’s more into this sort of thing than I am, but… I had my own idealised sense of what being someone’s girlfriend was, what I wanted to achieve, what milestones I wanted to hit… in reality… it’s all about wanting to spend time with each other, yeah? You know… I feel like I could be having fun if we were just sitting in a bare room, talking…”

“Just talking?” I asked with a wink, and she sighed playfully.

“I’m sure you know we could pass the time in other ways. Is that all you think about?”

“Absolutely not. But… there’s an emotional depth to making love, you know? Feelings you thought were already extreme become transcendent, and your love will blossom!”

“Trying to sell me hard on it, aren’t you? Transcendent?” she snickered. “But it’s not like we don’t talk, the others and me, and… I’ve been rather close to the action a few times now. Everyone loves it, loves you. So… yeah, I have to admit, the jealousy’s been bothering me. And it’s all self-imposed. I suppose… I wanted you to think of me more, to anticipate it, but… I know you’ll think of me plenty afterwards and come seeking more of me.”

“Yeah. Just like I’ll never get tired of you, I’ll never grow tired of that either.” I chuckled, and after some more hugs and kisses which turned a little fiery, Kana pulled away from me, tugging down the hem of her dress.

“Hey, that was a bit cheeky! I told you, I’m not an exhibitionist!” she grumbled playfully. “Outside of the dress only. I’ve got goosebumps now…”

“And that was only your thigh…” I chuckled.

“Yeah, keep trying to sell me on putting out.” Kana waved her hand to dismiss my argument, as she went back to the screen of the booth. “Picture time. I want a cute, normal one I can have as my phone’s lock screen. We can take a few sexier… slightly…” she insisted. “…ones as well, to show off to Aiko. And to Mio-chan. She’s biting at her handkerchief every day, watching me and Asami-chan be all loved up.”

“And you are!” I swept her into a princess carry, and she clung to my shoulders despite her shock. “I love you, Kana!”

“I love you too. And you should say it more!” Kana insisted. “All right, I guess this pose is good!”

After taking several pictures like that, we did the more standard side-by-side pose, including some with kisses, both cheeks and lips. Then we did a few more energetic ones, and for a joke, Kana carried me like a princess for the last picture, her stats more than up to the task. Once we’d taken the shots, Kana and I played around with filters, emojis and more, until she was satisfied.

Bored? Kana’s great at understanding people, but she underestimates just how magical spending time with a woman as wonderful as her is, especially to guys like me. And no matter how many girlfriends I have, each of them is still my precious treasure!

“Okay. They look great.” Kana retrieved the printed copies and sticker versions, before getting the digital versions emailed to her phone, tapping away and passing them out to the groups she was in. That done, her satisfied expression as her phone pinged showing everyone was taking the bait, she linked her arm with mine. “Much as I want to monopolise you all night, I can’t, and I shouldn’t. They’ve gone to a lot of effort on this pleasure cruise. And everyone knows you’re very busy over the next few days. But we still have a little time left…” I wove light and wind so we could leave without any distractions, and Kana’s phone pinged. She glanced at it, shaking her head.

“Everyone’s telling us to get a room. We could…” she left it hanging, and I gazed into her eyes, ascertaining her true desires. In the end, I nodded.

“We could indeed. If that’s okay with you?”

“Idiot.” Her words were harsh, but tone playful. “I’ve been signalling I’m okay with it this whole date. No, not just okay… you know, it’s been hard on me too.” Knowing we were shielded from view somewhat by my elements, she hesitated, face scarlet, before reaching down and grabbing my cock through my trousers, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Just like you’re hard, thinking about me. It’s not like we’ve not seen each other naked, and gone a little further, is it? Besides…” Kana groped me one more time, a bit firmer, before giggling. “…if I don’t get with you soon, father and grandfather will start worrying we don’t get on, and they’ll start thinking about Keomi-chan again.”

“No way. That would be a crime… or actually, it wouldn’t, would it?” I chuckled, shaking my head. “Keomi-chan’s older than she seems, isn’t she?”

“Yeah, in high school, despite her distinctly middle school scatterbrain. So many of the younger girls are more mature, like the twins, or even Marika-chan. Must be hard for Keomi-chan, to be outclassed by an elementary schooler!”

I’d taken out my own phone and fired off a quick message. Soon I had an affirmative response, alongside a map. All right then.

I took a deep breath. “It’s done.” At Kana’s nod, I produced a coat from storage, and even though she wasn’t cold due to her stats, I draped it over her gallantly, and she clutched it tight around herself, sniffing it, to take in my scent.

“Yeah. Fine. Let’s get… out of the cold.” Her words were deadpan.

“Yes. And no more talk of Keomi-chan. You’re the Shirohebizumi shrine woman for me.”

“I should think so. If you hit on my mother, not even I can forgive that!” Kana teased, and I grinned sheepishly.

“Yeah, after what happened with Aiko, I know I have no right to take the moral high ground, but… stealing women from others is totally against my principles!”

“Oh…” Kana smirked. “…so it’s not that she’s my mother, just that she’s already taken, hmm? You really are an incorrigible pervert!”

“I’m being misunderstood!” I played along, pretending to grovel, and soon, we’d arrived at a small but upmarket hotel, a reservation having been made for us at Hinata’s request…

So then… I swallowed, suddenly feeling oddly nervous, and Kana must have felt the same way, but after a moment’s hesitation, she led me to the door, her brown eyes showing her resolve…

***

“Here.” I handed Kana a glass I’d just filled with champagne. Hinata had even arranged that, as detail orientated as ever. “To us, and another wonderful date.”

“To us.” Kana echoed, clinking glasses with me, before taking a sip. Her gaze strayed to the large bed in the room, and I knew what she was thinking.

“There’s no need to be shy. You said it yourself, we’ve been dating a while, even if we’ve both been so busy we’ve not had time to go on as many dates as you’d have liked. Being lovers won’t suddenly stop our romantic fun.”

“That’s true.” Kana agreed. “Even so… and I’m shocked as it’s me, and what I’ve seen and done, but… I suddenly feel shy, my heart’s racing. I anticipate it, but… I’m also a bit scared, you know?”

“Of course. It’s only natural. Your first time’s a special moment in your life, after all.”

“Poser!” Kana giggled, breaking the tension. “You only had your first time a few months back, don’t try and act like a wise old mentor. Besides… it’s different for girls.”

“That it is.” I agreed, sipping on the champagne.

“This is where you’re supposed to reassure me!” Kana pouted, and I chuckled.

“Why? Kana, I swear to you now, so long as you love me, I’ll love you too. I’ll never abandon or mistreat you, and… I’ll protect you for as long as we both live, from both harm and sorrow.” I felt the weight of my words, Oaths, in effect, settle around me, and Kana, her Skills honed by her hard and precise construction work, felt it too. She smiled, but then flicked a stone she’d conjured from her earth element at my forehead.

I could have dodged easily enough, but I let it hit me, since it was simply a gesture. Rubbing at the spot, not that it hurt, I pretended to be angry. “What was that for?”

“Oh, come on.” Kana rolled her eyes. “You’ll not be challenging Arisu-chan for the Oscars, that’s for sure. I know you’ll never leave me, will love and cherish me. I’m the same way. I told you, I’m not easy, I’m serious! It’s not that… I’m worried about getting pregnant, as you well know!”

Ah. “That makes sense.” I patted the bed as I sat down, and she moved beside me, leaning against me, looking up into my eyes. We clinked our glasses once more, and I cheekily refilled us by holding the bottle aloft with aether. Taking a sip to compose myself, I asked the obvious question.

“So, you’re not looking to get pregnant right now?”

“Obviously.” she sniffed. “I’m not Asha. Or Eri, I suppose. Now she’s settled down, at least. But back when you first started dating, she was dangerous, yeah?”

“Her mental state wasn’t right. It was mostly my fault. Shaeula’s existence put so much pressure on her, she worried she’d lose me, and… she was still seeing the me from years before. The coward. But I’m not a coward now. So, while fatherhood both thrills and frightens me, I can handle it. And not just for Asha. So if you want a child, that’s fine.”

“I’m just worried it won’t be our choice!” Kana grumbled. “Shirohebi is desperate for an heir to be born from our bloodlines, hence my jokes about Keomi-chan earlier! If I don’t start making love to you, who knows what ideas they’ll put in poor naïve Keomi-chan’s head! The last thing you want is to come into the bedroom to find her naked in your bed!”

“I shudder to think of it. Knowing her, instead of lingerie, she’d have smeared herself in cake. Think of the mess the poor maids would have to clean up!”

Kana snorted at that, nearly choking on her champagne. Wiping at her damp lips, she shuddered with barely held laughter and swore, a rarity for her. “Shit. What the hell is that mental image? But… she’d do something like that, wouldn’t she, the little ditz? No, let’s head that off. I’m not yielding to pressure anyway, but…”

“Yeah. You’re… kind of overspecialised for fertility. Even Asha probably doesn’t have as many buffs as you do. But fortunately…” I pointed out the obvious. “…here, we’re away from the shrine, from Asha’s Tree, and you’re not wearing your torc.”

“Even so, I don’t feel safe!” Kana grumbled. “Oh, and don’t start thinking that I don’t love you enough to have kids with you. We will, just not right now. I’m young yet, and while I don’t mind taking our relationship… no, I want to take our relationship to the next level… I want to keep this fresh, fun feeling for a while yet. Besides… I’d rather not have a child until I’ve at least finished all the construction projects we’ve got planed…”

At my gaze, she smirked. “You thought I’d say school, didn’t you? What do I care about gossip? Honestly, I’m tempted to drop out. I’m not alone in that, you know. But… I probably won’t, unless something major happens. Because I like to keep as much of an ordinary life as I can. Even in this extraordinary world, and in our unique relationship. Because… that’s more fun, and…” She downed her champagne, waving the glass for a refill, to which I obliged. “…I’m the girl you said yourself was easy and fun to be with. Parenthood is rewarding, I’m sure, not that I was easy for my father, and… well, Aiko…”

We both had a good laugh at that, and my sis pouted in the back of my mind, claiming we were making fun of her.

“…but anyway…” Kana continued. “…it’s not the sort of Kana I want you to hold right now. No, you’ve got a lot of stress coming up. A handful of years, according to Tsukiko, yes?”

I nodded. “It didn’t happen this new year, but yes, if she’s right, and I have no reason to doubt her or Tsukuyomi, we’ve between one and four… no, three… years. Of course, that’s just for one ominous prophecy. Things could go to hell a lot sooner…”

“So, I’ll wait until things are more settled. If Fate will let us.”

“Well, I can use a condom, but… uh…” I was embarrassed, and Kana tittered, understanding.

“I’ve seen you get milked. Yeah, it’s just going to swell up and burst, makes me feel sick thinking about it. So there’s no point. I… am on the pill. Mother’s no fool, she made sure of it even before we started dating. She already knew I loved you and had faith I could win you over. More than me, actually.”

“Even so, yeah… that might not be enough. It’s fortunate, then…” I finished my champagne, before sweeping Kana up into my arms playfully. “…I’ve already sorted that. Ether Healing is very useful for these sorts of things.”

“Oh?” Kana asked. “You really will go to any lengths to avoid using a condom. I’ve heard some of the seniors at school or girls in Tokyo mention guys dislike them. But is it effective?”

“Yep, though… it’s not exactly fun.” I grimaced, aether surging, and my body effectively gave itself a vasectomy. I can’t believe I had to look this up. Of course, it’s entirely reversible any time I want. Now then… using Ether Healing I reclaimed all the sperm in my tubes, and just to be extra safe, inactivated the remaining sperm. I wasn’t confident I’d get to a hundred percent kill rate, but with all of those methods taken together, I was temporarily infertile. Though I still wouldn’t trust Kana fully buffed. Who knows if she wouldn’t subconsciously restore them with Ether Healing or some such disaster…

I explained, and Kana nodded, understanding. “Yes, we should be fine, but there are no guarantees. Thinking about it…” Kana started to sweat. “…last night, what if…”

My Eyes shone, and I shook my head. “You’re fine. And Hinata’s a smart girl. She made sure to aim the flow in safe areas, didn’t she?”

Kana pulled at her t-shirt, as if remembering, giving me another tantalising glimpse of her chest. “Yes. I’m relieved. I need to be more careful now… we’re going to the next level. I’m… not going to lie. I’m inexperienced, so it might not…” I swallowed her words with a kiss. Her tongue sought mine, and I reciprocated, and this time I wasn’t going to hold back. I pulled at Kana’s reddish-gold t-shirt, lifting it up, exposing her ample chest, clad in sexy scarlet bra. My hand sank into her flesh and she moaned into my mouth, even as my fingers pulled the bra down, revealing her nipples. My other hand slid up her skirt, and my fingers gently started vibrating over the top of her crimson panties, teasing her enough to relax and arouse, but not enough to scare her. Her clit grew, rubbing against the silky cloth, and dampness spread, her nipples hardening under my touch.

“Hah, ahn… eager, are… we?” Kana gasped breathlessly and then groaned as my tongue tangled with hers again, my fingers slowly speeding up. “Wait, hah… I’m all… ahn… sweaty. At least… hah… oh, so embarrassing…” Her pussy squelched under my ministrations, making her flush with greater shame than my groping hands. “…let me… ahn… shower first!”

I sniffed her hair, long black locks flowing like silk. Then her armpits, her breasts, and even slid my face down her body while she moaned in pleasure, nose pressed against her damp panties. “Nope, you smell fine to me. Like a woman should.” I countered, before teasing aside the cloth, revealing her slit. Kana was bare, clean-shaven, which wasn’t unexpected, and seeing me staring, she managed a disgruntled yet aroused pout.

“Hah, I know you… don’t care… wait, ahn, no, don’t taste me!” Kana leaked a few tears of arousal and shame as I stuck my tongue into her pussy, just enough to part the walls and taste her nectars. I then lapped up, sucking on her clit, making her shudder, before trailing my tongue up along her belly, over the breasts, lingering on the nipples for a moment, biting gently and playfully, before going to her cheeks and licking up her tears, before kissing her again.

“You’re… hah… so forceful. I really… understand… ah, ahn… what it means to be a woman… right now.” Kana moaned, arms circling me. “Fine. I… love you. No more… denying it. I want… to be Oshiro Kana! I can laugh at myself… all I want… for being such a… such a girl…” she smiled self-deprecatingly in between heaving breaths, as I just gently toyed with her bare pussy, enough to keep her newly lit fires burning.

“…but that’s what I want. I’m… a quite… orthodox woman, I suppose. Even if…”

“Our relationship is anything but?” I tugged at Kana’s t-shirt, and she raised her arms, letting me strip it off. Her dress followed, then her underwear, though I did clean her panties off with aether, since she’d have to wear them later, on the pleasure cruise.

“Unless you fancy going commando?” I spoke suddenly, and Kana frowned.

“What does that have to do with what you said… oh…” she suddenly understood. “No, I get it. You pervert!” Kana giggled, and reached out, unbuckling my belt, and I let her strip me down too, until we were both naked. “If you want that, ask Michiru. Or Miyu. Or Hyacinth. Eri… Shaeula… uh… thinking about it, maybe I’m the odd one out?” Se tilted her head adorably, so I took a mouthful of champagne, and fed it to her mouth-to-mouth, and it was endearing as she gulped it down, and what drizzled out over her neck and cleavage I licked off playfully.

“There’s a lot to be said, and a lot to be loved, about sensible Kana.” I chuckled. “Though honestly, on the boat…”

“It’s a yacht.” Kana corrected, and I chuckled, patting her head, now messing her hair up didn’t matter as much.

“They all float. Anyway, there, it’d be fine. But I don’t have the fetish of showing off those I love to others in such a lewd manner. Now then…” I lay down beside her, my hands once again roaming all over her body. “…I think since it’s your first time, I should loosen you up a bit.”

“I’m hardly going to worry about the pain of losing my virginity.” Kana snorted, trembling slightly as my touch was arousing her. “I have worse every day during construction work. Falling rocks, accidental collisions…”

“Maybe so. But… it’s our precious first time together. We’ll have thousands, tens of thousands, millions more… but we only get one first. So let me make it special for you!”

“Fine.” Kana agreed. “But…” She narrowed her brown eyes, and then straddled me, thrusting her bare ass towards me, her slit still oozing nectar, thin threads hanging down, her asshole twitching from shame and arousal, her skin flushed. “…I want it to be magical for you too. And it’s not like I’m an idiot, and I’ve seen plenty…” Her hand circled my stiffening cock, a touch hesitantly at first, before with more confidence her thumb started polishing my glans, getting sticky precum on her fingers, which she then licked off, her expression one I couldn’t see.

“Bitter, but… yeah, the aftertaste makes me hot, and… it’s kind of… nice? I see what they mean now, at first it’s like… yeah, not sure, but then… you really are a cheat.” Kana, emboldened, started toying with my balls, fingers soft, but growing firmer, and then her head sank down, and I felt her warm mouth envelop my dick. I let out a groan of pleasure at her tender, shivery touch, and that seemed to fire her up, and she then began to suck more fiercely, yet still with a gentle, sensuous pleasure. Lowering her head still further, she gagged a bit, and I warned her to take it easy.

“No need to push yourself the first time…”

“Blame yourself for having a big one…” Kana grunted around my dick, her words slurred. “I’m no quitter, I’ll get it in…”

“It’s not that big…” I added modestly, and she snorted, and as her head slipped down, her tongue coiled around my cock, and I was impressed at how quickly she was learning, though surely her high stats mitigated a lot of the discomfort of her makeshift deepthroating.

Oh, I got distracted…

It was supposed to be me relaxing Kana, but her competitive spirit had been triggered. I smiled fondly, my love for the cheeky yet oddly gentle woman spiking, and then I brought my mouth and hands to her pussy, beginning in earnest. Her nectars started spilling as she wobbled, and my fingers gently circling her asshole, occasionally touching the sides, smearing it with her own juices, made her flinch, but despite her shame, she continued to suck and lick at my dick as if it was a popsicle, lips clamped on it moving up and down, her hands on my balls teasing. It was a little crude and unpolished, but for her first time it was extremely arousing.

Unwilling to lose, I clenched my ass, muscles contracting, which also helped keep my dick from spurting, as the makeshift birth control measures I’d applied had the side-effect of making me more sensitive inside, as Healing such a delicate area was certainly not without its side-effects, no matter how minor. Kana’s inner walls shivered and quaked under my probing tongue, and my fingers pinched and kneaded her clit, and Kana was sopping wet, strings of sticky nectar drooling down my chin.

“Ahn… so much better than… hah, ahn… masturbating…” Kana groaned. “Hey, not… not there!” I slid a finger slightly into her lubricated asshole, and she squealed. I withdrew it, and she gasped wetly. “Warn me… hah, ahn… first, okay? Your cock… it’s… hah… trembling and oozing. Can’t get… hah, ah… enough!”

So Kana plays with herself, huh? Can’t say I’m surprised. But… “In that case, relax. I’m not going deep, just… making sure you cum… hah… hard.” I groaned as she gently bit down, nibbling at my sopping cock. In response, my finger opened up her ass just a little, stirring gently as her butt clung to my finger. Her pussy shuddered and trembled, and as I was starting to lose the battle against Kana’s stimulation, liquid leaking from my cock in a steady trickle. I pushed in harder, and my fingers kneaded her clit fiercely.

Moments later, Kana convulsed, and I winced, as her teeth grated on my dick unpleasantly, but even as Kana squirted, nectar scattering, she refused to be defeated, and her hands grabbed the root of my cock as her mouth slid up, and she squeezed and stroked, and soon I was gushing too, the pair of us orgasming together.

“Ahn… hah, wow, damn…” Kana’s hips bucked as she continued to cum, an impressive display for her first time, and she coughed, scattering my cum everywhere, though she bravely swallowed what must have seemed like gallons to her, but was surely only a few mouthfuls. Even so, she continued to suck and stroke, though her strength was leaving her, and as my flow, reduced due to my emptying of the sperm tanks earlier, calmed down, she shook my dick, squeezing out the last, before collapsing onto my body, panting.

“I’m… I see why they say everything goes… hah… white…” Kana gasped, her breathing fast and hot. “Thouh to me it was more… golden?” She slowly rolled around, so she was facing me, only to gasp, eyes wide.

“I… uh… leaked that bad?” she asked, mortified.

“Hey, it’s a good sign. You’ve got a very sensitive body, so sex should be relatively painless and a lot of fun for you.” I wiped my sticky chin and licked her juices off, making her flush. “Oh…” I pointed to her face, which was stained with my own secretions, and she repeated my gesture, giving me teasing eye contact.

“I bet. All the better for me to get pregnant.” Kana grumbled, a touch acerbically, before she snuggled against my chest, raising an eyebrow. “But not today, you say? Oh, and are my breasts that nice? I’m quite proud of the size.”

“As you should be. They’re perfect. Though I don’t discriminate.”

“No kidding, otherwise certain girls would be upset.” Kana winked. She glanced at me, before lazily using some aether to retrieve the nearly empty bottle of champagne. She rinsed her mouth with it, before kissing me passionately, our tongues as one, her reenacting her blowjob, just on my tongue. When we separated, she giggled.

“My head’s a mess. I’ve melted. But I feel full of love right now. To think…” She snuggled in again. “…I can do this with my boyfriend whenever I want. Well, when you’re free, I suppose.”

“Not just that.” I stroked her hair and her head, and occasionally cheekily pinched her ass, and toyed with her drooling slit with one finger, keeping her ready. “We’ve only just begun our lives together. We’ll have dates and hang out. We’ll also fight terrible battles and build wonders. And we’ll have sex, and in the future, start a family. It’ll be a big family!”

“No kidding… hey!” she chided as my finger slid inside her ass again, rubbing. “You’re desperate to make love, aren’t you? If I’m honest…” She rolled back a little, touching her belly, then rubbing down, her fingers suddenly slick. “…and my body… no, I suppose I should say my pussy… certainly is… then I have to admit I feel great, but my body feels empty, lonely. It’s… yearning to be filled.” Kana then gazed down at my erect, soiled cock, which pulsed eagerly. “Seeing it, I do wonder how it fits, but then… Shaeula can take it… hell, her ass has, so… it does.”

We exchanged more champagne flavoured kisses, before I gently straddled above Kana, our hands entwined like lovers. She gulped, eyeing my dick as it pointed at her pussy, and she nodded. “Go on then. I thought I’d be more nervous, but if I’m telling the truth… I’m eager. I couldn’t go back from this, even if I wanted to…” She lifted one of our connected hands and placed them on her left breast. “…my heart’s racing, and… it’s burning. I know this is just the start of it, but… from this moment, we’re as close as can be!”

“Closer.” I promised, kissing her forehead softly. I knew Lovers’ Link had Ranked up for Kana, and was probably going to rise more, though that wasn’t the end of the journey. No, beyond lies Rank eleven and beyond, the true Connections between us. But… I want to build it properly, so it lasts.

“Yes. I guess so.” Kana bit her lip. “I’m not scared, I’m eager, but…”

“But it’s still a big deal. Relax.” My cock was pressing against her oozing entrance now, her pussy lips slowly opening, liquid dribbling out. “Breathe. In and out. In and out.” Kana copied me, and she did calm down. Her mouth opened to tell me to go in, and I met hers with mine, as my dick slid inside her, prising her damp, shivering pussy open. I met an obstruction, my cock knocking against her maidenhead, and her kiss became more frantic, her hands tightening, as did her pussy, and her gaze urged me on, so with one final straining, my dick pierced her hymen, and slammed into her down to the root.

“Hah…” As our lips parted, Kana gasped. “That didn’t hurt at all…”

“Don’t say it.” I knew how women thought, I’d had sex with enough to know now. “You were definitely a virgin, and even if you weren’t, who cares? You’re mine, and I’m yours. But yes, I loosened you up beforehand so it wouldn’t hurt. You’re not the noble daughters, who need to feel it in their hearts. Are you?”

“I guess not…” Kana breathed slowly, her breath hitching. “I was one hundred percent untouched before this though, I insist you understand!”

A kiss was my only answer, before with a sigh, I slid my dick out of her. Kana moaned, her regret and lust palpable, and her eyes widened, almost hypnotised, as she saw my erect cock, stained faintly red by her blood.

“That… went inside me…?” she asked, though she knew the answer, and with a grin, I pulled her upright, even as I thrust back inside, though gently.

“And it will… again and again.” I promised, as she moaned, her pussy stretched by my cock, rubbing against her tight, clinging walls, precum, her virgin blood, and her nectars, all foaming together for lubrication. I started sucking on her nipples, even as I began to thrust in and out of her, slowly, almost tenderly at first, to get her used to it, before she gasped out in annoyance.

“I’m not made… ahn… of glass. Do me… hah, ah… like you mean it! I’ve seen… hah, ah… you fuck…” she used the crude word on purpose, arousing herself, even as my mouth and cock turned her on, heating her up. “…some of… hah… the others. I… want to feel it… ahn… too!”

“I’m sure you do, but…” my words were tender and full of affection.  “…I don’t want… hah…” Kana tightened up, and at my inquisitive gaze, she giggled wetly, licking her lips lustily.

“I listen. I may not… hah… have experience… but I’ve talked to… ahn… the others. I know what… hah… brings us both… pleasure!” She began to gently rock her body, making sure my glans scrapped her deepest places, making me shiver and gasp. Occasionally when I thrust my own hips, she’d clench her ass, squeezing me and rubbing her own slick, undulating walls against me.

“I surrender.” I hugged her close, and sped up, Kana feeling no pain, so I could, as she wanted, go hard. But also tenderly. Our lips met, tongues gently touching each other, then suddenly fiercely tangling, just as my pace alternated, hard, fast thrusts, shallow, gentle probing, and even slow, leisurely twisting. Kana’s chest heaved with every motion, a gorgeous sight, and her hair was sticking to her sweaty forehead and shoulders.

“Yes, when… hah… ahn… you love… someone…” Kana revealed her inner worries, her eyes moist with emotion. “…this is… special. I’d have… hah, ahn… hated… to be a yakuza’s… hah, ahn… mmm… toy!” Her body was responding now, as I’d begun to establish what spots made Kana tremble, shifting my angle, and she responded, her legs wrapped around me, dragging me in with each thrust so I filled her to the brim.

“In no world would… hah… hm…” I too was starting to feel it, my balls hot again, Ether Healing replenishing my spent liquids, a boiling, heavy weight building inside me. “…I ever let that happen!” Kana’s fingers were gripping mine so tightly, so desperately, but her remembered panic was giving way to ecstasy, her body was trembling, her pussy twitching and clamping erratically, her fluids gushing. “You’re mine, Oshiro Kana!”

At my declaration, Kana’s pussy clutched me so hard it was almost painful, and my cock discharged, her pussy wriggling.

“Hah… ahn… dying… ahn… hah… dying happy!” Kana cried out, half-delirious from the feel of my seeds… or should they be called that at this moment, since I made my balls fallow… pouring into her. I could feel her deepest insides twitching, as it greedily accepted what I was spraying into her, and as I continued to thrust, Kana joined me in cumming hard, her eyes rolling.

“Hot… hah… but…” Kana’s words failed her, and she bit down on my lip hard enough to tear my skin, and her tongue thrust into my mouth, even as I continued to shake my hips, and she clenched her ass, holding my cock within her lower lips, wringing more from me.

Then… With a smirk I released one of her hands and reached down, smearing semen and nectar on her clit, using it to lubricate my vibrating fingers, and Kana, even as the afterglow of her orgasm was fading, kissed me frantically as her body shuddered again, a second wave of orgasms rocking her.

She spurted from both sets of lips, spit leaking into my mouth, and as my cock discharged its last spurt, slipping free with a muffled pop and a trail of spent cum, Kana’s pussy opening and closing as if regretful to see it go, Kana collapsed against me, her breathing slowly starting to calm down, her brown eyes regaining her lucidity.

“Oh… hah… whoa…” Kana gasped, skin crimson and sweaty. “I… lost it a bit there. I guess I’m a lewd woman, huh?”

“Yeah.” I agreed, hugging her tightly, gently caressing her back with my free hand, while my other hand was in hers, squeezing reassuringly. “But I’m a lewd guy, so we match, don’t you think?”

“I guess you’d have to be.” Kana playfully poked at my shrinking cock with one finger. “Else the succubae you’ve gathered will suck you dry. Speaking of…” Kana bent down, lips pursed, but I stopped her.

“Nope. That’s unhealthy, since you were a virgin there’s blood on my dick. We’ll take a shower. We can’t turn up at the boat party looking like this anyway…”

“I doubt anyone would mind. They’d just tease us…” Kana agreed. “But I wouldn’t do that to Haru. Oh… please don’t tell her what I said, okay? Compared to what happened to her, my brush with danger…”

I cut her off with a hug, continuing to relax Kana after our lovemaking. “She’ll understand. I had a feeling that was a bigger deal to you than you let on.”

“I mean, I even pissed myself in relief.” Kana agreed. “I lost control of my bladder when you saved me, when I knew I was safe. Here…” Kana looked down at her smeared legs. “…I’ll be honest, it was touch and go. I felt such bliss… but I managed to hold on. Though now… my legs don’t work. Akio, you’ve ruined me!” she teased, though she was fidgeting, clearly embarrassed.

“Fine.” I hoisted her up and carried her into the bathroom. “Go on then.”

“Uh… aren’t you going to leave me here?” she asked, crimson-faced, and I shook my head with a smile.

“Nope. Let me help you, my beloved Kana. You’re right. There’s no backing out now.” I gently prodded at her belly, and with an ashamed but aroused expression, she relaxed, and at first a trickle, but then a hot stream, arched from her and into the toilet as I held her in my arms.

“You have some perverted hobbies…” Kana teased, and I kissed her even as she continued to stream out urine into the toilet. As the flow stopped, I pulled some toilet paper from the roll to the side and wiped her off, though considering she was oozing my cum and her nectars too, it was a lost cause.

“Nope, I just love every side of you, and… as a man, only I’ll get to see this part of you.”

“That’s true. I suppose I won’t be alone on the bed much…” Kana agreed.

“Yeah, I’m afraid not, but it’s a good thing. Everyone feels closer when we make love together, play around. Like last night, or the night before.” I put Kana down, and she wobbled, her legs a bit unsteady and I grabbed her arm, patting her head gently. “But I still want solo dates with you, with the others. Because that’s nice too.”

“I guess.” Kana agreed. “So, should I… no, should we take a shower now? Everyone will be waiting for us.”

“That they will, but…” A quick mental communication, and my cock was standing erect again. “…we have time for another round, if you’re game?”

Kana snorted, her answer a lingering kiss, her hand stroking my cock, the other on her slit, opening it up, my cum oozing free in a long, sticky tide. Needing no second invitation, I pushed her against the shower door, my dick driving inside her pussy, wringing a damp gasp from her. When our kiss was finished, a bridge of saliva momentarily linking us, she gasped, my cock already sliding in and out.

“You’re… ahn… inexhaustible… insatiable…”

“It’s not like you didn’t… hah… want this!” I countered playfully, and she bit at my shoulder, trying to give me a love bite.

“It’s my… ahn… hah… first time. I want to have no... hah… regrets.”

“In that case… we have to be quick, but…” I smirked, and Kana’s face was alight with passion and anticipation. “…I reckon I’m good for a couple more…”

Yes, if I jump us back to the dock with my spatial element, we can squeeze out one… no, maybe two more. Making love to her in the bathroom like this is fresh and alluring, but… we really should try doggy-style too, and maybe…

Soon my thoughts scattered, as Kana was tightening up on me, her passionate moans and pleas for kisses driving away extraneous worries, and we luxuriated in each other’s bodies and hearts, becoming one again and again…