TRIGGER WARNINGS: Gaslighting, Manipulation, Assault, Ignoring Boundaries
Ch. 7: A Tender Touch
Inui: “Hey, you…”
At his sudden move, I forgot even how to speak.
I sat frozen as his lips slowly drew closer…
OO: “…!”
I shut my eyes at the tender sensation of our lips connecting.
At that time, I heard a low laugh near my ear.
Inui: “Haha, don’t be so stiff. Otherwise, we can’t keep going, right?”
(Keep going…)
I opened my eyes, my body still frozen from tension, and Inui was smiling wryly at me as he let me go.
Inui: “We were in the middle of our meal. Are you going to eat?”
OO: “Uh…um…”
Inui: “Or should I continue?”
OO: “No, not that!”
Finally able to get my voice out, even I was surprised at how loud it was…
Seeing me like that, Inui laughed as if he found something amusing.
Ch. 8: A Flawless Prince
The day after Inui and I had dinner together…
His servant visited my room.
Servant: “Lord Inui asks that you accompany me to the kagura dance hall. Presently, he is in the midst of rehearsal for the prayer ceremony and wishes for you to observe.”
OO: “Practice…?”
(But all those things just happened yesterday…)
I didn’t know how to face him so I didn’t answer, and the servant’s stiff expression softened.
Servant: “Please come. This is the first time Lord Inui has asked a woman to watch him practice.”
(The first time…?)
I lost out to the servant’s persuasion upon hearing those words and headed towards the kagura dance hall.
The hall I was guided to was wrapped in an air of purity, as if it were a holy place.
At the center of the hall was Inui and a group of master musicians performing with shamisen.
(Wow…)
Their powerful notes were full of life and I was caught up in the moment.
I was captivated by Inui’s serious expression as he strummed the strings.
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Inui: “I’m a prince of this country, and the one who leads the Dog Family. As the perfect prince, and as the one who leads my family… it’s necessary for me to continue to be a source of absolute pride.”
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(He’s the epitome of pride…)
I felt that those words fit Inui perfectly as I watched him as the lead player.
Then the music ended, and Inui let out a sigh and looked up.
Inui: “It’s coming along quite well. Take a break.”
Saying that, Inui noticed me and beckoned me over.
OO: “That was amazing. Your performance was so powerful and impactful… it was wonderful.”
Inui: “I had been thinking about letting you watch. …you were fascinated, right?”
OO: “That’s…”
In the face of his imposing grin, I found the words stuck in my throat.
(He might be right. Just a minute ago, I really was…)
I hesitated to answer as I felt a mixture of complicated emotions, and the musicians who were on break started to play their piece once more.
But in the midst of their playing, I heard something played off-key.
Inui: “Hey. You messed up that spot again.”
Inui called out and the musician ducked his head, the hand holding his shamisen pick stopping.
Musician: “Y-yes… apologies!”
Inui: “Don’t shrink away, play. Try playing by feel rather than looking at the sheet music.”
Musician: “Right!”
Heading Inui’s advice, the musician started again.
The sound was steadier than it had been before, but it still couldn’t be called perfect.
Inui: “There’s only four days left until the prayer ceremony…”
Inui sounded troubled as he crossed his arms over his chest.
There were a number of callouses on his fingers.
(I don’t know what to say at times like this.)
I opened my mouth to speak as I remembered Inui’s late-night practicing.
OO: “I’m sure you can conduct them all Inui.”
He quietly looked back at me.
OO: “I really thought your shamisen playing was beautiful Inui. It was powerful, and brilliant… So you should show everyone else that ideal they should be aiming for.”
Inui: “OO…”
OO: “You’re a flawless prince, right?”
I said it jokingly, and Inui’s mouth turned up into a grin.
Inui: “…you don’t have to remind me.”
(Ah…)
This smile felt different than his usual arrogant one, and my heart sped up a little.
Inui: “If the Princess of Traumare says so, I’ll have to do it without fail.”
He said as much and patted my head, then returned to practicing.
(Inui… you can do it.)
That powerful tone I’d heard before reached my ears once more.
And for some reason, the spot where he’d patted my head still felt hot.
Ch. 9: A Sudden Invitation
The next day, the sun rose to its zenith and poured light through the window…-.
Inui arrived at my room.
Inui: “We’re going out.”
At the sudden invitation, my eyes opened wide.
OO: “Is that alright with practice?”
Inui: “We completed it to perfection yesterday. There’s one area I still want to make adjustments to, but the other musicians seemed to have grasped it. It’s fine to leave them up to their own individual practicing now.”
OO: “That’s great to hear. I’m glad.”
(As expected of Inui.)
I looked up at him as I thought that and…
Inui: “Since you’re a guest here, I can’t just leave you on your own forever.”
The gaze he aimed at me was surprisingly gentle, and it made my heart jump.
Inui: “Besides, I need to thank you for saying something so prideful to me.”
(Ah…)
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OO: “I really thought your shamisen playing was beautiful Inui. It was powerful, and brilliant… So you should show everyone else that ideal they should be aiming for. You’re a flawless prince, right?”
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OO: “…I overstepped yesterday.”
I bowed my head and Inui smiled.
Inui: “I didn’t say I was angry. I said I wanted to thank you. Though because you said what you did, everyone pretty much practiced straight through yesterday without sleeping.”
OO: “…! I’m sorry, I…”
Seeing me panic, Inui smiled in enjoyment.
Inui: “I’m kidding. It was thanks to you that this happened. Come on, let’s go.”
Without listening for my response, Inui took my hand and started walking.
I felt my cheeks flush as I felt the warmth coming from where our hands interlinked.
Ch. 10: A Sweet, Overbearing Kiss
In the quiet garden filled with beautiful greenery, the sounds of chirping birds echoed…-.
OO: “This is…”
Inui had brought me to the downtown garden that the servant had shown me the other day.
Inui: “Oh? Have you already been here?”
OO: “Yes. The servant brought me here the other day. I’m pretty sure he said you were the one in charge of its management, right?”
Inui nodded as he looked out at the garden.
Inui: “Yeah. Princes have an important duty to improve their countries. That, and I particularly like this place… it’s calming.”
He was right, it felt like this place was cut off from the outside passage of time, a comfortable space where you could relax and take in the smell of the flowers and plants.
OO: “I really like this place too. The people of this country must be happy that you opened such a wonderful garden.”
I spoke my thoughts aloud and Inui smiled at me…
Inui: “You know…”
Inui smiled wryly as he scratched his neck.
(Huh? Did I say something wrong…?)
But the closer I looked, his expression seemed happy.
Then…-.
Inui: “Your feelings are showing too much.”
(Eh…?)
Inui naturally wrapped his arm around my waist…
OO: “…”
Inui bent down, his face coming closer.
I reflexively stiffened as I thought our lips were about to touch, and Inui smiled bitterly.
Inui: “…when will you stop freezing up like that?”
At his words, I recalled that time the other day when we had dinner together.
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Inui: “Haha, don’t be so stiff. Otherwise, we can’t keep going, right?”
————————
I looked up at the man in front of me, and Inui suddenly smiled…
OO: “…!”
His long fingers grabbed hold of my chin.
Inui: “OO.”
His low voice echoed in my ear and my heart started pounding.
Inui: “It’s pretty obvious. You like me.”
It was like he could see straight through to my pounding heart and I reflexively looked him in the eye.
Inui’s smile was a bit malicious…
Inui: “And I’ve taken quite a liking to you.”
OO: “Eh…”
(Inui… likes me?)
Those unexpected words surprised me to the point where I could do nothing other than look into his eyes.
Inui: “…do you not believe me?”
OO: “That’s not…”
His fingers gently stroked across my chin.
Inui: “I thought you were perfect at first because you were the Princess of Traumere. But… now I think you’re a good woman, regardless of your social position. You’re the kind of woman who can motivate me with a few choice words.”
Inui chuckled.
Inui: “I want you to be the one who stands in the place at my side. You’re the first, and the first woman that I’m happy to have feelings for me back.”
(Feelings…)
OO: “Then I…?”
Inui: “You like me, right?”
He said it with such confidence that I couldn’t outright deny it…
(He’s right. I was really cautious in the beginning, but at some point…)
I’d seen an unexpected side of him, a very princely one… and while I had spent time with him, I couldn’t help but follow him with my eyes.
But more than that, being with him like this and having him confess his feelings made me happy, and I couldn’t stop my face from heating up.
Inui: “Well, what do you say?”
That seductive voice resounded within me and his lips were so close they almost touched.
OO: “…yes. I like you too I…-.”
My next words were swallowed up by a kiss.
OO: “…”
It was such an overbearing kiss I felt like I would be swallowed up, and my body was flooded with a sweet numbness.
(I wonder when I started to feel this way…)
I was aware that at some point, he’d stolen my heart, and I felt just a little annoyed at that.
But… when our lips finally parted, I felt like my legs were about to give out…
Inui: “…again.”
OO: “Nn…”
I surrendered myself to his powerful embrace and drowned myself in the sweet pleasure he gave me.
END
Secret Story: First-Time Emotions
It was at the time when I’d called OO to come watch the practice in the kagura dance hall.
Inui: “Don’t shrink away, play. Try playing by feel rather than looking at the sheet music.”
The new arrangement we were practicing through this time had a high level of difficulty, and I could tell the musicians were struggling.
Inui: “There’s only four days left until the prayer ceremony…”
(It’s a bit tight… I guess.)
I let out a sigh, then OO shyly spoke up.
OO: “I’m sure you can conduct them all Inui.”
OO looked me straight in the eyes as she said those words.
OO: “I really thought your shamisen playing was beautiful Inui. It was powerful, and brilliant…”
Then she smiled softly.
OO: “So you should show everyone else that ideal they should be aiming for.”
Inui: “OO…”
OO: “You’re a flawless prince, right?”
(This woman…)
She said it like she was trying to rile me up, and I couldn’t help but smile.
Inui: “…you don’t have to remind me.”
(We haven’t even been together for that many days, but she already knows me so well.)
As I thought about how simple it was for me to be encouraged, I realized it wasn’t a bad thing.
(No, actually… I really do want her.)
It wasn’t just because she was the Princess of Traumere. I wanted her as a woman…
That was the emotion I looked back at OO with.
Inui: “If the Princess of Traumare says so, I’ll have to do it without fail.”
(I can’t put on an unsightly display in front of you.)
Those were the words in my heart as I patted OO on the head.
She blushed as if embarrassed and I returned to practice, satisfied…-.
The next day…-.
I brought OO to the garden.
OO: “I’m pretty sure he said you were the one in charge of its management, right?”
Inui: “Yeah. Princes have an important duty to improve their countries. That, and I particularly like this place… it’s calming.”
I casually glanced to OO who stood beside me, and she took a deep breath as if readying her feelings…
OO: “I really like this place too. The people of this country must be happy that you opened such a wonderful garden.”
Then her entire face broke into a smile directed right at me, and I found myself captivated.
It was unmistakable in the sparkling of her eyes and the blush of her cheeks what feelings she held for me.
(You really are easy to read.)
I wondered just how many times this woman had felt affection for me.
Yet of all things, it looked like OO herself was unaware of it…
Inui: “You know…”
(Well, that should be enough.)
Inui: “Your feelings are showing too much.”
I was familiar with receiving the affection of women.
That was why I could generally recognize it when it was in front of me, and it had never been anything particularly special when I did notice.
But that’s just how things had been until now…
(This isn’t like me…)
Here was a woman I wanted from the bottom of my heart, and she felt the same.
I simply smiled, moving off of that hunch.
(So basically, that means I’ve fallen in love with you too.)
Feeling that sense of love, I wrapped my arms around OO’s back.
I bent over as if to steal her lips…
OO: “…”
OO stiffened as if surprised.
(…hey now, what’s with that reaction after we’ve come so far? How long do you plan on making me wait?)
Even as that thought crossed my mind, I thought her innocence to be lovely.
Inui: “…when will you stop freezing up like that?”
I said it with a teasing tone, and OO looked at me with a red face.
Then I…
(…that’s enough, time to be more forceful.)
OO: “…!”
I grabbed OO’s jaw so she couldn’t run away.
Inui: “OO. It’s pretty obvious. You like me. And I’ve taken quite a liking to you.”
OO: “Eh…”
Her eyes were wide as she looked up at me.
Inui: “…do you not believe me?”
OO: “That’s not…”
OO turned away as if troubled.
I recognized her expression then.
She’d made that face when we were discussing how she felt about affairs…-.
(I guess you won’t understand if I don’t redeem myself.)
I had the idea to express my own feelings in honest words.
Inui: “I thought you were perfect at first because you were the Princess of Traumere. But… now I think you’re a good woman, regardless of your social position. You’re the kind of woman who can motivate me with a few choice words.”
I remembered the day before and a smile crossed my face.
Inui: “I want you to be the one who stands in the place at my side. You’re the first, and the first woman that I’m happy to have feelings for me back.”
OO: “Then I…?”
Inui: “You like me, right?”
At my inquiry, OO’s face grew even more red.
(She really is just too easy to read.)
Inui: “Well, what do you say?”
I had already run out of patience and spoke to encourage her to answer.
OO: “…yes. I like you too I…-.”
I covered her lips before I could hear the last of what she was going to say.
OO: “…”
I thought of the love that had grown for the first time in my heart, and my body was on fire as I kissed the woman those affections were for…
My hunger only grew as sweet sighs escaped her.
Inui: “…again.”
OO: “Nn…”
I felt I would never grow tired of it, no matter how many times we repeated the act, and my desire only grew…
(OO, I love you.)
I immediately tucked the words I wanted to say back into my heart and simply tightly held onto that body and heart I loved so much.
END