ShipTeaser

  “Hyath, you help me take this dress off?” Eri said, a touch embarrassed. “I don’t want Akio to see me struggling like some idiot.” She looked at me then, her face red. “This dress is really expensive apparently, so I don’t want to get it dirty. Besides, it resent from Hinata. And you, I suppose…”

  “It’s a nice dress. I thought that this m.” I admired her as Hyath cheerfully helped her undress, Eri’s pale skin and white underwear ing into view. “It’s not something you normally wear, it’s fresh on you. The same goes for you, Hyath, Daiyu.”

  As Hyath giggled and Daiyu’s expressionless face ged a little, I tinued. “Besides, Eri, I’d never look down on you for your struggles. After all…”

  “No, it’s as much my fault as yours. We’ve been through this.” Eri said, as Hyath pulled the dress free, before carefully hanging it up. “I was overfident, and I paid a much smaller price than I should have.”

  The swirling spirit light of Ginneka agreed with her, her amusement piing that and my lingering guilt aside, I nodded. “Yes, we ’t dwell on the past, other than to learn from our mistakes. We o focus on the now, and in this moment…”

  “Now I want to make love to you.” Eri finished for me, hobbling to her bed and lying down, arms out invitingly. “I’m sorry if it’s not going to be exg, I’m not feeling very eic, but…” I moved to the bed rapidly, stopping her mouth with my own. Her eyes widened in surprise, before she responded passionately, her tongue darting into my mouth and tangling with mihe taste of her saliva on my lips. I entwined my fingers with hers, holding hands, and for a long minute all I could hear was her breath and the quiet giggles of Hyath, before we parted.

  “I don’t think there’ll ever be a time where it ising with you, Eri. Just think of how many men in Japan dream of a retionship with their cute childhood friend. I’m living that dream.”

  “Not just that. Who else has their own personal maid?” Eri smiled, looking at Hyath, fresh in her jeans and fluffy jumper which highlighted her slender figure and rge chest beautifully. “And aic fy.” Daiyu shrugged at that.

  “Yes, I’m the sort of Riajuu that Yasu-san, Shugo-san and I used to curse frequently, but I’m not sorry.” I kissed Eri again. “So don’t worry about it. Whatever we do will feel good, and I do feel sad I’ve not been able to hold you retly.” In my arms, Eri’s skin was warm, and I grinned, my hand slipping behio unfasten her bra. Her breasts popped free, her nipples already hard, and I used my free hand to fohem, gently at first, but rougher when Eri’s eyes were pleading for it. As she shivered and writhed under my touch, Daiyu addressed Hyath.

  “It is quite different watg others. Was it like this with me?” she asked.

  “Yes, I dooo love seeing the mistresses be happy. It reminds me ooof other times.”

  “I believe others would say the same about you, Hyath.” Daiyu tinued. “You have to be happy yourself, do you not?”

  Well said. Daiyu’s fit right in with everyone. She’s still a bit self-scious about her g Japanese, but she’s putting in a hard effort to learn, and a lot of us speak ese, through various means. I buried my head in Eri’s breasts, my tongue sliding over slightly sweaty flesh, lig all around until I finished with her nipples, and Eri moaned.

  “I’m sensitive there. More than usual. It’s been too long…”

  My free hand traced her belly, befently caressing her body over her white panties, my finger vibratily. “It has…” I muttered, still lig her nipples, sug and biting them, a fun game, finding ways to make Eri moan in pleasure. “…but pared to how long we’ll have iure, it’s just a blink of an eye.”

  My hand now slid into her paoug her skin directly, gently toying with her pussy and the ruby bean of her clitoris. Her breathing sped up, her skiy and her eyes moist, and for a moment I was ed that the strain might be too mu her rec body, but she urged me to go on, her ilting up so she could bite my ear pyfully.

  “You know, it feels a little strange…” Eri gasped, her body starting to tremble as my ministrations aroused her. “… here you are with me, but you’re also… ahn… in the Boundary tht?”

  I agreed, pulling her panties down, the fabric transparent and heavy with her leaking love ars, and I began to slurp at her trembling pussy, tasting the sour tang. My tongue slid inside and she groaned. I gently pced my lips around her clit and sucked it, and she let out a damp squeal.

  “Yes, I’m currently there as well. I’m talking with Shaeu and her brht now, as well as Shiro.” Feeling a bit mean, I used my tongue, polishing the ruby bean of her clit, and teased her. “They don’t know I’m making love to you even as we talk…” My fingers were in her pussy and she tightened up, her shivers being more intense.

  “Hyath thinks this is called Exhibitionism, nooo?” she ughed. “Mistress Shirooo mentio. I wooould love to be used to satisfy your lusts Akio, whenever and wherever! Talking tooo important people, your family, even in ooone of those trains…” she giggled madly, Eri looking at her exasperated, Daiyu fortunately not able to uand most of it.

  “Shiro learoo many bad things hanging out with us guys all these years.” I pined. “And there’s no way I’m going to let your lewd self be seen by a load of random people, Hyath. You are mine!” I then pulled away from Eri’s dripping pussy, tugging at my trousers, my dick popping free. Eri eyed it damply, her lips open, tongue lolling, and I kissed her. “That goes for you too, Eri. And you, Daiyu. I’m a selfish, sinful man, but ohing I will never promise on is that you’re all mine!”

  As if to prove my point, I pushed my cock to Eri’s pussy. It slid in, slowly opening her up, her juices easily lubrig us. O was all in, Eri reached down with her good arm, toug her belly happily. “I feel so… cherished. So safe.” She muttered. “So aroused. I guess girls be perverts too.”

  “I don’t think it’s perverted.” I kissed her, giving her body time to settle while keeping the fires of her lust high. “We’re just meant to be.”

  “We are. And I’m happy. You’re finally hoo yourself!” She turo the irls, and si was a bit plicated, I transted for Daiyu, even as Eri’s body cmped around my dick. “At first, he was saying stupid stuff like I wouldn’t bme you if you cheated on me or it’s not fair only I get to have multiple partners. So very, very annoying.” She pined. “I get it. I learned most of my behaviours from Akio, and I’m not fident. Even Aiko, despite her looks and her sp talents, she felt inferior to others. But there’s a limit to how pathetie be.” Her irritated expression turned gentle, and she touched where we were ected, her fingers a whisper on our skin. “Now though… he’s finally deg he’ll never let us go.”

  “Akio. No, master.” Hyath said solemnly, her eyes intehe moooment you gave me a name, washed away the old me that I had wished tooet, I was yours. I ooonly want you and the other mistresses. Nothing and nooobody else.” She paused, and for a sed looked rather regal, gring down at me as I y entangled with Eri. “Be proooud, Akio. After all, you have captured mas, and any whooo wish to leave are nooot worth your tears. You chose us, but we… we alsooo chose you!”

  “She is right. I did not see my Dao panion as someoo share, but I was aware of your many others. I did not go in blind. I am no child. Not by any definition. To resent it now is simple foolishness.”

  “See? Everyone else thinks the same. Even me.” Eri gasped. “I’m the only one who could make that argument, as I was first. But I wanted you to accept Shaeu, and I’ve not opposed your other choices so… ugh, ahn…”

  They’re all such kind, good girls. But they’re right. I’ve ged. I may still feel bad on occasion, but I’m no longer wracked with guilt and self-loathing over it. Why would I be? It may be arrogant, but I know I make them happier than anyone else, protect them, nurture them. As I began to thrust, gouging out Eri’s sug insides, Eri’s arms clumsily snaked around me. I could feel the differen grip strength and stability between her good and bad arm, and it pained my heart, but I was just happy enough she had some trol. Her lips sought mine, and I stantly shifted my thrusts, alternatiween deep and shallow, some thrusts pying around her entrahers smming into her deepest parts as our bodies spped wetly together. Soon she was flushed a bright red, and her moans were erotid passionate.

  “I… Akio, it’s been so long. Give it me inside.” Eri whispered, and my body felt as if hot va was building within. “Make me remember what it is to be your first love!”

  “Together then. But…”

  “Nooo problem. I shall help!” Hyath said, and her hand grabbed my balls, fondling and rubbing, even lig and kissing them, her hair tig my thighs and Eri’s belly. That stimuted my desires, and I had to admire her skill, as even as I drove my dick repeatedly into Eri, rubbing her pussy walls, bringing her ever closer tasm, Hyath’s mouth and hands kept pace elegantly, yet the scivious look on her face was a sexy juxtaposition.

  “I… Akio, I’m going to fly! Up to heaven, knowing I’m yours! That we’ll always be together!”

  “Master, gooo now!” Hyath’s hands tightened, and she sucked on my balls fiercely, triggering the hot magma of my ejacution. Eri shuddered and cried out, shedding tears of joy, and as I ground my dito her deepest parts, knog orao her womb, waves of pleasure flooded us both. Hyath rolled back, her hair and cheeks spttered by Eri’s love ar and my cum, but she merely wiped it off and started lig her fingers seductively.

  Just to be safe… My Eye fshed amber, and I watched as aether poured ioo, swirling arouangled, messy and imperfect Chakra work. That’s what I’ve been afraid of… Lovers’ Link and Kin Bonding were invaluable skills, but they did put a strain on ordinary and damaged bodies. As Eri sank down onto the bed, her expression blissful yet somehow lustful, I pulled free, rapidly w Chirurgery aher Healing to prevent damage.

  Seeing that, Daiyu expressed a wish she could see what I was doing, as it might have bearing on her own Dual Cultivation, and more importantly, she thought she might be able to offer me some advice, so I sidered it. I think… maybe if I do this? My Light Manipution has increased retly, so… It was hard going ierial, even with the slightly high ether density here, but light was ohing that the Material world had everywhere, so there was less resista it. Like a hologram, I began to map out Eri’s malformed and patched work, appearing as a colle of glowing golden and silver rivers, stars and steltions, a rainbow flow travelling through her body.

  “Pretty.” Eri managed, exhausted from her asm. Ordinarily she’d be eager to go again, but…

  “Yes, this is most enlightening. I wonder, ime you should do this with us.” Daiyu said. “Here…” she pointed out a few pces that she reised. “The energy, the Qi, it should be diverted…”

  Something else was illuminated by my light element, the soul light of Ginneka glowing visible to the naked eye. It was now rather rge and burning vividly, and as it bobbed closer to Eri, it dipped, floatihe heart chakra, making a straion. Wait, you wao adjust it here? But how?

  The fme bobbed again, moving in a strange, sinuous pattern. I frowned, and it repeated it, faster, with more urgency. Doing it again, I directed my thoughts towards her. Do you mean you wao create a pathway that way? I didn’t receive a solid answer, Ginneka’s emotions, while sometimes clear, didn’t tain crete thoughts, but I imagined a happy, affirmative nya sound. Fihen. Daiyu does agree we o divert the flow.

  I was fident Eri’s body was healed enough to withstand sex without taking much damage now, but I didn’t want to set back her burgeoning recovery. Aether fshed, and Eri groaned as I made a new pathway, following the bobbing light, cutting a snake-like trail around her heart, lunar, throat, third eye and chakras. The aether I had poured in followed, and since I was signifitly stronger sihe st time Eri and I had made love, it was quite the dazzling flow. At that thought I couldn’t help but look down at Eri, where sticky white cum was dripping from her pussy in a steady stream to the bed below. I’m gd we took off that dress. I guess I pump it out in both senses.

  “Akiooo is grinning creepily…” Hyath giggled, still lig on her fingers erotically. I made the final incision into Eri’s Astral subtle body, and suddenly all the errant flow dispersed, heading towards her eight chakras, and also…

  Did you expect this? I questiohe spirit light, which bobbed happily, and this time I was certain I could hear it purr in satisfa, as somehow energy was flowing bato me, and up into her spirit light, which became brighter and denser.

  “I feel better.” Eri said, wiping at her sweat, before smiling sweetly at me. “It’s true. Girls o feel well loved. I have to say, I’ve been a bit jealous.”

  “I am sorry. I have e in and taken up much of his time…” Daiyu apologised, but Eri shook her head wearily.

  “I don’t mean to make you apologise. When I’m better, I’ll make up for lost time. But… I’m a girl who wants to do everything she for her lover. After all, Akio’s already done everything for me.”

  “Speaking ooof…” Hyath said, unbuttoning her jeans, revealing a set of rich purple panties, cut quite lewdly too. On seeing my gaze she grinned, her cheeks red. “Eri tooooook Hyath shopping. She said it wooould please you. Doooes it?”

  “Yes, it’s a fresh look for you. But you were saying?”

  She slid down her panties, exposing her already damp slit, which was pletely the wrong order to undress, but as she was doing her own thing and it was still damn hot I let it slide. “Mistress Eri was thinking. Retly…”

  “Hyath, it’s all right…” Eri began, but as Hyath pulled off her woolly jumper to reveal a matg purple bra ing her ample mounds, she shook her head.

  “It is nooothing to worry about. I just thought we should ask Akiooo’s opinion.” She said, and tinued. “Eri, she is trying tooo find her role. You knooow she wants to work at the Ministry, do you not?”

  I nodded, my eyes transfixed as Hyath uncsped her bra, and her breasts popped into view. Yeah, thinking about it, she’s a good couple of cup-sizes rger here oerial. She’s hardly small in the Boundary, but even so, the variation is iing… “Yes, I’m aware.” I said, stroking Eri’s hair, keeping my Eye on her as the remainiher ran out of her. “I think it’s good she’s sidering what she wants to do with her future.”

  “I know. But Eri… she must not try toooooo hard.” Hyath said, gently kneeling down beside me and taking my co her hands, lig the mixture of cum and Eri’s juices off it, polishing it with her tongue sciviously but carefully, not missing a spot. Her mouth full with my dick, she tinued speaking. “Eri will also wooork for mistress Hinata’s pany, it seems. She wants to be a help, but…” her violet eyes met Eri’s onyx ones, while Daiyu watched on, listening as best she could. “… does mistress Eri not already have a precious role?”

  “I do. I’m first wife, but that isn’t all I want to be…” Eri said firmly. “Seeing Shaeu and Aiko, Daiyu and Hinata, the others too. Even you, Hyath…” she said softly. “… I feel I’m g ambition. It makes me feel bad.”

  “It shouldn’t.” I said, patting her head. “When it ts you have too much ambition.”

  “I agree. There, all dooone.” Hyath sucked at my gns, and I felt my lust spiking. She turo Daiyu, grabbing my did pushing it to her slit. “Hyath will nooot go too far today, Akio is tired.” She kissed me, which made her blush far more than giving me a blowjob, probably because it seemed more affeate to her. “We tell. Yooou have a lot on your mind, and now work twice as hard. So just sit bad let Hyath take care ooof you. Mistress Daiyu, it will be good to learn hooow to rex him.”

  As the ese girl nodded, Hyath began to slide up and down my shaft, her ass smag against my thighs, her hot gasps and spttering love ar smelling of cut grass and lemon. With the hand that wasn’t stroking Eri, I reached out, grabbing a handful of Hyath’s firm breasts, teasing her nipple. Her gasps intensified, but she didn’t fet to tinue her lecture.

  “Akio, what do you think mistress Eri shooould do? Hyath thinks…” she managed iween her moans, shifting position so that my dick was softly stroked by her writhing walls. “… yooou know what your heart desires. Dooo not lie to yourself.”

  “Yes, but… I have to be more than just his wife!” Eri insisted.

  “Yes, yooou do. But… someone has to be the ooone who manages. Mistress Shaeu knows that well. In the Seelie Court, it is nooot unusual for there to be many wives and es.” Her eyes were distant, perhaps remembering her long-buried past. “There are many who csh, whooo do not gel. If that happens and they fight, then it is the master whooo suffers, and it bees horrible for the ooother mistresses. Sooomebody has to mediate, to prevent troubles.”

  “Yes, Shaeu gave me that role, and I’ve tried. The rules we all agree to, not letting Shaeu grab every girl going… keeping out trash.” Eri said. “… but that’s not something that will take up all my time, not like what Shaeu does, or even you.”

  “Wrooong!” Hyath moaned, drool leaking from her mouth as she rode me frantically. “Already there are many ooof us. Worthy of one of the Lords of the Seelie.” She giggled and gasped, her body moving in figures of eight, her ass g, f her pussy to squeeze me in an irregur rhythm, making it hard for me to resist. On seeing my face of tration, her lips met mine and we kissed deeply, before she pulled away, giggling. “So cute. Ooour Akio.” She touched her lips softly. “It will get wooorse, I think. Do you not agree?”

  “I ’t say otherwise. There’s Tsukiko-san at least. And like I said before, Princess Eleanor and Princess Mikasa, as well as the two unknown ones… it just seems like destiny.” She ceded. “It worries me. Shiro’s not really a Princess, and Shaeu’s so easy-going. Too easy-going at times.” She pouted. “But how I stand up to someone like Princess Eleanor? I’m sure she’s thinking of you, Akio. You did save her life and the lives of her friends, as well as potentially her try. Girls find that hard to ignore. Especially since she wasn’t o you at first.”

  “Guilt makes the heart grooow!” Hyath agreed. “But looooook. Is this not all the more reason you should be the one whooo manages?”

  “But all I know is Akio.” She said. “I’m a shallow, sheltered girl.”

  “Yes, sooo learn.” Hyath panted, her movements speeding up. My hand reflexively dug into her soft breasts as the feeling of pleasure intensified, and she yelped in arousal.

  “If you keep that up, I’ll…” I groaned.

  “Let it out. Hyath gooo any time. I am always lustful when with you!” She giggled happily.

  “Fihen.” I said, suddenly moving my own waist, pierg her deeply. She gasped in surprise, but didn’t stop, w with me, and moments ter she let out a cry, asming, and I poured out my semen in a warm tide, filling her insides.

  “Such joooy.” Hyath muttered, falling down on top of me, her to, seeking a kiss. For a little while we cuddled, until the fires of her asm died down, and then, Hyath in one arm, Eri in my other, Daiyu watg, pink faced and envious, Hyath finished her argument.

  “I think you shooould work at this Ministry Eri. The pany tooooo.”

  “But you just said that I didn’t o…” Eri said, exasperated and fused.

  “Nooo, you misuand. You should do a little. A little of everything. Be a shrine maiden, apany mistress Shaeu tooo the Spring a powerful, important Fae. Learn how mistress Hinata operates, learn martial arts with Mistress Natsumi and Mistress Moootoko. Maybe even serve Akio with me sooometimes.” Hyath giggled bashfully. “Dooo not fix yourself to any one role but learn enough to uand all the others. You say you knooow Akio. That is a great advantage. So knooow us all as well, and what we do, and you be the one who keeps us all hooo and prevents misery.”

  “The first wife, the one who runs the household.” Daiyu agreed after a transtion. “It is usually the highest-ranking, most iial woman. At least it was su the olden days, of Kunlun and our past glory. Now, most powerful Cultivators merely seek a sole Dao panion. Though some… like that bastard g Gui, are profligate and lustful. Uh, I mean no offense. Your situation is different…” she apologised, to some ughter from us all.

  “I get it.” I nodded. “Eri, I’m happy you have ambitions, but if they are for the sake of needing to feel ambitious… all you o do is be happy, stay by my side. Hyath, Shaeu, Shiro and Daiyu, they all respect you. The others too. So… as my first wife, the first girl I ever kissed, the girl who has knowhe lo… I think it’s a role that suits you. But only if you want it.”

  “Yes, yes I do. I want to spend as much time with you as possible!” she admitted tearfully. “But it’s hard to justify it to myself, when I see the others. I’m just ordinary…”

  Before I could ahe spirit light of Ginneka bobbed up and down, trying to indicate something. Her feelings were still a mystery, but when taking irritation as me thinking the wrong thing, and amusement and happiness when I was closer to her meaning, I was able to dis she wanted me to pour aether into Eri and the carved pathway. Doing so, I addressed Eri sincerely. “Ordinary? Hardly. How many ordinary girls have swung a a Prince of the seelie, sin a Kijo in battle despite being maimed horribly, have a sexy cat ear and tail bination in the Boundary, and is the first fiancée of the Chosen who represents Japan? Seriously, Eri, you’re not ordinary at all. So Hyath is right, and your iions areirety wrong. Learn. I think it’ll be good for you to expand your horizons, and you might even find something you genuinely want to do. But until then… learn with the io be the one everyone es to when there’s a dispute, or they want to uand the irls? you do that?”

  She nodded. “I . For you. No, for me too.” She shifted unfortably. “I feel hot inside. What are you doing?”

  “I’m filling you up with aether. That cat was right about the Chirurgery helping relieve you, so it seems a good idea to…” I trailed off, eyes wide, as the spirit light vanished with a pop, the aether scattering, and I felt the e ge…

  “I have returned, nya!” I stumbled, Aliyah and Trey both managing to nd a blow on my body when I was distracted, and as Aliyah raised her fist, letting out a cry of triumph and satisfa, her eyes wide the naked, silver haired and furred catgirl that appeared from above my Astral body.

  “Who the fuck is she? Sister to your other cutie?” Aliyah excimed, remembering Eri’s new cat-like appearan the Boundary. “Damn, she’s naked! Brings back bad memories…”

  “Ginneka is alive again!” she purred, leaping onto my bad I felt the softness of her chest. As she did so, another sensation assaulted me, one I had never expected. Then that was driven from my mind, as Ginneka licked me. “You’re cruel, nya! Not only did you kill this beautiful me, but you made me witness so much fun sex, nya. I’m so horny. But… you have a tasty thing inside you, I want it, Nya! If you give it to me, you py with Ginneka’s sexy body all you want. I be whoever you want too…” she grinned, shifting form on my back to look exactly like princess Eleanor, just with silver cat ears and writhing tail. “It’s not as if it hurts them, nya. Go on, indulge yourself…”

  Spoiler

  [colpse]“Fuck, Trey, my hatred for this guy is rising up again. I ’t watch this, I’m going.” As she stormed off, jealous, her brother trying to sole her, I urged Gio cover herself, as weaselkin and some more of the Bck Wolf pany were watg open-mouthed. She sighed and silver fur covered all her bare skin, while ierial I fielded questions from Eri and the others.

  “Ginneka’s been reborn through Kioration.” I said. “And while she’s being annoying, there’s something important… no, two important things. Eri, you’re ing to the Boundary. Now we talk to an expert, the ces of getting you fully healed are greater.”

  “What is the other thing?” Daiyu asked me, curious.

  “The Divine Favour of Laverna, it reacted. I think it likes thieving cats…”

  ********

  “So, we meet again.” Shaeu was saying to Ginneka, haviurned hurriedly on feeling her leave our Kin Bonding. “I ot-not say it is a pleasure, sidering your crimes, but…”

  “Nya, five me!” she prostrated, shifting into a smaller, childlike form to appear more harmless. “It was simply that your skill was too delectable to pass up, nya. you bme me? I’m alive again because of it, oh noble Seventy-First! Five me!”

  “You murdered my maids. Traitors though they were, I ot-not easily five! Worse, you tio slobber on Akio, you worthless cat!” She gred, her eyes glittering with malice. “A loose female who only thinks of her own pleasure is far from suitable a match for him!”

  “I am sorry, nya, sorry! But he’s handsome and his aura is strong! Far more powerful than even before, nya! It makes me itside, so hot, nya! Besides…” she purred soothingly, trying to diffuse Shaeu’s justified rage. “… it is not my fault! As my sciousness grew brighter, I could sometimes sense what you were all doing. ies, nya, it was cruel to show poor little me that! Now I crave it, more than ever. And not just that, nya!” She rubbed herself on my foot, lig me. “That power, that skill. As the thieving cat, it calls to me, the smell so sweet, nya!”

  “Off you get, or else-else I shall kill you again, cat!” Shaeu gestured, and Hyath ed her in vines, pulling her off me, while she yowled, irritated. “Now, I have no iion of fetting your attempts on our life, but…” she looked at Eri, who was bemused at the anger Shaeu dispyed. “… you did save Eri’s life. So I suppose I - be grateful for that. Enough to spare you.”

  “I’d appreciate it. I made her a promise, when she helped me. I’m happy for you.” Eri said. “I don’t think what you did be fiven just for one good deed, but… we both survived.”

  “Speaking of that, you fix what is wrong with Eri’s body?” I asked, and Ginneka ged fain, now a match to Eri, just with silver fur instead of bck. Seeing the pair of Eri’s, one of them naked except for a bo cover her body I had brought over, I shook my head. Damn, shapeshifting powers sure are dangerous…

  “I , nya. Though you have made quite the mess.” She pouted, ears twitg. “Now I ’t get back what I gave her. I still shift my shape, nya, but now it’s limited to certain sizes and forms. Worse, that will always be a part of her, nya.”

  “I see. That’s a relief. I’m ly human, so I don’t care if Eri isher if she’s well.” I said, and Eri nodded.

  “Please, Ginneka. I’d appreciate your help.”

  “Nya, it art of the agreement, no? That we shared. But…” she looked at me pleadingly, and with Eri’s face it was hard to turn down. “My brother, nya? We were foolish and wrong, but…” She prostrated herself on the flrinding her head against the ground.

  “A life for a life.” Shaeu said. “Repair Eri’s spiritual body and I will sider fiveness, cat. Seeing as I am your kind superior in the Hyakki Yagyō. As for your brother, I slew him because he was aiming for our lives. I see no-no need for mercy. But what say you, Akio?”

  There’s something I want, but Eri es first. “Help heal Eri and you’ll win my favour. I’ll definitely be more ameo your requests if I’m pleased. Though sidering all the bad things you’ve likely done in the past…”

  “Nya, I died. The old Ginneka is dead and goarting afresh! Nya, that’s it! I was already punished with death, it would be cruel to tio mistreat me!” Her eyes sparkled with that sophistry, but it hit too close to Na’s situation, which also gave me the inklings of an idea.

  “Damn this cat is noisy.” Shiro said to Asha, who smiled gently, before speaking up herself.

  “Akio, I too did terrible things in my madness. you have some passion?”

  “Yes, but you had no choice. Ginneka and her brother, they did. They e. My mom always said cats were cruel bastards, killing weaker animals for sport, but…” I’ve done my share, if for better reasons.

  “Look, you have great skills, nya. Follow my lead and…” Ginneka asked me to observe her side by side with Shaeu.

  “I see. That’s Eri’s, and Shaeu’s…” I muttered.

  “Yes, nya. You ’t just put her back to the way she was before. It won’t work, nya. By the way, thanks for listening to me and making that bran her body. We are linked by my gift of shapeshifting, so I could collect much purer aether than I could from your ability. It pushed me over the top, nya. No, she will o have this…” she ged form into a mirror of Shaeu, merely with silver hair and blue eyes. Shaeu growled, irritated, but as her own eyes glowed, she paused, thoughtfully.

  Spoiler

  [colpse]“Yes, I see. Your Chakra work is a hybrid between Fae and Yōkai, Shaeu. Eri’s is a mess, but there’s elements of both…” I mused.

  “If she was an ordinary mortal, nya, she never would have been able to receive my gift.” Ginneka pursed her lips, amusing using Shaeu’s face. “This thieving cat has had so much stolen. Muy shapeshifting, my Void Motion…” she looked at me, raising an eyebrow. “My life and my brother. My Number in the Parade. But in exge, I want that lovely thing you hold!” she purred, moving to hug me again, but the irl dragged her away, ign her cries.

  “Help me fix Eri first, and we talk about it.” I said, ba a single body, as I would need all my tration for this, and mistakes would not be tolerated.

  ********

  “Careful, nya!” Ginneka said, her eyes glowing amber. Shaeu was sitting there, scowling brutally, her own amber eyes dull and dark.

  “If I do not-not have my Mystic Eyes returned unscathed, I shall send you straight to yrave, cat, and there shall be no-no sed ces!” she warned, and Ginneka ughed.

  “I wouldn’t be so foolish, nya. Without Void Motion, there is no way I escape. I am trying to earn fiveness here, so be quiet, this is hard, you uand, nya?”

  “I could have dohis.” Shaeu pouted, but I shook my head and ruffled her hair soothingly.

  “It’s wisest to leave it to the expert. She knows her own body, and by extension Eri’s now, best.”

  Eri, Shaeu, Ginneka and I had moved to one of the apartment buildings ierritory for some privacy. Shiro and the irls were outside, along with a veritable army of weaselkin and ratkin armed with a number of nasty ons designed by the Mortal Engineers. We’re taking no ces.

  “I suppose that is true. I ot-not be selfish and risk your safety, Eri.” Shaeu ceded. “But my liking for you is ent, cat. Be warned.”

  “Harsh, nya! Make the corre here. Just as mine is.” Giold me, and as I did some very invasive Chirurgery, even more plicated thaing a perfected Eight Moons Chakra work in a person, I had a realisation.

  “So, Ginneka, you were saying that you could sometimes sense what we were doing. Does that… apply to all the spirit lights?” I winced, imagining the worst. Ginneka left me hanging for a moment, teasingly, before pointing out another spot to dig into and alying my fears.

  “Hardly, nya. One would have to be powerful and have great perception to do more than feel some murky emotions, nya. I have keen senses, for me it was not so hard. The only other, perhaps…” she grinned, fangs showing. “… that poor dead girl. You disturbed her sleep several times with your mating. Nya, I miss the pounding, the heat, sweat and…” As she unched into a ment about missing sex, I offered my silent thoughts of apology to Tsukiko-san, sorry for showing such a pure womahings. Though I’m ultimately grateful we weren’t showing off to the Kamaitachi and weaselkin. Nor her brother, as I’ve starved him of aether, only retly allowing him a trickle. Wait…

  “That’s going to make it very hard t your brother back. I’ll not have him watg my girls. I’m not into exhibitionism, they’re mine!” I said, and Eri ughed, remembering the discussion before all this.

  “You could always abstain, nya… or perhaps not…” she shuddered uhe gres of Shaeu and Eri. “… I shall think of something, nya. Now, the hard part begins. I am in awe of your skills, nya. No wonder my brother and I were defeated. I’m not sorry to see that insufferable fox boy and the old hag Kijo die. When you think about it, nya, we e off with the most credit. We were only h, of course we’d lose!”

  “Enough, just guide us! Eri is waiting patiently, but I am not-not patient myself, cat!” Shaeu said, and Ginneka sighed, her tail and ears drooping.

  “You don’t have to be so cold, nya. I get it. I’m a bad kitten, I tried to steal what was yours and kill you. But that was business… and a bit of pleasure, nya. Didn’t you try to kill your man, when you first met?”

  She must have picked up those thoughts at some point, I see. Not willing to interfere, I began at Eri’s root chakra, and it required all my Spilt Thoughts w in parallel. Yeah, no way I could do this while running both bodies at oraining, more training. That’s what I need… Before I could create the strange orbiting sub-chakra, I o uand it, so I released a stream of aether into Ginneka, feeling out the way she was set up, as well as into Shaeu, to see the parison with her work which was closer to Eri’s.

  As Ginneka shivered and twitched from the feeling, Shaeu glowered at her, but ultimately said nothing, merely taking Eri’s hand to reassure her. Moments ter Eri cried out i pain, as my Chirurgery started the delicate, three-dimensional process of carving her body a new sub-chakra and the orbiting, plex path it needed, while iing enough energy to make it kindle…

  ********

  “This is the st one, hang in there!” I told Eri, clutg her hand. irls had e and gone, her reassurance when they heard her anguished cries, but they had all decided to leave her to us, since she looked so paihat they thought it would be a mercy to let her recover first.

  “The lunar chakra is the most-most plicated, I feel it.” Shaeu said, as my probiher surrounded her, making her shiver. “It is quite-quite erotic, as well.”

  “Lucky, nya.” Ginneka sighed, finally free of my aether, as she had no lunar chakra to i. “Now, this is the most delicate work. If the girl did not have the strange spiritual body that is hardly human, she never would have been able to receive my gift, but in exge, it is much harder to make funal, nya!”

  “I’m … all right!” Eri groaned, all her strength spent fighting pain she cimed was nearly as bad as being dismembered by the Kijo in the first pce. I tenderly mopped her sweating brow and gave her a gentle kiss. When we parted, she grinned weakly, trying to cheer us up.

  “It’s probably a well-deserved punishment.” Eri whispered. “I was a fool and got myself killed, or I should have died, but for this miracle. So this pain, I’ll always remember it, and never be so foolish again. Otherwise…” she grinned weakly. “… if this somehow makes me stronger, I’ll fet, grow pt and just get into trouble again. And miracles don’t happen twice, otherwise they aren’t miracles.” Saying all that exhausted her, and she squeezed shut her eyes, prepared for the final Chirurgery.

  “Miracles, huh?” Ginneka said, eyeing me, her eyes no llowing amber, haviurhem to Shaeu now that I reparing for the final work. “This is nothing but miracles, nya. You shouldn’t be able to just make Bakaneko, even with half of my power absorbed into her. Your ability is too unfair as well, nya.” She gred at Shaeu acgly. “I am the thieving cat. If I am not taking things, I am not fulfilling my role, being who I am! Bme yourself for being so damable, nya!” she eyed me again. “But that… that is eveer!” She licked her lips and looked as if she wao jump on me again, but with a g the suffering Eri, she held herself back.

  “Quiet please, I’m trating.” All of my Split Thoughts were active, direg multiple cutting streams of aether. The pathways were so plicated around the lunar chakra, that to match Shaeu’s would require precision that would straio the utmost limit. Fortunately, Shiro had squeezed out enough aether to buff me, givihe edge. But the lohis drags on, the more Eri suffers, and the more likely I am to screw up the delicate work. Best to get it over with quickly…

  Eri’s screams were heartrending, and I wao shut my ears, but these screams were also my penance. I was to bme as much as Eri. I wasn’t strong enough to refuse her, and I made mistakes. People died. Eri should have been among them. Miracles don’t happen twice, she’s right. So… I g Ginneka. I don’t hate her as much as Shaeu does. The maids who died were those who betrayed her. But I also ’t five her fully either. Not so easily. But… the world is a cruel pce. The golden-eyed devourer is a threat that both the Hyakki Yagyō and Japan as a whole must face, so…

  “O push…” I grunted, and Eri, who was uo even scream now, her face pale, eyes wide, silver sweat rising, blood trig from her bitten lips, merely bli me. With a final surge of aether, exhausting even my impressive reserves, I kihe final orbiting sub-chakra, and withdrew my scalpels of aether as they faded, spent.

  “It is done.” Shaeu said, her eyes the Chirurgery. “Eri…”

  “Give me a minute. I have…” she croaked. “… to look presentable. After all, I’m the first wife. If I’m not always posed, how … I do my… role?”

  Shaeu looked at her fondly, juring some water and wiping her down, before rearranging her clothes and bing her hair. “There. You are most-most pretty again, Eri. Now, o matter…” She pced a hand on her belly and allowed her owher to flood Eri, washing out the piles of debris my Chirurgery had geed, as well as recharging her spent reserves.

  “The true test is now, nya.” Ginneka said. “Girl, you stand?”

  “My name isn’t girl, it’s Eri.” She insisted, getting up on shaking legs. Her cat ears and tail had disappeared during the restru, and she looked her old self again. “And again, thank you for saviaking a deep breath, she bahe st remnants of pain she was feeling, before moving, her arms, legs, neck, fingers, toes and more all responding to her normally, as she got more and more excited.

  “It’s still too early for celebrations…” I warned, and she nodded.

  “I’m going back. Akio, e with me.”

  “I’ll send my other body.” I said wearily. “The hard work is hopefully done now, and everyone will want to know the good news as soon as possible.” As Eri disappeared, my sciousness separated for a moment, resolving into two ected versions of myself, both of which were me at the same time. One of me was leaving the room, talking to the waiting well-wishers, followed by Ginneka and Shaeu, while the other…

  “I walk…” Eri was tearing up. “No crutches. And…” she moved her hands, fingers responding to her ands. “Akio, I think… I think I’m finally better!” Sobbing she threw herself into my arms, still naked after our lovemaking earlier, tears soaking my ned shoulder where she was g. My other self was delivering the good news, and Hyath and Asha were preparing honey mead and Faerie wine for the celebration, Ginneka eyeing the treats eagerly, only to be rapped on the head by an annoyed Shaeu.

  As Eri cried herself out, she looked me in the eyes. “Should we tell our family?” she asked. “I’d… actually like to keep it a secret.”

  “Why?” I asked, and she answered that sihey would be moving to Tokyo any day now, she’d like to greet them as herself, showing that we had kept our promise to them.

  “If that’s what you want. My sis is going to be really mad though…” I said, and Eri giggled, wiping the st of her tears away.

  “I know, and we’ll take the scolding. And be happy about it.” She kissed me, and for a moment we ehis happiness, before Eri smiled at me, eted.

  “So, it’s been a while. I wonder how I’ve ged. you tell me?”

  “Yes, now that you’re back to full health, I’m afraid your rexation is over. You’ll have to train as hard as everyone else!” I joked, my Eye fring amber, my dregs of aether just enough to run it. Let’s see…

  Mori EriHalf-BakanekoBonded Kin[Material Statistibsp;[Intangible Statistibsp;Might235 345Fortune4 10Fortitude237 357Majesty4Intellect271 381Charm11 15Resilience244 384League3 7Acrity274 396Determination4 8Precision263 387Fht Aether734 1059Fate1 4

  [Material Skills] [Aetheric Skills]RankCssTypeSilver CordRank 2 Rank 3Suffit (3)Foundation (4)Eight Night Moons Chakra work

  Rank 2 Rank 3Noble (5)Rule (5)Aether ManiputionRank 2 Rank 3Suffit (3)Foundation (4)Third Eye Chakra Of LightRank 1 Rank 2Powerful (4)Foundation (4)Light ManiputionRank 3Powerful (4)Foundation (4)Throat Chakra Of DarknessRank 4 Rank 5Powerful (4)Foundation (4)Darkness ManiputionRank 3Powerful (4)Foundation (4)Sor Plexus Chakra Of FmeRank 3 Rank 4Powerful (4)Foundation (4)Fme ManiputionRank 4Powerful (4)Foundation (4)Ether HealingRank 1 Rank 3Powerful (4)Foundation (4)[Physical bat Skills] Axe TeiqueRank 3trip (1)Simple (1)bat TeiqueRank 1 Rank 2trip (1)Simple (1)Elemental Axe TeiqueRank 1Suffit (3)Foundation (3)[Intangible Skills] [Unique Skills] Lovers' LinkRank 7 Rank 8Noble (5) imperious (6)Artifice (6)Shifting CatRank 1Noble (5)Artifice (6)

  [Level] 47/64 50/107[Css]Dark Temptress 5/10 8/10 Fae-Bonded 3/20 5/20

  Spirit Pledged 5/10 7/10 Kami-Blessed 2/20

  Shapeshifter 1/10 Maneki-Neko 1/20

  On seeing her atus, I was lost for words. Half-Bakaneko, Shapeshifter, Maneki-Neko? There’s way too much to retort on here…

  ShipTeaser