[YUZUKI]
It was a terrible idea, and she should have stopped it from the onset. She shouldn't have encouraged Ayami even if she wanted to get into the palace. She shouldn't have acted like a damsel in distress, and gods, did Yuzuki understand that a little too well?
She had done her homework on the people of Yamashita, and she knew what was needed.
She knew that this was not the time for her, and yet as she stared at the enforcer who was determined to save her, and apparently who had missed her, Yuzuki wasn't sure where this would lead her.
Yuzuki had wanted to stay, to make small talk with Ayami.
She had wanted to hear the woman spill or accidentally spill that she was the hidden princess of Yamashita, but time wasn't in her favor. She didn't even want to be in the same space in the first place.
However, this moment here was the reminder of what Kazuya held close and what he didn't care for along the way. It was a revealing moment, and one told her how much security was available.
Just one walk with Ayami had opened doors for her that no one would ever question, even though he was parading herself as a woman from Kurayami. Honestly, it wasn't so bad, but these implications would probably have the enforcer being hung out to dry.
"Do you miss every woman you interact with?" Yuzuki spoke, and Rinko felt the life leave her.
She had known that her queen was a piece of work and a little whacko in the head, but for that start off with this kiss didn't make it any easier for her. She needed to be ready in case there was a fight waiting for them.
Rinko had seen the way that Kujo had looked at her son and she was readying herself for a battle anytime now, she would protect Yuzuki with her life. But that was going to be a little harder if this woman was going to be blunt as she was now.
Whatever happened to keeping a profile?
But what was the use in keeping a low profile when Yuzuki knew this kingdom from the inside out?
"Only when they bear my scent despite me never marking them," Ayami said, and Yuzuki was about to speak carelessly before she realized what the woman had said. It didn't make any sense. What the fuck did Ayami even mean by that?
"Bear your scent? Don't tell me you marked me when I came to look for a mate here. Do you know how dangerous that could be for me? Imagine going back and the queen realizes her servant is mated to a Yamashita?
"You want me to die, don't you?" Yuzuki rambled in honesty.
It was all that she was genuinely feeling right now.
She was panicking because there was no way that the moon would pair her with Ayami Araki. It made no sense and it screamed so much danger and chaos that Yuzuki wasn't sure she was ready to deal with it just yet.
It was one thing to be around Ayami for the sake of Matsui, but it was another for them to have the same scent. Yuzuki had no intention of cheating on her Matsui, and she had to find a way to wiggle out of this.
Perhaps that was why she had dampened her cement, something that Ayami noticed instantly.
"I can still smell you, peaches," Ayami said, and Rinko got up.
"That's enough. You can see she is uncomfortable with your words and what you are implying. We came here, not for mates but to have fun. Don't ruin it for us in the first hour.
"And before you talk about wanting her or suddenly having the same scent and shit, remember you are a high-ranking warrior in Yamashita and we are just servants. There is never going to be a day that society will accept your union.
"… if that is what you are getting at now. Excuse us, we are leaving," Rinko said with a tone of finality and for a moment, Ayami stared at the servant in rags. She sounded so powerful and her voice was filled with commands, you would think she had been to wars and won.
Well, that was true for Rinko because the wild queen Kuramitsu only had her trusted generals embedded in her service to make sure everything was smooth, but Ayami didn't need to know that.
She didn't need to understand that, which was why Rinko was not even bothering to stand and explain shit to her. They knew what the repercussions were. And the fact that they were from Kurayami and in the place was already dangerous for them.
This was the same.
"You sound like her protector," Ayami mused, and Rinko glared at her, not letting go. She knew what this would end with, and as much as Rinko missed the battlefield, she was intelligent enough to know that this wasn't the place to start a war.
The Kurayami kingdom didn't want a war with Yamashita, not that they would step back if a war was thrust upon them. But it would be a little harder to explain to the council members that there was a triggered war for reasons that they couldn't understand just yet.
"She is my best friend. Of course, I am her protector," Rinko voiced, like she was challenging the lethal enforcer.
Ayami stepped back a little.
She raised her hands in surrender as if to tell the two women that she wasn't trouble.
And gods, did the two Kurayami women know that a little too well.
This woman had taken a genuine interest in both of them, and as cute as that was supposed to be, power was not meant to be dealt with like that.
Not on this side of the realm.
And certainly not when Yuzuki was obsessed with Yamashita, something that even Rinko couldn't quite explain.
"I would never harm her. But if my presence brings her discomfort, then I apologize," Ayami said sincerely, and Rinko stared at the woman like she had heard her own words. She then turned to Yuzuki who was wearing the same shocked face that Rinko had.
This was not normal and clearly it had to mean something, Ayami Araki and apologies were almost unheard of. Perhaps because the woman was the most powerful woman in the realm, second only to the king of Yamashita.
To anyone, she was the kind of power that no one would ever question, and yet she was apologizing because Yuzuki seemed uncomfortable. And in that moment, Yuzuki wondered if this was the key to having vengeance and justice for her Matsui.
Perhaps this was just a game to her, right?
But what if it wasn't and Ayami was genuine; would the mighty Yuzuki Kuramitsu lean into that?
"Yeah, right, because you think we should trust the most lethal enforcer in the realm," Rinko snorted, having regained her composure. Somehow, she was sure Ayami was being honest, but Ayami didn't get to where she was beyond being real with people.
She had to have learned the art of manipulation on scales that would put the devil to shame, and maybe that was what she was using against these two, not that it was that important anyway.
For their cover, perhaps.
Otherwise, it was useless.
"You should trust anyone, little dove. Not even me," Ayami said as she stared into Yuzuki's eyes like the woman was the best thing that she had ever seen and for a moment, Yuzuki thought back to how Matsui always looked at her.
"You're crazy," Rinko said, and Ayami sighed.
"I have other duties to attend to, and I know you want to explore the kingdom. There is a set of clothes that smells like Yamashita. Clothes that will cover your scent so you can explore.
"And if anyone stops you whenever you are headed, tell them that you are Ayami Araki's guests," Ayami said, and Yuzuki just stared at her blankly, almost like there was a need for more explanation. She knew who she was, of course, but this was not just right.
This sounded like a trap, because of where they were.
Then again, a part of Yuzuki believed that Ayami wouldn't have come with her this far to risk her life. Yuzuki had seen the look of relief on Ayami's face when the enforcer had seen her and Rinko. Maybe the benefit of the doubt was earned.
But would it end in regrets when the enforcer was smiling at her like this was their little heaven?
"That… That's my name, Peaches. Ayami Araki," the Yamashita enforcer, smiled.