Half an hour after leaving Cassie...
"I love you, boss!"
"Oof!"
Sunny hadn't even managed to set foot inside Steve and Aiko's shop—now his very own Brilliant Emporium—before his petite, adorable, and impossibly greedy assistant immediately lunged at him. She tackled him straight to the ground, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.
"I love you! I love you! I love you!"
Lying flat on his back on the floor near the shop's entrance, Sunny lifted his head slightly to see Aiko affectionately rubbing her cheek against his chest, clutching him tightly by the waist, all while lively kicking her feet in the air. Invisible little hearts intertwined with dollar signs seemed to practically radiate from her very pores.
When he had first outlined his grand business plan—which primarily involved giving away the vast majority of their hard-earned Soul Shards to Gunlag's men—she and Steve had vehemently protested. However, as soon as Sunny finished explaining his treacherous schemes and the immense long-term profits—capitalizing on the rumors spread by those who would survive the future battle at the Crimson Spire and return to the waking world, effectively providing free advertisement for the Brilliant Emporium and its legendary Memory forger, "Faraam"—he had absolutely and utterly won her heart.
"Aiko? We have work to do here. When exactly do you plan on getting up?"
Sunny asked, gently running a hand through her hair. Trapped in the adorable vice of her arms, he found himself entirely lacking the physical strength—or perhaps the willpower—to force her off.
"Eheheh!" Aiko giggled slyly, continuing to nuzzle against him relentlessly as if she had just unearthed the most precious treasure in the world. "Not until you promise to marry me, boss."
Hearing that, he sighed, almost resigning himself to staying on the floor forever—if not for the fact that they were lying on the cold, highly unhygienic stone entrance of their mercantile establishment.
Mentally ordering his shadow, Gloomy, who was hiding beneath his back, to wrap around his body and boost his physical strength, Sunny scooped his cuddly assistant into his arms and effortlessly pulled himself up into a sitting position.
"Come on now, we need to get to wo—"
He didn't even have time to finish his sentence before Aiko cupped his face in her hands and pressed her soft, red lips firmly against his.
"..."
Sunny's eyes widened in sheer surprise. He watched her up close as her soft tongue playfully intertwined with his, her petite and delicate body pressing flush against him with an unparalleled, intoxicating sweetness.
The kiss lingered for a long, quiet moment. Finally, they parted.
Smack.
Aiko, still straddling his lap and holding his face, looked deep into his eyes. "You are delicious, boss," she murmured with a dangerously innocent smirk.
Then, she hopped up to her feet, turning around and strutting back inside the Brilliant Emporium, shamelessly flaunting the sway of her cute skirt right in his line of sight.
Sunny remained completely spellbound, sitting frozen on the floor for a moment, genuinely stunned. Finally, he shook his head and let out a long sigh. A warm, pleasant sensation made his heart beat wildly against his ribs.
"I really am completely defenseless against her," he muttered under his breath, suddenly feeling utterly doomed.
And yet, deep down, he didn't mind that feeling in the slightest. Because it was exactly that incredibly sweet and boundlessly greedy side of Aiko that drove Sunny absolutely crazy.
***
Later that evening, Seishan decided to treat herself to the luxury of a long, steaming bath.
Having dismissed her handmaidens once they had filled the tub, she let her elegant crimson silk robe slip from her shoulders and pool onto the stone floor, slowly immersing her bare body into the fragrant, soothing water.
The warmth was incredibly pleasant and deeply relaxing. Leaning her back against the smooth rim of the tub, Seishan raised one shapely leg into the air, letting the steaming water cascade down her smooth, velvety gray skin.
'I must admit, the Memory Sunny created for me—or weave, as he said—to heat the bathwater isn't bad at all,' she murmured inwardly with a sigh of pure satisfaction.
The Princess of Song lazily scooped a handful of the warm water, letting it trickle over her right shoulder. She allowed it to trail down her arched back and spill over the soft, ripe curves of her bare breasts. The heat of the crystal-clear liquid melted the lingering tension in her muscles and caused her exposed peaks to subtly harden against the chill of the evening air.
The evening was incredibly peaceful. The twilight air drifting in from the terrace was cool, carrying a light, crisp breeze, making the high temperature of the bath perfect against her skin. Seishan closed her crimson eyes, idly wondering what could possibly interrupt such a blissful moment.
"So, are you done standing there staring at me from the shadows?" she asked a moment later, turning her gaze toward the darkest corner of the room, neither startled nor alarmed by the sudden intrusion.
"I was simply enjoying the view," Sunny replied with a distinctly smug grin. He materialized from the darkness, leaning casually against the stone wall with his arms crossed over his chest.
Seishan shifted to face him properly, resting one arm against the rim of the tub to partially conceal her ample chest, an exaggeratedly offended pout on her lips. "Have you never heard of the concept of privacy, Mister Sunless?"
"I have. But must a man really ask for permission just to gaze upon his Lady?" he countered, keeping his roguish smile intact. Slipping his hands into the pockets of his dark-grey shroud, he approached the tub with slow, deliberate steps.
"He must if the Lady in question is currently bathing," Seishan pointed out, her tone firm and authoritative, though in truth, she didn't mind his presence in the slightest.
Since that first intense night, Sunny and Seishan had grown highly accustomed to the mutual pleasure of each other's bodies. Over time, the Princess had found their quiet conversations—nestled between passionate carnal acts and the intoxicating consumption of his delicious blood—unexpectedly pleasant. She had discovered that underneath the mask of a potential ally lay the heart of a surprisingly sweet and captivating companion.
"Well..." Sunny chuckled softly, finally stopping right in front of her. He leaned forward, planting both hands on the wet rim of the tub, and lowered his head until he was gazing directly into her striking crimson eyes. "If the Lady desires, I could always offer to wash her back."
Seishan stared back up at him, not daring to blink or look away. Their eyes locked in an electric, silent challenge.
Then, a dangerously seductive smile curled her red lips.
Before he could utter another word, the Princess of Song grabbed Sunless by the lapels of his shroud and ruthlessly yanked him down into the water with her.
Splash.
Lost from Light had originally sneaked into her private quarters to discuss the next phase of his meticulous plan and update her on his current progress. But as it turned out, Sunny and Seishan were going to end up doing something else entirely.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~