Kaiser's Perspective:
10:53 PM - 1/1/2018
Her chains tightened again, metal grinding against metal, pulling my wrists further behind me until my shoulders strained. Celia leaned in, her breath brushing my ear, her voice a soft, murderous whisper.
"If you don't tell me, Kai…" Her lips curved into a smile that chilled the tent more than the blizzard outside.
"I will kill every girl you've ever interacted with."
My brows lifted a little. "You're very passionate about keeping me to yourself."
She didn't laugh.
She didn't blink.
Her fingers curled into my shoulders as she pressed herself closer.
"I can't live in a world where you aren't mine. Simple."
I exhaled through my nose, a calm, steady warning.
"Trust me, loving me is a grave regret. Only pain and suffering waits on that path."
"Loving you is a risk I'll take." Her arms wrapped fully around my neck now, her cheek sliding against mine.
"Nobody can take this away from us."
She pressed her whole body against me as I tried to sit up straighter. My wrists strained against the chains. Her eyes gleamed.
"Now tell me who those bitches are."
I tilted my head, smirk cracking across my face.
"Sorry to burst the bubble, princess…" I tensed my legs beneath her.
"…but it's over."
Before she could react, I braced my feet against the ground and kicked upward, just enough to move her center of gravity.
She had been sitting on my lap — too close, too trusting of her own trap.
Her eyes widened, and her chains loosened for half a second from the shock.
That was all I needed.
The tent shook with the sudden shift as I twisted, using the momentum of my legs to slide her off my lap and onto the ground beneath me.
She gasped as her back hit the blanket-covered floor, her hair fanning out wild and white.
She immediately summoned her chains again.
"NO YOU DON'T—!"
They shot toward me—but I dodged with ease, turning one wrist just enough to redirect their trajectory. They slammed into the ground instead, missing my face by inches.
I caught her wrist.
Hard.
She tried to pull back—failed.
I grabbed her other wrist and pinned both above her head with one hand, pressing her into the floor.
Her breath hitched.
Her body froze, tension rippling through her muscles.
I leaned over her, a shadow falling across her face.
"Tch, Tch, Tch…" My grip tightened.
"I said, it's over."
Her wrists trembled under my grip, her breathing shaky, red eyes widening with a startled spark of panic and fascination.
"H–How… how did you break free?" she whispered, voice tiny, almost trembling.
My smirk only widened as I tightened my hold above her head, straddling her just like she had pinned me minutes before. Her breath hitched — adorably surprised, hopelessly confused.
"I was just playing along with your act," I murmured.
Her fingers twitched against my palm. "But… why?"
Her voice cracked. "If you could've escaped anytime, w-why did you wait?"
I tilted my head down, eyes narrowing with deliberate amusement.
"Oh? That's simple." My voice dropped, calm and unhurried.
"My mother taught me to be patient with my dinner. An empty stomach makes the taste sweeter."
Her cheeks exploded in red. A flustered, powerless little whine escaped her lips.
"L-Let go off me!" she squeaked.
"Oh please," I shot back, leaning a little closer. "You're loving every second of this. Drop the act."
She squeezed her eyes shut, lips trembling. I didn't look away.
She finally peeked up again… shy, fragile, confused — the innocent version slipping through the cracks.
"K-Kai… w-why are you on top of me?" Her voice shrank into a whisper.
She looked like she might evaporate from embarrassment.
I shrugged lightly, keeping her wrists pinned.
"Well, you were the one restraining me and marking me. I thought I'd return the favor."
"EHHHH?! I DID WHAT?!" she yelped.
Her legs kicked instinctively, but she couldn't move her arms an inch under me.
"K-Kai! T-That wasn't me! That was my split personality!" she rambled, panicked beyond measure.
"I—I would never do something like that!"
"Mhm." I arched a brow. "Your split personality. Sure."
"It WAS!" she insisted, nodding way too fast.
"You know—! Like the time she took over and kissed you in the Village of Soulmates! I… I blacked out, remember?!"
I pretended to consider it.
"…Fair enough. Restraining me was too odd. You are too shy to do anything aside from pecking me."
Her entire face turned scarlet.
"I— I— KAI STOP SAYING IT LIKE THAT!!" she squeaked, wriggling beneath me like a flustered kitten. "I don't only peck— I mean— but— I—"
Her voice died. She stared at my chest instead, mortified.
I leaned closer, tightening my grip on her wrists just slightly — enough to make her breath falter.
"But," I added, letting each word drip slow and dangerous,
"I still want to get back at you."
She froze.
"…G-Get back… at me?" Her voice shook.
Her eyes flicked up to mine, huge and trembling.
"W-What are you going to do to me, Kai…?"
"Open your legs."
Her thighs pressed together instinctively, a tiny tremor running through them. Her fingers curled and uncurled like she couldn't decide whether to fight or cling to me. Her face had gone crimson—ears too—and she kept stealing tiny, panicked breaths that only made her chest rise more.
Her eyes flicked up to mine, then down at my mouth, then back up again—like her brain was overheating.
"W-w-why… w-what are y-you… g-going to do to me…?"
I kept my face perfectly neutral, leaning slightly closer, letting my shadow fall over her like I was claiming the whole space.
"Keep them apart for me," I murmured, my tone low and sure, "I plan to enjoy tonight."
Her breath hitched—actually hitched—and she shut her eyes tight, cheeks flaming hotter.
I tilted my head.
"Eyes. On. Me."
Her eyes snapped open instantly, wide and obedient, even as her wrists twitched helplessly in my grip above her head.
"Good," I said quietly. "Keep those pretty eyes right here."
Her breathing grew shallow, fast, like her body was racing ahead of her mind. A shiver ran down her spine—visible, sharp.
"Good girl."
Her whole body shuddered beneath me at those two words.
Her voice was a mess of broken sounds now—barely anything coherent.
"I-I… u-um… I… w-wh… I-I…"
I tightened my hold on her wrists just enough to pull her back to the moment.
"Louder."
She flinched, then obeyed—because of course she would.
"W-WHAT… w-what will you do to me?"
A small smile touched my lips.
"You asked for a chance, didn't you?" I said, lowering my voice. "Said you could be my type. So…" I leaned closer, until our foreheads almost brushed. "I'm showing you exactly how I treat my girl."
"That girl being you."
A sharp inhale left her—almost a whimper—as she relaxed under me, her body turning soft, pliant. Her legs kicked lightly against the ground in anticipation she was trying—and failing—to hide.
"Being mine means you'll be owned by me," I continued, my tone slow and deliberate. "Every day. Following my orders like a good kitten. Is that clear?"
Her throat bobbed as she swallowed hard, nodding slowly, trembling.
I raised a brow.
"Use your words."
"Y-yes… I'll… I'll f-follow you…"
Her voice was so small, so desperate, her hands twitching helplessly in my grip.
She exhaled shakily, then—almost instinctively—her legs aparted, relaxing as heat rushed to her face. Her head turned to the side, hiding half her expression behind her hair, her lips trembling. Her fingers curled tight against the ground, then loosened again as if she didn't know what to do with them.
Her voice barely slipped out.
"I-It's… m-my f-first time… s-so… p-please… b-be gentle…"
Her entire body flinched after she said it, like she couldn't believe her own words.
I tilted my head, eyes dragging over her slowly.
"You look gorgeous when you beg," I murmured. "Such a pretty little kitten."
She swallowed—hard—and her thighs twitched from the compliment, breath catching in her throat.
"You're shaking," I said softly. "Need help with that?"
She shook her head rapidly, but still refused to speak.
I smirked.
"Use your words, princess."
"We need to have a serious talk. So, take your clothes off."
Her eyes widened, her voice barely a squeak.
"W-What…?"
My hand moves through her waist touching her skin. Then rests on her thighs rubbing it.
"I am thinking about your weak spots. Should I test them?"
The tremble in her body intensified—her hands fluttering helplessly, her breathing uneven, her eyes darting away then back at me like she couldn't hold contact.
"You like that, sweetheart?" I asked, leaning closer.
Her face went entirely red—ears, cheeks, neck—everything. She opened her mouth but nothing came out but small, broken sounds.
I let a low laugh slip out.
"Don't act shy now. You're the one who started this."
Her hands curled into fists as she whined out—voice cracking:
"I-I'M S-SOWWYYY…! S-SOWWYYY, P-PLEASEEE—!"
I tightened my grip on her wrists just slightly.
"Say please properly," I warned. "Or I stop."
Her head jerked back toward me instantly, eyes wide, lips trembling. She blinked once, twice—big, slow, desperate blinks—before whispering:
"…P-Please…"
I smiled.
"Good girl."
I released her wrists and slowly rose to my feet, towering over her. She stayed on the ground where she was—knees bent, legs still spread shyly, her hair messy, her face an overheated, flustered disaster.
A trembling little yandere.
She was still on the blanket, legs snapping shut the instant she realized how openly she was posed. Her knees pressed tight together, toes curling into the fabric. She scrambled upright into a sitting position, burying half her face behind her hands, hair falling everywhere.
Her shoulders trembled as she tried to pretend she was fine—emphasis on tried.
I brushed dust off my clothes, fixing the hair she'd completely ruined by dragging me around earlier.
"You're blushing," I said, leaning slightly toward her. "Want me to make it worse?"
She shook her head violently—too violently—making her hair whip to the side as her ears turned bright red.
I smirked to myself.
Good. Phase one complete. She deserved that for biting and pecking me like a feral gremlin. Phase two's gonna be beautiful.
"Y-You… you… touched me…! A-And r-restrained me…! A-And m-made me do th-those things—! W-What was that even about!! A-And y-you didn't even— even— th-that—!"
Her arms flailed in small panicked circles.
I crouched down in front of her. She instantly shrank back, hiding her face deeper. I gently pressed a finger against her lips.
"Shh, princess. Whatever happened in here stays between us tonight."
She peeked from behind her hair, cheeks burning.
"B-But… but… you— you didn't even do anything!"
Her voice pitched upward in indignation, full-body fluster mode activated.
I let out a laugh.
"Mhm… ahahahaha—"
Her whole face puffed up.
"IT'S NOT FUNNY! Y-YOU MADE ME— O-OPEN UP— AND THEN YOU DID NOTHING! WHY?!"
I wiped a tear from the corner of my eye, catching my breath… then looked at her fully.
Instantly her breathing skipped. Her fingers froze mid-air. Her thighs squeezed together subconsciously.
"You thought," I said slowly, "I was going to give you a permanent mark."
Her hands shook—tiny tremors at her fingertips.
"I-I— I m-mean— I w-was— I— w-well— why did you— all that— a-and then— y-you didn't—! You… you d-didn't do anything…"
Her chest rose and fell sharply, like her heartbeat was sprinting.
I leaned in closer.
"Seems like," I said with a smirk, "I turned you on."
Her eyes blew wide.
"I— N-No— NO— I— T-That's— I w-wasn't— I didn't— I—!"
She covered her face with both hands.
"I-I W-WASN'T—!! Y-YOU'RE— YOU'RE JUST—!!"
Then she pointed a trembling finger at me—immediately yanking it back, then pointing again like her brain was glitching.
"Y-You—!! Y-You did something— I f-felt— I mean— I didn't— I— S-Stop looking at me like—!!"
Her finger‑wagging lost all coordination.
"I-I'm NOT—!! I just— it's— m-my body—! S-SHUT UP—!!"
I caught her hand mid-flail, gently wrapping my fingers around hers.
She squeaked—actually squeaked—her whole body jolting.
"E-Eek—!!"
Her legs pressed even tighter together as she froze, eyes wide like a rabbit caught by a predator.
Her breath hitched the moment my fingers slid between hers. Her eyes lifted to mine—half‑hidden behind her lashes, lips parted, trembling like she wasn't sure whether to breathe or faint.
I tightened my grip around her hand.
"Celia," I said quietly, smiling with that soft warmth that only she ever got from me, "do you trust me?"
Her fingers curled around mine like a reflex.
"I… I d-do trust you, Kai…" Her voice quivered, but not out of fear—out of being overwhelmed.
With my free hand, I gently wrapped over the same hand, enclosing her hands completely in mine.
"Do you know what love is, Celia?"
She blinked. A slow, innocent flutter of her lashes, like the question alone, made her heart stumble.
I leaned closer, my voice low and warm.
"When someone waits all day just for a few minutes with you," I murmured. "When seeing them smile feels good… but knowing you caused that smile feels better."
Her breath caught—just a tiny gasp—but enough.
"And most days," I added gently, "I am the reason you smile… aren't I?"
She stared at me, cheeks blooming with a soft, blooming red, and nodded shyly.
"Y-Yes… y-you always make me smile…" Her voice was sweet, quiet, like she couldn't believe she was admitting it.
I squeezed her hands again.
"Love," I said, "is missing someone even when the entire world is around you. It's that lonely feeling… unless they're there."
Her shoulders relaxed, her eyelids lowering a bit as she soaked in the words like warmth.
"And I know you trust me, Celia," I added. "Really trust me."
That made her shiver—just a small, delighted tremble she tried to hide.
"I've always taken life casually," I admitted. "Let things pass. Let people pass. I never cared enough to hold on."
I tilted her chin slightly with my thumb.
"But you… you're someone I take seriously. Someone I care about more than I'm ever able to show."
Her breath hitched again, her eyes growing glossy—not sad, just full.
"No matter how much I do," I continued softly, "it always feels like it isn't enough. But with you… it never feels wrong."
Her head lowered slowly, hair sliding over her cheeks as she hid the smile she couldn't contain. Her legs curled slightly inward, hands tightening around mine with a gentle desperation.
"I never want to lose my heart… because it belongs to you. And every beat of it… feels like pure happiness when it's yours."
Then her lips parted, trembling at the edges as she whispered:
"I-I… I never want to lose you, Kai… I can't… you're— You're everything to me…"
The canvas walls of the tent shivered again, the blizzard dragging icy fingers across the fabric like it wanted inside. The lantern between us flickered, one tiny golden heartbeat against the storm.
Celia's hand trembled in mine. Her lashes lowered, breath shaky.
"I'm only… jealous because…" she whispered, barely forming the words.
"Because I'm scared someone else will make you happier than I do…" Her voice cracked, soft and small.
I slid my thumb over her knuckles, slow enough to steady her shaking.
"Celia," I murmured, "you already make me happy."
Her lips parted, trembling again — this time from relief, not grief. The blizzard outside thrashed harder, but in here she looked like she'd finally exhaled after drowning.
I brushed a strand of white hair behind her ear.
"And everything I said before… about the two of us not being possible?" She lifted her head, startled.
"I only wanted to see how much it would hurt you to imagine losing me. I never meant a word of it."
Her chest lifted in a slow, shaky breath, eyes widening. A storm of confusion and hope washed over her face.
"And one more thing," I said quietly. "That question you asked me… why I didn't do anything."
"I heard it. And I haven't forgotten it.."
"Wh-Why did you stop yourself… when I… when I didn't want you to?" Her red eyes flickered.
I smiled — gently, reassuringly.
"When a girl loves someone," I said, "she trusts him… almost blindly. She lets him see the parts of her she hides from the world — her fears, her insecurities, her darkest corners."
Her body stilled. Every word sank into her like warm rain.
"And opening up like that… It takes years for most people. It's the kind of trust you can't undo once it's given. If it breaks… it leaves scars that never heal."
Her lips wobbled. She looked like a girl who'd never been spoken to so softly.
I loosened one hand from hers just to place it on her head, smoothing her hair down slowly, letting her lean into the safety of my palm. She closed her eyes for a moment, like she wanted to stay there forever.
"It's been, what… three months since we met? And in that short time, you trusted me with everything — your feelings, your life, your heart."
I lowered my hand to cup her cheek.
"You trusted me more deeply than people trust after a decade… and that's why I could never take advantage of you."
Her breath hitched. Color bloomed across her cheeks, soft and warm.
"And that's why…" I continued, brushing my thumb along her cheekbone, "I refused to be your first. Not when you were vulnerable. Not when you were overwhelmed. Because your trust in me matters more than any moment of passion or desire."
The tent creaked under another gust of wind, but she didn't flinch — her entire world was narrowed to my voice.
"You're my priority," I said quietly. "Your happiness. Your safety. Your trust. I'll protect that, even from myself if I have to."
Her eyes gleamed — darker, deeper, something shifting in her… not the obsessive shade, but something far more dangerous: Devotion.
Her lips parted, a breath escaping.
"So… that's why I didn't do anything," I finished. "Even when I could have."
Her hands curled into fists on her lap, her entire body trembling.
"I… I love you," she whispered.
I slid my hand from her cheek to the back of her head, pulling her gently toward me, fingers sinking into her soft white hair as I rested her forehead against my collarbone.
"I love you so much…" she said again, voice muffled, raw.
Her grip tightened on my clothes, as if letting go would kill her.
And as the storm outside screamed, I whispered one last thing:
"Celia… I have a confession to make."
Her eyes lifted to mine—and it was time to tell her the truth.