[YUZUKI]
Yuzuki had known what to expect when she set foot into Yamashita. She knew the moon goddess was playing the game of catch with her; she knew that shit could easily go sideways for her.
Gods, she was prepared for it all.
She had readied herself for the impossible. Because the only thing that mattered to her was finding her Matsui. Finding the woman she loved with everything, the woman she would not let herself die before finding in this goddamn life.
She had suspected that Ayami would be her Matsui – the woman she would give up everything for, but Yuzuki also knew that the moon goddess wouldn't bring her back just to hand over Matsui to her like that.
It was way too easy.
Hell, Yuzuki had interacted one too many times with the hands of fate to know that nothing in her life was easy. So, when she felt the mate bond between her and Ayami, she didn't think too much about it.
She wasn't excited because she knew that the emotion would do everything to get her to forget and forgive Kazuya.
The Kurayami queen fighting king Kazuya didn't make any sense, and the feud needed to end, because, for some reason, there were better things for them to be worrying about.
But that wasn't what Yuzuki was interested in.
Her Matsu was the love of her life; the girl Kazuya had taken from her without ever batting an eye. That was the one person she would fight to find, even if she had to go through a thousand and one mates.
"But Rinko…" Yuzuki trailed off gently.
Rinko stared at her like he had lost her goddamn mind. Like this was just a game for her. Rinko knew she couldn't say shit to her queen, but this evening with Yuzuki had made her wonder what the actual fuck had truly happened.
Queen Kuramitsu never cared for mate bonds. Hell, the woman had always avoided mating balls, like they were a plague to her. For as long as Rinko had served her queen, she had never once been bothered by this.
And now, it was as if they didn't know what to expect, yet Yuzuki Kuramitsu looked like she really wanted to bond with the woman. It was creepy to watch because Rinko knew her queen hated making emotional connections, so what the fuck was this?
"Don't even think about it, Yuzuki. For all we know, they manipulated the mate bond. Besides, when the fuck have the commoners of Kurayami ever gotten bonded with the high-ranking wolves of Yamashita?
"This is absolute bullshit, and you can fight this, but you are coming home with me, Yuzu. I'm not leaving you here. And if I have to fight everyone for you, then I will," Rinko insisted.
Ayami stared at the woman like she wasn't being real there. It was clear Rinko was a warrior, but the way that she was protective of Yuzuki made Ayami wonder what had happened along the way.
She wanted to say that there was more to this, but Ayami didn't have all the information. The Yamashita enforcer felt the mate bond with Yuzuki, and she didn't want to fuck it up.
She didn't want to play the harsh game with Rinko because clearly, Rinko would win.
Not because she was stronger than Ayami, no.
But because Rinko was Yuzuki's sister.
Regardless of what happened, family would always choose family, and Ayami didn't want to be the reason her mate was caught at a crossroads. It just wasn't right, and she hated it for her new mate.
"Wait," Ayami spoke, making the two women stare at her like she had lost her mind.
"What is it, your highness?" Rinko asked, her sword ready to punch its way in the direction of the woman, even though she knew that sword would cause more chaos for her.
It just wasn't worth it, but the fact that Yuzuki wasn't even fighting this was creeping her out.
What the heck did her queen want then?
"We don't have to fight. I understand where you're coming from, and perhaps you are right. You need to take her away from here. If word spreads that the enforcer of Yamashita has a mate in Kurayami, they will do everything to get to her.
"Maybe it is best if we stay away from each other. Just promise me you will take care of her," Ayami said in the politest tone she could muster. This was not easy for her.
She cared for Yuzuki, and with their mate bond confirmed, she was going to love her in a world that wasn't filled with so much chaos. A world in which her precious Yuzuki would be happy and wouldn't have to look around her all the time.
It was a gamble for her, but given the circumstances, Ayami seemed to want the best for Yuzuki.
Needless to say, the duo there was shocked by her decision. It was like this was the kind of insanity none of them had thought was possible when they crossed over. This was not part of the plan.
For a moment, Yuzuki wondered if this woman was her Matsui. But that was just a far stretch. The moon goddess was a wicked woman who had watched her pack be eliminated and had done nothing.
There was no reason for her to suddenly want Yuzuki to be happy, and that hurt in the worst of ways. But Yuzuki had been getting used to that reality for a while now. It would take some time, but a girl had to hope for better days, couldn't she?
"Of course, I will keep her safe. She is my sister, what do you think that role requires, huh?" Rinko asked, irritated, and Yuzuki got up to walk over to Rinko. There was no warning in her eyes.
Instead, those soft eyes stared at her like she understood the twist that was making them unsettled, and honestly, this was unexpected for all of them. Maybe not for Ayami, but who the fuck would understand what this was about then?
"Rinko…" Yuzuki spoke softly.
"Don't tell me you want to stay here. She is a Yamashita, for fucks sake. You can't, Yuzu. I can't let you stay here," Rinko ranted.
Yuzuki pulled her into a warm hug. It was the most unexpected thing since Yuzuki had woken up, and honestly, Rinko was shocked. But she was quick to mask her surprise and hug Yuzuki back.
Maybe what was a show of truth, a reminder that this was a path they had to walk alongside each other, and that Rinko was always going to be there for her, as she would for Rinko.
"Listen to her, Rinko. She's not pushing, she just… You know how it is with new mates. We have to leave, and I'm leaving with you. But promise me you will be kinder to her," Yuzuki said when she pulled back for the hugs.
Rinko glared at her like that was way too big an ask for her.
Perhaps it was not about the power of danger right now. It was about the first realm connection Yuzuki had made and how they wanted this to stay as it was.
Maybe it would be easy, but life never was.
"Fine. I just hope she keeps her word, or the entire realm knows what happened here tonight, and the mad queen will have a good time coming after Yamashita," Rinko said in warning.
Ayami just chuckled.