[YUZUKI]
Thirty minutes.
That was a short time for anyone, given the state the mating ball was outside.
There were celebrations everywhere.
Everyone seemed to be in a good mood, and it was worth noting, truly, because even as Rinko left and Ayami was left shocked by Yuzuki's words, the Kurayami queen just innocently vibed to the music that was playing in the distance.
"Do you think we should dance?" Yuzuki asked, staring into Ayami's eyes so tenderly and innocently that the Yamashita enforcer almost faltered. This much innocence was going to be her undoing, at least that much she was starting to be sure of.
But she didn't want to do anything about it, which made it even crazier because for her, every moment spent with Yuzuki was worth everything.
"Of course, little dove. Do you want to dance?" Ayami asked in earnest.
She had never been in such a position before, and she wondered if this was the right way of dealing with things. Maybe she was in over her head with Yuzuki right now, but what the fuck could she do when she was smitten by the woman before her?
The excited peach scent oozing from Yuzuki was nothing Ayami had been prepared for, and now she just stood there stiffly, uncertain of the next step.
It was so out of character for an enforcer who had sat at, commanded strategy tables, and even advised the king of Yamashita, and the man listened.
But her little dove was too precious.
Way too precious for the ruthless world they were in.
"Yes, and no," Yuzuki said, a faint smile on her face.
"I…" Ayami trailed off, confused.
They only had their minutes, and judging by the look Rinko had given her earlier, the woman would probably come for Yuzuki before their time ended. And at the same time, she didn't want to pressure Yuzuki.
This woman was the epitome of innocence in her life, and Ayami was determined to keep that innocence as it was; she didn't want to put her in a position where people would judge her because Ayami would probably burn them all for her without question.
"I wanna dance, but Rinko will probably kill us both for having my first dance here. Maybe we can just sit and wait the time out?" Yuzuki suggested, and Ayami felt her heart constrict at her mate's words.
She hated that for her, but somehow, she knew Yuzuki was always honest with Rinko.
If they had a dance, Rinko would know, and there was no telling what she would do. Sure, Ayami wasn't scared of Rinko, but she was terrified of losing Yuzu. Maybe this woman was really going to be her undoing.
"Sit with me, peaches," Ayami said softly, leading them both to the nearest couch.
"Are you sure? I'm just a servant, and these look expensive. Kinda feels like me sitting on them will ruin them," Yuzuki laughed nervously.
Ayami felt her heart ache again for her mate.
She wasn't sure how this would go, but all she knew was that she wanted to give Yuzuki everything. All that Yuzu needed. All that the woman would ever want. Ayami was more than happy to do it for her.
Perhaps she was fucked already, because why the hell was she thinking of approaching the unseen Kurayami queen and begging for Yuzu's hand? Well, love did make people crazy, and Ayami seemed to be next in line for that madness.
"All I have… is yours, little dove. All of it… and me," Ayami said softly, and Yuzuki froze.
Those words…
They were familiar. Way too familiar.
Someone had said them to her years ago. Someone she would have burned the world for? Someone she would have given up her life for. Someone who loved her unconditionally.
Someone who lived and died for her. Someone she lost and was determined to find.
Gods, did the Yamashita enforced sound like her Matsui? It was as if she were listening to the love of her life again. Like the world was just theirs and no one else mattered.
Back then, when Matsui told her those words, Yuzuki felt reassured. It was because most of the time, Matsui was working on strategies, working at the table with the mad king, working through the needs for the Fukada pack.
And making Yuzuki's work as their alpha easier.
Of course, when the proposal from Kazuya had come back then for the Fukada pack to allow their strategist at the table, Yuzuki hadn't thought much about it. And maybe if she had, she wouldn't have lost Matsui.
Maybe her mate would be right beside her and not an enforcer, whom she was determined to use against King Kazuya.
"I'm sorry… Did I say something wrong?" a confused, apologetic voice snapped Yuzuki out of her thoughts of Matsui.
Gods, she missed her Matsui so much it hurt to even be standing back on Yamashita soil without her.
It felt like a betrayal, and Yuzuki stiffened for a moment there. It was like her mind was running faster than her heart, and at the same time her heart was aching worse than the headache she was having.
"Huh…" Yuzuki trailed off subconsciously.
Ayami looked worried for her. She wondered if her words had pushed Yuzuki into that state. If it was too much for her. Hell, she wondered if she had ruined her chance with Yuzuki because of her mouth. And thus came the regrets.
"I didn't mean to upset you, little dove," Ayami's words broke through the confusion, and Yuzuki just stared at her as if she were lost. Because honestly, she did understand shit about Ayami's reaction.
Until Ayami's thumb stroked her cheeks, wiping her tears.
That was when Yuzuki realized she had shed a tear for Matsui. Even to this day, she was still weak for the love of her life. The woman who meant the world to her. And boy, did it hurt to even think of her.
But she would.
For both their sakes.
Because Matsui was the only reason, she hadn't razed Yamashita yet.
She had to find her.
She needed to.
And Ayami was her way in.
"I'm not… I'm not upset. It's just that, other than my sister, no one has ever been that kind to me. I didn't mean to scare you, and you don't have to be sorry, Ayami.
"I'm happy to be here with you," Yuzuki said, before she threw herself in Ayami's arms, embracing the woman in a tight hug. You would think this was about two souls finally meeting after forever.
Maybe it was so, but did both of them understand that yet? Or was it just a hug because Yuzuki needed her scheming to work? Even so, why did it feel so natural for both of them?
"Oh, little dove," Ayami cooed, gently pulling Yuzuki from the hug just enough to have her staring into the most beautiful dark eyes she had ever seen. Ayami Araki was smitten, and it wasn't even an illusion anymore.
"You smell so good," Yuzuki whispered as she kissed Ayami's cheek. It was so random and sudden for her that by the time her mind caught up, Ayami's lips were on hers, claiming her passionately and desperately.
And Yuzuki…
She returned it all in equal measure.