Maki looked all the more beautiful in the perfect, warm lighting. She too was getting a bonus to Seduction while inside the apartment.
The miko was also looking around in startled amazement, placing a tentative finger on the couch next to us to check if it was real. "True creation," she muttered to herself. "What on Earth…"
"A large and probably silly permanent investiture of power," I explained. "But I thought about it, and having cum- and blood-stain-proof furniture is going to make life considerably easier."
"Kami-sama…" She was now running her palm on the silk carpet below, staring at the design in fascination. "This is…no, it can't be…"
I took advantage of her stunned state to consider my options. It made the most sense to buy a Skill or Attribute I was likely to earn as high as possible to unlock Style Maker's greatest potential. Unfortunately, one of them stood above the rest – a most shameful option.
With regret, I sank 170 EXP from my remaining 183 into Occultism (Erotic Sorcery) taking it to 10 Dice. I was now as skilled at sex magic as I was the martial arts. And worse, I was probably about to get better. It was humiliating. I was officially lost in the sauce. How could I have sunk so low as to become a dweeb wizard, a finger-waggling nerd?
I'm kidding, of course. It was the most useful for healing me and I was already very sick of my Injury Penalty. But jokes aside, it did irk my sense of self and my more artistic sensibilities. I was a roguish action hero, not a sorcerer. And more than that, I was a good Player, damn it, not the type to let optimization get in the way of my character concept.
I resolved, then and there, that any more ranks of Erotic Sorcery I received would come with a self-inflicted tax. I could handle being a magically sexy kung fu man, but a kung fu sex magician? No way. From now on, I swore, no matter what my other priorities, if Erotic Sorcery ever outpaced Martial Arts, I'd drop anything to get the latter to level or better. That was both a promise to myself and, if my ephemeral Audience were able to hear my thoughts, then to Them as well.
You bastards better remember this when it comes to the next Popularity Poll! Is anyone committing to the bit as hard as that? I bet not! I mentally shouted at the heavens. And then, for good measure, imagined shaking my fist up at them.
"I was right," said Maki softly. Then again louder and faster, "I was right. You really aren't a man at all. Can I make an educated guess, James?"
"Uh, sure. Although, I should say I'm pretty raring to go here." Indeed, I could barely tell left from right. I'd checked all the boxes off my list like a responsible adult, and could now go buck wild crazy with it, also like a responsible adult.
She gave my dick an affectionate pat on the head, drawing a groan from me. "I can tell, don't worry. Allow me this small delay though. Am I right to assume that you can only do such an act as this," she said, gesturing around her, "here, in your home?"
I blinked at her. "How…could you possibly have deduced that?"
"Just a guess, like I said. There are many beings known to shape and warp their private spaces, poltergeists most famously with their doors to nowhere and hallways that don't match the apparent shape of the building, but most Kami as well. I'll spare you my theorizing for when you're less distracted, however. The reason I wanted to know, is because this," she said, rapping her knuckles against the couch to our side, "reaffirms my theories about why I don't need to worry about my sexuality or opinions about human lovers."
With a small but very imperious smile, Maki pushed her front against me and slithered her way up my body until her cheek was pressed against mine. I cursed the bandages I was wearing for muting the sensation on my chest; her shirt was of little impediment, already thin and practically transparent at this point, but the coarse gauze barely let me feel a thing.
Voice throaty and naked with desire, she said, "That's lucky for you, my man-shaped hero. Just as we were about to get to a point where my faith in my reasoning might have been shaken, I was thoroughly validated by the most flagrant display of inhuman power I've ever seen. That means I can, without shame or inhibitions, treat you like I would treat any beautiful woman in this position."
She nuzzled her cheek, refreshingly cool, against mine, and taking a page from my book, leaned close enough to my ear that I could just barely feel her lips as they moved. "Do you know how I like to treat beautiful women, James?" I felt her fingertips on my hips, between the gauze and the waistband of my boxers. They started at my sides and were moving slowly to meet beneath my belly button. "I like to make them mewl and squirm, and to steal their breaths and words until all they can do…" She paused dramatically, sneaking a dainty hand into my boxers. "…is moan my name."
I slapped the couch next to me, grabbing a fistful of its upholstery as she took a firm hold around the base of my cock. "Tss, Maki!" I hissed through my teeth, knowing it was what she wanted to hear. It was like I'd thrown a match on kerosene-soaked charcoal; Her body thrummed and began to emit whirling tendrils of lust energy. They tasted clean and new to my senses and had a sort of frenetic curiosity to them that fit Maki well.
"Yes," she exclaimed triumphantly, "just like that! Good boy–hm, no that doesn't fit you. Good…man—no. Hero? Better, but you'd become unbearable if I called you that too often. Oh, I know! Yes, that's perfect." Maki pulled back to look me in the eyes, rubbing the tip of her nose on mine in a shockingly romantic gesture. Then, adopting a mock air of noble severity, said, "Well done, my samurai. You've pleased your Lady."
I laughed and kissed her. "I'm glad, but I'm no samurai, miko-sama. What will your people say when they learn you've run off with a, what did you call me earlier, a homeless vigilante? It'll be a great scandal."
"Oho! You're mistaken. They will all say, 'Have you heard of the great Ishida Maki? She is so wise and fair, that she dragged up a young, wild yokai from the river, taught him manners, and made him her samurai.' Then, they will see us together and think to themselves, what a remarkable feat to have quelled a beast such as he. Of course, I will be secretly thinking, Kami-sama, I hope they don't see him eating his dinner."
I gave her a toothy grin then dragged my tongue, broad and flat, across her face from chin to ear. Maki blushed bright red, and I reveled in the small victory. "Oh yes, I hope so too. They'd be terrible voyeurs, watching me eat my helpless miko for dinner."
"Ugh, you brute," she said laughing. "Making a mess as usual." Giving me, mildly vindictive, bedroom eyes, she pulled her hands out of my boxers, and with a finger, swiped my saliva off her face and wiped it clean on her bottom lip. My cock somehow found a way to grow harder.
Maki peeled herself off me, sitting back on her heels, and frowned down at her shirtdress. "Just look at me, you've made me completely sweat through this shirt. Take it off for me. Gently," she added quickly, catching a gleam in my eyes, "I've decided to keep it as a nightdress. I can, can't I?"
She batted her eyes at me, large and doe-like. My heart stirred; even if I'd wanted to, I couldn't deny her the request now.
"Only if you send me pictures of you wearing it."
She scoffed, but a grateful smile shadowed her annoyed expression. "If I must."
Maki pushed her chest out and held her arms to the side, allowing me to undo the few buttons still holding the shirt closed. I began from the bottom and took my time unwrapping her pale, smooth flesh inch by inch. She ran her fingers through my hair and watched me with a distant half-smile and a vacant gaze.
"I'd say I was dreaming, but I haven't had a good dream since…so, I must be alive. How strange, to be alive," she sounded out the word, chewing on it. "I haven't really been living, I don't think, whatever that means. I think I died when Ken did – I must have, because suddenly I feel as though I've been reborn. Yet it isn't resurrection, I'm not the same Maki I was before all this, and I'm not the Maki you met, who I'm not sure was me at all. I've no idea who I am now, but I know I'm stronger and fuller somehow." She shook her head. "I'm rambling, kiss me."
I grinned and obliged her. There were thoughts I could have shared, but it was not the time to discuss them. We shared a slow, passionate kiss, no tongues, just our lips silently communicating our mutual care for one another.
"I don't want to think about anything or anyone but you tonight, James. Kiss me if I start to wax philosophical. Choke me, spank me, slap me, or whatever, but just don't let me think, and don't let my mind wander away. Keep me here with you. You can do that, can't you, my samurai?"
I undid the last button on her collar, held her cheek in my palm, and kissed her sweetly again. That was all very nice, but I knew her better than that by now. Maki was goal-oriented, even a little one would go a long way to keeping her calm. It would be much easier for both of us, compared to dominating her outright.
I leaned back and smirked. "Of course, I'm the greatest lover in the city. I can do that and more. But you'll have to work very hard amidst all of it if you want me to call you 'my Lady'. Listen up," I said, sticking my finger at her, "even in your wildest fantasies, James Li is a proud youxia!"
The dreamlike air that had come upon her departed and her suave confidence returned. Her eyes shined and her lips curled up with anticipation. Then, she bit my finger. Not hard enough to hurt, of course, but the surprise cut through my bluster. Her teeth retracted, replaced by her lips and tongue as she suckled on the tip.
She pulled herself off with an almost comical pop. "Hmph, rude vagabond. Challenge accepted."