Kenshin felt a shiver of discomfort as Kaede gazed up at him with an almost worshipful intensity. He cleared his throat, attempting to regain some composure. "Uh, Kaede… I might let you stay, but I have some conditions—"
Before he could continue, Kaede sprang to her feet and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a fierce embrace. Without warning, she captured his lips in a fiery kiss, her passion overwhelming him.
Kenshin's mind went blank for a moment, caught completely off guard by her intensity.
Meanwhile, Kira and Sora looked on, faces turning a deep shade of red, a mixture of embarrassment and resentment flaring up in them.
They had each wanted the honor of being Kenshin's summons, a bond they both felt was rightfully theirs, and here was Kaede—who had just been trying to kill them—stealing that place.
Aruna, standing nearby, looked on with a thoroughly dumbfounded expression. She didn't know about Kira's Kotoamatsukami, and to her, it looked as if the bloodthirsty woman who had moments ago been attacking them was now groveling at Kenshin's feet and kissing him.
Finally snapping out of her shock, Kira stormed over and yanked Kaede back, separating her from Kenshin. "Hold on! Kenshin is my master!" she declared, glaring at Kaede.
Kaede blinked, her expression briefly confused before she gave a small laugh and raised her hands in surrender. "Okay, you can have him now. That was merely a way to share my energy with him. He's healed now, isn't he?"
All eyes turned to Kenshin, who was just now realizing that his body felt… remarkably restored, better than anything his right eye could do.
He flexed his fingers and took a deep breath, astonished to feel as if he hadn't just been through the most grueling fight of his life. His chakra reserves were replenished, his fatigue vanished.
Aruna, utterly bewildered, finally took a step forward. "What… in the world… is going on here?" she asked, her tone edging between curiosity and exasperation.
Kaede turned to her, matter-of-factly replying, "What you see, Aruna. I want to be by Kenshin's side. I want him to become my master. And when he's ready, I want to fight him in another deathmatch worthy of our strength."
Sora, still red in the face, shot Kira a questioning look. "Since when is Kenshin your master, Kira?"
Kira, crossing her arms and lifting her chin, replied confidently, "Since earlier today. He's my master, and that's final. I'm not about to share him so soon."
Sora's jaw dropped in astonishment. She had been the first to express her desire to be Kenshin's familiar, albeit only to him.
Yet now, her sister had jumped ahead and somehow made it official, and Kaede, the woman who had just threatened their lives, was declaring her loyalty as well.
Kenshin slowly got to his feet, his face redder than ever as he took in the chaotic scene around him. A surge of discomfort and bewilderment swept over him, and he quickly moved to hide behind Aruna, who looked just as confused.
"Save me, Aruna-sama," he whispered, voice trembling with a mix of embarrassment and exasperation. "This… this is all happening way too fast. It feels… weird."
Aruna blinked down at him, torn between laughter and sympathy, before letting out a sigh. "It seems, Kenshin, that you've left quite an impression."
Aruna picked up her dark violet Nekomata robe, which had been discarded during the heat of battle, and without hesitation, tossed it over Kaede. "Cover yourself up, you're naked." she commanded firmly.
Kenshin's face turned even redder as he realized the full implications of the battle they'd just fought, now that the adrenaline had faded.
He had been locked in a fierce struggle with Kaede—a strikingly beautiful woman who'd been completely unclothed. The thought alone made him flustered, and Kaede, noticing this, raised a brow in amusement.
Although she'd lived in isolation for thousands of years, unbothered by the idea of modesty, she decided to humor him and wrapped the robe around herself.
With a mischievous glint in her eye, Kaede turned back to Kenshin. "You were saying something, right? I believe you had some conditions, and I interrupted you."
Kenshin cleared his throat, attempting to steady himself. He couldn't help but be distracted by the way Kaede's gaze held such fierce devotion, and by the faint blush that had settled on her cheeks, now that she regarded him almost reverentially.
"My first condition is that you don't go against my words. If you act impulsively, it could create… problems for me and others," he said, trying to sound authoritative. "And second, you are not allowed to kill anyone, unless I explicitly give you permission."
Kaede nodded, looking like an eager student. "Understood!" she replied enthusiastically, then immediately leaned in as if to kiss him again. Kira and Sora, however, quickly intervened, grabbing her shoulders and holding her back.
"Keep your distance," Kira said, shooting Kaede a warning look. "He's my master."
Sora added, "And you don't need to be all touchy with Kenshin!"
Kira nodded in agreement, then added, "That's right. Besides, there's already a lady in Kenshin's life. Don't go causing issues in their relationship."
Kaede raised her hands in playful surrender, laughing softly. "Alright, alright, children, I'll back off… for now." Her gaze returned to Kenshin, and she smiled with a carefree, almost teasing expression. "I'm fine with whatever my master decides. As long as I can stay by his side, I'm happy."
Then, without a hint of hesitation, she added, "Besides, master, there's no reason to limit yourself to just one woman. You can have more than one, you know. You don't need to marry them all, either—just marry the one you love most. It can't hurt to have a concubine or ten."
Kira and Sora's jaws dropped, and Kenshin's face turned a fiery shade of red, utterly floored by Kaede's suggestion.
She'd spoken so nonchalantly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The atmosphere around them seemed to freeze for a moment as everyone processed her casual declaration.
Aruna cleared her throat, hoping to ease the growing tension. "Kaede, don't get too carried away," she said, giving her aunt a stern look. "What Kenshin decides to do is his choice, and besides, your way of thinking is far too backward."
Kaede simply stuck out her tongue, her voice dripping with a teasing defiance. "Kenshin is my master," she replied, "so I'll take orders from him, not from a weak little niece." Her tone was light, but the challenge in her eyes was unmistakable.
Kenshin stepped forward, a smile on his face that seemed pleasant enough on the surface—yet a closer look revealed the simmering irritation behind it. "Kaede," he said calmly, "I think it's best if you do listen to Aruna." His words held a firm edge.
"Since I can't be around all the time, you'll follow her instructions when I'm not here. And even when I am here, if Aruna tells you something, you're to listen to her. Understood?"
For a moment, Kaede's confident smile faltered, a flicker of genuine hesitation crossing her face. She nodded, albeit with a hint of reluctance, bowing her head respectfully despite her lingering resistance.
Obeying someone weaker than herself felt unnatural, but the respect she felt for Kenshin left her little choice.
In her mind, he held boundless potential, the sort that could one day surpass her and offer the final, thrilling fight she'd dreamed of. To her, Kenshin was the only one she'd ever met who could grow to be a worthy match, even if for now, only Kira came close.
Aruna gave a small sigh of relief as Kaede backed down, but the flicker of defiance in Kaede's gaze remained.
For Kaede, loyalty to Kenshin was bound by the hope that one day, he might be the one strong enough to finally give her the deathmatch she'd been craving for millennia.
After some much-needed rest, everyone felt their strength gradually returning. However, Kaede still clung to Kenshin possessively, barely leaving his side.
Kira and Sora's faces turned red with irritation, but despite their protests, they dared not push too far. They both knew that if Kaede decided to lash out, she could easily overpower everyone in the cave.
The influence of Kotoamatsukami was the only thing tempering her deadly power, keeping her bound to Kenshin's will.
Kenshin, sensing the tension, began to grow more accustomed to Kaede's fierce loyalty, though the former enemy's sudden devotion still felt surreal.
After a few more moments, Aruna stood up and gathered herself, preparing to create a portal back to the Shikkotsu Forest.
However, when she attempted to summon the nature energy, she faltered, a frustrated look crossing her face. She realized she didn't have enough energy left; her reserves had been severely drained during the intense battle.
Kaede let out an exaggerated sigh, shaking her head in mock disappointment. "Really, Aruna? How can you even be my niece when you're this weak?"
Aruna shot her an annoyed glare. "It's not weakness," she retorted, a touch of exasperation in her voice. "It's you who's the mutant in our tribe, Kaede! None of our predecessors had anything close to your abilities."
Kaede only shrugged, a smug smile playing on her lips. "Not my fault I'm too strong for weaklings like you to handle," she said, feigning innocence.
Ignoring Aruna's irritation, Kaede stood up, walked over, and grasped her niece's hand. "Here," she said, her voice softening just a bit. "Try again."
Aruna blinked in surprise but focused again, this time feeling an unusual surge of energy coursing through her.
With Kaede's silent assistance, she managed to open the portal effortlessly, the shimmering doorway to Shikkotsu Forest appearing before them with minimal effort.
Kaede gave Aruna a triumphant smirk, a teasing glint in her eyes. "Seems even the mighty Nekomata needs a bit of assistance now and then," she said smugly.
Aruna brushed it off with an annoyed huff, crossing her arms. "This time, maybe," she muttered, although inwardly, she knew there was some truth to Kaede's words.
Waving the others through the portal, Aruna waited until everyone had stepped into the shimmering passage back to Shikkotsu Forest.
Kaede, still gripping Kenshin's arm, moved forward to follow, but as soon as she reached the portal, a harsh, invisible barrier halted her. Kaede staggered back, stunned, as the portal shimmered coldly in front of her, unyielding.
Her face turned pale, her previous confidence melting into desperation. She clung tightly to Kenshin, her voice trembling.
"Please, Master... take me with you," she whispered, her eyes filled with a depth of dread and fear Kenshin hadn't seen in her before.
Kenshin hesitated, unsure if bringing Kaede out of her exile was wise. Yet, seeing the sincerity in her pleading gaze, he couldn't bring himself to refuse her.
He looked to Aruna, hoping she might have a solution. "Is there any way to bring her with us, Aruna-sama?" he asked, his tone gentle but firm.
Aruna frowned, shaking her head slightly. "I don't know how to lift the exile spell," she admitted, glancing thoughtfully at Kaede. "But… perhaps a summoning contract might be a loophole. If Kaede became your summon, it might allow her to enter our realm."
Before anyone else could react, Kira stepped forward, crossing her arms in defiance. "Absolutely not!" she snapped. "I was the one who said I wanted to be his first summon. I won't let her take that away."
Kaede, desperation edging her voice, turned to Kira, dropping any pretense of pride. "Kira, please," she implored, her tone uncharacteristically earnest. "This is my one chance to stay by his side. I won't take anything from you—I only want to be free of this prison."
Kira's resolve wavered as she saw the sincerity in Kaede's face, her own emotions conflicting as she wrestled with the request.
After a long pause and the persistent urging from Kaede, Kira finally let out an exasperated sigh. "Fine," she muttered, looking away with a pout. "But don't think I'm happy about it."
Kaede beamed, relief flooding her expression as she clasped Kira's hand. "Thank you," she whispered gratefully, though Kira still seemed somewhat reluctant.
Turning to Aruna, Kaede said eagerly, "Aruna, prepare the contract. Let's not waste any time."
Aruna scratched her head awkwardly, a bit flustered. "Well… there's just one problem. I've never made a summoning contract before," she admitted sheepishly.
Kaede's face went even paler as the reality of the situation hit her. She fought to keep her composure, but the pain and desperation were evident in her eyes.
She couldn't bear to stay here, isolated and alone, especially after finally finding someone she deemed worthy—a master who didn't treat her as a monster.
And the thought of waiting, with the difference in time meaning that hours in the real world would feel like days trapped here, only made it worse.
Swallowing hard, Kaede turned to Kenshin. "Please… stay with me, Master," she pleaded softly, her voice trembling. "If you leave now… it'll feel like an eternity before I see you again. Let Aruna go back and learn what she needs for the summoning contract."
Kenshin hesitated, glancing at Aruna, who frowned but eventually gave a small, understanding nod. "Alright," Aruna said reluctantly. "I'll go back and figure out how to make the contract as quickly as I can."
She turned to her daughters, motioning for them to follow. She had a determined look, clearly unwilling to waste a second. Kira moved forward, her gaze lingering on Kenshin.
With a sudden surge of emotion, Kira threw her arms around him in a tight hug. "I'm staying with you, master," she declared, her voice full of resolve.
Kenshin gently pulled back, giving her a reassuring smile. "Kira… you've been through so much. You need to recover properly."
He glanced meaningfully at her, knowing the food he had couldn't offer her the strength and sustenance the Shikkotsu Forest's nature-energy-rich meals would. "I want you to go back with your mom and get some proper food. Kaede won't harm me—I'll be fine."
Kira hesitated, worry etched into her expression. But before she could argue further, Kaede placed her hands on Kira's shoulders, offering a rare, gentle smile.
"Don't worry, Kira. I'll take excellent care of our master," she assured her, a soft promise in her voice. "You focus on helping your mother with the summoning contract. The sooner you do, the sooner he'll be able to go back."
Kira glanced back and forth between them, finally giving a reluctant nod. She knew Kenshin had made up his mind.
With a final look of reassurance and a quiet "Be safe," she joined her mother and Sora as they stepped through the portal, leaving Kaede and Kenshin alone in the silence of the pocket dimension.
As the portal closed behind Aruna and her daughters, Kenshin exhaled heavily and settled down on the soft, moss-covered floor.
The exhaustion of the long day weighed on him, and with dawn fast approaching, he felt his body craving sleep. Just as he began to close his eyes, Kaede wrapped her arms around him in a warm, grateful embrace.
"Thank you for staying with me, Master," she murmured, her voice laced with sincerity. A soft flush of crimson colored her cheeks again as she spoke. "You've given me more kindness than I could ask for."
Kenshin gave her a small smile, but it quickly faded when she continued, "Please, rest your head on my chest. It's a servant's duty to serve her master, and I'll gladly be here for you in every way I can. I will be your guide, protector, and anything else you desire as you grow stronger."
He shifted uncomfortably, feeling his face grow warm. "I… appreciate it, Kaede," he replied gently, "but I'm fine here."
The idea of resting his head on another woman's chest was unsettling, especially when the only person he'd ever done that with was Akane.
Kaede didn't push further and instead lay down beside him, curling up like a contented cat. Kenshin closed his eyes, letting the exhaustion pull him into sleep. The gentle forest sounds and Kaede's steady breathing lulled him into a deep slumber.
The next morning, Kenshin stirred, blinking against the soft glow of daylight filtering through the trees.
He quickly realized that his head was no longer on the mossy ground—it was resting on something much softer. His eyes widened as he registered that he was lying on Kaede's exposed breasts, her arm draped protectively over him.
Before he could move, Kaede's eyes fluttered open, a pleased expression softening her features as she looked down at him. "Good morning, Master," she greeted with a smile. "You looked uncomfortable on the moss, so as your loyal servant, I offered my bosom as a pillow. I could see your expression relax as you slept, which made me glad to know I could help."
Kenshin flushed, pulling back a little. "Kaede… you didn't have to do that."
She simply chuckled, sitting up beside him. "You don't need to thank me. It's my honor to serve you in every way I can." She tilted her head playfully. "I'll be here to support you, in every way you might need."
He gave her a resigned smile, realizing that despite her intense loyalty, Kaede's teasing and affectionate nature were things he'd have to get used to—as weird as it might feel.
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Once again, thank you everyone for your continued support and power stones. And as always, please give me your power stones and comment your opinions. They make a big difference and motivate me to write more.