"Now that's a surprise," Haqua smiled at me, resting her hand against her palm. "We've been here ten minutes, and not once have you seemed intimidated or out of place."
"Ahahaha…" I laughed awkwardly, taking a sip of my beer. "Spend enough time in a castle, y'know…"
After a long, busy week at work, Iori and I had planned a little get together for all of my partners. I'd suggested something simple, drinks at a hole-in-the-wall izakaya with some of the best bar snacks in the world. Iori, though, wanted to splurge.
"You were gone so long and we still haven't celebrated your homecoming. So let's make it a night to remember. You won't say no to your dear old senpai, right?"
Her cocky grin back then was still burned into my brain. She knew that the second she asked it that way, there was no way I could say no.
…That we'd just finished fucking in our old school uniforms at the time is totally irrelevant. Don't pay attention to that part, you horndog. I definitely, positively, absolutely wasn't so turned on by the sight of her tail lifting her skirt that I'd have agreed to literally anything she asked.
So y'know…stop thinking about that.
…Yeah, I know. Wan wan…
Regardless of what did or definitely didn't get us here, Iori ended up taking us to an ultra-swanky restaurant, the kind of place that's really an estate all to itself. You could only get in here with a years-in-advance reservation and the right connections. Or you just sidestep that with a succubus who's more than willing to hypnotize the booking staff to get what she wants.
Which brings us to now, with everyone drinking and snacking in a private room that my human self never would've been able to even dream of seeing. Haqua was right, I should've felt out of place, but…well, I just didn't, not after everything. I felt a little at home, honestly, like Radiata was about to serve me a grand feast.
"So you're a fancy doggie now? A pooch with a pedigree?" Mio giggled, hugging me from behind and nibbling on my ear. If I'd felt at all full of myself before, the stupidly flustered squeak that forced its way outta me and the giggles it earned from everyone at our table humbled me in no time at all.
"Precious, she's like a toy poodle!" Rhody cooed. "Or maybe a chihuahua! Wouldn't it be cute if I could carry Rina around in my purse, Iori?" she asked, so sincerely that I was shocked when I didn't start shrinking down.
"Sure would be. But Haqua'll be the first to say that Rina's far from well-bred," Iori chuckled, and I bit back everything I had to not loudly insist on just how bred I really am. "She's a mutt. Our mutt, through and through," she lifted me by the chin with a clawed finger, pushing me to meet her confident gaze. Fuck, she was beautiful.
"W-wan! Wan wan!"
"Barking in public? From a former king?" Haqua teased. "You were given so much power, and came out of it no less pathetic, dear. It's impressive, in truth. Your soul rejects anything and everything that isn't being a total loser."
"Wan wan waaa~hn!" I barked some more, damn near throwing all my clothes off for everyone to see. Ugh, I'd missed Haqua's bullying so damn much…
"Now that's not fair, Haqua," a voice, near-monotone save for a slightly mocking edge cut through my barking, before a gloved hand grabbed me by the shoulder, and I was pulled over the table into Yamada's embrace. "She's prey, too. And what a fine treat she'll make…"
"Huah?! Y-Yamada, not here…" I groaned, as she pulled off one of her gloves and ran a sharp fingernail along my waist.
"Certainly not until everyone's arrived, at least," Haqua chuckled. "But my, when they do…"
"Ehehe, we might end up knocking a whole star off of this place," Mio giggled, visibly drooling over the sight of my belly as Yamada stuck her hand inside my cocktail dress.
"It's funny, you never showed your appetite when you first joined us, Yamada," Rhody said, "but now, you're ravenous!"
"Mm, well," she started, giving my neck a slow lick. "A certain someone showed me that no good comes from hiding my desires."
And I've been in danger ever since!
But fuck, that tension gets me sooooo revved up…
"Ehehe, it's just nice to see you so happy," Rhody smiled.
"Been great to have you with us again, too. The office just wasn't the same without you," Iori grinned, clinking her glass against Yamada's.
"Well, I couldn't just abandon this one, could I? She'd be hopeless without me," Yamada said, totally matter-of-factly as she ran a hand up my inner thigh and-
"Ah~?!"
Now, I know what you think, but I swear that wasn't me! Her fingers were super close to my panties, but she hadn't taken the plunge, not yet.
No, the flustered cry you just heard was actually…
"Miss Lily!" Haqua chuckled, hungrily licking her lips as she looked up at the door to our room. "Or tell me, dear, do you go by Suzume in this realm too?"
The king of hell, or at least the human she was disguised as, let out a whimper as she looked over at me, practically drooling at the sight of my boobs through the neckline of my dress.
"She's jealous, that's what," Hisoka, in her Himari getup chuckled, patting her shoulder as she stepped past her and took a seat next to Yamada and I, giving both of us a small kiss on the cheek.
"I-I'm not jealous," she insisted, badly. "just that it's been a dreadfully busy day, and if Radiata wanted to relieve my stress, I certainly wouldn't object…"
"Yamada, not Radiata," she corrected. "Not when I look like this. You'll have plenty of time to call your maid by that name later," Yamada smirked. In these past few months, she'd fully embraced the two lives she'd come to love. Effortlessly alternating between her work as Suzume's personal attendant, and…Hanako Yamada, my weirdo, murder-happy coworker. How, exactly, had she managed two vastly different jobs in two completely different realms without seemingly feeling any stress? Well, it's simple…
"I'm a professional, Rina," Radiata told me, when she visited me the day I returned to my body. "Both in work, and in love. You, Hisoka, and Suzu won't go wanting in the slightest. I refuse to choose between any of you, so I will simply take all of you."
I would've told her not to stretch herself thin, but well…when I looked up at her confident smile, I knew fully well that she'd be just fine.
She was a professional, and so, none of us had gone wanting, just as she'd promised.
"Right, right. Either way, I care not for hiding my name. I am, and always will be, Suzume," she proudly insisted, placing her hands on her hips.
"But you'll wear the disguises anyway?" Mio asked, tilting her head.
"W-well, when your work is as important as mine, it's nice to get at least a bit less attention every now and then… And if I ever want much less, I know exactly what to do," Suzume looked at me, giggling as I shuddered.
"How'd your work go today?" Iori asked Hisoka with a smile. "Getting the hang of the job? Anything you need me to help with?"
"Oh, you've done plenty already! Work's been…well, It's a big responsibility, and ummm, s-sometimes it gets a little much for me…" Hisoka said, briefly dwindling down before she caught herself. "But we're making great progress. It's an extremely important, fulfilling job, and I'm really proud of the strides Lor-" Hisoka caught herself, as the king side-eyed her, "-Suzume and I are making for demonkind and humanity both."
"Attagirl!" I grinned, patting Hisoka's back happily. "You've come so far! Both of you have!" I said, looking to Suzume as well. Though I shot them the exact same praise, their responses couldn't be more different.
"Ahaha, just doing my best," Hisoka smiled, bashfully rubbing the back of her neck.
"Right, right?! Praise me, shower me in adoration! And if that doesn't suit you, make me really squirm~! Ohhhh, I haven't been bullied today at all~!" Suzume wailed, sitting down and leaning against Yamada, who gave her some gentle pets in response.
People of Hell, I'm so sorry for what I've done to your king.
Or you're welcome, I guess? Maybe I'm the best thing that ever happened to Hell!
What can I say? Suzume and I both did a number on each other, ahaha…
"You're looking cocky, mutt," Haqua smirked, as her tail snaked up my dress and started teasing my nipples. "That's fine though, that arrogance only makes you that much more delightful to topple…" she licked her lips, while Suzume let out a bunch of flustered, deeply jealous squeaks beside me.
Oh, don't worry, Suzume… I thought, gazing into the hungry eyes of everyone around me.
We're both about to get it…
I get it, I get it. It feels like a ton's happened lately, yeah? Because…well, yeah, it sure has. Life's gotten…mostly back to normal since we returned to our bodies, but at the same time, it really hadn't. It honestly never would again.
Christ, could I make that sound any sadder? I'm about to get railed in a swanky restaurant, I'm obviously not doing badly. Shit, we're doing great.
But it had been a busy, wild few months, and it all began the morning Suzume and I woke up as ourselves…
❖❖❖
Months earlier, in a grand castle, Lord Suzume smiled at her reflection, her eyes gleaming with a newfound maturity. She was awkward and unsteady on her legs, struggling to reacclimate to her talons, but that hardly bothered her. It would come to her in time, as a great many things would.
After all, she had a tremendous amount of ground to cover. She wasn't about to let herself be intimidated by something as simple as walking.
As the door to her room creaked open, Suzume turned to face her expected visitor, her heart pounding in her ears.
It's time.
"Good morning, Rina… I apologize for waking you a little late today, but I…well, it's no matter," Radiata shook her head, and spoke in a listless, dull tone, possessed of none of her usual strength and vigor.
I took that from you, didn't I?
"Ah, you're already awake, huh?" she asked, looking at Suzume. "And readied yourself for the day ahead, by the looks of things. I apologize for my poor service, I'll do better tomorrow, it's just…"
She didn't finish that sentence. Any excuses she considered making sounded too sad to even be uttered. She'd been drained, hollowed out by the events of the previous day.
I have no right to stand in front of you, but even so…
I can't let you stay like this, Radiata.
"It's…" Suzume took a deep breath. For hundreds of years, she'd known exactly what to say to everyone who spoke with her. Now though, in front of the one who mattered most, the well was dry.
Still, she refused to give up.
"It's me, Radiata. It's Suzume."
Radiata's eyes widened in shock, before her expression turned into a harsh scowl.
"Is this your idea of a joke, Rina?! After everything we went through, did you think this might cheer me up?!" she spat, understandably furious. And yet, Suzume couldn't help but be heartened to see that she still cared enough about her to get angry. If she'd stayed so flat, Suzume would have been certain that any window she had to fix things had been irreversibly closed.
"It's not a joke, really," Suzume softly smiled. "I don't get it, and I bet that Rina doesn't either, but…we're back to normal, Radiata. I can hardly stand on these things, but…I'm trying," she laughed, pointing to her quivering talons.
"This is disgusting," Radiata spat, turning on her heels to leave. "Very well then, if you feel this is something worth mocking me for, then we're done. Our personal and professional relationship is at an end, and I'll tell Hisoka to-"
"Please," Suzume hurried forward and grabbed Radiata's sleeve. "I know it's hard to accept this, but I swear I'm telling the truth. You can hate me all you want, that's the least I deserve, but Rina Saeki isn't the one behind these eyes anymore, so please, don't throw away what you two have together. Not like I did with you."
Radiata paused, resisting the intense urge to shake off Suzume's hand as she listened to every word she had to stay.
It would've been such an easy lie to disprove. Suzume herself had made it clear the spell couldn't be undone.
And yet, the more she spoke, the less it seemed as though there was any lie at all. Rina Saeki was a brat, yes, but she'd never make light of something so important to Radiata. Even if her trust in Suzume had been shaken, her faith in Rina was too strong to doubt her.
Clenching her fist tightly, Radiata turned to face the woman who'd grabbed her, and gazed into her eyes. She couldn't peer into a soul the way a succubus could, and certainly, Rina bore far more strength, maturity, and warmth than she insisted she did.
Yet the clear focus and determination in her king's eyes was unmistakable.
"Suzu…" she muttered, her quivering voice holding back a flood of emotion.
"Mm," Suzume nodded, smiling softly as tears clouded her vision. "It's me. So-"
*SLAP!*
Before she could utter another word, Radiata harshly slapped her across the cheek, leaving a sharp, stinging pain in its wake. In the past, Suzume would have yelled, and insisted that she had no right to lay a finger on one as radiant as herself.
But now, she took it with a smile. She deserved it, after all.
"However things proceed from here, let's make one thing clear: No matter how much you might insist you deserve it," Radiata spoke, her own voice cracking as she held back her tears with everything she had. "I could never come to hate you, Suzu."
Suzume couldn't hold herself back from crying. Not once had she allowed her face to be marred by tears, but now, she couldn't care less.
She was happier than she'd ever been before.
"I love you, Radiata. I love you so much! I'm so sorry for everything. I'll never, ever run away again, I promise!"
"And I love you, you stupid brat." Radiata teased, before bursting into tears. "If you're ever struggling again, if you're hurt and need some help, if the work's getting to be too much for you, then please…" she smiled and hugged her tightly. "Know that I'm always here for you. Not simply as a maid, but as me, Suzu."
"Mm, mm! I'll never forget it, I swear!"
The pair dropped to the floor, holding back nothing as they cried in each other's embrace.
Radiata and Suzume both knew there was a tremendous amount of work to be done. Suzume would retake the throne, but she couldn't do so frivolously. It would take a great deal of effort to rule adequately, even for one who'd tended to Hell for hundreds of years now. It was daunting, in truth, even thinking about the road that lay ahead of them. Though Hell had been reunited with its ruler, things would never be the same again. They couldn't be, not after the toll it had taken on the king and those she loved the most.
"I'm home, Radiata…" Suzume sobbed, as Radiata, the woman she'd always loved, gently petted her head.
"Welcome back, Suzu."
But they remained undaunted.
They would ensure that Hell's future remained bright forevermore, together.
~~~
Suzume's first order of business upon her return to the throne had been…a trip right back to Earth, as it turns out. Rediscovering much of her nobility, she fully understood that she owed Rina and everyone a proper, honest apology.
Which is how a king, grand as can be, wound up prostrating herself on the floor of Rina's tiny, all-too-cramped apartment.
"You owe me not the slightest speck of forgiveness!" she shouted, behind a small mountain of apology gifts. "But as long as you know that from the bottom of my heart, I regret my actions, then- Wha?!"
As Haqua's high-heeled foot came to rest atop her head, she let out an adorably surprised little squeak.
"Regret, hmm? Is that all you feel?" Haqua asked, crouching low to look Suzume in the eyes. "Your face tells me a very different story."
Suzume's face was, as it turned out, utterly ecstatic. From the bottom of her heart, she couldn't be happier to be seen as she truly was and still be treated like filth.
"Uehehehe…Haqua, you're amazhing…" she slurred, wiggling her butt in the air like she was a bitch in heat, just begging to get fucked.
"Haaah…that'd fix me…" Rina mumbled, caught in the middle of Mio, Iori, Rhody, and Hisoka's incredibly tight, protective group hug. She felt a little lightheaded for a second, though it quickly faded as she nuzzled into everyone's embrace.
"Suzu, it's so good to see you so honest…" Radiata cried, drooling at the sight of her completely pathetic king, best friend, and partner. A part of her insisted this wasn't proper, but she silenced that in an instant. If being proper had gotten them into the mess they'd just escaped, then what good would it do any of them?
This was for the best, and Haqua knew that better than anyone.
"I don't want you to regret what you've done, none of us do," Haqua insisted. "What you did was wrong, and I'll be sure to burn that into your soul," she said, getting the king beneath her to shudder with pleasure. "But well…maybe we've all gone soft, but we want you to enjoy yourself, loser dog."
"L-loser dog?! B-but that's-" she gasped, though Haqua quickly cut her off.
"What I call Rina? My, you're every bit the bitch she is, that's been clear for quite some time," Haqua chuckled. "To that end, all we ask is that you live every bit as happily as my mutt. You can't be much of a king if you live with such sadness clouding you, now can you?"
"Haqua…" Suzume sobbed, sitting up to face Haqua the moment she removed her foot from her head.
"You were just lonely," Iori said, smiling at her as she broke off the hug. "It's hard to really hold that against you, all told."
"We've all struggled, sweetie, and we've all made mistakes because of it," Rhody cooed, "So if you ever need a warm meal and a hug, you know where to find me."
"And we never really talked about my books, in the end!" Mio grinned. "So you've gotta read them! I'm owed a discussion with the king of hell, and I want us to do that as friends, Suzume! Oh, and if you wanna give me more tasty milk, well…" she giggled, licking her lips.
"Mm, so don't beat yourself up, got that?!" Rina called out, pointing straight at the king. "Nobody here holds anything against you. You're plenty loved, Suzume, so don't you dare lose sight of that again!"
"Thank you. I'll…I'll make sure I never do," Suzume smiled, nodding as she wiped her tears away. "You're all so wonderful, I only hope my people will face me with the same warmth…"
"They will," Hisoka assured her. "Not a doubt in my mind about that. None of the love they fell for you will fade in the slightest."
Suzume gave her a small, soft nod. She'd known Hisoka for so little time, and already, she was so grateful to know her. With just a few words, it felt like so many of the doubts clouding her heart vanished away. She understood what hell's people felt, and if she, after all this, could still face Suzume with such a warm smile, then well…
Things were looking good.
"To that end," Radiata cleared her throat, addressing the whole group. "Suzu's planning a grand address. An occasion to mark the start of her new reign, if you'd all be interested in attending, then-"
"Say no more!" Rina grinned. "We wouldn't miss it for the world!"
❖❖❖
"Want a bite, Rina?" Mio asked me, offering me a piece of the karaage that she'd bought from a nearby stall. We'd expected the air in Hell to be electric on the day of Suzume's speech, but I don't think any of us thought that demonkind would turn the day into a festival unto itself, setting up stalls and festivities to really mark the occasion.
And what's funny is that Suzume hadn't actually told any of them what she'd be talking about today. We knew, of course, she'd kept us in the loop from moment one, but the rest of Hell's people were completely in the dark. They had nothing to go off but Suzume's promise that it would mark the start of a new chapter in Hell's continued prosperity. If anyone back on earth had said something like that, it'd almost definitely be fluff, making an ultimately worthless announcement sound like it'd be life-changing.
But here, Suzume spoke entirely truthfully. Today really would be the start of something incredibly new, and her people took her at her word. She really was beloved. Considering the scale of what she was about to tell everyone, I think we all expected some pushback, but Hisoka, brave as ever, assured everyone that that wouldn't be the case.
So how could we be worried?
"Mmm, thanks!" I grinned, as Mio popped a piece of chicken right between my lips. It was extremely hot, but on a chilly day like this, it went down wonderfully. "Haaah, you're the best, Mio!" I declared, as she started happily petting my head.
"I should've tried running a stall today, there's so little Helldrake cuisine here…" Rhody pouted, her tail slumping down behind her.
"It's for the best that you didn't," Haqua smiled. "Your cooking would steal away everyone else's customers, dear. It's simply too splendid."
"You think so?!" Rhody cupped her cheeks, as her tail started to wag every bit as vigorously as mine.
"Oh, we know so," Iori said, wrapping an arm around Rhody and holding her close. "How about you cook for us tonight? That'd really cap off the day on a high note."
"Yes please, it's been way too long!" Mio giggled.
"Mmm, of course! I'd love to!" Rhody smiled bashfully. Fuck, she was really adorable.
Still, for as warm and buzzy as the atmosphere around me was, I couldn't help but feel a little…hmm…
"You're nervous, dear?" Haqua asked, smiling softly at me.
"Ahaha…caught me, huh?"
"Doesn't matter how much time you spend away from me, I'll always have your number," she teased.
I smiled up at her, then gave a small nod.
"Just…everything she's gonna say today, all of it's because…well, because she met me. If people react badly to it, then it'll be my fault, won't it?"
Haqua responded by giving me a sharp flick on the ear…
"Ow!"
…and a gentle hug.
"Come now, dear. That's no way to think, we have Hisoka's assurance that it won't go that way, after all."
"Yeah, but-"
"And if we want to get right down to it, then it'd be my fault, wouldn't it? I'm the one who made you a succubus and brought you to her attention, but you'd surely not blame me for any of this."
"Yeah, I wouldn't," I shook my head. "Because I'm the one who summoned you, and-"
"We can go round and round about this for hours if you'd like, tracing it back to countless minute decisions and events that led us to where we are, but even a loser dog like you must understand how foolish such a notion would be. All you're doing is looking for reasons to doubt yourself, and none of us want that for you."
I let out a small groan. She…yeah, she had me figured out. I was nervous, and just wanted to blame myself for an outcome that surely wouldn't happen. God, my brain sucks sometimes. I needed a dose of teen brain, that made me too peppy to ever feel like this. Ah well, maybe later.
"And it's a tremendous disservice to Suzume herself. We might have helped her find this path, but well," the chatter around us gave way to uproarious applause, and the crowd looked to the castle to see Suzume approaching a podium, "she's the one taking these steps."
If Suzume was nervous, and I was sure she was, it hardly showed. I noticed the signs, but only because I was so familiar with that body. To anyone else in the crowd, she must have looked as elegant as ever.
In the past, the two who flanked her would have been instructed to keep their distance, to let the king stand on her own and face down her nerves with nothing but her strength as a king backing her up.
Now though, Hisoka and Radiata each rested a hand on her back, and whispered something to her. In an instant, Suzume's burden seemed to lighten, and she wore a soft smile.
Thanks, you two.
"Whew, is that Hisoka up there?" A demon a little ways away from us, a royal guard from Hisoka's former unit who I'd seen a few times, looked up at her comrade with a sleepy smile. "Doin' us all proud, walkin' right by Lord Suzume's side. Our unit's real mighty, huh?"
"You bet!" a peppy guard from the same unit grinned.
"I feel like a proud parent," their captain sniffled, wiping a tear from her eye as a civilian by her side, likely her partner, chuckled and patted her shoulder.
"As you should!" a haughty member of their unit beamed. "Though…I can't help but feel that we perhaps…didn't quite show her the attention she deserved… Did we simply fail to notice she was there? A woman with a presence like hers? Why did we never invite her to spend time with us…?"
The group looked glum for a moment, before the sleepy member patted the haughty one's back.
"Ain't no better time ta fix that, huh? Think she'll wanna catch a movie later?"
I'm sure she will… I thought, smiling as I looked up at Hisoka. Nobody failed to notice her now.
Suzume allowed all conversation to still, took a deep breath, and began speaking.
"My dear citizens, it is an honor to stand before you today as King. Though my reign has persisted for so very long, not once has the amazement of seeing everyone look to me for guidance left my mind. To think that you have all trusted me to rule all this time fills me with a wonder that little else can match."
The crowd was electric. Countless demons, all delighted to be praised by someone so revered.
Suzume leaned forward, and her voice began to waver for just a moment. She knew she had the crowd on her side, but even so, saying what she wanted to say wasn't going to be easy.
Still, she persisted all the same.
"And in truth, it has brought a weight down upon my being that has threatened to completely crush me."
The air went completely silent. I heard a confused murmur behind me, but Suzume kept going.
"I came to speak of a newer, brighter chapter for our realm, and I swear to you that I spoke truthfully. I would never dare betray the trust you've placed in me, though if we are to walk forward together, then I must face you with the utmost honesty, baring a part of me that I've never been able to reveal. I'm scared, terrified in fact, but it is the right thing to do, and so I will not allow my fears to conquer me. Not again."
"Again? Has…has she messed up before?"
"Did she say she was scared? Suzume? How bad could something be if it scared her…?"
Suzume took Radiata's hand, and spoke with all the confidence she could muster.
"I have spent hundreds upon hundreds of years earning your reverence and adoration, and it truly means the world to me. Serving you always brought me peace, until the day I realized I'd ceased to have any kind of life at all. I stopped being Suzume, and merely became your king. I lost sight of my friends and loved ones entirely, pushed any trace of warmth away, and turned my entire existence towards ruling. It was fine, for a time. For years, I managed, forgetting that I was even capable of feeling, until I suddenly found myself unable to sleep, brought to tears by the tremendous sadness that had eaten at me all along. In my efforts to be a king you could all admire, I did a great disservice not just to each and every one of you, but to myself, as well. Had I persisted on that path, sacrificing myself so, I would have crumbled, and in a moment of great weakness, I considered fleeing my duties entirely."
The crowd continued to murmur, though I focused on none of it.
"To that end, I come to you after a period of great introspection to be more honest with any of you than I have managed in far too long. I…I-" she paused, bracing against the podium. "I will serve as your ruler, though I will no longer take so much upon myself. Selfishly, perhaps, I still wish to be king, to prove that I can still work to better everyone's lives, but I wish to do so by your side, not as a great lord, but as Suzume, your fellow demon. I will allow myself greater periods of rest, I will no longer sequester myself in the castle, and I will not always be able to tend to all matters. I have a great many people by my side who have always been willing to help, and it's time I showed them the trust they've long deserved. I…I only hope you will understand that my love for each and every one of you never has, and never will be, anything but sincere. You may come to despise me for this, but if I am to rule, I can no longer sacrifice myself. It's time I live a life of my own."
Total, deafening silence. Suzume braced for jeers, I could tell, she wanted to cry, maybe some part of her hoped they would despise her for this.
But they'd never give her that satisfaction. After just a few seconds, the crowd erupted into cheers, with countless demons around me calling her name, assuring her "We'll never hate you, Suzume!"
It was alien to me, coming from a world where leaders so often trampled their people underfoot, but Suzume never did, never could, and never would. She loved them all, and they loved her too. They wanted her happiness, because she had worked so tirelessly for theirs.
Suzume choked out a sob, but continued speaking.
"Thank you, all of you. I…I cannot express enough how much your kindness means to me," she said, to yet more cheers. "This personal declaration isn't all I came here for, though. I want today not just to mark the start of my life, but…as the end of the divide between our realm and that of humankind."
There it was. Days ago, Suzume had told us that she wanted to make demonkind known to humanity at large, to 'usher in a new era of peace and prosperity for both realms', as she put it, even now, as she shared her plans with everyone. She wanted the demons of our realm to live openly, unguarded by glamours and magic, to elevate the human realm with Hell's collective knowledge and technology, and bring what humanity had to offer to demonkind.
She always turned vague when it came to the last point. If you ask me, the brat just wants human food in Hell. Doofus wants to hang out at the game center and lose at fighting games.
But sure, I wanted that for her too. She deserved that.
It'd undoubtedly change both our realms irrevocably, and yet, not a one of us was worried it'd be anything less than a huge positive for demons and humans alike. It'd take years, maybe even decades, but well, it'd all work out. With Suzume at the helm, I had every confidence she'd see everything through completely peacefully.
"I will be personally spearheading this effort," Suzume explained, "And true to what I've said, I won't be alone. I have chosen one of my most trusted attendants, a beacon of warmth and goodness who shines brighter than I ever have, to serve as an ambassador for demonkind, and show humanity our collective path forward at my side."
Hisoka was clearly nervous, but she smiled through it. I couldn't see if her family was in the crowd, but whether they were here today, or minding the inn, I was sure they were all looking back at her, prouder than they'd ever been.
I could just hear her sister now, boasting to her child about how amazing her auntie is. She'd be right to do it, too. Hisoka's incredible, I couldn't believe someone like her fell in love with me.
As the crowd continued to cheer, every bit as enthusiastic about the future as Suzume herself, Suzume smiled down at all of them.
"Thank you, once again. My address will end here, but your warmth today has redoubled my resolve. I will go forth, knowing full well that I will always have your love and support, and I swear, I will work to prove that I am worthy of it. Be well, my people. I look forward to standing by your side, and knowing that you see me as your fellow."
"Ohhhh, she was great!" Mio cried, clapping as Suzume turned to leave with Hisoka and Radiata both, walking more confidently than she ever had before. "Did you ever give speeches like that, Rina?"
"Like that?" I asked, watching Suzume disappear into the castle. "Nah, I can't match that. Suzume's a pro," I grinned. "You put me up in front of a crowd like this, and I'd just melt. I'd forget how to do anything but bark. Wan~! Wan wan w-"
My vision blurred for a fraction of a second, accompanied by an odd, weightless sensation, and not a moment later, I was falling towards the castle's carpeted floors, caught in Hisoka's loving embrace.
"Suzume, are you alright?!"
"Did your nerves get to you, Suzu?" Radiata asked, looking me in the eyes.
I let out a loud, heavy sigh, and stood up straight, glaring back out towards the courtyard as I heard a giddy bark.
"You're kidding me, Suzume! You switched us now?!"
"Ohhh, Rina again? Well then," Hisoka grinned, sweeping me up into a bridal carry, "did I look OK up there, sweetie?"
"H-Hisoka…" I muttered, sounding every bit like a lovestruck princess. "You were amazing…"
"Ahaha, thanks. I felt like I was ready to drop, so-"
"D-don't hog her, Hisoka!" Radiata cried, pulling me away and gently nibbling on my neck, "Ah, I needed a bite so badly… Suzu's delicious, of course, but you're something else… Doesn't matter who's body you're using, I'm addicted to you, Rina…"
"Nnnh~ D-don't bite too hard… At least wait until we're alone…" I mumbled, as Hisoka forced her way in to hug me again, gently petting my tailfeathers as she did.
"I can't, it's impossible," Radiata said, chomping down on me yet again.
If you're worried that we secretly didn't switch back, or that our return was temporary, don't be. I promise, we're very much back to ourselves…most of the time, anyway.
You see, Suzume was telling the truth about that spell. It was every bit as permanent as she said it was. If she'd stolen away just about anyone else's body, she'd never be able to leave it ever again. But I was an exception, a greater loser mutt than anyone had ever known.
In our shared dream, our consciousnesses merged, as they always had whenever I stumbled into someone else's sleeping mind. While that'd at most lead to some temporary personality spillover, usually, the spell we'd had cast on us affected our souls and consciousnesses so deeply that my uniquely pathetic succubus abilities couldn't help but mess that spell up a bit too, plopping us right back in our own bodies, but keeping a link between us that couldn't ever be severed.
Neither of us realized it at first, but when I went from being treated like a total mutt to staring at myself being leashed and spanked through deeply jealous eyes (and with very sticky thighs, I might add. Suzu's a friggin' perv), we understood that our unique bond wasn't about to die anytime soon. Anytime she or I felt a particularly intense longing for the other's body or life, we switched right back in an instant
For a few weeks, it was deeply annoying. Suzu'd switched me in the middle of sex countless times, plopping me in meetings without the slightest warning. Lemme tell you, it's a damn nightmare trying to act regal when not a second earlier you were getting absolutely railed. I got back at her more than a few times, though, switching while she was in the bath with Radiata, who always greeted me with plenty of biting and some of the raunchiest sex that hell had to offer, leaving her to deal with the frustration of being thrown right back into runtdom.
But we eventually worked it out, at least a little bit. We got in the habit of telling each other these things, or on rare occasions, switching places so that we could surprise each other with something fun. It took a ton of willpower on my part to give things up to her right when I was bound, gagged, and about to get spitroasted by my very eager partners, but well, the satisfied messages she sent to me after the fact made it clear that she'd loved it, at least, and she'd let me treat myself to Suzume's feasts more than a few times, too.
And honestly, if…if she ever felt a little too pressured by her role as king, if she needed to share that load again, well… I'd be there to help her out. Don't tell her that, though, she'll get way too smug to bear.
Still, even if we were pretty used to our unique connection by now, I hadn't expected her to switch us at a time like this!
Dammit, Suzu, you owe me big time!
Still, as I heard yet more contented barks, I knew that she was having a blast out there. I bet Haqua and the others were showing her a great time. Frankly, after how stressful that had to be, she'd earned it. She deserved to relax and see just how much Hell loved her, first-hand.
As for where that left me, though…
"Dammit, none of us are getting left out!"
With a loud, excited yell, I took Radiata and Hisoka by the hand and rushed towards the castle gates.
"R-Rina, are you sure?! They'll all see you as the king out there!" Radiata argued.
"Didn't you listen to Suzume's speech?" I asked, grinning back at both of them. "They'll see her as a fellow demon, just like me!"
I heard Hisoka chuckle as Radiata relented, and the pair hurried along with me, stepping out into the streets of Hell to be greeted by countless smiles.
"Suzume! Enjoy the festival!"
"Come visit my stall, Suzume!"
"Suzume, stop by my restaurant sometime! Your signature dishes are a huge hit!"
But honestly, as heartening as it was to hear, I could only give them the briefest of smiles as I beelined towards my true target, who was currently collared and leashed by Haqua.
"Ohhh gosh, yeah, show me off to everyone like this! I'm just your mutt, I'm- wha?! You came outside?!" Suzume gasped, the second she saw me.
"Sure did!" I grinned, reaching forward and scratching her ear. "Kings get to enjoy festivals too, y'know!"
"Ah, now's my chance!" Mio gasped, before she rushed up behind me and started happily squeezing my boobs.
"Ah~! M-Mio~! You're so firm and-ohhhh, keep going!"
"Ohhh, you're getting hundreds of stares," Iori laughed.
"HUNDREDS?!" Suzume and I both cried, our faces burning red.
"Mhmm, sooo many eyes, stunned by how humiliated you look," Mio giggled, as countless onlookers seemed befuddled by this incredibly forward girl, openly teasing a king. "Isn't it exciting, Lord Suzume?"
I felt ready to explode. God, Mio was amazing.
"B-but y-you can't! Not here, and- Wan~?!?!" Suzume weakly protested, before yelping as Radiata, of all people, firmly slapped her butt.
"Come now, Rina, look how happy Suzu seems," she chuckled, staring at my assuredly deeply pathetic expression, as an equally pathetic whimper escaped my throat. "You wouldn't get in the way of that, would you?"
"Does it feel nice, Suzume?" Hisoka asked, joining in on Mio's teasing by firmly squeezing my butt, reaching her fingers between my cheeks. "It does, doesn't it?"
"Fuck, it's so good…" I moaned, earning yet more stunned looks from the people of Hell. For someone as painfully shy as Hisoka could be, her bolder moments were truly incredible. I just hope her family couldn't see this, ahaha…
Though maybe they'd be impressed. I sure was.
"I-I-" Suzume mumbled.
"It's fine, isn't it?" Haqua asked with a smile, dropping her voice to a whisper. "You want people to see you as an equal, and what better way to do that than by showing you have needs like everyone else. And since it's become so clear that you like being bullied, well…"
"But…" Suzume squeaked, before letting out a loud cry. "Gah, at least bully me, too!" she roared, leaping into Rhody's embrace.
"You want me to bully you? Gosh, um…g-good girl!" Rhody smiled softly, happily petting the king's head. "You're such a silly doggie, aren't you?"
"Ohhhh, wan wan~!"
It was as sweet as she'd ever been, but to a king who'd known nothing but respect, dealing with this in front of a massive crowd was all the humiliation she could ask for.
"But we'd best not dawdle," Haqua interrupted, and with a snap of her finger, a leash appeared around my neck, slightly fancier than the one that currently adorned Suzume. "Adri's waiting for us, and she's missed my dogs ever so much. You'll be good for her, won't you, dears? Why, I'm sure she can't wait to spoil you rotten," Haqua smirked, turning to face Suzume and I both as she gave our leashes a firm tug.
There was only one way to respond to that. We'd never been more in-sync than we were in that moment.
"Wan WAN~!!"
We were loser dogs, through and through. And neither of us had ever felt so very loved.
❖ Epilogue ❖
After hours of fine food, drink, and an absolutely breathtaking orgy, I lay back against the wall of our private room, surveying the damage we'd done to the way-too-opulent restaurant. Booze had been spilled, furniture had been broken, and not a single one of us didn't reek of sex.
Iori, petting a sleeping, totally-nude Rhody in her arms, looked to me with a cocky grin.
"We've come a long way from karaoke booths, huh?"
"If your mom could see us now, she'd actually try to kill me…" I said, as she and I chuckled softly.
"And how well'd that go for her?"
"Well, if Yamada's anything to go by…"
"Careful now," Yamada scoffed, picking up a very worn out, satisfied Suzume, "I can always bite harder."
"...Maybe later…" I grumbled, earning a hearty chuckle from Hisoka, who helped me to my feet once she'd dressed herself back up.
"Think I should try that?" Mio asked.
"Biting?" I asked.
"Mhmm! It's not my thing, but I've seen how excited it makes you, ehehe…"
Hisoka gently pet her head, and smiled down at her.
"You get her extremely excited as is, Mio. You don't have to force yourself. Rina loves you best for what makes you so uniquely you."
Mio's blush was adorable.
"Oh wow…" she gasped, barely keeping it together.
"S-sorry, too much?" Hisoka asked, scratching her cheek awkwardly.
"N-no, it's not that, just, ummm…"
"She's cool enough to remind you of Rina's old self, huh?" Iori asked, smirking slightly.
Mio turned redder than me, then gave a small, shy nod.
"Hisoka's just such a hunk…"
"Ahaha, you're too kind," Hisoka laughed.
"And that reminds you of Rina?" Yamada asked. "She must have been quite something before demonhood came for her."
"She really was…" Iori sighed, wistfully.
"H-hey! Don't act like I've been downgraded!" I yelled just a little too loudly and brattily stomped my feet.
"It must make you so livid, and certainly not the least bit excited," Yamada teased.
"Rina's…very cool…" Rhody sleepily mumbled, before dozing off again in Iori's arms.
"O-oh…thanks Rhody," I mumbled, feeling uhh…intensely embarrassed. I could take teasing but earnest praise like that…hoo, no, can't do it.
Not that it wasn't appreciated…
"Awww, hear that, Rina?! You're cool!" Mio giggled, teasing me happily.
"W-we should get going, right Haqua?" I asked, hurriedly changing the subject. "They're probably gonna close soon, and Suzume and Rhody should get to bed anyway, and- Haqua?"
I cut myself off, noticing that Haqua was staring into space.
"Hmm? Ah, right, dear. You're right, we should leave."
"You OK?"
"Mhmm, I'm wonderful. I suppose I was just struck by how fun tonight was, that's all."
It's not like you to lose your cool… Guh, someone didn't switch bodies with you now, right?
Nah, c'mon, look into those eyes. That's pure Haqua. Nobody else could even try to imitate her.
But ohhh, if they did, if they bullied me just like her, then…
"Uehehehehe…"
Haqua chuckled as she headed towards me and gently scratched my ear.
"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself as well, Rina."
"I had fun too…" Suzume blearily muttered, letting out a drunken giggle as she rubbed her cheek against Yamada's back.
"Yes, yes, we all did," Yamada laughed, as she softly ran a hand through Suzume's hair.
Our trip home was slow, long, and completely peaceful. Though my apartment was cramped even without everyone staying over, that's exactly how things played out. At the end of a long, lovely night, everyone, even the king in our midst, wanted nothing more than to spend as much time together as possible. Everyone had more drinks, chatted about anything and everything that came to mind, and teased me so much that my painfully loud barks excited the sleeping king enough for her to force her way into my body, all while relaxing by one another's side.
Which brought us to now, with me laying in bed, absolutely smothered under a pile of girls.
I think, if you'd asked me what polyamory would be like before I met Haqua, I would've told you it sounded exhausting. I'd been so ground down that the thought of loving one person was too much for me, let alone the huge group of incredible, beautiful women that surrounded me now.
My partners can mock me all I want for getting so runty, but…if I can praise myself a little, I…I think I've grown, too. I'm happy, thinking back on everything, for being able to let in so many different people, and I can't believe my luck in getting all of them to let me in, as well.
Some days it felt like a strange dream. I'd wake up as my human self, and discover that this was all just in my head.
But nah, I knew dreams better than just about anyone ever could. No matter what kind of fantasy they showed me, even though they could be totally unmoored from reality as I knew it.
None of them could come anywhere close to what I had.
I was glad nobody was awake to see how dorky my smile must have been. I'm not sure I could take that kind of embarrassment.
But still, as I shut my eyes, and tried to fall asleep, I couldn't help but notice something.
There's nothing I know better than the feeling of my partners' arms around me. I…yeah, look, I know how that sounds.
But even with all these women holding me close, it was immediately obvious that one particular pair of hands wasn't anywhere to be found.
"Haqua?" I whispered, wondering if she'd simply gotten lost in the cluster of girls. Any second now, she'd wrap her arms around me, and…and…
Hm.
No movement. Everyone just happily slept the night away. Maybe it's dumb of me to pay this any mind, anyone else would just assume she's fast asleep and leave it at that, but…nah, Haqua was hardly a deep sleeper. If I called to her, she'd reach out to me.
But she didn't. Which told me that…well, she wasn't here. Not in bed, at least.
As carefully as I could, I wriggled my way out of bed. I didn't want to wake anyone else, but I moved pretty quickly all the same, feeling a little antsier than I wanted to admit. I made my way to the living room, and I saw the moon, bigger and brighter than it had been in quite some time, bathing my apartment in cold, pale light.
And there was Haqua, gazing up at it through the window. She was staggeringly beautiful, I knew that better than anyone, but the moonlight made her look practically ethereal. She felt like she'd stepped right out of a poem, showing me the kind of beauty that generations of people spent their entire lives fruitlessly seeking out. She could reach out and pluck the moon itself from the sky right now, and I wouldn't bat an eyelid. I was captivated, completely unable to take my eyes off of her. I could watch her for hours…
"Can't sleep, dear?" she asked, turning her gaze towards me, peering into my soul itself. She knew exactly why I'd come here, but she wanted me to say it.
"Sorry, Haqua, I didn't mean to disturb you, really," I apologized, smiling warmly. "I was a little worried about you, is all."
"Such a loyal mutt," she smiled softly, before looking back out the window. "There's no need to fret, dear. I just needed some air."
"Nuh-uh, that's not it," I said, shaking my head. "You've been out of it for a while now. You need a lot more than just air, don't you?"
"And who raised you to talk back, hmm?"
"My way, way too many owners. They love it when I'm bratty," I joked, sauntering over to Haqua and taking a seat on her lap. "Makes it easier to take me down."
"Quite so," Haqua chuckled, though her smile seemed a little sad. She really wasn't doing so hot.
"And look, if that's what'll do the trick for you right now, I'll be as bratty as you want. You can bully me ultra-hard and get anything weighing you down outta your system, it'll be great."
Haqua seemed a little disappointed to hear that, but I wasn't done.
"But if you need something more, if you want to talk things out, you need a shoulder to cry on, or you just want someone to watch the moon with you, well," I snuggled up to her, and gently hugged her. "Then I'm right here, Haqua. You're my wife, after all."
She was silent for a little while, before a soft, amused chuckle filled the air.
"That's the first time you've called me that. Did you know that, dear?"
"Ahaha, I dunno what's been holding me back. I've had your brand etched into my skin all this time," I laughed. "But if it's too much, then-"
"Not at all," she shook her head, then gently kissed the top of mine. "It's wonderful, Rina. Were you not such an adorable pup, I'd almost call you dashing."
"It's a side effect of being a substitute king. I'm pretty good at talking to people these days."
"No, no, it has nothing to do with that. I know it's your specialty, but in this one case, I'd prefer you not self-flagellate," she smiled, giving me a warm hug and whispering in my ear. "You've always known what to say. That's why I fell for you in the first place."
She spoke so quietly. Even right up against my ear, her words could've missed me entirely. Unusual as it was, it made one thing clear: Haqua was bashful, and fuck, did it ever make her adorable. I'd be tempted to give myself a more mature, motherly body, maybe pamper her a little for being so honest.
But nah, she wanted me: Runty dumbass Rina Saeki. Her pet, her property, her wife.
"...Thanks, Haqua," I smiled up at her. "That's really sweet of you to say."
I half-expected a smirk and a reminder to not let it go to my head, but of course, she gave me nothing of the sort. Instead, she kept holding me close, nuzzled my cheek, and let out a happy sigh as her fingers traced the brand on my belly.
"Oh? I'm reviving you already?" I asked, chuckling softly at how quickly she'd perked up.
"It's a start," she laughed, planting a kiss on my cheek. "It feels like it's been so dreadfully long since we had this…"
"It really does…"
The brand that adorned my body was symbolic. If it gave Haqua any kind of power or sway over me, she never once used it, and didn't seem even the slightest bit interested in any of that. Everything we had together was natural, the result of feelings we'd held within us for years bubbling to the surface the moment we first met one another. Though she and I had been worlds apart back then, I think, on some level, we both instantly understood one another completely.
Life had worn us down, but together, we'd taken it into our own hands, and carved out a happiness that was uniquely ours, spreading it to all the women we loved so dearly.
But something had felt different since then, hadn't it? We didn't really get too many moments like this one anymore…
"You've felt lonely, Haqua?"
Haqua stiffened, then held me a little tighter.
"Lonely…isn't the right word," she started, her words coming out with far less confidence than she usually possessed. "I feel silly even saying this, but-"
"Don't," I squeezed her hand. "Don't hold back a thing, OK? There's nothing you can say that I'd think of that way. If it's been weighing on you, then I want to help."
She squeezed my hand back, and gave a small nod, before taking a deep breath.
"I'm thrilled our family has grown so much as of late. Every day, I've worked to support your relationships with any and all who catch your eye, and yet, with every woman who comes to live by our side…" she paused, then sighed. "I suppose I can't help but feel as though something's been lost, too. An end to the times when you and I would spend all day doing nothing but laying together. When I think of it that way, well, I can't help but feel as though I've fallen behind a little. As though I could return to Hell right now and none of you would notice at all."
I knew, all too well, just how isolated Haqua had been before I met her. I'd experienced first-hand the malaise that tore at her when she thought back on those days, and never wanted her to go back to them. She was every bit as worn down by the world as me.
And her words now were tinged with that same sadness, that feeling nagging at her heart harder than it had in quite some time.
I couldn't stand by and let her struggle with that. I wouldn't let those feelings consume her ever again.
"Y'know, when I was stuck as Suzume, I thought about everyone a bunch, Haqua," I smiled up at her. "I spent my whole time wishing I could come back to all of you, share in one of Rhody's delicious meals, get teased a ton by Mio, and be held in Iori's confident embrace."
"I hope your time since you returned has lived up to that," Haqua said, smiling glumly.
"Oh it has!" I grinned. "Every day's been so nice. Even though I get whisked off to the castle whenever Suzu's being bratty, knowing I can come back to that later always puts a huge smile on my face."
"You'll have to return in Suzume's body someday. Oh, the fun you'd have…" she chuckled, rubbing the spot above my butt where my tailfeathers would've been.
"Ahaha, right?" I laughed. "But y'know what I thought of more than any of that?"
"Mm?"
"You, Haqua," I told her, smiling warmly as I nestled into her embrace. "I thought about coming home to you, falling into your lap, just like this, and spending all day watching you play videogames without a care in the world. Because that's what home is to me, Haqua. It's wherever I can be with you."
I heard Haqua choke back a small sob.
"So please, don't ever think that you could just slip away without us noticing. I don't feel that way, and nobody else here does either. There's not a day that goes by where I don't think how lucky I am to have you, Haqua. You helped me find my happiness, so I won't ever let you lose yours, you got that? A good pet always knows how to cheer up their owner, after all!" I said, facing her with a confident smirk.
Her smile back at me looked so endlessly warm that I nearly started crying. As she hugged me tight and pulled me into her chest, I couldn't help but chuckle a little, thrilled by how much her mood had swelled. Slowly, she leaned down to kiss me, a gesture I returned with all the passion and warmth that she was showing me.
"Then I might be leaning on you quite a bit, you know? Your mistress missed you far more than you realize."
"Nothing could make this mutt happier," I grinned. "I'll give you all the licks you need to get back on your feet."
Haqua reached up and gently petted my head, softly chuckling to herself.
"That sounds perfect, dear."
"Mm, you bet it does! And y'know, if you think those days are gone, then there's no better time like the present to show you how wrong you are!"
"Oh?" she cocked her eyebrow, before I gently guided her hands to my chest.
"We've got each other now, don't we? Just the two of us, bundled up on the couch, with allll the time in the world to ourselves," I cooed, doing the best I could to make my bratty voice sound even a little sensual.
"Was that your aim, then? Sex, even at a time like this? My, I thought I raised you better than that."
"Nah, couldn't have been further from my mind. I just wanted to see you smile," I said, thrilled with how at-ease and relaxed she looked. "But now that we're there, well, I thought I might remind you of just how you made my life so much better."
I leaned in again, kissed her deeply, and instantly summoned up a collar around my neck, with a long, thin leash leading straight to Haqua's hands. I'd been on the receiving end of petplay near-constantly for ages now, but there was one case of it that stuck out in my mind above all others… The time I truly awakened to all the desires that had burned within me all my life.
And as I pulled back, I held up the distinct, bone-shaped tag, with a simple message written in large, blocky letters. A message for her, and her alone.
Rina:
Property of Haqua
Haqua's eyes flashed with recognition, and despite her best efforts, she couldn't hold back a tear rolling down her cheek, one that I readily licked up.
"A little gift you gave me from the day I first became your pet. I was human back then, but even so, I held onto this pretty tight in my heart," I smiled. "Made sure it'd always be there to remind me of what we have."
For a moment, she was frozen, then she uttered a simple sentence, one I'd burned into my mind.
"...On your back."
I smiled at her, and she said exactly what I hoped she'd say next.
"Lie on your back. Surely even a mutt like you," she whispered, kissing my cheek before pushing me out of her arms and onto the sofa, where she climbed on top of me, her soft, voluptuous curves practically swallowing me up beneath her, "can understand that much?"
It was perfect.
I lifted my arms like paws, and willed away everything I was wearing save for my collar and my rings. I was unguarded then, and I'd be unguarded now.
I couldn't have hoped for better. In just a few small moments, it became clear just how deep our feelings for one another ran. No matter how much things might change, no matter how many women we accept into our lives…
We're still the same women who met each other under the pale light of the moon, and the flame kindled between us that night burned as bright as ever.
There was no punishment, no whipping or scolding me like there was back then, but we didn't need that. What she gave me was too wonderful to be distilled down solely to the ways she so lovingly dominated me.
Instead, she simply reached a finger between my thighs, and gently stroked my lips, smiling at every little whine that left my throat.
"Nnn…"
"There's a good girl," she cooed, leaning down to kiss the top of my head, nearly suffocating me in her bust as she did. She knew how flustered it'd get me, and pounced on the opportunity to plunge her finger inside.
"Wan wahn~!" I quietly barked, my voice thick with desperation, desire, and adoration. I did my best to stifle it, to keep it down and make sure nobody else in the apartment woke up, but it was no use, I was a slave to her touch.
"Perfect," she said, teasing my clit with her fingernail. It was gentler than anything she'd done for me in quite some time, and yet, it hit every bit as hard as she always did. "You're so cute when you're trying to hold back, just like you were then," she cooed, giving my cheek a long, slow lick.
"Haqua…" I breathed, my pulse quickening as her tail snaked around my thighs, giving it a tight, firm squeeze. "You're incredible…"
"Me? But of course," she chuckled, reaching a hand beneath me to cup and squeeze my ass, letting her fingers really sink into my squishy cheeks. "My pet deserves the very best. She may be a mutt, but that's exactly why I love her so," she smiled. "Her love for me is unconditional and unending. How could I not want to return such sincerity?"
Small, choked-up sobs mingled with my whines, barks, and moans. I loved her so much. I knew that so often, I was expected to receive and so rarely asked to give in return, but today, that wouldn't do.
I reached my arms up, pulled her down, and hugged her tight, reaching my tail down between her legs and plunging it into her pussy.
"Ah~! My, such an eager girl…"
"I want Mistress Haqua to feel-nn~! Feel good…" I said, moaning as her finger stroked my clit once more. "She deserves it so, so much…"
Haqua let out a small, soft chuckle, but said nothing, simply continuing to caress and fuck me on the couch. We were both being so delicate, moving slowly and carefully, but that only served to make what teasing we did get up to that much more satisfying and surprising, getting the absolute loveliest moans out of both of us. Nibbling on my ear might have gotten lost in the shuffle on any other night, but now, it made me squirm like crazy, my face flushing with desire. By the same token, she looked delighted with every bit of boldness I showed, chuckling warmly as I teased her nipples and tugged on her tail.
We went for what felt like hours, the love we shared melting away any and all sense of time as we understood it. As the two of us finally realized we didn't have even the slightest bit of stamina left, we lay side by side in each other's arms, dozing off on the couch without a care in the world.
Haqua needed this, but so did I. In truth, there was nothing that could ever hit quite the way she did. Her love was uniquely beautiful, and all of us were so lucky to receive it.
I groggily woke up the next morning expecting to be alone. Haqua so often snuck away from me in my sleep to surprise me with breakfast or get in a few more hours of gaming each day.
But instead, there she was, still in my arms, sleeping blissfully.
I love you so much, Haqua…
I wrapped an arm around her, and softly petted her hair, stirring her awake right before a blissful sigh from across the room caught our attention.
"Oh, you two look so precious…" Rhody cooed, looking ready to melt as she collapsed into Iori's embrace. The whole house had come to watch us, it seemed. I briefly worried it might get to Haqua, that it'd reawaken all those worries that had hit her so hard the night before.
But as I looked at her, her smile looked every bit as loving and peaceful as it had when we were alone.
"Good morning, you two," Hisoka greeted us warmly.
"I'd offer to make breakfast, but now might not be the time…" Yamada chuckled softly.
"You girls need some privacy? We can clear out if you do," Iori offered.
"It looks so nice there…" Suzume muttered, practically drooling. "We wouldn't want to spoil a nice moment…"
"And we'll let you sleep all day if you want it," Mio smiled at us. "You look like you're doing way better today, Haqua! So get as comfy as you like!"
They'd all noticed how much she was struggling, and wanted nothing more than to see her smile.
Haqua was so very loved.
"What do you say, Haqua? Need some more private time?" I asked with a whisper. "It'll be more than OK if you do, promise."
She hugged me closely, then whispered in my ear.
"All I could ever need is right by my side."
I felt my heart pound every bit as hard as it did the night we met.
She gave me a small, loving kiss, then sat up straight, pulling me along with her.
"Thank you all," she said, "but there's nothing that even a king could grant me that would make me any happier than this."
I looked up at her, and nestled in closely against her side.
"So let's stay here today, all of us. No matter what hurdles life might throw at us, no matter how much it tries to grind us all down, I know that the moments we share are all we could ever need to overcome them. And if that means showing my mutt a little tough love every now and then…"
I felt Haqua's hand tightly gripping my leash. There was enough warmth to make it clear that she'd always have me, and enough strength that there was no mistaking that I'd always be hers.
"Then I think we'd all be more than willing to do that much, no?"
The expressions on my partners faces, loving as they were, couldn't have possibly looked hungrier than they did now. With just a few words, Haqua had taken the tenderness and blended it with so much lust. I knew, right away, that we'd make a total mess of the apartment in no time.
And I was just dripping at the thought.
I held up my paws, smiled at the lot of them, and bared my soul for them, just as I always would.
"Wan wan~!"