[KURAYAMI]
Rinko's chambers were quiet, Ayami had noticed. She had not expected that she would be here, really. All she had wanted was to take a break because King Kazuya was still interacting with the other royals.
"My sister won't shut up about you," Rinko had come up to her and said right after the queen had left, and honestly, it was something that had Ayami feeling everything and anything. It was not what she had been looking forward to, because tomorrow would be their scheduled day for meeting.
It was the only reason she had somehow managed to talk King Kazuya into coming to the summit today. Because the summit was meant to span an entire week, and Ayami didn't want the first day of the summit to work against her and Yuzuki.
At least tomorrow, as the second day would be a bit lighter for her, so she wouldn't be away for long.
"Your queen…" Ayami said, and Rinko stared at her.
"Do you want to see her or not? I'm only allowing this because I can't take the whining anymore. And the queen will be busy for the rest of the evening. This is your chance," Rinko had insisted, and Ayami trusted Rinko.
Not because she was the enforcer…
… but because she was Yuzuki's sister.
It was the only reason she had let herself be led through the corridors like some hidden figure in the realm. It was stupid of Ayami; she knew it. Because Rinko would probably lure her, especially after the differences between King Kazuya and the mad queen Kuramitsu.
But Ayami chose to take a leap of faith in Rinko's sisterhood.
Now here she was, inside Rinko's chambers, standing a little further from the door, yet close enough to kill anyone if this was an ambush for her. Gods, she really had trust issues, but today Rinko didn't seem hostile.
What if she was wrong, though?
Well…
"She might not want to see me!" Ayami heard Yuzuki complain on the other side of the door.
Ayami smiled in earnest, silently thankful that Rinko had kept her word.
Granted, she would think the next time before agreeing to such an arrangement, but right now it was worth it. Worth every moment that she would spend with Rinko before Kazuya insisted they go home.
"I want to see you, my little dove," Ayami said, and she heard Rinko groan and curse both of them while still urging Yuzuki to open the door and go see her mate.
When Ayami didn't hear any footsteps getting closer, she got up and walked to the door, opening it gently as the scent of peaches hit her nose. It had been three days since she had breathed her in, and gods be damned, this woman would drive her nuts.
"You… you're real," Yuzuki breathed, her shoulders relaxing like she didn't already know Rinko hadn't played her.
It was quite the sight, really, but then who could blame her?
She had tried to get everything ready, and now here she was standing in front of Ayami in her newly conjured white gown that was a little too sophisticated for the profile she intended to show her.
"You look gorgeous, little dove," Ayami said before adding, "so very beautiful. Fuck, you're so pretty."
And Yuzuki…
The mad queen was gone, and in her place was the woman who couldn't breathe right whenever she was close to her Matsui.
She had been called beautiful, pretty before, but hearing the same words from Ayami for what felt like the hundredth time made her feel like she was wanted. Loved. Adored even.
"Rinko bought me a dress," she lied, not holding Ayami's eyes, knowing she had to explain the expensive dress somehow.
It made a little more sense for Rinko to have been the one to give it to her because Rinko was a powerful enforcer and had the gold to get her this.
"I'll buy you a thousand and one dresses if you wish, my beautiful dove," Ayami breathed, staring at Yuzuki from head to toe.
Oh, she was whipped bad for this woman, and she wasn't even complaining.
Unable to stand there any longer, Ayami gently pulled Yuzuki into the chambers, closing the door behind them before she pinned Yuzuki against the door.
"Wh… what are you doi—" Ayami shut her up with a kiss, and gods did Yuzuki nearly melt at the touch.
She had missed this. Being held in Ayami's arms. Being kissed like she was worth everything. Being breathed in hungrily like she was the only reason the realm was standing.
And Ayami Araki was hungry.
The way she kissed Yuzuki desperately.
How her hold on Yuzuki's waist tightened, earning a moan from the wild queen. How she pulled back just to stare at Yuzuki's closed eyes, and dove back in.
This was a fever dream for them.
"I should dress like this more often," Yuzuki chuckled shyly when they pulled back, and Ayami kissed her forehead so softly.
"All you have to do is exist, and I'd do anything for you," Ayami said, brushing Yuzuki's cheek softly.
"That's crazy," Yuzuki said, smiling sheepishly.
"For you, nothing is crazy, my little dove," Ayami said before she pressed her mouth on Yuzuki's scent gland, sucking softly, her teeth nibbling occasionally as she left kisses there.
Yuzuki knew Ayami would leave marks on her like that, and it would probably be harder to hide, but she didn't give a shit right now.
She was being marked by Ayami.
Being loved by the woman she was structurally forbidden from in this current lifetime.
"You would let me mark you here, wouldn't you?" Ayami teased when she noticed how pliant and submissive Yuzuki was for her, and in her arms.
"I love you," the wolf queen breathed, quietly nodding.
And Ayami pressed a final kiss on her scent gland before she stepped back, pulling back just enough to look at the beautiful woman the fates had given her.
Oh, Ayami.
"I'm sorry I came into your sister's chambers… I just… I was having a really terrible day, and she told me you'd be happy to see me," Ayami confessed.
And Yuzuki made a mental note to thank Rinko and probably increase her salary or some shit. Whatever Rinko wanted, damn.
"If she let you come, then she likes you. My sister hates everyone," Yuzuki blushed, not able to hold Ayami's eyes for longer.
Who the fuck was this woman blushing here?
"I brought you something, little dove," Ayami said, pulling Yuzuki into the room and settling her on the bed.
"Me?" the queen asked, clearly not expecting anything.
All she wanted was Ayami closer, and she had gotten it. She wouldn't dare ask the moon goddess for more, not before she was done with her Kazuya mission anyway.
"Of course," Ayami said before she pulled anklets from her pocket. They were made of pure gold, and some of the best that Yamashita was known for.
Yuzuki stared at the anklets…
And gods, her eyes filled with tears at the memories that came with these.
"Yuzu?" Ayami asked when she realized Yuzuki was crying.
"They're… so beautiful," she said instead, like she wasn't remembering the first time Matsui had brought her anklets.
As the Fukada alpha, Yuzuki was always too busy to even consider dressing pretty around mundane things. She always had her pack to worry about, the safety of everyone, not to mention the fact that she had to make sure the stupid King Kazuya wasn't trying to manipulate her people.
She never really had time for any jewelry and all that, despite being one of the most beautiful women in the Yamashita Kingdom.
Matsui had declared herself her mate's designer, and on most days, she bought Yuzuki jewelry that Yuzuki always forgot to wear until Matsui reminded her of it.
It became a habit for them, with Yuzuki dressing like she always did, and Matsui putting the jewelry on her because Yuzuki Fukada, for the life of her, had never cared for jewelry or even her beauty. She was all for strategies.
Now, twenty-eight years later, her Matsui was giving her the same things.
Handing her the anklets.
Showing them to her like the realm didn't owe them peace and a whole lifetime.
Gods, Yuzuki's heart was not strong for this one.
Oh, how she would burn Kazuya.
"But not as beautiful as you," Ayami said, before she lifted Yuzuki's dress carefully.
"May I?" Ayami asked, as she stared at Yuzuki's feet, and Yuzuki stared at her, tears still brimming despite Ayami having wiped them for her moments ago while she was stuck in her memories of the past.
"Y… yes," Yuzuki breathed, her heart full.
Ayami didn't hesitate.
She folded the ends of Yuzuki's gown to give her access to those pretty legs before carefully putting the anklets on them.
When she was done…
Ayami kissed her feet.
And Yuzuki sobbed.