Bella Hayward
"Oh, that's lovely," I said as Lance pawed around in Cali's cleavage. My Master-Husband had arranged a feast to celebrate his return. I was so glad.
Kylie had a super-huge grin on her face.
"What?" I asked her.
She just giggled and bounced in her seat.
Then Mrs. Hayward had her phone out and she was recording Lance turning around and coming toward me. I felt this weird hum of excitement through the air. My breath caught. I didn't get what was happening, and yet...
I found myself standing up as Lance reached me, his hand suspiciously behind his back. "Master?"
These hopeful, joyous tears were in my eyes. He couldn't be doing that. We were married. When he put the yellow garter on me, I became his Maid-Wife. He claimed me for that very important role. Me. His best friend and almost girlfriend.
But he was on his knees.
I fanned my face. Mom was suddenly behind me with her phone out, too. The entire harem had caught their breath. I struggled to breathe. This was really happening. I couldn't believe it. Lance stared up at me on one knee. He took my left hand.
"Bella," he said, his thumb rubbing across the back of my hand and knuckles, "I've known you since we were kids. I can't remember a time when we weren't hanging out. Playing tag. Climbing trees and riding bikes and playing video games together. Remember when we stayed up all night and finally beat Dark Souls."
I nodded.
"Well..." He unveiled what was behind his back. A black box. "I mean, I've always loved you. I know we were in that awkward stage just a while ago. Not sure if we should go from being more than friends, but I wanted to. I'm glad we did, because..."
He used his thumb to open the box.
Inside the white felt was nestled a platinum band with a large diamond set in it. Smaller, yellow diamonds were set into the ring itself, flanking the larger gemstone. My heart pounded so fast. The entire harem crowded around us, watching.
"Well," he said, and pulled the ring from the case. "Will you be my wife?"
"Yes," I breathed. It came out a whisper because of the tension. "Yes, yes, yes, Lance! I'll be your wife, Master!"
My left hand trembled as the tears built in the corners of my eyes. He slid the ring onto my finger. I shivered like I had when he put on the garter. It felt the same. A circle that was an endless promise to be his wife, not just his maid.
He seated it and smiled. He kissed the ring then rose and cupped my face.
"I love you," he said.
His lips met mine.
The entire harem erupted into wild cheers.
The claps and squeals and gasps echoed around us. I heard so many congratulations to Lance and to me. To us both. I held him tight, the tears spilling down my cheek as we kissed with such passion. With such love.
I was his Maid-Wife for real.
He broke the kiss and said, "We're going to have a ceremony and everything. Do it properly. Legally. You're going to be my wife, Bella."
"I will, Lance," I whispered. It was so hard not to use "Master," but he was more than that. He owned me, yes, but he also loved me. Treasured me.
Many of the maids would never be more than the women he loved. They could not be special like some of us.
His mother. His sister. Even his aunt.
And me.
I was special.
I was Bella Hayward, wife of the Lord of Hayward Manor.
I kissed him again as such joy burst in my heart. I would be his wife for eternity. In this life and the next. I would never let my man, my Master, my husband go.
I clutched to him with all my might as our family cheered around us.
***
Yuki Hanada
I swept the steps of the shrine, working up the stairs that climbed the hill to it. I hummed as the wind blew around me, whipping my long ponytail behind me.
It was annoying, but I focused on remaining calm as I climbed up the stairs, cleaning off dirt and leaves from the steps.
Those who came to worship at the Tsukuyomi Shrine deserved to have clean steps to pray to Lord Tsukuyomi.
I hummed as I worked higher, the wind rustling my red hakama, the baggy pants I wore. They were almost like divided skirts and something shrine maidens like me wore.
The wind died.
I blinked at that. It had gone so still. I looked up from the step and turned around. The forested slopes of the mountains rose around me. Off in the distance, I could see the ocean and mainland Japan across the gulf. I was on Sanuki Island.
"Strange," I said and turned back to my chore. This certainly made it easier.
I swept off more detritus, working up another step, when the brush rustled. I glanced at the bush to my right. It shook. Was there some animal in there? I gripped my broom as a weapon and took a step toward it, my heart racing faster.
I thrust my broom into the rustling bush and pushed it to the side, expecting to see--
A shadow swirled in the brush. My heart went chill as a face appeared in the darkness grinning at me.
The icy fear swept through me as I stared at the yokai. They weren't supposed to be real. Just folklore. My mind gibbered.
"...delicious..." whispered from the yokai.
I screamed, throwing my broom down. I turned and fled up the steps of the shrine. Ahead, the red-painted tori gates loomed. They would protect me.
The shrine was holy ground. Blessed with Lord Tsukuyomi's power.
The yokai laughed behind me.
*********_***********
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