The floor of this bathroom was made of warm black marble. The thick, billowing steam made the spacious room feel like the inside of a cloud, but a cloud scented with jasmine. Sumeragi's signature aroma that now seemed to seep into the very pores of my skin.
I sat on the edge of a giant porcelain bathtub, still wearing my white shirt, which was now tattered and drenched in demon blood. The blood had dried, making the fabric stiff and causing it to cling to my wounds.
Click.
The bathroom door opened. I flinched, reflexively covering my chest.
Sumeragi stepped in. She was no longer in her work uniform. She wore only a thin white shirt with sleeves rolled up to her elbows. Her black hair, usually neatly braided, now flowed freely, falling over her shoulders like a beautiful stream of ink.
"M-Miss Sumeragi? I... I can wash myself," I stammered. My heart raced, not from the adrenaline of combat, but from her overwhelming, intimate presence.
"Don't be foolish, Aqua-kun," her voice was soft, yet absolute. She walked closer, kneeling before me on the marble floor. "That demon blood contains micro-toxins. If it isn't properly cleansed from the crevices of your body, you'll develop a fever."
Her slender fingers began to undo my shirt buttons one by one. I held my breath. Every time her cold fingertips brushed the skin of my chest, I felt a jolt like an electric shock.
As the last button gave way, she parted the shirt, revealing my thin yet toned torso, covered in old scars and fresh bruises from the fight. And, of course, Charon's heart, protruding slightly from the surface of my chest.
Sumeragi fell silent for a moment. She traced the edge of my chest with her thumb. Her gaze wasn't one of pity, but rather that of a collector admiring a very rare antique.
"Exquisite," she whispered.
She picked up a soft sponge, already overflowing with lather. She began to rub my shoulders, cleaning the bloodstains with agonizingly slow movements. The warm water she poured over my back caused my tense muscles to slowly unravel.
"Miss Sumeragi..." I whispered, my eyes fluttering shut as she began to soap my chest. "Why are you so kind to me? I'm just a stray dog."
Sumeragi stopped scrubbing. She brought her face close, forcing me to open my eyes. At this distance, I could see the patterns in her eyes seemingly swirling, vacuuming up my entire consciousness.
"Because stray dogs are the most loyal once you give them a comfortable home, aren't they?" She gave a thin, knowing smile.
Suddenly, she pulled me into the bathtub, which was already filled with warm water. I fell in with a splash, landing in a seated position, and Sumeragi stepped into the tub with me, still wearing her white shirt.
The warm water turned her shirt transparent, molding it tightly to the curves of her body. I looked away, my face feeling as though it were burning.
"Don't turn away, Aqua-kun," she commanded. She gripped the back of my neck, forcing me to lean against her soft yet emotionally cold chest. She began to comb through my wet black hair with her fingers. "Isn't this what you wanted? To be held by a beautiful woman? To eat delicious food? To live without the fear of hunger?"
"Y-yes..." I replied faintly.
"Then enjoy it," she whispered into my ear, giving my earlobe a small bite that made my entire body shudder. "But remember one thing. This water is warm because I provided it. This soap is fragrant because I chose it. And your life is here because I willed it."
She cupped my face with both her wet hands and kissed my lips. It wasn't a romantic kiss; it was a dominating one, as if she were siphoning the oxygen from my lungs, reminding me that even the very breath I inhaled belonged to her.
I felt like I was drowning. Not in the bathwater, but in this woman's obsession. I knew this was wrong. I knew Kageyama was right. I was being devoured. But as she held me this tightly beneath the suffocating steam, I felt like I wouldn't care even if the world crumbled tomorrow.
"I am yours, Miss Sumeragi," I whispered between her kisses.
"Smart boy," she replied with a chillingly satisfied tone. "Now, be still. I haven't finished cleaning what is mine."
Outside, a thunderstorm raged, but inside this jasmine-scented bathroom, there was only me and the goddess who had chained me with a maddened love.