Chapter 417: 156._3
"So you don’t dare move now?" Natsuki Kuri laughed, teasing his chin with her fingers.
"We’re at home, better behave." Fujiwara Reya explained in a hoarse voice.
"Hmm, I’ll accept that explanation." Natsuki Kuri nodded understandingly, continuing to scratch his chin, "Now, let’s settle this account."
"Settle accounts?"
"You’ve brought two ladies home, you know."
"... Uh, haha."
"I’ve been around for over a decade, haven’t I?"
"... Yes."
"I’ve waited so long and yet never received the status of lady; don’t you think that’s unfair?"
"Absolutely unfair!" Fujiwara Reya looked indignant, as if he was judging someone else.
"Alright then, since you know it’s unfair, just obediently accept your punishment!" Natsuki Kuri rested her leg on him and started the old challenge.
"..."
Fujiwara Reya was about to cry.
"Not a sound!" Natsuki Kuri sneered slightly, lifting the hem of her kimono and stepping on him.
In an instant, her long and graceful legs were fully revealed, the curves alluringly sensuous; the fleshy parts of her thighs were incredibly supple, feeling wonderful to the touch.
Let’s speak rationally!
Being able to admire the beautiful legs of a non-blood-related elder should, in theory, be a delightful thing, but Fujiwara Reya’s expression was as if he was being tormented greatly, even slightly twisted.
Because!
Natsuki Kuri was!
Really pressing hard!
Dammit!
Aren’t you afraid of really squashing me into a meat patty and not having anything to eat later?
No way!
As a man, I can’t be so passive!
Seeing that Natsuki Kuri wasn’t going to let him go anytime soon, Fujiwara Reya suddenly reached out, wrapped his arms firmly around her waist, and pushed.
Natsuki Kuri couldn’t help but let out an "ah".
Her body, as if waiting for him all along, brimmed with mischief, waiting for her beloved to return home in a warm nest. Like a flower gently flicked at the petal, swayed tremblingly, her silhouette unclear.
She closed her eyes.
Compared to Natsuki Kuri with her eyes opened, she seemed even more mysterious with her eyes gently closed.
Fujiwara Reya looked at her directly, her slightly open red lips extraordinarily conspicuous.
His heart pounded furiously.
The high collar of his kimono seemed tightly strangling his neck, a bit uncomfortable.
Yet even with her eyes closed, Natsuki Kuri lightly gripped his fingers.
This was a signal.
Enticed by this slight motion from Natsuki Kuri, Fujiwara Reya placed his lips on hers. As their lips met, an observer would see their beauty merge like mercury.
All unnecessary emotions were swept away, leaving only sincere warmth.
Natsuki Kuri’s lips became increasingly gentle. Fujiwara Reya withdrew his hand, his left arm encircling her shoulder, raising her chin with the right hand. His fingers felt the slender soft bone of her chin, intensifying the intimacy of the kiss.
After their lips parted, Natsuki Kuri still had her eyes closed, breathing lightly.
Fujiwara Reya’s gaze dropped downward.
Her bare feet curled up, toes twitching as if sensing danger lurking in the grass. He reached out to touch her face, finding it very hot, and thus he smiled contently.
"My little Koriya, Izunaga Saburo is coming..." Natsuki Kuri turned over, murmuring dreamily, "You bother Kuri instead of coming up with a plan, you’re really mean."
"I don’t care who’s coming." Fujiwara Reya once again firmly held her close.
"I can’t breathe." Natsuki Kuri gasped, opening her eyes, her long, beautiful eyelashes spreading open like blooming flowers.
The world outside was radiant with sunlight, reflecting off the rich green of the garden tree like a pure land of bliss. The breeze blowing into the room was refreshing, gradually clearing his mind. Fujiwara Reya loosened his grip a bit and mocked her, "That’s what you get for being so fierce just now; now you know to ask for mercy?"
Looking out at the clouds beyond the window, Natsuki Kuri sighed with satisfaction.
She felt a closeness similar to playing with a pet she raised herself, her eyes half-closed, relishing in a slight, dreamy sweetness akin to floating above the clouds.
※※※※※
After leaving the room, Fujiwara Reya and Natsuki Kuri headed to the dining room, where two maids were tidying up.
The ceiling featured a large glass skylight. The light, as if passing through a fish tank, spilled over the maids setting up the tableware. The table was already laid with a tablecloth and a small potted pine tree. Light shining through the skylight made the celadon of the bonsai pot shine with a translucent hue. The pine tree seemed rejuvenated, with its needles glowing.
Once the maids left, Fujiwara Reya, finding himself bored, messed up the neatly placed tableware only to set it back in order. Then, after a glance, he rearranged them again, busying himself without achieving anything.
Natsuki Kuri sat gracefully on the side, laughing as she watched him fiddle aimlessly.
She had seen this scene countless times before and still never grew tired of it.
Footsteps came from behind the curtain, and Fujiwara Reya looked up.
"What are you doing?"
Before the figure appeared, Kawashima Miki’s laughter-filled voice reached them, like a cheerful morning bird in the mountain woods. Soon, Aunt Qing lifted the curtain, and two future ladies, dressed in cool Sendai silk kimono skirts, entered the dining room.
The white collars, with subtly colored blue kimono embroidered in delicate floral patterns, were sky blue. A red thread was finely pinned at the chest, tied into a small red knot, securing the lapel. Their waist ties were styled into the butterfly knot representing unmarried women, extremely pure and elegant.