Chapter Text
“There is something else that I truly can’t express with words. Allow me to show you, in the only way that I can...”
Caressing the scar on Utsushi’s face with your finger, you kissed him, gently at first.
And you did it again and again. He returned every single one tenderly, each time with more amour.
Every contact, every moment felt anew.
He took to you so well that your passion intensified to a point where you couldn’t take it anymore. You pushed him against the wall, straddling him, never breaking away. Surely he could understand what you were trying to tell him, but one more little tip wouldn’t hurt. You began undoing the yukata hiding your voluptuous figure.
You whispered in his ear.
“Utsushi, please... Won't you take me?”
The shiver through his body made you excited. Tempting him on your own terms was a newfound hobby of yours.
“Don’t mind if I do.”
But of course your instructor would turn the tables, pulling you down onto the floor, ready to ravish you. He was purring like a Nargacuga, pouncing to have you all to himself. Leave it to your master to make his monster impressions turn you on at a time like this.
"But I’ll have you know I’m not letting you go tonight, my Ace. I hope you’re ready."
You happily submit yourself to him, feeling your quest for loving complete.
“Hmm.”
You felt a spot of mischief while you lay beside Utsushi, basking in his warmth. Your bodies shone in the afterglow of a wonderful evening, and you nonchalantly traced your finger along his bare chest.
“Perhaps it’s my turn to be a little invasive. You got too much out of me today, and I think it’s a little unfair. Don’t you think?”
“Mmm, not sure what you mean.” Your darling instructor was half asleep, cozy in the space beside you. You were in your favorite place on this earth, too, cuddling by his side.
“I think it’s pretty obvious, because you’re experienced in a lot of different ways. Forgive me for asking, but… Was there someone else before me?”
“Huh?”
“You know. If you ever got close to someone like you are with me. I never imagined I could be with anyone like this. You just seem to know... a lot. About everything. About how to make me feel good, wanted, things like that. All the ways that only you could know.”
“… You mean like-” Utsushi’s eyes snapped open when he realized what you were talking about. Then he turned his head away bashfully, a little surprised that you would inquire.
“Uh, I mean, I’ve been around. Met a lot of people over the years, especially in my line of work. And I had this… Well, he was a really swell guy. We grew up together, trained together, and we both became elite hunters, best of our kind. We even collabed on naming our weapons, stuff like that. And then we made a pact to break our limits, to be the best we could possibly be! But eventually that meant going on separate paths in life, so we parted ways.”
Utsushi reminisced about someone he was once very close to. He seemed really fond of this person, and it made you smile when you thought about how he’d made someone happy before. It’s just like him to be this way, and you felt fond of the sentiment. Knowing how he is, did he ever feel longing for the man he used to be with?
After a moment of silence, your instructor continued.
“Actually, maybe you might know him. He leads the Royal Guard’s Secret Service in Elgado, so he’s quite the gnarly ninja, just like me. Doesn’t let himself get seen often, since it’s part of the job description.”
“Let’s see… Kagami, right? I think I’ve spotted him once or twice, but you’re right. We were always out of each other’s way when I was stationed over there. I only ever heard of his name in passing.”
You thought about a peculiar white-haired man that you saw at the outpost, dressed in a similarly white regal uniform. He had imposing dual blades on his back, and carried a similar sort of disposition as Utsushi when he was serious or focused on a mission. On second thought, you should have made a connection between them.
“He seemed rather intense.”
“Yeah, that’s how he always is. But if you manage to talk to him for a while, you’ll find he’s actually pretty funny. Dude pretends everything’s like an edgy sumi-e painting, always being poetical and stuff. It’s kinda weird. I thought he’d grow out of it as we got older, but I chatted him up again while we were in Elgado, and he hasn’t really changed.”
“… Do you still have feelings for him?” You debated if you should ask this, but it fell out of you before you could catch it.
You immediately regretted it.
“WHAT?! Of course not! That was a long time ago! A really long time ago!” He shot up on the futon in a panic, throwing the blanket off both of you. The sudden chill of the air piercing your skin made you shiver as you fumbled to cover yourself.
“U-Utsushi! I’m just teasing you! I think it’s wonderful that you stayed on good terms with him, even after all this time! I’m not surprised, knowing how sweet you are. It makes me think I’d like to continue being friends with you even if you decided you didn’t like me anymore.”
“ACE, NO! DON’T SAY THINGS LIKE THAT! Why would you even entertain the idea?! How could you! What did I do to deserve this?! You’re so cruel, Ace! Aaace!”
Oh no. Now he was whining and clinging onto you again.
“I was just- I’m sorry! After everything earlier, I thought I could jest- Oh, get a hold of yourself! How come you always get to harass me, but when I do it, you instantly fall apart! We literally just- You know I’m yours, your one-and-only!” You wriggled in his arms, trying to breathe.
But Utsushi's grip was iron tight, and you should have known better.
“There’s no one else like you! I need you! I can’t go on without my Ace! Please, oh please, you’ve got me stuck in your web like a Rakna-Kadaki, don’t you see?! What do I have to do to prove it?! How else can I show you? Oh, I know! Do you wanna tie me up? Yeah! Use your Wirebugs on me, right now! Do anything you want to me! Anything and everything!”
“UTSUSHI!”
Now that you set him off, what was there to do?
For better or worse, this is what it was like to love Kamura village’s number one hunting instructor.
But you wouldn’t trade it for anything else in the world.