Chapter Text
‘Orochi, this position is a bit…’
Sakuyahime struggled to stay still, unused to being carried like this. The weight of her feet dangling midair made her feel vulnerable, not to mention the sudden dread whenever she felt herself slip away from his arms. Yet Orochi only brought her closer, left arm cradling the back of her knees while the other supported her back. He heeded none of her complaints, his eyes fixated on the path forward, the faint smirk and occasional glances he gave suggested how enjoyable her unease was for him.
The thought of staying in this position for the whole ‘trip’ only fed to her embarrassment. Sakuyahime tried to let him know when suddenly she felt a light touch on her toes, moving to the sole of her left foot, then the right one, slowly slithering upward around her right ankle. It paused on her shin as Sakuyahime looked down; the snake peeked from the gap of her kimono, its tongue tasting the air as their gazes met.
What is he trying to do now…
The feeling of scales against her skin was not unfamiliar, but ticklish nonetheless. Sakuyahime slightly lifted her right leg, wordlessly asking for the serpent demon to let go. It wound tighter around her leg instead; the goddess knows well how stubborn his serpent demons can be, and this one was not an exception. Still, she could sense its reluctance to cause her any harm. It even loosened its coil a little bit, although still firm enough to prevent her leg from moving freely.
Exasperated, Sakuyahime pulled her right leg upward…
…that did release the serpent’s coil, but also caused her to start losing her balance.
‘Ah!’
Her surprise was short-lived, however. Even if he had expected it to happen, Orochi still needed to stop to kept her from falling. The look he gave her was one of mischief, a smile that soon burst into a chuckle as Sakuyahime returned his teasing with a pout.
“Your eagerness never fails to delight me, Sakuya. But do tone it down a little, alright?”