Chapter 386 – I Promise This is All

*** Phrogni Ironfang ('Normal' Sister) ***

The silly forest. Dark, damp, and creepy. Nature's Champion rarely even joins the strategy meetings anymore. And the last update she gave was that some of the dryads are going to go mad, so we need to up our assault. Does she think the Phoenixes have a bunch of dryads in their ranks? What dryad is going to sit around a being of fire? Moron.

Yet again, the Champion is missing. Maybe she went crazy as well. That seems to be the standard route for Nature's creatures. Not a thought is going through those idiots.

"What the fuck are we supposed to talk about with these damn three-eyed monsters?" my sister says. Every time, it's the same thing. She complains, they stand there, probably sending everything to their Goddess, and then we run off. "Why do we even come to these meetings? We're finally making ground, and the dryad can't even show up."

"Sister, we are reporting to the Goddess. There is value in these meetings," I say.

"Whatever," my sister says. "We've moved forward. The Phoenixes don't have the heart for the war, and we're moving forward as expected. Now, I have things to do with people that actually respond to me."

Why am I surprised that my sister cares so little for the Goddess? Why am I letting her embarrass us before the Goddesses? I just need to put her in her place. We aren't beating back the Phoenixes; Nature is taking all the ground for us. They can't hold a forward position in the air without somewhere to stand, and that keeps getting pushed back as the overwhelming numbers Nature brings to this war leave them little hope for the lower realm's forces.

Our effort is mostly pointless. Nature just wants the extra support. She may even come after us next, just so that she doesn't have to share Alzi with us.

What are we doing here? This can't be what is best for our people.

*** Alzi ***

Yuki is splayed out on the floor when I return to the temple, and Nakuma is petting Yuki's head. Did time actually pass while I was up this time? Why are the Goddesses allowed to do that? I guess this makes for a funny sight. Yuki's bad night probably isn't done yet, unless the hidden reason for letting me be a slave is really good. Just the fact that I have to keep asking for the real reason is enough to annoy me.

Mommy was and is always first, and Mai was second. But Yuki was my third love. I thought she cared about me. I thought she showed me so much love in the brothel. But she could've gotten me out. I could've been free. I could've been sold to a worse owner without her, but I didn't have to be in the brothel at all. If she had bought me a year after I'd joined the brothel, I'm sure I would've been a happy stud for the stupid Kitsunes, especially if she brought Mommy and Mai along.

"Come," I say. "I'm tired and have to ask stupid questions again."

"Shit," Victoria says. "Nakuma, do you know the damn way, or do I get to wake up Yuki?"

"Don't touch her. I've got it," Nakuma says. Carefully, Nakuma scoops up Yuki into her arms. "Just a short walk to get there."

"Good luck," the Priestess says. "We appreciate all you're doing."

Who she's talking to, I don't know. I haven't done anything yet, and Yuki sure doesn't seem to be in good standing here.

Geta's red dots for her eyes seem smaller than normal. Did Kitsune do something to me already? Does she suspect that she's helping me become a Goddess?

"Time to go," I say. "Time to see if I finally get a good answer."

Nakuma takes the lead, even using mana to open the door. Most at least pretend to open the door with their hand. She really loves Yuki a bit too much.

The palace is only a short walk away from the temple. But I do have to question now why we have to walk everywhere. The path is pretty and well-maintained, but there has to be someone who can drive a carriage for a pregnant woman.

"Prepare," Nakuma says after we get back on the path.

Oh, yay. I would appreciate a better fucking warning than 'prepare,' but it's better than more walking.

Nakuma leads us to a simple room and throws Yuki onto the bed. Then she joins her on the bed, crossing her arms and staring at me with a pout.

"What?" I say. I didn't do anything to Nakuma. Why is she mad at me? This is the Goddess's work. Yuki failed her Goddess.

"Yuki got yelled at by the Goddess for something. You're the most likely reason. So do what you need to do."

"Geta, Victoria, can you leave?" I say. I doubt Nakuma is going to leave easily, but there's no need to fight her over this. "But stay close." No need to be stupid in case Nakuma wants to fight anyway.

"Shit, I was hoping to be part of this fucking fight," Victoria just has to say. "I knew Yuki was a bitch. Even has a Goddess fucking punishing her. But fucking fine."

Geta doesn't say anything. She just follows Victoria out, leaving me with just the two Kitsunes. The important one is still daring to sleep, while the other looks at me, annoyed. Yuki is the one that fucked up. There's no need to look at me like that, Nakuma.

"Yuki, wake up," I say. It's stupid, but I don't really want to shake Yuki right now. Nakuma is crazy. So crazy that she shakes Yuki herself. Ok, that isn't crazy, but it is helping me.

"Yes," Yuki mumbles, blinking away her confusion. "Yes."

"Your Goddess said you would explain everything this time," I say. "I don't know why it is taking this long for you to spill everything. But you'd better do it quick. I don't have much hope for this."

"I- Everything so far was true. I didn't know if I could get you out, and- and- I love you, Alzi. I'm sorry. Nakuma made love something I had to avoid. Love meant pain for me. I failed everything I did. Music and performance are the only things I'm good at. I- Where do I go? I had a great reason to stay away from you in the brothel. Then love brought pain. It was what I knew. Slaves... Slaves are normal for me. I'm a royal. I didn't think about your pain. And then my Mother... She scares me. I should've asked her to help before I found out about your sale. I should've done that. But I'm not perfect."

"I've been abused for a decade, and you're not perfect?! That is all you can give me?"

"No. I made mistakes. I'm not saying that I didn't. No, I messed up and hurt you a lot. I made many mistakes. Every day, I guess. Just-"

"Just, I wasn't a person to you?"

"You were! Are. You are a person. I wouldn't love a couch or a blade of grass. I loved you. I'm scared by love, and it excited me that I couldn't touch what I love, and I didn't know if I could get you out, and I didn't want to talk to my Mother. I was so scared about it all. I'm sorry. That is everything, I swear. It made me hurt you every day. That is the truth."

"I loved you, too. I thought you cared about me. But the best you could do was make sure that only the Mistress sold my womb and body! Maybe I could've had a better owner. One that would've freed me. Did you look into the different women who tried to buy me? Did you find one that would be nice and would take everyone in? You could've warned me and told me it would be better. Any of that?"

"You attracted the wrong ones. I promise. Fluvis was the only one I would've thought about letting buy you. I swear. You can force the Mistress to give you the list. She wrote them all down in case I left. I promise. I would've let you go somewhere better."

"Why? Why do you have to confuse me? I should hate you, but I don't. But I do. I fucking hate this! What do you mean by all of that? You just had to act, do anything, and it probably would've been better. You- I loved you for too long."

"I'll fix it."

"You can't!" I say. "You said it yourself. You fail at everything. You failed to protect me. You had to get your Mother's help to even get on a path to marry me. You- What am I supposed to do? I was abused for so long, and I didn't have to be. I didn't know how far they would go with slaves. I didn't know that! You could've saved me. You had the ability from the beginning, and didn't do it. But you didn't have to just watch. You could've tried to help me. You said you loved me."

"I'm sorry. Alzi, I'm sorry. Yes, you're right. I should've done that. You're right. I'm sorry."

"I'm glad you can say sorry after it's all happened. Enjoy your stupid night," I say, storming out of the stupid bedroom.

"Alzi. No. Alzi, please. Stay. Let me work on fixing my mistakes. I want to help you!"

Why would I stop now? Why can't I just leave her forever? Why can't she make this easy?! It's so easy with Elora and Shimmer. Why do I want to ignore Yuki's abuse?!

*** Yuki ***

Nakuma holds me down. She forces me to just watch Alzi leave me. "I love you."

"But she doesn't love you," Nakuma whispers. "Not like I do. You ran too much. If you had just stayed with me, this wouldn't be a problem. It never would've happened. You just needed to stay with me. I love you. I won't walk out on you. This all happened because you didn't accept me. Yes, you just needed me. With me, everything works out, dear."

Alzi, please. Please, come back. I'm sorry.

"I need to ask Alzi to get a demon to put a womb tattoo on you," Nakuma says. "I don't know where her part of you ends and mine begins. She doesn't understand you like I do. She thought you were good at things. She thought you knew how to execute plans. You love to try, but you need me around for them to work. Your plans require me. You didn't let Alzi know that. She has us both, so your plans will work. But she ran out and left you to me. I'll love you. I'll love you. Don't worry, Yuki. We don't need her. Not right now. Not until I'm ready for you to get pregnant."

Her hands slowly tear my dress off, and her mana locks me in place. I have to watch her strip my body and feel her hands touch every inch of my skin, but not the general area of my womb. Her tails even trace out a circle for it, a small border where Alzi separated me.

I'm sorry, Alzi. Please. Please, forgive me.

"You're in my hands now," Nakuma says. "She ran out. She left us. I love you, and because of her, I haven't been able to truly show you my love."

"Please. Nakuma, let me be. You're the reason I run. You scared me away from Alzi. Just let me be. I was fine until you scarred me!"

"No, I didn't do that. I got interested in both your beauty and wanting to help you. I worked so hard so that I could help you. I've loved you forever. I'll help you feel good."

"You can't! Alzi! Please!"

"Shh, I've got you now. There's no need to worry," Nakuma whispers. Something slaps into my thigh. How can her smile look like both love and hell?

I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm such a failure, Alzi. Please. Just take me as a slave. Please don't leave me with Nakuma.