[SFW VERSION]
🌹 There's something wonderful in those who stare death in the face. Even in a world wracked by relentless calamity, flowers blossom between a sea of corpses, the shapeless crimson rivers marched over by mechanical instruments of mass...
It may be impossible to fight your army. But those two will never have you. That, I am certain of.
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The mansion stands tall against the serene backdrop of cherry blossoms sprinkling their delicate pink petals amidst a green horizon. A fresh, sweet aroma in the air tickles your nose as you carry onward down the marble pathway. To any normal outsider, the Seimeikai mansion would seem warm and welcoming, when in reality, what lies behind those doors cannot exactly be called... warmth.
You step up onto the wooden landing and you're in the process of reaching for the sliding doors to gain entry, when an all too familiar voice erupts from within the mansion and the doors slide open abruptly. You're taken aback by the haste at which the threshold becomes open for you, the blissful silence you once basked in now replaced by Sakura's sultry voice.
"Commander-kun," is all you hear before a pair of arms are thrown out at you, wrapping tight around your neck. You instinctively take a step back, startled, but Sakura's affectionate hold on you has you locked down.
"Sakura, you're—"
"Oh, I've missed you." Sakura gives you no time to react or respond, her body clinging tight to you as though she were a vulture attached to its prey. "It's been a while, Commander-kun. You've finally found time to see me again."
You nod ever so slightly, the movements of your neck limited under Sakura's embrace. When she notices your position, her grasp loosens.
"I told you I'd visit more often, but... work has been..."
"Stressful, long, restricting," Sakura easily finishes your sentence, making you wonder if this woman is capable of reading minds. "I understand it all too well." She detaches from your neck and fixes her kemono. The sakura pattern decorating her clothing flows elegantly as she turns to face the open doors.
"Come," she adds. "Let's sit and chat over tea, shall we?" In but a moment's notice, Sakura is back to her composed self, a heavy contrast to the tender, passionate side she radiated as soon as those doors opened and she pulled you into her arms.
No matter how she presents her, Sakura is still as desirable as you remember.
She leads you down short, tidy corridors to her bedroom. Once you're both inside, she closes the doors, leaving you to stare at the contents of the room. The first time you were here, it looked normal, to say the least. Now, it looks fit for guests, which is odd considering there's no one else here. If not for you, who was she planning to invite into her room?
"Shoes off, please," Sakura states as she wafts past you and kneels on the zaisu set neatly in the center of the room.
"Sorry," you say, kicking off your boots and setting them by the door. You follow suit, kneeling on the zaisu placed across from her. Only a low wooden table fills the gap between the both of you, a silver kettle and two small floral-patterned teacups sitting atop it.
Sakura dusts her knees off before reaching out to the table and pouring an equal amount of tea into both cups. As she does so, you finally break the peaceful silence.
"Were you planning on having guests over?"
The thought prods at you. Surely she wasn't planning this just for you, right?
"Yes, I was. But they're not coming." Her eyes tilt down at the steam erupting from the teacups, a glint of hesitation within them. "At least, I hope not."
Before you can ask what she means, Sakura slides a cup over to you, gesturing for you to take it.
"Please, have some. I made it just this morning."
"Thank you," you say and bow your head gently before taking up the cup in your fingers and blowing on the hot surface. A few seconds pass before you sip the tea. A warm sweetness rolls down your throat when you swallow, the subtle taste of cherry blossoms further accenting the sugary beverage. It's delightful.
A content smile dances on Sakura's lips. "Good, isn't it?" You nod.
"Delicious."
"I'm glad you like it, Commander-kun." She takes a sip of her own and exhales, that satisfied expression on her face becoming almost contagious. She leans forward, elbows on the table, and puts her chin in her palms. Sakura's eyes never leave yours.
"Mmm, I've been lonely without you," she says, her eyes looking you up and down. "In the mornings, when I wake up, I imagine you're there next to me. I feel my pillow sometimes and imagine it's your face, Commander-kun."
Her bluntness catches you off guard. But it's sweet nonetheless. You feel a smile pulling up at the corners of your lips. When Sakura notices, hers only grows.
"That's adorable," you tell her. "No need to start getting me all flustered, haha..."
Sakura shakes her head. "I'm not keen on suppressing what I think and feel. I'm going to speak my mind, even if it gets a cute blush out of you."
A giggle escapes her parted lips, and one of her hands leaves her chin momentarily to brush away a strand of hair fallen down by her eyes. Together with her, you admit you feel really free in some way... like being graced with her presence brings you a sense of safety amid the warm familiarity between you.
"That being said," Sakura continues, "I've been thinking. Everyone knows quite well how you appear to stand in the center of a colossal... harem. They all seem to be okay with that." Sakura's eyes begin to hover around the room.
At the mention of this 'harem,' you pause. It isn't everyday you're reminded of your position not only as a Commander, but as the target of multiple lovestruck Nikkes. When it comes down to it, it really is just one big harem, plain and simple.
"Right... I don't like to think much about it," you admit, and her wandering eyes snap back to you in an instant. Her smile falters, that soft expression washed over by a familiar sternness that reminds you she is not just any typical woman wishing for idle chatter. She is the bones, blood, and brain of the Seimeikai yakuza, demanding your attention.
"Commander, there's no need to lie now," she says, her voice assuming a firm shift in tone. "Those with the luxury of feeling unconditionally romanced at every turn and every angle don't just... refuse to think about it."
A smile creeps back up on her lips. "Those other girls may find your situation rather amusing, despite being part of it. But I'm starting to feel different."
You want to take another sip of your tea but you pause. Sakura is suddenly lifting up from her position on the floor, her kemono dancing over her legs yet again as she takes just a couple steps to close the gap between you.
You tilt your chin upward to lock eyes with the woman who now towers above you, but there is no need to do so. Sakura kneels once more beside you, leans in, and takes your chin in the grasp of her fingers. She looks as if she'll kiss you, your faces now only inches away, the shared expression between the two of you brimming with passion and desire.
"Commander-kun, I want to be yours. And I want you to be mine. Only mine."
Your mouth is agape just slightly when Sakura utters those words. You know she is not playing around.
"If I can't fend off that awful army of women who surround you on a daily basis, I can at least pick some off. One by one."
A knock comes at the door. Your eyes are immediately attracted to it, but Sakura's remain on your face.
From outside the door, a female's voice speaks up. "Sakura... Moran and I are here. Open up."
Sakura sighs, her smile stretching from ear to ear, and her eyes falling victim to a relentless bloodlust.
"One by one," she repeats herself as the doors come open. "Starting... with them."
