Frostbitten

Unexpected Charity

   Tsurara couldn't believe that this was happening. A boy who looked so beautiful it was almost sinful was cradling her in his arms while ascending an eight story building like it was nothing, and all of this was happening after he saved her from a group of yokai.

What a day right?

   The yokai ascended it in only a moment, but it felt like forever and yet no time at all to Tsurara. Too soon in her opinion, (though she'd be loathed to admit it) he landed on the rooftop and set her down from the princess-carry gently, as a gentlemen would.  

 "Here you go Miss, I'm sorry I had to do that, but I thought it was necessary to avoid unwanted company." 

Tsurara moved away from him and stood there silent.

   He looked at her for a long moment, the moonlight softly illuminating his features. She peeked at him through her bangs, silently in wonder at his beauty. How could a being such as himself exist, he seemed a bit too perfect. It was fairly disturbing if one thought about it.

   He was still looking at her with those scarlet eyes, studying her in a manner that she was unaccustomed to in her long years. 

  Eventually she got so embarrassed that she snapped, "What do you want? Why do you keep looking at me?" 

   He tilted his head at her his expression faintly amused, the barest trace of a confident smirk on his lips. 

  "Do you need a reason to admire a beautiful painting? Sculpture? Drawing? Art? I don't believe you do. Do you, young Miss?" 

Tsurara looked away, hiding her blush with her black and white scarf. 

   "N-no, I s-suppose you don't particularly need permission..." she whispered, stuttering at his implication.

   He smiled and looked at her with eyes filled with laughter, "Then surely I don't particularly need a reason to admire one such as yourself, a Yokai who was blessed with great beauty." 

Tsurara flushed beet red at his statement and smile.

   "At least," he said, rubbing the back of his head, "that's what I think personally, but anyone can think anything that they want, so I understand if my actions and words could have come across as offensive to you. If so, I apologize," he finished, bowing to her.

Tsurara stepped away in surprise at his gesture. 

  She had never met anyone like him; everyone either discarded her or attempted to control her in any and every capacity possible. She was... unaccustomed... to any consideration shown to her. In fact, she was so surprised that she tripped over the hem of her white furisode, and nearly off the roof. As she was falling, he appeared at her side in an instant and carefully held onto her.

Slowly, he moved her away from the edge before carefully releasing her with a smile. 

   "Jeez," he smirked playfully as she hid her expression under her scarf, red with embarrassment at her humiliating display of clumsiness, "falling for me already? It's only the first meeting though, young Miss." 

  She was about ready to smack him in the face when he began to laugh. 

It had a musical tonality to it, soft and sweet with a seductive quality to it, rich and deep and enchanting. It gave a feeling similar to that of melted dark chocolate with toffee and caramel mixed into it, with the resounding melody akin to that of a panther purring in a cello.

  It caused Tsurara feel all SORTS of things; things that scared her, ensnared her, bound her, her heart throbbing and her emotions jumbled at the unexpected sensations caused by the boy. It was a foreign entity she'd never experienced, but she knew it would not bode well for her; she could already sense her defenses fumbling, tumbling down without resistance at his domineering yet gentle presence.