"This is Amagami Shrine. Want to see what the 'true kami' of a shrine looks like in ordinary people's eyes?"
His low voice murmured by her ear, tempting and irresistible.
Shirahi looked up and met his prismatic eyes; the gaze seemed to pierce straight into the curiosity in her heart.
Inside the shrine, Amagami Chiharu gently embraced her three daughters.
Asahi buried her face against Chiharu's shoulder, Yuna's fingers subconsciously clutched her mother's sleeve, and Yae leaned quietly against her neck, savoring the warmth regained.
"Mom are you really going to marry Rei Ao?" Yae was the first to break the silence, a hint of hesitation in her voice.
She remembered his air of absolute control, the searing possessiveness in his eyes when he looked at her mother; conflicting feelings welled up inside her.
Chiharu's fingers trembled slightly as she smoothed Asahi's hair, a soft smile lifting her lips.
After that night's intimacy with Rei Ao, her feelings had long since shifted from a transactional need to an attachment she could not cut away.
She had to admit: Rei Ao's sweet words in bed were uniquely persuasiveespecially paired with "skills" no one else could match, more than enough to captivate women like Chiharu and Mahiru who were already past their maiden years.
"Yes, I'm willing."
Her voice was firm yet gentle as she looked at her adopted daughters. "Are you willing to accept him as your father?"
The three sisters looked at one another.
They had grown up in the shrine and knew how hard their mother had struggled to protect it alone.
Now that happiness finally shone in her eyes, how could they bear to refuseeven if Rei Ao felt awkward to them?
Asahi raised her head first. Though confusion lingered in her gaze, she nodded hard. "As long as Mom is happy."
Yuna and Yae both followed with small nods.
After Chiharu left to make lunch, the sisters at last discussed the matter in earnest.
Biting her lip, Yuna whispered, "He's about our agecalling him Dad just feels weird."
Yae nodded. "It is weird, but Mom seems really taken with him."
"Maybe Mom's been bewitched by his powers!" Asahi said solemnly. "He can see kami and teleportwhat if he used some spell to hypnotize her?"
Yae frowned; the whole thing did feel too sudden.
But recalling how naturally Mother had embraced Rei Ao, she wasn't sure it was all enchantment.
For the moment, the three of them couldn't decide what to do.
And even if it was enchantmentwhat could they do?
Their mother was technically already deceased; it was only by Rei Ao's methods that she could appear to them at all.
Without him, they might never have seen her again in this lifetime.
~~~
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Chapter 758: Another One Fall to Rei Ao's Grasp...
The three sisters were whispering among themselves when a familiar voice sounded behind them.
"What are you talking about?"
They whirled around.
Rei Ao stood there with his hands in his pockets, Tsuruyama Shirahi beside him, andapparently brought along by his teleportationAmagamiChiharu in an apron.
Shirahi looked about, bewildered. The moment her gaze fell on Chiharu, her pupils tightened; the gentle woman before her emanated the same uncanny aura she had sensed from last night's female ghost.
"This is Tsuruyama Shirahi," Rei Ao said. "I brought her to meet the shrine's kami."
He stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Chiharu's waist.
Chiharua kami in human guiseshivered lightly, cheeks flushing, but she nestled obediently against him.
"Yesthis is AmagamiChiharu."
Shirahi's mouth fell open.
"Sshe's the kami? But she looks completely normal!"
"This is what a shrine's kami looks like," Rei Ao explained, idly stroking Chiharu's shoulder. "Chiharu, would you introduce yourself to Shirahi?"
Chiharu lifted her head and smiled warmly.
"I am AmagamiChiharu, guardian spirit of Amagami Shrine. As you can see, I now exist in a spiritual form."
Shirahi was too stunned to speak.
Memories of Rei Ao's battle with the ghost flashed through her mind; faced with this serene woman, her worldview was once again upended.
The three Amagami sisters, seeing Rei Ao hold their mother so intimately, felt another surge of mixed emotions.
"Um.Rei Ao-san," Yae began hesitantly, "did you bring Shirahi-san here only to see Mother?"
"Not only that."
Rei Ao raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over the sisters.
"I plan to let Shirahi stay at the shrine for a while. She's very interested in the supernatural, and the place is close to her schoolconvenient for her."
"What?!" Shirahi and the three sisters cried out together.
"II did think about that," Shirahi stammered, flustered, "but wouldn't I be a burden?"
She tried to wave the idea away, yet Rei Ao caught her wrist. The warmth of his palm against her skin made her heart skip a beat.
"I don't think Chiharu will refuse," he said with absolute certainty. "And you'll like it here."
Chiharu nodded with a gentle smile. "No need to be nervous, Shirahi-san. Treat this as your own home."
Remembering how Rei Ao had protected her the night before, Shirahi found herself nodding almost against her will.
Though surprised by the sudden "guest," the three sisters still offered polite welcomes.
"In that case," Rei Ao said, taking Shirahi's hand, "let me show you around."
The girl's cheeks flared crimson; her heart thundered in her chest.
She had no idea why this man she'd met only yesterday could provoke such a strong reactionhis touch felt electric.
After the pair left, the shrine fell quiet again.
Chiharu, noting her daughters' anxious faces, laughed softly. "Don't worryMother knows what she's doing."
Yae bit her lip. "But, Mother, he"
"I know what concerns you."
Chiharu walked to the cherry tree and gazed up at the swirling petals.
"Rei Ao is frighteningly strong, yes, but he bears no malice toward meor toward any of you."
And besides
A blush spread across her face. "With him, for the first time since my death, I feel truly alive."
Seeing the happiness on their mother's face, the sisters swallowed the protests on their tongues.
Perhaps, after the loneliness of dying, she really did deserve such a blazing affection.
And Rei Aomysterious and powerfulhad barged into all their lives and was reshaping their fates in ways they could hardly refuse.
Elsewhere, Rei Ao strolled along a winding shrine path with Shirahi.
The setting sun gilded the girl's white hair with a golden rim.
She trotted behind him, stealing glances every few steps.
"What are you looking at?"
Rei Ao stopped so abruptly she nearly collided with him.
Flustered, she backed awayonly for his arm to circle her waist.
"Nnothing!"
Her face burned; she dared not meet his eyes.
He chuckled, let her go, then intertwined his fingers with hers.
"Relax. I'll be here from now on."
The words dropped into the calm lake of her heart like a stone, sending ripples everywhere.
Staring at their joined hands, she suddenly felt that staying in this mysterious shrine might not be so bad after all.
Rei Ao, watching her shy expression, smiled with quiet certainty of victory.
Petals drifted across the winding lane, laying a pink carpet at their feet.
Shirahi fixed her gaze on Rei Ao's broad back; her heartbeat pounded ever louder in her ears.
She could not shake the images of Maihiru and Rei Ao from her mind.
Clenching her skirt so hard her nails bit into her palms, she finally mustered her courage.
"Rei Aokun I want to ask about Maihirunee."
He halted and turned slowly, rainbow irises gleaming in the dusk.
A faint, unreadable smile touched his lips. "What do you want to know?"
Shirahi swallowed, her voice scarcely above a whisper.
"Last night I saw Maihirunee go into your room. Now, what what is your relationship?"
The words were out before she could stop them. She ducked her head, afraid to see his face.
"What answer do you want?"
Rei Ao advanced, each step echoing on the stone and hammering against her heart.
"No connection at all? A onenight affair? Or just simple coupling?"
The final two words hit her like a blow.
Shirahi's head snapped up, panic and denial flickering in her eyes.
Yet, in that instant, an uncontrollable yearning surged inside hershe wanted to hear him say "no connection."
Realizing that wish, her cheeks burned still hotter.
~~~
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Chapter 759: It's Settled...
Rei Ao seemed to read Tsuruyama Shirahi's thoughts. With one swift motion he pulled the girl's soft body into his arms.
She bumped into his cedarscented chest; the warmth brushing past the tip of her nose made her whole body tense.
"Right now, Mahiru and I are boyfriend and girlfriend," he murmured, his breath fanning against her ear, "but that doesn't stop you and me from having a special relationship of our own."
Shirahi's eyes flew wide, but before she could protest his hand cupped the nape of her neck.
As Rei Ao bent toward her, sakura petals skimmed his dark, tousled hair, swirling between them like a hazy curtain.
She could feel his hot breath; instinctively her fists clenched, nails digging into her palmsyet the sting could not dispel her dizziness.
"Ththis isn't right" she whispered, so faint even she could hardly hear it.
Rei Ao's nose brushed lightly against hers, a playful smile in his voice. "Then why don't you pull away?"
The question shattered the last thread of her reason.
The moment Shirahi closed her eyes, Rei Ao's lips covered hers.
Unlike the fierce passion she had overheard the night before, this kiss was gentle yet domineering, plundering every trace of sweetness.
At some point her hands had loosenedone lay weakly against his chest, the other crept of its own accord around his neck.
Footsteps sounded in the distance, yet Rei Ao did not immediately let her go.
Only when Shirahi was nearly out of breath did he reluctantly withdraw, thumb brushing her reddened lower lip.
"Shirahi, that's the answer I wanted to give you."
Her knees went weak; she could barely stand.
Watching Rei Ao's back as he walked away, she pressed a hand to her burning lips, ears buzzing.
The brief intimacy left her ashamedyet strangely elated.
Reason kept warning her: this man is dangerous, mysteriousand she was only one of those he could toy with so easily.
Elsewhere, in the inner hall of the shrine, the three Amagami sisters sat around Chiharu, who hummed a tune while preparing ingredients, her face glowing with a happiness they had never seen before.
At last Yae couldn't hold back. "Mom, is Rei Ao-san really someone you can trust?"
Chiharu paused, gave her daughter a gentle look. "I've lived a very long time and seen many people, many things."
She slid the chopped vegetables into the pot; steam curled up, and her eyes softened further.
"Rei Ao may be frighteningly strong and burdened with many ties, yet he's willing to break the boundary between gods and men for meand to protect you three."
Yuna bit her lip. "But he's about our age. How are we supposed to address him?"
Asahi nodded, round eyes full of confusion.
Chiharu laughed, pinching Asahi's cheek. "Just think of him as an extra big brother who'll look out for youdoesn't that sound nice?"
Just then Rei Ao walked in with Shirahi.
The girl's lips were swollen, hair mussedclearly still dazed from the kiss.
The three sisters exchanged glances; Yae sharply noticed the way Shirahi's eyes darted away whenever they met Rei Ao's.
"Chiharu, the renovation team Kaguya arranged will arrive tomorrow," Rei Ao said, moving to her side and naturally taking the spatula from her hand. "Go rest; I'll cook."
Watching him stirfry with practiced ease, Chiharu's cheeks warmed.
She had once run the shrine alone, laboring day after day; now someone was willing to share every burden.
The feeling of being cherished made her sink willingly into the web Rei Ao was weaving.
At dinner Rei Ao also brought Mahiru.
Her slightly trembling steps and the faint red marks at her throat instantly reminded Shirahi of last night's sounds; her own face flushed scarlet.
When Mahiru met Rei Ao's eyes there was a shy, lingering affection that stirred a strange pang of jealousy in Shirahi.
Introductions followed, and soon the shrine bustled with a warmth it had long lacked.
After the meal Shirahi pulled Rei Ao to a corner of the shrine.
Moonlight spilled over them.
She looked at the sharply outlined side of his face and mustered her courage. "Hhow many others do you have like me and Mahirunee?"
During dinner she had noticed something off in the looks he and Chiharu exchanged.
Rei Ao lowered his gaze, a deeper smile in his eyes. "Does it matter?"
He pressed her against the cherry tree; his lips almost touched hers. "All you need to know is that right now, I can see only you."
Shirahi tried to ask more, but his mouth silenced her.
This time the kiss carried a clear aggression; his hands roamed at her waist while her reason crumbled in rising heat. She clung to his shoulders, helpless beneath the onslaught.
For the first time Shirahi realized she was a complete novice in front of Rei Ao, easily and unabashedly played. How mortifying!
Night deepened. One by one the shrine's lanterns went dark.
Lying in bed, Shirahi pressed a hand to her burning cheeks.
She knew she had stepped into a dangerous vortexyet the fatal allure of Rei Ao left her unable to escape.
Rei Ao's fingers brushed her temple. "Shirahi, have you decided?"
Her gaze was complicated. "Rei Aokun, if I say yes will you abandon me for someone else?"
His fingertip paused; he tucked a stray lock behind her ear, the warmth of his palm seeping through her skin. "No. I won't abandon anyone. That's my promise to all of you."
Shirahi's throat tightened; beneath the quilt her fingers clenched the sheet.
"Ookay then it's settled."
She exhaled as though making a weighty choice, slowly closed her eyes, and lifted her swanwhite throat.
"It's settled," Rei Ao repliedand lowered himself without hesitation.
~~~
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