Chapter Hundred Thirty-Five

On Top of Things

 

 

"How... do I do this?" Nekohiko asked, his voice trembling. Once he realized that Abihiko was not averse to doing it with Nekohiko on top -- all his courage wavered.

He didn't even know what he had to do, let alone how.

But his worries only intrigued Abihiko more.

Gentle, his hands reached up to touch his face as a smile spread on his lips. "I'll guide you through this. Don't worry, Neko. If you don't feel like it, you can back out anytime."

That was soothing.

Still. Nekohiko gulped, his eyes skittering over the edge of the bed. "Where the hell is that vial you threw away? I... suppose we will need more of it, after all."

Rather than reply, Abihiko scrambled to the floor, fishing from the pillows they had flung off in their romp -- the coveted small bottle. But while Abihiko looked perfectly amused by the circumstance and Nekohiko's sudden shyness, Nekohiko could hardly get his mind under control.

His palms went hot and sticky with sweat just from thinking about...

Ahh, he shivered, but not in fear. In an odd eagerness, perhaps.

Abihiko and he... in their marital bed... doing that? Together? With Nekohiko being as close to him as he had never been?

That sounded unbelievably exciting.

He launched himself into a greedy embrace even before Abihiko resurfaced from his digging on the floor, catching him off-guard.

"You are quite fast to counterattack," Abihiko told him. "Who knew you had it in you."

Nekohiko scowled. He jerked Abihiko to himself, pretending that, even while sitting on the bed, Abihiko wasn't much taller than him.

How would he even reach Abihiko's lips to kiss him during the-- with the size difference? a quick thought flickered in Nekohiko's mind but he chased it away with boldness. He rushed ready into battle and pushed Abihiko on the bed.

Again.

"Did you forget what I did to you in Ise? Tch." He gave Abihiko his most menacing grin. "That was only a trial run. You have no idea what's coming for you--"

"..."

Abihiko bit in a smile, lifting the vial to Nekohiko's face. "Sure," he said. "Convince me. If you can."

Nekohiko ripped the vial out of his fingers, only now realizing something irksome. "Why do you even have a vial with oil in your bedroom?" He cast a look back to the chests strewn like garbage on the floor in piles, then back to Abihiko.

Something in the room's interior displaced him for a moment, like a shadow shifting where it shouldn't, but not something he paid attention to.

Because a mean worry lodged in his heart, tugging at it like a need he couldn't ignore. And judging by Abihiko's subtle hiss when he touched his chest on the left side as though his heart stabbed him for an instant -- he felt Nekohiko's ache, too. His jealousy.

Nekohiko loomed over Abihiko, the vial squeezed in his hand so tightly, it thought he might crush it.

"Why would you have it in here? You were living here alone for five years. Didn't you? Or... did you get this oil for you and Sakami to use..."

Ah, there was this dull pain again.

Ugh.

"...on your wedding night?" Nekohiko finished, eyes narrowed.

Abihiko did not find his suspicions troublesome. In fact, he enjoyed them, slowly sliding down to be lower than Nekohiko on the bed.

His eyes, beautiful in their playful meanness, stared at him longingly. "No." He shrugged. "Neko, one person can use it for themselves, too, you know. You spied on me as I pleasured myself and didn't see it once?"

"I did not spy! One time! It was just one time--"

"When you are jealous, your eyes spark up. The only time I ever see you show anything other than a blank expression," Abihiko whispered, reaching his lips to Nekohiko's ear. Tickling it with his hot breath. "It is... delicious."

His knees parted, enfolding Nekohiko's torso on both sides as though inviting, and Nekohiko had nothing else to do but surrender. He wasn't as tall as Abihiko or as experienced or as strong, but... he did not feel intimidated or unwelcome at all.

Abihiko made him feel as though he belonged.

Right here, in his arms. Whether underneath him or above.

Anything, just the two of them.

Except that--

Their breaths mingled, only interrupted by subtle moans as they indulged themselves in their kiss when Nekohiko heard... something else.

In the room.

...

Some tender, crystalline chiming. Like tiny bells, jingling all at once.

And with them -- a waft of a flowery scent lashing at him and Abihiko like a faint gust of a breeze.

A drizzle of something wet exhaled on Nekohiko's face, startling him far more than the scent he thought familiar and horrifying.

Because he knew that scent. Any gentle, flowery aroma like that. Only one person was famous for carrying that scent with him anywhere he went.

Nekohiko's eyes froze, his mind knowing that danger was near. Not just any danger.

Threat.

To his very life. To Abihiko's life. Now.

Shaken, he swung around to peer blindly into the room. His fingers rushed to touch his face and the weird drizzle of liquid that had landed on it just a moment ago.

What liquid was it? Why was it hot and smelled... disturbingly... of blood?

...

NO.

No, he realized. He had to wipe it off -- wipe it off before too late!

But even as he did, he knew it was futile to bother.

Because there, just a few steps away from his and Abihiko's bed -- as though watching the two of them in a perverse performance -- stood a person.

And his hand was outstretched to Nekohiko, the sleeve still swaying as though after he had flicked something. Down his pale wrist and to the pillows, trickled a thin trail of blood.

The same blood that was now on Nekohiko's very skin.

Waiting to be abused as only the worst people knew how.

...

Pain speared through Nekohiko at the sight of him. Even Abihiko was assembling an attacking spell formation against the intruder.

Who should not by any means be here.

Yet he was. All assumptions proven wrong about him. As always.

...

Nekohiko swept his sleeve against his face madly, wishing to rub off any trace of Morokata's blood from him -- but he knew he would fail.

Morokata's mouth, stretched in a smile moments ago, now opened to speak.

To Order.

"Baby doll, protect me with your life," he said to Nekohiko.

And Nekohiko's first and only urge was --

-- to respond, brokenly.

"Yes, Master."

 

 

---

***

 

...

Nekohiko was hot and cold. And numb.

This was the downfall.

The place from which no return was possible.

For him, to belong to Morokata and be unable to refuse his Master Orders...

...

Fuck.

 

 

---

***

 

"Dare not endanger my power over you," Morokata cut through the silence next, and Nekohiko froze over.

His hand never reached to cast a quick spell to lift all of Morokata's blood off himself. He wanted to. Wanted badly. Perhaps the Master Orders would not work if he just... got away from Morokata and his way of activating the Orders inside him.

Perhaps he could still salvage this!

But yeah... as soon as Morokata Ordered him to not threaten any of his actions with his own, Nekohiko found it impossible to lift his hand and wipe off the blood.

It would be against the Order his Master had just given.

...

Physically, his body strained between his desire and his actions. He trembled, unable to escape the trap he was in -- as his soul plummeted with the realization of just how powerful Morokata was over him.

...

"Yes, Master," he mumbled. Even though nobody cared enough to hear.

So many things were happening.

Abihiko didn't question Morokata's appearance or his actions. In one powerful gesture, he shoved Nekohiko off himself and rolled off the bed to aim better. His hair and half-shed red robes flashed in the tepid lights. An Utsuro spell that he made, he didn't fling at Morokata, though.

As though calculating the odds of success, he swiveled toward Nekohiko who was frozen dead on the bed not knowing what to do or think.

Abihiko brought him out of the daze when his Splitting spell lashed out at him instead. Cutting right to Nekohiko's face and neck as though wanting to slice something very specific off.

The minuscule spatters of Morokata's blood on Nekohiko's skin.

...

Yes.

Yes! This should work! Nekohiko thought when--

Morokata wasn't just standing there, either.

"Deflect," Morokata's coy voice sounded. A wave of potent wind broke away Abihiko's spell and didn't allow it to come in contact with Nekohiko.

A frustrated breath escaped Abihiko as he already launched into the next spell -- a flurry of Hira and Utsuro magic. Aimed at Morokata now.

And for countering those, Morokata didn't even have to do a thing.

Nekohiko didn't register the moment his hands snapped to cast a few spells of his own. But they did. Without him even realizing he was doing it. He was casting defensive magic.

To protect his Master. From any attack that would come for him.

"Abihiko!!" he whelped when it was too late.

A sear of an ice spear howled through the air. Slashing like a whip, it cut through Abihiko's spells aimed at Morokata. Sparks and splashes of glowing red and icy hues exploded, but Nekohiko's spell prevailed.

He was just that much stronger than Abihiko.

And besides, Abihiko was at the point of exhaustion from overcasting earlier.

The ice spell shattered all the others. It shredded the side of the bed that was near Morokata and bounced toward the ceiling, making it crack, deafeningly loud. Then it sliced through and toward Abihiko who--

NO!

Abihiko put up last-moment Hira shield to block it long enough for him to pirouette out of the way. But Spirits...

That was close.

He landed safely, steadying himself with one hand on the floor. His eyes only watched Morokata. Not even fury -- blind, fierce disgust was drawn in his gaze.

And with it, just a tinge of fear.

...

Morokata's face showed only vague amusement. A bit idle as though he didn't take any of this seriously, and Abihiko's turmoil meant nothing to him.

Sweetly, he gave Abihiko a smile. "I see you prefer to be on the bottom, huh. Good to know, Abiko."

Abihiko kept quiet.

There were no words he could muster, it seemed.

Instead, he began casting again -- through the pain it caused him. And through doubt because it was clear he didn't know what to cast and at whom.

If Abihiko cast at Nekohiko, Morokata would always deflect it.

If at Morokata -- then Nekohiko would be Bound to protect him, in turn.

This was unsolvable. In the end, Abihiko made a choice. Rage twisted his face and he snapped his fingers into harsh, strained motions. Wanting to lash out with another destructive spell at Morokata.

But even as he began casting, his teeth gritted -- a dark and horrible trail ran down his cheek from his eye. Then from the second one.

Blood. Corrupted with exhaustion to the point of actually coloring his eye whites black.

"ABIHIKO!" Nekohiko dashed at him.

If only he were allowed.

"Stay where you are doll," Morokata purred, cocking his chin at Abihiko's misery. "And protect yourself in case he casts on you, too. Do everything to protect my Orders from being tampered with. While I will enjoy the show." Amicably, he nodded at Abihiko. "Go on. I am entertained, mind you."

"Yes, Master," Nekohiko found himself saying. Again. Then, "Please... Morokata, I beg you--"

"Mmm?"

Spare him.

Do not hurt him.

Please...

Morokata turned his head to him, and all the beautiful crystals hanging off his elaborate icy-silver headdress twinkled in the hush. Streaming down the filigree edges of his crownlet, were ribbons on hoarfrost glimmer, and his entire dress...

It was dazzling in its beauty. Silver, with just a bit of cool teal and icy-blue added.

Nekohiko didn't even realize at first that these were Towa colors he was wearing.

But the thought was momentary. He could not understand why would a Hisome wear Towa colors today and what he meant by this... Perhaps, simply to distract his opponents, making them doubt his actions or choices.

And... yes, it worked.

Nekohiko felt crushed. Utterly defeated, paralyzed by the futility of the situation.

In deadly silence, Abihiko made a whole sequence of spells.

Towa masked by another Hira spell -- then a swift Nagare charge that he sent bouncing off the wall to not let anyone predict its trajectory. And after the flurry of luminous spells that set the room ablaze in dissipating Binding energy, he swooped aside, hidden by the distracting magic. 

He wanted to round-kick Morokata's legs from underneath him.

As usual, for his tactics.

But all of it moot. Nekohiko knew his maneuvers better than anyone. His mind blanked out, but his body's motions were swift and merciless. Left, right -- underneath. He and Abihiko clashed across the room. Nekohiko with his back to Morokata, shielding him with his very body to not let a single hit pass and hit his Master.

The rest of the already-demolished room was being obliterated. Half of the wall, the bed -- the floor that cracked with spells comparable to earthquakes.

Abihiko right up against him, fuming with dark, gruesome rage. One that deafened him to any of Nekohiko's cries to stop.

They had to stop, damn it! Had to! Because Nekohiko countered all the spells and parried all the strikes. And most of his spells were not to deflect or protect.

They were lethal if they ended up striking.

"Abihiko, NO!"

Abihiko's reflexes let him dodge out of the way, even if brief slashes still hit him.

His shoulder, his knee -- his face, upon which a bright-red cut now bloomed, offsetting the dark trails of blood that escaped his eyes and his lips...

Gods, Nekohiko's heart bled at seeing this -- but he just couldn't reach Abihiko.

Abihiko was not himself.

He refused to listen or to comprehend.

He was... coming undone. Eerily quiet, burning all through. Even if it cost him his life. He could not fight Nekohiko on equal grounds. Each of his strikes was meant to avoid harming Nekohiko on accident...

For him, at his level of exhaustion -- fighting like this was like fighting with both arms behind his back. Against the most powerful being in the Empire. It was a miracle he was still alive, honestly.

Nekohiko's voice broke, tears shattering it with sobs of crushing misery. "STOP IT! Enough! Stop it! Stop it stop it!! Please I beg you!"

Another smashing hit of Nekohiko's boot into Abihiko's side -- and Abihiko spat up a mouthful of black blood, marring his robes and the floor underneath him.

He barely stood on his feet by now, crouching and shaking from the strain being upright caused him. His hands, bleeding from the many cuts Nekohiko's spells had given him, trembled as he pushed himself off the floor, his malevolent gaze pinning behind Nekohiko's back.

At Morokata.

Even though Nekohiko's body shielded him to his best ability.

Every last part of Nekohiko felt battered and bleeding. Yet he wasn't. There was hardly a scratch on him.

But the image of Abihiko before him, almost on his knees as he struggled to stand up after being beaten down by Nekohiko's own hands like this...

...

Tears were no longer hot on Nekohiko's face, so many had run down. He didn't even notice the new ones added.

"Please stop," he pled.

Abihiko raised a shaking fist to his mouth, convulsing in another coughing bout from his exhaustion. Down his face, black tears streamed freely as well. But Nekohiko could not tell if there were tears because it really just looked as though Abihiko would die here. Right this moment. From the severe Binder's exhaustion.

How wasn't he collapsing yet?

They'd lost.

If there had ever been a game or a competition or a trial they were passing -- then this was the moment their defeat had to be apparent.

Morokata won.

They did not.

As simple as that.

...

By now, all he could think of was -- do not die. At the least... do not die now, Abihiko!

"Please, stop it." Nekohiko swung around to Morokata who hadn't moved an inch during the intense fight. "He will kill himself if you don't stop this--"

Morokata made big eyes. Then pointed at himself in a mockery of surprise. "Me?? What am I doing, baby doll? I am just standing here, innocently. That's all on him what he wants and doesn't want to do."

...

"What do you want?!" Nekohiko cried, burning with the indignity and pain. Tears blurred his sight, making Morokata only a vague silhouette of silver and ice and pure beauty before him. Like a godlike being with full control of everything Nekohiko did. Nekohiko didn't realize he was sagging down to his knees before him, reaching out as though to pray. "Please, do whatever you want to me. Please, I know you hate me. I know you've always wanted to harm me--"

"Ehhh?"

So much pleasure and fascination in this honey-hued voice.

"--you can destroy me, you can control me. I don't care," Nekohiko whispered, hollow. A sob made his voice quaver. "But don't touch him. Don't ruin him, please. I beg of you. Master..."

"Neko, don't--" Abihiko's voice rasped from the back, but Nekohiko could not turn to regard him.

The mere sight of Abihiko, broken down so completely, gutted him.

He dropped his chin. From his lashes, new tears fell when he felt no new ones would come.

"Tsk tsk. So dramatic," came the soothing, gentle voice. "Why so sad? It almost sounds as though you think I'd do something vile to you, huh?"

Playful, his breath chilled Nekohiko's cheek as Morokata bent down to his level.

A cold, graceful hand tipped Nekohiko's chin and lifted it up on a single finger.

Through the veil of tears, Nekohiko could not see him clearly, and Morokata knew this. As though fondly, he caressed Nekohiko's face with his other hand, wiping the tears out of Nekohiko's eyes with a thumb. So gentle, so careful... like a lover.

Nekohiko trembled with revulsion at each of his motions.

Which only made Morokata all that more excited. Now that no tears blurred Nekohiko's vision, he saw the godlike smile on the pristine face that he had no choice but to hate with all his might.

Especially when he knew what was coming.

"Sweetheart, do you actually believe I would ever do something bad to you?" Morokata pouted. "Ah, that saddens me. Why would you ever think so low of me? Are you 'assuming', again, mmm? You bad baby doll."

"Get away from him," Abihiko growled again.

His clothes rustled, and Nekohiko could swear he was casting again.

Hopelessly and without reason.

Just because Abihiko did not know what else to do but to pour all his panic and fury into magic. As he had always done.

Morokata tilted his head. "Everyone so distrustful of me. And I am so polite and well-meaning. I sat here quietly for an entire hour, waiting till you two were done with your fucking. Did I bother you? No! I am as gentlemanly as they come -- letting you have some carefree fun instead of announcing my presence to you when I could.

"That I did come out right now? Ah, do not take it as rudeness! The Palace is getting annihilated by the combined efforts of Kasuga and Okinaga. And it was time we did something about it. Don't you think?"

...

The Palace...? What?

Morokata's hand suddenly tightened on Nekohiko's chin, jerking upward to meet his eyes. Eyes that were filled with endless cold even though the lips were smiling.

"That is what we are going to do now. We will make sense and peace of this pathetic situation in the Empire that your stupid boyfriend had caused. All right, baby doll? How is that vile of me or evil? I am the kindest and tenderest man in the world. All your concerns and fears about me are so unfounded."

Coquettish, he winked at Nekohiko. And only then released his face from his grip, letting Nekohiko topple to the floor like a broken rag-doll he was.

"Remember my kindness, doll. Who else would do for you what I can? You are so miserable, crying... It breaks my heart. How about we fixed this?"

...

What...

N-no--

"I think so too," Morokata crooned, icy-cruel in his delivery. "Now be happy, doll. About everything that I do or Order you to do. Will you?"

And despite everything in Nekohiko screaming in protest against such an invasive Order...

"Yes, Master," he said.

And felt the first endless waves of serenity and quiet wash over him. Even though he had nothing to be happy about.

He had no choice. This was a true Blood Order. One that compelled him to feel happy.

And, perversely, he now was.

 

 

---

***

 

Joy was like a blanket, swaddling all worries Nekohiko had.

A moment ago, he had felt fright, despair, a literal pain in his heart from the sight of Abihiko bleeding to half-death from trying to attack Morokata. Now, it was all gone.

Only the vague concern remained. Like a curiosity he couldn't quite get rid of. Even it could not compare to the foggy feeling of bliss that slowly encroached on him.

His tears dried up and even his position on the floor, kneeling before Morokata, now seemed odd.

Why was he kneeling? Was he scared of Morokata? How so?

...

It was so difficult to muster care and understand his previous actions now that tranquility displaced them.

Morokata cupped his cheek, nudging him to look up.

"Better, baby doll? Isn't it?"

Mn.

Even bizarre how much better Nekohiko felt now. Slow, he nodded as though unsure of why Morokata even asked -- and rose to his feet. He swayed, though. His body was not fully ready to stand up. Even though Nekohiko's mind felt nestled in joy, his body seemed sapped of all strength.

It was still trembling and still clammy with cold sweat. Still unable to fully calm down the hastened beat of his heart. Amused, Nekohiko touched his chest, struggling to recall what had bothered him so much a few moments ago.

"How come you are here?" Nekohiko blurted, curious rather than disconcerted.

He might feel no longer miserable by the appearance of Morokata here, in their private quarters. And even Morokata's Master Orders could no more scare him. The news about the Palace being under siege, too -- intriguing, but not unpleasant to his mind.

But just the general presence of Morokata here... it was bizarre.

Hadn't he and Abihiko just had... sex in this very room? Had Morokata been here all this while?

What perversion-- a thought began formulating in his head, only to be immediately supplanted by --

How... inappropriate, ah.

"Did you watch us... fuck?" Nekohiko asked, his head tilting to the side.

Morokata almost flinched, as though shocked Nekohiko would use such a strong word. "My Heavens, baby doll. Watch your tongue in front of me!"

"Yes, Master."

"And I wasn't meaning to watch. You were talking about your plans during it, so I had no choice but to keep quiet and listen in. You know?" Morokata squinted innocently.

"I really do not," Nekohiko replied.

"Your tastes are quite interesting to know, too. For future. To make you happier, doll -- without having to order around so much. If you like certain positions and certain actions, that makes it easier to satisfy your needs. Isn't it, ha-ha?"

"..." Nekohiko blinked, uncertain. "I suppose."

He felt light at heart even though Morokata's statements were disturbing to him, logically. But however much his mind tried to grow aware -- to grow concerned...

He could not. Only the idle fascination remained.

"And in regards to these rooms being protected by the Marital Seclusion array," Morokata went on, a bit more smily than before. He leaned an elbow on Nekohiko's shoulder and spoke to him as though telling a secret, "that's all on you and your hapless boyfriend.

"You just assumed wrongly, you little disobedient dummies." With a chuckle, he flicked Nekohiko's nose. "I assumed wrongly about you two as well -- a month ago. During the wedding. With how you have altered the array and ruined the perfect storybook wedding I have prepared for two whole years. Mmmm. So yeah. I took special care to pay you. right. back, baby doll."

He patted Nekohiko's head with each word as though punctuating just how mad he was, even though anger never came into his sugary tone.

"And I did, didn't I? I surely made it seem like the array hadn't stopped working, yeah? Well, it did. Alas. I had to renew it and include two more people in it apart from you two lovebirds."

...mmm?

Two new people?

Who?

Nekohiko still couldn't do anything apart from blinking at Morokata naively as though waiting for some new trick to be shown to his amusement.

Which Morokata did, with a flourish.

"Sweet Hibiki," he murmured. "He is so, oh-so-excited, baby doll -- to finally see this beautiful doll body he has made of you. You kept running away from him all this while and he... Let's just say, my ears have withered quite a lot after all his endless whining about it, ha-ha!"

...

Oh.

"I bet he is hurrying here right as we speak. What a sweet surprise for him this will make! Can't wait to see the happy reunion, ah!"

Through the gentle waves of serenity in Nekohiko's addled mind, only a thin pang of heartache came. Like a call from somewhere far away.

He could not locate its source, though. He could not understand it, with his mind having been tampered with a distinct Order to have him be happy all the time.

All he could do was address the disturbance in his chest. And press his fingers to his left side, right to the naked skin. He was still largely undressed, with only the inner robes hanging limply off his arms.

He touched his chest over where his heart was and thought,

I am so calm and fulfilled and at peace... why does it hurt so much, then?

What's wrong?

"Put clothes on. Before Hibiki comes, please..." a hoarse whisper came from the back, and Nekohiko jolted.

Ahh.

With his happiness so infinite, he almost forgot about Abihiko.

He turned around, his eyes searching the shadowy room only to see--

No.

"Abihiko." Drawn, he wanted to step toward him. Even his vast happiness could not shield him from the sight of his best friend, so horribly beaten and ill, who was looking up at him as though for the last time on this earth.

Nekohiko's heart lurched, speeding up when Morokata blocked his way. He slid in before him, hiding Abihiko out of his sight.

"Where do you think you're going, baby doll?"

"Abihiko is... hurt," Nekohiko squeezed out, fighting with the unbelievable urge to ignore the issue. His mind was like a pall of smoke, constantly encroaching and trying to swallow him up in the feelings of transcendence that he knew was not his own.

He knew it was forced.

He knew it was the ultimate abuse of the blood Master Orders on his psyche. And yet...

It worked. And he could not do a single thing against that.

"Neko, don't fight him," Abihiko tried to say.

But of course his weakened voice was no match to Morokata. Not when the Mist King stood so close to Nekohiko and could do anything he wanted to him.

Morokata's hand landed on Nekohiko's hair. Painfully, he twisted, digging into the long curtain of hair as though it was seaweed. One rough pull, and he jerked Nekohiko to himself by the hair, his other hand snaking around Nekohiko's torso. Cold and smooth and possessive, all his fingers splaying against the exposed skin, claiming his waist and pressing to himself. So hard, Nekohiko gasped.

But even so -- none of that caused a single negative emotion in Nekohiko.

...

Maddeningly, he still was aware of how wrong this was. Yet could not help but feel happy about it.

Morokata tightened his hold, yanking Nekohiko's head backward, nearly ripping his hair out of his scalp.

"I told you to be happy, baby doll. Why does it seem like you aren't? Mmm?"

...

I am.

Trust me, I am regardless if I want to or not!

"He just looks in pain. I want to help him," Nekohiko mumbled, timid.

"Ah, I see." Morokata thought a moment, then added, "I order you not to care about his pain whenever you look at him. Actually, I Order you to smile every time you see him suffer."

"..."

"Can you do that for me, baby doll? That would make me very happy."

"Yes, Master," Nekohiko replied.

"Wonderful. Sorry I tugged your hair." At last Morokata, both released Nekohiko from his painful hold and let him look freely over to Abihiko on the floor behind him. "Though it seems you enjoy it when he does the same to you in bed. Oh, you shameless little dollie!"

He pinched Nekohiko's cheek and enjoyed it immensely when Nekohiko's gaze fell to Abihiko once again.

Because once Nekohiko saw Abihiko's cornered look, his frame nearly entirely sunken to the floor, his eyes hollow with the blackened edges full of brimming blood... Nekohiko's lips quirked up in a smile.

A Master Order could not be ignored.

Abihiko stared back, and so much hopelessness was in his eyes, Nekohiko imagined he could poison with it the entire world.

...

"How adorable," Morokata told them, then finally paid his attention to the disheveled robes Nekohiko wore. With fatherly care, he began primping them up and tying them back closed. "Though your boyfriend is right, I suppose. We do need to cover you up, doll. If Hibiki sees you in such an exposed state... ahhh. He might get a bit too excited. And we have a lot of work to be done first. He has to keep his head cool. At least for a while."

Nekohiko hardly listened.

Peaceful, he smiled at Abihiko on the floor. Feeling nothing but vague curiosity at the sight and what was happening outside these walls. A siege? Some downfall? Perhaps a revolution in the entire Nara?

Who cared? He definitely didn't.

But then -- Abihiko's stare flicked up to his, and something akin to hope lit up in it. Shaken, Abihiko raised his hand to his throat as though to point to something.

And, amused, Nekohiko cocked his head, observing.

What... was he pointing at?

...

On Abihiko's neck, hung a small pendant. A seashell.

Oh yes, Nekohiko realized. The Kitten's Paw! Like the one Nekohiko was wearing, too -- only unlike Abihiko's real one, Nekohiko was wearing the wooden replica.

One of the many other bodies he had.

...

One of the many other bodies.

Abihiko subtly nodded, and Nekohiko's curiosity piqued regardless of all the consuming happiness that drowned all his other feelings and thoughts.

Suddenly, he wanted to do something. Something other than watch Abihiko bleed out and smile as he did.

He had to check on his other bodies.

Were they just as happy as this one? And if no -- then why not?

 

 

---

***

 

With just a brief effort, his soul shifted out of his human doll body and into the seashell.

...

And Spirits, did the contrast nearly send him into a coma.

So hard and unbearable the misery and anger felt inside him after the ocean of happiness that the doll was trapped in. And so powerful the realization:

Only the human doll body was subject to Orders.

Any others were not!

Except that -- how many of them did he even have and what could he possibly do with them against Morokata?