On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

One Hundred And Fifty-Three – R18/Contains Sex

Waking up was a pleasure as always, my body aching and covered in blood. Ether Healing and my body’s ever-increasing Fortitude meant that most of the injuries were little more than fading bruises and scabbed-over cuts, but that still didn’t make it any more pleasant. Beside me, Shaeula opened her eyes slowly, eyelids fluttering. Wrinkling her nose at the smell of blood and sweat she sighed.

“I feel-feel we should take a bath before doing anything else. We are in quite the poor-poor condition.” With that she dematerialised her yukata, standing up naked and unconcerned. Seeing her body I flushed, and her expression changed, now a wolfish grin.

“Okay, I get it.” I answered her with a smile of my own. “But before that…” I reached for my mobile phone. Typing out a message to Karen-chan for her Monday morning task (it wasn’t worth making her do overtime on it, as we had time before our next push) I asked her to investigate any Kondou’s who were male and had connections to the area around Hisuikomushi shrine, paying particular attention to any hospitalisations and so on. Of course, I stressed she was to do it subtly, that it was more important that no-one found out she was digging into him, rather than getting information carelessly. Moments later I had a reply, complaining that the task was strange, but that she’d get right on it, so I had to send her another text, reminding her not to do overtime unless it was an emergency… seriously, I am not her ex-boss. I don’t run a black company! Weekends are for resting… though damn, I should take my own advice sometimes…

Heading to the bath, in which Shaeula was sunk happily up to her neck in the hot water, her amber hair billowing out behind her, floating, I quickly stripped off and sank into the warm water myself, unable to hold back a sigh of contentment as the heat was soothing on my wounds.

“I must thank Eri for allowing me to finally join souls with you.” Shaeula mused. “I am far-far stronger than I was before. We may not-not have defeated our enemy, but next time…. I shall not-not be stopped from crushing all our foes.”

Curious I used Kin Examination, Shaeula blushing and squirming at the sensation, and I let out an exclamation as I saw her rapid growth. In addition, Kin Examination broke through to Rank 6, her League becoming visible as well.

“Well damn.” I whistled, impressed. “Your stats have nearly caught me up, you weren’t kidding. I don’t have to worry about you when you are out on your own or with the girls anymore. I’d have to worry about anyone trying to harm you instead!”

“No, you should still-still worry about me, I insist!” Shaeula mock-pouted, and we laughed heartily, more of the stress of the life-or-death battles sloughing off us.

“I really need to improve my Chakra network. If I can reach your level then…” I ran some quick calculations. “Wow, I’d gain well over a hundred points in everything, and more in aether.”

“Well, no need to be jealous. I do not-not mind looking after you, making you a… how did Karen put it that time… a toy-boy.” After more merriment, she turned her gaze on me, eyes serious. Noticing the change in mood I met her gaze quietly. “Seriously though, Akio…” she continued. “I can not-not thank you enough. All this is because of you. We are already making good on my promise to brother Shaeraggo. Soon he will be-be forced to acknowledge us. Thank you.”

“Don’t be a fool. It isn’t just down to me. Your hard work is why. Besides, I don’t need thanks for that, do I? After all, you will be my wife soon enough. Love doesn’t need thanks or a reason.” Blushing at the cheesy lines I had just delivered (though I meant them too), that set Shaeula off, her breath coming in hot gasps.

“I can not-not resist any longer.” Shaeula panted, splashing over to me and wrapping her arms around my body, before starting to lick and nibble at my neck and ears. “You are dangerously charming, I fear. You even smell Fae now. Soon no female shall-shall be able to deny you!”

I opened my mouth to protest but Shaeula stopped my words by sealing my lips with her own, her tongue tangling with mine, penetrating deeply. Caught up in the moment my hands roamed over her body, marvelling at her smooth skin, one hand slid down to her buttocks, gently squeezing and massaging them, while my other crawled up her belly and then onto her breasts, squeezing them and playing with her rapidly hardening nipples.

Her tongue was going wild, her aggression and passion rising. My hand groping her ass slid lower, and she shivered as I started playing with her slit under the water, teasing it gently. One finger started rubbing gently at her clitoris, and as the brilliant little ruby revealed itself I went harder, and she convulsed, our mouths finally separating.

“Akio… I want…” she managed to mutter, melted with pleasure, as we both took in deep breaths. Her small hand went to my penis, and started stroking it, the tip coming out of the water. Her other hand started playing with my glans, and she licked the precum off her fingers seductively. Bending down, her amber hair falling in a wave behind her, she began to suck my dick, tongue working over the head greedily.

Woah, this feels amazing. The contrast of the warm water on the lower part of my penis, and her mouth on the upper part, it was something I had never felt before. Wanting to share the pleasure I used both hands to attack her pussy and clit, and soon we were both in extasy, Shaeula lying next to me, droplets of my cum all down her chest, the excess having spilled from her mouth as I orgasmed hard, flooding her.

“The taste is still quite-quite strange.” Shaeula pondered, opening her mouth to show me she had swallowed it all. “But since it is yours…”

Damn, she’s impossibly adorable right now. Picking her up I lifted her out of the water so that she was facing me, and my hand went to her soaked pussy once more, spreading the lips. Shaeula shivered as cold air entered her, only to screw up her eyes in pleasure as I lowered her gently onto my still-hard shaft. The glans penetrated her, and as my shaft slid in, spreading her tiny pussy wider, she groaned and moaned in pleasure.

“Just a little… more…”  I gasped, feeling intense joy as her tight body sucked and squeezed my dick, wriggling as though it was desperate for my semen. “There!” with one last push our bodies fully connected, and Shaeula slumped over, leaning on my chest.

“I feel-feel so full.” She moaned. “I feel…” she trailed off, kissing me once more. As she did so she started sliding up and down, the movements of her tongue growing more intense each time my penis hammered into the very top of her pussy, kissing her uterus. My hands were massaging her all over, and I could feel her body tightening, seeking me. As our pistoning became harder, more furious, she pulled her mouth free from mine, looking at me with her pure amber eyes, her skin flushed pink with the heat of the bath and lust.

“I think this… ahn… position is good-good. We can kiss all.. ahh, we… like.. ugh, ahn.” Shaeula’s words were interspersed with hot moans. “I am… ahn… rising… please, Akio… ahn, give me your… ugh, ahn… seed!”

The expression she gave me when saying such things inflamed my passions to the maximum, and I began to drive at her body even faster. Shaeula reached orgasm, her body screaming, and moments later I too erupted, fountains of cum spraying her insides. Her mortal body reacted, her womb convulsing, sucking in my semen greedily, dyeing her insides my colour. I’m just glad I don’t think she can get pregnant… I don’t… think…

We kissed one final time, before I pulled her free. She made a noise of disappointment as my penis slid out of her, followed by a tide of cum, dispersing into the bathwater. As we hugged, our lust cooling down, I felt refreshed, and looking at Shaeula I knew she was the same. “We needed that, didn’t we? It was hell in the Boundary.”

“Indeed.” We shared more kisses and touching, this time slow and gentle, more reassuring than lustful. “When I am one with you-you, I feel at peace. If only we had the energies to bond the Fae way too.”

“Next time.” I kissed her lips and her forehead gently, holding her close.

“I look forward to it. Eri can-can join in too. She will be jealous to hear we have done it-it in the bath.” Shaeula grinned mirthfully. Then she paused, cocking her head. “Speaking of the bath, this will be a pain to clean up, will it not-not?”

“Totally worth it though.” I laughed, giving her a squeeze. “Totally worth it.”

********

Once out of the bath and dressed in fresh clothing we were relaxing with a few beers when our doorbell rang. I wonder who that could be?

Opening the door I saw an impatient-looking Kana-chan waiting, in her casual clothes, body-fit jeans and a dark red t-shirt cut daringly. She’s still wearing the hair ornament we got her I see…

On seeing us her expression brightened briefly, before she looked away, eyes watering, blinking. “Just what did you two do recently?” she gasped, rubbing at her wet eyes with her hands, blinking as though she had been blinded. “You were never so spiritually bright before big bro, Shaeula. My ability to see ‘abnormalities’ just flickered on and now my head is aching… you owe me now…”

“I see you have caught a mere glimpse of my greatness, Kana.” Shaeula crowed while holding my hand tightly. “After much battle in the Boundary, I have-have grown immensely!” she puffed out her modest chest, her summery dress making her look more fairy-like than usual.

“Battle, huh?” Kana-chan sighed, her eyes refocusing. “Sounds scary. I’m a girl who needs to be looked after, protected.” Her gaze strayed to where we were holding hands, and I momentarily saw darkness flicker across her features, before her usual pretty mask obscured her thoughts. You know, the more I see of Kana-chan, I can’t help but think she’s always putting on an act. Eri said she was false too… Still, we all tried to cover our true feelings and present ourselves in the best way possible to others. I had been doing it for years, after all. I wouldn’t hold it against her. And not just because she’s pretty cute. I guess I admire people who can live how they want, go after what they want…

“So, big bro…” Kana-chan said, tilting her head cutely, looking into my eyes. Yeah, exactly my point. That’s so obscenely adorable it has to be planned. But what’s adorable is adorable. “… should you really be holding hands so closely with Shaeula? If Mori-senpai finds out, you’ll be in trouble, right? I’m pretty sure I have her number in the group chat Shaeula was sending me pictures in. I might just have to let her know…” she fluttered her eyelashes at me, and her t-shirt showed off her decent chest and smooth shoulders.

Still, you can’t hide the distaste when you said Eri’s name. I guess you two didn’t exactly hit it off… ugh… I don’t know how these Harem Protagonists manage all those girls. Kana-chan isn’t even mine and she’s striking sparks off Eri anyway…

“I was so jealous of Shaeula and Mori-senpai enjoying that meal in Shibuya.” She continued, her tone wheedling. “And who was that girl in the photograph? She looked rich. You’ll take me along next time, right?”

Shaeula burst out laughing, having held it in for a while at Kana-chan’s antics. She stood on tiptoe, locking lips with me and forcing her tongue inside. The sudden attack shocked me, but I was very used to kissing her now, so responded instinctively, my hand grabbing at her ass, tongues tangling together wetly, damp sounds filling the night air.

“Eep!”

The pretty little noise jolted me out of the moment, and I relinquished Shaeula a touch regretfully, my face burning. Still, I’ve never heard anyone actually say ‘eep’ before. That’s just darling and I don’t think that was an act… as I wiped our mingled saliva off my face I looked at Kana-chan, whose skin was nearly matching her t-shirt for colour.

“I guess you are not-not so worldly-wise as you portray, Kana.” Shaeula smirked. “Still, that is cute, is it not-not, Akio?”

“I’m very popular with guys, I get hit on all the time. Everyone wants to date me!” Kana-chan protested, annoyed. “But what… what the hell were you doing? I know Mori-senpai lets you hang around with him, but… ki… ki… kissing!” she stumbled over the word.

“You think kissing is all we do?” Shaeula snorted. “Why, in the bath mere moments ago, we were joined as one. It was particularly fun was it not-not, Akio? Quite the different experience from having sex on the bed.”

Kana-chan seemed to freeze for a moment, before she rebooted, covering her face with her hands. “Seriously… you… but you are engaged. Big bro… you pervert! Cheater! Enemy of women!”

“Hardly. Look here.” Shaeula thrust her hand with her own engagement ring under Kana-chan’s nose. She looked down to see the sparkling diamond, and swallowed.

“Is that…” she asked hesitantly, and Shaeula nodded excitedly.

“Indeed. I too-too am going to be marrying Akio. He even had to fight my fool of an older brother for the privilege.”

“Your brother…” Kana-chan still looked perturbed by the whole situation, which was outside her expectations. “… but he’d be a spiritual being, a kami, right?”

“Well, if he stands in the way of the dreams of those I love, he could be a kami or a devil, I’ll still sweep him aside.” Damn, delivering that line didn’t embarrass me as much as before, I guess I’m slowly getting used to this… again, I mean it though. For Shaeula, for Eri… nothing will stand against us.

“But… well, I guess you are a kami, so maybe Japanese law isn’t going to apply, but even so…” Kana-chan was struggling with the concept, and I sympathised, as it had taken me two weeks of very difficult contemplation to reach this point myself.

“Before you ask if Eri is aware of this, she accepted me. It was-was rather touching.” Shaeula reminisced cheerfully. “She is a good girl, worthy of Akio. And afterwards… well, we served him together on the bed.” She licked her lips seductively, and Kana-chan let out another little noise of shock. “You like Akio, do you not-not? You should polish yourself so Akio takes you as well.”

Hey, what? Shaeula! Eri said you were to stop doing this! Besides… I accepted you because… well, damn, I love you. it’s impossible not to. Eri is the same. Kana-chan is… well, attractive to be sure, and she has that whole practised charm thing going for her, but… no, definitely not. Besides, she’s younger than Eri, it’d be weird, and Eri doesn’t seem to like her and… fuck, why am I even entertaining the thought. This is NOT going to be one of those ‘well, once you have a second wife, you might as well accept them all’ scenarios! I am going to be faithful!

As I stood there dumfounded, thinking, Kana-chan pulled her arms under her chest, adopting a stern pose. “No way. Sorry big bro, I do like you, and… well, you seem to be more handsome every time I see you… I wonder if that’s because you are… having sex with…” her words became inaudible. “… never mind. Seriously though, I don’t need to polish myself, Shaeula, I’m already a diamond. I’m no less beautiful than you or Mori-senpai, and I have natural talent in the spiritual arts, as well as an ancient bloodline. I deserve a man who will look after me, cherish me, dedicate himself to me, look only at me. And you I can see, you are special, but what does Mori-senpai have to offer, eh? What polishing has she done?”

Ouch, now that’s just bitchy. I mean, I like Kana-chan, but insulting Eri that way is going too far. Still, even before I could defend my childhood friend, Shaeula sighed, shaking her head. She reached over and surprised Kana-chan by gently flicking her forehead, causing her to flinch.

“Oh Kana. You remind me a little of myself, just a bundle of arrogance for all-all the wrong reasons. You are indeed very beautiful, and have an old bloodline. As did I. But-but is that really worth anything?”

“Of course it is… ouch!” she was flicked again as she tried to protest, and I stood watching, bemused.

“You need to find the value in you before you can be happy. You desire a male who will-will be yours and yours alone, worshipping you as his princess.” Shaeula was grinning, the idea amusing her. “Well if you wish that, you shall need-need more than looks, else when you grow old and they fade, your male shall abandon you. As for your talent… Eri has no talent. Yet she has slaved away on the training I taught her-her, and now were your eyes to see her, you would see the bright glow of aether. She did it not-not just for Akio, but for herself as well. Eri desperately craved Akio for her own all these years, yet when she saw-saw my pain… she proved herself a female of great kindness and charity. She extended a hand to me-me, and now we are sisters, loving the same male.”

“I can’t understand that. I dream of being treated right, showered in wealth, praised for my beauty and charm. I’d hate it if my man was even looking at other girls.”

“I get you, I do. I feel an utter bastard myself, knowing if one of my fiancées was to want another man I’d die inside.” I confessed. “But… I love them both, they like each other, and they both love me… they wanted this, so… I’ll do anything for their happiness, even if I end up hating myself a little for it.”

“That’s… sort of hot.” Kana-chan confessed, shaking her head, backing away from Shaeula, who was eagerly lining up another flick. “Maybe I get it, a little. But I have my own dreams.”

“In that case, you should pursue them.” Shaeula agreed, lowering her hand. “But remember this-this. Is it better to have a portion of love from the best male alive, or a full share from some inferior dolt? Besides, I do not-not mind being generous to those I like, but Akio shall save most of his efforts for his wives, so you shall just have to-to live with that!”

“Any man I get will be one of the best.” Kana-chan pouted in protest. “But still, okay, I get your point. I don’t really agree though. Anyway, this has totally thrown me off and we’ve taken ages, I’m in for a lecture now. I was here to tell you that Hikawa-sama is here, and my grandfather wishes to see you. Apparently the final list for those taking your training has been set.”

“I see. That’s good timing. We have important spiritual matters to discuss anyway. Lead on, and I’ll talk to your grandfather so he doesn’t blame you for the delay.”

“See, the best male alive!” Shaeula whispered, and at that even Kana-chan couldn’t keep from laughing.

“Damn, Shaeula. If he’s your man, even if you have to share him with Mori-senpai, stop trying to offer him to every super-pretty, adorable, witty and kind girl like me you run into. He’s only one guy, having too many girls will kill him off, especially if they are all horny like you. I never had you flagged for a pervert.”

“I am not-not a pervert, I merely wish to enjoy all the love a mortal and Fae relationship can offer!” she sniffed primly, bringing out Kana-chan in more gales of laughter. As they went back and forth as we approached the shrine proper, my phone started to ring, and looking at the screen it was Eri.

Oh yeah, she should be back in Nishimorioka by now…