Osomatsu - Courage

✧ Osomatsu - Courage

𝘔𝘢𝘧𝘪𝘢!𝘖𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘴𝘶 𝘟 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳

"[Y/N], where are ya'? The movie's gonna start, sweetheart!" Osomatsu called from the living room. You startled, clenching your nightwear.

"I-I'm coming, one minute!"

Taking a deep breath, you stared determinedly at your reflection.

"No backing out. He needs this. You can do it." You pointed at yourself, muttering under your breath. With a firm nod, you marched out of the bathroom and into the living room, only for your confidence to fizzle into nervousness upon seeing your boyfriend's figure on your couch.

You stood to his left, out of his line of sight, watching as he rested on the cushioned seats with his arms hanging over the back of the furniture, and his wide and relaxed. His pale, half-lidded eyes watched the tv screen with boredom as another commercial danced over the screen.

He had come to you after a long day, seeking refuge in your home. You wanted to give him more so that he could relax, just like he had accepted you with open arms so many times before. You couldn't back out now.

You took a step forward, and then another, getting closer to Osomatsu as he finally noticed you were in the room.

"Cute as ever, baby," he smirked, eyeing you up and down. Your cheeks flushed, and you gave him a shaky smile.

"Can I... sit with you?" What a ridiculous question. You knew it the minute it left your mouth, mentally smacking yourself. Oso raised a brow, patting the empty spaces on both his sides.

"Go for it. This is your house, [Y/N]," he chuckled, loving the way your face heated up. With a small nod, you came closer to him.

You lifted a leg and rested it on one side of his hip, then the other, keeping your gaze everted to his chest, although you could feel his widened gaze burn into you. Once you had straddled him, you wrapped your arms around the back of his neck, fingers curling into his soft tresses as you placed your head on his shoulder, burying your warm cheeks into the crook of his neck.

Osomatsu's arms reacted almost immediately, wrapping themselves around your waist and holding you flush against him. A deep chuckle rumbled through his chest, and you felt it buzz against you.

"What're you up to, baby doll?" Deep and raspy, right up against your ear and tickling your skin with his lips. A shiver ran down your spine, but you forced it away so you could speak.

"I-I just... wanted to hold you..." you tighten your hold on him to prove your point, not wanting to look at him just yet.

"And the movie?"

"I've seen it already, so..." you trailed off, not having really thought about an excuse. However, it didn't seem like you would need one. Oso leaned into your hold, one of his palms sliding down to rest under your thigh, warm, calloused fingers tracing your softer, chubbier skin.

Half an hour into the movie and you had completely relaxed, the calming feeling of Oso tracing random patterns across your skin becoming as soothing as your fingertips scratching the back of his scalp.

Phase two could now begin.

Oso loved teasing you with affection, getting good amusement out of your reddened face and flustered reactions. You took inspiration once more to give him something in return.

Shifting your head to the other side, your lips just about brushed against the skin of his neck. You felt him tense up for a split second.

Slowly, you dragged your lips up and down the side of his neck, leaving a burning trail in your wake. Osomatsu's fingers dug a little deeper into your skin.

Feeling bolder, you began to leave kitten licks along your path, finally resting at the junction between his neck and shoulder. Caught in the heat of the moment, you grazed your teeth over his skin before taking it into your mouth, suckling and biting for a few moments. A low groan left Oso's throat, leaning his head away to give you better access.

Satisfied, you released him with a small pop, leaning back to take a look at your handiwork. You had never marked him before, and seeing the red spot with jagged teeth marks litter his neck made a sweet hotness pool inside of you.

"[Y/N]..."

You gasped as Oso took a hold of your wrists, flipping you over to rest your back on the couch as he hovered over you. A light blush had made its way to his cheeks, a sight so rare, it filled you with a sense of pride. Which was forgotten about as quickly as it had come.

"I hope you know what you've gotten yourself into, doll," he growled, a wide smirk covering his face as he peered down at you, lust evident in his gaze. You whined as he rolled his hips against you, feeling his hardened length against your core.

"Or maybe I need to remind you."

❀ | ④

╔═════ °• ♔ •° ═════╗ 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 ╚═════ °• ♔ •° ═════╝

Delicate strokes to your hair woke you from your slumber. You grumbled, mind still disoriented. The hand sifting through your locks paused for a split second before continuing.

Blearily opening your eyes, you saw your mother, sat beside you on your bed, which you didn't remember getting into. She smiled down at you warmly, the crow's feet settled into the corners of her eyes adding a twinkle to her gaze.

"My daughter has finally awoken, I see," she chuckled. You squinted at her, not entirely hearing what she was saying, until you moved your upper body and rested your head on her lap. She laughed louder, allowing you to nestle comfortably against her.

"... time is it..?" You croaked, to tired to even bother forming a full sentence.

"Just past nine o'clock, dear. I'm surprised; usually you're up by eight." She raised a brow at you, but you ignored her, keeping your eyes closed. They felt sore and itchy, and most likely looked a soft shade of pink. You knew this.

"[Y/N], you need to wake up soon," there was a gentle nudge to your shoulder. "Your father has many things planned for you today."

You groaned loudly. That was the last thing you wanted. It was foolish to have it, but you had a small slither of hope left in you as you asked slowly:

"...Is he still here?"

A moment of silence, and then a sigh.

"You should have joined us for breakfast, dear. He truly is a nice fellow."

"No, he isn't." You sat up abruptly, turning away from her. A cold shiver ran through you as your arms became exposed. Glancing down, you saw you were wearing your night wear instead of your dress. It was then you realised your mind was on autopilot last night.

"[Y/N], please..."

"I'm not like you!" A stiff pause. "I can't see the good in people the way you do. So how do you expect me to see anything in him? A man who knows nothing of the world other than the fantasies he has been brought up with?"

You received no answer. Standing from your bed, you marched over to your dresser, pulling open the drawers. Something caught your eye, and you froze.

The vase you kept on your dresser was always empty. You came to dislike filling it with flowers, as the dying petals would always make a mess. It annoyed you to no end, how quickly flowers could wilt away. Too quickly.

But here, now, it was full. Fresh and vibrant hyacinths were placed in the vase, their petals bursting full of colour and life. They weren't leaning heavily to one side, like yours used to. They stood tall and proud, soaking up the sunlight just entering your room.

"Prince Karamatsu asked the maids to send these up to you." You flinched at the name.

"The only reason you cannot see the good in others is because you are always looking for the bad. If that's all you can see, then you will remain blind to the good." Your mother stood, leaving the room. Grasping the handle to your door, she looked back to you one more time, a smile still present. It looked all too familiar.

"He is not a bad person. Give him a chance."

The door shut behind her with a soft thud, leaving the room silent once more. You brought your gaze back to the flowers. They just had to be purple, didn't they?

➳༻❀✿❀༺➳

"Horse riding?" you cringed. You eyed the horses with disdain, taking a step back as one of them shook their mane.

Your father came over to your side, hands on his hips as he smiled proudly at the selection of horses before him. Karamatsu was over by his own white-haired horse which had been brought over for him, busy patting its nuzzle with a fond smirk.

"But of course! The weather is perfect for it, don't you think?"

"No.." you grumbled under your breath, somewhat glad he hadn't heard you. Your father also went over to feed an apple to his horse, taking a brush and smoothing out its chestnut hair. You stood frigidly, unsure of what to do. You were desperate to walk back to the castle, but something was stopping you. And it was irritating you, how you couldn't figure out what it was.

Slowly, your eyes wandered around the stable, trailing over the golden hay scattered across the floor, to the resting horses, to the walls... then to him.

He didn't look any different from the first time you had met him. He looked so unbothered by the encounter he had with you last night, despite sending you those flowers. You found it unfair, how easy it was for him to hide his emotions like that.

Karamatsu felt something on him. He turned to you, his dark eyes connecting with your own and, for a split second, the world became still. There was no noise, no movement. Just the two of you, in a single frame. He nodded towards you, his smirk morphing into a smile.

"Princess—" You jolted, catching your surprised yelp before it could leave your throat. Your brow twitched as you turned on your heel, glowering at your butler.

"What?"

"M-My apologies!" Tanuki stammered, clearing his throat. "Your steed is ready for you, Princess," the older man bowed formally, guiding you out of the stable and onto the flat grassland. A black horse, a very strong looking one at that, stood idly before you, it's equally black eyes staring into nothing.

You grabbed a hold of Tanuki, pulling him to one side as you hissed into his ear.

"Tanuki, this is ridiculous!"

"I understand, but I am afraid there is nothing I can do, Princess..."

"Yes, there is! Take me to my study room!"

"Your father ordered me to keep you here for this activity, Princess," he sighed, eyeing you sympathetically. He gently coaxed your iron grip on his arm off of him, gesturing to the horse.

"You must brave through it."

He stepped away, just as your father and Karamatsu came out of the stables atop their horses, chatting away as they manoeuvred their beasts with ease. The twinge of jealousy you had felt before came back with full force, the burning fire of competition raging within you.

With new found resolution, you stepped up to the dark horse, stopping beside the saddle. You readied your hands against the leather, placing a foot in the small holster. Then, you paused. Then, you didn't move. Taking a deep breath, you willed yourself to push upwards and to sit on the damn horse, but your body wouldn't cooperate. The chatter from behind you had died down. Your brow twitched.

"My daughter, do you need some help?" You heard your father call, but you ignored him. You tried again with a huff, pushing up with all your might, barely lifting yourself off of the ground.

"Princess..."

"I don't need help!" You denied. You hated how your face burned in embarrassment. You felt like the court jester, making a complete fool of yourself. You knew this was a bad idea. How could your father have forgotten you didn't know how to ride a horse?

"Princess [Y/N]?"

"What?!"

You frustrated comments trailed off as a gloved hand was extended towards you. You followed it up, finding Karamatsu's kind face peering down at you.

"Perhaps it would be easier if you were to ride with me, instead?"

You were confused. What made him so different from everybody else? Why was he being so nice to you? You didn't need his pity, if that's what he was doing. You didn't need him to feel sorry for you. You didn't need him at all.

And yet, looking into his eyes, you saw no ill intent. Only a shimmer of hope. Hope for what? You couldn't understand. And you always understood everything.

You grit your teeth harshly.

With heavy reluctance, you grasped his outstretched palm, eyes widening by a fraction as he easily hauled you up to sit behind him, your skirts flowing off the side of his steed. Slowly, you placed your hands on his waist, not wanting to hold and be closer to him anymore than you already were.

"...Well, then," you father cleared his throat, stunned by what he had just witnessed, "Let's set off, shall we?" He tugged at his reigns, turning around and heading down the thin trail into the castle's forest. Karamatsu glanced back at you.

"Are you ready, Princess?"

"Just go already."

He chuckled softly in response, following behind the king. You wobbled in surprise at the sudden movement of the horse, gripping onto him just a tad bit tighter.

You peered around his broad shoulders, making sure that your father was out of earshot before you leaned up to his ear. You felt him shiver at the feeling of your warm breath hitting his skin. He tightened his hold on the reigns.

"Eh—?"

"Why purple? What do you have to be sorry for?"

✧ Osomatsu - Cherry Boy

Aggressive knocking on your front door.

You knew instantly who it was. Many would find them a nuisance. You, however, couldn't help the grin that stretched across your lips, feeling a little more than glad at the unexpected company.

He stood in your doorway, cheeks a cute cherry red, matching his hoodie, his signature cat-like smile on his face as he rubbed his index finger under his nose shyly.

"Mind if I crash here for a couple'a hours?" Was all he asked, and you instantly opened the door wider for him.

"Even if I said no, you would've started begging for me to let you in, anyway," you teased, taking great pleasure in the way his brows furrowed in embarrassment.

"O-Oi! That's not-"

"But I'll always say yes. Just for you, Osomatsu."

You left him in the entrance hall of your home, snickering over your shoulder at his wide-eyed, slack jawed response. He spluttered, a hand reaching out for you, but you had already disappeared around the corner and into your living room.

You were always out of arms reach for him. He hated it. He wanted to be closer. Closer than he was never enough to admit. He didn't want you to push him aside, deeming his advances as purely "sexual-desires," and as his way of "desperately trying to get laid."

He still wanted those things, for sure. With you. He just wanted more than that.

Fuck, was he terrible at getting his thoughts together.

"Osomatsu? Are you planning to lounge in the hallway, or what?" Your voice called, which he followed like a moth to a lightbulb. He stumbled slightly, his hands flailing, trying to find your figure. Yet you were just too far away.

"C'mon! That show's on again!" You patted the seat beside you on the couch excitedly, legs bouncing against the side of the furniture. Osomatsu couldn't help but chuckle, wasting no time with flopping lazily into the seat, wrapping an arm around the seat behind you.

His fingers grazed your exposed shoulder, and it was only then that he realised how loose your clothing was. It was baggy. So baggy that the neck sagged off of your shoulders. Revealing clear, smooth skin. Skin that he wanted to feel, and caress, and hug, and kiss-

"Are you okay?" Once again, you snapped him out of his daze, large and curious eyes peering into his own. He jolted, not noticing how close he had leaned into you.

"Uh, y-yeah! How could I not be, when I'm sat here with you?" He winked, a sleazy grin wobbling it's way across his cheeks. You huffed out a laugh, shaking your head.

"Honestly..." you muttered, although you didn't appear to be annoyed. On the inside, you were overjoyed. You wanted to smother this NEET so bad with hugs and butterfly kisses, wanted to bury your face into his neck and peck away at his slightly chubby skin. Your fingers twitched in your lap. You were desperate.

But, you remained calm. You remained to appear unaffected. You didn't want to overwhelm him. You wanted to take it slow, despite knowing how desperate he was for wanting to at least have sex before dying. He was a hopeless virgin, after all- they all were.

Glancing over to him again, you chanced a look at his lips. The bottom lip was slightly plump, pink and soft-looking, just like the rest of him. It was adorable. Looking a little more closely, you saw that his lips had lines of red, chapped and chipped.

"Your lips dry," you mumbled absentmindedly. Osomatsu almost snapped his neck looking over to you, humming confusedly.

"Your lips. They're a little dry," you pointed to your own, running a finger across the bottom for emphasis. His face lit up in understanding, and he laughed.

"Yeah, Todomatsu yelled at me for that already."

"He yelled at you?" Amused and intrigued, you knew a good story was bound to come out of it. Osomatsu chuckled, eyes closing as he recalled.

"He sure did! Said somethin' about it making me look even worse than I already do, which is a complete lie!" He whined, throwing his head back. You laughed, a hand covering your mouth out of habit.

"He gave me this chapstick thing though- which I thought was for girls, but he apparently uses one all the time. Tastes like cherries, though! So I can't complain," he ended with a shrug.

"Cherries, huh? Perfect for you!" You drawled, still giggling as his face flared up.

"H-Huh?! What're you tryin' to say?!" He demanded, pouting. You carefully began to move a little bit closer to him, hand resting casually on his thigh.

"What do you think I mean, dumby?" Your voice dropped a little lower, and you peered up at him through thick lashes, appearing innocent. Though, you both knew you were far from innocent.

"You and your brothers are well-known cherry boys. I suspected for a long time that you'd probably taste like cherries, too. Am I wrong?" Tilting your head, you were pressed right up against him now. Plump thigh flush against his.  Shoulder pressed against his chest. Hand resting just above his heart, feeling it think rapidly.

It was too much. You were too much. He didn't stop you. He would be insane to stop you.

Sweating and red faced, he tried his best to frown down at you. Key word being: 'tried.'

"How am I supposed to know? And h-how would you know that I taste like... like ch-cherries?" Osomatsu stammered. His fingers were clenched very tightly against his trousers, hoping- praying- that you wouldn't look downwards. Or maybe he wanted you to. He wouldn't complain.

"I can prove it to you. Right now, if you'd like."

"...Show me."

That was all it took. A small push of your body upwards, and your lips connected with his. You felt him tense instantly, and you couldn't help but smirk against him. He was trembling. He was just too cute for you.

You continued for a little longer, tilting your head to the side, caressing his cheek with your thumb, moving sensually against his lips. Chapped as they were, the way the cuts grazed against your lips felt good.

Tongue darting out quickly to swipe at his lips, you leaned away with a small breath. Looking him in the eyes, you licked your lips once more before smiling devilishly up at him.

"Mmm... yup. Definitely tastes like cherries." You manoeuvred your body, swinging your leg gently over his lap to straddle him. His hands instantly flew to your hips, gripping them tightly, yet rubbing soft circles with his thumbs. He was calming his own nerves.

"Did I ever tell you I love cherries?" You leaned in again, voice soft and low, music to his ears.

"N-No..." he replied quietly, eyes blown wide in shock. You laughed again, fingers tugging at the baby hairs at his neck.

"You're too cute, Osomatsu..."

You delved in for another taste. You wasted no time in nibbling against his lip gently, happily slipping your tongue inside and exploring his hot cavern. A blank slate for you to mark. An opportunity you've been waiting so long for.

He tasted like old beer and smokey cigars, a tinge of cherries left behind. You didn't mind it though. What else did you expect? It was who he was. And, if you were being honest, you were too into to care much.

Osomatsu were fidgeting beneath you, not entirely sure what to do. He wanted to make you feel good too. But how? He didn't know anything about this kind of stuff. He was a virgin, for crying out loud.

Suddenly, he felt your hands wrap around his, softly prying his hands away from your hips and onto your bare thighs, all thanks to a pair of shorts. You rubbed them up and down slowly, then let go to resume their place in his hair, tangling and griping onto it.

He continued to move his hands, barely registering what he was doing through his clouded daze. His calloused hands pressed into your soft flesh, causing your hips to grind down against his, moaning into the kiss.

You moaned.

You moaned.

Osomatsu felt his soul slip out of his body, and as much as he begged for it to come back, it was just too far gone. You felt the man go limp underneath you, causing you to reluctantly break away from him, breathing a little heavy.

"Osomatsu?" You called, hands cupping his cheeks. You shook him a few times, figuring out that he had passed out. Probably from excitement. You couldn't help but smile.

And then, as you moved to get off of his lap, something brushed against your inner thigh.

Something hard.

You stifled a laugh, spluttering giggles into your palm. He really was excited.

You struggled to calm down even as you laid him properly on the couch, covering him with a blanket. He would probably have an aneurism if he found himself in bed next to you the following morning.

Glancing over your shoulder one last time, your fingers traced your lips, curving into a small grin. Cheeks warm, as well as your lower regions, you practically skipped over to your bedroom.

"My sweet cherry boy~'"

✧ Osomatsu - Cool down

"[Y/N]-chaaaan..." Osomatsu whined from beside you, crawling across the couch to rest his chin on your lap.

Glancing down at him, you returned your gaze back to your phone as you hummed, letting him know you were listening. He didn't seem satisfied with that, however, and he placed his entire upper half of his body into your lap, effectively squashing your legs.

"[Y/N]! Stop ignoring meee!" He cried, pouting his cheeks. Sighing, you turned your phone off and put it onto the table in front of you before running a hand through his brown locks.

"I'm not ignoring you, you idiot. What is it?" You grinned slightly as you watched his face morph into a content smile, nuzzling his head into your gentle caresses.

"It's so hot in here, right?" He mumbled after a small pause. A lazy grin stretched onto his lips as he peered up at you through lidded eyes. "D'you think you could get me some ice?"

Face blank, you stared at him, his grin never faltering.

"...You know you could get it yourself?" You pointed out, only to receive a shrug in response.

"I know, but we're at your apartment. I'm the guest, y'know?" He chuckled. You rolled your eyes, pushing him off of you and reluctantly getting off the couch, mumbling:

"How do I even put up with you, again?"

"Cuz you know you love me!" He called after you as you entered the kitchen. You couldn't help but smile secretly at that. For once, he was right.

A few moments later, you returned to your living room with two bowls of ice in hand, making sure to hold the edges of the bowl so that your hands wouldn't freeze.

Osomatsu had made himself comfortable (obviously) by laying his legs onto the couch, allowing his upper body to fall off onto the floor. His cheeks were slightly red from all the blood rushing to his head, but he was still smiling childishly. Upon seeing you enter the room, his eyes lit up and he quickly swung himself back into a normal seated position.

He patted the spot beside him enthusiastically, making you raise a brow.

"Are you really that desperate for some ice?" You teased, setting the bowls down.

"You bet!" He giggled, rubbing a finger under his nose mischievously. Sighing out a laugh, you picked up a cube of ice and popped it into your mouth, feeling relieved as your face began to cool down a little.

"Ah, but [Y/N]?" He called, and you hummed in acknowledgment again.

"..I don't want ice from this bowl."

Confused, you looked over to him, only to be pushed down onto the couch by the shoulders. You felt a weight on your legs, and you realised that Osomatsu had straddled you. A blush crept onto your face, as well as his, and you waited anxiously for him to do something.

"I want my ice from here," he spoke lowly, and lowered his lips into yours.

Almost instantly, he pried your lips apart and slipped his tongue into your mouth, exploring your cool cavern with force. Your hands clutched the back of his red hoodie, fingers trembling slightly at the feeling of him against you.

He placed his thumb onto your chin and moved you away slowly, leaving the both of you panting heavily as you tried to bring oxygen back into your bodies. Both of your faces were flushed by now, although Osomatsu was still grinning boyishly down at you.

"Thanks for the ice, [Y/N]-chan," he purred, the nickname causing you to blush further.

Osomatsu made no move to get off of you, but it's not like you wanted him to. Instead, he swallowed his piece of ice and reached over to grab another one.

He held it up to his lips, rubbing the ice along them gently, and you watched as small drops of liquid began to trickle down his chin. Chuckling again, he called out to you, grabbing your attention.

"C'mon, [Y/N]-chan. Are you really going to let me get away with stealing your ice like that? I thought you would put up more of a fight..."

Pushing the ice past his lips, he leaned closer to you once more. You couldn't help but notice something hard brush against your thigh, and Osomatsu made no move to hide it.

You gasped lightly as he grounded his hips softly against yours, his dark eyes watching your facial expression carefully.

"Here..." he mumbled.

"I'll let you take one from me, yeah?"

He descended onto you once again, his hands wandering your body shamelessly, causing your thighs to shake in anticipation.

The ice in your bowls were beginning to melt as the room grew ever more heated. Looks like you'll have to get more later if you wanted to continue.

♔ | 𝐗𝐕𝐈

»»-----　♔　-----««

Ozo returned to find you kneeling in front of the oven, thick mittens held in your hands as you stared at the cupcakes on the other side of the door.

He watched you for a moment, admiring the way the golden glow of the oven's light stretched over your face, illuminating your eyes with a gentle fire and cheeks with a sweet honeydew.

He shook his head slightly. If he continued to stare at you, he'd probably have to go back into the bathroom again. His easy grin slipped back onto his mouth as he approached from behind, placing his arms around your shoulders and resting his cheek on the side of your head. You jumped at the sudden contact, hands catching his forearms for balance.

"How's it lookin' so far?" His voice lowered so as not to hurt your ears, the vibrations of his words running down your neck.

"Uh.. It'll take a while for them to, y'know, start rising properly, but they look good right now," you stumbled over your words. He hummed in reply, a silence falling over the both of you as you watched the oven with mild interest. The sudden thought of how domestic this whole scenario felt ran through your mind.

"Hey, [Y/N]?" Ozo began slowly. The elephant in the room was going to stomp all over him and kill him if he didn't address it soon. You gave a sound of acknowledgment, your body slightly relaxing into his hold.

"I just... I'm sorry about what happened before with the flour. And leaving you on the floor like... like you were. That was stupid of me. So.. sorry."

He cringed at how lame that whole apology was. He wouldn't be surprised if you didn't accept it and ended up hating him forever.

...Wait. He didn't want that. Maybe he should try again.

"Well, what I mean to say is—"

"It's okay, Ozo."

"I know it isn't, and that's why I wanted to— wait, huh?"

He moved his head back to stare at you, eyes full of bewilderment. Your cheeks were ablaze, but you looked him in the eye nonetheless, fully intending on discussing further.

"What happened earlier.. It's okay. I don't mind it. It was just us playing around, and then the rest was.. an accident. You didn't mean it," you smiled at him timidly, and once again, Ozo's eyes were locked to your pinkish skin.

"..And what if it wasn't an accident?"

Your eyes widened, breath stolen from you for a brief second. He was looking at you like that again. Like when he first saw you. Like when he played with your hair yesterday. Like when he sat beside you at the café. And when he first greeted you this morning...

You didn't register your body moving at first as it spun around on the ground to face him properly, but once you did, you made no move to stop yourself. All hesitancy was gone as you kneeled in front of him, hands clasping onto his shoulders as you raised your upper body to meet his.

The brush of your lips against one another felt electric, your heartbeat speeding up considerably, and even more so when you felt his own thud beneath your fingers.

And then, finally, your lips met in a sweet kiss.

It wasn't like any you had felt before. It just felt so good. Ozo's small whimper of surprise melted into a cute moan, his hands finally taking their place on your hips and pulling you onto his lap as you sat on the ground, lips moving sensually against each other.

He was inexperienced, you could tell that much, so you placed a hand on his cheek, tilting his head to one side as you took the reigns, guiding him to copy your actions.

A warm tingle ran up your spine as his thumbs rubbed circles on your hips, pressing harder as you took his lower lip between your teeth, nibbling at it gently before pulling away, the both of you panting heavily.

He looked gorgeous beneath you, with those cherry cheeks and half-lidded eyes, his hair askew and shirt opened to reveal his smooth neck and collar bones. And you looked just as beautiful as you always did, with those swollen parted lips and eyes staring at him, and only him.

"So.." Ozo spoke first, a grin slowly etching onto his face, "Does this mean you've made a decision?"

You scoffed in amusement, fingers reaching to the back of his head to twirl the smaller locks of hair around them.

"I don't know, you tell me." With a teasing smile — that still shook at the edges — you dove back in for another kiss, pressing a lot harder this time.

You tugged his head back as you prodded your tongue against him desperately, sighing a breathy groan as he easily allowed you access. Your tongue swirled around his immediately, suckling at his wet muscle and revelling in his raspy whines that emitted from his throat.

However, with a swift buck of his hips into you, Ozo gained control, figuring out what to do and instead pushing his tongue into your mouth, eagerly exploring your hot cavern. He wrapped his mouth around your tongue, tugging at it harshly before returning it and continuing to ravish your mouth.

You pressed your chest into his, your breasts pushing upwards and threatening to burst out of the top of the dress, whilst your hips squirmed against his.

Ozo gasped at the movement, suddenly pulling away from you, the thin string of saliva breaking as he moved back.

"W-Wait..." He panted, covering his mouth with the back of his palm. He appeared to be bashful, an expression that you secretly found adorable. "If you do that, then I'll have to leave you here again.. And I don't really wanna do that right now.."

Not entirely understanding what he meant, you nodded anyway. You needed a breather too from the sudden make-out, and opted to rest your forehead against his shoulder, tightening your hold around him as you hugged him. He returned the gesture, his fingers running along the upper hem of your dress, grazing along your skin.

"Are we.. together now?" Ozo murmured. Despite all this, he was still unsure. All of this was new to him, especially being in a relationship with the prettiest girl he had ever seen. And kissing you like that? As much as he enjoyed it, he was still hoping that this would turn into something more. Into something he had yet to experience.

You giggled quietly, massaging his scalp gently.

"Yes, we are. Do you want us to be together?"

"Oh god, yes," he breathed, nuzzling his face into the crook of your neck and inhaling deeply. You smelt so nice, felt so amazing, you were just so stunning. He didn't want to let you go, his grip increasing around you.

You snuggled back into his arms, relaxing completely as you smiled. Sure, this all had moved a lot quicker than you had ever thought it would, but it just felt right. Your smile widened as you remembered Dayoko.

She was right. Maybe this was meant to be.

»»-----　♔　-----««

❀ | ⑤

╔═════ °• ♔ •° ═════╗ 𝐚 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 ╚═════ °• ♔ •° ═════╝

You had received no answer, much to your chagrin, and you were left to pout moodily for the majority of the ride. Your father rambled on and on about how well maintained the forest was. You were sure no one was listening.

The sudden fork in the faded trail was either a good or bad thing, there was no in-between. Pausing in your tracks, your father seemed to contemplate on something rather deeply before turning to you both with a large, suspicious smile. Your hands moved back to your lap quickly.

"It seems that we must part ways here," he caught your glare, and it was then that you knew he wasn't going to back down on this.

"No, we don't need to do that," you began hotly.

"Two horses, two paths. Each of them lead through the forest and back to the stables. It's only natural that we would separate here." He tugged at his steed's reigns, starting down the right pathway. "I'll take the shorter route back; the flat earth allows my horse to run along it faster."

You couldn't get another word in as he promptly sped away, a small dust cloud kicking up beneath the horse's hooves. You were left with the tree's aged silence, the twittering of birds and rustle of leaves keeping you grounded to the present.

"...I don't mean to add to your anger, Princess," Karamatsu started, guiding his horse to the other path, "but I was hoping that we could get some time alone like this."

"And why would you want that?" You huffed. Your brow twitched a fraction as you saw your hands had already planted themselves back onto his torso as the animal moved.

"So that I am able to answer your questions." He turned his head back to you with a smile, the sunlight filtering through the trees illuminating his upper face brightly. You were getting sick of the world painting him to be some kind of ethereal being. He was a good-for-nothing prince. Nothing more.

"Then answer them," you snarled without thinking twice about it. He nodded in agreement, turning back to focus on navigating his way through the earthy terrain, watching out for the large tree roots breaking through the dirt.

"What was the point of those flowers?"

A small silence came over Karamatsu as he furrowed his thick brows, ordering his frantic thoughts together. He wanted to answer the honest truth, but he also knew that your temper was akin to very fragile glass — touch too hard, even just a gentle brush, and the results could be shattering. Or, it wouldn't fall apart, and you wouldn't be frustrated. For a moment, his mind wandered to his younger brother. Your personalities were quite similar.

"Originally, there wasn't a point to the flowers," his words were slow and cautious, carefully putting them together as he finally came to a decision.

"I had heard in the early hours of the morning that you still hadn't awoken, and so I took a stroll around your palace garden. I've never seen such beautifully groomed blossoms before. Truly a spectacle, and I expected nothing less of this flourishing kingdom.

"It was then that I saw the hyacinths. In my kingdom, these flowers are already rare to find, and so upon seeing their vibrant colour, I couldn't help but be reminded of you."

You blinked owlishly at the back of his head.

"Rare beauty. That was my first impression of you when I first stepped out of my carriage. And, despite what you may think, our exchange under the moon's gaze did not change my perspective of you, Princess."

You were in disbelief. He must be more delusional than you thought.

"I had wanted to give you the flowers as a token to your beauty, until the one who handed me the flowers told me something interesting: the flower's meaning. I knew then that I had to give them to you, and hoped that you would understand."

...

"... You still haven't answered my question." Karamatsu stilled at your flat tone. Devoid of emotion. It was unsettling, hearing it from you. "Why are you sorry?"

"Ah, because.." he sighed heavily. "Because ever since I stepped foot here, I've caused you nothing but distress and despair. I have a feeling that you felt this way ever since our engagement was announced, too."

The forest ambiance had grown quieter. It was as if the birds had never been there at all. The sun still shone down from above, rays of sunlight lighting the way forward. The pathway curved behind the frame of a tall, wise oak tree. You were unable to see beyond it. Whatever lay ahead of you was a mystery.

"So, I apologise, Princess [Y/N]. For not being the man you had been waiting for."

"I still don't get it."

"..Come again?"

"I don't get why you're apologising. To me."

Your fingers tightened around the fabric of his shirt. Even through the clothing, you could feel that he was warm, radiating a subtle heat against your hands. You concentrate on that, hoping the tightness in your throat would go away.

"What's the point in you apologising when you haven't —" you bit your tongue, quickly rephrasing your wording, "—when you know, that nothing's going to change? Why waste your time trying to appease me?"

Rounding the large trunk, the trees ahead of you began forming a kind of leafy archway, leading to an opening out of the forest.

"I've always believed that people can change, no matter who they are," Karamatsu responded firmly. "Even though it may not seem like, the changes a person can go through can bring out such wondrous beauty. I wish to see it, if you will allow me to."

Light beamed down on the both of you as you broke through the forest finally, blinding you for a moment. Rubbing at your eyes, you slowly opened them up, sucking in a sharp breath at the sight around you.

Dazzling, bright Cala lilies flowed like a white sea with the wind, fields of them stretching for miles, as far as the eye could see. Amongst them were clusters of daisies, small and dainty petals that seemed to dance to an unheard tune.

You had never seen this field before. Never had you seen such an abundance of flowers blooming so elegantly like this. It was a sight that made your eyes widen in an almost child-like wonder. A part of you wished to jump off of your seat and run into the field, dancing along with the flowers.

"I've never seen these flowers before!" Karamatsu exclaimed excitedly. He had stopped his horse altogether, admiring the view with you. You tore your gaze away to look at him, his wide smile spreading from cheek to cheek, and his eyes sparkling in awe. He was practically glowing.

"What are they?" He turned to you.

"Cala lilies."

"I never knew lilies could take such a shape." He suddenly shifted in his seat, carefully swinging a leg over the side of the horse and jumping down onto the pathway. You watched as he strolled over to the flowers, a finger delicately stroking at its petals.

Your hands began to feel clammy. Sometimes, you cursed yourself for your expansive knowledge. An image of a textbook filtered into your mind, and you bit at your lip out of habit.

White Cala lilies. Daisies, too.

It was all just a coincidence. It had to be.

After all, you were too far gone to be given the chance to change.