Irene dropped face-first onto the bed. After spending the entire day cleaning the outside, inside, and roof of the retirement home, she finally made it to the inn Hanami had recommended—sweaty and exhausted.
Since she'd taken off her white tunic, she was wearing her outfit: a long-sleeved black dress that left her shoulders, collarbones, cleavage, and thighs exposed. She still had on her black knee-high stockings; the only thing she'd taken off were her boots.
Her legs hung over the edge of the bed, her arms stretched out at her sides. Her fluffy pink tail lay slack along her hip.
Rynelle moved around the room carrying the suitcases where they kept their clothes and toiletries. The room was spacious, but the only bed was a huge double in the center, along with the rest of the furniture and a desk.
They had enough money to rent a room each, but at Irene's request they would share one—both to save money and to stay together as friends.
Hanami was carrying the backpacks too. She set them down on the floor, and when she noticed Irene's healthy, exposed, generous backside, she walked up and gave it a gentle slap.
"Mmm," Irene murmured, exhausted, as if to complain.
Hanami took advantage and kept patting her like a drum. Irene didn't complain—until she flicked her tail like a whip against Hanami's hand and said:
"Enough…"
Hanami chuckled. Irene's tail was so fluffy it felt more like a caress.
"What a cute little tail," she said, taking it in both hands.
She sat on the edge of the bed and draped Irene's tail over her thighs, stroking it as she spoke:
"I still have energy. Want to go out and grab something to eat? It's on me."
"I'll pass. I'm tired," Rynelle said as she slipped off her white tunic.
"I'll pass too," Irene added, her face still pressed into the bed.
"Hm? You're really going to sleep without dinner?" Hanami asked, still stroking Irene's tail.
"I want to eat, but I'm dead on my feet," Rynelle admitted.
Underneath, Rynelle wore a short-sleeved black blouse. Her slim, perfect figure only sharpened her beauty, and the black fabric made her pale skin look even whiter. Her breasts were noticeable—full, but proportionate to her slender frame.
She fanned herself with one hand; she was drenched in sweat.
"God, I want to take a bath already… but I still have to haul everything upstairs."
"I'll do it, sweetheart. Go enjoy your bath," Hanami said, smiling at her.
"Are you sure? That's a lot."
"I know. I can handle it. Or would you rather wait for me and we all bathe together?" she added, her smile turning playful.
"I'd say yes, but you don't know how to keep your distance, so no."
Hanami's gaze sharpened with obvious flirtation—she wouldn't deny she enjoyed pushing boundaries. Rynelle pulled off her blouse from the hem, lifting both arms over her head as she walked. She was in a black bra when she closed the bathroom door behind her.
Hanami let out a quiet laugh. She loved the trust they'd built together. When it was just her and Irene, she looked over the kitsune's back, ran her palm over Irene's butt, and said:
"Did you fall asleep, little fox?"
"No…" Irene murmured, worn out.
"Do you want to talk for a minute?"
Irene's ears drooped. She shifted just enough to turn her head and look at her. Her cheeks were flushed—she knew exactly what Hanami meant. Hanami simply watched her, smiling, waiting for her answer.
◇◆◇
When they stepped out onto the balcony and slid the glass door shut, the wind hit them full-on. Irene was still sweaty, so she shivered hard. Hanami moved to her side and leaned her arms on the wooden railing.
"That's why I love this place so much."
As Irene edged closer, she finally saw what Hanami was seeing: the kingdom's beauty at night. Thousands and thousands of lights stretched in every direction—and farther out, just four streets away, the immense emptiness of open sky.
Clouds drifted through Midmidir, and nocturnal birds wheeled in the distance; even the moon adorned the clear night.
"What a view…" Irene said, the lights glittering in her crystal-clear eyes.
She looked down at the busy streets below—they were on the fifteenth floor. Hanami smiled and said:
"Midmidir is more a kingdom of machines and markets than a place to live… but even so, its beauty is undeniable."
"And the cold up here…" Irene added, trembling.
Hanami laughed softly, lips closed. As the wind swept both of their hair the same way, Hanami thought she should start the conversation—but to her surprise, Irene took the lead and said:
"What happened that night before we left the castle…"
"Huh?" Hanami murmured, startled.
"I don't know what you were thinking, or what you were feeling at the time, but I want to make it clear I didn't feel forced into anything."
She lowered her gaze to the lit streets below, not looking at Hanami, and went on:
"It was the first time I'd ever been that way with another woman… and honestly, I don't know if you meant to try again, but I'm not upset with you, and I won't pretend I didn't enjoy it. I'd be lying if I denied what I felt that night."
She closed her eyes, reliving every image. Every sensation. Every feeling. Every breath. Every look.
"Yes… I enjoyed it. I don't know what you think about it, but I wanted to be honest with you. I don't want to live with regret anymore."
Hanami stared at her in amazement. She got far more than she'd expected—and far more easily than any version she'd rehearsed in her head.
"Wow… and here I was planning a whole speech and a thousand ways to break the ice… I-I was really worried about this."
The silence turned heavy.
The wind wrapped around them.
Neither dared look the other in the face.
After a while, Irene hugged herself and trembled. Hanami noticed, straightened, and said:
"Sorry. You're cold, and I've got you standing out here."
Irene shook her head. She was about to say it was fine when Hanami's body heat closed around her. Irene was shorter than the vampire, so Hanami's chest warmed her like a shelter.
Irene closed her eyes as she stepped back, guided by Hanami's slow steps. Her back met the wall, and she ended up tucked against it.
Her heart started racing, and she could feel—and hear—Hanami's heartbeat speeding up too. They stayed quiet for a moment, until the vampire spoke in a low voice:
"I felt guilty about that. I thought I'd taken advantage of you. I couldn't hold myself back that day, and I blamed myself for it. My mind kept repeating that maybe I should've gone slower… or not rushed so much when I told you how I felt."
"How you felt about me?"
Hanami narrowed her eyes. They watered with nerves and trembled. Her cheeks burned; she wanted to say it—she'd been aching to.
"I don't know how to put it… but the feeling showed up two years after I became part of the castle. I thought it was just admiration and respect, but for some reason I started getting jealous whenever other women got close to you. That's when I knew something was wrong."
Irene opened her eyes a little, soaking in Hanami's warmth while staring off into nothing. Her tail moved gently now and then, betraying both calm and curiosity.
"I hadn't felt anything for another woman before you either. Not once… but every time I saw you, my heart fluttered with happiness. I wanted you to pay attention only to me. I-I even got jealous of Rynelle, but over time I understood how important she is to you, and I learned to care about her too. Now, without a doubt, I see her as family."
Hanami slid her right hand along Irene's damp back and stopped behind her head, pulling her closer.
"You're the first woman I've ever felt this way about, Irene. A-and even though I'm terrified you'll reject me—and I'm embarrassed—I need to hear your answer. Even if you reject me, I still want to hear it. But before anything else, I wanted to apologize for what happened that night."
Irene shook her head and let out a soft, quiet laugh.
"You don't need to apologize. You didn't do anything wrong that day. I wanted it… And about what you feel—I feel the same. I've noticed an attraction to women for years, and it's something I still don't fully understand, but…"
Her shy hands slid around Hanami's waist, traced up her back as her cheeks burned, and settled into a delicate, trembling embrace.
"I-I don't… I-I… y-you know… I don't mi—"
Her lips tightened.
'Why is it so hard to say? I want to, but… I'm scared. Is what I feel wrong? What if I shouldn't feel it? What if it's just confusion?'
"Irene?" Hanami asked—an invitation.
Irene closed her eyes and hid her face against Hanami's chest.
"I-I wouldn't mind… you know. Trying…"
Both of their hearts were pounding. Neither said it out loud, but their thoughts clashed and spiraled anyway:
'Do I give myself to this feeling? Is it right?' Hanami thought.
'Am I confused for feeling this? Am I mixing up the happiness of my new world with Hanami?'
'Trying…? Can I try with her? What would she think…?'
'Rynelle… would she feel uncomfortable with me? Would she leave my side? I don't want that…'
'I'd hate to make our trio awkward. But Hanami feels so good… She's warm… I feel so…'
'Protected by her royal blood. She's a princess, and I'm just… nobody. Would I be worthy of her? What if being with me brings her trouble? How frowned upon would it be for a princess to have a romance with another woman?'
As the minutes passed, Irene shifted to create a little distance. She lifted her gaze to Hanami. Pink eyes met crimson. Both were blushing, both aching with the same private desire.
A tiny movement started at Irene's throat. Hanami noticed—she'd leaned forward just a fraction. The vampire mirrored her, shyly, and Irene answered.
Their faces drew closer, filled with doubts—yet driven by an overwhelming need to take it.
Their eyes closed at the same time. They held their breath.
Nerves and excitement knotted in their stomachs.
Their lips met again, satisfying every feeling racing through their heads. Irene tightened her arms around Hanami, and Hanami gently pinned her to the wall.
That first kiss lasted several seconds. No movement. No separation.
When they finally let out a deep, warm breath, they began to move with tender care against each other's lips. The soft sounds of their kisses delighted them both.
A couple minutes later, still unable to pull away, they finally broke for air, their jaw muscles aching. They stared at each other in silence, trading warm breaths.
The sweet blush on their pale skin was easy to see, even in the dark.
A little laugh slipped out of Hanami, and Irene caught it. They both started laughing softly, careful not to make a scene—and even though they couldn't stop or control it, they kept their voices low.