Chapter 31: Conversation

I heard a knock on the door.

“Come in,” I called out.

Normally I'd have been more worried about an ambush, but we were in a suite where my room was behind those of my supposed guards and servant. If someone had gotten past Jiraiya without a ruckus I was already fucked; frankly, that was so unlikely as to be implausible.

The door, a sliding wood and paper screen, slid open and Sachiko came through looking worried.

“Hey Sachiko. What is it?” I asked.

She peeked up, then looked down at the floor again. By that point, I was a bit worried; maybe she had noticed my attraction and was upset, or didn't appreciate it, but was having the issues one might expect from a loyal retainer in that situation.

“I noticed that you seemed attracted to me today, Daichi-sama.” Fuck. Well, I thought, nothing to do but apologize.

“I'm sorry Sachiko. I know that it might have been awkward. I promise I would never do anything unless you wanted me to.” By that I meant to reassure, but from her shrinking into herself, that wasn't quite the case. “Sachiko, can you tell me what exactly is wrong? What I could do to make it right?”

“I want you to!” she blurted out.

I wasn't really expecting it to be what it turned out to be. I may have once been an adult, and doubtless if I were a third party looking on I’d have easily spotted the signs, but those things are always far harder for those inside the situation to understand. I overcomplicated things, wondering if signs were really what they appeared, or whether I was projecting my own hopes. Her general poker-face didn’t help things either.

“I'm sorry?” I was too stunned to even process what she’d said, but she obviously took that as my needing extensive clarification. I was a bit oblivious, but not entirely stupid.

“I've wanted you to notice me for years, master. You have no idea how glad I was today, that you would be attracted to one like me.” She was actually crying a bit.

I was in shock. I'd never seen Sachiko like this. Which made her technique all the more effective at getting under my skin. I never dealt well with people crying, women in particular.

“I know it was inappropriate my lord, that I'm not worthy. I'm so, so sorry for failing you like this.” By now there was a bit of blubbering and her voice was broken in between sobs. Her emotions were a mess to my senses.

And then I had an idea. “Sachiko,” I stated with a bit of bite to my voice. She looked up at me from behind her hair and tears with a worried face. “Come here.” And after she slowly approached, I pulled her into a tight hug. When she hugged me back, I was pretty damned relieved. “Have a seat,” I told her while pulling her down onto the bed next to me.

“So you've been attracted to me for years, huh?” I asked. She was still crying a bit, but was calming down and I wanted to both get more information and distract her.

“Yes, my lord. For about four years now. A few months after we moved to Konohagakure.”

“Well, that's very flattering. Thanks,” I said in a teasing tone.

That part of me that never stopped its logical analysis though was blaring in alarm. That was right around when we’d experimented with my Presence. I should never have exposed her to such mind-warping abilities. I’d had years to recover, and a will strong enough to properly face death in the first place, and that was still probably the single most defining experience I’d ever had. Even so watered down, done to a teenage mind…

On the other hand, it could have been the isolation. A continued form of imprinting onto her master. Picking a safe target for the affections of her budding body. Any number of factors, really.

“You shouldn't be surprised, master. There were after all enough of those fangirls,” she snarked with a soft smile.

“Bah, like they count for anything,” I grumbled. My views on the man-seekers was well known. “Though this does give new insight into why you were so focused on protecting me from them.”

She blanched a bit, and looked down again. “I know it wasn't my place, master. And that you'll have others, and marry someone of much higher station than this one. But, still, master, I want you. I can accept anything, do anything, for you. Punish me for exceeding my station; just, I beg, don't reject me master,” she said softly pleading.

“Please Sachiko, the begging is unnecessary. You know I wouldn't,” I chided. This was a bit obvious of a manipulation, especially for her.

“If it would convince you, my lord, I am not above debasing myself,” she replied with a half smile and a bit of humor in her tone.

“Don't. You know all I want from you is honesty. But I have to say, I'm glad you feel this way; I doubt I'd be able to give you up.” At this her face was radiant, though still blotchy from her tears. She turned towards me, and buried her face into my chest, hugging me tightly.

“Thank you, Daichi-sama. Thank you, thank you.” She drew herself back and without hesitation darted in and gave several rapid kisses to my mouth, staying in contact for a longer, more serious kiss with the last one. I was in shock, and kissed her back for five, ten, fifteen seconds before regaining my equilibrium and pulling away with a shit-eating grin.

“That was awesome. Thank you, Sachiko.”

“That wasn't all I'd do, Daichi-sama,” she said slyly.

“Urgh! I'm going to hate myself for this, but no. Not yet. It's far too early, and I'm still too young. We'll wait for that until I'm sixteen, alright?”

She gasped in protest and pinched my waist; it was half-way between painful and tickling, and very uncomfortable. “That’s far too long!” Then, with a fox-like expression she arched her back a bit, showing off and pressing into my arm. “And besides, do you really want to wait that long?”

She had a point. It wasn’t unusual for boys to be married at thirteen or fourteen; marriages among nobles could occur at even younger ages, though were rarely consummated until older. Sachiko herself was five years older than I, at least physically, and already well past the normative age for sexual activity there. Having her wait until twenty-one would, I reasoned, be unnecessarily cruel to her – and to me.

“Fine, fine!” I quickly capitulated. “But no earlier than my being fourteen, ok?”

She looked disappointed that I just had to laugh and pull her close.

“That's not to say we can't do other things. I'm happy to kiss, and play a bit, and have a lot of skinship. But that's it, ok?” I said mock sternly with a smile. That said, I was serious.

She looked up with a vulpine grin. “It's not what I want, but I've waited four years already just for this possibility. I can wait another year and a half. Though I hope you will forgive your poor servant testing your resolution, master.” I laughed.

“So long as you don’t go too far, and can forgive being disappointed by your stubborn master. Alright. It's late, and it's going to be hard enough getting to sleep as it is. We should go to bed.”

When she began to get into my bed, I clarified. “Our own beds.” She gave an exaggerated pout, and pulled her dressing-gown back into position.

“Fine, master. I won't tempt you tonight then,” she replied while grinning and pouting. It was too damned cute.

“You already have, and I think you know it,” I said chuckling. “So, anything else before you leave?”

She looked at me, and bit her lip a moment in thought before nodding in nervous resolution. “Yes. Would you close your eyes for a moment?”

I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. And, honestly, to benefit from whatever she was planning.

There was a rustle of cloth, and then a moment later she spoke again. “Alright, now open!”

I opened my eyes and saw quite the sight. She was posed provocatively, and though nothing critical was exposed, I could only have described her as barely wearing her nightgown; even that would have been generous.

It was odd. We trained together, went camping together, watched over each other waking and sleeping. We had seen each other in all varieties of dress and undress. But that moment was still so damned alluring.

I may have been staring with my mouth open.

She grinned. “So, master,” she drawled huskily, “do you like what you see?”

I nodded dumbly, while she gave me a bright smile and quick hug. “Thank you, master! Sleep well!” and then she darted out of the room before I could recover. I shook my head, laughing at myself and the situation.

“You too, you minx,” I mumbled. Outside my room I could sense her spin around before leaning her back against the wall and bringing up her clenched fists in victory. Her emotions were even more triumphant than my own.

I could barely sleep.

In retrospect, the young woman played me like a fiddle.

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The morning after, while we were eating breakfast together, Jiraiya saw fit to make some commentary.

“So, I heard someone made a little late night visit?” he said. Sachiko looked up from her rice with what passed for shock on her face, while I spun my head to face toward him. Even Yasu seemed a bit interested and shocked.

“By your happiness the conversation went well. Congratulations, nee-san.” Wow. Even Yasu was commenting. I was glad he was supportive.

“You know, Daichi, if you ever need any advice, I’m quite the expert,” Jiraiya began to say with blasé indifference to my growing horror. “In fact, tell you what. I’ll even help the first time to make sure...”

I was young and in lust. I was definitely feeling my oats and my general overprotectiveness was in full force.

“Ero-Jiraiya,” I interrupted, my voice cold and controlled. “I'd be careful, or I'll put a blood-restriction seal somewhere you really don't appreciate it next time we spar.” He blanched, and very quietly returned to his meal.