Chapter 65:

V2 Incline 36: Champion Nin

Dark Crow Rising


"This is a stupid idea, why did I end up agreeing to this idea at all? Seriously, how!?" I ask myself in disbelief as I wander up the closest thing to a main street the flower has. Thankfully, I've sorted out my clothing situation since last night. But, again, this damn plan!

I've got to break Dandelion out of her prison... By making it abundantly clear to Rose that I 'love' her and that I want to have a family with her... This feels so foul as an idea, tricking someone with something as sincere as that. Gods get me out of this mess, something put an end to it.

Coming to a stop, I rub my face a little before that palm holds back all the moans and groans in the world. Pacing around in an endless, small and tight circle, my mind buzzes with doubt. I need to go through with this to make sure Dandelion is safe...

I. Need. To!

A very audible groan comes out once again as I redirect my walking efforts back into a straight line. The taps going up and down my leg turn into harsh grabs as I try to fight off this cold feet-like sensation. Coming up on some thorns, I turn and walk up to them slowly, they watch me curiously. Stepping past them, I start to look around as they carry on with their jobs.

Staring closely at one of the cages, a brow rises at how artistically complex they are given their purpose. Each one is a mass of bending, swirling steel pipes covered in small knife heads styled in the manner of actual bush thorns. However, the one I am looking for is nowhere to be seen for the moment. Maybe it's a good thing too, these cages are designed to keep you awake at the dead centre or you'll be cut bloody.

There are a few roots in these things, though, none of them show any signs of having purple hair. Vile as it is as well, Dandelion can easily be spotted because of her injuries. I pass by a whole row of these small prisons, but I do not see anything that I want to see. She's just not here.

"Problematic as she is with... Well, everything. I'd rather be dealing with her at the moment." I mumble as I continue to throw wayward glances at the aelenvari guards. One nearly scares me as she walks by with a heavy-topped, machete-headed polearm. She pays me no mind, thankfully and I start to leave so I can go and handle Rose instead before I overstay my welcome.

I hope she buys into this plan, I'd rather not cause any violent trouble trying to do this.

If I am to get anywhere good with this plan, I need Rose to be on my side for it. Though, I hate the idea completely as it requires me to play with someone's heart. I always hated the idea of exploiting others, back home, anyway. Guess I've been done dirty myself too many times.

To play with Rose's heart as if it is something so easily tuned as a...

Tuts sing out of me as I move closer and closer towards the familiar, fancy-shaped, rose-red tent. The one who started this whole mess is inside, the key to opening the way out of here is her. This so-called lover I unintentionally caught. I nudge the intrusive petals as they try to seduce me out of my way and come to a slow stop in front of Rose's home.

Room?

A cold shiver sticks to my skin as I move an entrance flap aside. Slowly, I head inside and my eyes first land on the pedestalled seed in the corner of the tent. Dandelion's unborn child is right there, I need a way to get it out of here. My eyes turn towards and meet the shaking woman on their bed.

She trembles tearfully as I take each sluggishly slow step closer. Flexing her hands out in front of her, they thrash about as she goes through bursts of ruminating spite. I say nothing, not one word is uttered, no greeting or statement of concern. Just one more breath as I sit down on the other side of her bed, my back to hers.

She falls off the bed suddenly and I turn around to see what's wrong. Shuffling over to her side, I watch as her hands continue to move about with jagged twitches. Groans and sighs fill my head alone as my still human hand reaches out for her rose-red hair. Carefully moving it into the messy softness, I gently rub her scalp as I try to think of anything, something to say.

"So is your hair naturally like this or do you have to put a lot of care into making it look like this?" I ask as I play with a portion that looks like and holds together as if it is actually a petal of her namesake flower. It has the feel of one as well, it's quite an odd experience and I can't help but rub my own, although lacking head of hair for reference.

"This is its natural shape when it is looked after..." she quietly answers as she starts to curl up and tug on her bed sheets.

"Your hair is meant to look like this? Alright, that is rather impressive. Can you tell me how to make my hair do that?" I awkwardly joke as I show off my relatively long hair, for me anyway. It's been too long since I've had it shaved down, it's nearly as tall as my fingers are wide!

"Stupid human... I can't teach hair growth..." she answers as she sits up before wiggling close to me. My hand continues to rub her head and play with her hair. I glance down at one of her legs as her hand goes across it as she stretches out.

She stands up slightly and turns around before falling down onto me. The tears come back again and she clings to me tightly as my turned arm drums her bed. I somewhat return the hug she is begging for and fall forwards as she drags me down. We hit the ground with a soft thud and her face is nestled up against my neck as the floor comes to mine.

With a fast-beating heart, I try to move but her arms, wrapped around my neck, keep me still. Doing as she wants for the moment, one of her knees makes its presence known in a place of importance. A little too close for comfort... Her smile starts to develop strangely as it rubs at my little friend.

Jumping up to my feet with her clinging on, I stumble backwards onto her bed and she takes full advantage. With my arm awkwardly stuck between her chest, she presses her breasts around my wrist. Her mouth finds my cheek but does not kiss it and her head bulbs light up, warmly. She giggles quietly as she tickles them on my short, prickly hair.

She moves her torso up and her rear drops onto my thankfully clothed crotch. Running a hand on her barely covered chest, it then straightens out in a particular direction. Twisting about, I see the seed again. I frown at what it is she wants out of this.

"My love... Nin... Do you see it?" she gently asks as she falls down onto me once again.

"I do, the seed." I answer as I try and wiggle my way out of this.

"Please... Put one inside of me, I'm begging you... Just one... I am only asking for one." she begs tearfully as she holds her flat, toned belly. Coins of the most desired mint peek out often from her rose, silk dress.

"Bit hard to do that if you are on me, no?" I ask, chuckling to myself as my head goes into the quilt covers, against the bed springs. Giggles leave her once again as she wipes her eyes and her lips come close to mine.

"I will do all the work, then, my Champion. Pleasing you will bring me all the pleasure I could ever want." she whispers sultrily as her tongue laps gently at the edges of my cheeks. The thin layer of sweat coming out of my pores lingers on her tongue, and she teases with increasing energy.

"Aren't we being a little hasty here...?" I question, taken aback by how fast everything is going. I just walked in a moment ago to start with this, didn't I!? Some breathing room is going to be appreciated, whatever divine man or woman might be reading my thoughts...

Her eyes suddenly widen and she stares at her dress, "You're right!"

She drops off and drags me up, slamming her arms onto my back, she nearly throws me out of the tent.

"Huh?"

"I WILL TELL YOU WHEN YOU CAN COME BACK IN!" she squeaks squeamishly as I hear the ropes on her tent flaps tighten with a hangman's grip.

Looking around at the gathering crowd, I sneer at them as many start to gossip up a larger crowd. Turning around, I try to keep my thoughts to myself and I search for the spine I seem to be missing. Booming laughter erupts from the nearby throne and the Gilded-Bark takes an interest in what is happening. Thankfully, this takes some of the attention off of me.

With my fists colliding over and over, I balance between my heels and toe tips. So many eyes, nowhere to hide from them, a lusting woman a wall sheet away. Is something wrong with me? I feel like people would generally be quite eager to get in this tent.

"N-Nin... You can come in now!" Rose calls out with a very out-of-character shyness as the tent starts to come loose. I blink at what was said as this is her of all people. The woman who had no problem sleeping next to me, naked, on the first day we met. This same woman who gave me a big ol' kiss right on the lips in front of nearly everyone in the flower.

Her!

I growl at my active friend as he awakens to fulfil his duty. Taking in a sharp, anticipatory breath, I lift one of the flaps up and step back into the tent. Cheers erupt from behind as if this is a concert for some high-floor singer. My eyes remain closed with my lips keeping themselves as straight as a steel beam.

One eyelid opens slightly and I catch the briefest glimpses of Rose, my mouth opens as I blink. Honestly, I do not know what to think of this outfit she is wearing. I actually quite like it but it's also oddly strange for what it is. It's so modest compared to her usual clothes, somehow.

With a heart putting in a lot more hours, a hand strokes my chin, then neck. Man's greatest bindle grows proudly and all that I can really think about with Rose is one word. Sexy. There's just no other way to put it.

Pressing to her skin and clinging to her form, it accentuates it all and despite her shaken nerves, she works it well. I force a step back after realising I am leaning forwards. Cackling in my head are the whistles of teenage boys hoping to make those thoughts in her head a reality. I like what I am seeing.

A new set of tubes made of a pinkish metal, covered in the engravings of another golder one, all the way up to her knees. Thin red fabric presses down on and hides her thighs behind a crimson shadow and dangling, decorated cloth hides an eyecatcher. Flowing out the way slightly, my eyes lock onto her hips instead as it is revealed how open her new outfit truly is. But even her hipbones are without covering.

Red and black lingerie with all kinds of traits hugs and presses about her body. Thinner straps break out to other places and I keep second-guessing her chest. Have her boobs gotten bigger? I feel like they have!

Leaking golden ichor, as is normal with them.

Forcing my eyes to meet hers, I pass by her burning red cheeks as she shuffles about. My hands come together in front of me and I start to nod as I look for any distracting sights I can find. Pin her down... Pin her down aggressively.

"You... D-Do you like it?" Rose asks as she keeps on noting how my eyes struggle to focus with hers.

Screaming in my head, I stick to the plan and go for it, "The only thing that can make it better is if I pin you down and assert the divine truth about me and you to the world!"

She smiles as her hands go behind her back, knees rubbing together as she glances at her bed. Her smile deepens and she starts to nod. Taking it in stride, she comes up to me with a maintained gaze and her hand hurts as it touches my face so very gently. With the other merely waving in the direction of our mutual interest.

"Hmmm... Well, then, I guess I better tidy up my bed. It's a bit of a mess, as you can probably tell." she explains with a dangerously sweet tone as her tail sharply jabs where it shouldn't. My face scorches with a blazing inferno spreading about my blood as she just so happens to present her shapely rear... A perfectly shaped keyhole for a key I own is on display...

I gulp a small ball down and cough.

One foot steps too far towards her and my still-clothed crotch falls against her, collapsing her body. She turns her gaze and smirks towards me, licking her lips after biting them gently. The soft, plump cheeks I am struggling to find the will to take myself off of smoosh their way to domineering my mind. An urge to slap rings out in my head with a phantom thwack.

Dancing around me, she puts me onto the bed once again and a thinly gloved hand tests the last of my strained defences. A little metal rectangle comes into view and it slowly moves away. One hard click at a time. I raise my hand.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! Stop!" I snap with near-incoherent sharpness as I rocket to my feet. Planting a hand on my trousers, I resecure them as adrenaline of all things is forced throughout my body by my heart. Putting some distance between us, Rose is left perplexed and mood broken.

Her nervousness returns and she struggles to speak, "But... You came here to..."

"I know! I know what I came here to do..." I try to state firmly as I clutch a nearby cupboard so I can have some stability for my wobbling legs. Smiling victoriously, blood retreats from my women-slaying sword.

Rose's expression sours.

"You're not here for me... Are you?" she asks bitterly as the colours of a disturbed, forbidden forest light up around her. It is a very focused power, all aimed at me...

My one clump of brain shorts out.

"No... No, I was hoping to speak to you about-"

"DO NOT SAY HER NAME!" she screams as I hear Undwote's Pack of Seven howl for me from within her furious magic.