Demon Sword Maiden

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Lily's consciousness returned to her body. After washing up, she dabbed a light layer of perfume on her neck and underarms. Slipping into a pale green bathrobe that gave her a soft, innocent appearance, she carefully combed her hair and stepped out of the washroom.

Shimizu stood with her back to Lily, gazing silently at a carefully arranged bonsai by the wall, lost in thought.

Lily stared at Shimizu's back, her expression distant and uncertain.

'What Am I supposed to do now? Walk over and embrace her from behind? Loosen her sash and let the robe slip to the floor? Would that be an expression of gratitude, an act of repayment, or a true response to Sister Shimizu's feelings?'

"Are you ready?" Shimizu asked without turning around, still adjusting a branch on the bonsai.

"Yes," Lily replied softly.

"So, what happens now?" Shimizu turned to face her, the fabric of her black kimono shifting with the motion.

"What… next?" Lily's tall frame quivered slightly as Shimizu stepped closer. Her breathing grew unsteady.

She didn't speak the answer aloud, but her expression said enough. Yet even if she did, what could it change? Even her relationship with her senior sister had spiraled beyond her control. That, too, had begun with the Fragrance-Breaker Pill. If not for that, even if she had been willing in her heart, she wouldn't have surrendered so easily.

Now, surrounded by enemies and chaos, she knew there was no reason to let the act go that far.

Even her senior sister's attitude had taken her by surprise. If those were her true feelings, then her tolerance and understanding ran deeper than Lily had ever imagined. But even if her senior sister encouraged her to treat the others with care, even if she was willing to make sacrifices for their sake, it didn't mean Lily could enter a relationship with any of her sisters so freely.

Lily truly wanted to grow closer to Shimizu, yet she wasn't someone who gave herself lightly. Even if her senior sister could forgive her, could Lily forgive herself? Would she become someone careless and loose, simply because her senior sister had given permission? Could the bond she shared with Shimizu, Rei, and Ayaka be reduced to something she could repay with her body alone? Lily wasn't so shallow.

More importantly, the current situation was too dangerous. Even if she wanted to, she knew she needed restraint. How could she give in so easily…

"What's wrong? Lily, your mood seems different all of a sudden. Are you going to tell me who that woman is now? Or do you plan to keep… pretending with me?" Shimizu asked softly, cornering Lily and placing her hands gently around her neck.

A light, feminine fragrance filled the air, once again testing Lily's resolve.

"Sister Shimizu, maybe we should focus on how to get out of here," Lily said, her face flushed.

"I just want to be with you right now. Even if we never escape, I wouldn't care." Shimizu rose onto her toes, cupped the back of Lily's head, and pressed her lips to hers.

The softness of the kiss left Lily dazed once more. Shimizu had descended into Yomi and endured unspeakable torment, all for her sake, without the slightest regret. Faced with such fierce devotion, Lily felt her will begin to crumble.

Lily felt heat rising through every inch of her body, stirred by a genuine desire to respond to Shimizu's affection and bring her happiness.

Unaware of her own boldness, Shimizu pressed a thigh between Lily's legs, evoking an unfamiliar yet intoxicating sensation. She took delight in Lily's conflicted reaction—part resistance, part overwhelming response.

She held Lily close with one arm while her other hand began to explore gently, all the while continuing their kiss.

Lily felt a quiet joy blooming in her heart. But alongside that happiness came a flicker of guilt.

"Ngh…" She let out a faint sound and furrowed her brow, gripping Shimizu's hand and squeezing her thighs together. She wasn't sure why she reacted that way, but she knew she wasn't ready to fully accept Shimizu just yet—not with everything outside still in turmoil.

Yet as always, Shimizu acted with disregard for their surroundings, choosing instead to follow her heart. Her unwavering display of affection slowly chipped away at Lily's resistance.

Lily still felt uncertain and hesitant, unsure where this moment would ultimately lead.

"No, not yet… not now…" Lily whispered, cheeks burning, eyes closed. She kissed Shimizu back, yet pushed against her gently with arms and legs.

Perhaps something in her heart had already shifted, but she refused to acknowledge it. She didn't know how long she could hold out, or when she would finally give in. Deep down, she realized she didn't entirely dislike this struggle, even if it left her flustered and embarrassed.

Maybe she wasn't the virtuous woman she thought she was after all…

A low rumble coursed through the ancient stones of Hekiraku City. The tremor grew stronger, accompanied by rising commotion from below. Lily and Shimizu were forced to stop.

Lily remained dazed, her cheeks still flushed, mind slow to return to the present.

Their kiss came to a reluctant end.

"What's happening?" Lily murmured, still lost in thought.

Shimizu, ever whimsical, had the rare ability to regain her composure in an instant. Her sudden clarity never failed to leave Lily in awe. "Looks like some deities have started fighting," Shimizu said with a playful tone, though her words carried weight.

"Could it be we've been discovered? Or something happened inside Hekiraku City?" Lily's concern deepened as she remembered Ayaka and the others on the lower levels. "We need to check what's going on."

"Right now? Of all times?" Shimizu asked with a teasing smile.

"Well…" Lily flushed. "It would be odd for a newlywed couple to leave their wedding room before morning, but since you're posing as the Imperial Princess, you could use the disturbance as a reason to check on Ayaka, Queen Kaguya, and the others."

"I care about them too. Alright, let's take a look. We can always pick up where we left off." Shimizu released her and twirled toward the door, her steps light and cheerful. "By the way, you still haven't told me who that woman is," Shimizu said as she swung the door open.

Beyond the threshold lay a quiet bamboo garden, its stillness in contrast to the chaos below.

"Huh?" Shimizu blinked in surprise, then broke into a delighted smile. "I never imagined the Boundless Imperial Princess was such a flirt. If we hadn't all joined forces to stop her, I bet you'd have fallen for her eventually." Shimizu laughed lightly.

"Sister, what are you even saying…" Lily sighed, not in the mood to entertain Shimizu's playful teasing.

Lily stared out the doorway in disbelief. A tranquil bamboo garden stretched before her eyes.

Weren't they still in Hekiraku City? There should have been a corridor outside, patrolled by Dark Celestial Maidens. Yet now, it had become a quiet bamboo grove, filled with wild grasses and flowers she hadn't seen in ages.

Still dazed, Lily shut the door and looked around the room. Everything inside was unchanged. She opened the door once more. The garden was still there.

"What is this…?"

Shimizu stepped outside cheerfully, her feet brushing over fallen bamboo leaves with a soft crunch. "It's a beautiful place… strange, though. It reminds me of my childhood."

Lily, still uneasy, wasn't in the mood to admire the view. She crossed the room and opened another window, only to find the same bamboo grove outside. She stepped outside and turned around. Behind her stood a quiet, traditional house, nestled in the heart of an ancient bamboo grove.

"Sister… what is this place?" Lily asked, wide-eyed and unsure.

Meanwhile, back in Hekiraku City…

"You may not enter!" Two Dark Celestial Maidens blocked the way of Asura-Onna, Rakshasa-Onna, and Ayaka.

"We're not allowed in? There's chaos breaking out below. Even your own sisters are in danger. And Her Highness chooses now to enjoy her bride?" Rakshasa-Onna seized the chance to voice her objections to Shimizu's plan.

She had been unhappy with Shimizu's scheme from the start. Now, she saw a chance to regroup—and possibly escape. Asura-Onna felt the same. At such a crucial moment, they had clearly been maneuvered by Shimizu, and worst of all, she still couldn't reach the Madam.

A Dark Celestial Maiden commander approached. "Very well, I'll deliver the message. But I doubt they'll come out, even if we enter."

The sisters exchanged puzzled glances.

The commander called out at the door several times, but no response came. Bowing slightly, she said, "Your Highness, I'm entering now."

The commander stepped inside. Only a faint feminine fragrance remained in the air, which made Ayaka uneasy. However, they soon realized the elegant wedding chamber and adjoining washroom were completely empty.

"What is this?" Rakshasa-Onna snapped, drawing her weapon. "Where is Lyn-hime? She's the Princess of Yomi-no-Kuni!"

"Heh, Rakshasa-Onna, Her Highness isn't here. But don't worry, we're not your enemy. Most likely, Her Highness and Lyn-hime have entered the Hekiraku Realm. They're probably enjoying their honeymoon."

"Hekiraku Realm?" the sisters echoed in shock. "What kind of place is that?"

"Her Highness is deeply in love with Lyn-hime," the maiden said with a smirk. "She arranged a formation just for this occasion. Once they entered the wedding room, it became the gateway to the Hekiraku Realm. When they wake, they'll find themselves in a peaceful and romantic world. Isn't it touching?"

Asura-Onna and Rakshasa-Onna weren't entirely shocked. They knew certain secret realms could be linked to the physical world through unique formations.

"It doesn't matter how romantic it is," said Asura-Onna. "There's chaos outside the city. You must inform Her Highness at once."

"Unfortunately, we cannot," replied the commander.

"What?" The sisters looked at her in disbelief.

The commander gazed thoughtfully at the empty room. "If she truly is the Boundless Imperial Princess, then she will have no trouble leaving the Hekiraku Realm."

As the commander had said, Lily and Shimizu stepped outside into a tranquil realm of clear skies, drifting clouds, and vibrant bamboo groves. It felt like a hidden forest retreat, as serene as any secluded garden from the Heian Dynasty.

"Sister, do you have any idea where we are?"

"I'm not sure… but it feels oddly familiar," Shimizu said, spinning once before following a narrow path deeper into the bamboo grove.

Lily trailed behind her. Along the forest's edge, she noticed a large mossy boulder. Inscribed upon its surface were the words:

"Those with love may ascend from Hekiraku.

Those without shall fall forever into Yomi."