Old Memories

Kaimu continued to respond to the kiss, feeling Lakshmi begin to remove his yukata and not minding in the slightest. They had a bath to prepare for...so his clothing would obviously need to come off.

Lakshmi had undressed already, he was holding them up, kind of...

His mood had increased, he felt better after talking all of that out...even if he still didn't like the fact that he'd failed earlier, it was something small...and eventually he'd try again more carefully at it...

Lakshmi got it untied with ease before reaching up to slide it down his shoulders so it could fall to the floor. All better~

...

Her hands paused on his shoulders, nails digging in lightly as she felt the bare skin there. Baths...were important...

Very important.

Lakshmi parted his lips with her tongue, deepening the kiss as she moved closer to him so she wasn't leaning so far. Baths were important, just kissing was more important first.

Unable to help it, that smile finally slipped as Lakshmi moved to deepen the kiss, but after he caught himself from that slip up he continued to respond.

His yukata slipped off easily, though...i...if they were planning on a bath had she...had she really had to use her nails against his skin like that? Aha...

"Eeh, Lak-tan if you keep this up it'll be hard to focus on going to bath~" He managed to get out, a light chuckle following afterwards though it was obvious he was all for doing whatever she wanted to.

Lakshmi's nails continued to drag down his shoulders, unable to help that reflexive reaction to a naked Kaimu. His skin was fun to do that to, very fun... And he'd smiled.

That was all she needed for the moment, their kissing having gotten heated from her actions before the man pulled away unexpectedly. As he did, she almost followed him with her mouth parted for more before coherency appeared in her eyes.

Immediately she flushed, a bit embarrassed with how she was reacting and dropping her hands from his body. She pulled back, eyes staring at the wall as she gave a sheepish laugh. "I-It would, would it not? I-I should grab the bathing yukatas and...and we can go bathe..."

Lakshmi had gotten distracted~ She'd gotten very, very distracted~

Kaimu wanted to give a laugh, but bit back the urge to do so; he had also become distracted, so he was also at fault here, though...

"Sounds like a good idea, aaa~ If something like that happened in the baths though, would they mind? Hn..." He wondered aloud, though there was an obvious teasing edge in his tone.

They did need a bath, yes, but fun was also...well, fun~

At least Kaimu thought it was a good idea and she nodded, mildly disappointed due to the feelings in her body that were starting up from that kiss. Adults...didn't get this aroused from kissing though! She stepped over to the closet, opening it and beginning to look before... before... THAT?!

Lakshmi squeaked in the most undignified manner, flustered beyond belief at the thought of Kaimu and her in those baths... I-It was one thing to do that in a private inn room or her home or other places...

B-But a public bathhouse?!

Her face burned as she scrambled back with the bathing yukatas, practically throwing Kaimu's at him. "G-Good thing they are separated! N-No...t-temptation..."

Or embarrassment. If they were alone in the baths he'd definitely try for it... she felt...hearing that tone...

"Separated? Ohhhh~ Lak-tan there's a bath for married couples, don't you know that~?" Kaimu continued to tease, again wanting to laugh at that squeak she'd given, but he was being good...mildly speaking.

Plus, she was pregnant, it was only right they share a bath~ What if she needed his assistance?

Considering her obviously pregnant state, there would be no way to deny they were, in fact, a married couple. Sure, they were just engaged right now, but...no one around here knew that~

Lakshmi froze with one arm in the yukata, the other about to slip in as she looked up in slowly dawning horror. Well, it wasn't all horror...there was definitely a very very warm spark in there that she squeaked at, before turning around and yanking the yukata on all the way.

"W-Well it would be remiss to use such a thing! We are not in fact married, why should we lie for s-such a simple bath." She tied it with a firm nod, attempting to hide her burning face.

His teasing was destroying her and he had to know it, but well it wasn't as if she disliked it...

"Eeeeh~? Lak-tan's willing to give up a bath for just the two of us in turn for bathing alone...?" Kaimu questioned, raising a brow as she got her yukata on fully. He had yet to get up to get his, but that wouldn't take him long at all~

Was she really willing to give up bathing together~?

"All alone in the bath, Lak-tan~? We're engaged, and it's not like questions will be asked. We certainly give off the appearance of a married couple~"

"Th-The principal of the rules... it would not be right to lie...and break them..." Lakshmi jolted, continuing to face the door with a burning face and speaking in the most coherent manner she could. His words though caused more squeaks to escape and a quick, flustered look over her shoulder before she took a few steps towards the door.

"A-Ah! W-We do not... I-It...r-right...w-wouldn't be right..." Poking her fingers together, the woman was quite obviously tempted and fighting that temptation with her usual grumpy reaction to fluster. "Th-There are probably other women there to help me! I-I will be perfectly fine..."

Y-Yes...no need to be naked and wet and...at Kaimu's mercy because once she was alone with him the odds of his tempting her were too great...

...They were alone right now! No!

At Lakshmi's comment Kaimu's hand came up to place itself over his chest as if he'd been shot; "Lak-tan...would prefer the help of other women over her...her loving, caring...kind, and gentle husband to be...?"

Betrayed, so betrayed...

"Lak-tan~ No one will be hurt if we claim we're married, there isn't even a way of showing proof out here in Rukon, so none will be asked..." Considering old traditional values... Papers were certainly hard to come by, and therefore rarely asked for. "Besides, it may even be charitable to them if we claimed marriage~ A private bath would cost a bit of money, something the people of Rukon desperately need~ By claiming marriage we'd be helping them~"

Lakshmi squeaked and hopped around, betraying her own immensely red face. She saw that pained chest holding and waved her arms, too flustered to really respond in a proper teasing manner. "N-No! Of Course not just the rules...!"

No proof needed.... Aaaah but they should follow all rules in place and...

Lakshmi squeaked again, jolting and bringing her hands up to her cheeks as Kaimu decided to play dirty. U-Using them needing money...!? No! No no no! Unfaaaair!

"Cruel! Cruel and unfair! You play dirty!" It was clear he had won as she stomped and shook her head. "Dirty Kai! Low Blows! Unfair!"

"If cruel is being a charitable saint, then peg me as the cruelest man alive~!" Perhaps he was being a bit over the top, but now he was just having fun with it.

He had clearly won, obvious by Lakshmi's outburst just now as he finally stood to get his own yukata for the bathhouse to put on. Yes~ The Rukon citizens needed money, they would be helping them by claiming marriage~

What harm could their be in helping~

"More like a Charitable Demon with a Fox Tongue! A saint of debauchery!" Lakshmi retorted as Kaimu gathered up his yukata finally, arms crossing under her chest as she continued her frustrated and flustered stomping.

How could he equal parts turn her on, set her off as a flustered mess and also cause her no end to frustration at the same damned time?!

Charitable saint of evil demon foxes!

That's what he was!

And she loved him all the more for it... She was definitely some sort of masochist at times... "C-Come on! We are going before you come up with more things to and rules to break!"

Alright, that earned a snicker~

A Charitable Demon with a Fox Tongue~? Fufu~ Perhaps, but the people of the bathhouse would be making some nice coin thanks to that Fox Tongue of his~

They were helping~

Once the yukata was on properly, Kaimu made his way over to the pouting Lakshmi, his smile smug as a grin threatened its way to his features before he leaned down enough to give her a quick kiss.

"Ready, Lak-tan~!" He announced, his tone cute on purpose; he'd taken a bit to get ready, so he was ready now~! It was only right to let her know~!

He. Snickered. At. Her?!

Lakshmi threw her arms up and gave a frustrated growl, giving up on everything ever! That smugness was radiating off of him, obvious to her even as her eyes followed the man to her side despite the smug smirk... She allowed him the quick kiss, responding before turning towards the door and hmphing at the cute tone that caused a deeper flush across her cheeks.

"Kitsune! Evil Kitsune!" Sliding the door open with more force than necessary, she raised her nose to the air and gave another little hmph as she stalked out of the room with her hands in little grumpy fists. How dare he use such a cute tone after all of that!?

"Fufu~ My evil ways are helping the people of Rukon~! I can be proud~ Fufu~" Kaimu continued to snicker through Lakshmi's pouty tantrum, following her with the biggest grin as they left the room. He shut the door behind them before making quick steps back to her where he stuck close.

The grin had faded, but only so he could hum a happy little tune as the smugness radiated off of him.

Fufu~

At least one of them was thinking clearly, Kaimu's shutting of the door smart though Lakshmi squeaked and shot Kaimu a look before stalking ahead of him more. S-So close and snickering! I-It was sending little shivers up her spine to hear that...

And he was just... Just accepting how evil he was! And radiating smugness as he hummed! Ignoring anyone giving the odd looking pair looks, she huffed again and sped up her walking. "For your own selfish gain, not for them! Y-You...trickster! Flirt! Trickster flirt!"

She could only insult him and attempt to outwalk him to the bathhouse. M-Maybe she could bathe alone if she got there fast enough? Thinking that, she booked it once she reached the adjoining section that led to the bathhouse. Hah! This would show him~

Kaimu followed after Lakshmi, her words causing not a dent to be made within him as he picked up his pace some, his current state of attitude giving him a skip to his step for a moment as he once again stuck close.

"Fufu~ I never said I was a good saint, Lak-tan~"

Eeeh~!? She'd just bolted!?

"Eeeh~!? Lak-tan wait up~ Don't leave your precious husband behind~" He called after, quite purposely as he picked up his own pace and followed.

He just sped up to keep up with her... that's all he did! H-He was impossible and the Shinigami captain wanted to destroy him! But her face was burning and her mind were destroyed instead... She had lost so completely it didn't bear thinking on...

At least he was giving her things to respond to...

"Th-Thats what a saint is!" Lakshmi's voice squeaked, her head turning back just in time to see Kaimu following after her and... saying that?! On purpose! On, fucking, purpose! Unfortunately the woman at the desk was already laughing as the captain reached the main bath entrance, before giving Lakshmi a quick glance and obviously noting her state.

"Here ma'am, you two wish the private bathing rooms then?" She reached up for the tokens, obviously expecting them to take them.

Lakshmi smirked, looking back at Kaimu and giving him a look that said she could finally win~ "Actually..."

Eeeeh!?

"Lak-taaan~" Instead of letting a shocked or hurt expression cross his face as Lakshmi looked at him like that, Kaimu bounded over, perhaps using a step of shunpo to his advantage, to her as the clerk reached for the tokens just as she was about to be corrected.

Lakshmi wasn't allowed to do that though~

Instead, once Kaimu reached her his arms snaked around her waist as he got close enough to rest his head right up against her neck while his chin rested on her shoulder. "Private bath would be fine~ Thaaaank you~!" He chimed in, his voice sing-songy at the end as he thanked the clerk and accepted the tokens before shooting a grin at Lakshmi~

No separated baths for them~

...

That was BLATANT CHEATING! It was against the rules! He had used Shunpo and she had gotten here fair and square! Her cheek puffed up in the biggest pout as she looked to the wall, Kaimu's arms around her keeping her from moving even an inch now. Especially with his head right against her neck and cuddled up as he was. This was cruel and unusual and she kept her cheeks puffed up in defiance of Kaimu's cuddles... Her hands though came up and held his arm... Just because... it was... comfier...

It seemed her weakness was his touch... And that stupid sing song voice...

The clerk looked confused for a moment before smiling and nodding, handing over the token and pointing before giving a bow. "Down the hallway then, it should be marked. Thank you for your patronage."

Such an adorable couple~ Obviously in love.

Lakshmi hmphed and looked away from that...that grin! Hmph!

A small nod was given, as much as was possible with his head cuddled up next to Lakshmi as the clerk thanked them. Kaimu moved then, though kept his arms around Lakshmi as he began to lead them off to the baths.

"A bath with Lak-taaan~" He happily cheered, grinning up a storm again now that he had the bath tokens in hand as well as Lakshmi.

He had won~ Lakshmi and he would enjoy a nice, hot bath togther~

There was no escape for her now... That bathing room would be defiled by her love as he just...ruined her... Lakshmi flushed more and kept up her puffed cheeks as Kaimu led them off down the hall, his smugness so far off of the charts that it could not be registered in her mind.

She made the mistake of looking up, to see that blasted grin shining so damned brightly... Her Kai's brightest grin...

"With my legs. Only my legs. You know I can not get into baths that are too hot so you will be bathing only with my legs in!" Lakshmi retorted, face burning because of that damned grin as she looked towards the wall. It took only a moment for her to find their room, pointingas she moved against his arms a bit. "Th-There! Our bathing room, kitsune."

"Eeeh, I'll make sure to get the temperature perfect for Lak-tan then~" He would get the temperature perfect for her so she could have a nice bath~

Lakshmi's words continued to lay no dents in him as they reached their bathing room, and he opened the door and led them inside before making sure the door was shut securely and properly~

"Ahaaaa~ Bath time, Lak-tan~" His hands moved from to behind his back as he made quick steps over to where the water could be worked. It seemed his plan was to give an initial calm at first...not that with his attitude calm could be achieved.

If he had a tail it'd be swishing right about now.