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Shouta knocked on the cottage door that belonged to a trinket maker, Jae Athena. He was deep in the forest where this cottage was located. Far from the town that the school master, Shouta Aizawa lived.
“Ms. Athena!” He bellowed with urgency laced in his voice.
Rumor had spread around town that this woman had been providing magic trinkets to the children. The school master had just about enough of the whole thing when some of his students started showing up to school with trinkets from her. Claiming they helped them during lessons and quizzes he would spring on them. This resulted in the Township Councilman, Enji Todoroki barging into his school house to confiscate the trinkets.
Living in a puritans township meant any utterances of witchcraft was punishable with trial followed by one of many horrendous deaths. So, for a mysterious trinket maker living far from the township out in the deepest parts of the woods spelled trouble for this particular resident. Especially since she was a newcomer to the town.
The times Jae came into town, she mostly kept to herself to stock up on supplies, running errands and of course, disturbing the peace with the small sculpted animals she handed out to the children. That’s how the rumor started about Jae being suspected a witch.
Shouta kept his distance for the most part, but he found his gaze following her every move when she came to town. On one or more occasions, he lost count, the school master felt drawn to her somehow. Especially when she had been confronted by the township head councilman, Enji Todoroki. Sometimes he could be cruel to the woman and one day he’d gone too far, forcing Shouta to step in.
…
“What have I told you about bringing your wicked charms here, girl?!” The burley Councilman bellowed, stalking after the dark haired woman.
She had made another spectacle of herself in the middle of town, carrying around a basket of her handmade wooden animal carvings. “Councilman, they are just toys for the children! I promise!” Jae cried out, earning a sharp slap across the face and stumbling into a patch of mud in front of the school house.
“How dare you talk back to me! Insolent girl!” Enji roared, grabbing up the basket that she dropped and began pelting her with her own work.
Hearing the commotion outside, Shouta burst out of the school house to discover the scene unfold for himself. “Councilman! It is school hours and you decide now is the time to set an example while I’m teaching?!” He snarled, stepping into the line of fire, blocking the cowering woman from Enji.
Enji glared down at the school master. “Know your place school master. It isn’t wise to be associated with wicked women like her.” He warned before turning heel and storming off.
He turned back to the trinket maker in the mud, sniffling as she collected the handmade carvings. Shouta knelt down beside her to assist. “You should be careful. You don’t want to cross him again.” He muttered, handing back her basket. Lifting his gaze to hers, he could see the prominent red hand mark on her cheek and blood trickling from her hairline where she was struck with her own sculptures. “Please come inside so you can get cleaned up.” He offered his hand to help her up.
He lead her into the school house, dismissing the students for a short recess while he helped the trinket maker get cleaned up. He urged her to sit while cleaning up the blood and mud and applying a salve to stop the bleeding on her hairline.
Jae kept her eyes on the school master while he kept himself stoically focused on mending her. “Thank you, School Master…” She uttered softly. “I could have cleaned up myself-“
“It’s no trouble… Ms.-” he interrupted, finally making eye contact with her.
“Athena… Jae Athena….” She whispered softly.
“Aizawa. Shouta Aizawa.” He replied with a small hint of a smile.
…
Ever since they met after that one unfortunate run in with Councilman Enji, they had formed a peculiar friendship. Some times she would stop by the school house before or after Shouta was done teaching with baked goods. Other times sneaking her trinkets and toys to share with the children at his school house.
On occasion, she just showed up out of the blue to talk with the school master. Not about anything in particular; lest it be the weather, his lesson plans or her latest sculptures.
Shouta wasn’t much of a conversationalist, but the company was nice to have when Hizashi Yamada, the town cryer, wasn’t around. Over time, he even found himself looking for her company outside of town. Usually sneaking off to her cottage to have late night talks over dinner and tea. His attachment to Jae had become something special over time.
…
After a while of knocking persistently, the woman in question opened the cottage door. Looking up at the tall, dark haired man. Seeming to have no ill reaction to his hammering on her door, she smiled.
“School Master, what a pleasant surprise to see you.” She chortled sweetly.
“I have an urgent matter to discuss with you-“ Shouta began when he was cut off by her stepping aside to invite him in.
“How about we talk over tea then? It’s fresh mint.” The shorter woman offered. Her bright teal eyes seemed to sparkle in his presence.
The school master stepped into the cottage, eyeing the woman before the door was closed and he was guided to the table by the crackling hearth.
Sitting down across from him, she poured two cups of tea and passed a cup to Shouta. “Now, you had something to discuss with me… I’m listening.” Jae spoke calmly before taking a sip of her mint tea. Just by observing his body language, she could tell the dark haired school master was displeased with her in some way.
Shouta sniffed the tea, eyeing the woman across from him before taking a sip. The tea was warm and soothing with a lovely mint flavor that opened up his sinuses. Clearing his throat, he began to speak. “My students have been coming to the school house with your trinkets again. Councilman barged in during my lesson this afternoon to confiscate them. Time and time again you’ve been told to stop distributing them around and you’ve refuse to listen.”
Jae blinked at the statement. “My trinkets, confiscated?” Jae inquired, pulling out a small carving of a cat that rested in the palm of her hand. Looking down at the figurine, she pet its head with her finger fondly. “They’re not magic, School Master Aizawa. Just toys for the children. You know this to be true.” Flicking her gaze up at the dark eyes staring her down, her smile remained. “Do you think me wicked for catering to the happiness of children?” She asked, setting down the small cat carving on the table.
“You are already thought wicked among the township. If you don’t stop, you will be put on trial for witchcraft.” He said sternly.
The dark haired woman cocked her head to the side. “Witchcraft… my, those are serious accusations. I appreciate you informing me on the matter.” Jae mused, taking another sip of tea.
“So you will stop?” The school master asked.
“No.” She shrugged, taking another slow sip.
The dark haired man jolted from the simple answer. Gritting his teeth, he slammed his fist down, causing the tea cups and cat carving to jump slightly. “And why not?” He scowled.
Jae set her cup down and gave him a more serious gaze. “Making those trinkets is what I live for, School Master. If I stop, I have no purpose here or in the town.” Straightening her posture, her brow arched. “If I came to your home and demanded you stop teaching those children, accusing you of witchcraft, would you?”
The room was quiet with only the crackling and popping sounds coming from the hearth. The two staring each other down, refusing to blink. That is until the school master shot up from his chair.
“What I teach is practical so those children don’t go about their lives as bumbling imbeciles. According to Councilman, You are encouraging wicked fanciful behavior that has no business in our town.” He turned, storming to the front door of the cottage. “Keep making your trinkets if you wish, but cease the distribution. You should be so lucky it was me coming to you rather that Councilman Todoroki.”
Shooting up from her seat, the trinket maker stormed after the school master. “School Master Aizawa, you seem to care a lot about what happens to someone so wicked in the eyes of the Township. Why would you come all this way?! Why not let the township burn me at the stake?”
He paused at the door, ready to swing it open when she asked him those questions. Truth be told, he had been asking himself that same question on his ride here.
For weeks, his mind had become flooded with thoughts of the mysterious trinket maker. Lost nights of sleep thinking of what she could be doing deep in those woods. If she were a witch, did she dance naked under moonlight? Sign her name with her own blood in the devils ungodly book? Lay with bewitched men?
Bumping his forehead against the wooden cottage door, he closed his eyes and gripped the door frame. His shoulders slumped in defeat. “Because… you’ve bewitched me.”
The dark haired woman froze in place. “Wh-what? I have done no such thing!” She exclaimed, holding herself as she backed away.
Looking over his shoulder, the school master turned to face her fully and crossed the distance between them until he was so close, the lord had no room in between. “Then explain this.” He rasped, grabbing her hand and pressing it to his chest where his heart hammered against her palm.
Her breathing became shallow as she committed this sensation to memory. Jae’s heart had done the same for him for some time now, however she kept her distance from the stoic school master only recently. For what reason, she did not know.
Gazing up at Shouta, her eyes brimming with tears, she pulled away. “You’ve done that on your own, School Master.” She sniffed, maneuvering around the taller man to head for the front door. “I never intended to bewitch anyone. Yet, you think me wicked all the same.” Tears rolled down her cheeks as she swung the door open and ran out, heading deeper into the woods.
Shouta cursed under his breath, running out of the cottage after the trinket maker. The fresh fallen leaves of autumn crunching under his boots as he followed the sounds of crying that echoed through the wood. If he lost her when the sun disappeared, it would be hard to find her this deep in the woods.
Stopping by a boulder covered in moss and vines, the school master took a breath before he continued on. Just when we was about to move on, a sniffle echoed behind the curtain of vines, grabbing his attention. Extending his hand out,he discovered the supposed boulder was actually a tunnel. Shouta pushed back the vines and peered in to find a trail of glowing fungi leading the way. More sniffling and soft sobbing echoed down the tunnel.
As far as he knew, they were the only two people in the woods that evening. He had to be sure it was her, so he started walking through the tunnel. Keeping quiet as he walked the trail until he reached the open mouth of the path to discover a secret cavern covered in moss and grass. The bioluminescence of the fungi covered the entire cavern, giving it a otherworldly glow. A hot spring sat in the center of the cavern and there sat Jae, curled up along the edge of the water, scooping up water to splash her face. She appeared to have discarded the dark teal layer of fabric of her dress and remained in her white linen underdress.
His heart pained at the sight. What had he done? Many people had made her weep from their cruelty. He felt he was no different for doing the same, despite his intentions. Swallowing hard, Shouta stepped towards the woman, being careful not to startle her.
“Ms. Athena…” he murmured softly. When she whipped around about to jump up to run, he froze in place. “Please, don’t run away.”
Jae stood up from her spot in the soft moss, cheeks and nose flushed from crying. She hugged herself, pushing up the white fabric of her linen dress that fell past her shoulder’s. “Why did you come after me? Speak truthful, or I won’t hear no more from you again.”
Stepping forward, the dark haired man pursed his lips in thought. “I fear I’ve made a grave error… in my terminology…” he cleared his throat. Cheeks going pink as he roved his eyes up to stare at those glassy teal eyes.
“Must be embarrassing for a school master.” The teary eyed woman quipped, furrowing her brows.
He rolled his eyes, puffing out an exasperated sigh. “Yes… it’s embarrassing. I am not used to this.” Finally closing the distance to be arms length from the trinket maker. Looking down at the pool of warm water, he gazed down at the two figures reflected in the nearly clear water. “Ms. Athena-“
“Yes?” Jae breathed, her features softening as she waited for him to continue.
“I don’t think you wicked… You’re far from it. I came to your cottage this evening warning you of what might happen because you have bewitched me in a way that I don’t intend to deny myself any longer.” Looking up from the hot spring, he stared directly into those twin pools of teal. “It’s pounded in my brain often enough. Asleep and awake in the drowsy fantasy moment of every lonely dawn.” Taking a breath, he balled his fists for grounding before continuing, “I’ve grown very fond of you, Ms. Athena.”
Jae stared up at Shouta for a long while before deciding to step closer. Her gaze pierced through him in speculation but softened when she found no falsehood there. “Mr. Aizawa, I-“ stepping closer, the dark haired woman made a misstep as the earth gave out along the edge of the pool, finding herself falling backwards into the hot spring. A knee jerk reaction resulted in her grabbing his arm, pulling him down into the water with her.
A shrill cry and a loud splash echoed through the cavern followed by the sounds of gasping as the two broke through the waters surface for air. Both clinging to each other.
“Are you hurt?” Shouta asked, pushing back wet tendrils of hair from her face. His charcoal eyes drifted lower to the underdress that was now transparent and clung to her figure. Her ample breasts pebbling with goosebumps. She reminded him of the tales he was told as a young boy about the lady in the water.
“No…” She panted softly. Cheeks flushed crimson, realizing the state of them. “Mr. Aizawa…” She murmured, clutching to the collar of his coat. “I’ve grown very fond of you too.”
Intaking a breath, Shouta wrapped his arms around the smaller woman, pulling her in close for a kiss. It was soft and tender at first, but as their lips lingered, he found himself unable to hold back his desires anymore. Their kisses became hungry and desperate, pulling at each other’s wet clothes until they were bare in the warm spring.
“Mr. Ai-“
“Shouta… Call me Shouta.” He whispered, lifting the shorter woman up against the embankment and began trailing more heated kisses down her body. “And I will call you Jae…” He purred, grazing his teeth over the swells of her breasts, making her arch into the touch and moan.
“Sh-Shouta~ Is this okay?” She asked, finding herself parting her legs like they had a mind of their own. “The Township… They will think us both wicked…” Jae panted, watching as Shouta continued to trail kisses down until he was between her legs and proceeding to give her center open mouthed kisses, his tongue lapping up the gloss that began to coat her womanhood.
Flicking his heated gaze up at the trinket maker. A flicker of red flaring up in his eyes at he bore into her. “Let them think what they want. I may live among the Township, but I do not yield to their conventional practices…” He growled softly, flicking his tongue over the swelled bud, making Jae cry out. Grabbing for her hand, he laced their fingers tightly, “If they ever come for you… I will protect you. Always. That’s how much I love you.”
Jae’s eyes brimmed with tears at his words. Squeezing his hand back before releasing it to grab for her wet under dress, pulling at the trimming until she ripped two think pieces and tied a piece of the fabric to Shouta’s left ring finger. “You’re mine and I’m yours…” She whispered, kissing his knuckles.
He caught on, removing himself from between her legs, lifting himself from the water and grabbed for a his wet linen shirt, ripping a piece off and tied the fabric to Jae’s left ring finger. “You’re mine and I’m yours.” He whispered, kissing her hand too.
It was enough of a vow between them. In this cavern, they made this promise to each other with no need for witnessed or permission from the township or god to be together. Conventions be damned, they would make their own happiness.
Laying down in the soft moss, naked and vulnerable to each other, Shouta entered Jae. Keeping his eyes on his beloved that lay beneath him to gauge her comfort. He smiled seeing her expressions transform from the initial pain of relinquishing her virginity to a blissful pleasure, giving him permission to move inside her. He rolled his hips languidly at first, savoring the warm embrace Jae’s body provided. When she pleaded for more, Shouta obliged, rutting into her harder and faster. The wet slapping sounds echoed in the cavern along with the sweet sounds of ecstasy spilling from Jae’s lips.
Jae clung to Shouta as he pounded into her with such vigor. Fingers clawing down his back and her legs wrapped around his waist for purchase. When she couldn’t hold back anymore, her insides clench around him, allowing her climax to wash over her and accepting Shouta’s seed, marking her as his.
As the calm washed over the lovers, laying down in the soft moss, they remained there for who knew how long. It didn’t matter though. They wouldn’t answer to no one for taking their happiness into their own hands.
End