Life After Death: The Strength Of Suffering

The trip back saw Kaede, Takahiro and I riding on horseback towards the mountain range. Takahiro had informed me that the rest of their group was already on their way there.

"I didn't hear a no." Kaede said, her arms wrapped around my waist as we rode together. She had been repeating that line for the past two hours, always with a smile on her face whenever I didn't respond. Considering I hadn't said a word, that smile had been quite persistent. 'I'm supposed to be upset with her and Takahiro for putting themselves in danger.'

"Kaede?" I asked, breaking the silence.

She hummed in response, and I continued, looking ahead at a small building in the distance. "Takahiro! We'll stop there for the night." He nodded in acknowledgment before I turned my attention back to Kaede.

"Is the reason you want to have a baby due to other women having one?" I asked. I had once heard about something called "baby fever" The way women sometimes feel when they're around new-borns. 'Or at least, I think that's how it goes...'

I looked down as I felt Kaede pinch my waist. "Did I say something wrong, Kaede?" I knew the pinch didn't hurt, but from experience I knew that if I didn't say something, she'd find a way to make me regret it. 'The woes of love.' I thought, as I heard her mumble against my back.

"I've dreamed of starting a family ever since my mother passed." she said softly. "And it wasn't until I realized my feelings for you and got to know you better that I believed with all my heart that you're the one I want to have a family with. You're strong enough to protect our children—"

'Children? As in multiple?' I thought, surprised by her words.

"And for what you lack in other areas, I excel at." she continued. "So, I'll ask you again."

I heard her take a breath but before she could say anything more, the horses stopped as we arrived at an inn. "Hold that thought for a moment, Kaede." I said, hopping down from the horse and helping her down. We walked inside, where Takahiro paid for a few nights lodging. Afterward, we all headed to our rooms, Takahiro took one and Kaede and I shared another.

Once we were alone, Kaede turned to me and said. "Ryou, now that we're alone, I'll ask you-"

I cut her off as I sat on the bed, looking down at my worn hands. "I had a daughter."

I was met with silence, and I continued. "While she and I weren't related by blood, I still considered her my daughter. Years ago, an accident happened and she died." The memory came flooding back, vivid as ever. I took a deep breath before continuing as Kaede sat beside me. "After several days and months spent searching for a way to bring her back, I found something that could restore her, something that would heal the wounds she had suffered. But in order to bring her back, I had to give up my lifespan. It would heal her, eventually bringing her back to life."

Kaede gently placed her hand on my thigh. "How long did you give up your life for?"

I could hear the fear and concern in her voice, but I shook my head and answered, "There's no need to worry anymore, Kaede. Something happened years ago that gave me my lifespan back."

She hummed lightly and rested her hand on my shoulder, then quietly asked, "What happened to her... your daughter?"

I sighed and clenched my hands. "She's in a place I cannot reach." 'Sorry, Kaede, but I'm not ready to reveal it all just yet.'

I was snapped out of my thoughts when Kaede wrapped her arms around my right arm and whispered in my ear, "Are you scared that you'll think of our children as replacements?"

My eyes widened. I quickly turned to face her, shaking my head. "No! I would love them all the same!"

She smiled, and I realized what she had done, using my moment of vulnerability against me. Before I could react, she pushed me down onto the bed and began removing my kimono. "Then why don't we put that to the test?" she said with a playful grin.

~!Skippable lemon ahead!~

My hands found themselves resting on her bare hips as she straddled me, her small cold hands pressing gently against my chest. We were locked in a battle of tongues, but I could feel myself losing ground as she ground her ass against my erection. Sliding one hand beneath her, I prodded at her wet entrance, pushing a finger inside. She arched her back, pushing her mouth deeper into mine as she let out a soft moan. I withheld a smile, focusing on the feel of her as I worked my finger inside her.

But soon, we both pulled back gasping for air. In that brief moment, I retracted my fingers as she positioned herself over me, resting on my erection. I was about to spin her around, but she placed her hands on my stomach, her eyes locking onto mine as she looked down at where we were connected.

"Tonight, I want you to relax, Ryou." she whispered, her voice soft yet determined. "I want to show you how much I love you."

A smile tugged at my lips as she lowered herself onto me. We both shivered, groaning at the intense sensation of being so connected. It only took a few moments before she raised herself slightly, then slowly lowered herself again. The motion became more urgent, her pace quickening until the only sound that filled the room was the rhythmic slap of her ass against my skin.

"R-Ryou!" she gasped, her voice trembling with pleasure.

Hearing her moan my name, I felt her wet walls tighten around my erection and groaned in response. I grabbed her thighs, helping her by thrusting my hips up into her. The deeper I went, the more her body reacted and the pressure was overwhelming. "K-Kaede..." I groaned, feeling myself inch closer to the edge. She collapsed onto me, locking tongues once more as we continued slamming our hips together. I could feel myself closing in on climax. "K-Kaede, I'm a-almost there!" I groaned through her kiss and she responded with a breathless whisper that she was close too.

With one last surge of effort, I placed my hands firmly on her ass and slammed her down, reaching the deepest point as I released my load inside her.

Both of us breathing heavily, Kaede, who was resting her head under my chi, looked up at me, her breath tickling my skin as she spoke. "Let's keep going."

I snorted at that, feeling a surge of excitement as she slid down my body, lining her entrance up with my erection. 'Seems like I won't be getting any sleep.' I thought, before locking lips with her once more.

~!End of lemon!~

~Scene Change~

I yawned as I walked out of the room, noticing the seals slapped onto both my door and Takahiro's. 'Wonder what happened?' I made my way to Takahiro's room and knocked. When he opened the door, I winced at the tired look on his face. 'He looks like he aged a hundred years.'

"Sasaki-san, I see you look happy." I commented bluntly, raising an eyebrow and gesturing to the seals. "Everyone, and I mean everyone in this inn, heard you and Lady Kaede." I sweat dropped as his expression shifted to anger, and he slammed his wrinkled hand onto the door where the seal was.

"It took thirty-seven seals to dampen the noise you two were making!" he snapped. I raised a hand in defence, but he continued his anger intensifying. "I placed seals on my door hoping they'd silence the outside noise, but it. did. nothing!"

His anger faded as quickly as it had come, replaced by exhaustion. He slumped his shoulders, and I seized the moment to speak. "If you want, we can stay for another ni—"

Before I could finish, he rolled his shoulders back and stood straighter. "Once Lady Kaede is up, we can leave. I'll be outside!"

I scratched my chin as I watched him march out. Shrugging, I walked back to my room, where Kaede was still sleeping, naked as the day she was born. "Kaede." I said softly, kneeling beside her. I heard her mumble, so I rested my hand over her shoulder the size difference making my hand cover it entirely.

"I know you're awake." I continued. "It's time to get up so we can leave." She groaned, turning her head to face me. The light glinted off her honey coloured eyes, making them sparkle.

"..."

I raised an eyebrow, lowering myself closer to her to hear her mumbles. She reached up, kissed me on the chin and grabbed my hand, whispering, "Carry me."

I blinked, then smiled amused. "Please, Ryou?" she added sweetly. I sighed but nodded. "Fine, Kaede. Just get dressed."

I received a small "Love you" from her, which I returned with one of my own.

~Scene Change~

"Are we all ready? Good, let's go," Takahiro said as he jumped onto his horse. I placed Kaede on ours and as I mounted, she asked. "Ryou, did something happen last night with Takahiro-san?"

I shook my head, adjusting in the saddle as we started riding. "Did you notice how everyone was eyeing us when we were leaving?" I asked, as her arms wrapped around my waist.

"Well, they heard everything we did last night." I replied, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. I glanced back over my shoulder and I saw Kaede's face turn redder than a tomato.

"E-everything?" she stammered, clearly mortified.

It wasn't me who answered, it was Takahiro, his tone dry and deadpan. "Yes, Lady Kaede. Even when you screamed to the heavens, 'Ryou, fuck me harder! I can take it! And if I can't, just heal me!' Should I continue you? Right you also said 'Imp-"

Kaede's face turned even redder, and she started slapping my back with her small hands. "Stop! I get it, Takahiro-san!"

I struggled to keep a neutral face, but the memory was too funny now. A few hours had passed and I couldn't help but find it hilarious.

"Kaede, it isn't all bad, is it?" I teased, smirking as she stopped hitting my back, her face still bright red, tears welling up in her eyes.

"It shows how much we love each other." I continued and at that, I couldn't stop myself.

I burst out laughing, and Kaede responded by hitting my back again with small fists. I laughed harder, feeling her embarrassment. Takahiro let out a long sigh and looked up at the sky.

"I'm too old for this." he muttered, which only made me laugh harder.

~Scene Change~

"Sasaki-sama and Lady Kaede, you have returned!" The "Elders" of the Clan bowed deeply to us, and I had to suppress a snort at the display. 'They'll need to be dealt with.' Kaede and I hadn't made anyone Elders of the Shinrou Clan, apart from Takahiro who had sort of been the only "official" Elder.

"Gather every Elder in the meeting hall." I ordered, turning to Arisawa who was running toward us. I noted that he seemed stronger than the last time I saw him. 'I'll have to see that Cursed Technique of his in person soon.'

"Sasaki-sama!" Arisawa started to bow, but I waved him off and introduced Kaede to him.

"Kaede, this is Arisawa Kaito, my personal guard." She blinked at the introduction, turning from him to me and back again before speaking.

"I take it people wanted him to have someone with him when he went to the Fuyutsuki Clan?"

He nodded and Kaede sighed, turning to me. "My legs are sore, and I'm tired."

I blinked, realizing what she meant and then turned to Arisawa. "Arisawa-san, I want to see you tomorrow at the training grounds near my place, alright?"

He gave a confused nod before leaving. Takahiro spoke up, causing us to turn toward him.

"I'll be sleeping for the next few days. Do not call on me unless it's urgent."

'Wonder if I'll be this grumpy when I'm old?' I thought as I watched his retreating figure. I then turned to Kaede, who stretched her arms out toward me. I sighed and picked her up, carrying her to the house.

"Why did you call for a meeting, Ryou?" she asked as we walked.

I hummed at the question before answering. "While we are a Clan, we haven't organized the structure of who ranks where. I need to get that sorted."

She hummed thoughtfully before responding, resting her head on my shoulder. "What about the people who came from other Clans and were already Elders?"

I snorted before replying. "It won't matter. I'll figure out which of them is best suited for their roles. If they don't fit, then they can fu—" I caught myself, realizing what I was about to say. "—they can leave."

"I see..."

She yawned, and I opened the door to our home before walking to the bed and placing her on it.

"I'll see you later, Kaede." I kissed her forehead before walking out the door and shutting it behind me.

"Fuck..." I groaned, pushing my hair out of my face. "This will lead to more paperwork, won't it?"

Sighing at the thought, I made my way to the meeting hall.

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{Update on things: Still under review for Subscribestar (yay) I made a deviantart page, I've got a KoFi page.

Why mention them? I'll be releasing content "exclusive" to each page that I'm on.. That's it for now.

Thanks for reading and have an awesome January!}