"I knew it! You have dirty intentions, I thought you said you don't know what to do after," I yelled at her, clutching my robe tighter around me like it was some kind of shield. My voice cracked halfway, and I knew my face must have been red as a tomato.
"Well, I did not know what to do after…" Selene's tone was calm, but her smile betrayed her mischief. Her pale fingers toyed with the edge of her hair, and her blue eyes sparkled in that dangerous way. "But in the book it says bathing your partner adds more to the flavors. And I want to bath you, Kisaragi."
I froze. When does bathing becomes a flavor? My brain short-circuited right there.
Her lips curved, and then she tilted her head. "But what do you mean by dirty intentions?"
"Huh? I… I—don't you know what that word means?" My words stumbled out, trembling more than I wanted them to.
"No," she replied smoothly, her voice playful now. She leaned in slightly, her lashes casting faint shadows on her cheeks. "Tell me what dirty intentions mean."
"I… I don't want to," I muttered, my whole face heating up as I tried to look anywhere but her eyes. The floor suddenly became very interesting.
But Selene wasn't about to let me escape. She leaned closer, smile tugging her lips upward. "But you said dirty intentions. You have to know what it means by that."
I swallowed. My heart was pounding so loud I was sure she could hear it. "Bathing someone means dirty intentions," I finally blurted out. "Kissing means dirty intentions, looking at someone and imagining all sorts of romantic things to do with them—that's dirty intentions." My voice cracked as I prayed she'd get the point.
"So that is dirty intentions." Selene's grin widened, and she sat straighter, clearly amused. "Sounds cool!"
"Ehe!" My mouth fell open. "Cool?!"
"I want to do all those dirty intentions with you, Kisaragi," she said boldly, her voice dipping with that confidence only she could carry.
"Stop it, stop it, stop it!" I waved my hands frantically, my chest burning. My face was practically steaming. This girl really had no idea what dirty intentions really meant. She thought it was some kind of game.
"What's wrong? The dirty intentions you explained—we've already done them." Selene began counting on her fingers, her nails perfectly sharp and neat. "I washed your hair. I looked at you so many times. And if I bath you now, it will complete it."
My entire body stiffened. She wasn't wrong. Every example I gave, we had already done. I could almost hear myself screaming in my own head. And really… what was the worst that could happen? She had seen me naked before, so maybe… maybe it was fine?
I took a shaky breath. "Okay fine… you can bath me."
Her eyes lit up like stars, her whole expression glowing. "Whoa!! You really look cute naked!"
"Ugh—this is so embarrassing," I muttered under my breath, squeezing my arms around myself.
"Stop staring, you pervert!" I snapped when I realized her eyes weren't leaving me for even a second.
"Can I remove mine too?" Selene asked, her voice sweet but with that teasing edge.
"No!" I yelped, pointing at her as if that would stop her. My head spun at the thought. If she removed hers too, I would—no, I didn't even want to imagine what would happen. That memory would be burned into my mind forever, and there would be no undoing it.
"Okay, time to bath you!!" she said brightly, as if my panic didn't exist. Her cheer was like a child excited for a new toy.
I sighed. This was my life now.
"Okay, add some bubble soap to the water… and flowers," Selene instructed, her voice like a queen giving orders.
"Your castle doesn't have flowers, where are you going to—" I stopped midway. She was already holding a basket of rose petals. My jaw nearly dropped. She sprinkled them into the tub with slow grace, like some romantic heroine straight out of a shojo manga panel. The petals floated gently, the scent filling the air.
"Wow… you really are something else," I said softly, unable to stop myself, even as I tried to cover my face with my hands.
"Lady Blossom gave it to me at our engagement party," Selene explained, her tone calm but her eyes almost shimmering with nostalgia. "And it's Blossom's flower—it never dies."
She turned back to me, smiling sweetly as though everything she did was completely natural. "Okay, get in, Kisaragi. Time to take your bath."
"I am not a child, okay," I muttered stubbornly, though my legs moved on their own. I slipped into the warm water, the bubbles rising around me, and hugged myself tightly.
Selene knelt beside the tub, sleeves falling back slightly as she reached for a cloth. "So you say you are from another world, huh?" she asked, her tone casual as if she were asking me what I ate for breakfast.
She wanted to talk now? "Yes. This world is all someone's imagination," I said carefully, still flustered.
"Huh. Well, I am from the moon," she replied simply.
I blinked. "Seriously? Even you don't believe me? Because I said I'm not from this world?"
"Rin, I did not say I don't believe you. I said… I am from the moon."
The way she said it—so calm, so unwavering—it almost made me believe her.
I turned, staring at her face as she gently scrubbed my back. Her hands were cool, steady, but they made my skin tingle.
"Hey, I'm still scrubbing your back—" she began.
"I think you've scrubbed my back enough," I interrupted quickly, spinning around to face her. My heart leapt at how close we were.
"You are supposed to be a villain—the bad guy. But you turned out to be someone different. Everyone showed you as some heartless person who eliminates obstacles," I murmured, watching her carefully.
Selene smiled. She always smiled, no matter the situation. But this one… this one was softer.
"Yes, Kisaragi, I do eliminate every obstacle that comes my way. But you are the first obstacle I tried to eliminate… that I want in my way," she said softly, her voice almost trembling at the end.
My breath caught. Even if I didn't understand everything, something inside me shifted. My chest tightened, my hands trembled slightly. I looked at her—her smile, the curve of her lips, the way they moved when she spoke. My breathing grew uneven.
And then… before I even knew it, my lips touched hers.
Yes, you heard me. It wasn't Selene kissing me. It was me—me kissing Selene, the ice queen herself.
Her lips were soft, warmer than I ever imagined. A spark spread through me, something I couldn't name. I wanted… more. My hands moved on their own, clutching her robe, pulling her closer until we stumbled into the bathtub together, water splashing violently around us.
We kept kissing, deeper, my heart racing far too fast. My whole body trembled with emotions I couldn't control.
But then—
Voices.
They crashed into my head, sharp and cruel, louder than the water splashing.
You killed my son.
They died in that car accident because of you.
You killed the people who gave you life.
You should have died instead of them.
You don't deserve anyone.
You don't deserve to be loved.
The words tore me apart like knives. My chest squeezed, my vision blurred, my hands shaking against her robe.
The water bubbled, sparks rising to the surface. Lightning.
"No, no, not now—" I whispered desperately, but I couldn't hold it back.
Electricity burst from me, crackling wildly through the bathwater.
"Ah—!" Selene gasped, her body jerking violently as the lightning zapped her. Her cry pierced my ears before she was thrown from the tub, hitting the icy walls with a dull thud.
"No—!" My voice broke.
I stumbled out of the tub, dripping water, my feet slipping against the stone. My whole body shook as I rushed to her side. She was lying on the floor, breath uneven, her hair damp against her pale face.
"Are… are you okay, Selene?" My hands shook as I reached for her cheek, afraid to touch her but unable to stop myself.
But instead of anger, instead of fear—Selene smiled.
"Rin Kisaragi kissed me," she whispered softly, almost like she was dreaming.
"That's what you're saying?! I almost killed you!" My chest ached so badly it felt like it might split in two.
"Totally worth it, Kisaragi," she said, still smiling, still shining even through pain.
My body trembled. The voices wouldn't stop.
You don't deserve to be loved.
You killed them.
Stay alone forever.
Hot tears spilled before I could stop them. My throat burned, my chest hurt.
I cried.