Note: This is indeed canon to "In the Forest, a Dancing Light", the night of >>/forest/24382 and referenced in >>/forest/24455, with a mild retcon of their exact activities.

-----

Walking back home, I notice Merlin and Hatate getting along really well. Maybe I won’t have to choose. I’m not as good at thinking and planning as my friends are. I’ll worry about it when I have someone to talk to; all I can do now is go with my gut and hope for the best.

They’re talking about their interests... I won’t interrupt since that’s rude. We get to the door, and Hatate asks, “Kazi, mind if I go back home tonight? I need to put my stuff away and check with the local officer to see if I served enough time. I’ll stop by in a couple of days.”

“Sure, but I hope you won’t get stuck up there.” I really do hope that as I do enjoy her company, even if there aren't any inadvertent nude sightings. Better dwell on that another time, though.

I open the door to let them in and follow afterwards.

-----

I see Hatate already gathering her stuff quickly, which makes me wonder: are all crow tengu faster than humans at anything? There she goes... I feel something cool on my cheek. Wait... did she just kiss me?

I hear giggling coming from my room. I head over to find Merlin sitting on my bed, where I can get a nice look at her legs and ches- No Kazuma, you promised yourself you’d avoid focusing on that too much. “I guess we have time to ourselves,” Merlin says as she motions for me to sit next to her, something I gladly do. I try to think of something nice to talk about when she adds, “It was fun spending time with you two and I definitely approve of her.”

“I didn’t mean to...” I try to explain it before she puts a finger to my lips.

“We’re both busy girls so we have no problems taking turns. All that thinking and worrying is making you seem unhappy, so let me fix that.” She leans forward and kisses me deeply. I go with my instincts and return it, starting to hold her. I barely notice my back hitting the bed as we continue. I break off the kiss to catch my breath, smiling upon seeing her face. Merlin easily has the best smile and I can’t help but return it when I see it. I also notice her yukata was loosened during the kiss, offering an even better view. “Oh... I wish you’d ask instead of sneaking peeks, Kazuma. I wouldn’t refuse you.” She reveals her breasts... Looking even softer, rounder than I imagined. And my pants are tight all of a sudden.

“Oh... my.” I could only utter at the display before me. I’m also stunned by how trusting she is. I’m not a brainy guy like my friends but even I can perceive some things. My thoughts are interrupted by Merlin taking my hands and putting them on her breasts with that same smile.

“I’m happiest when you’re happy,” is all she says. I can’t help but sense I’m forgetting something, but I’ve never been one to turn a girl down. I motion for her to sit on my lap and she does so with a bit of a confused expression before I resume the kiss while playing with her chest. She moans into the kiss while starting to strip my shirt from me. I ease up just long enough for her to take it off of me.

I spend a few moments holding her to me. “I don’t mind returning the favor,” I reply as I pinch her hard nipples, which are still rather soft; must be a polterghost thing. I am guided by what I read in that tengu porn Kamui got me, and instinct. I start to kiss her neck, causing her moans to increase. Before I can think of what to do, Merlin turns around and pushes me to bed right before resuming the kiss, pressing her chest against mine.

My hands drift down her back to her butt, which looks as soft as the rest of her. I slip one hand under her yukata while having the other work at the piece of cloth keeping it on. Her butt is definitely soft... And sensitive if Merlin’s moaning slightly into the kiss. After a bit of time I undo it enough to slide it off of her. Tch... I’m reminded of my now rock-hard rod. As if she notices, she stops the kiss and remarks, “I’m sorry; I forgot about that. I know just what to do. Just sit on the edge of the bed and let me do the rest.” I do just that, curious as to what she’ll do.

First, she loosens up my own pants, then takes them off... and upon seeing it, her face has a look of wonder. I'd never thought much of how big/long it was... but I started to wonder when Hatate had a similar reaction when I got up out of the bath. She definitely ran out of the room in a hurry. My thinking is interrupted by something wet and soft touching it. I then see Merlin gently stroking it with her hands... covered in her own juices, I think. I enjoy the treatment before getting caught off guard when she puts her breasts around it. I didn’t think anything so soft could put such pressure on it... and soon she starts licking on the tip, with a look of innocent joy on her face.

This continues, as her pace picks up and I notice that her faint self-fondling increase in vigor to the point that she’s nearly manhandling herself. “I’m...” I can’t get it out before I come right in her mouth. “I’m sorry!” I notice her swallow with a smile.

She crawls up next to me and answers, “Don’t be, I knew what was coming.” I notice her hand moving down there... KAZUMA YOU IDIOT! She hasn’t come yet! Oh yeah, that guy licked down there in that tengu porn! I try moving down but her breasts tempt me, and before I can resist, I feel her hand pushing my head into them. She must have noticed my reaction.

“I don’t mind waiting if you get to enjoy yourself,” I hear as I start sucking and playing with her breasts. I can feel her moving her wet crotch against my leg. I feel my rod harden as I enjoy her soft breasts. After a bit I switch breasts, then move into position to do the licking. I can’t help but notice a total lack of hair there.

I look at Merlin who gives me a trusting smile. I gently stick a finger in and remove it to take a lick. Very sugary, fitting for Merlin and her personality. I start licking some, cleaning her up a bit as I notice a nub above. I try touching to see how she reacts and I hear her moans get louder... so if I play with this, then it’ll feet better for her. I try playing with that nub various ways as I lick her and I hear a faint “Kazu...” in between the moans before she comes in my face with surprising force.

I take a few moments to stand up and wipe the juices from my eyes, and I see her with an expectant expression. “I’m ready... but could we do this gently first?” I was going to do that anyways, but the fact she wants it this way strengthens my smile. I get into position and push in gently as I soon run into something... do polterghosts have maidenhoods? I think it’s some con-whatever of never having been with a guy. “Merlin, I’m afraid this is going to hurt a bit... but it should get better” I have no idea if what I’m saying is true... this wasn’t in the tengu porn! 1... 2... 3! I thrust in firmly but gently as I start to hold her in an attempt at comforting her. “Are you alright?”

“Yes... let’s just enjoy this for a few moments until it dies down.” Even in pain, she maintains that smile. A few moments of holding each other pass, then she slowly starts moving and as I then match her slow pace I can’t help but feel it’s a perfect fit. She wraps her arms around me and resumes kissing and I soon return the favor. While I feel the urge to hammer away, this is very nice in its own right. We soon approach what I think is a normal rate, as our kisses become separated by gasps for air. “Faster...” I comply, putting my hands on her hips to push in more easily. Tch... have to focus so I don’t go off before her... and her bouncing breasts aren’t exactly helping. I speed up a bit more, hoping to get Merlin there....just a bit more... And she comes right before me; when I empty my load, she gets even louder and it gets rather snug down there. It takes a few moments before we both finish fully.

We lay down in silence just looking at each other. There isn’t much to say, as we both know how we feel and what’s on our minds... I think. During this lull, things start settling in my head... such as why her sisters are so protective. I know from hearing a few of the other hunters speak, they would be the sort to take advantage of a girl like Merlin. But I won’t dwell on that matter. “Does this mean you’re done for the night?” My thoughts are interrupted as I see Merlin laying beside me in all her glory. I draw up some covers over us as she comes over to lie on top of me. She looks a bit worried about something.

“I hope I didn’t force myself too hard at first... it’s just that I really wanted you.” She remarks. Not surprising, as she is very affectionate, which her letters easily show. Looks like I wasn’t the only one who was trying to resist my urges.

“Not at all... I just wasn’t expecting... this. I’m not complaining though. I hope it didn’t hurt too much.” No idea about polterghosts’ quirks at all, just Merlin being her lovely self. I notice her smile returning to full strength as I answered her question.

“I don’t feel physical pain easily... though the first moment was unexpected, but even then it wasn’t that bad. You were there to comfort me after all. I wish I didn’t have to return home and practice tomorrow.” Oh yeah; it may be a while before I see her again. Well, I’m not going to be able to forget this.

“Yeah, but that’s life. All we can do is try our best so we can share some nice stories.” Definitely, I want to brag to her about taking down some big bounties. I’m going to miss this, as I think I’ve become too used to sharing a bed with a girl, first Hatate and then Merlin... though Hatate was clothed and I tried my best to keep my hands to myself. It was her idea as she didn’t want me sleeping on my own floor and I couldn’t let her sleep on the floor herself.

We enjoy the cuddling embrace for a few moments until we both yawn. Guess we’re both tired from today’s events. “Good night Merlin.”

“Good night, Kazuma.” I can say we love each other. Sure, it may have only been a short time, but I know what I feel and it sounds like what Dad felt for Aya. Between my exhaustion and Merlin’s soft embrace, it doesn’t take long for me to fall asleep.

-----

I do have some more stuff with these two in the near future. The retcon moved things to the morning after.