Book 4: Chapter 75: Lily’s Dance

The stone door slowly closed behind the two.

Lily looked at Shimizu with flickering eyes, and her jaded face was scented with the bloom of orchids. It was hard to guess what Shimizu was thinking at this time.

Likewise, Lily’s dazed state masked her own thoughts.

“Where exactly is this place? Sister Shimizu, why are you here? Can you tell me now?”

Instead of answering, Shimizu grabbed Lily’s arm, turned her backward, and cornered her against the stone door.

“Without answering my questions, Lil’ Sis isn’t allowed to ask anything. Now, why were you doing bad things?”

“Sister, why would Lily do anything bad? Lily wasn’t her normal self back there. Even Lily herself doesn’t know what she was doing or thinking about… It was probably because Lily was afflicted by the cursed imprint of Tamamo-no-Mae. If Sister doesn’t believe me and thinks Lily did something wrong, Sister can conduct punishment. Anyway, Sister still has the right to punish even if Lily is not in the wrong. Lily can only bear it quietly…” Lily wasn’t sure why her tone became so delicate, but before she knew it, she had said something so embarra.s.sing.

However, even while embarra.s.sed, her lips continued to entice: “How does Sister intend to punish me? Do you want to spank me again? If so, can you do it more gently this time?”

“Who said that I’m going to spank you? Why do you always think that I’m going to beat or scold you? Today, Sister wants to punish you in a different way.”

“I don’t know what Sister wants…”

Shimizu stared at Lily from behind: looking at the Amethyst undergarment that supported her soft b.r.e.a.s.t.s, and her curvy waist that led down to her plump b.u.t.tocks partially revealed by the torn skirt. Every part of Lily’s body exuded a type of healthy charm that stoked Shimizu’s pa.s.sion and possessive desire.

“I really wish for you to belong to me forever. Given enough time, maybe I would’ve been able to conquer your heart, but…how much time do I have left?” There was a hint of sadness in Shimizu’s eyes.

Lily was unaware of Shimizu’s sorrow since her back was facing towards her.

“Sister won’t beat you today. Lily, I want you to dance for me.” Shimizu stroked Lily’s hair which prompted her to raise her head. As Lily straightened up, her dark hair fell and coiled around Shimizu’s fingers like a silky, black veil.

Shimizu took a few steps back.

“Dance?” Lily turned around and gently adjusted the straps on her shoulders, “What kind of dance do you want me to perform?”

Lily was a little confident in her dancing skills.

“What are you best at? Is it lap dancing?”

Lily’s face flushed, “No! I’ve never done something like that before…”

Lily saw an expectant gleam in Shimizu’s eyes which triggered a wave of anxiousness in her heart. She didn’t want to disappoint or refuse her Sister’s request.

I guess it doesn’t matter since we are all women, right? Lily tried to rea.s.sure herself, Sister Shimizu has helped me so much and saved me multiple times. As long as it makes her happy, shouldn’t I treat her to a dance at the very least?

Naturally, it should be okay…but can such a dance really be considered as a proper repayment? The idea of dancing for another woman… But, Sister Shimizu sees me as another woman. Since she’s okay with it, I don’t mind. Besides, Suzuhiko-hime’s Dance of the Bell Maiden contains the insightful concepts of Takamagahara. Maybe it’ll help in Sister Shimizu’s practice if she sees it.

Thinking to this point, Lily felt that it was fine to perform this dance for Shimizu.

But was it really proper for her to do so?

It’s just a dance; it shouldn’t be that big of a deal. This dance was created by a celestial maiden. It’s impossible that she only danced for her lover, right? Anyway, it’s not so unpleasant…

Lily grappled with her mental struggle for a while. However, her ability to refuse was relatively weak.

She shook her head in an attempt to sober her mind, “Sister…I’ll go change my clothes.”

Shimizu nodded and raised her hand, shooting a string of spiritual energy from her fingertips. The stream of spiritual energy struck an ancient torch, rekindling its flame that may have been dormant for millennia. As the flame flickered to life, it illuminated the entire room and washed Lily’s figure in a bright orange hue.

Shimizu knelt solemnly by the side in antic.i.p.ation of Lily’s dance.

Lily dawned a calmer mood since she had something to focus on. She found a set of feathered clothing in the mirror s.p.a.ce’s dressing room— something that she wouldn’t have worn normally.

Lily then went behind a broken wall to change into it.

When she returned, Shimizu’s breathing visibly quickened.

Lily was garbed in a plume of red and white feathers. The top was very short, but it boasted a conservative and elegant neckline. However, the white top only covered the upper portion of Lily’s chest and left the lower areas exposed. Two white straps connected the upper garment to the red skirt, stretching to cover much of the lower abdomen and waist, but leaving a sufficient opening for the navel1.

Although it was a sleeveless dress, there were two large sleeves buckled on both upper arms. Red threads were also sewn on top of the sleeves.

On Lily’s forehead was a golden pendant chain that combed her hair back.

In addition, a golden necklace adorned with the pendant of a round, mysterious moon cradled her neck.

Where the straps connected to the skirt, a j.a.panese waistband fastened with golden buckles was wrapped around Lily’s waist. The red skirt extended all the way to the ankles of her feet, and her hips were girdled with golden jewelry on both sides.

Both of her bare feet were adorned with golden anklets that interweaved in a particular pattern down to her toes.

In her hand, she held a red sakura parasol.

Lily and Shimizu exchanged gazes, various emotions rippling in their eyes. For some reason, there was a bit of sadness in Shimizu’s eyes which reflected the mood of the dance.

Lily pointed the sakura parasol in Shimizu’s direction and slowly sunk her body within its shadow. After her entire body was hidden behind the red parasol, it began to rotate slightly, giving the illusion that the decorative sakura petals were floating. Some of the petals were driven by Lily’s artistic conception and seemed to wilt.

Obviously, the dance wasn’t accompanied by any singing or music, but Shimizu seemed to hear a faint melody that carried an undertone of sorrow.

And Lily danced to this silent music.

The red parasol was soon lifted while maintaining its rotation, revealing the tall girl dressed in celestial maiden dance clothes. Lily continued to dance along with the spins of the parasol, sometimes tossing it into the air. While it slowly floated back down, she would raise her long legs and spin gracefully in brisk motions.

From time to time, Lily would bow to her knees while tilting her head and waist backward, allowing her long hair to cascade onto the ground. During this posture, her small white feet fiddled with the parasol before lightly kicking and rolling it to the side.

Following this action, Lily sprung up to her feet and dexterously retrieved the sakura pastoral, transitioning back into her light dance. As she twirled on her feet and fluttered her clothes, a flowery fragrance began to permeate the stone room.

The brilliance in Shimizu’s eyes grew brighter and brighter.

Lily’s movements became more intense and vibrant the longer she danced, amplifying the strain on her body. Unaware of her own fatigue, Lily continued on amidst droplets of sweat that sparkled from her body. A wonderful scene soon unfolded. The sweat-soaked clothes gradually became silky-smooth and transparent, glittering like misty starlight.

All the jewelry gracing Lily’s body seemed to resonate with each other and exuded a dazzling radiance that complemented her stunning, jade-like figure.

Everything on Lily’s body seemed transparent to Shimizu, only leaving the white stockings on her legs and the paper parasol in her hand that spiraled in a colorful red, yellow, and white, forming a simple yet wonderful combination.

The dance was silent, but soulful sounds of drums and zithers thrummed in their hearts.

As Lily danced, she would occasionally exchange deep glances with Shimizu.

Of course, this wasn’t a conscious action by Lily, but the flow and rhythm induced by the dance itself.

The silent music was like a heavenly tune that only Shimizu could hear. It resonated with her mind and reflected the mood of her heart— as if a young girl parting with her lover. Reluctance, affection, and loneliness were some of the emotions that bloomed within her heart.

Lily was also immersed in the dance and fell into a selfless state. She didn’t even notice that her clothes were transparent, or perhaps, she didn’t care.

Her face was flushed in a deep shade of red, and her long black hair emphasized her l.u.s.trous face. Just as the two women exchanged glances again, Lily suddenly lost her footing and fell.

A few meters of distance still separated the two

However, Shimizu moved almost instantaneously. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that she moved before Lily even started to fall. Her figure blurred and she slid in front of Lily in a flash with her arms outstretched. She caught Lily just as she neared the ground, causing the girl’s lithe body to fall into her embrace.

“Sister believes that you got marked with that cursed seal. If not, how could you slip while performing such a perfect, heavenly dance?” Shimizu looked at Lily with watery eyes.

“Sister, I’m sorry…Lily actually fell down and ruined the dance that made you happy.”

“My sister’s dancing shall forever be burned into my memory. It will always move my heart whenever I think of it in the future. Although you slipped at the end, it gave me an opportunity to show off my cool side, didn’t it? What more could your Big Sister ask for?” “Elder Sister…”

“Tell me, where on your body is the curse?” Shimizu asked with a concerned expression.

“This…”

“Now that you’re in my hands, I won’t let you go until you tell me. Don’t hide it.”

“Sister…” Lily hooked her slender arms around Shimizu’s neck, leaned over, and whispered in her ear.

When Shimizu heard Lily’s words, her ears were slightly tinged in red, “So that’s how it is. That Kansai woman is really despicable! Then do you know the method to undo the curse?”

“Ah?” Lily recalled Ui’s explanation about the curse. Even if one disregarded the embarra.s.sing method of removing the curse, just the fact that the helper would receive double the effects was enough to hush any ideas of telling her.

Lily knew that if she told Shimizu, she would do everything in her power to remove the curse no matter the consequences. She definitely couldn’t reveal anything.

“No, there is no solution. Maybe there’s a way if we can find Tamamo-no-Mae.” Lily said with blinking eyes.

Shimizu didn’t reply. Emotions rippled in her eyes as she looked at Lily.

“Sure enough, Lil’ Sister’s answer was just as I thought.”

“Uh?” Lily was puzzled.

“Lily, do you really want to be punished? Why are you lying to your sister again?”

“Ah?!” Lily subconsciously covered her bright-red face with her hands.

“Sis Lily, do you really think that I’m unaware of Tamamo-no-Mae’s legendary Flower Rain Curse?” Shimizu asked with a gloomy look. She wrinkled her brows as various thoughts flitted through her mind.

1. Robinxen: Sorry what… Where in ancient j.a.pan are going to find such an outfit?