Kana froze in place, blinking rapidly as she tried to process the sudden appearance of the pink-haired girl standing before her.

"R-Ruby?"

Kana stammered softly, her voice barely carrying above the quiet hum of the temple courtyard.

Before she could say anything else, Ruby stepped forward and wrapped her arms tightly around Kana's shoulders, pulling her into a sudden, warm embrace.

Kana's entire body stiffened instantly. Her cheeks flamed crimson, and her wide eyes darted nervously around the open courtyard, scanning for any priests, devotees, or temple guards who might be watching.

The temple was a sacred place, filled with rules and unspoken expectations, and being hugged so suddenly — by someone like Ruby, of all people — in the middle of it all left her flustered beyond belief.

"R-Ruby, wait, we're in the—"

Kana started, but Ruby's soft hand slid behind her head, tugging her face back until their gazes locked.

Ruby's strikingly bright eyes shimmered beneath the sunlight, the faintest pout curving her lips as she whispered.

"Kana… I missed you."

Kana blinked, startled by the words.

"Eh…?"

Ruby's arms tightened around her as though trying to anchor her in place, her expression uncharacteristically soft — but there was an edge of frustration there too, subtle yet unmistakable.

"I was very unhappy when you didn't come visit me these past few days."

Ruby added, her voice low but sharp, carrying an almost accusing tone despite her gentle hold.

Kana stared at her, utterly taken aback. She hadn't thought their relationship was… close enough for this.

Sure, they'd spoken a few times, and Ruby had always been affectionate in her own unique way, but this… this was different.

"I… I didn't realize you wanted me to visit."

Kana said hesitantly, trying to keep her voice soft so as not to attract attention.

Ruby's lower lip jutted out slightly in a faint pout, but before Kana could attempt to soothe her further, the pink-haired beauty stiffened suddenly, her expression shifting.

Then, without warning, Ruby leaned in — and sniffed her.

Kana blinked.

"…Ruby?"

The girl inhaled once more, her brows furrowing, before she abruptly recoiled a step, her grip on Kana loosening. Her face twisted in faint displeasure as she muttered.

"…You smell weird."

Kana froze, heat rushing to her cheeks for an entirely different reason this time. "W-What?! I just showered this morning!" she blurted out, indignant.

"If my smell bothers you so much, maybe you should just— I don't know — leave me alone!"

Ruby's gaze snapped up instantly, a flash of irritation sparking in her bright eyes.

For a heartbeat, neither of them moved, tension stretching thin between them like a drawn bowstring.

Then Ruby exhaled sharply, huffing in frustration, and grabbed Kana's wrist without warning.

"No. You're coming with me. We need to fix this. Right now."

Ruby said firmly, her tone edged with possessiveness.

Kana blinked in confusion, stumbling slightly as Ruby began tugging her away.

"F-Fix what?!"

Ruby didn't even glance back at her.

"Your scent. I'm not letting another goddess leave her claim on you when you're already mine."

Kana froze mid-step, Ruby's words sinking into her mind like a sudden splash of icy water. Her breath caught, and her heart skipped an uneven beat.

"Another… goddess?"

Kana repeated faintly, struggling to process what she'd just heard. But Ruby didn't elaborate, nor did she slow down.

By the time Kana realized what was happening, she was being dragged down a quiet corridor, past rows of marble columns, and finally toward the secluded back area of the temple where far fewer people passed.

Her sandals clicked against the stone as she tried to protest, but Ruby's grip was surprisingly strong, giving her no chance to pull away.

Eventually, Ruby led her to a hidden archway shrouded in climbing vines, their delicate flowers spilling across pale stone.

Slipping past it, Kana found herself entering a secret garden, a place so quiet and untouched that it almost felt like stepping into another world.

Soft sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering over vibrant blossoms and a small, clear pond. The faint scent of lilies and wild herbs filled the air, mingling with the hush of distant temple bells.

Kana hesitated, glancing around nervously.

"Ruby… what is this place?"

Ruby didn't answer. Instead, she turned sharply, pointing toward a smooth, flat rock near the pond.

"Sit."

She commanded.

Kana blinked, startled by the tone.

"Eh—?"

"Sit."

Ruby repeated, this time with no room for argument.

Kana hesitated for a moment, then sighed and obeyed, lowering herself onto the rock cautiously.

Her heart pounded as she watched Ruby kneel gracefully in front of her, her expression unusually serious.

The pink-haired girl reached forward, her slender fingers brushing against Kana's chest, resting lightly just above her heart.

"This might hurt. You can cry out if you need to… or lean on me if it gets too much."

Ruby said softly, though there was no hesitation in her voice.

Kana blinked rapidly, her breath catching at the closeness between them, at the warmth of Ruby's palm pressing gently against her chest.

"W-Wait, hold on—what are you going to—"

She didn't get to finish the thought.

Before Kana could prepare herself, a sudden, intense heat exploded inside her chest as Ruby pushed her mana into her without warning.

Kana gasped sharply, her entire body jerking instinctively as pain ripped through her veins like liquid fire. It wasn't just a burn — it was deeper, heavier, as if something was being pulled apart inside her.

Her fingers dug helplessly into the edge of the rock, her breath coming out ragged as she struggled to endure the sensation.

"R-Ruby—!"

Kana choked out, but Ruby's grip on her chest only tightened, her other hand pressing firmly against her shoulder to hold her in place.

"You have to stay still. I need to see what's been done to you."

Ruby said firmly, her voice steady despite the faint strain lacing her words.

Kana wanted to fight back, to pull away, but her body betrayed her, her strength melting under the unrelenting burn surging through her core.

Every muscle trembled, and her breaths grew uneven, shallow.

She thrashed once, weakly, but Ruby's hold was unyielding, grounding her against the rock as the pink-haired girl focused entirely on whatever she was doing.

Kana clenched her teeth, trying to swallow her cries, but a soft, broken whimper escaped her throat anyway.

The world blurred at the edges, her vision threatening to tilt as waves of heat and pressure coiled tightly around her chest.

Somewhere, beneath the pain, she thought she could hear a faint, foreign whisper curling inside her — something strange, distant, and unfamiliar.

But before she could make sense of it, Ruby's mana surged deeper, and the pain sharpened like a blade.

Kana's knuckles turned white as she clawed desperately at the stone beneath her, her trembling frame caught between agony and the warmth of Ruby's steady hands anchoring her in place.

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