The Caged Bird: When Will It Fly?

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The red cord around his wrists was tougher than he had imagined.

He tried moving his hands, and the silken cord immediately tightened, leaving faint red marks on his skin.

Kamisato Ayaka knelt across from him, elegantly preparing tea as though they were simply having an ordinary visit, rather than sitting in a secluded, secret villa-the place where she had brought Baichen after tying him up.

"Baichen, please have some tea."

Ayaka pushed the tea bowl toward him, a smile in her coral-colored eyes.

With both hands bound, Baichen could only lower his head awkwardly to reach it.

She seemed to enjoy the sight, the corners of her lips curving in pleasure.

"Is it not to your taste?" she asked, tilting her head when Baichen took only a small sip.

"No..." Baichen stared at his reflection in the tea. "I just don't understand why..."

"Why I did this?" Ayaka finished for him, gently stroking the red cord. "It's simple. I like you."

She said it as naturally as if she were talking about the weather.

Cherry blossoms drifted down in the courtyard breeze, a few petals settling in her silver hair like natural ornaments.

"When did it start?" Baichen couldn't help asking.

"At that meeting in Tenshukaku," Ayaka recalled, her gaze softening. "You stood beside the Shogun, and even though you were so nervous, you still dared to speak up for Watatsumi Island." Her fingers suddenly tightened. "At that moment, I thought... I had to have you."

Kamisato Ayaka's affection +3%, currently 16%

Note: yandere mode fully activated

The tea room's paper door slid gently open, and a maid entered carrying refreshments.

Seeing Baichen tied up, she didn't bat an eye, as though it were the most normal sight in the world.

"Miss, the sakura mochi and... special supplies you requested." The maid set down the tray and withdrew respectfully.

Besides the refreshments, the tray held an exquisite lacquered box.

Ayaka opened it and took out what was inside-a pair of silver shackles lined with soft silk.

"Are they pretty?" She held them up as though displaying a treasure. "They were specially made. They won't hurt your skin."

Baichen's throat suddenly went dry. "Miss Ayaka, this..."

"Just call me Ayaka." She shuffled over to him on her knees, a faint scent of camellias wafting from her. "Or... big sister Ayaka?"

The shackles clicked shut around Baichen's wrists, replacing the red cord.

The metal was cool against his skin, but surprisingly comfortable. Ayaka admired her handiwork with satisfaction, sliding her fingers along the chain and into his palm.

"Starting today, you're mine," she announced softly. "My Baichen, and mine alone."

Sunlight streamed through the paper door, enveloping them in a warm halo.

It would have been a romantic scene, if one ignored the restraints on Baichen's hands and the unhealthy possessiveness in her eyes.

"Are you hungry?" Ayaka abruptly changed the subject, picking up a piece of sakura mochi. "I'll feed you."

She held the pink mochi to Baichen's lips. He hesitated, then opened his mouth and took a bite.

The cloyingly sweet bean paste melted in his mouth, but Ayaka deliberately lingered, her fingertips brushing lightly over his lower lip.

"Is it good?" Her voice held a coaxing note.

Baichen nodded, but she suddenly leaned in and licked a bit of filling from the corner of his mouth. "It really is sweet..."

The overly intimate gesture made Baichen's ears burn. Ayaka seemed pleased with his reaction and picked up another sweet. "Another one?"

And so she fed him one piece after another, finding an excuse to touch his face or lips each time.

Only when Baichen shook his head to show he really couldn't eat any more did she stop, still reluctant to leave off.

"It's time to change clothes." Ayaka stood, the chain rattling with her movement. "You can't keep wearing the formal clothes you came in, can you?"

She pulled the bell cord, and two maids entered carrying clothing.

The moment Baichen saw the all-white kimono in their hands, he had a bad feeling-it was clearly a Kamisato Clan servant's uniform!

"Ayaka, this..."

"Don't worry, it's only temporary." She undid his sash, her movements gentle but impossible to resist. "Until you get used to this place, a disguise like this is safer."

With the two maids' help, Baichen was soon dressed in the white outfit.

The fabric was fine silk, but plain, without a single pattern.

Ayaka walked a circle around him, then suddenly reached out and ruffled his hair.

"So cute," she said with a smile. "Like a lost little white rabbit."

Once he had changed, Ayaka took hold of the chain on his shackles and led Baichen on a tour of the secret villa.

After passing through winding corridors, Baichen discovered that the place was much larger than he had imagined. Besides the main house and tea room, there was a hot spring, a study, a training ground, and even a small garden.

"Do you like it?" Ayaka pointed to a cherry grove in the distance. "There are twenty different varieties there, with blossoms in every season."

"It's beautiful... but why are you showing me all this?"

"Because this will be your new home," she answered matter-of-factly. "I should at least help you get familiar with it."

The chain swayed gently with her steps, while sunlight filtered through the trees and dappled the ground.

If not for the restraints on his wrists, it would have been almost like an ordinary stroll.

"Ayaka," Baichen asked, summoning his courage, "how long are you planning to keep me here?"

She stopped and turned to face him. Cherry blossoms drifted down between them, and for a moment, a crack appeared in her perfect mask.

"Until you fall in love with me," Ayaka said softly, touching his cheek. "Or... until I grow tired of you."

The answer made Baichen's heart tremble. Before he could react, she suddenly tugged the chain, pulling him into her arms.

The scent of camellias enveloped him at once, and her lips nearly touched his earlobe.

"Though I'm afraid the latter will never happen..."

Kamisato Ayaka's affection +2%, currently 18%

By the time they returned to the main house, dinner was ready.

Unlike the lavish fare at Tenshukaku, the food here was more homely, but every dish was delicate and delicious.

Ayaka insisted on feeding Baichen, just as she had fed him sweets that afternoon.

"Open wide~" She picked up a piece of grilled fish with her chopsticks, speaking as though coaxing a child.

The embarrassing feeding continued throughout dinner.

Whenever Baichen tried to protest, she would put on a hurt expression, leaving him no choice but to give in.

The most awkward part was the soup. She insisted on tasting it herself to check the temperature before bringing it to his lips.

"An indirect kiss~" Ayaka winked playfully, her coral-colored eyes sparkling with the triumph of a successful prank.

After dinner, she took Baichen to bathe in the hot spring.

Baichen had assumed he would be allowed to wash himself-after all, his hands were free now-but Ayaka clearly had other plans.

"Don't be shy." She undid his sash, her movements gentle but impossible to resist. "In the Kamisato Clan, it's perfectly normal for a master to help a servant bathe."

Steam rose from the hot spring, blurring their outlines.

Ayaka wore only a thin underrobe, her silver hair loosely pinned up with a wooden hairpin.

She knelt behind Baichen and gently scrubbed his back with a loofah.

"Your skin is firmer than I imagined." Her fingers slid down his spine. "Do you exercise?"

"I-I learned a little swordsmanship from the Okuzumeshuu at Tenshukaku..."

"I see." Her hand suddenly stopped at his waist. "Then here..." Her fingertips brushed over the muscles at his side. "Did practicing swordsmanship make them firm?"

The overly intimate touch made Baichen's whole body stiffen.

But Ayaka seemed not to notice his embarrassment and continued her "cleaning."

When her hand moved to his chest, Baichen finally couldn't help grabbing her wrist.

"Ayaka... I can do it myself."

She froze for a moment, then put on a hurt expression. "Baichen, do you dislike me touching you?"

"No! It's just..."

"Then be good." She slipped free of his grasp and continued scrubbing. "Good children should listen to their master, shouldn't they?"

Kamisato Ayaka's affection +1%, currently 19%

After the bath, Ayaka dressed Baichen in a sleeping robe. It was still pure white, but the fabric was so thin it was almost transparent.

She changed into matching sleepwear herself, her silver hair loose and glowing softly in the candlelight.

"It's time for bed." Holding the chain, she led Baichen toward the bedroom.

The bedroom was simpler than he had imagined, containing only a large bed and a wardrobe.

What stood out most were the shackles at the head of the bed, clearly prepared for Baichen. Ayaka noticed his gaze and explained with a smile:

"Just a precaution. I can't hold the chain all night while I sleep, after all."

She pressed him down to sit on the edge of the bed and gently locked the bedside shackles. The metallic click sounded especially harsh in the silent room.

"Now you can't run away." Ayaka checked the lock with satisfaction, then lay down beside him.

The scent of camellias on her, mingled with the moisture from her bath, reached Baichen at close range and made his heart beat faster.

Ayaka turned on her side to face him, her fingers gently tracing the contours of his features.

"This is wonderful..." she murmured. "I can finally have you all to myself like this."

"Ayaka," Baichen asked quietly, "will the Shogun and the others... find this place?"

Her finger suddenly stopped against his lips. "You're not allowed to mention anyone else tonight." Her voice was still gentle, but carried an unquestionable firmness. "Now, close your eyes."

Baichen obediently closed his eyes and felt her draw closer. A kiss as light as a feather landed on his forehead.

"Good night, my Baichen."

The candle was blown out, leaving only moonlight and the sound of their breathing in the room.

Ayaka's arms wrapped around him like a dragon guarding its treasure. The shackles on his wrists were still cold, yet strangely, they gave him a small sense of comfort.

At least tonight... he was safe.

The next morning, Baichen awoke to Ayaka's singing.

She sat by the window, brushing her hair. Sunlight edged her silver locks in gold, and her white sleeping robe hung loosely from her shoulders, revealing her delicate collarbones.

"Good morning~" As soon as she saw Baichen was awake, she came over. "Did you sleep well?"

Before he could answer, a good-morning kiss landed on his cheek.

The easy intimacy made it seem as though they had been lovers for years.

"I made breakfast." She unlocked the bedside shackles, though the silver restraints remained on his wrists. "They're just simple rice balls, though..."

In the dining room, several adorably shaped rice balls sat on a plate, with miso soup and a fried egg beside them. It was hard to imagine this young lady cooking herself.

"Would you like to try one?" Ayaka looked at him expectantly.

Baichen took a bite, and the savory saltiness of the seaweed blended perfectly with the sweetness of the rice. He looked at her in surprise. "It's really good!"

"I'm so glad~" She clasped her hands, a radiant smile spreading across her face. "I learned how to make them specially, hoping I could make them for you someday."

That pure joy made her look like an ordinary girl, rather than the yandere young lady who had kidnapped him.

For a moment, Baichen almost forgot his situation.

After breakfast, Ayaka took him to the study.

Bookshelves lined all four walls of the spacious room, and a huge desk stood in the center.

She had Baichen sit on a cushioned couch by the window while she took a book from a shelf.

"May I read to you?" She settled beside him and opened the book. "This is my favorite collection of folktales."

Ayaka's voice was soft and pleasant, especially lovely when she read a story.

Sunlight fell across the pages through the window lattice, and her silver hair occasionally brushed his shoulder, tickling him.

"This story..." Halfway through, she suddenly stopped. "It's about a princess who imprisoned the musician she loved in a tall tower to keep him with her."

Baichen's heart tightened. Wasn't that exactly their situation?

"Do you think the princess was right?" Ayaka tilted her head as she asked, her gaze as innocent as a student seeking guidance.

"I..."

"In my opinion, she was too weak." Ayaka closed the book and gently stroked his cheek. "If it were me, I'd be more thorough... I'd make that person forget the outside world forever."

Her smile was still sweet, but it sent a chill down Baichen's spine.

Kamisato Ayaka's affection +2%, currently 21%

That afternoon, Ayaka had some clan affairs to attend to, so she temporarily left Baichen in the maids' care.

Before leaving, she personally fastened an exquisite silver collar around his neck, engraved on the inside with the words "Linghua's property."

"Now everyone will know who you belong to." She admired her handiwork with satisfaction, then tied a little bell to the collar. "Isn't it cute?"

The maids were unfazed by his attire, as though a man wearing shackles and a collar was a perfectly normal sight here.

They took Baichen to the laundry room and assigned him some simple folding work.

"The young lady instructed us not to let you work too hard," the older maid explained. "These handkerchiefs are your work for today."

As Baichen clumsily folded the handkerchiefs, an unexpected visitor appeared-Thoma!

The Kamisato Clan's housekeeper was visibly taken aback when he saw Baichen's outfit, but quickly recovered his professional smile.

"Baichen, how are you settling in?" He sat down naturally across from Baichen and picked up a handkerchief to help fold.

"Thoma..." Baichen lowered his voice. "Are you here to..."

"Shh~" He gestured for silence. "I'm just here to see how the young lady's 'honored guest' is doing."

Baichen touched the collar around his neck and gave a wry smile. "As you can see."

Thoma's expression grew complicated. "The young lady... she's never been like this before."

He leaned closer. "Ever since she saw you at Tenshukaku that day, she's become a completely different person."

"That day?"

"When you spoke up for Watatsumi Island," Thoma recalled. "After she came back, she kept gathering information about you, and she even personally designed the plans to remodel this villa..."

So all of this had been planned long ago.

Baichen wanted to ask for more details, but Ayaka's voice suddenly came from outside:

"Thoma? What are you doing here?"

She stood in the doorway, her face frighteningly grim. Thoma immediately stood. "Miss, I was just..."

"Out," Ayaka said coldly. "All of you, get out."

The maids quickly withdrew. Thoma glanced at Baichen, clearly wanting to say something, but in the end he lowered his head and left.

The moment the door closed, Ayaka's expression softened, and she became the sweet girl again.

"You didn't say anything you shouldn't have, did you, Baichen?" She knelt before him and checked the position of his collar. "Thoma meddles too much sometimes..."

"He only came to help fold handkerchiefs..."

"Liar." Ayaka suddenly gripped his chin. "Your eyes turn slightly to the right when you lie."

Her thumb brushed his lower lip. "But it doesn't matter. I've already transferred him elsewhere. No one will disturb us anymore."

The sudden news made Baichen's heart tighten. "What are you going to do to Thoma?"

"Are you worried about him?" Ayaka narrowed her eyes. "That makes me so jealous..." She suddenly leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the lips.

The kiss came so suddenly that Baichen froze.

Ayaka laughed like a child who had just pulled off a prank. "Your first kiss?"

Before Baichen could think of an answer, Ayaka pushed him down onto the pile of folded handkerchiefs.

Her knees pressed between his legs, and her hands braced on either side of his ears, her silver hair falling around them to form a private space.

"Never mind, it doesn't matter," she said softly. "Because every kiss from now on... will be mine."

Her lips pressed down on his, more passionately than before.

The scent of camellias surrounded him, and he tasted the plum tea she had drunk that morning on her lips.

Only when Baichen was nearly suffocating did she reluctantly pull away.

"Remember that?" Ayaka licked her lips. "That's a real kiss."

[Kamisato Ayaka's affection +3%, currently 24%]

[Note: possessiveness erupted]

Toward evening, Ayaka took Baichen to the courtyard to admire the cherry blossoms.

The setting sun dyed the petals gold and red. They sat beneath the veranda, her head resting on his shoulder as the chain swayed gently between them.

"What kind of wedding do you like, Baichen?" she suddenly asked, as though discussing what to have for breakfast tomorrow.

"W-wedding?"

"Mm." She played with his fingers. "The Kamisato Clan's tradition is to wear a white shiromuku, but I think you'd look lovely in purple too..."

The delusional conversation continued until dinner.

Ayaka seemed completely immersed in the fantasy she had woven, talking one moment about going to Liyue for their honeymoon and agonizing the next over how many children to have someday.

After dinner, she brought out a board. "Play shogi with me?"

Baichen had intended to decline and say he didn't know how, but when he saw her expectant gaze, he nodded.

To his surprise, Ayaka's playing style was completely different from her usual manner-sharp and decisive, with deadly intent in nearly every move.

"Checkmate." She gently set down a piece, smiling sweetly. "You lost~"

"That fast?"

"Because I know you so well." Ayaka tidied up the board. "Your playing style is just like your personality. It's far too easy to see through."

For some reason, those words made Baichen uneasy.

As he pondered them, she suddenly asked, "Want to take a bath? I'll let you bathe on your own today... as a reward."

The sudden "favor" caught Baichen off guard.

Ayaka smiled and unlocked the shackles around his wrists, but the collar remained around his neck.

"Don't think about escaping," she warned softly. "There are Kamisato Clan ninjas all over this mountain... and..." She took out a small bottle and shook it. "I put a little something in your tea today. It'll take effect if you leave the villa grounds~"

Baichen stared at her in shock. "What drug?"

"Just a potion that makes your whole body weak." Ayaka kissed his forehead. "As long as you behave, I'll give you the antidote tomorrow."

In the bathroom, Baichen finally had a moment to himself.

Warm water washed over his body. He looked down at the red marks on his wrists and the collar around his neck, and a strange feeling welled up inside him-fear? Anger? Or some twisted sense of... belonging?

[Warning! Unknown drug ingested]

[Effect: leaving the designated area will trigger a weakened state]

[Duration: unknown]

When he returned to the bedroom, Ayaka had already changed into a nightgown.

Seeing Baichen come out, she patted the bed beside her. "Come, I'll dry your hair."

Her movements were gentle and meticulous, her fingers passing through his hair and occasionally massaging his scalp. The intimate care made him drowsy.

"Sleepy?" Ayaka put down the towel and pulled him into her arms. "Go to sleep. We have lots to do tomorrow..."

At the last moment before he drifted off, Baichen heard her whisper in his ear:

"Never... I'll never let you go..."

[Kamisato Ayaka's affection +1%, currently 25%]

[Note: morbid love reached a new height]

Late that night, when all was quiet, Baichen had a strange dream.

He dreamed he was standing in a cherry grove, and a blurry figure in the distance was beckoning to him.

Just as he tried to see who it was, a sharp pain suddenly struck-

He jolted awake to find Ayaka holding him tightly, her nails digging deep into his arm.

In the moonlight, her expression was pained and contorted, as though she were experiencing a terrible nightmare.

"No... you can't take him away..." she murmured unconsciously. "He's mine... mine..."

Baichen gently patted her back, trying to wake her.

Ayaka's eyes suddenly flew open, her coral-colored eyes full of madness and fear.

She shoved Baichen beneath her, both hands gripping his shoulders tightly.

"Baichen... is that you?" Her voice trembled. "It's not a dream... right?"

Before Baichen could answer, her lips crashed down on his.

The kiss was filled with desperation and possessiveness, nearly leaving him unable to breathe.

Only when she tasted blood did she pull away, as if waking from a dream.

"I'm sorry..." Ayaka hurriedly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "I had a nightmare... I dreamed someone took you away..."

She curled up in his arms like a frightened child.

Baichen hesitated, then gently embraced her.

The gesture seemed to make her even more emotional, and her tears soaked the front of his clothes.

"Don't leave me..." Ayaka sobbed. "Please..."

Moonlight streamed through the window lattice, casting their entwined silhouettes on the wall.

In this secluded villa, time seemed to stand still.

Only the collar around his neck reminded Baichen that this was no sweet love story, but a carefully designed, beautiful cage.

And I seemed to be growing accustomed to the atmosphere of this cage.