Diary of Taming a Caged Bird

[A little double update today ovo]

When the morning light filtered through the paper windowpanes, Baichen discovered that he was wrapped in a tight embrace.

Ayaka's silver hair lay scattered across the pillow, her arms wrapped around him as if she feared he might escape in his sleep.

"Mm... Good morning, Baichen..."

Feeling Baichen stir, Ayaka sleepily nuzzled the crook of his neck.

Baichen tried to shift gently, but Ayaka immediately held him tighter.

"Five more minutes..." Ayaka murmured, her voice playfully pleading.

Only when sunlight had fully illuminated the room did the young lady reluctantly open her coral-colored eyes.

She pushed herself up and looked down at Baichen.

"Did you sleep well last night?" Ayaka combed her fingers through the loose strands over Baichen's forehead, her voice still husky from sleep.

Baichen nodded, carefully avoiding Ayaka's gaze, lest she notice he'd had a nightmare.

But Ayaka suddenly leaned close, the tip of her nose nearly touching Baichen's face. "Liar. You woke up three times in the middle of the night, and every time, your breathing got very rapid."

Her excessive powers of observation sent a chill down Baichen's spine.

Ayaka chuckled and planted a good-morning kiss on Baichen's forehead. "It's all right. You'll get used to sleeping with me eventually."

[Kamisato Ayaka affection +1%, current: 26%]

[Note: Satisfaction with the habit of sleeping together]

Getting washed and dressed after waking turned into a peculiar affair.

Ayaka insisted on personally doing everything for Baichen, from washing his face to brushing his teeth, even going so far as to trim his nails.

She sat Baichen down in front of the dressing table and stood behind him to comb his hair, her focused expression reflected in the mirror.

"Your hair is so soft, Baichen..." Ayaka ran her fingers through his hair, watching his reaction. "Even smoother than mine."

When she finished combing his hair, Ayaka produced a light blue hair ribbon as if by magic. "Turn around. I'll tie it up for you."

As she did so, their breaths mingled in the mirror.

Whenever Baichen tried to do it himself, Ayaka gently slapped his hand away. "Don't move. Let me."

They ate breakfast beneath the cherry tree in the courtyard.

Ayaka had changed into a pale pink kimono, with an exquisite butterfly ornament in her hair. She looked every bit the graceful young lady-if one ignored her insistence on feeding Baichen.

"There are seaweed flakes in today's omelet~" Ayaka held the food to Baichen's mouth. "Say ah-"

Baichen resignedly opened his mouth, but Ayaka suddenly drew her chopsticks back, bit into the omelet herself, and leaned in-feeding it to Baichen mouth to mouth. Her soft, warm lips stayed pressed against his until she made sure he had swallowed, then she pulled away.

"Is it good?" Ayaka licked the corner of her mouth, her eyes gleaming with the success of her prank.

The intimate act made Baichen's ears burn.

Ayaka, however, seemed to have found a new amusement and fed him every subsequent bite the same way.

[Kamisato Ayaka affection +2%, current: 28%]

[Note: Infatuation with intimate contact]

After breakfast, Ayaka took Baichen to the study to learn "the Kamisato Clan's rules."

She called it learning, but in practice, Ayaka recited the rules while Baichen was required to sit beside her and listen.

They covered everything from dining etiquette to the proper forms of address, down to the smallest detail.

"Did you remember all that?" After a long recitation, Ayaka pinched Baichen's cheek. "You have to call me 'Lady Ayaka' or 'Master,' okay?"

"That's a little..."

"Hmm?" Ayaka narrowed her eyes, sliding her fingers over Baichen's face and pressing gently. "You don't want to?"

Under the pressure, Baichen said it quietly.

Ayaka immediately broke into a radiant smile and gave Baichen a quick peck on the lips as a reward. "Good boy~"

This went on all morning.

Whenever Baichen did as he was told, Ayaka rewarded him with a kiss or a caress;

if he hesitated even a little, she would look hurt until he gave in.

After lunch, Ayaka eagerly announced that she would teach Baichen the tea ceremony.

In the tea room, Ayaka changed into a formal kimono, her every movement supremely elegant.

Baichen, meanwhile, was required to kneel opposite her in a plain white kimono.

"The most important principles of the tea ceremony are harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility." Ayaka explained as she demonstrated how to prepare the tea. "But to me... the most important thing is sharing this time with you, Baichen."

She deliberately turned the tea bowl she offered him so that his lips would meet the spot marked by hers.

Just as Baichen was about to drink, Ayaka suddenly reached out and pressed a hand against the rim. "Wait. Answer me first-who's the most important person to you now?"

The sudden question left Baichen frozen.

When he hesitated, Ayaka's gaze immediately darkened.

(It got held back, sob sob sob)

The afternoon's sword practice was even more of an ordeal.

Ayaka changed into her sword-practice clothes and had Baichen wear a similar outfit-except that his sash was red, in stark contrast to her white one.

"That stance isn't right." Ayaka pressed against him from behind, using both hands to "correct" his grip on the sword.

With her so excessively close, every breath Baichen took was filled with the scent of camellias on her.

"When you swing, do it like this..." Ayaka covered Baichen's hands with her own, guiding his movements.

Whenever Baichen's performance pleased Ayaka, he received a kiss; whenever he made the slightest mistake, he was lightly tapped with the bamboo sword.

"Pay a little more attention~" After another mistake, Ayaka lifted Baichen's chin with the bamboo sword. "If your mind wanders again... you won't need to sleep tonight, will you?"

The threat immediately made Baichen pull himself together, and he didn't dare let his attention wander in the slightest for the rest of practice.

[Kamisato Ayaka affection +3%, current: 31%]

Toward evening, Ayaka suddenly said she had a surprise for Baichen.

She blindfolded him and led him down a long corridor.

When the blindfold came off, Baichen found himself standing in front of a room he had never seen before.

"Starting today, this is your own private room." Ayaka proudly pushed the door open.

The room was much larger than the one he had slept in before, exquisitely decorated yet cozy.

Most striking of all was the large canopy bed.

"Do you like it?" Ayaka hugged Baichen from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder. "I designed it myself.

The books on the shelves were all chosen to suit your tastes, and there are twelve outfits for different seasons in the wardrobe..."

She eagerly described every detail, as if she really were just preparing a surprise for her lover.

Then Baichen saw the hardcover blank book on the desk. The gilded words "() Diary" on its cover stung his eyes.

"This...?"

"It's for recording your daily life." Ayaka happily opened it to the first page. Several days' worth of entries had already been written inside, complete with sketches. "For example, the food you like, your sleeping habits..."

The feeling sent a chill through Baichen's entire body.

Ayaka, however, was oblivious and continued showing him around enthusiastically.

"Ayaka..." Baichen couldn't help interrupting her. "This is a little..."

"Too much?" Ayaka's smile suddenly vanished, and her coral-colored eyes darkened. "You still don't understand, Baichen..." She () Baichen onto the bed, bracing her hands on either side of his ears. "You're not a guest or a lover. You're mine. Isn't it only natural to keep a record?"

The position left Baichen unable to move. Ayaka's long hair hung down around them, forming a small private space, the scent of camellias so strong it was almost suffocating.

"Though..." Her tone suddenly softened again, and her finger gently traced the shape of Baichen's lips. "If you behave yourself, you can have it too~"

[Kamisato Ayaka affection +1%, current: 32%]

They ate dinner in the new room. Ayaka changed into a light yukata and personally fed Baichen sukiyaki.

Unlike her prank at lunch, she behaved herself much better this time-she only asked for a kiss in return every few bites.

"Open wide~" Ayaka picked up a slice of beef coated in beaten egg. "Say ah-"

When Baichen obediently opened his mouth, Ayaka suddenly put the food back in the pot. "Answer me first. What did you learn today?"

"I... I have to listen to you."

"And what else?"

"I can't... I can't think about running away."

"And what else?" She leaned closer, her breath brushing Baichen's lips.

"I'm... Lady Ayaka's."

"Good boy~" She finally fed Baichen the slice of beef as a reward, then demanded a deep kiss as an extra reward.

After dinner, Ayaka announced that they would hold a "little ceremony."

She took an exquisite lacquer box from the cabinet. Inside was a silver ear stud in the shape of the Kamisato Clan crest.

"This will hurt a little." Her voice was frighteningly gentle. "But it's a necessary mark."

Baichen clenched his teeth at the moment of piercing.

Ayaka immediately kissed the spot, licking away the bead of blood that welled up with the tip of her tongue. "Good boy... Now everyone will know who you belong to."

She stepped back to admire her handiwork. "Perfect. Next is..."

(Yes, it got banned again)

"Don't be nervous..." Her voice grew a little huskier. "I'm just going to give you a special bath..."

A wooden tub filled with hot water had already been prepared in the bathroom, with camellia petals floating on the surface.

Ayaka washed Baichen herself, her movements gentle but allowing no resistance.

Her fingers passed over every inch of Baichen's skin, as if she were examining her own collectible.

"Turn around," she ordered softly, her fingers slick with essential oil as they slid toward Baichen's back. "This needs to be washed clean too..."

When her hand moved to (), Baichen instinctively tensed.

Ayaka only chuckled and deliberately slowed her movements. "Could it be you're shy?"

The "bath" lasted nearly an hour.

By the time Baichen was finally allowed out of the tub, his skin was slightly red from soaking in the hot water.

Ayaka wrapped him in a soft bath towel and carefully dried him as if he were something fragile.

"So beautiful..." she murmured, her finger brushing the new stud in Baichen's earlobe. "My Baichen..."

Back in the bedroom, Ayaka took a set of pure white silk pajamas from the wardrobe. "Wear this tonight."

(Yes, it still got banned)

Baichen hesitated, but changed into them under Ayaka's watchful gaze.

Ayaka walked a satisfied circle around Baichen.

"Do you know?" She sat down beside Baichen and leaned in to whisper in his ear. "The more you're like this... the more I want you."

Her lips traveled from Baichen's earlobe to his face, leaving a clear red mark.

Baichen grabbed hold nervously, but Ayaka suddenly stopped.

"That's enough for tonight." She straightened up, her expression returning to its usual sweetness. "Good boys need to take things one step at a time~"

Ayaka lay down beside Baichen and wrapped her arms around his waist as usual.

"Good night, my Baichen." She gently kissed his ear stud. "Have a sweet dream with me in it."

Deep in the quiet of the night, Baichen quietly opened his eyes.

Moonlight filtered through a gap in the curtains, edging Ayaka's sleeping face in silver.

Even in her sleep, she held Baichen tightly, as if afraid he would disappear the moment she let go.

Baichen lightly touched the new adornment on his earlobe. The cold metal reminded him of the absurd reality-he had been thoroughly marked as Kamisato Ayaka's.

More frightening still, amid this day-after-day "taming," he was actually beginning to grow accustomed to this life.

Outside the window, a blood moon quietly rose. In the shadows of the distant trees, a pair of coral-colored eyes seemed to flash-but that couldn't be Ayaka; she was sleeping peacefully beside Baichen.

Unless... this villa held some other secret that Baichen didn't know about?