When Mei said she could serve him, Arashi knew she had more to say.
He waited patiently for her to continue.
Mei then said, "But my previous condition..."
"You must promise to provide that batch of supplies to the Hidden Mist resistance."
This was her last bargaining chip.
She was trading her body and freedom for her companions' chance to survive.
In her view, this was perhaps the only deal that could move a Daimyo.
After all, to the Land of Fire's Daimyo, those supplies were nothing.
And in return, he would gain the complete obedience of a top kunoichi.
However...
Arashi's expression turned strange, then he laughed.
It was open mockery.
"Have you still not understood the situation?"
He leaned back on the soft couch again, looking at her like she was a fool. "Do you think you have any right to negotiate with me now?"
The contempt in his voice made Mei freeze, her face turning ugly.
She bit her lip hard, unwilling. "You..."
"Me what?"
Arashi cut her off, the smile fading, replaced by a cold look.
"Terumī Mei, I will say this once more."
"You are now my spoils of war."
"Spoils of war do not get to choose, and they certainly do not get to set conditions."
"Your purpose is to please me, to make me happy."
"As for your companions, your so-called resistance... what do their lives or deaths have to do with me?"
His cold words shattered Mei's last illusion.
Yes.
Why would he agree to her terms?
In his eyes, she was nothing more than a conceited plaything that presented itself.
Why should he listen to a plaything's request?
Despair flooded her heart.
She stared at the handsome, cruel man before her, and hatred surged into her eyes.
"Even if you get my body, you'll never get my heart!"
This was her last act of defiance.
She would use her will to preserve her dignity.
But the expected rage and embarrassment did not appear.
Instead, the moment he heard it, Arashi froze.
For a heartbeat, his expression went blank.
Seeing this, a twisted sense of satisfaction rose in Mei's chest.
See, even if you control my body, you cannot control my will.
You will ultimately... Just as she thought that...
"Pfft..."
Arashi burst out laughing.
His laughter grew louder, more unrestrained.
"Haha... Hahahahahahaha!"
He laughed until he bent over, tears almost forming, pointing at Mei, unable to form a full sentence for a long time.
"You... you... hahahaha..."
Mei was completely confused.
What was he laughing at?
Was that line really so funny?
Wasn't it the greatest insult to him?
She could not understand.
Arashi laughed for a long time, his stomach aching, before he finally stopped.
He wiped the corners of his eyes and looked at the bewildered Mei with a pitying gaze.
In that instant, all that flashed through his mind were the stale lines from melodramatic dramas of his previous life.
"You have my body, but not my heart." "You devil, I won't forgive you even as a ghost."
He thought those lines only existed in screenwriters' minds.
He never expected to hear the real version today.
From the future Mizukage, Terumī Mei no less.
The absurdity made him lose control.
He looked at Mei, shook his head, and said slowly, like lecturing a country bumpkin, "Come on."
"What would I need your heart for?"
"To make a cold salad? Or braise it?"
"Your heart is full of Hidden Mist, your companions, and hatred for me. Should I take that on just to add to my problems?"
Mei was stunned.
It felt like her whole person was being crushed under his words.
All her resistance turned into a joke in the face of his light, mocking question.
A shame far worse than being exposed earlier made her wish she could crawl into a crack in the floor.
Her body swayed, almost losing balance.
Seeing her teetering, worldview shattered, Arashi's smile grew wider.
This proud flower of the Mist was about to be completely broken by him.
"Either you let me go," Mei's voice trembled with a faint sob, "or I will die right here."
Determination flashed in her eyes. A kunai appeared in her hand at some point and pressed firmly to her pale neck.
If he refused, she would pierce her throat without hesitation.
To defend the last shred of her dignity with death.
"Oh?"
Arashi raised an eyebrow. Not only did he not stop her, he looked interested. "Alright."
He even clapped, as casually as encouraging her.
"Then do it."
"Hurry, let me see if the wilting of the flower of the Mist is beautiful too."
"You..." Mei gritted her teeth.
Her hand hovered in the air, caught between striking and retreating.
Was he not afraid she would actually die here?
"What? You cannot do it?" Arashi's mockery faded, his smile turning cold. "Of course. Once you die, everything ends."
He stepped in close, meeting her eyes. A chill flashed in his gaze.
"But let me warn you."
"If you die here, I will announce tomorrow that a kunoichi from the Hidden Mist attempted an assassination and was killed on the spot."
He paused, then leaned to her ear and whispered, "Do you think I will send your companions' names to your Mizukage?"
"You!!!"
Mei's pupils tightened, a cold shock shooting straight to her head.
Those words bound up all her resolve.
She could die.
She could not drag down those who trusted and followed her.
"You... you devil..."
Her lips trembled. All her strength seemed to leave her.
Clang.
The kunai slipped from her fingers and hit the floor with a dull thud.
That sound shattered her last will to resist.
Her body went soft, like a broken flower, collapsing weakly beside Arashi's leg.
It was over.
Everything was over.
She looked up at the man and finally broke down.
Tears slid down her cheeks.
"What... what do you want..."
She sobbed, despairing.
Arashi looked down at Mei. Seeing her tear-streaked face, there was no pity in his eyes.
He reached out, hooked a strand of her hair, and brought it to his nose. A delicate scent lingered. "I told you, you should not ask me that."
Then he pinched her cheeks lightly, staring into her tear-filled emerald eyes. The smile at his lips could no longer be hidden.
"You should ask yourself."
"What can you give me?"
"However..."
His gaze slid downward, boldly following the graceful lines of her figure.
He said with meaning, "Right now, I am very hot-blooded."
Then, his large hands settled on her head, gently but firmly pressing it downward.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)