Capítulo 8: VII
Issei took a breath and calmed himself. After all he wasn't the one who'd been spanked. Koneko deserved to be comforted. Poor thing, I can't even imagine how much pain she must be in. He felt her small hands reaching around his back, her arms tightly embracing him even as her body trembled against him wracked with sobs. He smiled softly as he realized Koneko was imitating the way he had comforted her. She rubbed his back gently with her right hand, and whispered quiet comforting words to him.
"I'm okay, onii-sama. I deserved it; you didn't do anything bad. I promise I'll never lie to you again. Don't feel bad. You did what you had to do."
She tiredly rested her cheek against his. Issei stroked her hair and gently held her to his chest. Onii-sama. He felt older, more responsible. That's the first time she's called me that. It feels good. I hope I can live up to it. The two of them huddled together warmed by a mutual understanding that they had caused each other's pain, and they both just wanted more than anything to comfort the other.
***
After several minutes, Issei gently slipped out of her grasp and carefully pulled away from her as he laid her on his bed on her stomach. Koneko looked up frowning sadly missing the warm snuggling.
Issei smiled softly and motioned for her to stay on the bed. She pouted but obeyed curling up in a little ball and rolling over onto her side.
"Ouch!" she squealed when her thigh hit the bed and quickly returned to the safe position Issei had placed her in on her stomach.
Issei flashed her a sympathetic smile. "Hold still, dear. You're going to be sore for quite a while."
Koneko sighed and stretched her body out on his bed. Her tail curled over her back twitching back and forth.
Issei squatted down as he opened the mini-fridge beside his bed. He searched somewhat noisily for a moment before locating a small glass jar which he quickly removed before shutting the door. He climbed back onto the bed lying down on his side leaning over her back supporting his weight on his elbow.
He unscrewed the black plastic cover from the jar and dropped it on the bed behind him releasing a wave of lavender into the air. Koneko sniffed the air purring in delight. Lavender-scented aloe mixed with numbing gel. This should really help. He hoped.
She looked over her shoulder curiously, but couldn't see what he was doing from that angle. She began to shift to her knees when a gentle but firm hand on her lower back held her in place.
"Please, Koneko-chan, hold still for a moment. It'll be worth it. I promise."
Koneko grudgingly returned to lying on her stomach, her tail curling and uncurling impatiently.
Issei dipped his fingers into a spearmint colored cream and positioned his hand over the catgirl's alarmingly crimson rear.
"This will probably sting a little," he warned. "But try to bear it and not move, okay?"
He heard Koneko gulp and hold her breath.
Issei slipped a single lotion-covered finger onto the apex of her right cheek, which glowed an angry scarlet as it had suffered many repeated strokes from both his hand and the brush. As he had predicted, the pressure of his touch pulled a whimper from the poor girl's lips, but she obediently held her position. His other fingers joined in spreading the refrigerator-cooled ointment over the layered handprints. Koneko sighed in relief as the cream immediately doused her burning skin. The heat receded instantly, and though she squeezed her eyes tightly in anticipation of searing pain as Issei's massaging grew heavier, it never came. The pain vanished wherever his fingers touched.
It was magical. The pure relief, the absence of pain, she had never felt anything so wonderful. Issei reached into the jar again as Koneko whined at the loss of his fingers spreading the panacea across the untreated marks. He scooped out a fair amount of cream and spread it across both his hands. Then he shifted into a kneeling position straddling the backs of her knees before gently placing his hands on her thighs.
"Mmmmrreeow." She purred in response. Her thighs sore from the biting hairbrush were instantly cured of their pain. As Issei gently caressed her baby-soft skin, Koneko lifted her bottom to meet his massage and rubbed it purposefully into his cupped hands. His palms slick with ointment glided effortlessly across her backside smearing the wonderful medicine all over.
The alleviation of the pain restored Koneko's spirits greatly. If he's helping me get rid of the pain, it means he's not mad anymore! It means I'm not being punished anymore. The conclusion filled her with happiness and warmth and utter relief. It was finally over. She had paid dearly for her transgressions, but it was over now. She wouldn't soon forget today.
As Koneko lay still purring at his ministrations, Issei couldn't help but try to imagine if it were physically possible to spank her ten times harder than he had. It was impossible for him to comprehend. I wonder if that's why she spends most of her time in regular form. Nekomata is kinda overkill on the senses. A thought suddenly occurred to him causing him to chuckle.
"Hm?" a contented Koneko asked drowsily.
Issei's lips curved into a sly grin. "I can't tell you… you'll call me a perv!"
Koneko let out an amused sniff. "Not likely," She shot back, "I can't handle the consequences!"
Issei laughed softly in response.
"Alright then… well I was just thinking. You gain ten times the sense of touch when you're in nekomata form, right?"
She nodded wondering where this was going.
"Well," he joked. "Imagine how amazing sex will be!"
Koneko's face turned redder than her bottom. The thought had honestly never occurred to her, but now flashes of Issei undressing her and touching her and kissing her in romantic ways all with the unparalleled enhanced senses in her cat form shot through her mind raising her embarrassment to new heights.
"Hentai!" she squeaked.
Issei chuckled and playfully swatted her naked rear. He watched the red, silky skin turn white, then flush red again.
"Ow-wow-wow!" she whimpered shrilly in a tiny voice as fresh tears trickled down her cheeks.
"Oh!" Issei immediately regretted it. "I'm so sorry; I forgot!"
Koneko mewed in pain softly as her right upper cheek flared in heat again.
Issei dove for the jar and scooped out a generous amount, quickly dolloping it on the stinging area. Koneko breathed out in relief as the heat and soreness evaporated.
"Mean." She whispered.
"Phew!" Issei breathed aloud. "Sorry, Koneko-chan, I didn't mean to; sometimes I don't think."
"D-don't worry…" Koneko began through watery eyes. "My h-healing is ac-accelerated too!" Koneko giggled much to Issei's surprise. "Arigato, Issei-sama."
***
The sun peaked through the stratosphere in the midafternoon slowly burning off the rain clouds. As Issei walked down the hall to Rias' room, he watched the sun beams cut through the windows like lasers.
What will she think of me? I have so much to tell her, but… I don't know how she'll react to any of it. I have to tell her that what Koneko told her… I actually did say… only not as resolutely negative as she put it… I have to tell her about Koneko too. She's her charge; Rias is head of this family. She deserves to know that I took it upon myself to discipline Koneko…though I don't know how she'll react to that either. I never asked permission. Will she be angry? There might be severe consequences.
He finally reached the door to her room. As he raised his hand to knock, Koneko's words flashed through his mind. "You have to tell her everything. Nee-sama is a good person. She'll let you explain yourself. Just… be honest with her…don't be afraid and let that control you… like I did." Koneko had blushed then gently rubbing her bottom.
"Is it okay if I tell her about… this?" he had asked.
Koneko's face had burned with embarrassment, but after a moment she acquiesced. "She'll know sooner or later… You shouldn't keep it from her, and I shouldn't keep from her why I was so desperate to make you look bad. And… if it helps. Tell her I'm not…not angry about being punished." Issei had raised an eyebrow. "I'm grateful… actually." She whispered.
"Come in already, Issei!" came the cheerful call from behind the door.
Issei jumped slightly. He hadn't knocked yet.
"Quit brooding out there; come talk to me."
Issei rolled his eyes, he supposed a devil with as much power as Rias would certainly be able to sense his approach.
"Coming," he called opening the door and shutting it behind him.
Rias' smile made an impressive attempt to cover the worry in her bright blue-green eyes, but Issei knew her well enough to see passed that. The scarlet-haired beauty sat at her desk in her usual Kuoh Academy uniform her chair turned half-way toward the door as he walked in.
Issei returned her smile nervously. Where do I even start? He wondered as he approached.
Rias sensed his anxiety and decided to let him take his time rather than push him. "I'm so glad you came to see me." She offered sincerely. "I mean, I hoped you would, but you seemed so upset earlier." She paused to gauge his reaction. When he didn't reply, but also didn't seem put off by her remarks, she continued, "Well I didn't know if I'd see you or not." She smiled warmly.
This is what's so hard. Issei thought. She seems so sincere, you can't help but trust her. My problems are probably all in my head, just like Koneko's were. I couldn't face Koneko though after trying to teach her to be honest and open, if I won't do the same.
"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, Pres." He returned. "I… had some things to take care of… and some emotions to sort out, but… there's some things you should know. And… some things I want to share with you." He took a breath trying to sort his thoughts.
Rias nodded seriously and waited for him to continue.
"I…I don't know how you're going to react to some of this. I'm…" His tone dropped. "I'm afraid of what you'll think of me."
Rias motioned to her bed for him to sit. When he did, she got up from her desk and sat down beside him. Her hand sympathetically reached up to his shoulder as she looked deeply into his eyes.
"Issei-kun, you can always talk to me. Nothing is off limits. I only want to help you however I can. You know I won't judge you too quickly, and I'll try not to jump to conclusions. You have my trust, and that isn't something that can be easily gained or lost."
He nodded meeting her eyes with a tender smile. He felt a little more relaxed. Rias could be hard as steel to her enemies, but she was tender and fair to her subordinates.
"So," she continued. "Share with me what you're comfortable with, and I'll do my best to help you sort it out, okay?"
Her motherly tone, put him at ease, even if it did make him feel a bit childish.
"Okay," he agreed sighing. "Where do I start…some of this ties together, but I don't know which is most important."
Rias nodded and suggested, "How about we start with what happened this morning, and then we can move from there."
Issei chuckled and closed his eyes. "That's right smack in the middle." He explained in response to the silent question in her eyes. "But okay, here it goes." He began. "When I got home this morning, I was excited to give Koneko a gift, because I thought we were getting along better recently, and I wanted to encourage that."
Rias nodded approvingly. "I noticed as well. You've been trying very hard to get along with her, haven't you? I'm proud of you."
Issei smiled nervously wondering if she would still feel that way when she learned how he had gone about getting along with her. Well we'll get to that later…"Thanks, she's a good girl at heart." He admitted.
Rias beamed at him.
"Well as I was saying, I rushed down to her room because I didn't want any of the girls to be jealous because I couldn't afford to get all of them something." He explained apologetically.
Rias closed her eyes and flashed him an understanding smile almost laughing at how cute he was.
Issei blushed but continued. "So when I got to the door, I was about to knock, but then I heard you two fighting."
Rias opened her eyes and met his intensely.
"I wasn't trying to eavesdrop; I swear!" He quickly blurted.
"How…how much of that conversation did you hear?" she asked.
"Not much, honestly." He admitted. "I showed up right about when you told her, Koneko, that she shouldn't always put me down, and then she said something about the two of us could just be friends…" He blushed and hurried on, "But I could still be your pawn…."
Rias' pretty cheeks colored slightly as well, but her natural grace and dignity shone through. He could see she wanted to interrupt, but was waiting courteously for him to finish.
"And then, well, you reminded her that you're the king and can do as you like. Then you opened the door and she… she told you that I'm a pervert and that—"
"That's enough, Issei." She cut in. "You don't have to defend yourself from that lie." Rias shook her head angrily. "I know you don't think my love for you is a joke."
Her tone was certain, but her eyes were waiting desperately for him to confirm. She had obviously been thinking heavily on Koneko's words as well.
Koneko isn't normally one to lie. Which makes this all the more difficult on Rias-sama. Her beloved Koneko whom she's known for years and her 'crush' which is she to believe? She says me, but her eyes say "Please be right." I can't blame her though.
"Pres, Koneko wasn't lying when she said that I said those things…" he began slowly.
Rias recoiled as if he'd slapped her. Her hand fell from his shoulder, and he thought he saw the sparkle of a tear in her eye.
"I see." She said finally in a mostly calm tone.
"Rias-sama, please." Issei pleaded.
"No, you don't have to explain any further, Issei. What else do you need to tell me?" She asked, her tone turning steely in effort to cover her hurt.
Issei could see the pain in her eyes. Her breathing and tone changed dramatically. He had been careless with the way he had begun the conversation. He reached for her hand, but her eyes narrowed, her anger kindled and fused with her aura. Issei knew he dare not touch her. His hand stopped half way and dropped to his side.
"Yes, I do!" He exclaimed. "I do need to explain."
Rias was taken aback. She started to cut him off, but thought better of it. I told him he could tell me anything, and I wouldn't jump to conclusions. Yet here I am doing just that. She nodded ever so slightly permitting him to continue.
"I did say those words…" he began again. "Or something similar to them at least, but not in the way she made them sound!" He finished hotly. "She twisted them to hurt you because she knew it would poison our relationship. She knew it would make you doubt me!"
Rias' eyes widened in surprise at his sudden fury. She said nothing entranced by the fiery glint in his eyes.
"It worked too didn't it?" He asked her.
Rias' eyes darted away from his guiltily, but found their way back.
"You doubted me, even just a little maybe? Who could blame you?"
"You could." She said softly. "Yes. I was…afraid that you really thought the idea of us being together could be a joke. That idea—it was very painful to me."
Issei had never felt more sympathy for her than at that moment. Her heart was pleading with him to tell her it wasn't true. Even though he had literally just told her he had said those devastating words.
"Rias-sama, I had a conversation with Koneko, the other day, after I accidentally walked in on you in the bathroom."
They both blushed, but Rias' lips formed a small smile at the memory.
"She insulted me if you remember, same as she did during the demonstration the other day. So I went to speak with her again, because I thought we had cleared that up already."
Rias nodded a spark of unspoken knowledge in her eyes.
Issei breathed heavily. Now or never. Here goes…! "I told her something… shared with her a deeply rooted fear that I can't seem to shake. And… and I want to share it with you now. To help you understand.
I know I'm a coward…" he added quickly.
Rias opened her mouth to deny that, but he held his hand up to stop her.
"Wait till you hear it before you say it isn't true."
Rias conceded and let him go on.
"You remember the circumstances that brought me to you and made me one of your family?"
Rias nodded seriously. "Of course."
"Yuuma Amano."
Rias bristled in response to the name.
"She was a beautiful, smart, talented girl," He could feel Rias' jealousy building with each compliment he gave her.
"Or so I thought." He paused noting Rias' temper cooling. "And she came to me, to me! A loser and a pervert had somehow attracted someone like her. I thought she saw something special in me. And that made me feel valuable and happy. After all, why would someone like her want me? But it turned out to be a trick. She killed me. There was never anything special about me. She never thought I was worth anything after all."
Rias frowned, her intelligent eyes saddened and understanding. She stared him straight in the eye, a piercing gaze that looked into his soul. "I am not that scum, Issei."
Issei hung his head ashamed.
"I…I know that." He asserted weakly.
"But you can't help wondering… wondering if at some point you'll discover I only want you for your sacred gear? Or for your obsessive protection?" she asked both hurt and understanding.
Issei couldn't meet her eyes. He nodded.
"I…I want so much to throw away this weight that she forced on me. But I'm scared."
"Issei." She called his name quietly.
He looked up into her eyes. They shone deeply with sympathy and care.
"I understand why you're afraid." Her hand reached up to his cheek. She stroked it softly. She drew her hand back and slapped him hard across the same cheek. Her eyes blazed. "Don't you dare compare me to that trash!" Her voice rose indignantly. "I have never treated you with anything but respect. Don't you dare try to tell me that I have to suffer your distrust because she hurt you."
Issei's cheek stung, but her words seared like hot iron. She's right. How can I punish her for what Amano did? Rias hasn't done anything to earn my distrust. It isn't fair. She's done everything she could to help me.
Rias' fury cooled as quickly as it had risen. She stroked the red handprint on his cheek with the back of her fingers, but her touch was sympathy, not apology.
"Issei, how can you blame Koneko for projecting her fears onto you when you're doing the very same to me?"
The simple question sliced through Issei's defenses, a searing blade through spider-web shields. Issei was stunned silent.
She closed her eyes and shook her head. "I don't mean to minimize your suffering. I know it was cruel and difficult, and trauma like that leaves scars, but you are stronger than that. The man I respect is better than this. The man I can see myself falling for respects me for me; he doesn't view me through the mirror of someone else's reflection."
Issei had never felt so low. He had completely dishonored her by not trusting her as the friend and lover she had proven herself to be. His hypocrisy was so complete it was almost funny.
"Koneko…" he whispered.
Rias nodded seriously glad to see him catching on. "You had the audacity to punish her for something you yourself are doing." She said angrily.
Issei fell from the bed to his knees in shame.
"Do you think she didn't notice? Of course she did. She followed your example, Issei. And you spanked her for it."
Issei gulped realizing not only did Rias know he had punished Koneko, but she had seen right through his hypocrisy. He bowed his head to the floor. "I'm sorry…" he offered his tone sincere and quiet.
"It's not me, you should be apologizing to, Issei." Rias reminded him. "I told you the other day to be a man and deal with Koneko. You did that." She stated matter-of-factly. "But a man knows his failings and isn't too prideful to apologize to his subordinates."
Issei jumped to his feet conviction surging through him. "You're right!" he exclaimed. "I have to make this right with her."
Rias smiled genuinely. "Go." She ordered.
Issei turned toward the door, then quickly turned back and for a moment pressed his lips to Rias'. Her surprise was so complete she couldn't stop him. He pulled away quickly, smiling into her saucer-sized eyes; a playful twinkle sparkled in his.
"Rias-sama, I'm ashamed to have disgraced myself by treating you unfairly." He apologized sincerely. "You have been always my friend, my confidant. I hope you'll continue to see me as the man I'll become so that I'll be worthy of you! Forgive me for being a fool." He lowered his head humbly.
Rias chuckled. "You're forgiven, Issei-kun." She said simply. "Let's continue to strengthen our friendship. If ever something comes between us, I expect that you will come to me before it poisons our bonds again. Is that clear?"
"Yes ma'am!" he acknowledged saluting.
Issei sprinted to the door and opened it, but was stopped by the call of his name. He turned back to Rias.
"Remember, dear, that you needn't apologize to Koneko for punishing her… her crimes certainly earned that, but for failing to see your own error."
Issei nodded, the distinction was important he noted. Koneko had accepted her punishment because she knew what she did was wrong. If he apologized for that, it would leave her confused and undo what he had taught her. Instead, he had to apologize to her for misleading her with his own fear.
"When you're finished. Please come back, I want to discuss some spell training with you." She added.
Surprised, Issei furrowed his eyebrows, but didn't question her.
"Okay. Thank you again…" he blushed. "For slapping some sense into me!"
With that he closed the door behind him and ran off to find Koneko.
Rias smiled softly to herself and leaned back on her bed. You're already that man, Issei.
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