Chapter 27 Fealty

Hearing the unknown concept, Azi turned to Shizu and parroted in confusion.

"A kiss of fealty? What is that? Is it some kind of oath?"

Hearing no answer, Azi began to press Shizu for an explanation but didn't answer, instead she looked more stunned and a bit red as she silently brooded.

It was common knowledge by all of the citizens of the Empire of Yamato that a kiss of fealty was usually done between the upper classes of society to show and swear loyalty to each other. This was the same between Knights and their apprentices.

Shizu knew the basic procedures of a standard kiss of fealty used between Knights and their apprentices but was informed that it was done on the lips. This was a possible way to get Azi to concretely become her apprentice but this had slipped her mind as she was more focused on testing Azi with her trials.

Additionally, due to Shizu's sensibilities, this detail was part of the reason why she believed that the only apprentice she would ever have would have to either be a woman of equal strength or a man who could pass her trials.

On the other hand, Azi had no idea of what the details of the customs were. He could not remember it from any of his remaining memories but he did understand that it was likely referring to how knights in fantasy tales would kiss the hand of a princess to swear a proof of loyalty.

Azi was unsure if his understanding was right due to how he began realizing that he knew little about the world.

He thought about the idea of swearing loyalty to Shizu and irked him a bit. She was violent, prideful, and could be a bit brash at times which were somewhat off putting to him, but he nonetheless considered it.

'Shizu has been a pain in the side to deal with, but she has really helped me these past couple days. From the clothes, the tour of the village, the kengiri incident, and even now. She's given me a lot of help and it would be wrong of me to not pay her back in kind. This should be a good chance to pay it forward.'

Making a snap decision after thinking to himself a bit, Azi nodded to Elder Sung. "Sure, I'm fine with it as long as Shizu agrees."

Elder Sung's grin then turned into a joyful smile as she now looked to Shizu with a smug smile.

"Did you hear that Shizu? It seems your apprentice has no problem with it. So? why not?"

Not wanting to look weak or undecided, Shizu begrudgingly agreed. To her, this was just another way to unintentionally bind Azi to Kujyuri through a tradition but this is just what she told herself.

The thought of kissing him didn't seem that bad as she remembered that she had already nibbled on his neck, so going a bit further was somewhat ok in her mind.

"Ugh alright fine, Now! Azi, I need you to..."

"WAIT!"

Interrupted by Elder Sung, she leaned over the counter to get between them.

"Now Now, let me explain the steps to Azi. You just stay right there."

Elder Sung then hopped over the counter and walked Azi to the side of the room. She then told him the "proper" steps to the kiss of fealty and made sure that the sound of her voice did not reach Shizu's ears.

"First, close his eyes tightly and don't open them. Second, grasp your hands in front of you. Third, Shizu will then come to kiss your clasped hands. Finally, after that, you will open his eyes and Shizu will copy your previous actions and you will copy Shizu's previous actions. Any questions?"

While having a couple of skepticisms, he trusted in Elder Sung's experience so Azi turned to Shizu, grasped his hands together, stood up straight, and closed his eyes.

Giggling, Elder Sung called on Shizu. "Alright Shizu, he is ready, you may begin."

Gulping down the knot in her throat, Shizu approached Azi and grasped both of his shoulders. He stiffened up from her sudden touch, but resolutely shut his eyes closed to honor the custom with all his resolve and attention. Shizu then brought her face slowly to Azi's and as she got closer she began to hear her ever increasing heartbeat in her ears.

From Azi's point of view, he could hear Shizu's soft breaths approaching him and after a few moments he felt a soft sensation on his lips. He was a bit confused by this but nonetheless continued to keep his eyes shut like he was told to do. This became easy to do as his mind felt a strange calm overcome his body.

The feeling made Azi's mind feel as if it was slipping away and his body began to relax to a point where the only support that kept him from falling back were Shizu's hands as she held his shoulders.

From Shizu's point of view, after she got close enough to kiss Azi, she softly pressed her lips against his. She felt his shoulders relax and in a few moments, felt that he was starting to fall backwards.

To stop him from hitting his head, Shizu held his shoulders with a bit more force which unintentionally pressed Azi's lips further to her own which made her feel a heat beginning to build in her face.

The two held the kiss for what felt like a few minutes to them but was only a few seconds for the two observing at the side.

Saki and Elder Sung could only gawk at the events that were playing out in front of them. While Elder Sung did want to mess with them to keep up her streak of being a mischievous type of woman, she soon felt a bit embarrassed at the sight of the two love birds having their extended moment was uncomfortable to witness.

Saki on the other hand was trying to keep herself from laughing as she had already doubled over onto the ground while red in the face from holding in her laughter.

After a good minute, Shizu then pulled back from her kiss with Azi and looked into his now opened eyes. His eyes seemed as if they were a bit glazed over which was due to how he had felt so relaxed from the mind numbing sensation of her kiss.

He had never felt such contact before and it helped to heal his somewhat fractured mind in rebuilding itself.

But at this point, Azi did not truly have full control of his next actions and had let his instincts take over. In his daze, he could not remember what Elder Sung told him to do specifically but remember that he had to kiss something.

So seeing what he considered to be the face of a pretty girl he knew with her eyes closed and her lips perked up, he did what he felt was right.

Azi undid his grasped hands and wrapped them around Shizu's waist. He then got on his tip toes and kissed Shizu on the lips, which caused her to slightly tense.

From their points of view, the kiss seemed to last for another few minutes as neither of the two felt the urge to separate.

Shizu's tense shoulders began to slacken at one point and she began to intentionally lean forward into the kiss. After another few moments passed, Azi was the first one to move and released his lips from her.

Now, both Azi and Shizu had eyes that seemed glazed over and unfocused. Azi still held his grasp around Shizu's waist as he was too inattentive to let go.

For the next few minutes a dead silence rang out as both Shizu and Azi looked on at each other as their minds slowly began to comprehend what had just happened. Soon, reality caught up to them and caused them both to suddenly separate from each other with bright red faces and cheeks.

Azi then asked in a soft and embarrassed tone.

"So, how much was the discount Elder Sung?"

With a smug and proud smile, Elder Sung answered with a wink of her eye.

"For that, you can have it for free."

Offering the bag of items to Azi, he sheepishly accepted it and called to Shizu softly.

"Ummm, Shizu let's... go. We need to get this... done b-before it gets dark."

"S-sure, you can lead... the way." With her tone as weak as his, Shizu reached out her hand and grasped his hand softly as if it were natural. Not minding it, Azi continued on his way as Shizu followed a step behind.

Elder Sung and Saki then watched the two leave the shop hand in hand like a couple and after they left Elder Sung turned to Saki with an expression of surprise.

"I was not expecting that."

Initially, Elder Sung was expecting Azi to kiss Shizu on her grasped hands as a kiss of fealty did not have to be done on the lips. She hoped to reveal this truth about the custom to Shizu to get a good blush out of her and Azi, but it seemed that she got an even better deal for her antics today.

Saki had picked up on this and gave her teacher a wry smile.

"Me neither." Responded Saki. "I was astounded by how much Shizu has changed since the academy. It used to be the norm that she would beat up any boy that got too chummy or close to her. This was why her alias as the Man killer was so concrete when rumors of her started spreading,"

"OH yeah, I remember that. Shizu was so mad when anyone brought up her title to her face but I am glad that she at least finally found a worthy man in her life."

"Me too." Smiled Saki. "I hope someday I get to have a lover like Azi. Hahahah"

"Hahahah, I sure hope so as well. Also, did you forget? You're 18 years old and still single. I sure hope you don't end up with your own alias."

Saki started to pound the counter in mock frustration as she chided Elder Sung for her implication and fired back. Soon the two bickered throughout the remainder of the day about relationships, marriage, and men.

In the end Saki had to admit defeat since she could not deny her age and the fact that she still lacked a boyfriend or any male friends.

(Romance Blooms and a new character gets to mess with a young couple. Be sure to keep reading to learn how this develops.)

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