Untouched by the Outbreak

Yumi stood frozen, watching in shock as Sachiko leaned into Ryo, completely unguarded and unashamed. His hand slipped under Sachiko's clothes with an intimacy that felt both possessive and undeniable, an unspoken bond between them.

Ryo's voice dropped low, a near-growl as he whispered to Sachiko, "You're mine." His tone was resolute, as though sealing a promise that extended far beyond the moment, marking her as his alone.

For Yumi, it was as if a door to their world had opened just slightly—enough to glimpse the depth of their connection but also the boundaries she couldn't cross without surrendering herself fully. This man had an intense hold over those he claimed, binding them with the fierce promise of both protection and control.

Yumi then heard Sachiko say to Ryo in a gentle, casual voice, "Ryo... not now... you still need to save that for later," her eyes drifting deliberately toward Yumi.

Ryo shifted his gaze to Yumi, then back to Sachiko, sighing with irritation. "This crybaby?" he muttered, unimpressed. "All she does is whimper and cry. What if that's all she does later, too? If I wanted pleasure, I already have you. Why don't we just feed her to the zombies instead?"

Fear surged through Yumi as she felt her knees buckle, instinctively kneeling on the floor without knowing what else to do. Beg? Plead? The words caught in her throat as she trembled under Ryo's cold, scrutinizing glare.

Sachiko placed a steady hand on Ryo's arm, her voice smooth and coaxing as she leaned in closer to him. "Come on, Ryo," she said with a persuasive tone. "You can't deny she has a good body, and her face is... lovely." Her eyes flicked over Yumi appraisingly. "Besides, she looks like a virgin. It'd be such a waste not to claim her."

Ryo, still visibly stirred by Sachiko's closeness, didn't argue with her words, his frustration easing slightly. She knew how to sway him; even his initial disdain for Yumi faltered under Sachiko's confident encouragement.

Yumi felt a rush of relief as Sachiko's persuasive words seemed to calm Ryo's hostility. Deep down, Yumi knew that if he had truly decided to throw her—and her prototype—out as zombie fodder, there would be no one to stop him. But with Sachiko's intervention, her fate had taken a different turn, at least for now.

She sank back slightly, her shoulders tense with resignation. She was acutely aware of what awaited her; the knowledge weighed heavily, eroding her will to resist. There was no choice here—only acceptance. In her heart, she braced herself for what she knew was coming, her thoughts a whirl of numbness and surrender.

Yumi froze as Ryo called her over, his voice firm. She hesitated, then rose and took careful steps toward him, her heart racing. When he gestured for her to sit on his lap, she followed without resistance, feeling the weight of inevitability in every movement. Ryo leaned in and kissed her, his hold possessive. Yumi didn't resist; she had already decided there was no point in fighting.

In her mind, she held onto that thought, grounding herself in it as her world shrank to the moment. She stayed still, focusing on the faint echoes of relief that Sachiko's earlier intervention had brought, understanding she'd reached a point of acceptance.

The kiss lingered, Ryo's grip around Yumi tightening as he held her close. His possessiveness was palpable, and Yumi could feel the intensity in his embrace, almost as if he were staking his claim with every second. Sachiko leaned against Ryo's shoulder, watching the scene with a pleased smile, clearly satisfied.

Yumi hesitated, then slowly, she began to respond to the kiss, her movements tentative and unsure, inexperienced in every way. This was her first kiss—something she'd never thought would happen, let alone like this. But with a quiet resolve, she let herself fall into the moment, understanding now that resistance was a memory.

Sachiko watched, her eyes alight with a mixture of amusement and satisfaction, observing Yumi's hesitance, the uncertainty in her return to Ryo's kiss. When Ryo finally pulled back, Sachiko leaned closer, her voice soft as she whispered to him, "Looks like you've claimed her first kiss too, Ryo."

Ryo shifted his gaze to Sachiko, a glint of nostalgia flashing in his eyes. "Just like with you," he murmured, a faint smirk on his face. "You were just as inexperienced, remember?" He reached for her, bringing her in close, the moment binding the three in an unspoken understanding of their shared, complex connection.

Ryo pulled Sachiko onto his lap beside Yumi, his possessive gaze taking in both of them before leaning in to kiss Sachiko deeply. She melted into the kiss, her familiarity with him evident, and her hand rested on his shoulder, grounding them both in the moment.

Sachiko's eyes flickered briefly to Yumi, who sat quietly, looking away as though unsure where to place herself amidst the intensity. As Ryo finally pulled back, his gaze lingered on Sachiko with a rare softness, then shifted to Yumi, as if to wordlessly communicate his command over them both. The room was filled with an intense silence, each of them aware of the strange bond that kept them there.

Ryo sat on the edge of the sofa, his posture firm and eyes intense as he looked at the two women on his lap—Sachiko and Yumi. Both were beautiful in their own ways, one bold and devoted, the other timid and unsure. The warmth of their presence filled the room, and as he wrapped his arms around them, he felt his possessive nature strengthen.

It was a reminder of how far he'd come since the early days of survival, when he had no power over his surroundings or those he loved. Now, with Sachiko leaning confidently into him and Yumi surrendering quietly, he knew they were his to protect.

His gaze darkened momentarily, drifting to memories of Sakura and Aiko, his first and second companions—women who had stayed by his side before he even understood his own immunity, before he could command the undead. They had been taken from him by the government's cruelty and ruthlessness, a betrayal that lingered like a wound.

The memory of their deaths fueled his anger, yet he kept it contained, his expression tightening only briefly. It wasn't their fault, he reminded himself, feeling the weight of his own mistakes.

As he held them close, Ryo's mind turned to resolve. Losing Sakura and Aiko had shaped his view of loyalty and possession—no one would take from him again. Sachiko and Yumi were his now, his responsibility, his to protect and command. He would never let anyone, not even the remnants of the government, come close to them.

Experience new tales on empire

Looking down at the two women, he tightened his hold slightly, his silent promise locked into his serious gaze.

Ryo's arms held them firmly as he whispered, almost as if speaking to himself, "Don't die…"

Sachiko's eyes widened, taken aback. She'd never seen Ryo express this kind of vulnerability, this raw hint of pain that briefly softened his intense, guarded expression. His usual steel-like gaze had shifted, something dark and haunting flashing across it—a depth of sadness that even his hardened demeanor couldn't mask.

Sachiko felt her heart clench. She could sense the weight of loss in his words, the ghosts of those he couldn't protect. Memories of his fallen companions must still linger, shadows that wouldn't let go. Ryo had always projected an aura of invincibility and control, but in this moment, she saw the scars he bore within.

He wasn't just someone claiming others—he was a protector, someone whose loyalty was etched deeply in his actions, even if he rarely spoke of it.

Yumi, unfamiliar with the layers of his past, felt confused by the unexpected shift in his mood. She glanced at Sachiko, sensing that there was something unspoken between them—something tied to Ryo's pain. It unsettled her, yet, at the same time, she couldn't deny the strange sense of safety she felt under his watch.

In that shared silence, Sachiko gently leaned her head on Ryo's shoulder, her hand resting softly against his chest. She didn't say a word but allowed her presence to reassure him. No matter what darkness lingered in his past, she silently promised she would stand by him.

Ryo shifted his gaze to Yumi, his dark eyes holding hers intently. Without a word, he leaned in, pressing a deep, possessive kiss on her lips, his grip firm and unyielding. It wasn't a gentle kiss; it was intense, filled with a silent command, a clear mark of his claim. As he pulled back, his voice dropped to a low murmur, "You're mine, and mine only."

Yumi, taken aback by his intensity, sat silently, her heartbeat racing. She didn't protest, didn't turn away—she simply accepted his words, recognizing the finality in his tone. She was now bound to him, her fate intertwined with his, in a way she hadn't anticipated.

Sachiko, watching from beside him, couldn't help but smile. This was the side of Ryo she'd come to admire, the fierce, possessive part of him that promised protection and loyalty as deeply as it claimed. She leaned closer, wrapping herself into the warmth of his embrace.

This wasn't just about control—it was Ryo's way of keeping them close, of making sure they were safe in a world that had taken so much from him.