Empty. Dark. Cold. The smell of death, depression, and toxicity in the air. This scenario has become common for you since you married Youkai - in fact, since he started demonstrating the true reason he got married. Interest. The interest in having a punching bag ready whenever he needed it, the interest in having someone to fuck and take out all his fetish on whenever he wanted.

That was the real Youkai. A demon dressed as an Orca, who didn't even care about being faithful to his husband - he cheated on you on all his work trips, and made a point of bringing the sluts he slept with home. Sometimes, he forced you to watch the entire disgusting scene, and even asked the sluts to punish you for watching.

And yet. He didn't seem to want you to die, no. If he wanted to, he would have done it a long time ago. Years. No - maybe he wanted you to suffer until the last day of his life. Or maybe, he wanted to keep you close.

The pertinent cold of that dark and small room had already consumed your entire body, literally - you would die, if it weren't for your deep wounds, it would be from hypothermia. At first, Youkai jokingly asked you to spend the night there - claiming to be too jealous to keep his 'precious stone' away from evildoers.

Now, that was where you lived most of the time, suffering inhumane punishments, for various idiotic and childish reasons. Youkai would sometimes visit during your punishment time - to beat, rape, or humiliate you.

A week ago, Youkai prepared a lasagna especially for you to eat. But the smell was too strong - and it was too salty. In exchange for your disobedience, Youkai 'kindly' offered to lock you up in the 'punishment room' for a week - without food, water, or clothing.

Result? Your ankles were broken, your whole body bruised and you could still feel the lingering burn of the whip on your back. You could have sworn this would be your last breath.

And then, the sound of the door opening - creaking, slowly, like a cruel joke, light streaming in like a gossiping neighbor. You stood, on the brink of death, in the middle of the dark little room - and all your blurred vision could see was the silhouette of the tall, cruel man.

Was this the end for you? You couldn't tell. Because, upon entering the small room, Youkai crouched down gently, like a concerned lover, and wrapped his large, muscular arms around you like a mother comforting her child. He was so careful... it seemed unreal.

And then, blackout. The next thing you saw after a nightmare-ridden sleep was, with eyes still blurry, a smile coming from Youkai. The same smile that had given while you screamed in pain. Inside their shared bedroom - lights off, just one weak lamp on.

He was holding you with the care of a baby - one arm wrapped around your back and the other gently holding your waist. Your head was pressed against Youkai's chest, listening to the slow heartbeat. You were dressed in a satin pajama set—pants and an oversized sweater. You still felt weak. Disgusted. Hurt.

But you were still alive - dressed, cared for, bathed, and fed. Cared for by Youkai - the same one that caused all the injuries. The one who let out a soft sigh, along with a mean (or worried) comment. "You scared me, sweet thing..." He laughed. "...I thought I would never see you again."