The mid-morning sun filtered through the ornate paper screens, casting intricate shadows across Ryan's sleeping form.
His chest rose and fell in a slow rhythm, a contented smile playing on his lips.
The tranquil scene was shattered as the door slid open with a bang.
"Darling! Wake up, you irresponsible excuse for a Spirit King!".
Migi's voice, a mix of exasperation and affection, pierced the air, jolting Ryan from his slumber.
He blinked groggily, running a hand through his tousled hair.
"Wha...? Migi, it's too early for your lectures."
The fox spirit sauntered over, her multiple tails swishing playfully.
"Early? It's nearly noon, darling! And that's not even the issue here. Did you or did you not spend the night with Riei?"
Ryan sat up, yawning. "Riei? The snake spirit? I mean, we talked for a while last night, but—"
He doesn't remember.
"Talked?" Migi's eyes narrowed, a hint of jealousy in her voice.
"Is that what they're calling it these days? Because now every female in this household is in an uproar, demanding equal 'talking' time with you!".
The Spirit King's eyes widened, a mix of surprise and amusement dancing in them.
"Wait, what? Migi, I swear, nothing happened. We just discussed some stuff about the Under City and—"
Migi cut him off with a snort, leaning in close.
"Oh, please. You expect me to believe that? You, my charming darling, just 'talked' with the alluring leader of this spirit sanctuary? We found you unconscious and naked in her bathroom".
Ryan couldn't help but chuckle, which only seemed to fuel Migi's conflicted emotions.
"Look, I'm flattered that they think so highly of me, but seriously, nothing happened. Though I gotta admit, the idea isn't entirely—"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence!" Migi's fur stood on end, but she couldn't hide the blush beneath it.
"We're here to keep you safe, not to indulge in your harem fantasies! The Sentinels are still out there, and here you are, turning this hiding spot into your personal dating pool!".
As if on cue, a soft knock came at the door.
"Uhm… Spirit king? Are you awake?" The melodic voice belonged to Aria, one of the bird spirits residing in the house.
Migi shot Ryan a glare that could have melted steel, tinged with possessiveness.
Ryan, for his part, tried to look innocent. "Come in, Aria," he called out, ignoring Migi's frantic head-shaking.
The door slid open, revealing Aria in a flowing, feather-patterned kimono.
She blushed slightly upon seeing Ryan's state of undress.
"I... I was wondering if you'd like to join me for tea in the garden? I've been practicing a new melody I'd love to share with you."
Before Ryan could respond, another voice chimed in from the hallway.
"Oh no, you don't!" This time it was Hana, a flower spirit, her floral-scented perfume wafting into the room. "Ryan promised to help me tend to the east garden today, didn't you, Ryan?"
Ryan blinked, trying to recall making any such promise.
He opened his mouth to speak, but Migi beat him to it, wrapping herself possessively around Ryan's arm.
"Ladies, please! My darling isn't here for your entertainment. He's a fugitive, remember? The Spirit King in hiding?" Migi's voice dripped with exasperation and a hint of smugness.
"Oh, we remember," came a new voice, smooth as silk and cool as a mountain stream.
Riei herself stood in the doorway, her serpentine eyes fixed on Ryan. "But surely, even a king in hiding needs to... relax now and then?".
The atmosphere in the room shifted, charged with an almost electric tension.
Ryan felt a bead of sweat form on his brow, caught between Migi's possessive grip, the hopeful looks of Aria and Hana, and Riei's enigmatic smile.
He cleared his throat. "Uh, ladies, I appreciate the offers, really. But maybe we should focus on why I'm here? You know, training, staying hidden, all that fun stuff?"
Migi's ears perked up, but she didn't loosen her hold. "Yes! Exactly! Training! Which we should start immediately, darling!".
Riei tilted her head, her forked tongue flicking out briefly.
"Training can wait, can't it? Surely our guest deserves a proper tour of the Under City first?"
"Absolutely not!" Migi protested, pressing closer to Ryan. "That's far too risky!"
As the argument escalated, with each spirit vying for Ryan's attention and Migi trying desperately to maintain her claim while keeping order, Ryan couldn't help but lean back and shake his head, a wry smile on his face.
"Some hiding spot this turned out to be," he muttered to himself, watching the chaos unfold.
Part of him knew he should be more concerned about the Sentinels and his training.
But another part – the part that always seemed to get him into trouble – was already wondering just how interesting this day might turn out to be.
But then…
The argument continued to escalate, voices rising and falling like waves in a storm.
Ryan sat on his futon, watching the spectacle with a mixture of amusement and growing weariness.
Migi clung to his arm, her tails bristling as she traded barbs with Riei.
Aria and Hana had fully entered the room now, each trying to stake their claim on the Spirit King's time.
"The gardens need tending!"
"But my song is perfect for relaxation!"
"Darling needs to focus on his training!"
"A tour of the Under City would be most educational..."
Ryan felt a headache building behind his eyes.
The cacophony of voices was becoming too much, and he could feel his power stirring restlessly within him, responding to his agitation.
He took a deep breath, trying to center himself as Migi had taught him, but control was still elusive.
Suddenly, he stood up, gently but firmly detaching Migi from his arm.
The room fell silent as everyone turned to look at him.
There was something different in his bearing now, a hint of the regal power that lay dormant within him.
"Ladies," he said, his voice calm but carrying an unmistakable note of authority, "I appreciate your concern and your offers. But right now, I need some air. I'm going for a walk."