Kaito and Eve moved quietly through the dense jungle, the towering trees casting long shadows over their path. The thick canopy above let through only slivers of light, dappling the forest floor with patches of gold and green. Unlike the boundless energy that had driven him earlier in the day, Kaito now walked with slower, more deliberate steps, exhaustion weighing on his shoulders. The excitement that had initially fueled his exploration had dulled, replaced by a growing sense of fatigue.
It had been Kaito's second time venturing into the wilderness, but today's experience had taken a different turn. The wild animals, once the source of his curiosity and thrill, had become unintentional victims of Eve's lethal protection. Every creature that wandered too close, even with the slightest hint of malice, met a swift and violent end at her hands. Kaito had been in awe at first—watching her deadly precision as she sliced through the beasts, teaching him the brutal reality of survival after their encounter with the demonic bear. Heads were crushed, limbs severed, and bodies shredded into countless pieces, scattering across the jungle floor like shredded leaves in the wind. The carnage left behind was staggering, fast, methodical, and overwhelming.
Each time Kaito had set his sights on a creature he hoped to tame, it ended in disappointment. Instead of forging bonds with the animals, as he'd imagined, most either fled in terror or were swiftly eliminated by Eve before he could even make a move. The animals, as he quickly realized, weren't keen on being tamed—they were protective of their territory and saw him as an intruder. Despite his efforts—chasing, climbing, and searching the underbrush—nothing had gone as planned. The jungle had become a graveyard of missed opportunities and scattered remains.
As they continued their walk, Kaito felt the weight of the day press heavily on him. What he had thought would be an adventure full of discovery had turned into something entirely different. The excitement that once burned within him had faded, replaced by a creeping sense of disappointment. His youthful thrill for exploration had dimmed in the face of the grim reality he now saw.
His pout deepened as he thought about the missed opportunities—the cute baby rabbits that had refused to come with him, and the strange, four-winged ostrich-like creatures that had attempted to fly with him whenever he dared to climb above the canopy. It was almost as if the jungle itself was mocking him, offering glimpses of possibility only to pull them away at the last moment.
Still, Eve remained alert, unaffected by the carnage she had wrought. As Kaito took a glimpse of her, expecting to see the fierce protector he had come to rely on, he was instead met with a tender expression—a look as innocent as a baby's. Her eyes, normally sharp and vigilant, seemed to soften, a gentle warmth replacing the steely resolve she had displayed earlier.
Feeling his gaze on her, Eve's fox ears twitched uncontrollably, a subtle hint of her sensitivity to his attention. Her long, fluffy tail swayed rhythmically in the air, as if expressing her unspoken joy at being noticed. Despite the trail of bloodied remains behind them, Eve's demeanor appeared oddly out of place, almost playful.
Kaito blinked in disbelief, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. He had seen her cold and deadly in battle, yet here she was, looking at him with a sweet, almost childlike innocence, her animal features reacting in a way that made her seem more like a pet seeking affection than the fierce warrior she had been moments ago.
"What's with that look, Eve?"
Kaito asked, shaking his head, a small, tired grin tugging at his lips. Eve tilted her head, her eyes wide and innocent.
"What look, Master?"
He sighed, running a hand through his messy hair.
"You've been turning everything that moves into jungle confetti, and now you look like a lost puppy. You know, It's... confusing."
Eve's ears twitched again, and her tail swayed even more, a flicker of pride in her eyes.
"I'm just making sure nothing hurts you, Master. No one can touch you while I'm here."
Eve's face brightened even more.
"That's perfect, Master! Only those who truly love will stick close."
Kaito let out a long yawn, his exhaustion seeping into his voice.
"Yeah, yeah… ahh…"
He lazily rubbed his eyes, struggling to stay alert.
"But seriously, Eve, where are we crashing tonight? Don't tell me we're just sitting around again... like yesterday?"
His mind drifted back to that morning, recalling how Eve had been sitting against a large tree, slightly elevated, while he lay nestled in her bosom, her long, fluffy tail wrapped around him from behind, keeping him warm in the chill of the night. It was oddly comfortable, but tonight, he was hoping for something a bit…different. Though, he wasn't holding out much hope.
For a moment, Kaito couldn't help but smile. It was these little contradictions that made Eve both confusing and endearing.
But Kaito, weighed down by the day's failures and the violence he'd witnessed, could only walk in silence, his earlier enthusiasm now a distant memory. The jungle, once alive with the possibility of taming a wild companion, felt silent and distant, as if withholding its secrets from him.
"Of course, Master! I mean, being drenched in blood and covered in the scent of all that butchering definitely won't make for a comfy night!"
Eve said, a innocent smile on her face.
"So how about we take a bath before we settle under the soothing moon?"
As she said this, Eve dashed past him, her playful energy evident as she turned back to face him, stopping in front of Kaito. Her fox ears twitched excitedly, and her long, fluffy tail swayed behind her, reflecting her eagerness.
"C'mon, Master! A bath will totally help us unwind!"
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"This is just… too awesome!!"
A boy, likely in his early teens, with silver hair and crimson eyes gazed up at the night sky. Two moons hung high above, surrounded by a tapestry of infinite stars twinkling like they were blushing under his intense gaze.
"Yes, it is… Master!!"
As if witnessing the most beautiful sight in the world, a woman sat beneath him cough cough—I mean, as if she were his cushion in the hot spring. Snowy fox ears perched atop her head, while steam rose around them, enveloping them in a warm embrace. The boy rested his head against her large bosom, her cherry-like pink peaks framing his ears as if whispering secrets, drawing him into contemplation.
One of her hands rested on his head, stroking him gently as if he were her favorite plushie, while the other arm wrapped around his chest from behind. Her fluffy tail curled along his leg, and her eyes remained fixed on her master's face.
"Aa… ahh…"
Feeling the weight of the entire day suddenly dawn upon him, he let out a yawn and slowly leaned back, fully immersing himself in her soft, pale bosom. He closed his eyes, only noticing a gentle glow that enveloped the hot spring and the small wooden structure where they were meant to sleep comfortably.
"W...h...y... so... prot..ec..tive of... aaahhh... me?" Kaito mumbled, his voice heavy with sleep.
Eve blinked, momentarily startled by the question. Her gaze drifted upward toward the shining stars, as if silently seeking an answer to satisfy her master. Then, lowering her head, she gently stroked his hair, her touch unbroken. She leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to his head, and whispered as though sharing a secret, "Because you are... no, because there's nothing else but you, Master."
Only the gods knew if his response was instinctive or deliberate, but Kaito murmured back, only to doze off mid-sentence, "But... you don't hav~...zzz...zz."
Seeing him fall asleep in the middle of his own words, Eve smiled softly and activated her skill [Sleep], ensuring he rested peacefully. Like a newborn baby cradled against his mother's chest, Kaito sank deeper into her embrace, fully succumbing to exhaustion.
Tip
Tip
"Why… why… we… why I serve you...? You ask..."
As if the sorrow of the entire world had suddenly descended upon her, tears began to fall, slipping into the hot spring below. She tightened her grip around Kaito with trembling hands, pulling him closer until his face rested fully against her chest. Her body quivered as she wrapped her legs around his, her tails and ears drooping lifelessly, drained of their usual energy.
"Aah…I…I can't…I can't take it anymore...aaha…"
Her voice cracked, raw with overwhelming emotion.
"Master, please… forgive me... sniff... I don't want to seal yo~...I… aahaa… don't… aaahaa… don't want to hide them...please forgive...forgive me...aaahaa!!"
Her sobs, filled with guilt and sorrow, echoed through the steamy air, her heart-wrenching plea lost in the warmth that surrounded them...…..and just like that, the night continued.
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(A/N: Hey, wonderful readers! I hope you're enjoying the journey so far. Your feedback means the world to me, so please drop a comment to share your thoughts, theories, or what you'd like to see next!
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