The chirping of birds greeted the morning sun. Kitsu slowly opened her eyes and realized they were still in the same position. She lifted her head from his shoulder and started watching him sleep peacefully. She kept watching him for about an hour, then decided to wake him up, thinking, *He looks too cute sleeping, but I gotta wake him up. I'm thirsty. I hope he'll understand.*
She shook him and slapped him gently, but he didn't wake up. She mischievously looked at his face, then sat on top of him. She leaned closer to his neck and started licking it.
Kael slowly began to stir and opened his eyes, still sleepy. "What are you doing, Kitsu?"
She kept licking him. "Nothing, just waking you up."
Kael started to come to his senses and immediately, but gently, pushed her off. "Do you always lick someone to wake them up?" he asked, noticing her tail still wrapped around his leg.
Kitsu smiled warmly. "You're the first one I've woken up," she said, still trying to lick his neck.
"Kitsu, stop doing that. It makes me feel weird."
Kitsu stopped and looked into his eyes, her own eyes starting to tear up. "But I'm thirsty."
Kael looked at her on the verge of tears and felt a bit guilty. He sat up. "Do you need my blood again?"
She nodded innocently.
Kael smiled at her and wiped her tears as he exposed his neck. "Don't cry. You can have it, just ask next time instead of licking."
She immediately climbed on top of him and sharpened her fangs. She bit him and closed her eyes.
Kael began to pat her head and leaned back, closing his eyes. *Is it okay for me to let her drink my blood whenever she wants to?* he wondered. *But deep down, I can't help but think... am I falling for her? Even if I am, would she accept marrying me? Or would my father approve of her?*
She stopped drinking his blood and slowly licked the wound to heal the small bruise left from her bite. After healing it, she kissed his neck.
Kael snapped out of his thoughts as she did that and let out a small moan. "Kitsu, you're playing with fire."
Kitsu seemed confused, trying to understand. "Where is the fire? I can't see any."
Kael came to his senses and opened his eyes, looking at her beautiful face. He kissed her forehead and pushed her away gently. "Can you eat normal food?"
Kitsu pulled her tail away from his leg and wiggled it with excitement. "As much as I need blood to live, I still need nutrients from normal food, so yes!"
Kael gently lifted her off him, placed her beside him, and got out of bed. He started rummaging through the fridge. "Would you like an omelette?"
Kitsu looked at him curiously. "What is an ome-l? What is it?"
Kael looked at her with a warm smile on his face. "It's just a form of egg. It tastes really good, trust me."
*Does she even know what an egg is?* he wondered.
Kitsu began jumping with excitement. "Egg! I love eggs. Please make it quick, Kael!"
Kael quickly started making the omelette while keeping an eye on her. She was watching the fireplace, mesmerized by the burning wood. Kael kept working but occasionally glanced over to check if she was doing something dangerous. He found himself worrying about her.
Kitsu began wandering around the barrack, looking at everything. When she saw a photo of Kael lighting a fire in the woods, she pointed at it excitedly, her tail wagging. "Look, Kael! It's you, but younger?"
Kael looked at the photo while setting the table for breakfast. "Yes, that's me. It's a photo from, umm, four years ago, I guess. Now come sit," he said, pulling a chair for her.
She glanced at the table, her curiosity still lingering. "A photo... what is it? Is it human craft?"
Kael didn't seem to care much and placed a plate of omelette in front of her. "I can tell you later. Now let's eat," he said as he pulled out a chair and sat down.
Kitsu nodded, but her curiosity didn't fade. She took a bite of the omelette, her eyes lighting up. "Kael, this is delicious!"
Kael smiled at her as she devoured the food without using a fork. "Kitsu, you're dirtying your hands. Eat with a fork."
Kitsu glanced at the table. "What's a fork?"
Kael made her open her hand and placed the fork in it. "You've gotta eat like this," he said, illustrating how to use it.
"Oh, okay," Kitsu replied and started eating with the fork, struggling a little but managing.
Kael finished his omelette and watched her try her best with the fork, laughing softly at her innocence.
Kitsu noticed his laugh and frowned. "What's so funny?"
Kael stopped laughing and scratched his head. "Nothing. You just looked funny trying to eat with the fork."
She looked upset, turned her face away, and stopped eating.
Kael sighed, picked up her fork, and took a piece of the omelette. Holding her chin gently, he turned her face towards him. Her mouth opened slightly in shock, and he quickly placed the fork in her mouth. "Here you go."
She chewed the omelette but still looked a little mad. "More."
Kael smiled and kept feeding her until she finished the omelette.
"Now, let's go to the campsite. I have to gather my things from yesterday," he said, holding her hand as they walked out.
After gathering his belongings, they headed back to the barrack. Kael looked at her; she seemed a little bored. "Kitsu, should we go to your cave now?"
She jumped with excitement. "Yes! But can I carry you again? It's a bit far away."
Kael sighed and let her carry him once again. As they arrived, Kael stood flabbergasted. "Is this your home?"