Fursekai: Volume 1

6

With a groan Hunter slowly opens his eyes.

With his mind still a bit cloudy it takes him a few seconds to recognise the roof of his room.

Then he catches the faint sound of breathing off to his side. When he looks to see who it is he finds Ruriko asleep next to his bed.

The ticking of time then draws his attention to the wall clock on his other side. According to the hands on the clock it is almost midnight.

He wonders why the candle would still be burning at this hour.

Suddenly he remembers what had happened before he lost consciousness.

Even though he understands that the conflict is over, his body automatically moves as if in preparation for another attack.

The sudden movement wakes up Ruriko who rubs her eyes before looking at him. At first it's as if she can't see him properly.

But, once she recognises him her eyes soften and a worried smile plays on her lips.

"Thank god." She whispers.

"How long was I out?" Hunter asks.

"Four days."

"Were you here the entire time? He asks, noticing that there was a blanket on the desk.

"I left to go bathe, dress and eat." She replies, shaking her head slowly.

"Were you also the one who took care of me?" He asks, touching the bandages that cover his upper body.

"Yes. Our healer enjoys gossiping so I couldn't have her discovering your identity." Ruriko explains.

Hunter notices that her voice is abnormally soft, a little hoars even. Taking time to look her over a bit more intently, he also notices several other things.

Her clothes are not as neat as always and her fur is more wild, as if it hadn't been combed in days.

"Are you okay? You look like you're in worse shape than me." Hunter asks Ruriko.

"I'm fine. Just a bit tired." She replies.

His eyes suddenly widen at a thought bouncing in his head.

"You've been sleeping on a chair for four days! No wonder you're tired, you need a bed!"

"I'll move back to my room tomorrow night. Till then I'll be fine right here." She says, as if to ease his mind.

"My bed is big enough for two." He says, looking the other way to hide his blush.

Ruriko quickly goes from shocked to embarassed.

"Uhm, if it's not too much trouble." She mutters.

In response, Hunter moves aside so that there is now enough room for two people to sleep.

Ruriko slowly stands up and goes to the other side of the bed.

"Please look away." Ruriko whispers.

His face blood red, Hunter turns to look the other way.

The candle throws her shadow directly onto the wall he's looking at.

As he watches she pulls off her kimono.

While it is clear that she's wearing something underneath, it does not hide her figure. Her flat belly, large breasts and curves are perfectly highlighted by the shadow against the wall.

In order to prevent any biological reaction, Hunter shuts his eyes.

Then he hears her blow out the candle.

The rustle of cloth and the slight pressure on the bed let's him know that she's climbed onto the bed. She then lifts the blanket and climbs underneath.

The press of her soft fur against his back startles him at firs.

"I'm sorry." Ruriko says, moving herself away from him.

"Don't be. I just wasn't expecting it, but, it felt nice." Hunter replies, without thinking.

"What the fuck?!" He screams at himself in his head.

"It felt nice? What is wrong with me?!"

Slowly she moves back into a comfortable position so that their backs are touching each other.

"Mind if I ask you something?" Ruriko asks.

"Ask away."

"What are the women like in your world!" She asks him.

"That's not an easy question to answer. I guess the easiest way to put it is that they're like women here, just human. Human faces, no fur and no tail either." Hunter explains.

"Are the women in your world beautiful?"

"Many are. Many are not. Many beautiful women are ugly people and vice versa." He responds.

"My mother is a beautiful woman and a beautiful person." He adds.

"Do you find the women here beautiful?"

"Some. Some not." He replies.

"Am I beautiful to you?"

Hunter's eyes widen as he realises what she means by her question.

After taking a deep breath, he turns around and pulls Ruriko closer to him.

"I think you are the most beautiful woman I have ever met. Even your soul is beautiful." He confesses.

"Thank you. You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that." She says, letting herself get lost in his embrace.

"I imagine many better men have told you the same." He comments, doubting that he's reading her emotions correctly.

"Many men have. But, they were men I'd never met before. Men who merely wanted me for my beauty and would not be willing to carry a burden with me." She explains.

"I want to help you carry those burdens. So if you ever need help, come to me." He says.

"Yui also has feelings for you. Will you tell her the same?" Ruriko asks.

"I will tell her that I care about her and will die for her." He replies, choosing to ignore the other part of her statement.

"Do you have feelings for her?" She asks.

Nothing.

"I don't know."

"Do you have feelings for me?" She asks.

"I do."

"What will you do if you have to choose?" She asks.

"I don't know."

"How many wives do men have on Earth?" She asks.

"Most men only have one. It's the legal limit." He replies.

"Here there is no limit." She says.

When he doesn't say anything she turns around to face him.

"I want you and Yui to be happy and I know that keeping you to myself will take her happiness from her. And I also know that the reason you'd avoid being in a relationship with me would be because of Yui." Ruriko says.

"That's why, I won't ask for your whole heart. But allow me to be selfish and claim a piece of your heart first?" She asks, looking him in the eye.

Hunter then takes her hand and places it over his heart.

"Claim as much as you want. You saved my life so now my life belongs to you. In this year I have come to love you Ruriko." He tells her.

By the beating of his heart Ruriko can tell that he's not being dishonest.

"I love you too, my beloved Hunter." She says, softly.

The two then fall asleep in each other's arms as the moon watches over them from above.