Eminence in shadow - Not Shadow

Souvenirs.

She slowly knelt down to his level and leaned forward; closing his eyes with something akin to sorrow and respect.

She sighed in resignation and turned to face me with a sheepish smile - words dancing on her lip.

'I didn't regret killing him.'

'That bastard deserved it.'

"You are quite the vulgar man, Mr John smith." She quipped, inserting her palms into her folds as she stood up and walked closer - taking in the damage done to her walls now.

I smirked, pacing closer to help her with evaluating the damage.

"I'm not sheltered." I replied smugly.

"So I've noticed." She remarked, her tails ruffling idly.

We kept quiet for a while, the two of us occupied with our own thoughts while gazing onwards at the disarray and damage.

"He got here a few minutes before you did." She began, finally turning to face me.

"Called me a harlot ..."

"Started calling me all sorts of names."

"Then he tried to have sex with me."

I turned to face her with a squint, my eyes burning a dangerous neon purple as i listened attentively.

"I .... refused of course. I'll never have sex with him. Not after that." She continued.

"Then ... he flew into these bizzare accusations and-"

"That's enough." I retorted, cutting her off - her discomfort with the recountment bleeding into me as well.

"It's over now, i don't need to hear it." I butressed.

She nodded, sighing in relief; the tension draining from her body when she stopped the narration.

She smirked mischievously; her lips quivering in thought.

"You know, i wouldn't mind if it were you." She whispered, her eyes alighting on me with a glint.

I rolled my eyes at her ever-present and perpetual flirtatious demeanour around me.

"Yeah right." I replied.

"I'm serious, i'm not just teasing you." She clarified with a smirk, sauntering closer in a very suggestive manner.

Her expression softened, the humour dissipating as she peered into my soul.

"It was you wasn't it." She asked, her palm slowly reaching for my mask.

"All those years ...."

I gently swatted her palm away and smirked; grasping her by the waist and pulling her in for a hug.

She clung tightly; reciprocating my embrace with a solemn grin.

"Thank you." She said, her tails wagging in appreciation.

I nodded in understanding, lifting my palm up and grasping her lightly in the back - channeling my energy into her back, to heal her accumulated scars from years of exposure to abuse.

She clunged to me tighter still, shaking with emotion as she realized my intention.

It was done after a while with the two of us breaking the embrace.

"Is it done ?" I asked.

She nodded in affirmation, her breath heavy with emotion; words deserting her.

"Good." I said, feeling a sense of relief at the completion of our mission.

I turned to walk away and motioned her to follow with a flick of my palm.

She perked up at my subtle command and obediently followed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"If i may ask, were you using me as well ?" She asked through mouthfuls, chewing on a juicy plump orange she had bought earlier.

I smirked, observing the various stands displaying treats, entertainment and souvenirs on display - the place being the entertainment district i had passed by earlier on.

I grabbed a fluffy wolf teddy and gazed at it intently - suprised that the district offered such an advancement at this age.

I promptly handed it to her and continued onwards; searching for something my girls would like.

I was a bit lost, not knowing what girls liked.

"They'll like these too." She informed, pointing at some glossy looking sweets, neatly wrapped in see-through porcelain.

"Good take them." I replied.

She leaned in and grasped a few, leaving the sum of notes for the proprietor as we walked forward.

"Depends on what you mean by using you." I replied with a smirk.

She smiled mischievously, following after with her load in hand.

"You can just say you did." She said, cuddling the teddy lightly whilst she reached for another treat.

I closed my eyes and sighed at her statement - understanding there was no use in being dodgy with her.

"Alright, i did." I simply replied.

She nodded in understanding and continued peering at the passing stands for anything of interest.

"You're not mad ?" I asked out of curiosity.

She snickered with a snort.

"I was trying to use you as well .... by seducing you of course."

"I really have no right to be mad when it goes the other way around." She elaborated.

I smirked as we continued onwards - carefully observing all the stands for anything of interest.

We stopped at a local BBQ joint, gazing at the sizable buiding in interest.

"Are you vegetarian ?" I asked.

"No." She simply replied.

"Are any of your girls ?" She asked.

"No." I replied.

"Not that i know of." I elaborated with a pensive scratch at my chin.

"Let's give it a try then." I added, the two of us walking inside.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~