Daily Life With Furry Girls

05 - Making a Better Trap

It was morning when Cani heard a knock on the front door and opened it a moment later.
'Good morning.' she said to miss Tesha and held a hand in front of her muzzle as she yawned.
'Morning.' miss Tesha said and held up a folder. 'I need your help.'
'Come in.' Cani said and let her in.
Just as she entered the room she found Guy making breakfast in the kitchen while being wrapped up from behind in Ara's arms and front pair of legs, and Feli and Avia naked at the table. They froze on the spot and she watched them for a moment. She looked back at Cani who couldn't hide she wasn't wearing anything either.
She sighed. 'Whatever. I already heard and had my suspicions.' she said and sat down at the table. 'Make me a tea, will you?'
'Ah, sure.' said Guy and hurried with the water cooker.
'You, aren't mad at us?' Feli asked.
'How far have you gone?'
Feli fiddled with her cup. 'We only kissed so far.'
'Fine. I only ask you to think it through if you want to go further. You'll have no other choice than to go all the way.'
'All the way?' Feli asked, blushing at the images coming up in her mind.
'Marriage. For life.'
They all blushed at the idea.
'So you'd better not be playing around with them.' she said to Guy.
'Miss Tesha, I'll stand by their side as long as they allow me.' he said handing her her tea.
She smiled and let the scent of tea waft along her face. 'Then if you don't mind, can you put something on?'
He quickly covered himself. 'Ah shit! I forgot.' he said and hurried out of the room with the girls.

A few minutes later they returned and sat down at the table.
'You said you needed our help?' Cani said.
Miss Tesha nodded and handed over the folder to her. 'There's a pickpocket going around at this entertainment park targeting couples. Security has tried to catch the culprit but so far no luck. A friend of mine works there and asked if I might have an idea.'
'You thought we could pose as a couple and lure the thief into a trap?' Feli asked as she read through the file.
'You even suspect it might not be human?' Cani said, reading over Feli's shoulder.
Miss Tesha nodded. 'If we forget for a moment that the thief is human, anything is possible.'
Guy tapped his chin in thought. 'So, go there with one of the girls as my girlfriend, see if someone tries to steal my wallet and try to catch it using their abilities and senses?' he asked.
Miss Tesha nodded. 'Basically, that's it.'
'Are you up for it?' Guy asked the girls and saw them staring at each other. 'Girls?'
Miss Tesha sipped her tea. 'They're already fighting over who gets to go as your girlfriend.'

***

Later that day Feli and Guy walked through the gate holding hands.
'Don't get too lovey-dovey with her.' Guy heard Cani say through his ear piece. 'Otherwise you'll have to double that to us.'
He smiled. 'No worries, everything I do I want to do with all of you.'
'Let's just get this over with soon so we can enjoy our time here too.' Ara said.
'Are you ready Avia?' Guy asked.
'I have a good view of you.' she said perched at the top of the park castle's tower.
Guy had solved the choice of who'd be the girlfriend by looking at their strengths. Avia was perfect for a view from the sky, Ara could best set traps if the thief tried to run away, Cani was best at chasing and Feli had the best sense of what was going around her.
'Let's get this show on the road then.' miss Tesha said from the security booth of the park.
Feli and Guy started with a train ride around the park to get a feeling of the place.
'Lots of green. If the thief is small he can hide more easily in the bushes.' Guy said.
'Crowded shopping streets, easy to lose a tail.' Feli said.
After the ride they decided to go for a snack first.
'Openly show your wallet. Let them see you have plenty of cash.' miss Tesha advised.
'Yeah.' Guy said and even let it fall on the ground once.
'Nice touch.' she said.
'Thanks.'

They walked around while eating their waffles and went onto a merry-go-round. Next the funny mirrors, the rowing boats at the lake, the house of horrors.
'I'll bet she'll go all "Iyaa" and "Eee" while clinging to him.' Cani muttered as they entered the house.
Guy chuckled while Feli huffed. 'I'm not that easy.' she said and screamed at a skeleton suddenly coming out of the wall in front of her.
She took a couple of deep breaths while Guy held her hand and stroked her back, suppressing a chuckle.
'You were saying, miss easy?' Cani said with a grin.
Feli frowned. 'Shut up. I'll watch you going into a bath.' she said and pricked up her ears hearing something close.
'Guy.' she whispered.
'Now?' he whispered.
'Wait.'
She looked around in the dark, then saw something grey flashing by. 'Thief!' she shouted and chased it.
Guy ran after her trying to avoid the horrors she triggered. Outside he checked his pocket and his wallet had indeed been stolen. 'I confirm. My wallet has been taken.' he said as he ran after Feli who darted through the bushes.
'Where are they headed Avia?' miss Tesha asked.
'To the petting zoo.' she answered flying above them. 'I can see something grey moving fast.'
The thief ran through the stables, ducking under ponies and jumping over peacocks with Feli hot on its tail.
'You're not getting away!' Feli said, grinning at the thrill of the chase.
'Sounds like you're having fun!' Cani said as she ran towards them. 'Let me join!'
'Be my guest!' Feli said.
The thief headed left into the crowd at the shops.
'Damned!' Feli said. It can move easier through them being smaller!'
'I'll take the other street!' Cani said. 'Extra cuddle and kiss time with Guy for the one to catch him!'
'You're on!' Feli said and increased her pace.
'You guys..' Guy said running towards the shops.
'I see it turn right at the coffee shop.' Avia said.
'Right!' Feli and Cani said.
The thief saw Cani arriving at the end of the street and turned left through a restaurant, rushing and jumping across the counters.
'He came out the other end and turned left!' Avia said.
'My direction!' Feli said and took a quick right, startling several guests.
The thief saw Feli blocking the street and turned back quickly. At the end of the street Cani appeared again and it halted for a moment. Looking around it saw a narrow ally and dived into it just as Feli and Cani reached it.
'Damned!' Cani said.
'Don't worry.' Avia said. 'Go around it.'
They ran off to the other side of the buildings and found the thief bundled up in spider thread.
'Looks like those cuddles and kisses are mine.' said Ara from the top of the low building with a smirk.
Feli undid some of the threads and removed the grey hood to reveal a mouse.
'What?' miss Tesha said.
'It's a mouse. But I can't find Guy's wallet.' Feli said, searching the thief.
'Hang on.' Cani said and sniffed at the nervous mouse and tried to remember where she smelled it before. 'I know!' she said and ran off.
'Where are you going!?' Feli asked.
'I smelled that scent in these streets and I think I even smelled Guy's scent there!' she said and rounded a corner finding the trail again. 'Here!'
She ran through the street until she saw a guy dropping Guy's wallet into a trash can. 'You!' she shouted.
The guy saw Cani and ran off at once. She chased him but when he saw she would outrun him he kicked an errand boy from his scooter and drove off.
'Damned! He's getting away!' Cani grumbled.
'No he won't!' Avia said and landed in front of him spreading her wings.
'He's not slowing down! Get out of the way!' Cani shouted.
Avia shut her eyes awaiting an impact but instead heard Guy shout as he ran into the side of the scooter. It crashed and slid on its side against a low stone wall with Guy and the other thief.
'Sweetie!' Cani shouted and ran towards Guy.
Avia hurried closer and they both found Guy on top of the thief grinning. 'Got him.'
Cani hugged him. 'Are you okay!?'
'Just some bruises so be careful.' he moaned.
'Gomen.' she said and let him go, smiling softly at him.
'Arigatou.' Avia said, folding her wings in front of her. 'You saved me.'
'Just doing my job protecting you.' he grinned and tried getting up with Cani's help.
'The thief is caught, so now we can get to the fun part.' Cani said and clung to Guy's arm. 'We've got a lot to do until the park closes.'
Guy chuckled. 'Please be gentle.'

***

Later that day when they returned home they found miss Tesha and the grey mouse sitting in their apartment.
'Don't tell me.' Guy sighed while the rest got a pretty good idea too what was going to happen.
'She ended up as an orphan at someone's place who taught her how to pick pockets.' miss Tesha said as she stood up with the mouse. 'So until we can find any relatives we'd like you to take custody of her. Being with other non-humans like her seemed the best idea.'
'What's your name then?' asked Cani, moving closer.
'Not telling.' the mouse said looking away.
'You know, I could let Ara here ask the questions.' Cani said and gestured at Ara who played with a bit of her thread.
'Mami!' she said quickly, hiding behind Guy.
'Don't tease little girls.' Guy said and patted Mami's head. 'I'm sure she's just very scared right now.'
Mami glared at Guy.
'What?' he asked as he looked at her.
'Mami's an adult.' said miss Tesha.
Guy looked up at miss Tesha. 'Eh?'
'They're a small species.'
'Treat me like a little girl again and I'll bite you.' Mami grumbled.
'You prefer to be treated as a prey species instead?' asked Feli baring a fang.
'Eep!' she said and crawled closer behind Guy.
He sighed. 'Are you sure this is a good idea?'
Miss Tesha nodded. 'Locking her up wouldn't help her. She just needs to spend time in the right environment.'
'I guess you can stay then.' Guy said to Mami. 'As long as you don't cause trouble.'
'Or else?' she said, puffing up her cheeks.
'These girls might think you need to be punished.' he said gesturing at Feli, Cani and Ara who grinned deviously.
Mami swallowed and gripped Guy's shirt tighter.
'I leave her to you then.' said miss Tesha as she went out the door. 'Oh yeah, I got this.' she said and pulled out tickets. 'The director gave me season tickets for each of you so you can go on as many dates as you want there.'
'Dates!?' the girls behind him said.
'Oh boy.' Guy said. 'I think I'm in trouble now.'
Miss Tesha put her hand on his shoulder. 'You started it yourself.' she said and left.

***

Guy woke up in the middle of the night, felt the comfortable touch of his loved ones and wanted to get back to sleep when he heard a noise from the living room. He waited to see if he heard more and heard a light thud. Careful not to wake the girls he crawled out of their embrace and quietly checked the room.
He saw Mami sitting on the floor in front of the bookshelf with a couple of books next to her and looking at his photo album.
'Can't sleep?' he asked.
Startled she backed away and hit her head against the books. 'Ouch!'
'Gomen, didn't mean to surprise you.' Guy said, watching her rub the back of her head.
'I was just looking for something to read.' she muttered.
He sat down in front of her. 'You think you'll fall asleep from pictures of me as a little kid?' he said with a little smirk.
'It fell out when I pulled out another book. Then I saw a mouse.'
'Ah, right.' he said looking at the pictures she pointed out. One with him outside, holding a large grey mouse plush, and one where he was asleep in a corner of a room, holding it tight. 'I got it from my grandmother when I had a hard time sleeping. I never had any bad night after that.' he said and smiled at the memories.
He sat up straight, 'Idea.' he said and left the room. When he came back he had the plush in his arms. He sat down and gave it to Mami. 'Here, I think it might help you too.'
'Wha!?' she said looking at it, then him. 'I said I'm not a little kid! I don't need it!'
'You can try. It's really comfortable. I'm an adult too and now I can't sleep without my real life plushes.' he said with a grin and stroked the plush's little nose. 'I was never good with names though and just called it Mouse.'
She held it out to him. 'I said I don't need it.'
'Too bad.' he said. 'I kind of felt Mouse got lonely being alone all these years and thought it would be nice to get comfort from a new friend.'
Mami looked at Mouse, then held it close again. 'Fine then! I'll take Mouse with me.' she said and walked off to her own room.
At the door she glanced back at him. 'Arigatou.' she said softly and hurried off.
Guy smiled to himself, put away the album and books, then yawned and went back to his own comfortable spot finding Ara awake.
'Looks like you got to her.' she whispered and smiled a little.
'She's not so bad. I'll bet she had a hard time growing up and just needed a good friend.'
'You're just too sweet.' she said and kissed him. 'That's how you got me, so beware.'
He chuckled and closed his eyes holding Ara's hand. 'I'm sure my animal magnetism won't work on every girl that comes here.'
'I wonder.' Ara whispered and went back to sleep too.

***

The next morning breakfast was set and Cani went to Mami to wake her up. Feli saw her looking inside the room and wagging her tail hard.
'What is it?' she asked getting closer.
Cani looked at her with big cheerful eyes. 'So adorable..'
Feli saw Mami sleeping, curled up with Mouse when she looked into the room too. 'Oh, that's so cute.'
The others came to see what was going on and smiled.
Mami woke up from the noise, rubbed her eyes and saw everyone smiling at her.
'What!?' she said sitting up and clutching Mouse in front of her for protection.
'Adorable!' Cani said, pounced her and cuddled her while Mami protested. 'What!? Let me go!'
The others watched the scene trying to hold back their laughter for a moment when Guy clapped his hands. 'All right, break it up. Let's have breakfast.'
At the table Mami kept close to Guy, glancing at Cani who watched her with a wagging tail.
'Miss Tesha is sending a crew over today to add another apartment to ours. We'll get a bigger kitchen because this one's way too small now, just like the bathroom.'
'Nice.' Feli said. 'It's too cramped when making dinner.'
'Oh, I don't mind cramped when it's my turn to help Guy.' Ara said smirking.
Guy blushed a little at the memory of last time, when Ara almost constantly rubbed her legs and leaned her chest against him.
Mami looked at his face and frowned. 'Pervert.'
'What!?' he asked, feigning innocence.
'Don't mind him.' Ara said. 'He has a hard time being burdened with four girlfriends.'
Mami stared at the girls. 'You..? All..?'
Feli nodded. 'Hadn't you noticed yet?'
Mami looked at a blushing Guy. 'And then they say I'm a criminal.' she muttered.
The girls laughed while Guy mumbled how he couldn't help it.

***

Miss Tesha had arranged for all of them to stay the night at an inn at the forest nearby. First though they stopped by the entertainment park where Mami apologised for the trouble she had caused and bowed deep.
'I heard about the circumstances from miss Tesha.' the director said. 'We will call it even with your part-time job here.'
Miss Tesha used Guy's idea and arranged for Mami to work at the park as a guide to compensate them and the visitors who's money she had stolen.
'I'll do my best.' she said as the director shook her hand.
'I believe you're better suited to guiding visitors around. By now you should know the place better than any of us.' he said and winked.
She felt a little embarrassed and nodded.

Later at the train station Mami felt much more relaxed. Cani sat down next to her and smiled at her.
'Ack!' Mami said and backed away. 'You're not gonna pounce me again, are you?'
Cani laughed a little. 'No, I just wanted to say you look more cheerful now.'
Mami relaxed and nodded a little, leaning her chin on Mouse, whom she'd brought along.
'Does he always do so much?' she said looking at Guy who was looking with Avia for something to eat on the way.
Cani smiled softly. 'He enjoys seeing other people being happy.'
'Ah.' she said and watched Avia leaning against him. 'He's still a pervert though.' she said which made Cani chuckle.

The ride through the hills covered with trees gave them an occasional good view to enjoy at the sides of hills and across bridges.
'Imagine getting lost here.' Feli said.
Guy nodded. 'There have been accidents with people getting lost here. The forest is quite thick and if you don't have any navigation it's hard to find any bearing. The best you could do is climb a hill and look for lights from a neighbourhood, then head that way until you come across rail tracks or a road.'
'Am I glad I can fly.' Avia said.
'True that.' Guy said.

When the single car train arrived at the neighbourhood close to the inn they got off. Guy took out the notes on the route to the inn and looked around the silent station for directional signs.
'Looks like it's a 15 minute walk. Want to do that?' he asked the girls.
Cani and Feli stretched to relieve the stiffness from sitting all this time.
'I could sure use the walk.' Cani said.
The others had no objection and they set off in the direction of the road to the inn.
'It's quiet here.' Ara said looking around the street with just a few people in it.
It was a sunny day but there were fewer people than they were used to at their own neighbourhood.
'It's not a big neighbourhood, judging from the height of the buildings.' Guy said and watched a group of recreational walkers in front of a hotel. 'They probably get more tourists here.'
The road to the inn went down mostly so they didn't feel tired when they arrived at the wide wooden building.
'You must be our special guests.' an elderly woman said who was tending the garden outside it.
'Miss Tesha didn't make any special demands I hope?' Feli said.
The hostess smiled. 'She only said to expect your arrival. But that makes you special enough for us.' She beckoned them to come inside. 'My name is Claudia. Come, I'll show you to your rooms.'

The girls and Guy followed Claudia down a hallway and she slid open a pair of doors. 'This is the middle room.' she said and entered the room. 'You can enter the ones left and right through the connecting doors. Miss Tesha said you might want to arrange your own way to sleep so I left the futons together in the left room for you to use as you wish. We kept the rooms sparse for you to have enough room to move about.'
The girls entered the room with just two low tables and cushions to sit on for furniture and a few paintings on the wall. Cani heard water and slid open the doors at the other side to reveal a patio to a large outside bath with a little waterfall at the back.
'Wow.' Ara said looking at it.
'It's not hot water though.' Claudia said. 'But it's warm enough all year around to enjoy a long soak.'
'I never realised this was here.' Guy said, looking around.
'We don't advertise.' Claudia said. 'People who come here hear about it from others. Most of our guests just want to relax in a quiet atmosphere. Today and tomorrow you are our only guests, but later we get more. On average we have about a dozen guests daily.'
'Almost a public secret.' Avia said, testing the temperature of the water.
Claudia smiled and nodded. 'You could say that.' she said. 'Now, enjoy your stay. There are directions if you want to take a walk in the forest. We can also heat up a sauna if you'd like. There's a collection of films available and you can spend your time enjoying the water, or if you have any other wish you can always ask.'
'Arigatou.' Guy said putting down his bags.
'Oh,' Claudia said. 'I understood from miss Tesha you might have special nutritional needs, so you're free to use our kitchen as you wish. If you need anything special we can ask the restaurant at the neighbourhood for it.'
'That's very gracious of you and I'd like to take you up on your offer.' Guy said. 'Mind if I have a look already?'
She shook her head and Guy left the girls to unpack while he made sure there was something to eat for everyone at the kitchen.
'This will do.' he said as she showed him the supplies. 'Their needs aren't too special but I'd like for each of them to get their natural diet.'
Claudia smiled at him. 'You really take care of them. They must be very happy.'
'I try to do what I can.' he said blushing a little and looked at the row of pans hanging on the wall above the stove. 'So, let me cook for you tonight as thanks. What would you like?'

When he arrived back at the room he heard them outside and walked onto the patio.
'I invited our hostess and her husband to eat with us tonight if that's all right with you.' he said and found the girls already wet at the showers apart from Cani. He couldn't hold back a grin. 'Now that's what I call a nice view.'
'Don't look you pervert!' said Mami and covered herself with her hands.
'Gomen!' he said and looked away. 'I forgot.'
'Don't be too hard on him.' Feli said and handed Mami a large towel. 'He's used to having to bathe with us. Cani won't go in water without him.'
Mami looked at Cani.
'I just feel more relaxed with him near me!' Cani said flattening her ears. 'And he's good at washing my back.'
'Fine.' Mami said. 'But if he tries anything weird I'll kill him.'
'You heard her darling.' Feli said. 'Get to it.'
'Hai hai mistress.' he said with a smirk.
He undressed in the room and returned tying a towel around his waist, then sat down on one of the stools at the shower. 'So, who's first?'
'Mami.' said Feli to Mami's surprise.
'What first!?' she asked.
'To have your back and tail washed.' Feli said and pushed her to the stool in front of Guy. 'He's really good and does us all the time.'
'What!? Wait!? No!' protested Mami but Feli sat her down and removed her towel. 'Eep!' she squeaked.
'Relax.' said Avia sitting next to her, smiling at her. 'You'll enjoy it.'
Mami looked at Avia, then nodded nervously. 'But I will kill him if-'
'I do anything weird.' Guy finished. 'I know so don't worry.'
He took the shower head, felt the temperature and held it next to her. 'Is this good for you?'
She felt the water and nodded. He slowly let the water flow onto her back and gently rinsed her fur.
'Cani likes it cooler and Feli likes it hotter so I want to make sure you're comfortable.' he said while he did the back of her head.
When she was ready he turned off the water and squirted shampoo on his hands.
'Now comes the best part.' Feli said and Guy ran his fingers from Mami's head down to her tail, spreading the shampoo while she shuddered lightly.
Next he started massaging her head with his fingertips and went down slowly.
'Ahh..' said Mami softly.
'I think she likes it.' Ara said smirking.
Mami puffed up her cheeks. 'I, was just a little surprised!' she said but couldn't hold back shivers while Guy went down her back.
By the time he reached her tail she held it stiff and it too shivered as he massaged it down to the tip.
'So, how was it?' Feli asked leaning closer.
'It, wasn't bad.' Mami said looking away.
Guy took the shower head again and started rinsing her top to bottom again while she clutched the edge of the stool.
'Done.' Guy said.
'Now, would you like him to do your front too?' Cani asked, grinning deviously.
Mami imagined him giving the same sensation on her front and felt her blood steaming. 'No! Not good! Not good!'
Feli sniggered. 'That's what he says when we offer him to do ours.' she said and leaned closer to Mami again. 'He's afraid he'd no longer keep himself under control if he did that.' she whispered.
Mami frowned a little. 'Are you all perverts?' she muttered.
Mami did the rest herself while Guy attended to the rest of the girls and eventually let Cani do his back before they both went into the bath together. This was a new bath for her so she sat in front of him while he wrapped his arms around her.
'Sometimes I think she's just using her fear as an excuse to do that.' Feli said.
Cani puffed up her cheeks. 'I really am nervous.'
Guy rubbed his cheek against her. 'I'll be here for anyone who wants to do this too later.' he said and chuckled.

They relaxed until it became time for Guy to prepare dinner. He went with Feli who would help him today and even got help from Claudia. When they were ready everyone sat down in a larger room used for dinner parties. Claudia's husband complimented Guy on his cooking skills. Cani asked how they started this inn and Claudia explained they found this spring when she and her husband were little and built the inn when they got married. They had also found another spring which they took care of for public use by the neighbourhood.
'So then you've been married for quite some time now?' Cani said.
Bernd, Claudia's husband took Claudia's hand in his and smiled at her. 'And still going strong.'
'At least until our granddaughter takes over the inn.' said Claudia. 'Our children weren't really into managing this but Emilia said she wanted to. That's why she's studying business and catering now.'
'When she can run things here we'll start retiring slowly.' Bernd said.
Guy held up his drink. 'A toast to this wonderful inn and our hosts.' he said and the girls joined.
'So,' said Bernd to Guy after a few drinks. 'Which one are you going to marry?'
Guy almost choked on his drink and Ara patted on his back. 'I think that means he has no idea right now.' she said with a big grin.
'No favourite?' Bernd asked.
Guy shook his head. 'I think they're all precious.'
Bernd nodded. 'I see. You're going for all of them.'
Guy blushed and Claudia nudged her husband. 'They're still young. They have enough time to get married later.'
'You don't think it's weird to marry between our species?' Mami asked.
Claudia patted her hand. 'When I see this much love it doesn't matter who marries who.'
'Reminds me of that time with that man, horse, and penguin.' said Bernd staring into his glass.
Everyone stared at him in disbelief.
'Just kidding.' he said and smirked while the rest grunted.
After dinner and cleaning up they retired for the night. Feli offered a room alone for Mami, but she didn't mind sharing.

***

Guy woke up in the middle of the night again but had trouble getting back to sleep. Carefully he slipped out between the girls and went onto the patio to wash his face and sit in the bath.
'You can't sleep this time now?' he suddenly heard Mami ask.
He looked up and saw her holding a towel in front of her.
'Ah, not really.' he said looking away.
He heard the towel drop, her coming into the water and to his surprise she sat down in front of him leaning back against him.
'Eh?' he said in surprise.
'I just want to find out why they want to do this. Nothing more.' she said.
'Right.' he said and tried to relax.
'You're still thinking about that marriage thing?'
'How did you know?' he asked, surprised at her observational skills.
'I could see it on your face from the moment he asked about it.'
He sighed. 'Yeah.'
'Worried you might not be able to keep them happy?'
He nodded slowly. 'Something like that.'
'You think they're not happy now?'
He smiled softly. 'I believe they are.'
'I don't see the problem then.'
'It's just that..'
'What?'
'It, makes me nervous.'
'Does it make any difference with the current situation?'
He thought about for a while. 'I guess not.'
'Well then?'
He sighed again. 'Maybe I'm thinking too much.'
She nodded. 'The way I see it they're crazy enough to accept you anyway.'
'Great. Thanks.' he said with a grin and ruffled her head making her squirm, then hugged her. 'Arigatou.' he whispered.
'I would have had Mouse do this instead, but I don't want her to get soaked.' she muttered and held his arms.
'Sneak!' shouted Cani.
Guy and Mami looked up at her quickly.
'All this time protesting but you wanted to be close to him too!' Cani said while the other girls showed up behind her.
'What the..?' asked Feli.
'Oh, I think someone needs to come out with the truth.' Ara said, grinning wide.
'No, wait!' shouted Mami but Cani already jumped into the bath grabbing her as the others grabbed Guy and splashed him.
'I wasn't!' Mami started but Cani hugged her gently.
'Thanks for cheering him up.' Cani whispered.
Mami relaxed. 'It's okay.'
'Now,' Cani said and stood up holding Mami. 'let's drink to our newest member of Guy's harem!'
Mami protested but the girls cheered and pulled out the wine.

The next morning Mami found herself in the pile of Guy and the other girls and sighed. 'Screw it then.' she mumbled and closed her eyes again.

***

After breakfast they took one of the routes through the forest until lunch time and got ready to leave after that.
They said their goodbyes to their hosts and walked back to the train station.
Cani stretched after they arrived and waited for the train to arrive. 'That was fun.'
'Yeah.' said Ara looking at Mami. 'And unexpected.'
Mami looked away. 'What!?'
Feli sniggered and clung to Guy. 'I think you're cursed.' she whispered in his ear.
'Heh, what kind of guy would I be to go against it?' he said, then heard his phone ring. 'Miss Tesha, what makes you call us on this lovely day?' he asked after picking up.

The girls and Guy dropped their bags quickly after they came home.
'Wow.' Avia said seeing the new kitchen. 'Much bigger than the old one.'
'And check out the bathroom.' Ara said sliding open the wide milk glass doors. 'So much room now for us.'
Guy took a quick look around, then sat down in front of miss Tesha. 'But I guess that's not the news you called us about.'
She shook her head and handed him a folder which he opened.
'You're kidding?' he said after a while.
The girls gathered around him, curious to see what was going on.
'Is that a royal sign?' Feli asked.
Miss Tesha nodded.
'Hang on.' Feli said and looked at Mami. 'Is that really true?'
'What?' Mami asked and Feli handed her the folder.
She read it with Cani, Ara and Avia looking over her shoulders, then silently looked at miss Tesha.
'Welcome back, seventh princess Nymina.' miss Tesha said.

'Yes, our own DNA analysis confirmed it.' miss Tesha said. 'Years ago two members of the royal family, together with their staff and their daughter went missing during a routine flight. The pilot reported a malfunction at one engine which ignited the fuel before they lost contact. They found only charred remains in the wreckage days later.'
She looked at Mami. 'I can only guess that they somehow managed to keep you safe before or during the crash and someone found her. Her old mentor named the one who brought her to him, but he's dead. We're still looking at other leads.'
Guy looked at Mami looking down while she leaned against him. 'So now what?' he asked.
'The royal family has requested for her return. Nothing much else to do.'
'Wow.' said Cani and put her hand on Mami's head. 'Our little girl is a real life princess.'
'I'm not a little girl!' Mami said and wrestled with Cani.
Cani managed to wrap her up and rubbed her cheek against hers. 'And now she'll leave us to live in a big castle far away.' she said and a tear came to her eyes.
Mami gave up her protest. 'If you're worried about me forgetting to dislike you, I never will.' she said, making Cani chuckle.

***

'Good luck in your new life.' Feli said, hugging Mami after she had packed her belongings and put it in the back of miss Tesha's car.
'Let us know how you're doing with all that luxury.' Ara said as she hugged Mami next.
'What about your job?' asked Avia, hugging Mami too.
'I informed the director.' miss Tesha said. 'He will say she has returned to her family for now because we found them, which is close enough to the truth.'
'Grow up.' Cani said, hugging Mami tight.
'Get bent.' Mami replied, suppressing tears.
'Take care of Mouse.' Guy said smiling gently at her.
She beckoned him to bend closer, then placed a kiss on his cheek while hugging him. 'Arigatou.' she whispered.
They all waved her goodbye when Mami left with miss Tesha. Avia put an arm around Cani comforting her.
Guy looked up at the colourful sparks in Ara's webbing. 'Ah, we never got to show her this.'