The morning light seeped through the blinds, painting soft patterns on the walls of the apartment. Lumine stirred awake, blinking slowly as her eyes adjusted to the light. She glanced down at the cushion beside her, where Kuni was curled up tightly, his tail wrapped around himself.
âStill here, huh?â she murmured softly, brushing her fingers through his fur.
Kuni's indigo eyes fluttered open, and for a brief moment, they softened before narrowing as if to mask any trace of warmth. He stretched lazily, hopping down from the couch and trotting toward the kitchen.
Lumine chuckled, shaking her head as she got up to prepare breakfast.
---
Later that day, Lumine had plans to meet with her art professor to discuss an upcoming project. With her bag slung over her shoulder and a light scarf wrapped around her neck, she gave Kuni a quick pat on the head.
âIâll be back soon, okay? Donât destroy anything while Iâm gone,â she teased, heading toward the door.
Kuni watched her leave, his ears twitching at the sound of the lock clicking shut. Once she was gone, the silence of the apartment felt suffocating.
He shifted into his human form, his tall figure leaning against the kitchen counter as he stared out the window. A scowl tugged at his lips as his thoughts wandered.
---
Hours passed, and the apartment grew dim as the sun dipped lower in the sky. Scaramouche remained restless, pacing the length of the living room.
Why does she keep leaving? he thought bitterly. What could possibly be more important thanâ
The sound of the door unlocking interrupted his spiraling thoughts. Scaramouche immediately shifted back into his cat form, leaping onto the windowsill and pretending to look uninterested.
Lumine entered, her cheeks rosy from the chilly weather. âKuni! Iâm home!â
The cat glanced at her briefly before turning away, tail flicking dismissively.
Lumine sighed, dropping her bag and walking over to him. âWhatâs with the attitude?â she asked, scratching behind his ears. âDid something happen while I was gone?â
Kuniâs ear twitched, but he stayed silent, refusing to acknowledge her directly.
âAlright, Iâll take that as a yes,â Lumine said with a small laugh, picking him up and carrying him to the couch. âCome on, donât be like this. Talk to me, Kuni.â
He blinked at her, his indigo eyes narrowing slightly. If only she knew how much he wanted to talkâto explain the complicated mess of emotions swirling inside him. But for now, he was bound by the form heâd taken, unable to express the thoughts clawing at his chest.
---
Later that evening, Lumine sat cross-legged on the floor with a sketchbook in hand. She was working on a concept for her art project, her brows furrowed in concentration.
Kuni sat nearby, watching her silently. He couldnât help but admire the way her golden hair fell over her shoulders, her expression calm yet focused.
âYou know,â Lumine said suddenly, breaking the silence, âI used to hate drawing. It always felt like I wasnât good enough, no matter how hard I tried.â
Kuni tilted his head, his ears perking up slightly.
âBut then someone told me it wasnât about being perfectâit was about expressing yourself,â she continued, a soft smile tugging at her lips. âI think thatâs why I enjoy it so much now. It feels... freeing.â
Scaramoucheâs chest tightened. He didnât know who that âsomeoneâ was, but he hated the thought of anyone else holding such an important place in her life.
Lumine glanced at him, her smile widening. âYou probably donât care about any of this, huh? Youâre just a cat.â
Kuni let out a soft mrow, his tail flicking indignantly.
âOkay, okay,â Lumine said, laughing. âIâll stop rambling.â
---
As the night stretched on, Lumine eventually fell asleep on the couch, her sketchbook resting on the floor beside her.
Scaramouche shifted back into his human form, kneeling beside her sleeping figure. His indigo eyes softened as he brushed a strand of hair from her face.
âYouâre too trusting,â he murmured quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. âItâs dangerous to let people get this close to you.â
His hand lingered near her cheek for a moment before he pulled away, his expression hardening.
Iâll protect you, he thought, standing and retreating to the shadows. Even if you donât know it.
I've made 5 chapters today so... I'll be posting 5 chapters for y'all to read and please do vote and follow it helps me alot!ð¥²ð¥¹