Part Two - 08 | Just One Kiss

The next morning, you find it hard to pull yourself out of your soothed slumber. The blankets are just too warm and cozy, and with the sisters hugging either side of you, the warmth is only greater. You're drowning in a sea of blissful comfort, embraced by the thick blankets and the arms of Linia and Pursena and frankly, you never want to get up.

You're the first to wake up. Upon opening your eyes to the sunlit room, you look to Pursena. Her ears wiggle, content, as she silently breathes against the side of your body. Linia does the same, save for a little bit of drool and a purr escaping her parted lips.

So peaceful. You can't wake them. In fact, why even get up now? Considering both sisters have your arms practically locked in place and moving even the slightest bit might alert their beast-kin instincts, you decide against it and remain there for a while. You drift back off to sleep, not caring if you sleep in or not.

. . .

"Boss," says a voice. It's unable to rip you entirely out of your sleep; you're far too comfortable with pleasant dreams playing on and on behind your eyes to respond.

"Boss," they say again but you ignore it. Too warm. Too cozy. You're gonna stay here forever, even if it means becoming one with the bed. You'll die and haunt this humble little inn if it means you get to revel in charming hospitality.

"Boooooooss..."

The voice grows desperate and a little louder, so naturally you start to wake to figure out what's going on. Your eyes peel open. You look around.

"Boss... get up..."

You look to your right. Pursena insistently tugs on your arm, a small pout on her face. The kind of face a dog starved for attention might make if dogs really could show off better facial expressions at any given moment. It's no shock to you that Pursena is wearing this kind of expression...

Despite her attempt at appearing needy, you're still pretty sleepy.

You try to close your eyes. "A little bit longer," you say, trying to doze off. You can feel your body being pulled under a blanket of slumber once again, a warm pair of hands dragging you deeper, deeper as you inch toward going back to snoring.

"Boss, no... get up," Pursena's whines persist. Your eyes open wide when you feel the girl promptly roll over onto you, placing herself right on top of you. She sits on your lap, eyes stuck to yours, hands atop your chest.

If you weren't awake then, you sure are now.

"Quit being a sleepy stick in the mud, Boss," she says and suddenly her face is devoid of all sternness. It softens completely, her lips curling into a sly little smile. She reads your face easily, looking over the flushed expression brought on by how she so casually decided to sit on you.

"That's a little close, don't you think?" you ask, but alas the girl cares naught. Her cheeky smile broadens as she leans forward, laying down on top of you, her chin resting on your chest.

"Sorry, Y/N, can't help it. You're too warm to pass up," she says. Your jaw clenches tight when Pursena reaches up, wrapping her arms loosely around your neck.

Whew. Is it hot in here? Surely you're not blushing, no — that would be ridiculous!

You stare into her lidded eyes, unable to hide that flustered face of yours. "Pursena," you say.

"Shh," the girl hushes you. "Just let me have this."

"Since when did you start hugging people like this?" You're genuinely curious. After all, this is the girl who heartlessly tortured a good chunk of the student body back in Ranoa through all of her years. Soft spot is not a term made with her in mind.

Pursena hums in thought. "Since I met you, I guess. What does it matter anyway? I'm not hurting you, am I?"

"Well, no."

"Am I too heavy?"

"No."

"Then shush and let me hold you." Pursena lets out a little laugh at your expense. "And don't worry about Linia. She went out a little bit ago. Said she wants to keep watch for anyone who might be looking for me."

Oh, right. You remember you had planned on asking about that but ended up falling asleep with the girls a bit too fast. Now's the time, you think.

"You gonna explain that whole thing to me?" you ask her. "Or...?"

Pursena sighs, her smile faltering. Her face is not quite flattering, nor is it firm, but the look in her eyes is like that of steel. "Guess I can't keep you in the dark forever, huh?"

You nod a little.

"So, Boss," she begins, "remember when I said I wanted to marry you?"

You nod again. That memory's a bittersweet one. The night she "confessed" turned into the night you snapped.

"Well, it was for a reason," she continues. "There's a certain... law in my part of the family. It hasn't been around long but it still managed to target me. Basically, Boss... if I don't find marriage before a certain age, I'll be exiled." She looks away. "And disowned."

You raise an eyebrow. How ridiculous does that sound? To think such a law could even exist. You suppose that maybe a royal family might place that on their heirs to the throne, but beast-folk? No way.

"That sounds dumb," you say.

"But it gets worse," she adds with a deflated sigh. "It doesn't just stop at being disowned. Not for me. Once I'm disowned, I'll be sold."

"Sold?"

Pursena nods slowly. "A man named Augustus has been eyeballing me even before I enrolled at Ranoa. Even before I was of age. He's a slave owner, and a horrible one at that. That's where I'm meant to be if I don't marry someone soon — I'll become his slave and I'll have no family to turn to."

You consider everything you've been told. It's a silly law, one that should not even exist, and it extends further into the reach of an abusive slave owner. To you it sounds like certain doom for Pursena. Not to mention the fact this Augustus guy wants her earlier than expected. Seems he might be a little afraid she'll succeed in finding marriage.

You try to look into Pursena's eyes but she is purposely averting her gaze. She stares into another world, one masked by the shadow of Augustus. Her eyes are drained of all vitality, of all hope, and at this moment you realize you might be the only way to reignite that hope.

You lift your arm and wrap it around her, slinging it over her back. She twitches at your sudden touch but does not stray from it. The two of you make close eye contact; Pursena with her eyes glittering under a dim light of hopelessness, you with yours firm and certain.

"I won't let that happen," you say.

Silence. For a moment, there's only silence. Then, as though something flipped on inside of her, Pursena snorts.

Those snorts turn into giggles. "Boss! You sounded, like, so corny just now," she laughs and tightens her arms around your neck.

Your face is warmed by a blush. "Hey, I'm being for real!"

"Hehe, that's my corny Boss," she says. "That's why I adore you. I know you're serious. It's just..."

You pause and wait for her to finish.

"Nevermind," she mutters. The girl leans forward again, lifting herself slightly so that her face is just above yours. You freeze as you are suddenly pinned down by her.

"Boss," she says, her hair hanging down in front of her face, tickling your cheeks.

"W-what?"

All you can do here is stare up into her glossy eyes. Her face is so close. Her breath is gentle. There is a hint of a blush upon her cheeks, one that mimics yours as both of you remain in this position — Pursena straddling you, looking firmly yet lovingly into your eyes.

Finally she speaks, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Can I kiss you?"

For a second you don't think you heard that right. "What?"

Pursena scoffs, the blush deepening on her face. "You heard me!" Her eyes soften; she looks vulnerable. "I'm done beating around the bush! I-I... I want to kiss you."

You can't think of any way to refuse. Whatever you say, she'll fire back with equal passion to shut you down.

Pursena's eyes are tracing your face. She indulges in the sweet fantasy of finally laying her lips on yours, of getting the opportunity to share a moment like this with you. You swallow down your fear and uncertainty, faced with this girl's determination to show you genuine affection.

"I thought you only needed me to save yourself," you say, your voice quivering. "You know, the marriage. You don't have to pretend to like me."

"I'm not talking about marriage right now, am I? And I... I'm not pretending, Y/N. I want this. Just this once."

Pursena begins to lean in, her face inching closer to yours. Her hands leave your body and cup your cheeks instead.

Before you know it, you're giving in. Through genuine willpower or through pressure, you don't quite know. But right now that doesn't matter to you. Every little bothersome thought is whisked away when Pursena's lips gracefully land on yours and the two of you remain connected like this for what feels like forever.

You close your eyes. As does she. Nothing matters aside from the taste of Pursena. You find yourself taking in the scent of her gentle breath, the soft feel of her lips. A faint rustling can be heard from behind her as her tail wags against the blankets.

The second Pursena pulls off of your lips, you take a little breath. The girl brushes her hair out of her face, tucking it loosely behind her neck. She licks her lips a few times to taste the remnants of you on her mouth.

"You know, Y/N," she whispers. "That was my first kiss. How did I do?"

A faint smile plays on your lips. "I don't think I need to comment."

Pursena takes a finger and traces it along your bottom lip, smiling all the while. "I'll take that as a compliment."

As she should, you think.

The two of you stay still in bed for a while longer. Pursena goes back to lying her face on your chest, her arms nestled snug over your shoulders. You lay there and stare up at the ceiling, smiling, tasting Pursena on your lips and on your breath.

It's almost like you never even hated her once before. After all, who would ever let their bully hold them delicately in their arms upon a spread of silky warm sheets?

"My Boss," she says and it's like she's a whole new person. Pursena leans in and nuzzles your cheek with hers.

"Mine," she whispers.

Truly, you don't even recognize her anymore. She's not the same.

Perhaps it's due to one simple fact. This girl is infatuated with you.

. . .