The cabin slowly filled with the yellows of sunrise. The raging blizzard had calmed down, reduced to a lazy fall of snowflakes. Inside, the fire crackled softly, its flames now embers.
This was the second time Leon had been forced into the role of human pillow.
Two days ago, Celestine and Valeria had both fallen asleep on him after lunch, pinning him in place for a few hours. Unable to move without disturbing them, he had spent the entire afternoon staring into space.
Last night was even worse.
Finally, sunrise! It feels weird being unhappy with a cute girl sleeping on me, but I can't do anything to pass the time like this...
Tsukihi slept peacefully against his chest. Her arms were wrapped tightly around his waist, refusing to let him escape. To make matters worse, her already revealing kimono had become increasingly disheveled throughout the night. The loose fabric had rolled up during her sleep, revealing far more body than Leon could bear.
...And you being like this made it especially hard.
Leon looked down before immediately looking away.
Then looked back.
Then looked away again.
Stop looking! Be strong! This isn't even as lewd as when Valeria and Celestine were feeding on me… it's just... more revealing....
The sun continued to rise as Leon faced his internal struggles. And, a few moments later, Tsukihi stirred against his chest.
"Mmmm... huh?"
Her eyes widened as they met his. Then tears immediately began to spill down her cheeks.
"Woah, woah, woah. Tsukihi, What's..."
"LEON! You're real! You're here!"
The air shot from Leon's lungs as the arms already wrapped around his waist squeezed with newfound vigor. The tears slowly stopped as she rubbed her face against his chest.
"You're here! And you remember me! We're together!"
Tsukihi released his waist and sat up, straddling his lap. Her hands planted themselves on his chest, pinning him to the cushions. Still oblivious to the state of her loose kimono, she leaned forward. Leon, meanwhile, forced himself to look at the ceiling.
"How did you sleep? Are the cushions comfortable? What about the rugs? The fireplace? It's nice, right? Safe. Cozy. You'll never have to leave."
Tsukihi's smile slowly faded.
"...Leon?"
"Yeah?"
"What's wrong?"
Tsukihi leaned in closer to try to look at whatever he was looking at. Only for Leon to immediately look even further away.
Tsukihi's eyes narrowed. She finally understood what was going on and looked down at herself.
"Last night.. did we...? Did I lose....?"
Her face went pale.
"DID I FORGET?! No, no, no, there's no way I'd forget something like that! You remember, right?!"
"Tsukihi, calm down! Nothing happened. You passed out instantly. Look, you even spilled your drink right there."
He pointed. Tsukihi followed his finger to the stain on the rugs, where the hot honeyseed she had poured before lying down on him the night before had soaked into the fabric.
She blinked.
"…Oh... Ummm you didn't do anything while I slept did you?"
"What? No. You were asleep. I wouldn't."
Tsukihi stared at him before puffing out her cheeks.
"... Well Why Not!?"
Huh? Is she pouting!
"You had all night!"
"No. That's not something you're supposed to do."
Tsukihi turned her head and looked around at the books scattered around the cushions, scanning them like she was searching for something specific.
"I know! And then I'm supposed to get mad at you. And you say I was too tempting, but I still don't fully forgive you. But eventually I do forgive you because I want you too. Then we..."
"Hold up! I don't know what book you're pulling that from, but no."
"Hmmm. I guess you're right. The situation was the same but the feeling wasn't."
Tsukihi kept scanning the book titles.
"Something more mutual maybe? Ooh forbidden lovers that can't meet... No, we're already here. Ooh Mutual pining! Yeah, let's do that!"
"...but you already made it clear you like me..."
What am I saying!?
"Tsukihi, you can't be using romance novels as a reference. Also I'm engaged, remember."
"Stolen lovers! That's it! I should have some of those around here. Only you can remember me, which means we're destined and she isn't. I just need to show you that your engaged to the wrong girl"
She looked back at Leon, still oblivious to the state of her clothes as her attention returned to finding the correct romance books to reference.
"What reason do you think works best? What would get you to fall for me over her?"
"Tsukihi I've already fallen for you. I'm not going to abandon or forget you. Just like I'm not going to abandon my fiancees."
Leon sat up and put his hands on her upper arms.
"In fact, I want you to meet them. I think you'll all get along.Tsukihi, let me help you with the whole 'everyone forgetting you' problem. Your passive effect is probably since you're starving. If you eat my memori..."
Tsukihi shook him off..
"NO! I CAN'T!! I told you. I can't lose you! And people can't make memories around me. Time will pass and then won't know. They'll be forever trapped. I don't know why you're special but you are! We can do a different book! Please!"
What should I do? Years of isolation. How do I fix that!? I'm not some therapist.
Before he could reply, there was a large bang. The whole cottage shook as something had collided with the invisible sphere around the Globe House.
Leon heard a familiar voice shooting from outside.
"Come out little doggy. Someone has taken something that's not theirs and I'd hate to break this tiny place of yours."
Another large hit against the outer perimeter after Tala finished shouting. The Globe House shook even more.
Tala? They found me already? But how? Didn't Roselyn forget about me leaving with Tsukihi? Rose Thorns is a top ranking party after all.
Tsukihi stood up and adjusted her clothes before heading to the door. Leon stood and followed her.
Outside, at the edge of the Globe House, stood Tala, Valeria, and Roselyn.
Tala wore her usual vines and leaves despite how little they actually wrapped around her. Valeria stood in her punk gothic dress, a crimson rapier and dagger already formed in her hands. Roselyn was clad in full plate armor, her blonde hair spilling out behind it and a massive shield, twice her size, confirming it was her.
Just behind the three of them loomed a massive wurm of vines and stone, conjured by Tala. It was what struck repeatedly against the Sphere.
Behind them stood Cersei in her massive witch hat and arcane robes. Celestine as well, surrounded by four female imperial knights and two female spies. One of whom Leon recognized from the bathhouse, where she had listed the 13 trials for him.
Holy! They brought the whole calvary out for me! Wait…where's Rika though?
Tsukihi stood in the doorway of the house. She didn't say or do anything. Just standing, waiting for the others to forget and leave.
Roselyn spoke first, followed by more of Tala's mocking.
"Kitsune! You took Leon from us yesterday at the market. Return him at once!"
"Does the cat have the dog's tongue? Or are you the kitten?"
Tsukihi stood still. Confusion started to creep up.
"Those are my friends and fiancees! Look! see how they're not forgetting you! Let's go talk to them!"
"That shouldn't be possible. No. But how?! All of them?! No, no, no, something must be wrong. Leon, they're going to take you away. I can't let them. I can't lose you!"
"They're not taking me away. We're going together."
Leon grabbed her hand and began pulling her out of the house. She didn't resist, instead letting herself be pulled along.
At least until they got halfway.
"...no, no, it can't. This doesn't make sense! I'm sorry. I can't lose you! I can't risk this!"
She stopped. Her hand held his with an unbreakable grip. The wind around them began to swirl. The cottage behind dissolving into snowflakes. All of the snow, the whole magical scenery, collecting and condensing into an orb in Tsukihi's other hand.
"He's MINE! Leave now, or Else!"