Beyond, With a Yokai

Chapter 7: A Spark in a Blink

"I wonder what's going through his head right now? What is he feeling? As for me, it feels like my heart is about to leap out of my chest. Why am I so flustered? I've been touched and kissed by guys before. Maybe it's because this is the same person who once threatened, deceived, and manipulated me? Maybe that's why, deep down, I fear he might hurt me—and my heart's racing like crazy?"

She was so deep in thought she didn't even notice when her tongue was replaced by her lips. It felt more like a kiss now than anything remotely medicinal.

As the realization washed over her, she slowly lifted her gaze and met his half-lidded eyes. Dark, hazy... and somehow mesmerizing.

And his breathing... It had become so fast, so loud, she couldn't believe she hadn't noticed it earlier.

His hand twitched, then hesitantly reached for her face.

Yesenia didn't move, entranced by his every motion.

Tomoya gently touched her chin, brushing a crimson drop from her lips with his thumb.

"You got messy," he said, his voice low and husky.

Her eyes involuntarily dropped to his lips.

What is this atmosphere? Why is it so hard to breathe? And... what are these thoughts running through her head?

If it weren't for the sudden interruption by the bakeneko, who knows how far things might've gone.

"I'm done," the cat's voice sliced through the tension. "The barrier should hold until morning, and after that..."

Tomoya and Yesenia instantly sprang apart, as if caught doing something forbidden.

The bakeneko tilted his head and smirked:

"What were you two up to? The whole room reeks of pheromones."

He said it with obvious irritation, making Yesenia want to disappear from the sheer embarrassment. Why would he even say that?! Now she couldn't bear to look Tomoya in the eye.

"Like you said, she was licking my wound," the fox replied calmly, without a trace of the rasp that had been in his voice just moments before.

Something inside Yesenia twisted painfully.

Was she the only one who thought that moment meant something? To him, was it just a necessity?

The bakeneko narrowed his eyes, studying Tomoya carefully, but said nothing more. Instead, he silently jumped onto the other bed across the room.

"Yeah, let's just go to sleep already," Yesenia blurted, springing up from the fox's bed and practically diving onto the other one.

Her heart was still racing, and her face burned with embarrassment. All she wanted now was to hide under the covers and forget what just happened.

But no such luck.

"Hey! Are you seriously planning to sleep in the same bed as that mangy cat?!" the fox flared, propping himself up on one elbow, his injury momentarily forgotten.

Yesenia didn't get a chance to respond before the bakeneko smirked smugly and countered, "What, were you hoping she'd sleep with you instead?"

The fox grimaced like he'd been punched in the gut.

"Can we just calm down and go to sleep already?" Yesenia cut in irritably, not wanting to fuel this ridiculous argument. "It's not a big deal if the cat sleeps at my feet."

"This sneaky bakeneko could've picked a house with three beds," Tomoya grumbled, shooting the cat a dirty look.

"Sorry, it's not like I had much of a choice," the cat drawled lazily, settling in comfortably.