Akane's tail bristled, the fur standing on end as she pressed her claws deeper into the flesh of Amon, who lay beneath her.

The pond glistened only a few steps away, ripples running lazily across its surface, droplets sparkling in the golden morning sun.

Birds chirped in the trees above.

Amon didn't resist. His broad back, still damp from the pond, lay against the ground, water trailing down the ridges of his torso. His expression was calm, even amused.

"Good morning." He said lightly, as though she weren't holding him down with claws at his throat.

Her breath came sharp, her chest rising and falling quickly. "Who are you really?"

His yellow eyes blinked once. "I told you already. I'm Amon."

Having noticed that she was naked, Akane was flustered and confused. Still, she didn't let that get in the way.

Her other hand pressed harder against his chest, droplets of water dampening her palm. "Then what are you, Amon? A Monster? A Beast?" Her eyes flicked downward, narrowing on his left hand. The Black Stone pulsed faintly. "A Demon?"

Amon tilted his head, genuinely confused. 'Those are different categories?' His lips twitched as if suppressing a laugh. 'She's separating them as though they're different things. Interesting. I hadn't thought about it like that.'

He tilted his chin toward her, his expression unbothered even with her claws dimpling his skin. "Then tell me, Akane. What are you? A Demi-Human?"

The word seemed to strike her. Her brows furrowed, and she leaned closer, her hair falling forward, brown strands brushing against his damp chest. "Demi-Human is an archaic term." She said with a suspicious expression. "In this age, my kind are referred to as Werebeasts, or Beasts."

"I see," Amon murmured. His eyes weren't on hers but on her face as a whole, the flush in her cheeks, the tight set of her lips, the stubbornness that clashed with the vulnerability of her position. One hand on his chest, the other at his neck, her bare body straddling him in the morning light, droplets still clinging to his pelt from the pond. The air was cool, the water's scent fresh, and with the birds singing around them, it was almost like paradise… Were her claws not itching to pierce his skin.

Amon let out a quiet chuckle. "Then I suppose I became both Monster and Beast. And with this," he raised his left hand slightly, showing the faint glow of the Black Stone fused into his skin. "There's some Demon in me as well. Though I'm not too sure about that."

Akane's eyes widened. His words didn't sound like a confession but like a shrug. His tone was casual, basically careless.

"You speak as though you don't even know what you are." She bared her teeth slightly, but her voice shook. "Do you obey the Demons? The ones who sent the Hobgoblins to the Goblins? You walked away with both of the things they were exchanging, me and that Stone. There's no way that happened by chance."

"I wouldn't refer to you as a thing."

"Answer the question."

His smile faded, his expression sharpening for the first time. "I heard Syl say that another Hobgoblin had the key to your cage. I promised that I'd get you out." His voice lowered, steady and calm. "When I went for the key, I found the Stone as well. From where I was standing, both of you came together."

She studied him, suspicion simmering in her narrowed gaze.

Amon went on, his eyes drifting back to her face. "Besides, you're here because you fought. You survived. I didn't plan to obtain you or anything like that. In fact, I lacked the strength to do such a thing. We both fought side by side, and we both found a way to grow stronger and move past what endangered our lives. That's all there is to it." He chuckled under his breath, then sighed, glancing away. "Still… I'm getting a bit flustered."

The words snapped her out of her focus, her face heating at once. She realized then what position she was in. Straddling him, skin pressed against skin, his body still wet, glistening beneath her.

Her lips parted, but she forced herself not to falter. "If you're not with the Goblins, Hobgoblins, or Demons, then where did you come from?"

Before Amon could answer, her claws trembled. "Ha…!" The hand at his neck slipped, falling onto his chest, and her tail shot straight up, stiff like it had been struck by lightning.

Her head jerked up, hair bouncing, back arching slightly.

Her head, which had momentarily jerked up, fell back, and revealed a crimson face.

"I told you…" Amon muttered as he looked away, amusement dancing in his tone, "I was getting flustered."

A twitch. A faint hop from his huge, thankfully still limp, cock, had momentarily connected its length to her crotch. The sudden reminder of the position made her body stiffen entirely.

"Why am I naked?" She asked with a frown.

Amon blinked at her. "Please," he sighed, as though exhausted by the question.

Her claws dug into his skin once again. "Why am I naked? What did you do to me?"

"Nothing," he said firmly.

"How come I'm naked then?"

It was a fair question. Although… Not really.

"Your clothes burned off at some point. When I asked if you could fight, you were already naked."

Her mind flashed back to the moment she had been launched into that burning hut, flames devouring everything… Except her skin.

Her stomach flipped. "You mean I was…" Her voice shook, her blush deepening until her entire face burned. "I was naked that whole time?"

"Yeah," Amon answered without hesitation. "It was immensely distracting."

Her jaw dropped. "Distracting…?! You-"

"Anyways," he cut her off, turning his head toward the pond, water still dripping from his hair. "Once that thing ran away, there were still Goblins lingering. I didn't want to leave you a hot and naked Akane to their mercy, so I carried you here. Besides…" He gestured at the pond, at the sunlight dancing across its ripples. "It's a nice spot, don't you think? Thought you would appreciate that after spending so much time locked up."

She stared down at him, her chest tight, her claws trembling against his skin. She wanted to scream at him, but the sincerity in his last words quieted her tongue.

Still, caution was important. She had to be cautious. Freedom had only just returned to her; losing it again by trusting someone too quickly would be unforgivable.

"So why-"

Her words broke as his hands shot to her waist. His grip was firm, startlingly so.

Her body froze, a jolt running down her spine when,

"Wha-"

Before she could get the word out, she was in the air.

SPLASH!

Her body plunged into the pond, cool water rushing over her skin, bubbles exploding upward. She broke the surface with a gasp, hair plastered to her face, droplets streaming down her cheeks.

Amon stood at the water's edge. "Cool off for a bit." He chuckled. "You're still burning up."

Her tail swished violently beneath the water, splashing as she glared up at him, her cheeks redder than ever.

"You protected me, and I protected you," Amon said, crouching down and extending a hand toward her. "Isn't that enough for us to trust each other?"

Akane's eyes narrowed, her lips trembling. Half her face dipped under the surface, and bubbles streamed upward as she exhaled sharply.

Then she reached for his hand.

For a moment, her small fingers slipped into his palm.

And then,

SPLASH!

She yanked him forward, dragging him into the pond with a mischievous strength.

"Real mature."

"Right back at you!"

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