After lunch (which was prepared by our master cook, Hyde), the wolfie tail had to went back to Ametrine Cafe, not after kissing Hikaru on the cheeks and forehead, by the way. That made Hikaru shy because the others were looking at them. Reese demanded a kiss too from Hyde, and surprisingly he got one on his forehead. That almost killed the redhead.

There wasn't anything left for Hikaru to do, anyway. He wanted to help around the house, but the elders told him to just rest and relax. Reese was for once, being obedient as he just sat on the couch absentmindedly while swaying his tail at the same time. Hikaru's eyes were moving around, following the movements of Reese's red lion tail, almost hypnotically.

To distract himself from wanting to jumped on Reese's tempting tail, Hikaru stood up and went to a rack near the kitchen which was displaying Reese's family photos. There was an old blurry photo that he guessed was Gramps and Granny's wedding photo. They looked so happy together based on the affections showed on the photo even if he couldn't see their face clearly. Hikaru looked at Granny who was busily baking a cake.

“Granny, did you marry Gramps because of love?” the boy asked.

Granny took a glance at Hikaru and smiled knowingly. “Why? Do you afraid of marriage?”

A sighed escaped Hikaru's pale lips unknowingly. Hikaru settled his butt on the chair in front of Granny and placed his plump cheeks on his arms.

“I feel like ‘love' and ‘attraction to one's Jiwa' is different. Everything is moving so fast, that I didn't know what's true anymore,” Hikaru confessed to Granny what had been on his mind that he never had the courage to tell anyone.

Maybe he had a different perspective from the people in Avalleon. In this world, being a Jiwa means that there was no other options except accepting your Jiwa as your lifelong partner. It was the norm. If he had told anyone about this, they might be viewed him as the weird one. After all, ‘normality’ was defined with how similar your opinions were with other people's opinions.

Granny smiled and put aside his bowl of cake mixture only to give Hikaru his full attention.

“You know, I had met one of my Jiwa before I met Gramps, but he didn't love me like I love him,” he said. Hikaru's eyes widen in shock, whilst his forehead frowned.

“Even if he had a beautiful and wonderful Jiwa like you?” the boy asked innocently.

“Oh you flattered me, son!” Granny pinched Hikaru's cheeks and shook him gently. “Love, my dear, is not as simple as “Oh, you're attractive. Thus, I love you!”. No, not really. It was something that you nurtured with time. My Jiwa at that time was in love with somebody else. I couldn't force him to love me back, could I?"

Hikaru shook his head. Granny smiled and stroked the boy's head slowly.

“Thank goodness that after that, I met your Gramps. He was like a miracle for me. Right after I was heartbroken by my Jiwa rejecting me, he was there to heal my heart.”

Granny's expression on his face when he was talking about his husband was the kind of face that Hikaru wished someone had when they talked about him. That gentle, loving face. It was evident that what Granny felt for Gramps was unconditional love, the kind of love that was unshakeable. Come what may, there was nothing that could deny of the bond between them. Hikaru was sort of envy what the couple had between them.

“Being a Jiwa doesn't mean that they would fell in love with each other and be happy. ‘Jiwa' is something like a string that simply tied two hearts together. It makes two hearts attracted to each other. If one of them fell for someone else, the string would become loose and finally, the bond would be broken. If rejection happened, their status as Jiwas would be no more. However, it took a toll on their souls. That's why, you must think really carefully first before rejecting your Jiwa.”

While telling Hikaru this, Granny placed his right palm on his chest. Hikaru saw the hidden sorrow inside the elderly Fehu's fading crimson eyes. He took Granny's left hand and squeezed it carefully. A warm smile spread on Granny's wrinkled lips as he squeezed Hikaru's hands back.

“I was sick for nearly four years when I met Gramps. He quickly fell in love with me, and the newly found bond saved me from dying a lonely Fehu.”

“Then, you got married?” Hikaru asked, while grinning from ear to ear.

Granny giggled merrily. “Oh, yes! After that, we had Reese's dad. He was the spitting image of Reese. Very loud and happy-go-lucky.”

The both Fehu giggled when they imagined Reese and his dad side by side. Must be fun to have them together.

“You should remember, sweetheart. Being Jiwa with someone is not the only thing that gave us happiness and it definitely not the only thing that could strengthen our bonds with someone, but the unconditional love and trust will. Those two was hard to achieve, but it grows with time and patience. If you believe that that person could give you happiness, you too should give them your trust, and never, ever give up on them. Marriage should be last a lifetime. It was something that you and your partner build together.”

Hikaru nodded his head and smiled. He remembered himself of his parents. They were so in love with each other before, but they were still divorced. Hikaru knew that adults have their own circumstances, because adults- parents were humans too. They were not perfect.

If someday he were given a chance to get married, he promised that he will treasure their bonds forever. Even after death do them part.

Unbeknownst to the two Fehus, Reese was secretly listening to their talk. He stared gently at Hikaru and silently closed his eyes.

•°•°•☆•°•°•

Hikaru gasped dramatically when he saw the half naked Reese who was secretly trying to take a bath alone without asking for help. Reese grinned helplessly at Hikaru, flashing his white teeth and pointed fangs at the boy.

“You stubborn lion! What did I tell you about asking me for help?!” Hikaru huffed and puffed in vexation. “Really! You're injured! What if your injuries worsen? Don't worry me like that!”

Reese tried to hold back his laugh when he saw that little body tried to support his larger body.

“Y- you pervert!” screamed Reese. This time, it was Reese's time to gasp dramatically. Hikaru flinched. “What are you doing, barging in when an Uruz is bathing?!”

Hikaru's face flushed in red when his mind registered their situation right now. Ah, right! The situation right now was not as simple as two man in a bath! It was an Uruz and a Fehu in a bath! Moreover, they were supposed to be each other's Jiwa! This is bad, but,

“T- this is my duty! I- it's not like I could ask Gramps or Granny...” Hikaru fanned his warming face.

Reese squeezed in a laugh from escaping his mouth. Hikaru skilfully helped Reese to take a bath without making his cast wet. Meanwhile, Reese enjoyed silently watching Hikaru doing his job without any sign on giving up. He thought that Hikaru could be a good wife and partner. Hyde was lucky that Hikaru seemed to slowly opened his heart to the guy. If only he too could...

“Hey, Hikaru?”

“Mm?”

“Are you okay with me being your Jiwa? Do you hate that?”

A rushed of red crowding Hikaru's cheeks. Reese's question was really unexpected. At least, not right now. Reese was looking at the obsidian haired boy attentively without blinking, so Hikaru felt the obligation to truthfully answer the young man's question. But first,

“Are YOU okay with me being your Jiwa? Do YOU hate it?” asked Hikaru while staring intently into Reese lilac eyes.

Reese shook his head. “I don't hate it, but I don't know what to feel. I like you. The way you talks and acts around me really makes me feel comfortable.” A grin split open on Reese's lips. “You smells nice too, just the way I like it.”

Those words made Hikaru flustered and embarrassed. “Isn't that sexual harassment?”

“Not if you're my Jiwa.” Reese laughed. “It's a compliment.“

Hikaru chuckled and wiped his face with the palm of his hands. “Well, you smells nice too, kinda citrusy like lemon and a faint fresh smell like mint.”

“Lemon? Mint?” Reese frowned in confusion.

“A- ah... In Avalleon... let's see... Zest and... Carmint?”

Reese guffawed in amusement. “It didn't suit me at all!”

“I beg to differ! It actually suits you. The first time I met you, I thought you were scary and prickly. But the more I know you, you can be cute too and you always made me want to ruffle your hair. If I were to describe you in simple words, you are youthful and fresh, just like Zest and Carmint!”

Hikaru huffed and strongly nodded his head. He looked proud of his descriptions of his redheaded friend. Reese jutted his lips.

“Don't call me cute! I'm not a child! I'm three years older than you, damn it!”

“It depends on how you acts around me~” said Hikaru, giggling at Reese's reactions. Reese pouted and sulked.

Hikaru took a shampoo and poured it in his hands. “However-" He started to washed Reese's wet hair with the shampoo and gently stroking the guy's head. He could hear a slow purr coming from Reese's chest.

Cute!

“-day after day, I saw a different side of you. These days, I saw the side of you that cares about your grandparents, and just now, I saw the part of you that was seriously considering our relationships.”

Hikaru moved his finger to carefully massage Reese's head and temples. That made the young man relaxed more. Hikaru heard splashing on the surface of the water. Hen he peeked through Reese's shoulder, he saw a lion's tail was happily splashing the water. Hikaru held back the urges to grab and shampoo the adorable tail.

“If was fun, being with you. I would love to get to know you better, Jiwa or not Jiwa,” Hikaru said, concluded his speech.

Reese who was silently listening to Hikaru's words, was touched. He could feel his heart tightened in a good way when his eyes were locked on Hikaru's smile. The smile on the boy's lips ー he wanted to protect it forever. Reese let out a groaned and he covered his flushed face.

Hikaru who was surprised with Reese's sudden actions, started to panic and hurriedly asked if Reese was hurt.

Out of nowhere, Reese pulled Hikaru closer to him to bury the boy into his tight embrace. Hikaru was understandably flustered.

With a low and quiet voice, Reese asked Hikaru, “Can you grant me a wish?”

Hikaru who was still embarrassed, asked, “W- what is it?”

“Let's take a bath together.”

“W- what?!”

Hikaru was panicking. Very panicked. He tried to run away and said that he didn't promised to grant the wish. Reese held Hikaru's hand and made puppy eyes.

"You don't want to?"

Reese was sulking and said, "You're mean. You rarely spend your time with me, yet you always with Hyde and that stupid Noon. When I'm not well, you refused to pamper me? Hikaru's a meanie!"

Hikaru groaned and reluctantly agreed to Reese's request. After finished washing Reese, Hikaru shyly took of his shirt, leaving his shorts on and washed himself. Like a kid, Reese excitedly came out of the bath tub and helped Hikaru to wash his back. Reese's tail was wagging around him, distracting Hikaru who was embarrassed with the situation they were currently in.

Although he was nagged by Hikaru, Reese stubbornly climbed into the bath tub once again before Hikaru and urged the boy to sit between his legs. With a sigh, Hikaru complied to his stubborn friend's wish and carefully enter the tub, minding Reese's casted leg so that it wouldn't get splashed with water.

Then, he realized that this position was too dangerous. Hikaru could feel the warmth from his back which was touching Reese's firm chest and abdomen. Feeling an electric tingled along his spine, Hikaru tried to put some distance between them, but Reese's sudden action stopped him from doing that.

Reese rested his forehead on Hikaru's shoulder before he whispered,

“I'm glad you came into my life. I'm glad that you’re my Jiwa.”

Hikaru froze.

Hearing this for the first time made Hikaru teared up. He felt like he was needed. This was the first time Hikaru felt like his existence meant something.