Alone time (part 2)

After relaxing with Nicole for a while, I decide it's really time to wake her up once I notice it's gotten completely dark outside. Several shakes later, she finally releases me.

"Are you awake already?" I ask.

"..."

"Nicole?"

"... Mm."

"Uh, okay. Are you hungry?"

"Yes," she says, suddenly perking up. If we're anything alike, it's that her love of sleep is only surpassed by her love of food.

"Anything in particular you want?" I ask as we head down the stairs.

"Meat."

"... That's it?"

"More meat."

"I'll improvise again, I guess. Wait, it's bad to eat too much meat right before bed."

"I'll leave it up to you, then," she says, drifting off toward the bathroom while I head to the kitchen.

Ugh, that's a terrible answer. Let's see... white meat should be fine. It's not as heavy on the stomach as red meat, though I definitely won't let her go back to sleep right after eating, anyway. Something quick. It'll be similar to what I made her before, but we have a lot of chicken. It's one of my favorite meats since you can make almost anything with it.

Well, at least I'm going to make a different dish this time. First, I wash my hands. Can't forget that step.

I start preheating the oven. I never actually learned exact temperatures, even though I know it's super important... I just trust my intuition.

I grab a muffin pan and lightly oil it. Luckily, I always keep something prepped for moments exactly like this: pizza dough. I take a portion and press it into the pan.

Nicole wanders in and takes her usual seat, silently watching me cook.

Now for the sauce. The key to making a delicious meal is keeping the person eating it in mind, so I'm going to make Nicole's favorite: tomato, onion, oil, garlic, vinegar, salt, pepper, sugar, bay leaf, oregano... Ugh. Making sauces is really not my forte, so I hope I got the quantities right. At least it smells and tastes great. I hope she likes it.

"Isn't that too little onion?" she asks, suddenly appearing right over my shoulder.

"Well, I don't like onions."

"... Blasphemy."

"What do you want me to do? I've tried to like them!" A little conversation would be nice to wake her up, wouldn't it? "I've seen so many dishes that look and smell amazing. But the second I taste the onion in them... um, I'm grossed out. I know I shouldn't talk bad about food, but I can't help it. I hate the taste and texture of it in my mouth."

"It can't be that bad."

"If it's super finely chopped like it is right now, I can mix it well enough into sauces like this, or disguise it in the dish... like the lasagna I had this afternoon, I guess. But I refuse to even be in the same room as a red onion. The overpowering smell and the taste it leaves in your mouth almost make me throw up."

"You have to learn to eat all kind—"

"Wait," I interrupt her. "I know exactly what you're going to say. But asking me to do that is like me asking you to eat figs every day, in every single meal. It's impossible, isn't it?"

That successfully shuts her up. For once, she doesn't argue with me. Instead, she adjusts her position to be more comfortable against her chair. Ha!

Fun fact: Nicole absolutely hates figs.

Another fun fact: my aunt and uncle, Nicole's parents, have about ten fig trees growing around their house back in my hometown. It's actually getting concerning. A letter I received from my parents a while back mentioned that the roots were starting to crack the foundation of their house.

I shake my head a little to refocus on the food.

I spoon the sauce over the dough in the pans, topping it with mozzarella, goat cheese, bits of chicken breast in some, mushrooms in others, and, why not, some chopped sausage. And that's it... well, maybe a little more cheese never hurts. Oh, should I have mixed it all together before putting it in the pans? Whatever, it looks good.

I slide the pan into the oven. My cousin and I both prefer meat, and I usually try to sneak some fruits and vegetables into our meals, but laziness definitely won out this time. Now, drinks. If I ask Nicole, she'll probably say beer or wine, so I won't even bother asking. She said she'd leave it up to me, so we're doing it my style. Hot milk!

I grab a saucepan. There is nothing better than some warm milk before bed, and I don't care if she calls me childish! I guess tea or just plain water are also good options before sleep, but I never learned how to brew a proper cup of tea, and I don't particularly like anything they sell for easy brewing. Although, the jasmine lavender tea my mom makes is incredible.

'I just realized I really like lavender...' Maybe it's just the smell. I don't particularly care for how the flower itself looks. Lavender fields are gorgeous from a distance, but when I see the flower up close, for some reason, I always feel like it's covered in tiny bugs.

Anyway, after a few minutes, I grab two large mugs and fill them to the brim with hot milk. Now all we have to do is wait for the pizza muffins, or whatever they're called, to be ready.

We both sit there in a comfortable silence, taking small sips from our mugs. I glance at my cousin... She's disheveled as always, maybe even a bit more than usual, but her face looks as striking as ever. When she's quiet, she radiates this aura that only a reliable, capable adult can give off.

Huh, I don't think I ever want an aura like that. I feel like I'd need to shoulder a ton of annoying responsibilities just to convey that kind of vibe, so I'm not jealous of her anymore, like I used to be.

The fact that she's still sitting there in just a sports bra and panties doesn't even seem to register in her mind, a fact I'm actually not-so-secretly grateful for.

"Now we just have to wait," I comfort her a little.

"I hate this part." it didn't work.

"Too bad... Aren't you cold?" It's getting kind of cold.

"Mm. Not really."

"Okay."

"..."

The conversation dies. That still happens from time to time. Even though I can talk to Nicole normally now, I really need to think of more conversation topics, or my new friends might get bored with me.

'OH, RIGHT! I didn't tell Nicole about them!'

But... she still looks so tired. It would genuinely hurt my feelings if I excitedly tell her and she just responded with something like, 'Oh, good for you... is dinner ready?' I'll wait until she's more awake.

My left ear suddenly twitches, pivoting backward. It's getting too loud. The hellish, erratic buzzing of a fly.

Damn it, I hate flies. I think they're the only animals I truly detest. Uh, well, along with spiders. Oh, and centipedes. Bats, too, especially those giant ones that look like little imps. Some scary monkeys. Leeches... huh. I guess I actually dislike a lot of animals, even though I consider myself an animal lover in general. I hadn't realized that.

'Wait, what was I saying? Ah, right. Stop distracting yourself.'

I mean, some spiders can be cute, provided they are viewed from a distance. A lot of distance. Like Hiro, a little jumping spider my brother kept years ago... Hehe, somehow, he managed to teach the tiny thing to dance. It was actually adorable how he would lift and shake his front legs as if he was greeting the world. Sadly, Hiro passed away years ago at the ripe old age of one year and five months. He still has a little grave my brother made for him in the garden back home.

But it took me months to get used to Hiro. Having a spider around just terrifies me. Even when I logically know it's not a dangerous species, the way they move all those legs gives me the creeps.

But flies are a completely different story. Even though they can't bite or sting, I despise those filthy little disease-carriers that land on garbage and then have the audacity to try to land on your food.

'Sorry, I know you're just trying to live your life, but DIE.'

Without any intervention on my part, we both watch as, in the blink of an eye, a perfect sphere of pure darkness manifests around the fly in mid-air, trapping it. Before either of us can even react, the sphere violently compresses until it completely vanishes, taking the fly with it.

"..."

"..."

"T-The food is ready," I announce.

Even though that was perhaps the most satisfying thing I've ever done with my darkness magic, I'm just going to pretend I didn't see anything.

I'm mentally exhausted from talking so much today, so I'll worry about whatever that was later.

-----

"Hey, when are you going to visit my aunt and uncle?" Nicole asks from the table, resting her head on her arms.

We've both finished eating, and I'm currently tackling the dishes. I pause, my hands deep in the soapy water, and think about it... I still have to help the sisters with their restaurant.

"Mmm, in a few days, I guess."

"You should go as soon as possible. But stop by the castle first. Someone has a job for you."

"Wait, who?"

"The Dark Brotherhood."

"Why?"

"I imagine they need your magic for something."

"Aren't they dangerous? Why are you so calm about this?"

"You can count on Ilona. I'll help you out too if they try to start trouble," Nicole yawns. "I doubt they'll ask you to do anything dangerous. Besides, they pay well."

"Alright, I'll go."

"Oh? You just agreed?"

"Well..."

Dad, Mom, my sisters, my brother, Nicole's parents, neighbors who are basically family, and probably others I'm forgetting...

'Right, there's also Kai... ri... oh, wait. We don't talk anymore.'

Still, I should probably buy her something, just in case.

"I'll have to buy a ton of presents," I tell Nicole, a sudden wave of melancholy hitting me. "And I haven't saved up much."

"Mm, well, you haven't seen them for ages. And the one who leaves home has to bring souvenirs to the ones who stay. That's good motivation, I guess. Anyway, I'm tired, so good night."

"Hm? It's not good to eat too much right before bed."

"But eating made me sleepy..."

"Sometimes you're like a child. Well, I'm not one to talk. Here, at least finish the dishes for me before you go to sleep."

"Fine..."

I leave her to it and step out of the kitchen. Today was way too stressful for my shut-in mind. I really need to relax. A hot bath sounds heavenly right now.

This time, I don't even bother making excuses. I strip right in the living room and toss all my clothes into the laundry room. I stretch my arms, rolling my wrists in slow circles, then stretch my legs, my back, and my hips from side to side. Finally, I lean forward and give my tail a long, satisfying stretch.

"Mgh...!"

Then I take my time walking upstairs to the bathroom, enjoying the cool breeze on my bare skin... It's a wonderful, liberating feeling that never gets old! The freedom of not having to hide anything. Of letting the world, even if no one is actually looking, see every bit of my skin, my good genes, my effort, and my pride. Because my body is perhaps my only true source of pride.

'Okay, that sounds incredibly sad. I'm sure I have other things to be proud of. I just haven't found them yet, or maybe I haven't thought about them. Yeah, let's go with that.'

After prepping the tub and washing my body and hair in the shower, I finally slip into the bath.

"Mmh~ Haaah~"

Soaking in warm water after a stressful day is purely restorative. It's that amazing sensation of absolutely coming back to life.

And... there it is. It takes a little while, but when the thick fur of my tail finally soaks up enough water, the warmth reaches all the way down to my skin, sending a second, delicious shiver of pleasure up my spine.

Time to relax...

-----

"Mmm, mmh... bartsu... quifcarva wehlapri..."

While I'm humming songs that probably don't even exist, I realize I forgot to grab a towel. I don't mind walking around naked at home, but dripping water all over the floor is another story.

"Wait, I could just dry myself with magic..." I usually forget about that. But I really don't want to sleep all poofed up again. Sure, I could practice controlling it better so that doesn't happen, but I don't feel like it right now. Maybe it's easier with darkness magic? I'll try it later.

Mmm, let's see.

Channeling that familiar, shadowy sensation, I extend my senses to feel around my room. There's the bed, my shoes, shelves, books, photos, and... another fly!?

Annihilated.

Moving on... Clothes, more clothes, way too many clothes, underwear, more underwear—huh? Crotchless? When did I buy those? How erotic. Maybe I'll wear them soon. Ah, there it is!

Towels. I lock onto a couple of them and concentrate on pulling them toward the bathroom.

A small cloud of darkness, almost like a misty shadow, manifests in the air and gently drops the towels right into my waiting hands.

"Perfect! Hehe."

As tedious as it can be, I've actually come to love the ritual of drying myself. I wrap the massive pink fabric around my shoulders and step out of the tub, letting out a soft sigh as the plush cotton instantly wicks away the slight chill of the bathroom air.

I take my time, turning the chore into a quiet moment to admire the results of years of self-care. I pat down my firm shoulders, dragging the towel across my collarbones before pressing it gently against my soft breasts... Tilting my head back, I arch my spine slightly to dry my flat but plush stomach, enjoying the warm friction of the fabric against my damp skin.

I move lower, resting one foot on the edge of the tub to run the towel down my strong, soft thighs and beautiful legs. I pause to pat my crotch, appreciating the neat bush that, for some reason, I actually wish was a bit more prominent... Then, with a quick twist of my hips, I dry my back and, of course, my firm, sexy, proud, and completely overly-adjectived heart-shaped butt!

Next is my hair. Since it reaches all the way down to my waist, it holds a ridiculous amount of water. I grab a second, smaller towel, gathering my long brown locks and squeezing the moisture out slowly. I completely lose track of time doing this, just breathing in the sweet scent of my shampoo filling the small room.

I use the dry corners of that smaller towel for my ears, being extra careful. I delicately dab around the sensitive tips and the soft white fluff inside, my ears twitching instinctively at the gentle friction.

Then comes the longest part: my tail. It is incredibly heavy when it's soaked. I lift it with both hands, wrapping a large section of the towel around the base; the same brown as my hair. Slowly, I squeeze and slide the fabric down the thick length, working my way down to the snow-white tip I inherited from my mom. I have to repeat the motion a few times, gently rubbing and fluffing the fur back to life until it stops dripping.

Eventually, I stop focusing on the actual act of drying and just let myself enjoy the sheer softness of the fabric. I rub it against my face, the nape of my neck, my arms, and my sides.

'Somehow, drying myself has become a pleasurable, deeply intimate act of self-love, even more relaxing than the bath itself.'

I get to care for my body while simply admiring the texture of the towel. Which, by the way, is amazing! This pink towel is huge, fluffy, super absorbent, and incredibly thick without being heavy. It's as soft as a cloud.

... It was also ridiculously expensive. One gold coin and five silver coins. Or three thousand carions if I'd used paper money, the common currency across the Ciren and Carian kingdoms. That was three days' worth of work just for a towel!

I remember Nicole scolding me for wasting money, at least until I let her borrow it.

Hah!

Once I'm completely dry, I grab the brush I keep behind my bathroom mirror and start gently combing through my hair, detangling and smoothing it while my fingers check the results of the conditioner. Combing the fur around my ears is something I'm still trying to master. I haven't found a good specialty brush for it yet, so I just use my usual one very, very gently. When I'm finished, my hair is perfectly straight, though I know it won't be long before it returns to its natural wavy state.

I inherited that from Dad, along with my brown hair.

I grab a different brush for the final step. Brushing my tail is easily one of my favorite things to do. The glossy shine that appears after every stroke is... how do I even describe it? Almost intoxicating to watch. It might just be my inner narcissist talking again, but I absolutely love the way my tail looks.

'Alright, let's wrap this up. I've taken way too long. Is Nicole asleep by now?'

I head to my room and grab a simple bra and some white boyshort panties for a change. They aren't my absolute favorites, but I like the snug way they wrap around my hips.

I quietly step into my cousin's room. I find her... ah, wow. Lying completely on her stomach, legs spread, with only a thin layer of cloth hiding her modesty. She must have tossed and turned a lot trying to find a comfortable position.

"... Nicole?" I ask softly, after a few minutes—er, seconds, yeah, seconds of admiring the view.

"Mmh..."

Her typical response when she's on the verge of sleep. Though I'm actually surprised she's still awake. I must have been in the bathroom for... what, an hour and a half?

"Can't sleep?"

"... Nh."

"Is something bothering you?"

"Just all the work I have to do tomorrow," she mumbles into the mattress. "I'm so sleepy, but every time I close my eyes, I remember something else I need to get done."

"Oh. Well, let me help you sleep. But first, do you need anything? Water, milk, bathroom?"

"I'm fine..."

"If you say so."

I climb onto the mattress and gently nudge her shoulder, coaxing her to roll onto her side. She complies lazily. I lie down behind her, draping one of my legs over hers. I gently guide her tail to wrap around my belly, while I use my own tail to wrap around hers. Using one arm as a pillow, I hug her waist with the other, gently pulling her back against my chest so she can hear the steady rhythm of my heartbeat.

A blanket? It's summer, sure, but it can still get chilly in the early morning. Fall is close, too. I summon a wisp of darkness to fetch a thin blanket from across the room, letting it settle lightly just over our feet for now.

It's the warmest, safest feeling in the world!

Mom used to do this for me all the time when I was little. When I became a teenager, it suddenly felt way too embarrassing, so I asked her to stop... But by the time I grew out of that phase and it didn't feel weird anymore, the embarrassing part was asking her to start doing it again.

When I feel Nicole's muscles finally melt and relax into my embrace, I play my final card. I start gently stroking her hair and whisper a soft melody into the quiet room.

Somehow, I didn't feel like singing a traditional lullaby. Instead, a very specific rhythm popped into my head.

"Mmh...~ ... Time is an illusion that helps things make sense..."

I know it's not a real lullaby, but the melody carries this incredibly reassuring weight to it. It feels like when everything in the world is going wrong, but someone you trust holds you and promises that everything is going to be okay.

"... And so... you and I will always be best friends..."

A few minutes later, I lift my head just a fraction to check on my cousin. Mm, yep. She's completely out.

"Good night," I whisper, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek. Sweet dreams.

Eh.

Maybe this wasn't my best idea... If I try to get up and leave now, I'll definitely wake her up.

Oh well. I guess we're sleeping together tonight.