Walking Disasters and Me-Amelia and The Fox – Ch 42

Walking Disasters and Me-Amelia and The Fox – Ch 42

We stay like that for a minute or so, letting her wonderfully pleasant scent calm me down from the high of our reunion as I nuzzle into the soft, warm feeling of her presence. Reality comes back in the form of the fox herself, as her voice becomes tinged with a bit of playfulness as she regards me finally, "Ara~ My dear Amelia, what a fantastic welcome you give~! I have no doubt that Jun Li and yourself had a splendid time together, and I can not wait to hear all about it over breakfast. Thankfully, I was able to maneuver the tray around your
vicious
and
daring
assault~ Hehe~!"
I glance up at her as I pull back timidly, looking further up above her head to see that yep, just out of reach she has a tray of food she is balancing on one of her tails. I chuckle as I stroke the back of my head, finally getting enough sense to back away and let her get into the room, "Haha, sorry about that, honest. When I saw you I just kind of... lost it a bit there."
She gives a soft snicker herself, "Worry not, my dear~ I was truly delighted to be greeted as such by you. Now come, let's enjoy a meal that Gerra was delighted to prepare together while you tell me of your exploits in a much less rushed manner, hmm~" The heat rises to my cheeks a little at the jest and the resultant tail bop on my head, but my goofy smile never fades as I nod back to her and make our way to the table. As we approach, Ios reforms and gives a slight bow to Akiko.
"Akiko, glad to see it went according to plan for you out there and that you came back safe and sound. Not that I had much worry about that part of it, but you never know! Aims really went all out with studying to get ready for inscription lessons, I think you'll be quite proud of her." She gives me a wink as she finishes, which I assume means she's either trying to tease me or play wingwoman for me. Either way, the heat ratches up a couple notches as I sit down and look at the meal Akiko gently places before us.
Much like Jun Li and I's simpler solution the other morning, there are a couple pieces of roasted meat and some fluffy all yellow eggs as the center piece of the arrangement. I also notice a slice Gerra's bread with some butter and what looks to be jam, which I didn't know they had but makes sense. The other thing that catches my eye is that on a slightly smaller plate they have a small bowl of what looks like oatmeal that gives off the smell of cinnamon and apples, as well as a couple pieces of a freshly cut fruit. Again, I use Appraise on all of it, but sadly no level ups are forthcoming this time:
[Masterfully Spiced and Roasted Bisoonses Breakfast Cutlets (Peak Heaven Rank)]: These wonderfully seasoned and grilled cutlets were made by a world class spiritual chef. It's mouthwatering appeal and aroma only compare to the texture and taste of the creation. Additionally, when consumed, for the next 24 hours all physical stats will increase by 15%, and Health and Stamina regen rates will increase by 10%.
[Premium Scrambled Dreroth Eggs (Peak Heaven Rank)]: Expertly cooked and fluffy eggs from a Dreroth cooked by a world class spiritual chef. Their golden hue, cloud like form, and rich consistency all culminate to a wonderful breakfast addition. Additionally, when consumed, for the next 24 hours all mental stats and Health and Stamina regen rates will increase by 5%.
[Divinely Baked Valley Bread Slice (Peak Heaven Rank)]: This slice of bread was baked with love and care by a world class spiritual chef. Its whole form is long and elegantly toasted to perfection, with butter, herbs, and spices glazed on top of the loaf as soon as it comes out of the oven. It has a beyond satisfying crunch to the crust, with pillow like softness to the inner fluff, while the taste of all of those seasonings mixes perfectly together while consuming it. Additionally, when consumed, for the next 24 hours experience gain and Qi accumulation rate will increase by 10%, and stamina costs for actions will be reduced by 5%.
[Perfected Devil Bark and Awetro Milled Oats]: This simple yet filling meal has been created by a world class spiritual chef. It has been seasoned with freshly ground Devil Bark and has softened chunks of Awetro mixed into the Oats, giving it a spicy yet sweet flavor enjoyable to most palates. Additionally, when consumed, Health and Stamina pools and regen rates will increase by 15%.
Still coming to terms with how
overpowered
Gerra's cooking skills are, I notice that appraise doesn't pick up on the butter, jam, or individually sliced fruit. Switching gears, I try and use Inspect on them instead:
[Bisoonses Butter]: Butter made from Bisoonses milk using a churn or other similar process. High caloric content, tasty.
[Reddealery Jam]: Jam made from a preservative process and typically canned for further preservation. Sweet and creamy, tasty.
[Awerto Slices]: Slices of an Awerto fruit. In its raw form it is crisp and meaty for a fruit, however if baked or cooked it quickly becomes more of a sugary filling. Sweet in any form, tasty.
Thankfully the process is pretty instant, and I can check the logs more closely later, because my mouth is already salivating at this smorgasbord of delicious food in front of me. I quickly thank Akiko aloud, and Gerra mentally, as I dig in and reap the benefits of her hard work. In a weird temporal sensation of not long at all, and endlessly too long, I lean back and admire my handiwork on the battlefield of gluttony. The plate? Clean. The bowl for the oatmeal? Licked over. The fruits and bread? Nowhere to be seen.
A content smile lazing across my enraptured face, I tousle my red hair behind the back of the chair and sink down a little bit into it. With a more than pleased hum of satisfaction, I turn to Akiko, "Gerra just never misses does she? I feel like that spread almost put me into heaven. Like, Jun Li can cook awesomely too, and she said the rest of you guys aren't any slouches either, but Gerra's food is literally a spiritual experience."
Akiko smiles in delight at the praise of one of her gal's, and probably also at my physical form quickly becoming blob like in pleased fulfillment. "Indeed~ She is amazing, and I am sure she will be overjoyed to know how you think of her craft. She works so very hard at it, and we all greatly appreciate her dedication. Truthfully, we had to become proficient in basic cooking skills and techniques just so she would spend time outside of the kitchen~. When she wasn't cultivating, of course."
"Wow!" I respond back while opening up my suddenly sleepy eyes, "I guess that kind of makes sense though, anyone who could pop out such amazing food and treats like her must be fanatically dedicated to the art! I'll have to make sure to properly thank her and get my own cooking up to snuff so that I can hop in on the rotation and help let her out of the kitchen from time to time. I know how much work goes into cooking for multiple people day in and day out, it can get exhausting."
Akiko nods, "True, but to be honest with you, dear Amelia, I think she rather enjoys the challenge and commitment of it. To say nothing of the lavish praise we always make sure to adorn her with for her efforts. But I agree, too much of any one thing, whether it is cultivating, crafting, or what have you, is a negative. Blasphemous words on Mara, let me tell you~" She giggles behind a smoothly raised hand, "But in my experience, those whole solely devote themselves to cultivation, never tiring or expanding their world view, create improper foundations because they lack perspective. They may grow fast and shine bright, but ultimately they meet their end in avoidable, or foolish ways."
I take a moment to process what she's saying, and I guess that makes sense. I'll have to be careful balancing my new ridiculous growth speed with making sure everything I've learned is perfected. Which means I'll be relying on Akiko, Ios, and the girls a lot, since I'm on semi-house arrest for now. Oh well, no sense going through all the hard work once just to have to do it again because I was lazy or didn't want to ask for help on something.
"I get what you mean, at least I think." I start to reply, "It seems like the further you get into cultivation, the more arduous and intricate the steps that need to be mastered are, for the most part. Body and soul seem a bit more straight forward than spiritual, but that makes sense since its supposed to be the lynchpin of the whole thing."
I look over to see Akiko smile gently to me, sending my heart into a small flutter as she does, "Indeed, young Amelia. I am glad you are already grasping such concepts on your own~!" One of her soft tails comes up to gently pat my head at her praise, which makes me melt even further into the chair. Anymore and I'm going to be a liquid Amelia puddle on the floor!
Giggling at my antics, Akiko turns to Ios and they both share some words to each other that I tune out. Engrossed in the comforting head pats from Akiko as I am, I don't notice that they've stopped talking until I hear Akiko calling for me. With a slight sigh of remorse at leaving my almost liquid state, I sit back up in the chair. "Sorry, what's up? I was kinda lost there for a bit, those head pats are lethal."
Once more Akiko hides her smirking laugh as I blush a bit at my own shamelessness before she kindly moves on, "I was just conversing with spirit Ios about how amazing it is that you are already fluent in Zerian! I didn't know what to think when you started and held the conversation thus far speaking it, even in the slightly fast paced deluge at the beginning~! Congratulations dear, your spirit is correct, and I am very proud of you for working so hard and mastering it so quickly~!"
Huh, I didn't even realize that I
was
speaking Zerian. Well, its my first time properly and fully learning another language, so maybe that's normal? Either way, not like I'm going to forget English er... Common... anytime soon. I give a small smile at the praise regardless, still unused to receiving compliments like that, "Thanks, Akiko. Jun Li really helped speed it along, as well as Ios of course. But Jun Li was an excellent teacher the whole time!" A perfect plan, shift the praise onto someone else!!
Akiko fluffs up in happiness at me praising one of her girls yet again, "I have no doubt on that, my dear~ Jun Li is such a sweet soul when she is not testing her wares~ However, even the best of teachers will fail if the student is not receptive, so do not think you can lay all of the accolades at the foot of spirit Ios and her. Even with your system helping you, for you to learn so quickly shows a respectable level of determination, at the least. Have confidence in yourself, young Amelia."
Damn it! Backfired again! I just nod my head and keep blushing a bit as I look down slightly, unable to really deal with how warm and fuzzy her words are making me feel. After a moment of letting me squirm in shy joy, I hear Akiko shift in her chair. Looking back up to her, I notice she is now facing me much more directly and still has a kind, yet focused countenance to her.
"As overjoyed as I am to simply keep watching you process such truths in an absolutely
adorable
manner, my dear, I believe we have a topic to discuss, no? Or, if... if you would rather we continue your studies for now and hold off on that conversation, then we ca-" Akiko starts to say, still being an absolute wonderful being by trying to give me an out just in case. However, I can tell by the way her tails and ears slightly droop as she tries to be considerate to me that she would rather that not be my answer. The instant and frigid grasp of fear through my veins at rejecting her tells me all I need to know.
I quickly interrupt her, nearly shooting out of my seat in a panic to reach my hands across to hers that are resting in her lap. "
No!!
No, sorry, didn't meant to jump at you like that. Again.
*Ahem*
No, I really,
really
want to have that conversation Akiko. If... you're still agreeable to it?" I squeeze her hand in assurance and can feel the burgeoning signs of hope and yearning start to flit behind my eyes.
The instant flitter of butterflies that form in my stomach as she looks down to our conjoined hands and then back to me with a relieved smile tinged with a bit of
want
, the weight of the latter possibility no longer haunting her amethyst eyes, makes my knees and legs feel weak. The slow, familiar spring of heat begins to bubble up near my navel, expectation and desire starting to burn behind my eyes at scenarios slowly unfolding in my mind. Good thing I'm sitting down already, I don't think I could stand right now if I wanted to.
"Very well," Her gentle voice replies, my heart starting to beat rapidly in her melody, "I think it is no secret how I feel for you, my dear, but for transparency I will speak plainly. I
desire
you." I nearly moan at those words alone then and there, the muscles under my stomach and between my legs going taut, clenching on nothing as I do my best to keep composed. No doubt noticing my state, Akiko carries on without missing a beat.
"And I mean that more than just carnally. I want to be an important part of your time here on Mara and beyond. You are such a fascinating, wonderful person Amelia, and ever since we left that cave I have felt nothing but a constantly growing sense of admiration, care, and deep attraction for you. I would be more than happy to welcome you into my harem if that is what you wish. If you would rather a more personal relationship with me alone, then that can also be arranged, however given how smitten the other girls are with you already, I'm sure they would be disappointed~"
I hardly register the soft exhale of her delightful voice as she tenderly laughs. I can only stare at her as the words ring in my mind, which is no longer conflicted with holding myself back or scared about the suddenness of it all. All of my talks with Ios, the hopeful sign from Sandra, and my own drive to
finally
try and reach my own happiness for once in either of my lives coalesce into my next response. I take a deep breath, ready to display the most profound verbal acumen I can manage.
"I want you
so
fucking
bad Akiko. Aside from my growing understanding and feelings for Sandra, I don't think I've ever wanted someone as fully and desperately as I've wanted you." My voice husky and low, offering truth to my words as it is laced with the same emotions I stated. She seems to be slightly taken aback at the forwardness of my response, and I use the opportunity to kind of... scoot and wiggle the chair forward to her since my legs are still a bit jelly like.
Once I'm close enough, I raise one of her hands to place it just against the jackhammering beat of my heart, the coolness of her skin fanning out like a ripple across the enflamed version of mine. "I know you can probably hear this anyway, but
feel
this Akiko. I am losing my damn mind at just... you! You're always so sweet, and caring, and speaking so kindly to me. You're so damn sexy that it hurts sometimes, and even when you tease me you make this little guy," Tapping her hand to my heart once more, "skip a beat." I take another breath, my intense and longing gaze never escaping her sight.
"What I have with Sandy is going to be unique to me and her. I have no doubt about that, and we'll all likely have conversations like this one going forward about it. But I do not want to just hide away from how I feel about you either. I don't know if Ios told you this that night I... I tried to kiss you, but my past relationships on Earth weren't great. I didn't even know it at the time, and it's only been since I've gotten here and started truly
feeling
what all those books and stories talked about regarding love and attraction, and you're the first person I started having that revelation about." Another slight pause, making sure I don't ramble and overload the poor, delightful foxy woman.
"The people before you, before Mara... I can see now that they weren't good to me. Nearly all of them save the first one would use my mental state against me, try to trick me into believing any problem in the relationship was somehow my fault, that I was imagining what they were doing. Telling me that I couldn't see what was happening with my own e-eyes." I choke a little on the word and start to raise a free hand up to catch an errant tear that slips out, not realizing how emotional this topic was going to make me. Before I get too far, a welcome and familiar soft fur raises up and brushes the rebellious liquid away from my cheeks. I look up to see nothing but care, adoration, and love staring back at me in the form of Akiko.
"See! Like that!" I laugh slightly as I nuzzle her tail with my eyes closed, "You're just so... so... perfect! Amazing! I've never met anyone else like you. Well, Sandy obviously, but again my brain was so fucked back then I doubt I'd notice." I sigh out slightly, realizing I have gone way off track by now. "Sorry, let me get back to my point. Those women did nothing but hurt me and make my already confusing and painful mind even worse. But I always craved some kind of warmth or... semblance of love and acceptance even if it was an illusion, so I kept crawling back to them. Or would be picked up by some other random abuser and just follow them until they did the same fucking things to me.
Overtime it even started to affect how I interacted with my family outside of Sandra, making me shut down from them as those assholes would constantly try to isolate me from them. They were smart enough not to come between me and my sister though, which I think made them treat me even worse. Fragile egos couldn't handle not being the number one spot in my twisted brain." I grimace with a bit of anger as I turn away slightly. I don't get too far down that rabbit hole, as once more Akiko shows why I've fallen for her so hard as a second tail comes up to return my eyes to her. The anger and hurt wash away in her gaze, leaving only warmth behind as I smile softly once more and continue.
"But I'm not that girl anymore, scared to be alone with a broken mind and longing for just the bare minimum of loving contact. I have
Ios
, and
you
, and Jun Li and the others now. I have a purpose for the first time in my life with healing Sandra. And my mind is more complete than even when I was a kid!" I giggle out in joy, the glow of delight spreading through me as I recount my newfound blessings. "But you, Akiko. You and I may have met in an un-ideal fashion, but ever since then it's been nothing but you treating me the exact way I've
always
wanted to be treated. I know I can trust you, because you value your word so much, you have a relationship longer than my town back on Earth even existed for, and I can
feel
how honest you are with me. You're everything I've ever wanted."
With my own admissions out in the air, I slowly try my best to stand up on my still wobbly legs. At this point, I think its a mixture of the emotional word vomit and Akiko just turning me on so much, even if all she's been doing while I ramble is listen to me intently. The slight bit of trepidation at being so open and vulnerable still sends a small wave of fear through me as the silence ticks on, but when I look down into those purple vulpine eyes all of that hesitation fades away. All I can see behind Akiko's eyes is that familiar affection and understanding, non-judgmental and complete.
With a small, fragile voice not born from fear, but from a barely constrained will stopping me from just diving into this gorgeous, winter white furred, amazing kitsune and ravishing her, I ask the only other question that my addled mind can think of. "Akiko, can I kiss you?"
I step a few paces closer as I bite my lip in anticipation of her answer, the whooshing sound of my blood beating in my ears like a river, my azure eyes searching for this one final piece of acceptance. To feel something that I have never felt before, as I didn't see - couldn't see - Sandra's devotion at the time as anything but the love of a fraternal twin. With the ache of desire coursing through my veins like lava, a pool of anticipation coiling inside my center, Akiko slowly stands up next to me.
Without a word, she moves both her hands to my shoulders, the remainder of her teal tipped tails fanning out behind her slowly before snaking and coiling both of us into a firm embrace. My breath hitches almost completely to a standstill as I'm filled once again with her particular and pleasant scent, my hands sending shots of electricity through my body as they rest upon her waist, her eyes locked with mine. With careful, deliberate movements, she moves her hands up the sides of my neck, successfully eliciting a low and heavy moan as she gently traces along my pulse point, before moving to cup my flaming hot cheeks.
With my eyes half lidded, she leans in closer to my face, the tips of our soft noses touching as I feel her hot breath wash across my face. In a moment of pure rapture, her soft voice, tinged with the low husky tone of lust, gives me the answer I've been hoping for.
"Of course, my sweet Amelia~."
She wastes no further time as she leans down, capturing my soft lips within her own. I moan out quietly into the exchange as her tails further push us together into a comforting, warm embrace.

Amelia and The Fox – Ch 42