~ Fields of Heaven ~

"I don't know how you expect me to take care of an otherspecies creature when I'm so busy," Ren said.

Lory sighed heavily. He was tired of arguing with the actor. He had known Ren would be opposed to being a part of the Interspecies Exchange Program, but he hadn't realized exactly how much Ren would hate the idea of being forced into living with a non-human.

"She's not a pet, Ren. She can take care of herself. And she will probably take better care of you than you do yourself."

"I don't need you find a girlfriend for me," Ren snarled. "I especially don't need a complication in my life such as being part of this interspecies mating scheme!"

"During this transitory period, it's important for other species to successfully integrate into human society," Lory explained. "It's not required for you to marry the girl, or even be in that kind of relationship. Your job is to help her get used to living among humans."

"Why can't you understand that I just don't want any part of this?"

"If you don't want to help, fine. Go back to your apartment and sulk, and let the poor girl who thought she was getting a new host family be disappointed that no one wants her..."


It wasn't until after the president revealed that the girl Ren had been assigned was a harpy that the actor finally allowed himself to give in.

"Idiot," he said to himself as he started his car. "It's not like it will be the same one."

"Are you a fairy?"

"I... no. No. I-I'm..." the tiny girl stammered, folding her wings behind her back as if trying to hide them. She couldn't hide them, though; they were too large to be concealed completely even when she tucked them as tightly against her back as possible. "I'm a harpy," she whispered.

She seemed ashamed to admit her species, almost as if she expected to be treated badly because of what she was.

She looked up at him, lashes glittering with unshed tears.

"You're... human, right?" she asked shyly.

"I am," he answered, and her face fell. "But my mother is a lamia."

The harpy perked up at that.

"Lamias are female only, so if they have a boy child he's born human," she said. "It's the same way for harpies."

He did not mention that his family was the reason he was bullied by children who had two fully human parents. Even though his dad was a famous actor, and his parents genuinely loved each other, the general public was still so biased against otherspecies... Mom hadn't even been allowed to come with them on this vacation, because interspecies marriages were still illegal in Japan.

He went back to the forest every day after that to play with the little harpy girl, but on the fourth day she never showed up at their usual meeting spot, even though he waited for her until nearly sunset. The day after that, dad took him back home. He never saw the little harpy girl again and whenever he thought back to that time, he was afraid of what may have happened to her...

"It can't be her," Ren told himself. "It would have to be one hell of a coincidence if she was the same girl."

He could probably find out the girl's name from the paperwork he'd been given, but the stack was so thick it would take forever to go through. He would find out quicker just by going to the house and meeting her.


Ren entered the house using the key he'd been given. The first thing he noticed was that it was dark inside.

No lights on? Is everyone in bed already? Isn't it a bit early in the evening for that? he wondered as he made his way deeper into the house.

He saw no signs of the harpy, Yashiro, or the second monstergirl - who must be a large species, judging by the wide hallways and generous spacing of the furniture.

Oh, well. It looks they all went to bed already. I guess I should eat something before I do the same myself.

When he flipped on the kitchen light, he was surprised to find the harpy slumped over the table, fast asleep. Dark crimson wings flared out behind her.

It can't be...

He was so distracted by her wings that he didn't notice that dinner for two was laid out on the table. Well, it looked more suitable for four or five people (as long as one of them wasn't Kuu), but non-humans typically consumed at least twice as many calories as humans at each meal.

It can't be her...

Red wasn't a common color for harpies' feathers - not in this region, at least. He knew because he had done extensive research on harpies after he got home from that fateful trip to Kyoto ten years ago.

He took another step into the room, wanting to get closer to get a look at the girl's face so that he could confirm it was not her. His shoe clacked loudly on the tiles. In his haste to find out where everyone else was, he'd forgotten to take them off.

At the sudden sound, the harpy snapped awake. He noticed that her hair was an odd copper color, cut in a choppy chin-length bob, and he was assuring himself that this girl was definitely not her, when she turned to look at him and he found himself staring into familiar golden eyes.

"Kyoko-chan?" he blurted out.

"Oh, you're here! I was worried because you were so late!" She slid from the chair and dropped to her knees in front of him. "Welcome home, master!"

It seemed she didn't recognize him at all.

And why would she? I don't look or sound anything like I did back then. She must assume I found out her name from the coordinator. Then again, harpies are known for being scatterbrained, so maybe she wouldn't recognize me even if I were still 'Kuon'.

~to be continued~