The light slowly vanished. I couldn't move, nor open my eyes.
I must've been lying on my back, on something soft… but why does it smell like damp earth? A cool breeze suddenly blew by, bringing with it forest scents.
Wait, aren't I in my room? And why would I be lying on my back when I was just standing a while ago? And why am I even in this immobilized state in the first place?
My thoughts were interrupted when I was lifted up gently by what seemed to be strong arms. Strange… These arms couldn't belong to my mother. Besides, I wasn't just lifted up; I was cradled in someone's arms. I'm taller than my mom now, so she couldn't possibly be this person.
My heart beat wildly. This person's scent is also nowhere near familiar. Who could this person be, then? Or, is this even a person?
I felt that I was being moved to another place at quite a speed. Just where am I being carried to? I'm getting more and more nervous by the second.
Soon, we finally stopped. I was lowered down into a sitting position, my back resting against something rough. What felt like hands then rested on top of my thighs. That's when I felt my energy come back to me and creep through my veins. I immediately opened my eyes…
…and gasped…
This face…this gorgeous face in front of me, without a doubt, belongs to Youko Kurama, the legendary fox thief I've been reading about. What is he doing here? Is this some kind of a dream?
He then smirked. "You look like you've just seen a ghost."
He…talked? I reached out to touch his cheek—it was smooth, flawless, and felt… real?
His eyes closed, and he smiled mischievously. Before I could withdraw my hand, he caught it and pressed my palm against his cheek. "I didn't think you'd be too hasty," he then kissed the back of my hand.
He opened his eyes and leaned in all of a sudden. I backed away until my head touched a rough surface. I looked behind me and saw it was a tree trunk. I turned to face Youko again, only to find him leaning so close to me that our foreheads almost touched. I gasped as he caressed my face.
"You're pretty straightforward," he licked his lips. "I like that." He leaned in closer until his lips met mine.
I froze in shock for a moment. But no sooner did I push him off me and slid away from him.
"Are you resisting me?" he glared.
"I…I believe I have all the right to," I managed to say, glaring back.
He raised an eyebrow and stared at me for a while. Then he started laughing.
"What's so funny?"
"Right, you are still completely oblivious of it."
"What are you talking about?"
His expression got serious. "You were already sold to me, Yana."
"Yana…?"
"I believe that's what your mother said your name was when she sold you."
I frowned. "This is ridiculous. I'm going home now." I stood up and turned away from him, but I was instantly pulled back by the wrist and forced to face the fox demon again.
"Why would I even believe you?" I added. "You're just a figment of my imagination!"
He chuckled. "You must have a hangover from the sleeping drug I gave you." He pulled me closer to him. "But honestly, I'm not a hallucination, Yana. I am real." His hand went dangerously low, so I pushed him harder away this time.
I jumped a few steps back and wrapped my arms around my chest, as if I could protect myself that way. And then I noticed this isn't the same texture as the cotton shirt I was wearing before. This one's silk. I looked down and saw that I'm wearing a grey dress that ends just above my knee.
Another breeze caused my hair to cover my face. "Oof…" I shoved them away from my eyes, but then I had to get a few strands again to examine. What's with this odd color?
I looked around. What in the world is happening here? What am I doing in a forest? And why is Youko Kurama here, alive and talking to me?
I'm so full of questions, and Youko isn't of any help either. I turned away from him and noticed a lake. Absentmindedly I went towards it. Supposedly, I would've seen my reflection in the water—a brown-haired girl with hazel eyes. But instead a slightly taller, silver-haired girl was staring back at me, with the same silver dress I'm currently wearing.
I looked back at Youko, who was staring at me in wonder. "What's… happening?" I finally asked out loud.
