Author's Note: Hello there lads and ladies

I've spend the last few days starting to read another work of Steve King (I am a tremendous fan.) which is in fact the lovely time travel novel 11/22/63. And I am entrancted by it. So far I am 340 pages(roughly) into it and I love it a lot. One of the first works of his feature length novels that has light Hearted fun. To all american fellows out there, on hulu is an eight part TV series from it. And I am very jealous.

The chapter itself was a lot of fun to write. More Mafia content right of the bat and a scene to make me cry at the end. Thanks for all reviews and follows. You guys really make my day with that. Chap 12 is on the editing block. See ya next week!

Editor: SuperAverageFoxyboy
Enjoy!
-Portal

Chapter 11: Two shadows by the spewing structure

The moment they got seated, the last mafia to have reign over the black market waltzed in. The stern and tall Komodo dragon Mohatep led his group into the room, the reptiles all seeming curious while disinterested at the same time.

Ibuki suspected that they too were overwhelmed by the sheer size of the estate. And then add to that the amount of power and prowess the host himself kept hidden behind a humble smile and gestures of kindness and accommodation.

Tokugawa quickly established himself to be of humorous and lighthearted nature, laughing away awkwardness with a remarkable sense of flexibility. He was in no way of the cold and stubborn type of nobility that held no respect for the middle or lower class, quite the contrary.

With every action he performed, it seemed that he held a special type of respect for the people responsible for keeping the gears of society turning. The very same gears on which he had accumulated his wealth.

Tokugawa was a shareholder in multiple companies of various kinds. From delivery services, Industrial manufacturing, successful media firms, and a few companies in the healthcare business.

The conversations of the night flew by in a breeze once the first dishes were served. Ibuki had never eaten better food. Meat that melted in your mouth, sauces reminiscent to that of only the best types of liquor, and vegetables slow-cooked in a blood sauce.

If there was a taste for heaven, I found my temple. Ibuki thought to himself as he ate bite after bite of the entree, which lasted longer than he ever thought was possible, only then for the main dish to roll out.

After a strenuous fight with the main course, a set of meatballs that had each tasted like a different type of ecstasy all over, the cooks had gone back to their now-empty carts and rolled them back through the kitchen hallway. The different conversations and sounds of eating utensils clanking together ceased as the large cougar went to the front of the room, in perfect view and hearing range of all different mafia members seated together.

"I know that the sudden appearance of my messengers and the truly dubious sounding letter has confused all of you. But let's be honest, you all know enough about dubious activities to know that no one would write such a letter with the intention of just inviting someone to dinner."

Ibuki suddenly felt fear rise in him again. Tokugawa's voice never left its serious and lighthearted tone, but his statement sounded somehow grim and… final. The Masai Lion began to suspect the worse: The shooting squad was in the hallway, their footsteps echoing down the hall. Their guns cocking and leaving the safety. Tokugawa had lured them into the main room and fed them delicious food, making them tired and sluggish, too exhausted to react.

But fortunately, the door opened only to reveal Anno returning from the front of the house. The fox stood beside the room's entrance with his arms in front of him, waiting for his master to finish the speech.

"So let me explain. I have a simple job offer for all of you. To work under new management. Management by me."

Relief rolled out, the tension leaving his body. Now curiosity took its place as ruler over Ibuki's mind.What defines new management? But before he could utter such a question, Tokugawa continued.

"My family used to be something of a silent partner to most of you and your predecessors. We supply markets. You keep people safe. Easy as it can be, right? But I think that all of you have done a rotten job in keeping up your part of that simple silent agreement my great-grandfather set in place when he bought the land that would later become what it is now."

Any other day, Ibuki would have become angry at the notion that they were bad at their jobs or that their responsibility lay with the people. But this day was like no other, a day of direct contact with the leader of the black market. Tokugawa was the carnivore that owned a good quarter of the entire city's business.

Edobutsu was the home city of the Horns Conglomerate, one of the top three business suppliers and ware distribution companies in the entire country. Herbivores liked to forget that one of the reasons the conglomerate was as large as it is, was because their first real big client was the black market, pulling the first revenue, the first building block to their success, out of the streets that sold instinct killers of morally questionable making. And so far Ibuki could see or hear, no one else dared to raise any objections. Angry faces in the crowd here and there, but submission overall. They were at no place of power here.

"Theft, predation cases, aggressiveness, and overall unruly behavior… there is a long list of things that have come over my desk. And I am sick of it. I had to hire a god damn therapist to take care of those crazy meat-hungry lunatics that cause trouble on the streets. The streets ofmy business because you spend all of your time on pretending to look all high and mighty while trying to expand your turf, which to be frank, is all rightfully mine."

Mr. Tokugawa raised his voice, and yet his audience remained as silent as before. Some looked away in shame, others in anger, and some even in surprise to have it all laid in front of them.

"So I am going to revoke these little fights of dominance between all of you. I am not only sick of it, but you make a fool of me and smear our reputation. No donation to healthcare in the world will redeem a market that produces meat-addicted idiots. From now on, you'll all be working much closer than before."

This was the point in which finally some chatter broke out, sounding angry and offended at the idea of being part of this uncivilized flock. The cougar's expression turned to one of irritation.

"Silence, Now! Or I will stop being so accommodating."

They returned to submissive silence, the first hint of hostility plummeting through the air. The first drop of stress-filled sweat now reaching out like a dead man's hand.

"For the common interest in wanting to keep the streets safe and our reputation up, your priorities will change. Your job is to keep the people safe. Appearances come after. Your actions will speak louder than looks. Second of all, any little games or tournaments to show dominance are held in your headquarters in a controlled environment. I don't want you to rage war on my streets."

Minamoto huffed loudly, leaning on his arm as he glinted over to the lions' table. A crooked smile formed on his face, his fingers gesturing into a shape of a gun, figuratively shooting at them. Tokugawa frowned angrily for a second, grasping himself again as he watched the leopard with dismay.

"And none of you will kill each other out of dominance either. If I find out that happens, then it will have consequences."

"Can't we have any fun at all anymore?" Minamoto asked while leaning on his arm in disinterest and boredom.

After Tokugawa had taken the first step towards him, the cocksure arrogance dropped from his face in an instant, leaving him to sink into his chair as the cougar stepped closer, his white suit making him shine brightly.

"I don't interpret killing one another as fun, you savage loud-mouth. Maybe you should open one of those fight clubs that we used to have. Fight to the death, and the winner takes all. Money and honor, that's all you want. Well, you're going to have to accept a few changes before I take care of you personally." He spoke calmly and yet charged with energy at a tight pace that rolled off the tongue.

"Don't kill me… You C-Can't K-Kill me." The cougar chuckled at the pathetic whimper from the leopard that looked like a scared cub.

"Killing you here? Do you think I'm a moron? No, no that's not gonna happen here. If you don't get a grip, I'll tell you what's going to happen. You will leave this dining room with the knowledge that you ate your last piece of meat for a lifetime. No more meat from the black market, no more meat from outside dealers, and no more meat from smugglers. And when you leave the city in the search of your next fix, then I'll have my men catch you and wheel you back. That's how it is. So listen, you arrogant fuck." Tokugawa stepped back, the hateful glance lingering on the cheetah. The point came across, Mina looked anemic.

"Anyway…" He cleared his throat and straightened his tie.

"I will take care of the market. You take care of the troublemakers. I can be a good boss if you are good employees. Do you understand?"

The answer Tokugawa received was of no verbal or perceptive nature. No muscle moved, and not a single word was spoken. They remained looking at him with minimal movement. What reached him instead was the smell of sweat. The type of sweat that only came in two cases. Physical extortion, or fear.

The cougar gave a subtle smile, looking ahead at the tables of which not one didn't reek of pure fear that lingered in the air.The days of the true mafia have just begun.

"So, to celebrate this new beginning of thriving cooperation, I would like to recite words that run in the family. A little mantra, as you would say." The cougar folded his hands in front of his stomach and lowered his head, closing his eyes. He spoke a quick and small prayer right before starting.

"What divides us from savagery? What divides us from instinct? And what divides us from the need to kill? It is loyalty. Loyalty to friendship, love, and life. We are all bound to the code of loyalty. The principle gives us civilization. Because without loyalty… are we ever more than beasts?" Tokugawa raised his head and opened his eyes. The room looked at him with curiosity, fear, uncertainty, and even a bit of wonder. He smiled at the dining room.

"Now, frankly..." The Kitchen doors opened again, the cooking staff rolling out newly filled carts. The sweet smell of Vanilla and the pungent smell of liquor reached them.

"...Let's Have dessert, and celebrate the new period of the black market." Tokugawa's voice had turned into one of showmanship and grandeur. A shout of celebration, as the carts rolled close to the table, and Ibuki found another dining bell in front of him.

About half an hour later…

Ibuki took another sip of his glass, feeling the light buzz in his head turn into full-blown drunkenness. The stuff they had was good, better than good, excellent. Liquors that they would buy a single bottle at the end of the year, here you could get as many refills as you wanted.

The dessert was ice-cream crepes. The sweet aroma being heightened by evaporated alcohol on top of the cream. After they had finished their last course, the cooks wheeled out the booze carts and started filling the glasses with delightful frequency.

By glass five, Minamoto broke out into tears, telling his mafia how glad he was to have them and how special they were and by that point, Ibuki had also stopped listening. The wine in his glass was the last component that bound the entire meal together, tying a beautiful nod throughout it all.

It was a culinary experience that left him so dazed that he wondered how the hell he was gonna make it back to the hideout in his drunken state. But his mind no longer had any capacity to think. He found himself laughing with free and Dope at every brainless joke that they could think of. Jinma and Hino had left for the Okamigumi table, howling with the wolves in a contest. Sabu and Miguel were at the Dokugumi table and arm-wrestled the various members, looking like wannabe tough guys in the wine distorted light of the world. And then Agata, who in a wild turn of events found himself straddled by a vixen that apparently had always had a thing for felines.

The Inarigumi themselves were too busy flirting with fox butler Anno, one of the vixens already having called dibs on spending the first night with him.

All the while, Tokugawa had removed his jacket, sitting at a table a bit further away from all the commotion, eating his dinner in relative privacy. A charming hint of a smile hushed over his face every now and then when he glanced over.

"And then… the idiot falls down the stairs and breaks his legs!" Free broke out into laughter, Dope, and Ibuki following behind. As they caught their breath, Ibuki's expression turned to one of somberness, as much as the alcohol in his blood allowed his brain to express.

"You guys got any idea how the hell we're gonna get home?" slurred Ibuki, bringing Free to chuckle.

"I dunno, Boss. Your guess is good's mine." Ibuki looked over the tables, spotting the servant fox a little while later.

"Hey, Annooooo!" Ibuki blurted out, the butler excusing himself from the table and walking to Ibuki.

"Yes, sir?"

"I suppose you could call us a cab?" Dope and Free chuckled again, Ibuki beating the urge to laugh. The fox simply shook his head.

"Unless you insist, Master Tokugawa has sleeping quarters prepped for you on the second floor." Ibuki nodded at the fox's info.

"I guess it's time for us to get some rest. These two knuckleheads had too much to 'rink" He hick-upped, missing the d in the process. Anno smiled and nodded.

"Right away sir, just a moment." The fox returned to the different tables, leaving the lion to lean back and think about the whole evening in his drunken stupor.Not a bad night for a change. A great trap for some hungry beasts, haha. For his drunken mind, that thought was clearer than usual. And for the slightest moment, he could swear time seemed to be non-existent in this realm of a house they dwelled in.

A small while and another glass later, The entire mafia found themselves stumbling down the hallway and up the stairs. It wasn't unusual to drink at an evening spent with one's gang, but tonight even the high-tolerance drinkers had a slight slur to their speech and a stumble in their walk. The alcohol was too good to be coy.

The lightweights could barely function by this point, being carried up the stairs from under the shoulder by their brethren. But it was the first time that Ibuki could remember, even in his current haze, that all gumis walked together in a mixed mingle, no one giving a toss if they were in their group or not. They were, for the first time all unified, not multiple small groups treading beside each other, but one massive group of carnivores.

They reached the second floor after heaving themselves up the stairs, being led to another long hallway that brought Free, Dope, and Ibuki to laugh.

"Does tis -ouse, consiz of nuthin but hallwaey?" Free was about as in control of his body as a small child was. He staggered, slurred, and stumbled.

"I thought you weren't such a lightweight." Ibuki himself found to be slower while talking, but still clear enough for some to just mistake him as tired. Which he was also. Dope giggled, Free smirking as he straightened himself a bit.

The reptiles slurred into their quarters uttering small hisses of content periodically. The wolves came next, slumping into their own sleeping quarters. They walked huddled together, like penguins marching against the cold of the antarctic.

The Inarigumi pulled Anno into their room, ignoring the fox's pitiful attempts at escape. And lastly, the Shishigumi, which staggered to their beds. Ibuki turned when he heard a rustling of clothes, Dope and Free doing the same.

As it turned out, Agata and the vixen from earlier had started vigorously making out, the lion having dropped his jacket, the vixen having opened the back of her dress. They nearly fell over each other as they staggered into the little supply closet around the corner of another hallway. The three other lions giggled like schoolgirls, already knowing that tomorrow the youngest of the bunch was not going to get away with this without any teasing.

The room was decked out with mats across the floor, pillows, and blankets beside every last one. It felt the least luxurious of all, but no man could be prepared for everything. Ibuki sank onto his mat, his brothers around him, still giggling and talking, a few drifting off to sleep already.

There was something so child-like about this day. Something so deeply immature and playful that felt so against every part of his life up until now. But he enjoyed it in every way. He fell asleep in a slumber party full of adults returned to teenagers that had nothing in their heads besides trouble and childish delights. But that was good. It left all seriousness at the door, and for once, they all were happy for who they were.

Downstairs

Anno entered the dining room, where Tokugawa had sat waiting. He straightened his bow-tie and buttoned his jacket, quickly wiping away any dust that might have gotten unto it. Tokugawa laughed heartily.

"You didn't stay for cuddling afterward? You must be the worst lover in the world." The fox looked at him surprised.

"N-No sir, doing something like that in the workplace would be highly unprofessional." Anno was frightened. A generous master as Tokugawa was, one didn't like to disappoint someone like him. Anno was met with a content smile.

"I wouldn't have been mad even if you did. Those were some fine ladies up there."

Anno shook his head, looking away shyly.

"I didn't notice sir, I was simply doing my job as best as I could. And besides, you know I'm-"

"I know. I'm just teasing you." Tokugawa stood up and put his jacket back on, buttoning it closed.

"Don't be so nervous, Anno. You did well. I can only reiterate that the last assistant I had left for personal reasons. And so far, you are being a more than worthy replacement." His tone was sincere and satisfied. The tone that you heard if you had done very well in your boss's eyes.

"Thank you, Master Tokugawa." He leaned forward and bowed, the cougar doing the same. Once they stood straight again, Tokugawa grabbed into his pocket, pulling out a small envelope. Anno looked up to see him offering it to him. Anno picked it up, holding the white paper in his hands. In neat handwriting on the front stood Insurance Fund Patient G. Vulpes Vulpes.

"On my desk are a few letters you need to bring to the post office. Tell them it comes from me. They should handle it with utmost care and urgency. Then tomorrow morning, call a few cabs. I'll have the cars delivered back to their headquarters."

"Right away, sir, but… what is this?" Anno turned his head, pointing at the envelope in his hands.

Tokugawa chuckled at the fox, smiling a bright and generous smile.

"It's for your father. Insurance money for his treatment." Anno's jaw dropped. He hadn't told Tokugawa anything about this. Besides, it wasn't anything to talk about at the workplace about personal matters.

"Uh... I-I d-d" He stammered, not reaching any words. The cougar shook his head.

"It's not taken out of your pay, and you don't need to pay it back. I always know who works for me before they do. Just don't you worry, see it as a good work bonus… I am more than satisfied with your work. You're an excellent fellow."

With a small wave, the large cougar dressed in white walked away from his table, through the doors, and down the hallway. Anno was left behind, holding the small envelope of money that would pay for his father's cancer treatment, a piece of information only the closest circle of his personal life knew. He looked at it again, and opened it, counting the yen notes.

"More than enough to pay it for a year…" Anno whispered to himself. His arms sagging to his side. A thought circled through his head, one of alert. This large carnivore had acquired information that his younger sisters didn't even know about. Something so personal that only his mother and he, the oldest, knew about. He shivered slightly.What have I gotten myself into?


Juno sat on the side of the fountain, The very same place she had met Legosi over three months ago. Although the circumstances of her being here caused a weird mixture of anger, relief, worry, and fear. Her inner voices all ripped into different directions as she sat by the fountain that she had come to cherish, awaiting her Legosi. And even though she was still unsure of how exactly she should react, she knew for sure that he had some explaining to do.

"He can't just think to scare me like that." She huffed, her arms crossed in front of her chest as the voice of sympathy reached out in her.

You don't have the slightest idea what his dreams are like. And you know just as well how horrible your dreams were...

"But does that give him the right to scare me like that?" Self-righteousness shot back. When you had these nightmares, you told him. And he didn't. He continued and continued to suffer and let you watch him during it. Do you think that was fair?

Hope's mellow voice of direction spoke up, raising her mood to a level of acceptance and patience. He will tell you, so in the end, worrying about it now won't help. It'll clear up eventually.

Juno rested her hands on her knees. Breathing deeply and slowly to regain order of her thoughts.I love him. But he'll do the talking. That's what I deserve. And then after I tell him how much that hurt because, of course, he won't know, and then I'll think of ways to help him.

Just as she finished ordering herself. The periodical sound of footsteps sounded through the night. She looked ahead and nearly broke down crying again. Legosi looked sucked dry of life. His eyes looked irritated. They had cried their own fair share of tears.

Legosi hunched as strong as he ever did, his tail hung lifelessly in between his legs, and his arms hung low as if their blood flow was cut off.

"Hey, Juno..."

Surprisingly enough, Juno remained stoic. Her expression not giving in an ounce of information. A fact that made the entire thing even harder for the wolf. Contrary to what she believed, he had in fact realized just how much he hurt her with his small misstep that had hurt not only her but also his best friend to a degree that he didn't know.

"Juno… I'm sorry, ok?" His apology reached her, but her outward appearance still didn't react.Let him do the talking. That's what I deserve.

Legosi whined when he still saw nothing. Not even her eyes gave out any information about her emotional state. She starred ahead with a stoic glance of observance. He sighed, and the chaos of thoughts in his head started to silence out. You messed up, so now telling her will be in the worst of times. You got no choices left, so get it over with.

Tears streamed down his face. Every memory of his mother ripping through his head like an old movie projector playing a scene at twice the speed. And yet, as the machine creaked and cracked, the image seemed to become clearer and clearer. It took serious effort for Juno to remain silent as Legosi seemed to deteriorate in front of her.

"I was dreaming of my mother… I have been ever since we started sleeping in the gardening shack." He glances away from her, looking into the darkness as he could clearly see the shadow hiding behind the stone beam of the atrium around the fountain. Her reptile eyes staring out from behind it, green scales shimmering, and her small ever-present.

"She died when I was 12… and I don't know if I ever recovered. And I never wanted to tell you because of what she was." Now Juno started to feel the panic rise out in her, while her face broke away into the first expression of sympathy.Abusive? drunk? Absent? Why didn't you just tell me? I could have helped you-

"My grandfather is a komodo dragon. My mother was a hybrid."

Juno's muzzle opened into a gaping maw. Pure shock in every facet of her being, silencing the voices in her head instantaneously. Of all things that she expected him to be worried about.

"You… are… a… hybrid?" Juno went pale, pure shock running through her system at the new information she hadn't expected at all. Legosi sweat bullets, trying to ascertain what her reaction was. Juno's mouth closed again, her eyes darting from left to right. The pressure in his mind reached a dangerous level, the tears in his eyes streaming and a steady rate.

"I was s-s-so scared t-t-to-…" His voice trembled, cracking fully into open floodgates that spilled all the fear and sorrow he held in himself. "J-J-Juno I love you… please don't leave me…"

Tears spilled from the wolf, Juno's expression of utter shock still uninterpretable. After a small eternity of silence, the she-wolf started to talk.

"You didn't tell me… about your nightmares-" Her face was almost white, the brown fur losing close to all of its contrast. "-Because you were scared that I would-"

-reject you for the monster that you are.Legosi bit down as he tried to prepare for the heartbreak he would never be able to survive.

"-break up with you over something… so trivial?"

The days Juno spent sitting in the library thinking about what made him different from the average wolf instinct started to make sense.

The questions she asked herself why he was so awkward even though he was a social animal made sense. And his dodgy behavior, his panicked reaction to anything about his nightmares.

Legosi was afraid to lose her just as much as she was afraid of losing him. Juno giggled, bringing the wolf to opening his clenched eyes again. He saw the reddish-brown she-wolf in front of him, giggling in relief. Relief?… Relief?!… Legosi watched Juno tipped over backward.

"Juno!" Legosi lunged forward to keep her in her place. His leg knocked against the stone, letting him fall into the fountain with her. He landed with his arm behind her head, falling face-first into the shallow base pool. The water enveloped his face, his legs following his body in an awkward manner, sliding down the inner sides of the fountain. He leaned on his knees, heaving himself up. He raised her head over the water surface, seeing her open her eyes at him.

They just remained for a second, once again completely entranced by each other. Two wolves in the fountain. Juno's eyes looked at Legosi with complete love, relieved and at ease.

Legosi could hear Jack's voice in his head. 'Well, no matter how you decide to go about it, it's not like that'll change anything in your relationship with her, right? She loves you. Like, a lot. So much so that I doubt learning the truth about him would be enough to ever put a wedge between you two.'

He suddenly felt a stinging pain in his cheek, the noise of a slap reaching him a second later. She grabbed his suspenders pulling herself closely. Her face was full of passionate anger.

"Don't. EVER. Do. That. Again." He looked at her angry face, nodding In brisk and somehow eager submission.

Her lips found his, and the matter was over. By the fountain, where bad things ended, and good things began.

Later, in the Gardening shack...

"For being a one-eighth komodo dragon, you look like one handsome gray wolf." The pair sat by the window, already in their sleepwear as their clothes dried. They drank cartoons of milk and ate dinner, which they had taken in to-go bags. Wrapped in blankets, they watched the last fireflies of the year fly over the ground. Juno was currently brushing over his face, studying his features like a scientist might study fossils of long-lost dinosaurs.

"You never asked yourselves why I had such small eyes?" He nudged downwards, looking at her with the tiny black pupils, with no eye color to decorate it, just a white orb with a small black hole in its center.

"I wondered why you looked so much like a wolf but didn't act like one at all." Juno looked at him with wonder, the same kind of wonder he had seen on her face when he first showed her the gardening shack as their new sleeping place.

"My mother was so glad about that. That I looked like any other wolf." He eyed the milk carton shortly, the small cartoon cow on it reminding him of childhood. The door hadn't left his mind since last week. She rubbed his arm, smiling at him warmly. He smiled back, glad that it was over. He swore to himself again that he would never in his life keep a secret like that from her.

"My grandmother died… when my mother was young… one or two years old. I think she never recovered from that." He took a pause, feeling her hand on his arm again. It felt free to talk about it, but that didn't mean that it would be easy. He had never told anyone this many details about it, not even Jack.

"She looked like a perfect gray wolf from what grandpa told me. She was one of the most popular girls in her school… I think that for what time she spent feeling normal, she really enjoyed life."

After many years of thinking about it, that haunted door in the back of his mind, the hole endlessly forming in its middle. He really started to believe that for the time she was just any other wolf, she was happy. And if it wasn't true, then he could at least hope it was true.

"When she was 19 while looking at herself in the mirror per her morning routine, she found a scale on her back… Grandpa hates to talk about that day… I think to him it was the day that her fate was sealed… Komodo Dragons have this… gift… that allows them to almost sense things happening before they do. Grandma liked to call it Dragon's Intuition…. And he doesn't say it, but I just know that he knew from that day on that she was going to…" The next pause was incredibly long, looking at the floor in depressive sadness. Tears rolled down his cheeks. A hand was on his back, rubbing it to comfort him. The other was on his arm, the grip just growing a bit tighter.

"I was born not a year later… I guess she wanted to fit into 'normal' society… She spends most of her life in her room… And that door… The door to her room had a hole… for her to touch my face without me seeing her… And in my dreams… I see it. Clear in front of me. That door slowly opened to reveal the monster that my mother had thought she became…"

Legosi's hands reached his face, full-on crying into them. She hugged him from the side, his own arms reaching around her. Suddenly he felt a sense of Deja-vu. He smiled a crooked smile as he remembered his nightmare just a day ago. But now, he felt comfort. Painful comfort in the embrace of love that his mother had never given him. Because of her own insecurities. And her own fear.

"Thank you." He spoke calmly, still trembling. She brushed over his face, sitting down in front of him. "I was so scared to tell you… I was scared you would think me a freak, a deviant, or… a monster." Her hands now reached his face.

"Don't you ever think that again. I am here for you, now and forever." The words were cheesy but appreciated. Needed really. He smiled at her.

"Well then, once this is over and done with, for me to never lie to you again… Let's get married."

Juno smiled like an idiot, Legosi returning the same smile with no conscious effort. Her finger softly booped his nose.

"Let's not get too ahead of ourselves, mister. We still have school and growing up to do."

The wolf smiled as he looked out of the window, the fireflies outside shining brightly.

"I just wish time would move a bit faster."