Chapter 13

Corrin smiled brightly as she walked down the sidewalk that following morning. And she knew it had to do with the kiss on the cheek that Gyobu had given to her yesterday evening. Of course she knew it might not have meant anything very serious, but it was still nice nevertheless. However, even though she may have enjoyed it, one question still lingered in the back of the princess's mind. And that question was obvious.

"Why? Why did he kiss me on the cheek to begin with?" The young woman quietly asked herself, as she began to cross the street. And once she did this she was quite surprised to see the anthro tanuki walk out of a clothing store with a bag in his left hand. Seeing this though only caused the young woman to raise an eyebrow in wonder as she went on with, "Huh? I wonder why Gyobu just walked out of that clothing store? I mean I guess he could be getting a tuxedo for the social gathering later tonight. Although either way I'd best not pry since it's none of my business to begin with."

The noblewoman quickly broke away from her thoughts when she saw the muscle gutted beastman wave at her in greeting once she saw his yellow eyes lock on to her. This caused her to wave back to him before she walked up to him and said, "Good afternoon, Gyoubu."

"Good afternoon, Corrin." Gyobu replied, with a big smile on his face. He then reopened his eyes once he had added, "But I must be honest I was certain you'd be busy finding a dress for tonights event the Berserkers are hosting?"

Hearing this prompted the human to let out a light giggle as she replied, "Well, I suppose I should be doing that. But Snow told me he'd had already picked something out for me to wear for tonight."

"Oh, is that so? Then I am certain it will be lovely." The tanuki remarked, to which she nodded her head in agreement.

"Yes, I'm certain it will be. But um can we go somewhere a bit more secluded?" Corrin suggested, while she looked down towards the ground. She then continued, "Because well you see I want to tell you something. But I don't want a lot of people to find out about it." She then brought her gaze back up to the anthro raccoon dog's and kept going, "And I apologize if the reasoning sounds vague. But I promise to explain everything."

"I understand." The beastman reassured, before Corrin saw and then felt one of his large hands on top of one of her shoulders. He then smiled again as they started to walk together and went on with, "And I believe I know just the place. However, I must drop these clothes off at my home before we go there." Hearing this caused the princess to nod her in understanding. But while they walked the tanuki mentally added, "Although now I wonder should I tell her about a secret that I've kept from her? It would only be fair for I to tell her the truth about myself if she is about to do the same..."

After some time had passed and Gyobu had dropped his clothes off at home he took Corrin to the lake where they had gone fishing a few days ago. And once the beastman had walked to the end of the dock he sat down and then mentioned for her to sit next to him. And upon doing this the Transient watched as she slowly walked towards him before also sitting on the edge of the dock. After she did this the raccoon dog looked down at her with a soft smile while he asked, "So, now what was it you wanted to tell me, Corrin?"

The beastman noticed a hint of hesitation on the young woman's face as she looked down at the water and replied, "Well, you remember when I told you about my homeland of Hoshido right?" Hearing this question prompted the tanuki to nod his head to which she went on with, "Well, you see I...I..." The sliver haired human soon became a bit nervous as she took in a breathe of air to calm herself down before she tried again, "I'm a Princess of that kingdom."

"Oh, I see. So then are you here in Tokyo to hide from your enemies?" Gyobu asked, while he raised one of his eyebrows.

"Well you see there's the problem. I can't remember why I ran into the gateway that brought me here. All I remember is my homeland and my family who I hope to return to someday. But as to why I came here, well it seems like my brain is making it so I can't remember." The red eyed princess confessed, while she let out a heavy sigh and placed her head into one of her hands.

"Hmm, perhaps that is a good thing. Because if your mind is preventing you from remembering the incident that brought you here, then it must have been a very traumatic one indeed." The anthro tanuki told her, before he placed a comforting hand onto her shoulder.

"Yes, I suppose you're right. And plus I remember Snow telling me something similar upon our first meeting." Corrin confessed, to which he saw her look up at him. Once she had done so a curious look formed on her face when she continued with, "So now it's your turn. What were you going to tell me? If there even was anything to tell."

Now it was Gyobu's turn to become nervous as he warned, "Well, I suppose it is fair to tell you my secret since you told me yours. However, I wonder will your opinion of me change once I tell you what I'm about to tell you?"

"Um, I'm afraid I don't quite understand. But I assure you, no matter what you have to tell me I promise that my opinion of you won't change at all." Corrin reassured him, before the beastman saw and then felt the young woman place a hand onto his left arm.

Hearing this prompted him to let out a sigh as he replied, "Very well then, I'll tell you something that very few know about me." He then look directly into her red eyes when he added, "Because you see I'm not actually as young as I may appear to be?"

"Oh, um okay. Then how may I ask did you do this exactly?" Corrin asked, with a very confused look on her face.

"I found a special technique that was able to make me look younger then what I actually am. For you see I have lived for hundreds of years." The tanuki confessed, as he waited for the young woman's reaction.

To his surprise Corrin smiled up at him while she told her, "Well, that certainly is surprising news to hear. But it doesn't matter to me how old you are. I mean it's not like your in bad health or anything right?"

This question prompted Gyobu to let out a light chuckle when he responded back, "No, I am not in any sort of poor health. Although I do confess to having some aches and pains every now and again when I first wake up in the morning."

"Well okay then, so I don't see why this should prevent us from continuing to hang out with each other. Because even though you may look young, you're obviously much more mature then others who are actually you're age. ...When compared to your outward appearance of course." After saying this another sigh escaped the young woman's lips when she ketp going, "Although I guess we should stop hanging out together until later tonight. Since I'm not for certain we'll see each other at the party considering how many people will be there."

"Yes, I suppose you're right." The tanuki agreed to both of her comments, before an idea popped into his head. He then proceeded to take both of the young woman's hands into his as he continued, "But who says we can't just go to the social gathering together then?"

"Oh, I-I never thought of that since I didn't think you'd want to." Corrin admitted, as a light blush spread across her face.

"Of course I'd like to go to the party with you, Princess Corrin. However, I should ask you in a more proper way." The beastman told her, to which afterward he cleared his throat. He then stood up onto his feet and brought the noblewoman up with him before he walked them both off of the dock. Once he had done this he got down onto one knee and went on with, "So I ask you Princess Corrin, will you do this old tanuki the honor of accompanying me to the social gathering the Berserkers Guild is hosting tonight."

Upon finishing with his words Gyoubu was a bit surprised when he saw the young woman let out a light giggle while she replied, "Of course I'll be your date for the party tonight, Gyoubu. Although you really didn't need to ask in such a way. Just keep treating me the same way you have the previous days we've hung out together."

Feeling embarrassed it was now Gyobu's turn to lightly blush as he admitted, "Yes, I suppose I did not need to ask you in this way. However, I felt it was only proper given you are a Princess. But putting that to the side I will say that you have just made this old tanuki's day. And I vow that you will have a wonderful time with me tonight."