Chapter 22

Corrin cautiously walked down the hallway in her home after she had gotten changed and ready for bed after Gyobu and the three small tanukis accompanied her back tothe house. And she of course made sure to get some pillows and sheets for the three tanukis who were sleeping in one of the guest rooms. To which at the moment the young woman was holding the sheets and pillows that she was about to give to the advisor of the Outlaws guild to use for the night.

She then found herself taking in a breathe of air before she released it and then proceeded to knock on the door when she asked, "Gyobu, I've brought some sheets and pillows for you to use. May I come in?" The princess waited a few seconds to hear some sort of response from the large tanuki from within the bedroom. When she didn't receive an answer though she continued out loud to herself, "Okay, I guess I'll just let myself in then."

Upon uttering these words Corrin placed her hand on the doorknob and turned it and then proceeded to open the door. Once she had done this though the young woman let out a gasp of surprise when she saw the muscle gutted beastman standing with his back to her in nothing more then his undergarments on. This gave the human another clear view of the anthros wide back and the outline of his firm backside. But unlike at the beach a few days ago this time Corrin could see a bit of each cheek stick out from the undergarment. She then saw him turn around before a shocked expression crossed his face as the young woman saw his muscled front, gut, and large bulge once more which only caused her to blush.

However, she wasn't the only who was blushing as Gyobu also had a light blush on his face along with an embarrassed look when he said, "Oh Corrin, my apologizes for not hearing you knock or enter the room. I'm afraid I was thinking over some things."

"No, no that's okay. It was my fault for just coming in like I did." The young woman replied, ass he looked away from the atkuni's body. She then waked up to him and handed the pillows and sheets and added, "Besides I just wanted to give you some pillows and sheets since Snow never had put any on the beds. Plus I'm sure you get exhausted form App Battles, right?"

"Yes, normally one does when they first partake in an App Battle. However, one gets used to it after having to endured them one after another." The tanuki explained, to which Corrin nodded her head in understanding and then began to leave the room. But once she had reached the doorway she heard his voice one last time when he added in concern, "Are you sure you're going to be alright , Corrin?"

Hearing this caused the noblewoman to swallow a lump in her throat while she looked back at the beastman from over her shoulder as she let out, "Yes, I think so. Goodnight, Gyobu."

It was very early in the morning when Gyobu suddenly awoke upon hearing some loud rustling coming from Corrin's room. This prompted the tanuki to quietly get up out of the bed he was in and exit out of the guest bedroom. And once he was standing outside of Corrin's bedroom door he heard her letting out loud moans of groans of fear which caused the beastman to slowly open the door and enter the room in case someone had sneak in there and was trying to do something similar to what the hyena had attempted to do earlier in the night. After he had opened door however, the large tanuki let out a mental sigh of relief upon not seeing anyone other then the sleeping human in the room.

He then was about to close the door and go back to bed. But before he did this he heard Corrin's voice as she said in her sleep, "No, please...leave me alone." The anthro then saw her begin to trash about in her sleep when she continued, "No, stay away! I don't want to die!"

Hearing this caused the beastman to worry as he rushed towards her bed and knelt down next to it. Once he had done this Gyobu noticed that tears were falling down the princess's face along with her whole face being covered in a cold sweat. However, the tanuki knew what to do when he reached out and gently shook her and whispered, "Corrin, please calm down. It's only a dream."

After these words had left his lips though the Transient saw the human let out a loud gasp before she shot up in bed and looked from side to side until she had calmed down. Once she had done this Gyobu saw her red eyes move to him as she asked, "Gyobu, why are you in my room? Did I wake you up?"

"Well, I suppose you did. But it's no problem since you appeared to be suffering from a very bad dream." The tanuki replied, while he saw her wipe away the tears from her eyes. While she did this though he went on, "But since I heard you trashing about in bed along with shouting I assume it must have been a terrible one indeed."

"Yes, it was horrible." Corrin let out, before she sighed. Upon doing so though she closed her eyes and continued, "Because I dreamt that I was back in Hoshido. But everything was set on fire. And when I tried to look for my family I was suddenly grabbed by Nyarl." The old tanuki then saw her warp her arms in front of her body when she went on with, "And once that happened he turned to face King Garon who was slowly walking towards me with the same axe he had sued to kill my Father with when I was a small child. He was then about to cut my head off with it while the hyena laughed." He then saw her look up at him while she added, "But thankfully you woke me up before the dream could get to the worse part."

"I see. That certainly does sound like quite the nightmare to endure." Gyobu remarked, as he gently placed one of his hands onto her left shoulder. Upon doing so he went on, "So are you going to be alright for the rest of the night?"

To his surprise the tanuki saw the young woman shakie her head from side to side when she replied, "No, I-I don't think so. Besides what if I have another nightmare that ends up waking you up again because I'm shouting in my sleep?"

Hearing this caused the tanuki to lightly blush as an idea came to mind. However, he was sure to be careful of how to approach it as he suggested, "Well, if you want Corrin, I'd be more then happy to lay beside you until you fall asleep."

After this suggestion though he saw a light blush form on the human's face while she let out, "Um sure. I mean as long as it won't be a bother to you..."

"I assure you this is no problem at all." The beastman responded back with, before he saw Corrin move towards the front of the bed so that he could get into it. Seeing prompted the Transient to slowly get onto the right side of the bed to which he heard it creak and groan due to his weight. However, once he was laying on his back he saw the princess lay down next ot him. This prompted him to cover her up with the blakent that was on it before he asked, "Is this alright, Corrin?"

"Um yes. But uh if it's not too much trouble. Could you hold me in your arms for a few minutes?" Corrin asked, now with a blush on her face once more.

"If that is what you want then I shall oblige, princess." Gyobu told her, before he gently wrapped both of his arms around the young woman. He then placed her head onto his left pectoral before he leaned down and gently kissed her on the forehead when he told her, "Now please get some sleep, my princess."

"Oh, um yes, I'll try..." The young woman let out, now with a darker blush on her face.

Thankfully she must have been more exhausted then she was letting on since within a few moments Gyobu heard her softly breathing. This caused a warm smile to cross the tanuki's face. However, upon thinking about the young woman's dream prompted the anthro to have a determined expression to cross his face while he gently squeeze his arms against her and mentally told himself, "Please don't worry Corrin, for I promise to do all that I can so that you will have nothing to fear from your enemies ever again. ...Even if I have to give my life to protect you."