Blue Rosemary

by Junjou-is-pureheart

Never go to the forest when night comes. Never try to wander into the depth of the lost wood. Never look back when you feel like you're being followed. There is a dangerous beast that lives in the forest. It is the urban legend Aoba has learned when he was still a kid, and never believed in until now. AU

3. Their Form of Affection

I am sorry for the long hiatus! Please enjoy this chapter as well.
Again thank you for ruffruffren to beta this work, this work will never be able to be finished without you! 3

When Aoba got back in the morning, the doctor and the nurse were frankly amazed by his appearance. The storm was quite bad and while it probably was kind of impolite, they had almost thought Aoba was a goner by the time morning came.

Aoba couldn't deny thinking the same way himself. After all, looking at the weather and the forest's condition, he could really have died, lost to the cruelty of the tempest.

If it wasn't for him...

After relinquishing the herbs, the doctor and nurse promptly scolded Aoba, telling him how reckless he was for running just like that in the middle of the storm to the forest. While they were angry, Aoba could feel their worry and he felt ashamed for losing his cool and doing idiotic things, not thinking about the people around him that could have been worried about him. He muttered a low apology, bowing his head to show his sincerity. The doctor and the nurse felt bad and finally after telling Aoba not to do it again, they revealed Tae's condition.

And just like Aoba had prayed, Tae made it through the night.

"She's a strong woman," the nurse continued with a relieved smile as she mixed the herbs with some kind of medicine liquid. "It's like old age doesn't mean anything for her."

"She is still in a dangerous condition, but she's passed the critical phase, and with the herbs you brought she should be OK in a few days." The doctor added, before turning his gaze to Aoba, who still looked too shocked to even digest the words he had just heard. "You have a one hell of a grandmother."

That was all it took for Aoba to burst out crying.

It was shameful, really, for 23 year old man to bawl like a baby. He already knew that Tae would be alright, but to hear a confirmation from the doctor himself released a painful weight of worry and fear that had been latching unto him and he couldn't help it—he was so glad that no, Tae was not going to die, and yes, Tae was going to be alright.

Tae was a regular here for various check ups, so it's easier for them to monitor her condition since they already have the data of her health progress. After thanking them, Aoba left the medical hut, preparing to go home and have some rest. When the doctor asked Aoba if he wanted treatment for his injuries, Aoba blinked. He looked at the state he was in, and then he looked at the doctor again, still with his dumfounded expression. Then it clicked on him that he also had wounds from his little adventure last night that he had forgotten because of his deep concern for Tae.

While the doctor had offered his treatment for free and Aoba was grateful for that, he was too tired and told the doctor he was going to treat them himself.

After everything he had experienced, he felt tiredness and the pain of injuries came for him, replacing the concern and the worry he had for his grandmother—or maybe he had been feeling them since before, but he was too panicked with Tae's condition that he didn't realize them. It was slightly relieving though, knowing that this pain for saving Tae's life was not fruitless at all.

He was about to make his way to his home before he heard a familiar low, rough voice.

"Oi."

He froze when he realized who was the owner of that voice.

"...Mink?"

"What are you doing so early in the morning?" The crafter and also the guardian of the village asked, eyes furrowed in suspicion, glaring as Aoba fidgeted in his place, totally realising the not-so-decent appearance he was in. He laughed half heartedly.

"I was... Jogging?"

"Hn, with dirty half dried clothes and mud all over your body?"

"..."

Eyes red after crying, clothes dirty with mud and blood and bruises all over his body—the blue haired man sighed as he realized he was caught wet on the spot and he wouldn't be able to run and avoid the topic.

He had forgotten that Mink always got up early to work. Aoba cursed inwardly when Mink's tall figure hovered above him with a not so convinced expression.

He let out a gasp when Mink's arm caught his, and half dragged him to... wait, where were they going?

"O, oi, Mink! Release me! Where are we going?!" The shorter man protested, confused by the the sudden act.

"Just shut up." The man grunted in reply.

They kept walking until Aoba saw an exotic big wood house which seemed to be a little too big for someone to live alone—some of the pillars and the windows were decorated with simple, but standing out aborigine accessories that oddly suited Mink. He flinched a bit when Mink opened the door for him, and the blue haired man reluctantly went inside. The warmth quickly enveloped him, chasing away the cold air of the morning and he could smell the subtle scent of... cinnamon? It was somehow familiar.

This must be Mink's home.

He stood in awe, surprised with so many books and some craftsmanship that appeared rough and yet beautifully done, and Aoba wondered briefly if Mink made them himself. It was slightly odd yet kind of sweet that a rough, quiet person like Mink was the type of person that liked to make beautiful, small decorations and read books. He was also surprised to find Mink was taking care of a pet, staring at a pink cockatoo caged near the fireplace. The man with azure locks was still standing until Mink looked at him with a weird look.

"What are you doing just standing there? Sit down."

Aoba felt really awkward, and he sat down as he watched Mink, who was rummaging around looking for something out of his desk and coming back and forth from one room to another. He did not think of Mink as a bad guy, though Mink did seem like a really cold, distant person, but this was the first time Mink was attempting to reach him first and not to mention bringing him to his house. Aoba couldn't really predict what Mink was going to do, and that made him uncomfortable.

All of his worries though, were gone instantly when he saw Mink walk back to him with a first aid kit in one of his hands, a warm wet towel in the other. He threw the wet towel at Aoba, much to Aoba's surprise.

"Clean yourself with that," was all that he said.

Aoba blinked several times before the words completely sank into his head.

Ah.

He really was soft natured inside.

The blue haired man couldn't help but to stifle a chuckle and Mink stared at him with half annoyed, half confused look.

"What is it?" His tone was gruff, and his expression was hard, but he didn't fool Aoba. The younger man smiled as he looked at the older man.

"No... It's just that you are actually really nice."

Mink grunted, and probably muttered something along the lines of "brat" as he prepared the alcohol and some cotton to start treating Aoba's injuries. The man with azure locks pouted, but before he could protest, Mink cut him off first.

"What were you doing?"

Aoba froze, clearly not expecting the sudden question.

"What do you mean...?" He tried to dodge the topic, biting his lips when he felt the bigger man's eyes narrowing on him.

"Don't play dumb. I saw you walk out of the medical hut. Your clothes are still wet and dirty, and your injuries might have dried, but they definitely are still new." Mink didn't waste his time explaining Aoba's obvious situation, much to the shorter man's dismay. The man with dreadlock hair said with a really flat tone and expression as he kept his gaze straight on the first injuries on Aoba's legs.

"...You also smell... kinda weird."

Aoba felt his eyebrows twitch; his cheeks were flushing aflame in embarrassment and annoyance.

"Of course I smell, you took me before I could take a bath!"

"It's not that, your scent is like..." Mink furrowed his eyebrows a bit before he sighed. " Never mind. What were you doing when the storm was still on rampant?"

As expected from Mink, he was straightforward and right to the point. Aoba bit his lips, feeling the tense atmosphere surrounding them.

For awhile, it was only silence surrounding them as the older man with dreadlocks kept treating his injuries carefully. Aoba was feeling really awkward with the whole situation, not sure if he really should tell Mink about everything he... had experienced.

While he was still on a dilemma, Mink cut the silence.

"If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine," He said, eyes never leaving Aoba's injuries. "However if you keep that selfless attitude of yours, you will end up being the most selfish person and burdening other people."

"That's...!"

There was a brief anger at Mink's words, and Aoba wanted to say something in retort of his harsh words, not understanding what Mink really meant until he realized Mink won't really say something out of spite if he was willing to go all the way just to treat his injuries.

But he didn't understand. Sure, Aoba was not the brightest person in the village, but did selfishness have anything to do with what he did? As far as he could remember, the reason why he went to the forest was all for Tae's sake—it was not like he was dragging other people to—

Ah.

A feeling of shame and regret swelled from inside him when he realized what the true meaning of Mink's words was.

"Could it be that... You're worried about me?"

"..."

Mink didn't answer. He didn't need to.

Aoba should have known.

"The people around here believed in the urban legend," Mink said again before he sighed. Aoba winced a bit when the alcohol stings his injuries on the leg. "While we never see the said beast, it is still true that the forest is dangerous. There was also the storm yesterday..."

When Mink finished treating Aoba's injuries on his left leg, Mink brought his stern gaze to Aoba, golden eyes piercing through hazel ones.

"You could have been in danger."

Aoba couldn't say anything at that. Mink was right and even if Aoba tried to explain his actions, it didn't change the fact that he just acted on impulse without thinking about himself—without thinking about people around himself.

Aoba's head fell once again, feeling the shame and guilt filling his mind.

"I am sorry," he weakly said. He hated how small and pathetic his voice was, like a child fearing his parents' punishment. Mink stared at him before he let out a small sigh. He brought his hand to pat Aoba's hair once, to the younger man's surprise.

It felt weird to be treated like a child but the gesture was strangely comforting and Aoba couldn't help but to feel a bit grateful.

Mink was rough and straightforward, yet he did care for Aoba in his own way. He had been worried for him, and while Aoba felt guilty, he also felt happy.

Probably... Probably it was okay to tell Mink a bit. He didn't have to tell him about Ren—he doubted Mink would believe him too—but at least Mink deserved some answers. He didn't want to sound so dependant, but...

"Grandma..." Aoba started, and he could feel the taller man's gaze shifting to him. "She fell over yesterday. I panicked and brought her to the medical hut. But they ran out of herbs, so..."

"I see." Mink grunted. "So you recklessly went to the forest in the middle of the storm without thinking and that's where these injuries came from."

"...you could have said it with nicer words."

"...heh."

Aoba pouted, feeling irritated with Mink's smirk. Really, must everyone treat him like a kid? He was already like, 23! Well, he only just turned 23 yesterday, but—

Oh, speaking of which...

"Thank you for your gift, yesterday," Aoba added, remembering Mink did go as far to give him a present. While Mink didn't come and congratulate him straight on, it didn't change the fact that the man remembered his birthday, and truthfully, Aoba was surprised Mink gave him a present. "I am sorry, I haven't opened the presents yet, so I still don't know what you gave me, but I am grateful."

Mink just grunted. Inwardly, Aoba thought of it as Mink's way of saying 'your welcome' and he smiled faintly.

Until his injuries were all treated, they fell into a comfortable silence. After Aoba cleaned himself off, he thanked Mink once again before he went home.

Firstly he needed to rest.

Secondly he probably needed to bring Ren some food and clothes later. And as for the third...

... he would try not to think about the lingering warmth of the stolen kiss upon his lips.

The forest really was scary in the night.

Aoba walked carefully, feeling chilled by the freezing wind of the night. During the day, this forest was really warm and sometimes even bordering on hot but when the night came the temperature decreased drastically, turning the warmth into a stinging coldness. He felt his body shivering not only because of the cold, but also because of the fear as he stood right in front of the old, rusty cage where the supposed beast of the urban legend lurked.

Now that he knew the truth behind the beast, of course it was not any matter to him anymore—what Aoba was scared of was how eerie the silent night enveloped him, disrupting his sight of his surroundings. He was never really fond of going into the forest during the day (not that he had ever gone there until yesterday), and going to the forest at night was not really helping his case here. He guessed he could go into the forest when the sun was still there, but he didn't want any of his friends to catch him and question him. If he could, he wanted to keep Ren's presence a secret still. It would be hard and too risky to explain to them about the beast's real self. At the worst, Ren's life would be in danger and Aoba wanted to avoid that as much as possible.

He couldn't keep going only at nights though. Right now, Tae was still in the medical hut, so Aoba could go every night without raising much suspicioun, but after Tae got discharged, no matter what excuse he came up with, she would quickly catch on and definitely question him...

...

He would think about it later. For now...

Aoba gulped, staring against the tall perimeter that had been separating his village from Ren's world. He could still feel that fear—he could feel his own trembling body, could feel the nervousness wrapping his system,and he could feel the quivering in his belly. Now that he thought about it, yesterday he without thinking just recklessly went inside this cage the village had built up for years. He was so worried about his grandmother, he didn't think about the danger and consequences behind that perimeter and just went inside. But now that he was once again here... he couldn't help but to have his imagination run wild.

Besides Ren, were there any other dangerous creatures here? Like wolves or bears? There were also dangerous cliffs, too. He was saved from falling by Ren yesterday, but what about today...?

Aoba shook his head and slapped his own face. There was no use thinking about it now was it? He already promised Ren he would come after all. He had already come this far too...

He walked around, trying to find the old, rusty fence he destroyed to get in last night. Since the villagers themselves were too afraid to get close to the perimeter, they should not have noticed about this damage he made on the fence. Aoba silently tried not to imagine how they would react in panic if they ever did find out. He found the path towards the inner side of the forest he made yesterday and swallowing his hesitance, he carefully got inside the cage.

His mind wavered back to Ren.

Ren... Ren must be lonely. Aoba felt a sting in his heart each time he thought so.

He brought some of his oversized clothes for Ren and his own handmade cooking. He wasn't sure if those clothes would fit his muscular body—he had a bigger frame than him after all—but this would be a new experience for Ren after so long still and he wondered if Ren would be happy.

Thinking about how Ren would be confused and happy, Aoba smiled to hmself softly.

He walked for a bit, as he tried to remember the path back to Ren's cabin—wait.

He... he was unconscious when Ren brought him to his cabin, wasn't he? He didn't know the path towards his home at all. He did manage to come home this morning but, with only the moon as his source of light, it would be really hard trying to remember which way he passed this morning. The grass was wild and his legs felt itchy each time he walked through them. Not too mention, this scary silent unfamiliar forest scene and freezing cold wind...

Crap.

He was not about to give up, but he stopped dead in his tracks when he heard a low growl. He felt a cold sweat run down his palm.

"R... Ren...?" Aoba asked hesitantly, trying to calm himself in sheer of panic. For a moment, there was nothing, only sounds of rustling leaves and the wind whistling in the night. Aoba bit his lips, not sure what he should do.

That... That was Ren, wasn't it?

But Ren...Ren wouldn't growl if he knew he was coming, would he?

Does it mean...?

Aoba almost jumped when the growls came again—nearer this time. Not only one, but two. A pair of growling voices. He froze, gripping his fists against his clothes tightly, feeling himself succumbing to the fear in his body. He wouldn't go back down without a fight, so he prepared himself to guard himself against the worst. And then slowly... slowly he turned his face towards where the voices came.

He felt dread washing his insides when he saw what had been watching him.

Aoba froze with a paralyzing fear at the twin jaws lined with pearly teeth, gobules of thick saliva oozing between primed fangs and dripping to the floor where they crouched low, prepared to jump at anytime...

Waiting for someone to accept him... had been really painful.

The forest had been his home for so long, Ren was already used to the freezing cold of the night or the burning temperature of the sun. He was still a child back then, and being caged in a dangerous forest he thought it was certain for him to meet his end here. With no one to help him, no one to feed him, Ren had to survive alone, only accompanied by animals, like the villagers claimed he was.

He remembered on the first day of his survival in the forest, he met a wolf. He was too scared to move and he lay there as she came for him slowly. He thought he was going to be killed when the mother of the wolves licked him and brought him to her dent.

It filled him with self hatred to know that it was not those humans, but animals who only knew to howl to show their language, that saved him from death.

But it was the only way for Ren to survive. To be an animal that could fight against the danger of the world around him, against Nature herself. To be a stronger being, more than just this sack of flesh and bone, that could defend himself from unknown creatures lurking in this forest lair.

To accept himself not as a human but as a beast.

In this place, his mother was a wolf. His siblings were the cubs, and his food were the hares and the squirrels. When he first tried to adapt with their lives, he never thought he would be able to cope up this long. It was disgusting, and very animalistic, how his newfound mother threw back her partially disgested food into the mouths of her cubs to feed them, including himself. He vomited several times and cried at the taste, several days he isolated himself and chose not to eat anything at all. It wasn't until his body grew weak and hungry for food that he realized with horror that he had no other way to survive. Eat or go hungry and die. Be the hunter or die as the prey. He had to collect himself before finally accepting his new life and gathered with his pack to learn how to hunt.

Ren had hated the forest, and it hurt him to admit that along the way this place had also become his home. It was the place that protected him from those who hunted him down. It was the place that gave him warmth, food and 'family' when he was kicked out forcefully from the human world.

It was a cruel, lonely, yet beautiful home.

Wasn't it ironic that the ones who could accept him for his true self was not the humans, but the animals he had been denying himself for so long? He despised it, but he had long since accepted the truth of this painful fact.

Waiting for someone to come and accept him... had been really painful. To keep hoping each time someone come to the forest, only for it to be shattered when they thought of him as a beast and would either try to kill him or run away.

He had almost given up. He had finally chosen to embrace this life, until he met Aoba.

Aoba.

Aoba was... A human. Another person from that side of the world that had kicked him out. For Ren, who had almost given up on waiting, he had come to think of the worst. He tried not to hope too much, afraid his feelings would be shattered like each time before when he faced certain rejection.

Even so, from the very start, Aoba had been different. For a person who lived in a village that had started a nasty rumor about him, Aoba had been... quite interesting. Not only he barged into the perimeter of the forest, fully knowing about the urban legend and the danger he would face, he also stormed into the forest in the middle of the night, and in the middle of a storm.

Really, Ren had almost thought either Aoba was a fool, or someone who wished to die, or perhaps a combination of both. But it didn't seem like Aoba wanted to die, because he ran away when he sensed Ren's presence.

Still, what had made Aoba come to the forest, endangering his life in process? Ren had never felt any human presence in the night, knowing fully himself that this forest was dangerous to be explored in darkness, even more so in the middle of storm. So what had made this human risk his life coming to the forest, despite his small, weak body?

Ren hated humans because of what they did to him. Because they were selfish creatures who were too scared to see what is beneath Ren's beastly features. They were cowardly creatures that were too afraid to risk their lives and threw their problems to so they can still remain safe in their comfort zone.

So for Aoba to get out of that zone and risk his life, Ren had been really curious.

So there is a human who's courageous enough to risk his life away, he thought.

What kind of person is he?

What purpose he comes risking his life for?

And so, even as his hope was destroyed and Aoba ran away from him, Ren couldn't let him go.

And when Aoba fell off the cliff, Ren just couldn't let him die.

He remembered Aoba's fearful eyes as he fall—the same exact dejected eyes of his amber ones once long time ago. He remembered the same time he was rejected and went into despair, and seeing Aoba like this in the same exact position gave him indescribable feelings of loneliness. Aoba reminded him of his younger self, and while he knew that it was also bringing danger to his own life, Ren jumped off the cliff before he could think—furry arms reaching for Aoba's body into safety.

When he held him, finally after so long, he felt that electric spark of skin on skin, the sensation of another human. It was cold because of the rain, yet it felt like the warmest Ren have ever felt.

Ren gritted his teeth in anger, thinking this would be the only time he could feel another person's warmth. Because just like any other people this person would also run away from him.

Yet for the first time, Ren was wrong. And never Ren felt such a weird relief of happiness for that.

Aoba was different. Aoba indeed was different.

Aoba... Aoba accepted him. Unlike those people, Aoba could accept him. Aoba let him touch him, and Ren could feel that warmth he missed so much once again.

Aoba... Aoba made him a human again.

Waiting had been really painful. But now...

Now, waiting for Aoba to come again felt really, really exciting.

Ren smiled, throwing his back to the small couch where Aoba rested few hours ago. It was still warm and Aoba's lingering scent was still there, and it was a new nice experience for Ren becase even if their body were built similar, Aoba's scent was different from him. His heart thumped in anticipation, feeling impatient and excited for the first time as he waited for the man with azure locks to come here again. It was a new, unfamiliar, but very nice feeling.

His ears twitched and his amber eyes widened slightly as he turned his head towards the door of his small cabin, sensing something familiar to come inside the forest. This flowery scent was...

Ren felt his body buzz in expectation and instantly rise to high hopes.

"... Aoba?"

His ear twitched once again, and his eyebrows furrowed. Somehow... he had a bad feeling about this. It was already quite late, and he was getting worried about Aoba's safety. Living in this forest for so long, Ren had his senses heightened to that of an animal's so he could adapt with the forest and survive. He closed his eyes once again, and tried listening once again. He tried to focus—he tried to forget about his surroundings. He tried to eliminate the ruckus of the animals, the sound of the winds, and the movement of the bushes. He could no longer hear the forest and the world—solely focused on one single voice of a certain peson.

Aoba's voice.

"...!"

Ren jumped to his feet, amber eyes shot open fearfully as he dashed out of his cabin, following the warm scent he knew belongs only to Aoba. He could smell something familiar along with Aoba's scent. He could hear something animalistic along with Aoba's voice, and he prayed from the bottom of his heart that what he imagined as the worst did not happen, that he still made it.

Aoba...

He had finally met a person who could accept him for who he was.

No, he wouldn't let anything happen to him...!

Few turns and jumps from one cliffs to other, without batting an eye each time he crashed into a branch, the pale brunette finally heard his voice clearer.

"...lease.. me! S...op... Ren...!"

He felt his heart stop beating.

"Aoba!"

Ren caught a glimpse of the azure locks he knew so well and rushed forward with a surge of adrenaline, feeling panic overwhelming his body. He ran towards Aoba, fear and anxiety filling his mind...

...only to stop dumbfounded at the unbelievable scene laid in front of him.

"Haha... No... Stop, already... ahahaha! That tickles!"

Ren couldn't believe it.

Aoba was on his back, on the ground, laughing. There were a basket and some scattered clothes laying forgotten around him, a pair of wolves were on top of him, licking his face and hair all over.

The once fear and panic had faded, replaced by mere confusion and weird sense of relief as Ren stared at the canines licking at Aoba like they found a new family.

"Ao... ba?" The shock was still filling his system, and he stared at Aoba's still, not sure what to do in this situation.

"Ren... help me, they... Ahahaha!" The man with azure locks reached his hand towards the manbeast, hazel pleading as he failed stifling another laughter down his throat. The wolves kept playing and sniffing on him and Aoba laughed even harder with his body arching. "Ahahaha! No, stop it... I already...!"

"You... seem to be having fun." Ren said slowly, still with a dumbfounded expression, and Aoba felt the big urge to smack Ren's head at his lack of response.

Having fun in what way..?!

"Reeenn!"

"I got it, I got it!" This time when his name was called in a begging tone, Ren felt something similar to amusement and guilt dancing in his mind and he approached Aoba, fully intending to help him. The wolves, who had realized his presence turned their heads and ran towards him instead, barking and pawing at him in a ridiculous scene that Aoba would have asked Ren about if he was not still trying to catch his breath after laughing so much. He sat up, collecting the basket and the clothes and sighed tiredly at what he had just experienced.

It wasn't that he was not grateful for the fact that he was still alive, but to think that when he thought he was about to get devoured, he got jumped and licked by those wolves instead...

No matter what, it was still a shocking experience. This forest had always been labeled dangerous by the villagers after all, so no matter what, he would always have this dreadful, wary feeling in here.

But those wolves... they were surprisingly tame. Was it because of being with Ren for so long? But if that was the case, what about those cases with the injured people? The urban legend of the beast was born from that after all...

...

This is really confusing...

"Aoba, are you okay?"

Ren's deep voice pulled him back from his reverie. Aoba turned his face and he saw that familiar worried expression. Seeing Ren like with the wolves all around him though made Aoba smile about how unmatching this scene with his reputation as a dangerous beast. Actually, the entire forest itself seemed very surreal.

"Aaah, I am okay," Aoba waved it off and grinned. He could feel his body was still overtaken by the shock, but the fear was slowly fading, leaving the immense relief remained. He looked at Ren with a goofy smile, despite his messed up appearrance. "Rather than that... they..."

Aoba stared at the wolves, who were wagging their tails like dogs around Ren. It was a really weird and ridiculous scene. Ren however, just crouched down and affectionately bumped his head with them, letting a small sad smile settle on his pale face.

"They are my brothers."

"...eh?!"

The answer that came out from Ren's lips, was something Aoba had actually expected. Ren had been living alone here, so it should have been no surprise if the animals here were the only ones who accompanied him. And yet, even if he thought that, he was still shocked.

It was somehow a bit sad... but at the same time it felt tender.

Ren stood up and turned his amber eyes towards Aoba. It strangely captivated Aoba how beautiful, yet sad that gaze looked. Then slowly, Ren smiled with a warm expression.

"...You really came." His voice felt so relieved, so warm, so happy.

"Of course, I promised didn't I?" Aoba smiled and after staring at the basket he'd been holding, then towards Ren's naked torso, he sheepishly looked back at ground.

Ren was probably already used to the temperature here, but still... wasn't he feeling cold at all? The man with the azure locks clutched on the clothes tighter, feeling the cold seeping into his jacket before he sneezed.

He flushed in embarrassment as Ren stared at him with a confused look, as if he had never seen anyone sneeze before.

"Um... Ren, can we go to the cabin now? It's already dark here, and it's really cold..."

It was his second time coming back to this cabin, and yet he didn't feel any awkwardness like how one would usually come to a stranger's place. The cabin was not in a good condition and almost broken down in anyway, and yet there was this warm feeling Aoba always felt ever since he was saved here by Ren. It was probably only him being sentimental, but it did feel that way. Coming to this cabin—while it was different from his house, his home with Tae—gave a similar kind feeling.

I wonder why...?

Aoba glanced at the taller man, who had been fidgeting around. Ren looked a bit nervous for some reasons, with that expression that looked like saying 'What should I do, I need to do something for Aoba'. It had been awhile since he properly talked with other people, so Aoba guessed he must be confused as to what to do, and tried to make Aoba felt comfortable.

Their eyes met for a second and Ren looked terribly troubled.

"You can sit on the sofa." His voice seemed hurried and he stammered.

...It was kind of cute, really.

He prevent himself from teasing the beast by grinning to himself (which actually, didn't really help at all) and held out the basket and the clothes he had been holding for some time to the pale brunette. Ren stared at them confusedly, like a puppy finding a new thing and turned his gaze back to Aoba with his typical furrowed eyebrows.

"Aoba... what is this?"

"It's for you, take them." Aoba pushed the basket to Ren, smiling broadly at Ren's confused expression. "Since you've been here for so long, you might find this a bit weird and new, but I think you might like them."

Ren took the basket, still with that concentrated expression, and shook the basket, to Aoba's shock.

"W-wait, Ren! The doughnuts inside there would be...!"

"Doughnuts?"

"Aah, it's a food that's made by wheat and flour that—you know what, just taste them."

Talking would only make Ren even more confused, so Aoba took a doughnut off the basket, and pushed it againts Ren's lips.

"..."

"Try iit~"

Ren looked reclutant and hesitant, but finally he opened his mouth and let Aoba put the dougnut in before Ren slowly chewed. Aoba silently watched his reaction, before realization dawned on him that Ren's body was probably not used with handmade sweets like this and he probably won't like it. His worriess though faded and was replaced by a playful, proud grin when he saw Ren staring back at him with something akin to amazement.

"...It's good."

"Isn't it? I made them myself. I am not as good as my grandma though."

"Its taste is tingling on my tongue, but I really like it."

"It's called sweet, you know, sweet."

"Ah..." Ren nodded with a determined look, smiling warmly as if he had just understood a new thing. He peeked into the basket once again, and he flushed as he felt Aoba's staring at his back with a really smug gaze.

"Can... Can I have more?" The pale brunette said with a small voice and hung his head in shame, and Aoba had to laugh at that. "Go ahead! I made this for you, you know?"

Aoba watched Ren, happy that Ren seemed to be pleased with the food he made. He was not as good as Tae in cooking, but he was ually actpretty proud of his own skills. In contrary of his polite words and calm demeanor, Ren ate very messily and sloppily, like he hadn't eaten since morning. It surprised Aoba a bit, but given Ren's condition, he figured it was inevitable. Ren himself seemed oblivious as he stared at Aoba with a complete innocent gaze, tilting his head in an adorable manner like how a dog usually would.

...

A dog, huh?

A ridiculous thought suddenly came to Aoba's mind.

"What's wrong, Aoba?" Ren's confused words pierced Aoba's reverie almost immediately, leaving the man with royal blue colored hair stammering.

"Aah, you eat really messily!" Aoba chuckled as he quickly took out his handkerchief from his pocket to clean the crumbles on Ren's lips. "They won't go anywhere, so eat slowly or you will choke on them."

Aoba felt Ren obediently shut his lips off and he almost felt like he saw there was a tail wagging behind his back. Aoba bit his lips as a big weird feeling overwhelming his body.

This... this is kind of dangerous, isn't it?

If he keeps that up, I don't think I won't be able to hold myself from wanting to pet him! ...And he is supposed to be the dangerous beast that hurt humans depicted from urban legend too!

A ridiculous image of him ruffling and petting Ren as Ren licked his face came unto his mind, and Aoba blushed furiously.

I want to pet him.

No no no no NO NONNONONONONONONONONONONO.

Ren was... innocent and naive, and Aoba felt kind of bad for wanting to tease him like that. Burying his own shameful thought, Aoba quickly grabbed the clothes he placed on the sofa and pushed them to Ren. "I-I also brought you clothes, Ren!"

Ren took the the big sweater from Aoba's hand, and looked at them curiously. "Clothes?" He sniffed at it briefly, and Aoba had to hold his own urges to pet him because of Ren's amusing antics and adorable curiousity.

"Yeah, they are my clothes actually. I tried to find bigger size, but they're the biggest I have." Aoba scratched his head, feeling all embarrassed all of sudden. "When I saw you yesterday, I think, it must be cold to not wear anything... so, I think this will warm you up. I don't know if they are going to fit though. Here, I will help you wear them."

Ren looked really puzzled with how he was supposed to do with the clothes, and Aoba had to hold his laugh as he told Ren to stretch his arms out and put the sweater on. It was hard because Ren was being unsure where he should hang his arms, and they had quite a difficult time at it. Ren was halfway on wearing the shirt, when Aoba accidentally touched his bareskin.

At that moment, Ren pulled the sweater down, and their faces were in front of each other—much closer than Aoba could ever thought.

With his face so close, Aoba could see Ren's face better—his fur that covered part of his face and the ruffled hair that falling over his face slightly. He looked calm and stoic, and yet Aoba could feel his face heat up, as they could feel each other's breath with this distance.

Now that they're this close, Aoba could smell a really warm scent from Ren. It was somehow a very animalistic and unique scent, but at the ame time Ren smelt like sun—warm, kind and comforting.

He looked up, and he caught Ren's gaze on him—amber eyes staring down at him silently.

...he wondered if Ren would do it again.

If he leaned up a bit... their lips would meet.

The feeling of Ren's lips from this morning came into his mind, and Aoba turned his face hurriedly, blushing furiously in embarrassment as he took a step back from Ren.

In the end, Ren was able to wear the sweater, however...

"...It's a bit tight."

Geh!

His momentary embarrassment was gone, replaced by a sting on his pride at Ren's words.

"Well sorry for not having a big, muscular body like you!"

Ren laughed at Aoba's pouting face, before he smiled warmly.

"...But it's really warm. It looks similar to what you wear."

"It's called clothes for a reason, geez."

Ren looked at the sweater with a longing look and Aoba furrowed his eyes, feeling the change in the atmosphere.

"Thank you." He muttered slowly and Aoba would have missed it had he not been listening properly.

"...eh?"

"Aoba... gave me doughnuts and clothes. They are things that people usually eat and wear in their daily lives, right?"

...ah.

There was a painful stab to his chest when he heard those words from Ren's lips. That was right...

Ren had been isolated from the outside world for around twenty years, so these things must feel a bit weird and new for him. Aoba wondered how Ren felt at the moment, wearing clothes and eating handmade food again after so long...

Was he happy?

Or, did it bring painful memories for him?

Aoba didn't know, but he wanted to make Ren feel better. That had been the purpose, the reason why he came back here. That had been the purpose ever since he knew who Ren was. He wanted to free Ren and let him see the outside world, show him not everyone was cruel. He wanted to make Ren happy.

However if you keep that selfless attitude of yours, you will end up being the most selfish person and burdening other people.

Mink's words suddenly reverberated in his mind, and he briefly thought to himself if he was being selfless to help Ren.

...no.

Aoba did all he could to help Ren not out of pity. Aoba genuinely wanted to do this from the bottom of his heart. If he thought of it in that way, actually, this too was also his own form of selfishness.

He did all of this because he wanted to.

That's why...

Aoba placed a hand on Ren's arm, and Ren turned his gaze to Aoba, surprised with the sudden touch.

"Aoba?" His voice was deep, full with mild curiosity of a child.

Aoba felt like he just couldn't leave him alone like that.

"It suits you, Ren." He flashed a smile and ruffled Ren's head without thinking, much to Ren's surprise. "Ah... sorry."

"I don't mind." The taller of the two muttered nonchalantly, seemingly a bit interested and amused with every new thing Aoba did to him. It was as if he could learn one or two new things about human interactions by watching Aoba. "It just felt a bit ticklish."

Feeling like Ren had given him a permission, Aoba's eyes sparkled with a glint of excitement.

"They look messy, but they are really fluffy, your hair." Aoba chuckled in a teasing tone, and Ren couldn't help but to pout a bit as Aoba ruffled his hair again. "So fluffy~!"

"Aoba..." Ren sounded visibly flustered and Aoba just smiled wider, continuing his playful remarks on his new 'puppy'. "I am late to ask this, but... how is your grandma?"

That stopped the ruffling, and Ren was worried he had brought a bad topic, but when he took a look at Aoba's expression, he didn't look sad or hurt. He looked... rather relieved and happy.

"She was okay. I visited her after I got back.." Aoba said, smiling as he did so. "Grandma hasn't woken up yet, but the doctor said the herbs I searched for worked really well on her."

"I see..." Ren sighed in a relieved tone. "I am glad for you."

Aoba shook his head, then looked at Ren with a straight gaze. "I should be thanking you, Ren. You saved my life, so I was able to bring those herbs to Grandma."

Ren wanted to say something back—that it was not that big of deal, that Aoba didn't have to thank him—but Aoba cut him off first, and grinned playfully.

"And so, I will come here and teach you so many things and accompany you every day, fair enough?"

Ren blinked several times, before he felt a warm feeling surrounding his body with a tingling sensation. He smiled.

"Aah."

For a while, only the sound of the fireplace filled the night in the cabin, but they comfortably sat side by side, and enjoying the warmth and the silence as Aoba leaned his face on Ren's furry arm. When Ren flinched a bit, Aoba touched the fur on his arm, as if trying to calm the turmoil in Ren's heart.

"This part of you is so fluffy too," He grinned.

Ren didn't say anything. He couldn't. He had always hated this beastly features of him that marked him as a beast, and yet Aoba was not scared of him, and even accepted this beastly mark of him.

It hurt, but he also felt a bit happy.

"Oh yeah, Ren... those wolves from before..." Aoba straightened his body and stretched his arms a bit. The warmth of the fireplace and the sound of it made them a bit sleepy. "Are they always that tame?"

Ren stared at Aoba as he played with the hem of his new clothes. "What do you mean?"

"I really thought I was a goner when they jumped on me, you know?" Aoba laughed half heartedly, not really sure that him almost dying twice and finding himself still alive both times was funny. "I mean, this forest had always been labeled as dangerous, especially at nights. I thought they are gonna kill me or something."

"Oh, I actually feared the same thing and that's why I rushed to you before."

"Right? So... Wait, seriously?!" Aoba jumped and looked at Ren with a horrified look. So I really was in danger before?!

Ren nodded with a straight face, not noticing Aoba's gradually turning pale face as he continued. "They usually are not too fond with people that work closest to the perimeter. And there are no people that usually visit at night too, so I was scared they might see you as a threat and rushed to you. But when I asked them, it seemed they didn't think so."

"You... asked them?"

Okay, this was already ridiculous to begin with, but now Aoba was starting to get a headache.

"Yeah... they said you smelled like me, so they didn't think of you as one of the villagers."

...

Aoba didn't know what was more shocking—the fact that he really could have been in danger for the second time, the fact that Ren could talk and understand an animal's language, or the fact that he didn't wash his own body well enough that Ren's scent was left on him.

And good lord... he smelled like Ren? Were they really that close before that Ren's scent rubbed on him?

The thought made Aoba's body warm up in embarrassment, feeling the heat of the blood rushing to his face almost instantly. It seemed like Ren realized this and he furrowed his eyebrows in concern.

"Aoba? Are you okay? Your face is really red."

Whose fault?!

Ren's face was so close with Aoba now, and he could hear his heart thumped, remembering a certain scene where Ren stole a kiss from him this morning.

Dammit, why did he have to remember that now?!

"I, I am fine..." Aoba tried to back away, face still flushing red. But Ren caught his arm first, much to Aoba's surprise—

—and pushed the smaller man down to the floor.

...huh?

Eh? What...

For a moment, there was only the sound of the fireplace filling the silence, but gradually, Aoba could hear it—his own heartbeats thumping... faster and louder, mixing with sound of the fire cracking. It was already warm because of it, but for some reasons, the man with azure locks could feel his own body temperature increasing further still —more and more as his breath got ragged—hazel eyes still opening wide in shock over what had just happened.

Ren's face was so close. His expression looked as surprised and as embarrassed as his, before his tender amber eyes softened, leaning closer until his breathing was hovering againts Aoba's lips.

"...Aoba."

His voice was masculine and deep, and it sent shivers down Aoba's spine. And it scared Aoba more than anything, because it made it hurt to breathe, and it made him unable to think.

The next thing he felt was the warmth of Ren's lips againts his own—closing the distance between them completely.

It tasted sweet, probably because he just ate the doughnuts, but he couldn't think of anything else.

He couldn't think.

He couldn't think.

It ended as fast as it started, and Ren licked his lips playfully. Aoba slowly opened his eyes to see Ren staring down at him with a warm, contented expression.

"Thank you." He said sincerely and honeslty, and the realization suddenly dawned on Aoba like a firetruck crashing on his mind.

...ah.

Ren was isolated from the outer world. So he didn't understand some feelings like embarrassment. He probably acted out of his animalistic instincts of how he showed his affection or gratitude, for example...

For example... licking or kissing.

Aoba sat up, face still red as he threw his gaze away from Ren—too embarrassed to stare at Ren while explaining these feelings away. "Ren, do you even understand what kisses mean?"

Heck, even explaining this was embarrassing and awkward as hell, but if Ren kept doing this thing, his heart would explode first. A-and he didn't want to keep getting a wrong message about Ren's feelings here!

As expected, Ren cocked his head with a furrowed eyebrow, confusion could be seen swirling in his eyes.

"It's a form of affection, is it not?"

"Well, that's not a wrong way to put it, but..."

"You kiss someone when you like them, right?"

Aoba thought it was impossible for his face to heat up even more. He was wrong.

"W-well, that's not wrong, but, uuh... like, they usually don't kiss on lips for that, you know? And kisses theirselves are basically too intimate for... uh..."

Ren seemed to look even more confused, and Aoba had to hold a gurgle of frustration that had been stuck in his throat.

"I like you Aoba. Is it wrong to kiss you?"

How the fuck can I answer that, really?!

"I-it's different! It's more like... you kiss someone on the lips when you really, really love someone. It's different with simply admiration, and uh..."

His voice got smaller and smaller, face completely dyed in crimson as he hung his head in shame and embarrassment. How the hell he ended up being the one explaining about this to the so called urban legend beast...

And to make matters worse, Ren didn't look like he grasped anything from anything Aoba had just spewed. If there was any change, he just looked even more clueless than before.

"I don't understand."

"Forget it, forget it!" Deciding to save himself some face, Aoba gave up explaining it. Describing these kind of things were already awkward enough, and it seemed like Ren wouldn't understand anything even if he tried explaining anyway.

He wondered if he could make Ren understand in other way, somehow. He couldn't just let Ren keep kissing him if Ren himself didn't understand the true meaning of that act. He was so naive and honest, so Aoba didn't want to get a wrong idea each time Ren kissed him.

Remembering the touch of Ren's lips on his, Aoba flushed again.

Ren got closer once more and Aoba froze, feeling his heart skip a beat. For a moment, Aoba thought Ren was going to kiss him again, and his mind was a jumbled mess as he thought of that, but Ren didn't do anything. He, in fact, looked apologetic, much to Aoba's confusion.

"I am sorry. It seems like I make you uncomfortable." Ren hung his head, voice layered in guilt. He looked like a kicked puppy and Aoba felt really bad seeing that expression.

Then, a thought just occured to him.

Ren opened his eyes in surprise when he felt a pair of hands grabbed his head, staring at Aoba's hazel orbs with confusion. Before he could ask Aoba what he was going to do, the shorter of the two pulled Ren's head to get a little closer to him.

And then, their foreheads bumped with each other.

"...!"

It was like suddenly a new feeling sparked inside Ren's body, and he shivered, amber eyes widening in surprise as the bare skin of their foreheads shared the warmth of their bodies across each other.

It was only their foreheads touching and yet why...

Aoba slowly pulled himself back, and Ren felt weirdly a bit crestfallen at the loss of the touch.

Aoba was silent for awhile, before he lifted his head and grin widely, despite the blush in his cheeks. "How was it, Ren?"

Ren was unsure about what Aoba had just asked. For some reason, he felt shy. "It felt nice. And warm. It makes me feel safe."

"It's also a form of affection."

Ren looked up at Aoba, feeling mildly surprised. Aoba quickly threw his gaze to other side, face still crimson. After awhile, Aoba let out a sigh as he thought 'to hell with it'.

"I-It's about the kissing, you know! It's not the only thing that can be a form of affection."

...

...oh.

So that what Aoba was trying to talk about.

"Is this how humans usually show their form of affection?"

"Well, it's one of them, but you also do this with your brothers, right?" Aoba lightly hit Ren's shoulder and grinned, trying to hide his embarrassment still. "I saw you place your forehead to theirs before. It feels like I am being treasured, you know? It's like a way to tell, 'you're not alone'. Like a good charm, I guess?"

Aoba laughed embarrassedly while Ren let out a small surprised sigh, feeling warmth of happiness blossoming in his body.

'You are not alone'.

...

It did certainly feel like that.

Ever since Aoba came... He certainly felt no more 'loneliness'.

"And moreso—uwah!"

Aoba hadn't finished his words when Ren pulled his head suddenly and bump their foreheads together. The man with azure locks blinked few times, not really processing what Ren was actually doing until he felt Ren's hot breath againts his face. His hands slowly slid down from the side of Aoba's head to his back, giving Aoba goosebumps as he pulled him closer for an embrace.

"Thank you." He breathed almost painfully, eyes shut tightly.

For some reasons, those words were seemingly not directed only for the things Aoba gave him tonight, but also for something more. Ren's expression looked so painful, but his voice was brimming with happiness. Aoba smiled at him and slowly closed his eyes.

"The pleasure is all mine."

When he got back to the Old District Village, it was actually already morning, but the sky was still dark. It made him remember of the time when he got back from Ren's place the night before, but somehow he felt more accomplished this time.

He and Ren had spent a really quiet, but comfortable night together. Despite Ren's beastly features, he looked just like a normal human and acted more like a curious puppy than a dangerous beast. Aoba felt bad but. there were times where sometimes he just wanted to pet Ren because of that. Sometimes, he just wanted to flat out tease Ren just to see his pouting face.

Then there was also times where Ren would surprise him with his acts too...

Trying not to think about another kiss Ren took from him, Aoba thought of how he was going to visit Ren from now on. He could not keep visiting him at nights. It was dangerous already to begin with going to a forest in the dark, and having almost died twice was more than enough experience already, thank you very much. He had to somehow went to the forest without being seen by anyone during the day.

Sooner or later too, he needed to let the villagers know of Ren's presence—not as a beast, but as a human. And when Tae was no longer hospitalized... he had to tell her about Ren too.

There were so many things Aoba needed to do for Ren. Slowly, he would help him getting out of his cage and let him back to the world where he was supposed to belong.

Thinking of that, the man with the azure locks smiled a bit.

The doctor had asked him to bring more herbs, so he went to find some before going home, Tae was getting better, but it seemed like they still need more herbs to stabilize her condition.

Aoba stared at the blue petals of the herb's flower, silently thinking how beautiful they were. He might be feeling sentimental after meeting Ren, but now that he thought about it, these were herbs that actually helped saving Tae's life directly. Feeling grateful, Aoba stroked one of the blue petals before shoving them back to the pocket. For now, all he had to do was to keep Ren's presence a secret until he can show them that Ren was not dangerous at all.

He thought that, but it seemed like this was not going to be easy at all.

As he got closer to his home, a familiar gruff voice he knew so well stopped him dead on his track, shocking him.

"You definitely were not jogging this early in the morning, were you?"

Oh shit .

There was a painful silence as Aoba tried to calm his thumping heart with no avail. He could feel cold sweat running down his back as his mind screamed at him to think and find an excuse to get out of this mess, as he slowly turned his face to the crafter of the village.

—only to have his heart stopped.

Convincing one person that he didn't just get back from the forest by dawn was already a handful of a task, but behind his back was not only one, but four, staring at him with questioning looks—all of them waiting for a satisfying answer.

For some reason... Mink was not the only person who got up early this morning. For some reasons, Koujaku, Clear and Noiz did too, and the four of them all were staring at Aoba, eyes either looking worried, suspicious, or mix of both. He could not even think of 'why all of them decided to get up early at the same time' or 'why it had to be this exact morning'—His mind was a jumbled mess of panic.

Aoba was definitely caught on the spot. It would be hard to make up an excuse that would satisfy all the four of them of what he had been doing in the forest all night.

It was almost inevitable to admit that he might have to confess about the truth of the urban legend—about Ren – but not this soon!

Koujaku took a step forward, looking at the blue haired man with a questioning and worried expression. There was a bit of anger and concern in his blazing red eyes.

"Aoba..." he started slowly, and his tone gave Aoba's body chills. Aoba shut his eyes off and bit his lips as he readied himself for the interrogation, wrath, or anything that was going to come.

He knew it was coming.

The question he didn't want to hear, the question he did not want to face. He wasn't ready; but regardless it was there.

"What were you doing in the forest until dawn?

Chapter 3: Their Form of Affection. END.

I am so grateful for the positive feedbacksI received on the last chapter! Thank you very much! I 'd love to hear what you think here as well, as your feedback give me the spirit to continue writing!