Chapter 8

Back at Mark's house, the two sat beside each other on the couch. With Sayori, happier than ever, leaning her head on his shoulder, the two watched anime together, a pastime for Sayori.

Without much to do for the weekend, and unsure of how to proceed as a new couple, Sayori suggested watching some anime together. Mark hadn't really watched anime until now, usually watching more live action shows. Or YouTube. But that didn't mean he wasn't up to try something new.

Watching the show, Sayori glanced up at Mark.

"Did you... really want this?" She asked him.

"Hm?" Mark met her gaze, caught slightly off guard by the sudden question. "'This' being?"

"You and me?" Sayori said. "Together. Did you really want it?"

"Of course I did. Why?"

"It's just... I never thought you'd see me as anything more than a friend or little sister."

"I could say the same about you." Mark told her.

"That I thought of you as a little sister?" Sayori asked.

Mark couldn't help but chuckle.

"Shut up." He said with a click of his tongue.

Sayori chuckled softly before returning her gaze to the TV.

Hours later

Being awoken by a knock at the door, Mark jerked awake. Rubbing his face, he was about to stand when he noticed Sayori was asleep, her head resting on his right shoulder with her arms wrapped tightly around him.

Hearing another knock, Mark gently removed Sayori's arms from around him laying her down before going to answer the door.

Opening it, Natsuki stood on his doorstep, arms crossed as she tapped her foot, rain pouring down around her.

"Sure, I'd love to come in, thanks for offering." Natsuki said before walking by Mark and into his home. "Jeez." Shaking her head and sending water droplets everywhere, Natsuki rubbed the back of her neck. "Got a towel?"

"What are you doing here?!" Mark whisper shouted as he walked in front of Natsuki. "And why come over in the rain?"

"It's the weekend. Thought you might wanna let your wild side out a bit? Maybe grab something to eat- why are you whispering?" Natsuki asked.

"Sayori is asleep in the other room, so I'd appreciate it if you'd keep your voice down!" Mark told her.

"Sayori's here?" Natsuki walked down the hallway and opened the door to the closet, holding all the towels. Grabbing one, Natsuki began to dry her pink hair. "Why is she here?"

Mark nervously rubbed his neck.

"N-no reason. It just kinda... happened."

"What kinda happened?" Natsuki asked. Seeing Mark's face was slightly red, Natsuki's eyes widened. "Did you two have-"

"No!" Mark quickly cut her off. "No, no. But, uh, look, now isn't a great time."

Natsuki, letting the towel drape over her head, placed a hand on her hip.

"Monika told me she filled you in on what would happen if you go extended periods of time without changing." Natsuki said. "Also that you told Sayori about the supernatural. It's been a full week now since your first transformation, and soon, you will start to go into the stages in between."

"I can't exactly do it right now." Mark told her. "Like I said, Sayori is in the other room."

"So?" Natsuki adjusted her weight, leaning slightly more on her right. "It's not like you won't be back. A few hours, we come back, and you have a whole week to spend time with Sayori."

Mark rubbed his arm.

"I don't want to just up and leave her here by herself, though."

"Leave a note." Natsuki crossed her arms. "C'moooooon." Natsuki said, clearly getting impatient. "I'm feeling restless."

"Can't it-"

"Are you really gonna make me go by myself?" Natsuki asked, now trying to guilt Mark into it. "It's just a few hours."

"What's a few hours?"

Looking back, Sayori walked into the kitchen, rubbing her face.

"Sayori, we were just-"

"We made plans a while back." Natsuki cut Mark off.

"Is this something to do with the werewolf thing?" Sayori asked.

"Heh." Natsuki smirked. "Pretty straight forward. To answer your question: yeah."

"Oh." Sayori looked to Mark. "I don't mind if you go. You don't have to worry about leaving me here."

"You sure?"

"Yep!" Sayori smiled. "I'll be here when you get back. Unless, you want me to go home?"

"No!" Mark shouted before clearing his throat. "I mean, you can stay if you want."

Sayori gave a smile before heading back into the livingroom and sitting down on the couch.

"Well, then." Natsuki gestured to the door. "Shall we?"

"In the rain?" Mark asked.

"Rain makes it easier." Natsuki replied. "C'mon, you'll see."

"Easier? Easier for what?"

"That's a surprise." Natsuki replied. "Come, come."

Taking the towel off her head, Natsuki folded it up before placing it on the kitchen table. Leaving Mark's house with him behind her, Natsuki led Mark back to the treehouse in the woods.

Climbing up the wooden ladder, Mark watched as Natsuki stretched her arms before pulling her shirt over her head, revealing a pink bra underneath.

Clearing his throat as he turned his back, Mark's face immediately began to heat up as he blushed.

"Get undressed. I'm sure you wouldn't want to ruin your clothes again."

"Uh, r-right." Mark said before, hesitantly, following Natsuki's lead.

A few minutes later

After undressing and heading to a small clearing in the woods, Mark and Natsuki began their transformation. Natsuki was the first to fully change into her wolf form, with Mark taking a bit longer before joining her.

Once the two had, instead of playing like the two did last time, Natsuki began to slowly stalk off, with Mark quickly joining her. Unsure of her plans for this little adventure, Mark just stayed at Natsuki's side, studying her movements.

Watching her hunch down, making herself as small as possible, she inched her way towards a bush, carefully peering through it. Before Mark could join her, girl suddenly darted through the bush.

After a moment, Mark's ears perked at the sound of an animal howling in pain before suddenly cutting off.

Pushing his way through the bush, Mark spotted Natsuki, her teeth sunk into the neck of a deer.

It appeared this time they were hunting.

A few hours later

With the rain still pouring down around them, and the fur around Mark's neck soaked with the blood of the animals he killed, the pair of werewolves began their transformation back to their human forms.

Shaking from the cold, Natsuki shook her head, letting out a cute sounding sneeze as Mark picked himself off the ground. Still uncomfortable being nude with his friend a few feet away, Mark covered himself as Natsuki held her shoulders.

"C'mon." She turned around and began heading back to the treehouse. "I feel like a damn icicle."

Once the two made it back, they quickly put their soaked clothes back on, the roof of the treehouse doing little to keep their clothes dry. Once clothed, the duo began heading back to Mark's home, first stopping by a small pond to clean the blood off themselves.

Minutes later

Back at his house, Mark said his farewell to Natsuki before heading inside. Spotting the towel Natsuki used before the two left, Mark grabbed it to dry off his hair.

Taking off his shoes at the door, Mark entered the livingroom to see Sayori was nowhere in sight. Thinking she must've just went home, Mark decided to take a shower, change, and head off to bed.

After his shower, Mark wrapped a fresh towel around his waist and went into his room, only to see the strawberry blonde, pink hair of Sayori sticking out from under his covers.

She fell asleep in his bed.

Letting out a soft chuckle, Mark grabbed his set of pajamas and went back to the bathroom to clothe himself in private before returning to his room. Upon entering, Mark tried to shut the door as quickly as possible, but the squeaking of the wood woke Sayori.

"Mark?" She said groggily.

"Hey, Sayori." Mark replied softly. "Sorry I wasn't able to make it back earlier."

Sayori replied with a smile before closing her eyes once more, lifting the blanket with her arm as an invitation for Mark to join her.

"You... want me to sleep next to you?"

"Mmhmm." Sayori hummed softly, still on the verge of sleep. "Remember? Like when we... were kids..?"

Her speech began to get softer and softer, slower and slower as she let out an adorable yawn.

"You sure?"

"Just get in beeeed!" Sayori whined, showing her childlike behavior that really increased when she was sleepy. "It's cooooold!" Her words were followed by another yawn.

Without much choice, Mark got under the covers, facing Sayori as she quickly scoot her body closer to his, her hair tickling the underside of his chin. Looking down at her, Mark couldn't help but grin at the peaceful way she looked. Her mouth was slightly open. Her sky blue eyes hidden from the world under her eyelids. The tickle of air Mark felt against his neck when she exhaled. And arms resting in front of her. Her hands were resting on top of one another, the fingers slightly curled.

She was truly relaxed.

And it was the most beautiful and cute sight Mark had ever seen.

Giving her a kiss on the forehead, Mark wrapped his arms around Sayori, pulling her closer.

"I love you."

End of chapter 8