Subaru Natsuki was not feeling well. The young man was currently resting against the windowsill of his hotel room, looking out at the darkened streets of Lugunica's capital with a dour expression. Many thoughts were currently racing through his mind, but nothing he could imagine could shake away this gnawing feeling in his chest; this chilling sense of dread and anxiety that was waring down his spirit.
"Subaru?"
The boy turned his head to the back of the room, his eyes falling upon a creature of quiet majesty. Her pristine white fur seemed to glitter in the soft moonlight spilling into the room, and her deep black eyes spoke of the centuries of life and knowledge the being had lived through and experienced. Her pointed ears twitched with anticipation and curiosity, and her thick, fluffy tail rested daintily upon her prim paws.
Her name was Echidna. And she was a fox spirit.
Subaru could still remember, all that time ago. The day when he was first unceremoniously ripped from his own world and thrown into this one. He was utterly lost, confused, and had no idea what he was meant to do or why he was even here. Luckily for him, however, fate smiled upon the terrified boy when he came across a barrel with a very spooked fox spirit trapped within. It wasn't the happiest of first meetings, but the two quickly realized that depending on each other was better than going it alone, so they decided to stick together for the foreseeable future to fulfill their common goals. Well, her goals, at least.
Subaru still had no idea or direction on where he wanted to go, but Echidna was pretty clear from the start. To Lugunica, where she had heard that some of her "siblings" were currently residing. They had made it to the capital just this morning, and they were about a day's travel from the Roswaal Manor, where Echidna had learned that both the eponymous Roswaal, an old acquaintance of hers, as well as her former sister Beatrice, were currently taking residence. This would likely be the last night Echidna and Subaru would spend together, as the spirit planned to part ways with him in the morning and travel to the estate alone. Subaru wasn't happy with it at first, but Echidna assured him that it was for the best, and that she didn't want to burden Subaru any longer with her personal quest.
So, here he was, staring down the barrel of loneliness once again. In the morning, the closest companion he had made in this world would be gone for good, leaving the boy to fend for himself in a world that was as hostile as it was confounding. So, you could understand why he was feeling just a bit down this night.
"Subaru, it's getting quite late. Will you be coming to bed soon?"
The words reached his ears, but his heart didn't want to listen to a word. "…in a little bit," he mumbled, his head turning back to stare at the night outside. The spirit only let out an annoyed huff, jumping off the bed and approaching the teen before leaping to the windowsill, her eyes locking with Subaru's with an annoyed glare.
"… right, Subaru. There's no point in hiding it. What's gotten you so down?"
"Echidna, I'm fine…" Subaru started to say, but a dangerous growl made him regret his words.
"Don't lie to me, boy. You don't live as long as I do without some powers of observation. Now, tell me what's wrong with you, now . Do not keep me waiting."
"Okay, okay…" Subaru said, not willing to get on the spirit's bad side over something like this. "I'll tell you, but I have a lot on my mind right now, so apologies if what I say isn't perfectly clear."
"Okay. I'm listening."
Subaru took a deep sigh, his soul beginning to settle in the soft presence of her pointed stare. Echidna could be harsh, yes, but she knew how to get what she wanted from you, and she was at the end of the day a benevolent and helpful person who wanted what was best. She would make a good mom, if nothing else.
"…it's about tomorrow. And, well, the days after tomorrow, too. I'm just not ready to walk the world alone again, I have no idea what I'm gonna do or where I need to go. I feel like my future is shrouded in shadow, and taking that on by my lonesome is something I'm not sure I can handle…"
"Subaru, dear, you are not as alone as you think," Echidna replied, her expression a mix of sympathy and cold rationality. "The world is a vast place, and the fates can be as kind as they can be cruel. You might not have me by your side any longer, but if you keep your head held high, surely someone will come along and fill that gap. Isn't that right?"
"But, Echidna," Subaru started, his own insecurities bubbling up high as he spoke, "Just look at me. I'm a complete joke… I can't do anything by myself, I'm lucky I made it this far in the first place, that I had you by my side to help me! I'm…"
A singular paw placed on his hand shut the panicking teen up. Subaru looked to Echidna, her black irises staring back into his with silent understanding.
"…but, at the end of the day, you did make it, didn't you? So don't give up on yourself now, okay? You will see with time how strong you really are."
Subaru didn't respond, his line of sight breaking from his partner to the twinkling stars shining above. He still didn't feel right about this, about leaving her and having to rebuild what he lost from the ground up. At the very least, he was happy that no path would be the true end of him, thanks to his ability to rise from the dead and start anew, but Subaru knew firsthand just how terrifying being alone could be compared to death, and he was not looking forward to suffering through that test for who knows how long. For her part, Echidna seemed to have run out of steam herself, her voice having fallen silent as she took in her companion and his seemingly endless melancholy.
Until, at least, she finally spoke up.
"Subaru, I have a proposition…" the fox whispered, the boy turning his eyes to her once more. A conflicted expression began to worm its way across her muzzle, a pinprick of anxiety rising in Subaru's chest at the sight.
"What… what did you have in mind?" he said, not liking the new direction this talk was going.
"I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but… you seem like you need a pick-me-up right now, and I believe my idea will give both of us what we want. That is, if you are willing to listen…"
"Huh?" Subaru stammered, utterly confused at what Echidna was trying to say. "What we both want? What do you mean?"
The spirit's expression faltered for a moment, before her eyes locked with Subaru's once more, fortitude now swirling in her irises. "I mean that my proposition can satisfy both of our current needs, as well as provide us a sort of… parting gift, before we separate for good. It's a win-win situation in my eyes, and I see no reason why we can't try it. Before I tell you, however, I need to ask you a very important question, and you must answer with utmost honesty. Is that alright with you?"
"Uh… shoot, I guess?" Subaru said, his curiosity reaching new heights at Echidna's vague choice of words. Whatever it was, it should be interesting…
"Subaru, I need to know… are you a virgin?"
It was like someone smacked a sledgehammer directly into his face. His mind went blank, his ears not believing the words they had just heard. The boy could feel his face light up like a match, his jaw dropping to the floor like a cartoon character at the spirit's bombshell question.
"W…ho…wh…W…WHAT?!"
"Are. You. A. Virgin. Yes or no?"
"I… WHERE DID ALL OF THIS COME FROM? IS THIS WHAT YOUR GRAND IDEA IS?"
"A part of it. Now, answer, the question. Please."
"W… WELL, THAT'S… I… You know, it's not like I'm totally an um… um… ummm…"
"…?"
"…yes. I'm a virgin."
Subaru's shoulders couldn't slump any further if they tried. His eyes were now locked to the floor in shame, his mouth curled into a suckling frown. Echidna could only shake her head at the pathetic sight, clearing her throat to command the boy's attention once more.
"There is nothing to be ashamed of, Subaru dear. If anything, your answer has shown your honesty to me, which was the main thing I was trying to ascertain. Besides, you aren't the only virgin in this room, after all…"
Subaru's head shot up like a rocket at her words, the implication and the tone of her voice sending a very clear message across. Subaru could be dense, yes, and he had no experience in the ways of love, but he had seen enough manga and anime to know what she meant to say.
"Uh… Echidna… are you saying what I think you're saying?"
Echidna only nodded silently, her eyes closed in contemplation. Subaru found himself taking a worryful step back, completely dumbfounded by this night's turn of events. Echidna, the centuries-old fox spirit, had just offered to… sleep with him. He couldn't have imagined in a million years that this was the course his life would take, that he would be standing here right now with this creature of magic that was offering herself to him. It was so wrong, so weird, so alien…
So why did he feel so… turned on?
"I imagine you have many questions," Echidna said, her tail swishing around with both excitement and anxiety. "So allow me to explain myself a bit. To be frank, I have been curious about the process of sexual intercourse for quite a while now. Being a spirit, of course, I don't have a sex drive per se , but I can't help but be curious about what it actually feels like. If nothing else, the activity appears to be quite pleasurable, so I wouldn't mind giving it a try if the chance arises to me. And speaking of which…"
The fox smiled, her grin mysterious and smug as she let out a light hum. "I think that chance has made itself known to me. In fact, I believe it's standing right in front of me, right now. And you want to know why I think this way?"
"Why?" Subaru stammered, suddenly feeling very small in the presence of this domineering vulpine lady.
"Because…" she whispered, jumping down and rubbing against the flustered boy's legs, "You want this too, don't you?"
"M…me?!" Subaru squeaked, having no idea what was going on anymore. "Why would you think that?!"
"Oh, come off it now, no need to be shy!" the spirit was now sitting at the boy's feet, looking up at him with a knowing smile. "You don't think I've noticed how you've looked at me? You must be feeling frustrated, checking me out the way you do. Am I wrong?"
"That's…" Subaru started, his confusion morphing into smoldering embarrassment at Echidna's words. "Well, what did you expect, okay? You're, like, the only girl that seems to care a lick about me! How was I supposed to feel?"
"Well, I don't hate it, if you need to know. But this only confirms my suspicions. I am willing. You are willing. So, how about it?"
"What?"
"Subaru…" she said, rising to her hind legs and planting them on the boy's chest, her paws pressing against his tracksuit as she looked up at him. "Do you want to mate with me?"
"Echidna… I…" Subaru said, his blush burning like a sauna on his face as he stared into the wanting vulpine's eyes. Emotion clashed with rational within his tormented mind, his moral fiber unwinding in the face of his rousing teenage hormones. Was he really… going to do this? Lose his precious virginity to… her? Yes, she wasn't an actual animal, but her body certainly was like one. Would this count as bestiality? Sodomy? Rape? Would he regret this for the rest of his life, even if he never saw her again? Was it worth it?
But as Subaru looked, and felt, at his companion, his worries began to melt away. Echidna was truly a beautiful sight to behold, in her own magical, ethereal kind of way. Her glistening white fur felt like the softest of pillows under his hands, and her cute vulpine face held his attention like nothing else he could think of. Being perfectly honest with himself, it was hard to deny his growing desire to give her crazy plan a shot.
"You only have this one chance, dearie…" she whispered, clearly growing impatient at his non-answer. "All you need to do is say the words…"
"Nggg… o… okay. Okay! I'll do it, alright! I'll mate with you. You happy now?"
Echidna only smiled, her tail swishing behind her like a vortex of fur. "Very happy. Thank you for giving me this chance."
"You're welcome," Subaru replied quietly, his eyes unable to hold her gaze any longer. "So… what happens next?"
"Hmm?" Echidna hummed. "You're the man, right? Aren't you the one that takes the lead?"
"Well, I have no idea what I'm doing, so…" Subaru muttered, humiliation clawing at his heart. He just hoped that Echidna would take the hint and do the dirty work herself, as he was quite confident he would somehow screw things up if it was left to him.
"Subaru dear, do you want me to start this thing? Just ask, and I will deliver. M'kay?"
The boy sighed, his spirit friend clearly not interested in going easy on him. "Alright. Echidna… sama, please, show me how it's done. I'll follow behind you."
The fox let out a hearty giggle, greatly amused at Subaru's choice of words. Falling back to the floor, Echidna made her way back to the bed, Subaru's eyes tracing his partner's sleek body as she settled on her haunches on the thick wool blankets.
"Could you be a sweetheart and close those curtains? Wouldn't want the wider world to see us like this, no?"
Subaru nodded, turning to the window before pulling the curtains over them, the room noticeably darkening as the last of the light faded away. Echidna, however, still shone as brilliant as ever, her white coat like a beacon in the surrounding darkness. With a "come-hither" twist of her paw, Subaru stepped towards the awaiting spirit, the boy standing directly in front of the excited vulpine as they exchanged another gaze.
"Clothes. Off."
Subaru froze, his hands shaking nervously at Echidna's request. With his stomach tied in knots, he gripped the hem of his pants before pulling them down, his spotted underwear entering the spirit's line of sight as she analyzed the strange pattern of the fabric.
"Oh my… Subaru, you never told me you had such good taste…" she teased, a paw raised to her muzzle in a mocking chuckle. Subaru could only roll his eyes in response, not interested in chewing on that phrase a second longer. With a huff, the boy slipped out of his trousers before he pulled both of his feet outside and onto the carpet, his pants now a crumpled mess lying on the floor.
"Continue. Please."
Subaru didn't need to be told. In short order, his suit went the same way as his pants, the only garment now protecting his frail body being his special-patterned underwear. He felt incredibly exposed like this, in more ways than just one. The way Echidna was looking at him wasn't helping, her eyes scanning his body like a sensor, taking in everything she could before the main event.
"You… like what you see?"
"Hmm… it's acceptable," Echinda replied with mock boredom, Subaru letting out an annoyed and embarrassed groan in response.
"Now, I believe you are still hiding something…?" the spirit called, her eyes locking back with his with a demanding expression. Subaru closed his eyes, a shaky breath escaping his lips as he prepared to step beyond the point of no return. In one swift motion, he gripped the loose-fitting cloth before pulling the entire thing down his legs, the garment quickly joining the rest of the pile in sleeping in the corner. Opening his eyes, Subaru was met with the sight of the fox spirit, her legs leaning forward with captured interest as her eyes rested upon…
His little guy, slowly arousing from its long slumber.
"Wow… how interesting…" the vixen mused, Subaru having to resist covering his arousal with his hands at her odd ministrations. "So the, what's it called… penis? It rises up when it's ready for sex, is that right?"
"Uh… yeah…" Subaru mumbled, really not interested in providing sex-ed to this curious fox. "So, what's…"
"You already know the answer to that question, Subaru dear," the fox interrupted, another smile crossing her face as she straightened herself. With a flick of her muzzle which spoke "Come here!", the boy took tentative steps towards the seated spirit, his junk having risen to full attention by this point as he stood in front of her. Subaru was feeling confused, flustered, and very vulnerable. Despite all of this, however, he felt himself getting excited at this turn of events; sure, it wasn't what he was expecting, but he trusted Echidna to show him a good time, and he intended to enjoy himself while she did it.
"Come on, now… don't keep a lady waiting…"
With a "hmph" and a soft smile, Subaru's hands drifted to the spirit's soft fur, his palms holding her pristine face in place as he leaned forward toward her muzzle. The vixen's eyes fluttered close as she leaned forward as well, the two's mouths meeting in a shallow smooch. Subaru let out an unintentional groan at the feeling of her lips mushing against his, her fur tickling the underside of his nose as he pressed harder against his companion, the spirit letting out her own soft mewls of pleasure as they both enjoyed their first kiss. With an audible 'smish', the two finally separated, both of their breaths heavy from the lack of air.
"Mmm, so that is kissing, is it not? Certainly a strange experience, but surprisingly pleasurable nonetheless! I can see why you humans like doing it so much."
"Hah, so you say…" Subaru huffed, his arousal reaching new heights after having his first kiss stolen away. And to a fox, no less, albeit a very pretty one. He felt like he was losing control at this point, trying desperately in vain to rein in his ballooning lust and desire.
"Don't you worry now, young man. The main event is nearly upon us. Come, join me on this soft bed of ours."
Subaru didn't need to be told, practically throwing himself onto the sheets at his lady's command, his heart throbbing in his chest with barely contained excitement. The boy was now sitting cross-legged on the mattress, looking on at his soon-to-be mate with laser focus. Echidna seemed to be enjoying this, too; circling around the teen like he was prey caught in her sights.
"Hah, Echidna, you making me nervous when you do that…"
"Oh, but I can't help it, you know. Seeing you so flustered and exposed like this is just so…"
Subaru shuddered, a barely suppressed gasp escaping his lips as the vixen brushed her bushy tail against his bare flesh. Electricity danced across his exposed skin as the spirit fox teased him evilly, each touch like a jolting shock every time her warm fur slipped against his body.
"Mmn… Echidna, please…"
"Please what…?"
"Stop teasing me! Ack, it's starting to hurt!"
Subaru really meant it. His small friend down under was burning with need at this point. Echidna seemed to notice his plight as well, plopping down in front of the struggling boy as they finally faced each other, his throbbing desire not lost on the vixen's gaze.
"Oh dear. You're serious, aren't you? I'm sorry I worked you up like this…"
"It's fine, Echidna… it's perfectly…"
Subaru never finished that sentence. His voice died in his throat as he was taken in and enraptured by the sight now before him: Echidna, now leaning down and facing away from him, as she showed him her special goods, her butt and tail raised high in the air to show herself off as best as possible. Subaru's eyes traced along her narrow slit, the pink flesh inside just barely visible amid the backdrop of snow-white. Subaru couldn't stop himself from staring, a bit of drool hanging out of his opened mouth, as he took in the sight of his partner's alluring curves and tantalizing inner sanctum.
"Well, here we are, then! Are you satisfied with what you see?"
"I… I…" Subaru stammered, words failing to form in his mind as he took in the sight before him. He felt like he was frozen in time, wanting to move his body but terrified that he would mess up somehow and let this moment slip away. His poor little friend, however, roused him back to reality, alongside the annoyed grumbles of his waiting mate waiting to make his move.
"Subaru… I'm waiting?"
"Right, sorry!" Subaru said, scooting up against the vixen's hindsight as he shifted into position. His knees hugged against the fox's hind legs, his hands planted firmly on her surprisingly shapely hips as he lined himself up with her. His tip pressed gingerly against her welcoming entrance, little pinpricks of pleasure snaking their way up his spine at the feeling of contact.
"You ready?"
"Yes… do it!" Echidna crooned, clearly enjoying the new sensations in her intimate region. With a growing fire in his chest at the sound of her voice, Subaru took a deep breath, stabilizing himself a little bit more as he pushed slowly into her folds.
"Hmnff!" Echidna exhaled, the spirit beginning to spasm under the teen as he pressed into her now throbbing opening, her walls clamping against his with an impossibly tight grip. Subaru stifled a groan of his own as his member was practically sucked inside the vixen's hungry snatch, his hips colliding with hers as he took her to the hilt in one swift motion.
"Echidna… this feels…"
"Otherworldly?" Echidna remarked, stealing a look back at her partner being connected with her. Her paws were pressed firmly against the crumpled bedsheets, her claws extending and retracting in rhythmic pulses as she adjusted to the girth buried inside of her. The two stayed connected for a little while longer, simply enjoying the feeling of their private parts being stimulated by the other, before the vixen finally spoke up.
"Subaru, I'm ready…"
"I'm ready, too," Subaru remarked, slowly pulling out his man-meat from her deepest regions, her walls clamping down on him like a vice grip as he brushed against them, not wanting him to leave under any circumstance. The pleasure he was feeling was indescribable, and Subaru was honestly unsure if he would be able to last even a minute if he was going to be squeezed like that. Soon enough, though, he was able to pull out until his head remained, the boy giving tiny pushes inside with his tip to loosen his mate up before he plunged in again. The lewd moans his spirit friend was releasing told him he was doing a good job, at least, and he wasted no time diving back inside those velvety lips, the spirit screaming his name in the bedsheets as he bottomed out once more.
"Subaru… more…"
"Gladly!" Subaru grunted, pulling out before slamming himself back in again. The two companions were jolting with delight each time they connected, wet schlap sounds filling the room alongside the heady scent of sex and arousal. They soon fell into a strong cycle, Echidna pressing her hips against Subaru's crotch as he dove back inside, her walls spasming and squashing against his stick harder and harder with each thrust, trying to coax and milk as much seed out of him as humanly possible. The spirit's tongue lolled out of her panting muzzle, a glass-eyed look of bliss on her face as her friend pounded her into the stratosphere.
"Harder… harder!"
Subaru couldn't resist if he tried, his speed accelerating like a race car as he thrusted will all the strength he had. Echidna was screaming like a baby at this point, her melodic voice bouncing off the walls and rebounding in Subaru's ears as she quickly approached her limit.
"Subaru… I… I think…!"
"I'm… mmn… close too…"
"Inside! Do it… hah… inside! Nowhere else! Please!"
Subaru only grunted in response, taking the vixen by surprise as he lifted her hindquarters off the bed, pressing into her harder and deeper far more than he was able to before. The fox's moans roared into a crescendo, her voice roiling like an opera singer as she rapidly broke through her limit, her walls compressing tight against his happy little guy as she rode out her orgasm. The pressure was too great for Subaru to hold back, and with a shuddering groan, he released as well, pumping her full of that good white stuff as he held her close, their junk locked together like a lock and key as they finished together, the sound of their shared breathing being the only thing to break the ambiance.
"Echidna…" Subaru moaned, falling back on the bed as his member slipped out of the vixen's now drenched slit, their genitals finally disconnected. His head was spinning with exhaustion and post-coital buzz, his chest rising and falling with labored inhales and exhales. His mind felt foggy, yet he was still rational enough to understand the gravity of what he had just done.
He just lost his virginity. To a fox spirit. A fox spirit he would be leaving the next morning.
"That was…" Subaru whispered, before he felt the familiar feeling of fur pushing up against his chest. He turned to meet the eyes of his mate, the fox giving him a warm smile as she cuddled into his neck.
"Wonderful? I agree. That was certainly something…" the vixen mused, a satisfied smile resting on her muzzle. Subaru's hands found themselves drifting alongside her fluffy hide, his fingers massaging her twitching ears as the two companions enjoyed their shared afterglow, the spirit letting out happy hums at the feeling of the teen giving her attention.
"So, you still plan on leaving tomorrow?" Subaru asked, a tiny part of him hoping the vixen had changed her mind after that session.
"I am afraid, so, Subaru-dear," she sighed, a wistful expression dancing in her eyes. "We have come this far, after all. It would be foolish to turn back now."
"And I can't come with you?" Subaru replied, a longing yet understanding frown crossing his face.
"…It would be dangerous. There is no guarantee of your safety, I'm afraid. At least in my case, they might recognize me from all those years past. I don't want to risk losing you. I'm sorry."
"…I understand," Subaru sighed sadly, his gaze locked on the ceiling as he settled with his situation. The feeling of a tongue licking against his face got his attention, and he looked to see Echidna gazing back at him with a happy and grateful expression, her tail slowly wagging behind her as she pressed her snout against his.
"I am glad to have met you, Subaru-dear. I will never forget your service and all you have done for me. I will cherish the time we spent together for the rest of my days. Thank you, with all my heart."
"Thank you too, Echidna. You will always be my number one, even if we never see each other again."
The two huddled closer together, their eyes holding the other in silent understanding.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
—
The morning sun shone brightly in the distance, illuminating the hustle and bustle of the busy streets of the capital. Subaru Natsuki looked onwards, a confident smile on his face as he stood proudly in the sparkling sunlight. His gaze drifted downwards, his eyes resting upon the form of his spirit companion, a small leather bag hanging low on her vulpine neck.
"Ready to go?" he asked, kneeling down next to his friend as she gave him a curt nod.
"Mhm. As ready as I'll ever be."
"Just remember, don't be scared. Be proud and state your case, and they should accept you with no problem. You taught me that lesson, after all!"
"That I did," Echidna replied, a soft chuckle escaping her lips as she turned her head, her line of sight fixed on the travel carts ready to transport her to the Roswaal Manor. "It's really the end, isn't it?"
"Yeah…" Subaru whispered, his eyes faltering slightly at her words. The feeling of a paw resting on his cheek brought him back to reality, and his sight was met with Echidna's night-black eyes, her expression one of happiness and love as she eyed him silently.
"Subaru… take care of yourself. I know you have the drive and will to accomplish anything you set your mind to. Never give up, and whenever you feel stuck, just remember me and the days we shared together. I will always be here for you, even if we are separated by mountains and borders. I will never forget you, so don't you dare forget about me, alright?" And with that, the two friends wrapped the other in a tight hug, the spirit rubbing her cheek against the teen with a happy purr.
"Take care, Echidna."
"You too, Subaru-dear."
As the cart rolled off into the distance, Subaru gave a final wave to his fox companion, the vixen waving back with a wide grin as she finally vanished over the hill, the sound of clopping growing fainter in the distance as the buzz of the city overtook it completely. Subaru's eyes scanned the horizon of the capital, his hands on his hips as he took in his newfound freedom.
Subaru was alone once more. His future was clouded with mystery, his life flanked by fog and shadows. Subaru wasn't worried, however; he would make it, somehow, like he always did. And so, with his vixen friend's words reverberating in his ears, Subaru walked down the streets of the capital city, ready and eager to start his journey again…
From zero.
