Chapter 1 — The boundary line, the marriage between a girl and a wolf. Part 10
I firmly held my hair, as though holding back the irritation, and fixed my bathrobe.
"Shiro, are you there?" I opened the window and asked with a weak voice.
"Of course," came his short answer, after which I heard the sound of something cutting through the wind for a second, then saw him standing on the balcony railing.
I really admired his sense of balance as he stood on the railing, and I also admired him for refraining from taking a step into my room since he hadn"t washed his feet. I made a mental note to get a towel ready for him next time.
"Hoh." After seeing me, his eyes narrowed as he looked at me and sighed.
"You really are beautiful. That uniform from earlier suited you, but this appearance isn"t bad either. Darkness complements your white skin."
I dropped my head, causing my long hair to cover my face. Having him compliment me was a bit embarra.s.sing.
"By the way, I made it myself." Senseless bragging.
"That"s wonderful. If I wasn"t a wolf, I"d definitely ask you to make one for me too."
"I could make you something like a…collar? That would fit you."
I didn"t even know if a collar made of cloth would really work as a collar.
"I"ll refrain from taking you up on that offer."
He was so serious about it, I couldn"t help but laugh. Even the irritation from my earlier conversation with my stepfather disappeared, and it seemed that I would be able to bathe in a rather good mood.
"Now then," Shiro said as his head leaned over the window frame. "Did something happen?"
"Not really, I just wanted to see you for a bit."
Without noticing, I had answered honestly.
"As far as I"m concerned, I wouldn"t mind you wanting to see me at any time of the day," he said, smiling wryly.
I felt my cheeks burning up. I wasn"t used to this. I couldn"t get used to being treated so nicely.
Brushing my hair away, I made an offer to him after I had calmed down.
"I was planning on taking a bath now. If you want, feel free to join me."
Any form of emotion disappeared from his face for a second, then, trembling he asked:
"A bath, is this the act where you get submerged in hot water and have to count to a thousand?"
"I don"t know about the counting to a thousand part but yes, that"s basically it."
"I"ll pa.s.s." He flattened his ears against his skull tightly, and his tail drooped down as well.
"Okay, got it. I"ll go alone, though it"ll be a bit lonely."
My eyes met his, and in his black pupils, I saw myself reflected with a doll-like smile plastered on my face.
Standing atop the window frame, his gaze darted up and down, lost, and then he scratched the back of his ears while groaning lightly.
"I"m kidding," I snickered innocently as I placed my fingertips on my lips. Shiro sighed, clearly relieved.
His flattened ears jumped back to life and his tail suddenly started waving merrily from right to left.
He was acting so cute, I wanted to just hug him on the spot.
"Are you bad with baths?"
"A long time ago, my father…it was harsh," he murmured, his eyes looking distant.
I guess even Shiro must also have some happy memories with his family, at least a few.
There must have been a time when he had run about innocently without any knowledge of the world.
He must have them, just like I had some.
It would have been so much better, not knowing anything.
If only I could have died as an ignorant.
We both lived and pa.s.sed each day using our hatred to fuel our hearts.
"When was that?"
His distant eyes reflected my image.
"One day, a battle will start."
My boring days would come to an end, and the bleakness that constantly surrounded me would disappear.
"It might not be that far in the future, too."
A faint smile spread over his lips and his fangs peeked out, glinting sharply like blades.
"Something must happen. A human and a wolf have joined together. There"s no way nothing will happen."