When Tsukihi said she had lived in a Globe House that could be moved anywhere, Leon wasn't sure what she had meant. However, deep in the Primeval forest, standing at the edge of a moonlit clearing, he understood.
A small cottage of dark timber stood in the center of the trees. Warm candlelight spilled from the windows, and a thin trail of smoke rose from the chimney. It looked wonderfully inviting and cozy. Except for one impossible detail.
A blizzard raged around it.
Snow fell in a violent yet perfectly contained storm. An invisible sphere around the property both generated and trapped the flakes, blanketing the cottage and a perfect circular yard in deep white. The wind howled and whipped the snow into swirling ice, yet it never crossed the unseen boundary. The blizzard was locked in this place, trapped like it was actually preserved in glass.
It's a giant snow globe...
"The weather is a bit rough tonight. But that makes it perfect for cuddling up by the fire! We'll read books or tell stories, have hot honeyseed and..."
Her cheeks turned red, and her nine tails began to wag slowly behind her as she cut herself off.
"And... other things... Come on! Let's go inside!"
"Wait, but the snow..."
Before he could finish, Tsukihi pulled him forward through the invisible sphere. The moment they crossed the boundary, the warm forest air vanished. Freezing winds slammed into Leon like a wall, snow plastered against his face and clothes. Tsukihi, however, moved through the blizzard gracefully. Snow dancing around her tails and the winds blowing against her like a gentle breeze.
Wow it's cold!!! A magical portable house is really cool but this is one annoying drawback.
Once they reached the front door, Tsukihi unlocked the door with a snap. She led him inside before locking it again once behind him.
And now I'm locked inside...
The interior was a single open room. The entire far wall was a massive stone fireplace. A roaring fire crackled within, canceling the noise of the storm outside. Above the mantel, shelves overflowed with books and strange knick knacks. The assortment of collected items continued into the surrounding three walls. The floor was covered in thick fur rugs all layered on top of each other. Scattered among them were oversized cushions, floor pillows and more piles of books.
"Ignoring the blizzard, this is actually really nice!"
A bit overflowing with stuff but I guess it's her only room
"You like it?! Good! That's really good! Welcome to my home! Our home! Sit by the fire to warm up. I'll make us some hot honeyseed and we'll do everything!"
Tsukihi pulled him deeper into her house before finally letting go of his hand to go to the kitchen wall. Her excitement was overflowing as she skipped around the cottage.
This is dangerously nice. Had I meant her first, I probably would never want to leave this place...
Leon looked around the cottage again. A warm fire, soft cushions and a beautiful kitsune dressed in a revealing kimono throwing herself at him.
...But to stay here means leaving Celestine and Valeria to starve. I need to get Tsukihi to feed on me so she can live around others.
"Hey Tsukihi?"
As Leon called out, he turned around to find her already standing right behind him, two cups of the drink in her hands.
"Yes? Here's yours. Let's sit!"
Leon took the drink and sat down on the cushions next to fire. Tsukihi immediately followed suit and threw herself into him. Her head resting against his chest as she forced him to recline onto the large cushion behind him.
"Woah Tsukihi, wait"
"Mmmm say my name again..."
Her eyes began to close, pressing deeper into him.
"Tsukihi?"
"So warm…"
In an instant her drink dropped onto the ground as she fell asleep against his chest.
Huh?! All that just to pass out the moment we get back... I guess all the excitement was too much for her, causing her to crash like this. Silly girl.
Leon began to rub her back as she slept on his chest. He took a sip of the hot honeyseed she had made. The drink tasted of milk and salted caramel.
I could probably escape. Talk to the others and then come back with a plan. That sounds like the logical thing to do... But if Tsukihi woke up alone, I can't imagine how much that would hurt her.
He continued to rub her back, the warm mug of the salted caramel drink against his lips. The fire crackled a steady rhythm, never running out of wood as its heat kept the blizzard at bay just beyond the cottage walls.
Yeah guess I'm spending the night here. Also definitely bring this place back to the mansion. Wouldn't take up any room in the massive garden.
His mind wandered to the rest of the girls. Rika being her tsundere self in the corner. Celestine and Valeria would easily curl up beside him along with Tsukihi.
Scratch that, those two would be fighting over who's sitting where. As for Tsukihi, I wonder what you'll be like with the others.
He looked around at the objects in arms reach. An assortment of books, rusted keys, colorful jewellery, a wooden toy soldier… Items like books and jewellery were clearly things Tsukihi liked, but the rest all look like things someone had forgotten about. Objects left behind that she had taken in.
"Silly girl"