Chapter 2: Home

As we made our way through the interior of the home where I held many cherished memories as a child, tears started forming in my eyes once again. The memories that had been sealed for so long started flooding in again.

I could remember waiting excitedly by the door for my mother around the time she would finish her duties at the temple next door.

When we reached the main interior, I was met with an unbelievable sight.

"Welcome home, Ojou-sama."

Caught by the surprise greeting, I could look at the people standing on each wall, two maids on each side, a person who seemed to be the chef on the right side, and an elderly man, whom I could remember from my childhood as attending to my mother. He was dressed in a decadent butler's uniform and had a dignified aura around him. His name was Sebas. Memories of him reading stories to me and Eri when my mother was busy flowed through. I remembered cherishing him like he was my grandfather, even addressing him as such.

"Grandpa…Sebas…" I muttered, which caused the old man to look up from his bowed position with a warm and welcoming smile.

"It has certainly been a long time, Hina-sama. Welcome home. I have been waiting for this day for a long time, but maybe not as much as a certain girl that is holding your hand there," he chuckled, giving me a knowing wink.

I turned to see Eri, crying tears of joy from this reunion, while holding my hand.

"It seems she was trying her best to stay strong during our day together, trying to be there to support me as I tried to gather my memories and get a sense for who I am. It seems the dam has burst, with us finally living together again. I am sure she has had a hard time these last 8 years," I thought to myself.

I pulled Eri into a hug, my head and ears just barely reaching her chin. "Thank you, Eri."

"Hina-sama?" Eri puzzled by the sudden hug spoke.

"Thank you for helping me, for staying strong for me, and for remembering me all these years. I am okay now, I have gained most of my memories, and I fully accepted who I am, so now it is my turn to be there for you. I am sure you had a hard time as well. Feel free to cry on my shoulder, pat my head, mofu-mofu my ears, you can even play with my tail. I will do anything you wish today to help you feel better."

"Don't regret those words, now I will hold you to them," Eri spoke before embracing me and reciprocating my hug, then stood there crying into my shoulder. After a significant amount of time passed, Eri stopped crying and started showing me the different rooms inside the house along with Sebas.

Now for the situation I am in, I am currently laying my head on Eri's lap as she brushes my ears and tail.

"I wanted to spoil you this time, Eri," I pouted slightly, wanting to do something to show my appreciation to her.

Eri giggled, her laugh like a beautiful melody, "But, spoiling you is my favorite thing in the world, you know. Just being with you, and spending time together like this, brings me peace of mind."

Listening to Eri's words, I found myself starting to become even more comfortable and succumbing to the pleasure of having my ears brushed gently. "Mmmh," I started purring from the contentment that I hadn't felt in such a long time.

"You have had a long day, Hina-sama, go ahead and take a nap. I will wake you when the hot spring is ready," Eri gently stated, giving me a warm smile.

"A hot spring bath sounds…" Before I could finish, my consciousness soon faded.

Gradually after what felt like a peaceful sleep that I haven't had in a long time, I opened my eyes, but I realized I was no longer laying in Eri's lap, and a scary thought ran across my mind in my daze, "Was all of that a dream?" Tears started to form in my eyes at such a horrible thought.

"Ah, you are awake, Hina-sama, the bath is ready. What's wrong, why are you crying?" Eri ran to me and asked with worry in her voice when she noticed my tears.

"I was scared when I didn't see you, that all that happened today was just a dream, that it wasn't real. I don't want to be alone again," I cried out.

"Hina-sama, I promise this is all real, it is not a dream, and if you wish, I will never leave your side so that you know for sure that you will never be alone again," Eri spoke with warmth as she held me close, letting me cry on her shoulder as I did for her.

"…sniff…Thank you, Eri," I replied.

"Now let's go take a bath, I'm not sure if you remember, but the hot spring here is an open-air bath and absolutely refreshing," Eri states, helping me stand up and walking me to the changing room.

"We are going to bathe together?" I ask, dealing with two contradicting emotions inside me, one that doesn't want to be alone, and embarrassment at the thought of bathing with someone.

"Of course, Hina-sama, I will even wash your hair and back. It is my job as your personal servant after all," Eri replied with a teasing grin.

"I am starting to think you only use your position as a personal servant when it benefits you," I thought to myself.

"Very well, then, I do seem to remember us bathing together when we were kids, and we are both girls. I'm not as embarrassed as I was when I just transformed. I don't want to be alone either. But no funny business, or I won't let you play with my ears again for a week," I replied, coming to my decision, and giving a stern yet playful look.

"Ega…I wouldn't like that. Very well, Hina-sama, I promise I won't do anything weird. Now let's go bathe, and get ready for bed. We will have a busy day tomorrow to get everything ready for our High School debut, come Monday," Eri had a look of shock before she answered.

After we got undressed, we made our way to the washing area, where Eri began washing my back and hair.

"Your hair is so smooth and soft, Hina-sama. I will make sure to help you take care of it every day. What do you say about wearing twin tails tomorrow?" Eri asked while rubbing her hands through my hair.

"Yes, that sounds nice," I answered excitedly.

"My, my, it is nice to see you are just as girly as ever, Hina-sama, and with that, I am finished, you can go ahead and soak in the bath if you wish, Hina-sama," Eri replied with a look of what seemed to be relief.

"I will wash your back too, I won't wash your hair until I get better used to how to handle such long and delicate hair," I replied.

"Are you sure, Hina-sama?" Eri asked with a happy yet puzzled glance.

"Of course, now turn around," I answered before gently washing Eri's back. Her skin was so soft to the touch, that the feeling lingered after I finished.

"I can't believe, Hina-sama, washed my back. Today is the best day of my life," Eri stated out loud with sparkling eyes, like she truly meant what she said, causing me to laugh out loud.

We soaked in the bath for a good hour before getting out and getting dressed for bed.

Once we arrived in my room, Eri was about to leave me to go to her room.

"E…Eri…" I muttered.

"Yes, what is it, Hina-sama?" Eri asked.

"Just for tonight, will you sleep with me?" I asked while blushing uncontrollably.

As I was waiting for Eri's reply with upturned eyes, my ears dropping at the worry that she might say no, I noticed it looked like she got struck by something fierce, and it seemed her nose might start bleeding at any moment. What's going on, I wondered.

"Hina-sama wants me to sleep with her, what destructive cuteness," Eri spoke out loud while pinching her nose.

"Of course, I don't mind sleeping with you tonight. I did promise I would never leave your side if that is what you wished after all. But I want you to promise me one thing, please don't show that kind of look to anyone else, okay?" Eri said in a voice that seemed serious.

"O…Okay, I promise," I replied, tilting my head in confusion as to what Eri meant. Question marks appeared over my head. For a second, I thought I heard Eri say, "I won't let anyone else see this cute side of Hina-sama," but I chose to ignore it.

We laid our futons out beside each other, and we went to bed holding hands, leaving me excited for the days to come, unlike when I was a guy, and living in that apartment, wanting the days to come and go as fast as possible, until my inevitable death.