Moments Between Fur and Fluff

Present Day –

Usagi's POV:

"Oi, Okami-kun," I murmured with a teasing grin, still laying on his lap as the breeze gently played with my hair. "I just remembered something... that day—the way you asked me to be your home..." I chuckled, cupping his face with both hands. "Ughhh, you were so cool! Like, actually! For the first time, you acted all cheeky and dramatic. Fufufu~"

He groaned softly, his cheeks already tinting pink as he nuzzled into my hand like a grumpy cat. "Don't make me remember that... it's so embarrassing..."

"Eh? Why?" I sat up from his lap and gave him a playful shove. "It was seriously cool! I mean—wait, wait—let me do it!"

I cleared my throat, dramatically putting on my Okami-kun face and deepened my voice.

"I have no world. I have nothing in my world. But after meeting you…"

I held my hands to my chest, pretending to be all emotional.

"I don't know why but… I wish to build a whole new world with you. May there never be even the slightest distance between us. Let it be just you, just me—no one else."

Then I turned to him, giving my best impression of his serious gaze. "How could you say that and not expect me to melt right there?!"

He covered his face with both hands, groaning louder. "Ughhh, bunny, stooop!"

"But it was so cute!" I laughed, inching closer to him again. "I swear, if you ever say something like that again, I'm recording it!"

"You wouldn't…" he peeked through his fingers, his voice muffled, but his smile slowly growing.

"Try me," I winked.

He leaned in, his face just inches from mine, his arms sliding smoothly around my waist. His voice dropped with a teasing chuckle, "Try you?"

Then he added, just low enough to tickle my ear, "Then do you mind if I—"

Smack.

Both my palms covered his mouth instantly. "Nope," I said flatly, narrowing my eyes at him. "Can't your dirty mind ever stay innocent for once?"

He laughed against my palms, clearly unbothered, his hand still around my waist slowly creeping lower—

Push.

"Idiot! Why can't you just let it be romantic instead of always getting hungry like a wolf!" I huffed, shoving him away.

"Maybe 'cause I am Okami?" he said with a smug grin, clearly enjoying himself way too much.

"Ughh, I hate you!" I snapped—

Craaawwl.

My stomach decided to embarrass me right on cue.

He raised an eyebrow, amused. "Oh? I don't know about me, but you definitely sound really hungry, Usagi-chan."

"Baka!" I shouted, covering my stomach in shame.

He chuckled again, standing up from the couch and offering me his hand. "Come on. Let's make something for lunch before your stomach starts yelling at me too."

I rolled my eyes, but took his hand anyway. "Only if you do the dishes later."

"Oh, now that's too far," he teased.

I leaned over the counter, arms crossed, watching him rummage through the fridge like it owed him money.

"Oi, Chef Okami, you gonna stand there all day or actually cook something?"

He turned, a tomato in one hand and a cocky grin in the other. "Patience, hungry bunny. Good food takes time."

"Yeah, and I might pass out before it's done," I muttered, climbing up onto the counter to sit, legs swinging.

He glanced at me, eyes trailing from my bare feet up my legs to my shirt that was slightly oversized—his shirt, technically.

"Don't sit there looking like that," he said, voice dropping an octave.

"Like what?" I tilted my head, all innocence.

"Like you're trying to make me burn this kitchen down."

I snorted. "Please, I'm not even doing anything."

He stepped closer, hands still a little wet from washing vegetables, and stood between my knees. "Exactly. That's the dangerous part."

I felt my breath hitch slightly, but I wasn't letting him win that easily.

"You sure you're not just bad at multitasking?" I teased, poking his cheek. "One hand chopping, the other catching feelings?"

He chuckled, leaning in so close I could feel his breath on my skin. "I've already caught feelings. Now I'm just wondering if you taste as sweet as you act."

I slapped his chest gently with a dishtowel. "Pervert!"

He laughed, stepping back and going back to slicing veggies like he hadn't just said something that made my heart do backflips.

I pouted, grabbing a cucumber slice from the board and popping it into my mouth.

"Oi, don't steal from the chef!"

"You made me wait, it's only fair."

He narrowed his eyes playfully, grabbed a slice, and walked over. "Fine, then open your mouth."

"Huh?"

"Open," he smirked.

I blinked, then slowly opened my mouth—and he popped it in himself, fingers brushing my lips a second longer than necessary.

"There. Now, behave."

I blushed, cheeks puffed. "You're lucky that was tasty."

"Oh? Imagine how I taste then—OW!" he yelped as I smacked him with a spatula.

"Idiot wolf! Focus on cooking or I swear I'll bite you first!"

He turned back to the stove, laughing. "Not sure if that's a threat or a promise, bunny…"

He was humming while stirring something in the pan, acting all smug like he hadn't just tried to flirt my soul out of my body.

I rested my chin in my hands, still sitting on the counter, swinging my legs as I watched him work. "You know… it really does feel nice," I mumbled softly.

He looked over his shoulder. "What does?"

"This. Just us. Here in the kitchen, teasing, cooking, being dumb." I gave a tiny smile. "Feels like something out of a cheesy romance anime."

He turned the flame down and leaned against the counter across from me, arms folded. "Cheesy, huh?" He smirked, eyes softening. "Then I guess I don't mind being the main lead… as long as I get to cook with you in every episode."

I blinked, heart doing little flips again. "Smooth," I muttered.

He walked over and wiped a little flour off my cheek with his thumb. "No, really. I've never had this kind of peace before. Not at home, not in school… but with you, it's like... I can finally breathe."

His voice had dropped that teasing edge, and for a moment, we just stared at each other, the kitchen light warm and golden between us.

"You make everything feel less... heavy," he said, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

I felt heat rise to my cheeks—not from the stove. "Stop saying things like that, I might actually melt," I whispered.

He chuckled. "Then let me turn the heat up a little more."

"Wha—?!" Before I could react, he swooped in and nipped at my ear gently, sending an electric shock down my spine.

I yelped, pushing him back while hiding my face. "You wolf!! I swear—do you ever act normal?!"

"Nope," he grinned. "Normal's boring. But hey, you love me like this."

"I never said that!"

"But you never said you don't either," he teased, winking.

"I hate how you twist everything!" I threw a dishrag at him, but he dodged and caught it mid-air like some anime protagonist.

"Admit it," he said, setting the rag down and sliding back close, trapping me between his arms again. "You love when I get like this. A little wolfish. A little flirty."

I glared up at him but didn't move. "…Maybe," I mumbled.

"Maybe?" He leaned closer again.

"Okay, okay! A little! Happy?" I flicked his forehead.

He smiled, not even pretending to flinch. "Very."

Then he leaned down and kissed the tip of my nose. "I love this side of us too, Usagi-chan. I could get used to this—lazy afternoons, making food, stealing kisses…"

"Oi! I don't remember giving permission for that kiss!"

"You didn't stop me either."

I grabbed the spatula like a weapon. "Okami-kun. Last warning."

He raised his hands in surrender. "Okay okay, truce until food is ready."

I narrowed my eyes. "Good."

Then, under my breath, I added, "...But I wouldn't mind the stealing kisses part after we eat."

He pretended not to hear it. But the smirk that crept onto his face as he turned back to the stove told me—he definitely did.

We finally finished cooking. Well, he cooked—I just mostly distracted him and tasted things when he wasn't looking.

I placed the plates down on the table while he brought over the final dish. "Tadaa~ Chef Okami's special lunch," he said with a proud grin.

"Smells good," I said, picking up a spoon.

He leaned closer and whispered near my ear, "It's not the only thing here that smells good."

I turned and smacked his arm with the spoon. "Down, wolf."

He laughed and pulled out a chair for me, all gentleman-like. "Please, my lady. Your throne awaits."

"Oh? So dramatic today," I teased as I sat down. But just as he sat across from me, I flicked a bit of curry from the spoon straight at his nose.

He blinked. "...Did you just—?"

I giggled. "Oops. My hand slipped."

He slowly wiped it off with his thumb. "Oh, it's on now."

Before I could react, he took a pinch of rice and lightly dabbed it on the tip of my nose. I gasped. "You didn't!"

"Oh, but I did."

And just like that, it turned into total chaos—he flung a little veggie at me, I flung a tiny chunk of paneer at him, and we were laughing like idiots, dodging and throwing, wiping food off each other's faces like it was some kind of battlefield.

Finally, both of us gave up, panting and laughing.

"Truce?" I asked.

"Truce," he said, extending a curry-smeared pinky.

We both cleaned up quickly, giggling in between like two kids caught red-handed. Then, we sat down again, this time ready to eat for real.

He scooped up a spoonful of rice and veggies and held it near my mouth. "Say ahh~"

I blushed. "Seriously? We're doing that now?"

He grinned. "C'mon, let me pamper you a bit."

I rolled my eyes but opened my mouth slightly. He fed me with the softest smile, watching like he just won a prize at a festival. "Good girl," he whispered as I chewed.

My heart!

I grabbed a piece and reached out to feed him too. "Your turn."

He leaned in, letting me feed him, but instead of just eating it—he nipped at my fingers a little too slowly. My eyes widened.

"Oi! You did that on purpose!"

He smirked. "Did what? I was just savoring the flavor."

I shoved his shoulder, blushing. "Behave!"

He leaned closer again, fingers brushing my cheek as he wiped a smudge of curry off. "Can't help it… you taste better than the food."

"Okami!"

He chuckled lowly and sat back, totally satisfied with my flustered reaction. "Just being honest."

I huffed, turning away. "Next time, I'm feeding you with chopsticks. One poke and no more flirting."

"Oh no~ anything but the deadly chopsticks," he teased dramatically. "You wound me, Usagi-chan."

I turned back to him, grinning despite myself. "Idiot."

He smiled, and this time it wasn't teasing. "You make even the messiest meals feel like home."

Lunch ended with full stomachs and hearts even fuller. I cleaned up the plates while Okami dried them, and somehow, in the middle of doing that, he managed to sneak up behind me, wrap his arms around my waist, and rest his chin on my shoulder.

"Mmm, full belly… now I just wanna curl up with you," he mumbled, voice low and lazy.

I elbowed him lightly. "You're so clingy after food."

"You love it," he grinned against my cheek.

Maybe I did.

After cleaning up, we flopped down onto the couch together. I had planned to sit normally, but of course, Okami had other plans—he pulled me right into his lap, wrapping his arms around me from behind like some oversized blanket.

"You comfy?" he asked, nuzzling into my neck.

"I was, until your chin started stabbing my shoulder."

"Rude. This chin is award-winning."

"More like rock-solid."

He chuckled and kissed my shoulder gently. "Mm… see, now it's soft again."

I sighed, leaning back against him, letting myself melt into the warmth of him. The quietness of the moment, the sunlight peeking in through the curtains, the scent of his skin mixed with a little curry—it all felt so peaceful.

"Hey," I whispered.

"Hmm?"

"I like this... Just us. No noise. No crowd. Just the sound of our hearts beating."

He squeezed me a little tighter. "I like it too. I never imagined I'd feel this… settled, y'know?"

I nodded.

He gently tucked my hair behind my ear, letting his fingers trail down my neck. "You make everything feel soft. Even the hard days."

I blushed. "You're getting cheesy again."

"Can't help it. You're like a walking rom-com."

"Shut up," I said, smiling as I turned slightly to look at him.

He smirked. "Wanna shut me up properly?"

I blinked. "Wha—!?"

He smirked and leaned in, brushing a gentle kiss to my cheek—warm, slow… but just as I turned to tease him back—

His lips slid lower—to the corner of my mouth. Then barely a breath later, to my jaw.

"W-Wait—" I tried to mumble, but his hand had already moved—fingers slipping beneath the hem of my shirt at my waist, warm against my skin.

"I wasn't gonna do anything wild," he whispered, voice thick like honey, as his lips barely grazed my neck now, breath tickling my skin. "Unless you want me to…"

Spicy! Spicy! My brain screamed.

I squirmed a little in his lap, heat rising fast in my cheeks. "O-Okami-kun… stop being such a—"

He chuckled against my skin. "Such a what, hmm?"

His hand glided slowly over my side, teasingly tracing my ribs with his fingertips, making me jolt a little. "Y-You're such a wolf!"

"Didn't we already establish that?" he smirked, nuzzling me again. "But I promise—just soft touches for now."

His arms wrapped around me tighter, his other hand resting just beneath my chest, warm and slow like he was holding something precious.

"You feel good to hold," he whispered. "Like home... like peace after a long storm."

I felt my heart melt—even if my skin still tingled from where he touched me.

"…You're such a dangerous man," I mumbled, my voice barely a whisper.

He kissed my temple. "Only dangerously in love with you."

He groaned and dropped his head back against the couch dramatically, his cheeks already tinting pink. "Ugh, not that again... Bunny, please don't remind me..."

I grinned, leaning over him with a mischievous glint in my eyes. "Ohhh? Why not? You were sooo red that day, I thought you'd actually catch fire."

He covered his face with both hands, mumbling through his fingers, "You showed up in that damn dress and said 'Happy Birthday' like it was nothing! I had just confessed the day before! How was I supposed to handle you looking like that?!"

I laughed and gently pried his hands away from his face. "You were adorable. Shaking like a leaf while trying to act cool. And when I fed you cake? You nearly choked because our fingers touched."

"That was your fault! You licked the cream off my thumb!" he shot back, flustered beyond saving.

I gasped, placing a hand on my chest dramatically. "What, this thumb?" I lifted it slowly and brought it to my lips with a teasing smirk, mimicking the exact same motion.

His eyes locked on it like he was in a trance. "Usagi—"

I slid closer. "Yes, Okami~?"

He reached forward like he was about to grab me, but I darted back, laughing.

"You're so mean," he whined, chasing me across the couch. "You know exactly what you're doing!"

I giggled as he finally caught me, pulling me back into his lap again, this time holding me tighter so I couldn't escape. His lips brushed my ear.

"Fine. You wanna tease me?" he murmured, voice low. "Then get ready to be teased back, Usagi-chan… I'm not that innocent anymore."

My breath caught for a moment, feeling his hand slide up the curve of my waist with maddening slowness.

"I-Innocent?! You were never innocent!" I said, squirming just a little.

He smirked. "And you like that about me, don't you?"

I bit my lip.

"...Tch. Maybe."

"Wanna recreate that birthday, then?" he teased, pressing his forehead to mine. "This time… no cake needed."