Tsukihi pulled Leon through the crowded streets, away from the market and toward the city gates.
"I have a beautiful house just outside the city. Well… it's actually a Globe House, but that's better! If you don't like the scenery, we can move it anywhere you want!"
"Tsukihi, you're not listening…"
The kitsune shivered every time he said her name, tails twitching behind her.
"Of course I am! You said my name again! Say it one more time? And my favorite color! And my favorite food! And…"
She's completely obsessed with the fact I can remember her. I get that being forgotten all the time must be rough but she's straight-up kidnapping me and somehow doesn't even realize it.
"Hey… why did you stop talking? No, no, no, no. Don't forget. Leon. Please. Please don't forget…"
He could hear the pain in her voice. The fear of being alone again after finally finding someone who could remember her was causing her to panic.
"It's okay. I still remember everything. But can you stop dragging me away!?"
"No! I can't risk losing you! I need to get you home where it's safe. Once we get there, I'll give you anything you want. Anything at all. You'll never have to leave."
This is literally the exact kind of thing everyone warned me about. But she isn't some malicious yandere or monster using me to get stronger. She's just a scared, lonely girl.
"Hey Tsukihi, do you mind if I ask questions about you?"
"Please do! I'll tell you everything! You'll remember it all right?"
I need to get her to calm down and then maybe I can reason with her.
"You said you naturally consume the memories of those around you? Are you consuming mine?"
She went quiet for a second to think about his question. The two had now passed the city gates. The guards looked only for a second as she pulled him along before they forgot what they just saw.
"As far as I know, when I'm around people they can't make short term memories. Which then means they can't remember anything longer than a couple of seconds. That's why everyone forgets me."
Her voice went quiet.
"Even my parents...."
She then stopped and looked back at him. Excited again with her tails wagging happily
"You're different though! You haven't forgotten anything! As long as I don't eat your long term memories you'll be fine. We'll be fine! Me and you. Together forever!"
"Wait that part about eating long term memories, how is that different?"
"Unlike the effect around me, I can intentionally eat a person's long term memories. If I do, they're gone forever but I am able to read them."
"So you're going to eat my memories?"
"NO! You'll forget! You can't forget! I don't know why but you're able to still make memories while I'm around."
Pretty sure that's because of my Vitality. I must be out healing the effect...
"But it doesn't matter why. You can remember me! I've spent almost my whole life alone but now I have you! You're mine."
"Tsukihi, I'm happy to spend time with you. But I still have friends and fiances back..."
"NO! What if you don't come back!? I'll be your friend! I'll be your fiancée! Whatever you want, I'll give it to you! It's not fair! They can find other people! But I can't! Only you can remember me!"
Tsukihi pressed herself against him, the thin fabric of her revealing outfit doing absolutely nothing to hide the warmth of her body.
"You're all mine! I'll make up for it. I'll give you anything and do anything! Is there something wrong with me!? I'll change it! Just tell me what you want!"
Not good. I'm just making her more scared and stressed out.
"Don't change anything. Tsukihi you're beautiful."
Leon hugged her tightly. Her tails wagging in his embrace.
What should I do? I won't abandon her. Possessive sure but just like Celestine and Valeria, she's starving in her own way.
"Good. That's good. I'll make you happy ok? I've read countless romance books so everything will be perfect. And I haven't tried anything but I'll do whatever you like! Even if I don't like it I'll learn to like it ok?"
Tsukihi… I am going to save you.
"Tsukihi, you shouldn't force yourself like that. Look at me. I'm not going anywhere. I'm not going to change you and I'm not going to forget you. We're together forever now."
"Promise me!"
"I promise!"
Her cheeks burned red. Her tails wagging differently as she arched her back and leaned deeper into the hug.
"Now let's see your house and then we can talk as much as you want to."
"Yeah... Let's go. You'll like it...I've spent a lot of time decorating it, so… I hope you do. "
Tsukihi kept pulling him far away from the city. Now silent as the two went deeper and deeper into the Primeval forest.
Well she's quiet now. She must be embarrassed after saying all that about changing herself.
Either way I need to figure out what to do. She passively eats memories around her. So I can't bring her back to the mansion. I can't let Celestine and Valeria starve but she's not going to let me come and go either.
Think man, think. What do I know about Kistunes?
Roselyn said they were created by the first Demon King to serve in his army. Said to be extinct and the ancestors of the Canidaes and Felidaes. Can be born from a Canidae and a Felidae couple.
Wait, how didn't they serve in an army if they stop people from making memories. Are demons immune? Would Celestine be fine then as a Succubus? But she's not allowed to leave the mansion! And I don't even know if Succubus were made by the first Demon King so maybe they're not immune? There is still so much I don't know about this world!
The gears in Leon's head started turning as he began to connect the dots.
...Succubus. Celestine can't leave the Mansion because of starvation mode. According to Rika, When starved, succubus passively gives off an aura that enslaves men. It's ineffective but it's a desperate measure to try and survive.
Does that mean Tsukihi passively consumes short term memories because of her own race's starvation mode? She said she can actively consume long term memories and THAT allows her to read them. So is that passive effect around her also ineffective?
She wouldn't know since Kitsune are said to be long extinct. If I can get her to feed on me like Celestine and Valeria then.....
Tsukihi words echo in his head; 'As long as I don't eat your long term memories you'll be fine.'
Well shit.