Chapter 24: Trust
"Wouldn't you rather sleep in a sleeping bag...?" asked Vahn, not minding too much but feeling weird with Koneko straddling his lap, her upper body nestled with his shirt.
"Nn...this is good..." responded Koneko, punctuating her words by licking the center of Vahn's chest.
"Well...if you say so..." muttered Vahn, caressing Koneko's back through his shirt before closing his eyes and leaning his head back. Koneko liked sitting on his lap, so when it came time for them to rest, he purchased a comfortable lens-shaped lounge chair from the Shop, allowing her to sit and occasionally squirm atop him as he focused on restoring his stamina and relaxing his mind using his Aura Conversion and Meditation Skills.
Noticing what Vahn was doing, Koneko closed her eyes within his shirt and focused on breathing, the beating of his heart, and the flow of energy within him. This was the actual reason she wanted inside of his shirt, well, one of them, and the longer he breathed, the more synchronized their two respective auras became.
'It's different, but he's definitely using Senjutsu...' noted Koneko, inhaling several deep breaths of Vahn's calming aroma. Ordinarily, she would find the notion of him using Senjutsu disgusting, but the way he used it was so natural; it made her feel calm and safe just being near him. It was strange, but it reminded her of napping on a tree branch or basking in the sun on a cool Spring day...
Catching Vahn a little off guard, Koneko, rather abruptly, asked, "Will you come to save me like you did last night in the future...?"
"I will try..." responded Vahn, unable to offer any guarantees but certain he would never stand by and watch harm he could prevent from befalling her.
"Even if I become a monster...?" asked Koneko, sensing Vahn's concern and desire to protect her, sentiments that compelled her to lick his chest and rub her face against him.
"I won't let you become a monster..." asserted Vahn, unsure what Koneko was talking about but determined to help her through whatever it was, for both her sake and Rias's.
"I believe you..." muttered Koneko, her tongue becoming notably rougher as what appeared to be a tail covered in white fur unfurled out of the gap between her cotton shirt and bloomers. Vahn noticed this but pretended not, presuming it was what Koneko was referring to when she mentioned becoming a monster.
'She must be self-conscious about it...' concluded Vahn, closing his eyes and caressing Koneko's back. Something soft and ticklish grazed against him beneath his shirt, but he didn't ask what it was or question why she had started to produce a low, purring sound.