Mama Fox

<Zuri>

Sitting at the dining table, Zuri felt his tail nearly catch fire.

All that work, and she couldn’t be bothered to do the easiest thing: showing up!

After scrubbing yesterday’s dishes, sweeping the grime from the floors, and tidying the house, he prepared a breakfast for two only to find himself still alone. Cleodora had vanished shortly after answering the door yesterday and was yet to return. It was a strange absence, now that he stopped to think about it. Given her usual ferocious obsession with him, it was odd he hadn’t woken to her attempting to sneak into his bed again. Instead, he woke unencumbered and free.

Zuri’s ears twitched.

That strange feeling he got back at the village was surfacing again.

…She was up to something!

Light suddenly poured into the dining room as the front door peeked open.

‘Looks like someone decided to finally show, huh!?’

Immediately, Zuri got up and waited at the entrance.

Now was the time to figure out what was going on.

“And where have you been?” (Z)

Watching her poor attempt to sneak by fail, Zuri crossed his arms.

She really was up to something.

“…I’ve been down at the village.” (C)

“Doing what?” (Z)

Sharpening his tone, he pressed on.

Cleodora paused, scratched her cheek, and gave a sheepish smile.

“Working?” (C)

Why did that sound like a question?

Unsatisfied with the answer, Zuri was about to press on again until he saw her close to taking a step forward.

“Halt!” (Z)

He put a hand out.

Cleodora returned her step.

“How dare you try to drag that filth into my house?” (Z)

The irritation in Zuri’s chest expanded.

He had deliberately overlooked the fact that she was caked in dirt and mud on account of there being a bigger issue at hand. But seeing her trying to ruin his hard work pushed the topic forward. She was practically forcing his hand. Like seriously, how can she walk in like that and expect him to remain silent on the issue? It was plain crazy.

“…Wait there.” (Z)

Walking to the bathroom, Zuri went and grabbed a basket, towel and fresh robe.

He also took the time to draw a warm bath before leaving with the items.

“Put your clothes in here.” (Z)

Setting down the basket, he waited for her to comply.

When she instead stared up at him dumbly, he got annoyed.

“What.” (Z)

“…I didn’t think you’d be so forward.” (C)

“Huh?” (Z)

“Ah?” (C)

It took a second to process her words’ meaning, but when he finally did, Zuri exploded.

Here he was. Doing something nice, and she decides to turn it weird for her own sake.

“Don’t ‘Ah?’ me. What’s that supposed to mean, huh!?” (Z)

She didn’t answer but instead moved.

Before Zuri could react to her movements, Cleodora threw her clothes in the basket, snatched the items out of his hands and bounded into the bathroom.

“Hey! Come back here this instant!!” (Z)

“I’ll be right out, but if it’s important, you are welcome to join me!” (C)

She winked at him before closing the bathroom door, leaving it slightly ajar.

“Agh!” (Z)

Walking over to the door, Zuri slammed it shut before heading back to the dining table.

He sat down.

Taking the time to slowly calm himself.

Getting angry over everything she did would only lead him to an early grave.

It wasn’t worth it.

‘Think of the positives. Think of the positives’

His plan was working despite how little it seemed.

Cleodora had listened to his order at the front door earlier.

A proof of concept.

It wasn’t like he was doing these things out of the goodness of his heart.

‘Right, right, right’

She would fall in line sooner or later.

All Zuri needed to do was continue with the niceness, and before long Cleodora would feel so indebted to him, she would bend at his every word.

His. Every. Word.

“Care to say where you’ve been since yesterday?” (Z)

“Oh, man! This food is great!” (C)

‘Tch’

This was going nowhere.

Every time Zuri tried to ask about yesterday, he was skilfully dodged or flat out ignored.

“If you think you can ignore me, then think again. I won’t forget this matter, so—H-Hey! Stop eating like an animal, for crying out loud! Where is your napkin!?” (Z)

After declaring the food’s greatness, Zuri watched in horror as Cleodora went on an insane feeding frenzy. Spilling some on not only herself (and the new clean clothes she wore), but also the spotless table before them. Zuri watched this tragedy befall with his very own eyes. The cutlery he had so perfectly placed went unattended as the barbarian opted to eat with her hands. Finishing the meal by licking her bowl clean and letting out a contented hum.

“Y-You!” (Z)

“Thank you for the food, my love!” (C)

She leapt over to Zuri and gave him a kiss on his forehead.

“I must now leave to head to work!” (C)

With those words, she immediately bolted out the front door. Zuri stared at the mess she left for a moment before standing up in a rage. Following after her, he got to the door and paused. His chest was raising up and down frantically. A symbol of the effort he put in in order to move. Despite that, though, when he arrived at the door, he still couldn’t see what direction Cleodora had fled to.

“…Damn it.” (Z)

Closing the door, Zuri went back inside.

He didn’t know where she went, and assuming she told the truth earlier, going to that smelly village wasn’t worth the effort to find her.

‘Ugh’

Staring at the mess she made, he sighed.

More work.

How fun.

"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."

Zuri never thought himself artistic in any sense of the word. In his last life, he spent three quarters of it just surviving. Being in the type of situation he was in, that was quite frankly his only option. When he did finally escape his circumstances, though, and get the chance to indulge in such, he never bothered. It seemed like a gigantic waste of time. He desired the true finer things in life. Expensive jewellery, fine clothes, and opulent houses.

Rebirth had changed none of that. He still desired much and asked for such since a young age. Being in the position he is in, in this new life, it was all naturally granted. Hell, it was already a given even if he had never asked for those things. Since birth, Zuri has been showered in every gift one could think possible. At times even he felt it too much. At times he would question his greed. Jealousy and envy built up in him of himself. Negative thoughts filled his head endlessly. Why now? Why was he deserving of this now and not before? What was wrong with him before? They built, and they built quietly. Of course, he hid this from family, as jeopardising his golden ticket for no reason would be unlike him. But apparently, he wasn’t as good as he thought himself at hiding.

One day, his family held a gathering. His father, mother, and both sisters were present. A rare thing outside meals, given how busy each of them was. On that day, they performed for him. His father sang an enchanting hymn, his mother danced a bewitching dance, his eldest sister played an enchanting tune, and lastly, his second sister fashioned a dreamy illusion. Together they crafted a story about their history.

Zuri would never forget that day.

It was the day he awakened something he didn’t know he had.

The negative feelings that had plagued endlessly were washed away, and a love was born.

A love like no other.

Placing the paintbrush in his hand down, Zuri stared at his work of art.

It was an image of the lovely home he left.

The grand royal palace

…Hopefully, someday he would get to return there.

Picking up the piece, he hung it at the only fitting spot in the house.

The centre of the first living room.

“Now that that’s done….” (Z)

Zuri glanced back at the mess he was too annoyed to bother cleaning up earlier.

With his heart settled, he got to work again.

If there was one thing about him that hadn’t changed in forever, it was that he was a dreamer.

And the one thing all dreamers shared in common was the fact that they never stopped dreaming.

Zuri will find his happiness again.

Whatever form it may take this time.