41. Kanshisha = Guardian (Start of season 2)

Megumi ran home as fast as she could.

What was a 15 minute walk to Kanae's house took less than 7 minutes for Megumi.

She ran like she'd never ran before. She made it home, ignoring her parents and ran to her room before slamming her door shut.

She could no longer keep herself standing and fell to the floor.

Megumi was still panting hard, her breathing was out of control and her heart was beating a mile a minute. She closed her eyes, and breathed in and out trying to get herself to calm down.

When she was finally calm, Megumi started to remember the events that had just transpired. She brought her hands to her lips. She could still feel the warmth of Kanae's lips against hers.

"What have I done?!" Kanae had taken her first kiss. And she let him. She couldn't even remember what led to the kiss and why she was happy when it happened.

She remembered feeling disappointed when it ended too. Her face turned bright red when thinking about it again.

"AAAAAAH" She yelled, pulling her hair.

"W-what do I do? What should I do? I wasn't suppose to... this shouldn't have happened."

She started panicking again. She could feel her heart beating even faster and it was getting harder and harder to breath.

She was having a full on panic attack, a feeling she knew she'd never experienced before but felt oddly familiar.

She dropped to the floor clutching her chest, breathing hard.

She felt the entire room spin and felt like she was going to die. Just when it started to feel like she couldn't take this pain anymore, she heard a voice.

Megumi even in her state of panic was now alert, looking around the room, trying to find the owner of the voice. But there was no one there.

She then heard the voice again. "Calm down child."

The voice was clearer now, soft but imposing.

"W-who, who are you?" She hesitantly asked.

"I am your guardian wolf." The voice said again.

"Guardian wolf? W-what? I've never heard of such a thing."

"I have always been with you, I was only in a state of slumber until now."

"Slumber?" She asked confused.

"That is not important right now. You need to calm down. Control your breathing and get yourself together." It said again.

Megumi who was still shaken and confused did as the voice instructed and controlled her breathing. After a minute had passed, her ragged breathing was now steadier. She felt relaxed.

"Good. You should never let your emotions get the better of you child."

"Right...Wait... you never answered by question. Who are you really, why have I only heard of a guardian wolf until now, what even is a guardian wolf and why have you been slumbering?"

"One question at a time child." The voice said amused.

"Oh, sorry."

"My name is Uraume, guardian wolf of the Asanume family."

"Asanume? As in my mom's family?"

"Correct child."

"Does my mom know of your existence?" She asked.

"She should be aware of my existence but most likely is not aware that I reside within you."

"How did you come to reside in me then?"

"I was passed down from generation to generation but it has been some time since I've taken possession of a Asamune. It's been most likely a 100 years now."

"I see... why have you been asleep all this time?"

"You are a wolf but you'be been suppressing your wolf nature. I had no reason to show up if my owner was deliberately rejecting me." Uraume said honestly.

Megumi could hear a hint of sadness in Uraume's voice making her feel guilty. She knew they were right. She had lived all her life hating her wolf so it was no wonder she had never known of Uraume's existence.

"You have many worries child and I do not hold any resentment against you." Uraume reassured her.

"No, you are right. I am ashamed of who I am and you had been repressed because of that. I'm sorry."

"I have no need for your apologies child. You have awakened your wolf now and that is all that matters."

"Awakened my wolf? Come to think of it, what have I done to wake you up exactly?"

"Your desire is what woke me from my slumber. For the first time since you have been alive, there was something you wanted more than anything ."

Something I wanted? What could possibly be something I wanted so bad that I awakened my wolf?

Megumi suddenly remembered what had happened earlier and she paled. No way? Was that the reason?

"It was part of the reason. You desiring that boy is was the catalyst to awakening your true desires. It acted like as a trigger."

"So you know what happened?" She blushed in embarrassment.

"I can only perceive your feelings child."

Oh, good. She wouldn't be able to live if her guardian knew of the indecent acts she had commitment just now.

"...Do you already know what I want Uraume?" She asked curiously.

Ever since she was a child, Megumi never had any dreams or aspirations. Her whole life had already been dictated for her, so she had nothing she wanted for her herself. Something she wanted more than anything.

"...Yes. I have an idea but unfortunately I cannot disclose your wish until you find it yourself."

"...I see." Megumi could feel her body grow heavier. She was starting to feel sleepy.

"I should take a bath before going to bed." She said out loud.

"That would be wise." Uraume agreed with her.

She felt a little weird having Uraume inside of her. Whenever she spoke to Uraume, she felt like she was a crazy person talking to herself. But she weirdly felt nice having someone she could talk to about her problems. Someone that could understand her and not judge her.

"Uraume, I'm sorry if this question sounds a little rude and please free to disregard it if you feel uncomfortable, but are you a male or female?"

"...I am what you would call genderless for the most part, having neither male nor female parts....But I was a female in a past life. So you can refer to me as such if you would like."

"I see. Then I shall refer you as that from now on."

Megumi made her way to the bathroom, opening the lights and looking at her reflexion. Megumi was horrified by what she saw.

Her braid was disheveled and her eyes were bloodshot and a little damp from the panic attack she had earlier. Her lips that were usually a soft shade of pink, were now bright red.

But what shocked her more, were the marks on her neck. They were very distinct against her pale skin and couldn't be hidden.

She cursed Kanae but also herself for letting this happen.

How the hell was she going to hide this from her parents.