Primals (Reverse Harem 1)

“It’s a great home,” Clarissa remarks, a smile on her lips.

I have to agree it is. It was greater once. At least, I liked it better once. Before there were skyscrapers and so many people. Back when men lived in palaces and carried swords. Back when they were fearless and honorable.

Still, it’s not so bad now, especially with all the cat cafes, the stylish fashion boutiques, the cozy capsule hotels and the fish vending machines.

“Why did you come to Japan?” I ask Clarissa, stepping forward so I can be closer to her.

She shrugs. “Oh, just...to trace my roots. Sort of.”

“Your roots? Your ancestors are Japanese?”

“Not exactly. But apparently, someone who lives here knows more about my...ancestry than I do.”

I nod. “I see.”

Again, she falls silent, deep in thought.

I move in front of her, arms over my chest. “Tell me about your home.”

“My home?” She tucks her hands into her pockets. “Well, I used to live on a farm with cows and horses and all but now, I live in an apartment with my dogs, my cats and my fish.”

“Cats?” I raise an eyebrow. “How many?”

“Two.”

“What are their names?”

“Cheshire and Speedy,” she answers with a smile. “Cheshire because you know, that cat from ‘Alice in Wonderland’ who also happened to be the name of a comic book villainess. Or so Kyle told me.”

“Kyle?” I feel puzzled.

“My best friend,” she says.

Ah, that must be the human she was with, the one who splashed poor Noboru with water. I don’t like him already.

“Anyway, he named Speedy after the superhero that Cheshire was in love with.” Clarissa sighs. “Even the war between good and evil can’t stand in the way of true love.”

“Why should it? Love is neither good nor evil, just love. And everyone is entitled to it, even gods and monsters.”

She falls silent.

Too silent.

“Don’t your cats fight with your dogs?” I steer the conversation back to a lighter, more fun topic.

“Yeah.” Clarissa nods. “But they sort it out.”

“Why not just keep the cats and give the dogs to someone else?”

She whirls towards me. “I could never do that! I would never kick an animal out of its home, mine or someone else’s.” Her cheeks are flushed, eyes bright with anger. I’ve pushed her too far.

I raise both my hands. “Okay. Okay. I get it.”

She lets out a sigh as she gazes back into the distance. “If I could, I’d give every homeless animal a home.”

That must be her primal side talking, if she has one, that is.

“So, you don’t live with your parents?”