User blog:Redknight910/WWYD Ushi Oni Chokeme

Prompt:A homeless Ushi-Oni

I'm probably going to regret this at some point in my life, but... with a sigh I walk over to her.

"P-p-please... could you help me?" She chitters, the cold taking any firmness from her voice.

"I... guess I can. Come on, I'll get you something warmer." She looks up at me for a few more seconds, slowly processing my response, before a huge smile breaks out across her lips.

"Th-thank you... so m-m-much." She rises onto her legs, and I realise just how big she is. I don't even think she'll fit through my door. We make our way to my house, despite her large size, the ushi was incredibly slow due to just how cold she was, and she kept slipping on the icy cobblestones. We get to my house, and I ask her to wait outside, since I don't want her to break through my wall or something.

Searching my linen closet I manage to round up a few spare wooly blankets. I take out three, and go back to the front door. Opening it, the ushi is collapsed on the ground, her body shivvering uncontrollably. She occasionally makes a soft, pained sound. I quickly throw the blankets over her, trying to cover as much of her as possible, before going to my wood pile.

Grabbing some smaller pieces of wood, as well as a slate to place them on, I rush back to the hypothermic ushi. Putting down the slate and wood, I light a fire on my yard, as close to her as I'm comfortable with. After several long minutes of getting the cold wood lit, I go to collect some more. When I return The ushi's stopped making sounds, though she's still shivvering. I put the larger wood onto the pile, and sit next to her, hoping the meagre fire is enough to warm her back up.

I stay there for what feels like hours, the cold night creeping in as I'm watching the fire and the ushi. I leave for a few minutes to prepare some dinner. I walk back outside with a pot of stew, placing it over the fire on a stand. As I'm cooking I hear the woman behind me start to stir.

Turning I notice her eyes flickering open. She looks at me, then at the pot, and I see her slowly lick her lips.

"C-c-could... I...." I nod, grabbing out a bowl and taking some soup. I then sit the rest of the pot in front of her. She smiles weakly, even giggling quietly. Grabbing a second spoon, I hold it up to her lips.

"Careful, it's still hot." She nods, and just puts her mouth around the spoon, sucking down the thick soup. I help her with a few more spoons, before her arm shakily takes the spoon from me. I then pick up my own bowl and start eating. Niether of us says anything, we just eat our dinner sitting by the fire.

Once she's finished there's much more colour to her face, and the shivvering's calmed down. "Thank you." She places the pot to the side.

"Well, I couldn't just leave someone dying on the street, could I?" She graces me with a warm smile.

"Most people don't think a fearsome monster like me needs help, that just by our sheer ferocity, we can somehow handle being in frozen temperatures." I nod slowly, thinking about how many people have tried to avoid the ushi due to the species' reputation.

"Well, I always was a softie." She leans down to put her head on my shoulder. "So, what's your name?"

"Saiah. Thank you for this, I owe you my life." I try to shrug off the praise, but she just wraps a thickly furred arm around me. "No, really, you saved my life tonight, no one else would come near me, but when you walked passed, you stopped." Her eye starts to glass over with tears, "I promise, I will protect you until the day I die for this."With a soft chuckle I wave her off.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"I'm not some adventurer, you know. I'm just a shop hand, keeping things tidy and all that. It's not dangerous work." She grabs my face and holds me, looking into her uncovered red eye.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"I couldn't care if you sat behind a desk and signed papers for a living. If you're ever in danger, I promise, I'll be there to protect you." Now that she's warm again, the intensity of her kind has returned, though, thankfully, not the violent nature.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Okay, well... thank you. If I'm ever in trouble, I'll be counting on you, I guess." That warm smile returns to her lips, before she leans in, trapping mine with them. I have no way of avoiding the kiss, since she's currently holding my head in place, but it wasn't overpowering, like I expected. She simply held her lips to mine for a few, long seconds, before pulling away with that smile.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Thank you again, for the fire, the food, and the blankets." I'd almost forgotten about the blankets I'd draped over her body. We sat there for some time longer, waiting for the smouldering fire to die down some. I stood to go get more wood, when she stood as well.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"I'll keep this fire going. Please, you should get some rest. I'm sure you've worked hard today." I take a few seconds to react, before nodding, and heading inside. At first I'd go to check up on the ushi every few minutes, before I started to feel tired and fell asleep.

<p style="font-weight:400;">I woke up the next morning and prepared to go to work, grabbing something easy for breakfast and stepping outside. To my surprise the ushi was still sitting there, by the last embers of the fire, still asleep. I couldn't help but smile at the sight, if you ignored the giant spider half, she actually looked cute while she slept.

<p style="font-weight:400;">When I got to work, the shop owner looked surprised.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Huh, I thought you'd be coming in ragged." He said, looking me over. When he saw my quizzical look, he shrugged. "I mean, that ushi was following you last night, right?" The pieces clicked together and I chuckled, explaining what happened last night.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Ah, so that's how it went. Well, looks like everyone's favourite white knight triumphs again, hmm?" I blush a little and duck my head, telling him to buzz off with the comment. He just laughs and then starts giving directions on what needs doing today. I help stock the shelves, sweep up any snow that's blown in, and stock the braziers burning at each corner of the room.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Excellent work, I think you've earned a break, then I'm going to need you to pick up some supplies for me," the merchant says with a smile "the usual runner's found themselves in trouble after having a bit too much to drink last night, so I'm going to need you to go get next months stock." I nod, grabbing the sandwich I made for lunch. It wasn't the first time I'd had to go pick up stock.

<p style="font-weight:400;">After finishing my lunch I started the day trip to the neighboring town, hoping to be across the snowy hills by sunset. The cart had never been comfortable, but at least the horses were well-trained. I had no idea how our usual runner could stand sitting on this wooden bench all day with no padding.

<p style="font-weight:400;">That's when it happened. Halfway between the two towns I heard a rumble starting up the hill. When I looked, all I could see was a white cloud. Terror hit me like a hammer, making me strike the reins, pulling the horses into a gallop. Unfortunately we weren't fast enough to beat the raging snow. It struck the carriage, taking the horses and carriage out from underneath me.

<p style="font-weight:400;">I was lucky it was there at all, since it took the brunt of the avalance, I was only slightly swept up, though a rock hard snow ball to the head still left me unconscoius. When I woke it was dark, and I could feel something spiny beneath me, though it was warm. There was also a blanket draped over me, and a softness against my propped up back.

<p style="font-weight:400;">I tried to think for a few moments, when I the avalanche. Thsi shocked me into motion, until I realised what I was propped up by.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Calm down, dear. You're safe, it's okay." A large, clawed hand came around to stroke my cheek. Turning around I saw Saiah staring back at me, her expression soft and warm.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Wha- what happened?" I remembered the avalanche, but I didn't know how she'd found me.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"There was an avalanche, you got socked in the head by a rock or something and passed out. I saved you, just like I promised." That was when I noticed the occasional gentle lurch in her pace. Looking down, one of her spidery legs wasn't touching the ground.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"You got yourself hurt?" I asked, still looking at the injured leg. She just chuckled.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Don't worry about that. It was just a pebble, nothing too serious." Looking at the crack in her chitin I'm pretty sure she's just putting on a brave face, "We're almost back." Shifting around to look in front of us, I realise the lights of our town are only a few minutes away. As we get a little closer two guards start rushing towards us. As they get closer they start yelling.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Are you okay? Did you get hit by the avalanche?" Saiah shakes her head.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"I'm fine, but he took a blow to the head." The two stop for a moment, before spotting my head poking around her shoulder.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Okay, we'll take care of him from here ma'am." One of them pulls me down, carrying me in his arms.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"She's wounded too." I tell them, forcing them to look back. The other one spot's her leg, and nods.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Alright, ma'am, you come too." They take the two of us to the clinic, where Saiah's leg is patched up and I'm given a bevy of tests to check for any serious damage.

<p style="font-weight:400;">They clear Saiah quickly enough, though I'm told I have to stay overnight.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Is he going to be okay?" Saiah asks worriedly.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Don't worry, miss, your husband will be fine." We both blush a little at that, me noticably more than her.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Um, we-we're not, uh, together, or anything." I sputter out, earning a surprised look from the doctor.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Oh, I'm sorry," she says "I just assumed that... well, at any rate, you should be fine, but we'd rather watch you for the night." I nod, and the doctor walks away, slightly flustered at her mistake.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Um... about what she said...." Saiah says, shyly looking at the ground.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Yeah, about that...." I don't know what to do at first, but the answer comes when she starts to lean in towards me. I put a hand on her cheek and lean in myself. This kiss is different from our last, more energy behind it from the both of us. As we pull away, she's smiling again.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Do you think... maybe we should, give it a go?" I take a few seconds to build tension, then nod.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"We already have something in common." I say, jokingly.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"What, that we've both survived an avalanche?" My eyes widen and my jaw drops. "W-what? It's true."

<p style="font-weight:400;">"You mean, you actually did come through the avalanche?" She nods, looking at me curiously.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Of course, I thought everyone knew already. I lived in a cave that got crushed under the weight of it." I look at her for a few seconds, before giving her a smile.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"You almost died in an avalanche, but you still ran into another one to save me?" She nods, smiling at me.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Like I said, I owed you my life." I take a few minutes to reevaluate her bravery, before taking her hand in mine.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"I think I'm already in love." I say with a smile, earning possibly the cutest noise I've ever heard come from someone so large. The next day I get two visitors. One is my boss, professing his relief that I'm alive, and the other is the usual runner.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"I'm so sorry you went through that." The blue oni says, bowing in front of me. "If I hadn't lost my temper with those other girls then...." I give her a dismissive wave.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Don't worry about it, I'm okay, so it's fine." She nods, wiping her eyes gently, before giving me a slightly too hot look. "If you need anything, just let me know. I'll make sure you're looked after." I laugh a little, then thank her for the offer.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Thanks, but I think I'll have my needs well taken care of already." As if summoned, Saiah appears in the doorway, coming straight to my bed.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Are you all set to go?" She asks, not even acknowledging the oni next to me.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Yep. Lara, meet Saiah, my new girlfriend. She rescued me from the avalanche." The ushi turns to the blue oni, and offers her hand.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Hey." Lara takes the offered hand, smiling.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Oh, hello. I've seen you around a few times, right? You showed up not long after the last avalanche." Saiah nods.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Yep, Alec here saved my life a few days ago, I promised to save him if her was ever in trouble, and look what happened?" Lara looks between us for a few seconds, before smiling at the two of us.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Awww, that's so sweet." She cries, throwing an arm around the both of us. "I hope you two have a long happy life together." With that she gives both of us a peck on the cheek, and leaves.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"So... who was that?" Saiah ask's, watching the curvy woman leave the building.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Just a co-worker. She's usually doing the restock run." Saiah nods, thinking for a minute.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"So, she kind of owes you, huh?" She said, getting a sly smile on her lips.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Whatever you're thinking, no." She pouts a little, but smiles.

<p style="font-weight:400;">"Aww. But she owes you for taking on her run. Couldn't we punish her a little for putting you through that?" I sigh, shaking my head. I wonder if these discussions are going to be common from now on?