This chapter is fairly long, so brace yourself. We're going on a tricky ride.

Yuki takes Braxton out on a date. After Lev appears after a two-month absence, she reveals a bit more info about herself and her collection, but that turns out to be the least of his worries as he finds himself in the claws of a love-struck dragoness.
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Two months passed since Braxton met Yuki, and he found himself unable to stop thinking about her. His performance in his classes had gone up significantly thanks to her being there, which led to an improvement in his overall grade point average. She also turned out to be a decent tutor, making sense of things whenever he was confused. He was a lot more popular among his peers thanks to her encouragement, and surprised several people with his more expressive nature.


At the moment he was returning home after attending a last day event. He stood outside of his home and thought about the orb on his desk. Braxton realized he didn't know much about it other than that it was the exact same orb he was trapped inside of. Speaking of the dragoness...


"I really ought to do something for her, but what?" He had asked himself this question several times, but could never come up with a satisfactory answer. With the semester over, he had a lot of time available and little to do with it. As he went inside and saw the dragoness sleeping under the covers on their bed, he wondered what he could do for her. He sat down by her, pushed his hands into her mane and rubbed her gently. To his surprise he saw her start to grin, and before he knew it, she had him pinned underneath her furry underbelly.


"Hey there," she greeted him, laughing a little. "Were you trying to tickle me?"


"Maybe," he replied good-naturedly, hugging her. She was quick to embrace him in return. "I just wanted to say hi. I don't know if I said this before, but I... I really appreciate you being here."


"Thank you." He noticed he was very close to saying he loved having her here and wondered if he actually felt that way about her. It was certainly possible, given that he was treating her as more than a friend, but his feelings for her were still in doubt. There was no reason to believe she had cast a spell on him, and he genuinely liked her company. "So... you are finished with college, right?"


"For now. I still have a long road ahead of me, but this semester's finished. I won't have to return until around the end of January."


"That's great news, Braxton. We can finally spend more time with each other." He couldn't help but smile with her at this, and the two laid there for a while, Braxton enjoying the soothing effect of her presence and soft rumbling. He nearly fell asleep before the dragoness spoke again. "You know, there's something I've been thinking about for a while."


"What is it?" he asked wearily.


"We've never gone out together, have we?" His tiredness rapidly vanished as she continued. "This house has always been occupied by either you or myself, well except for that one burglar."


"Yuki, what are you getting at?" For the first time in a long time, the dragoness looked at the human nervously. He had an idea of what she meant, but he wanted to make sure.


"I'm saying we have only spent our time together in this one location, not that I don't mind. I've gone to... other places, while you either had college or your job to attend to. And, well... now that you have all this free time, I was... hoping you... and I..." She stepped off of him and tapped her claws together as she trailed off, looking away anxiously.


"A... date?" he guessed, to which she nodded. Perhaps this was the something he needed to do for her. "I... o-of cour--" Before he could finish, Yuki hugged him tightly, making him wince and cough from the force. 


"Splendid! Let's go right now!" He started to wonder if he would regret this as she carried him out of the room. She seemed a little rougher than usual, and he grew concerned that she would break something.



Braxton never thought he would be going on a date again, and with a dragoness, of all things, and yet... here he was, sitting in a ferris wheel car with Yuki. Their first stop had been an amusement park she found some time ago. She had adjusted her disguise so that she resembled a young, blond-haired beauty in a green dress with light blue highlights. She had her orb hung around her neck in the form of a golden choker. In contrast to her vibrant appearance, he wore a simple off-white sweater, black pants, and grey sneakers. Due to his connection to her, he could only see her true form, and his green prison was embedded in her neck just like before. The only way he knew what her disguise looked like was when she described it to him.


"Enjoying yourself?"


"Yeah, actually." In truth, he was nervous. The fact that Yuki had already planned out how things would go shouldn't have left him feeling so off, but it did. In all of his past dates, he had been the one deciding where he and his partner would go, be it out of tradition or pressure. This role reversal felt strange, though not wholly unwelcome. 


There was also the way they arrived. Braxton only travelled with a bike and had no motor vehicle to call his own. He was about to call a cab when she suggested that they fly. Before he said anything, she had placed him inside her orb, cast a spell on herself, and flown off. He never even knew she had that ability until today, and was surprised at how covert she was about it.


What baffled him the most was the not-so-subtle shift in her behavior. The dragoness seemed a bit... possessive, for lack of a more fitting word. She had a rather tight grip on his right arm, and he could swear that it had broken somewhat as she held him close. There was a look in her purple eyes he hadn't seen from anyone before, and he had little idea what it meant for him. He realized that what happened back home was just the beginning of what was sure to be an awkward, if not painful, night.


"Is something wrong?" He knew he shouldn't be feeling this way, but he just couldn't help it. Her tail was wrapped around his torso, so he had no chance of gaining a little space. Braxton opted to look away in an attempt to stave off his rising anxiety.


"It's nothing."


"If you say so." As their car rose to the top of the wheel, they gazed at the setting sun. "Braxton, I'm really glad you decided to come with me. I am just so excited to be here with you." The dragoness looked at him in utter adoration, though he was too lost in his own thoughts to notice. She saw an opportunity when the car came to a stop, and she reached for him, locking him in a deep kiss. His anxiety temporarily disappeared, giving way to surprise and eventual compliance. Yuki had him pinned to the seat in seconds, and before he knew it, he futilely attempted to match her passion. It took their car moving again to get them to separate, and they straightened out by the time their car was at the bottom again. He was too dazed to care about the looks he received from the other people.


"What just happened?" he wondered silently.



The next place they visited was a restaurant with an urban theme. Braxton ordered a cheesesteak while Yuki opted for a simple vegan burger. As they waited, he noticed another strange thing: men and women alike were staring at them constantly. While it was only a few individuals, it really bothered him all the same, and this wasn't the kind of restaurant that held events. Yuki was quick to pick up on his mild discomfort and asked him what was wrong.


"We're getting weird looks," he muttered, trying not to draw any attention to himself. "It's disturbing."


"What kind of looks?" He heard her barely concealed growl and became anxious again. What was going on with her?


"Well... the kind that says they might try and... intrude... but I'm pretty sure I am seeing things. I have to go, excuse me." He stood up and went to the bathroom, hoping that some water in his face would clear his head. As he turned on the faucet and wiped his face with a damp paper towel, he heard the door open and close.


"Hey, Braxton! Fancy seeing you around here."


"Huh?" He tossed the paper towel and saw, to his surprise, a face he hadn't seen in over two months. "Oh, hey Lev! It's been a while. What have you been up to?" The man still wore the same black clothing he had on the last time they saw each other.


"Nothing much, just using some newly acquired finances to broaden my options. How's that girlfriend of yours?"


"We're not... well actually, you're right. I'm surprised I hooked up with such a lovely lady. She's been so patient with me, and I'm lucky to have her." Something was... off about him. His question was surprising; as far as he knew, Lev took little to no interest in his personal life. He pulled out a pair of small, grey rods from his jacket. "Um, what are those?"


"Dowsing rods. I had them made so I could find that dragon from before. She owes me." Braxton sighed inwardly, wondering if Lev really did change in his two-month absence. "Hmm. They're pointing at you for some reason. Highly suspect."


"Huh? L-look, I'm not her. Why are you after her anyway? What did she do to you?"


"It's not her I'm after, but the riches she holds. They belong to my family, and I've been trying to get them back for a while now. I was so close last time, but this time I'll definitely get it." He was surprised by this new information, and the idea of Yuki stealing from people seemed... very wrong. Immediately he suspected that the man was lying. "These rods are pointing at you. If you're really Braxton, then it must mean you've at least been in physical contact with her. Do you know where she is?"


"No, actually," he fibbed. Things would likely get crazy if Lev and Yuki were to meet again. "I'm not even sure if what I saw that day was real."


"I doubt that. That dragon was all over you. I heard all that talk of hers. There's no way she isn't here." All of a sudden, the rods began twirling every which way, forcing him to focus solely on them. "Okay, so you are lying... or you really don't know if she's here. Either way, I'll find and expose her. You just... hurry up and get back to your date." He nodded and left the room, no longer worried about the stares he was getting. Upon returning to Yuki, he noticed that her eyes were glowing slightly, people were trying very hard not to look at him this time, and their sandwiches had arrived.


"Oh, good to see you again. Are you feeling better?" The glow in her eyes dimmed as she spoke. He was glad the food was already paid for.


"Well, I met Lev in the bathroom," he reported in a whisper, "and he's looking for you again. Is there any chance we can just leave? I don't want to take any risks."


"Sure. I don't like the looks you've been getting. I took initiative and packed our dinner in these bags." He couldn't help but shudder as she followed him out of the restaurant. Yuki seemed unusual, though he could not identify in what way, but he knew he was in for a rough night. They walked until they were far enough away from prying eyes, and without hesitation, she shed her disguise, picked him up in her paws, and flew towards their home.



"That was very nice for a first date. I'm sorry I had to cut it short, though." 


"It's okay. I didn't mind. Those stares were getting annoying anyway." Yuki nudged him onto the bed and crawled over him, pinning him by his shoulders and reminding him of his left arm. Looking away was not an option, but maybe he could get rid of his anxiety with small talk... It was worth a shot. "...Okay, I can't help but ask: what's the deal between you and Lev? He claims you stole something from him, which I think is absolute nonsense, but apparently you two have some sort of history together." In that moment, he saw her eyes lose their characteristic glow, and she spoke with a more normal tone of voice.


"Well... we do. Let me explain. A long time ago, an ancestor of his attempted to steal from my hoard. She believed I had no need for it, and while I didn't at the time, it still belongs to me."


"Oh, I see. It's your collection. You just have a hobby like everyone else. I can respect that."


"Thanks. Anyways, she made several attempts to take it, even going as far as forming a party to do so. I managed to thwart her attempts every time, and thankfully I never needed to use physical force. One day she came back with a magic spell, and at the same time I became annoyed with her attempts. Before she showed up, I cast a spell that I thought would solve the problem permanently."


"The curse... Maybe she caused it to happen. I don't really know much about magic, but I assume it can be sabotaged. Just taking a guess here."


"...Of course! Why didn't I think of it before? She did say she would make me regret not giving my collection to her, and I do remember there being another magical presence nearby when I cast the spell."


"How did you get your hoard, anyway?"


"Most of it is things I made with some magic. A few pieces actually were collected, and my ball was given to me when I was born." Yuki lied down on him, pressing him against the bed. She placed a claw on his sweater, partially tearing through the fabric with ease. "Let's forget about all that and just enjoy the rest of the night together." Braxton had a good idea of what she wanted to do and wasn't sure if he was ready for it.


"Um, I'd like to take a shower first... if you don't mind," he said quickly, hoping to stall. To his relief, she got off of him and backed away, leaving him to rub his shoulders.


"Oh, of course. Take your time. No sense in going without a bath before bed all the time." With haste, he grabbed some clean clothes and made his way to the bathroom. He couldn't help but lock the door as he stripped down and turned on the shower. A brief panic started to overtake him, and the hot water was not helping matters much.


"Whoa," he murmured. He didn't hate her, and he knew how she felt about him, but he wasn't quite sure if he wanted to go in that direction. He liked her, sure, but... she was being awfully aggressive about this...


"Braxton, are you all right in there?" Yuki sounded concerned, but there was something else about her tone. It wasn't entirely unfamiliar to him-- he had heard it earlier in their date-- but it made him feel anxious all the same. He heard the tapping of claws against tile, letting him know she was now in the bathroom with him. "Sorry, I just couldn't bear being in there without you."


"It's... it's all right, Yuki. I don't mind." Braxton did, in fact, mind her being in here with him, knowing this was his only source of privacy, but for some reason he found himself unable to voice that. He watched as she approached him, and her purple eyes flashed, blanking his mind with her sharp gaze.


"May I come in?" He did not snap out of his trance until he felt her barbels brush against his face. In an instant he knew she was in the shower with him and was on the verge of losing his cool for the first time in his life.


"Y-YUKI! What are you doing?" he nearly shouted.


"Sharing the nice, hot water with you. Is there a problem?" He moved to cover himself, but was stopped when she grabbed his arms and buried her head in his hair. He gasped in a mixture of shock, pain, and pleasure as she rubbed herself against him.


"Umm, well... well..." Braxton found it increasingly difficult to form the necessary words. The dragoness was brushing against places he hadn't expected to feel good, and her barbels rubbing his neck wasn't helping matters.


"It feels great being in here with you, Braxton." He could tell she was sincere, but he never wanted her to see him like this. He struggled to speak through his confusion.


"It's just that... I'm not wearing any clothes. I'm not decent."


"You look fine to me." His blush only deepened from the unexpected compliment, and she took the opportunity to grab his washcloth and scrub his chest. She lightly squeezed him, and he temporarily lost his voice to the pain following the fracture of a few ribs.


"It's... it's like this..." He took a few deep breaths as he fought to regain his speech. It was possible that she was healing him, but he was too confused to care very much "What's a hermit crab without its shell? What about a canine without its fur?" he managed to ask. Her scrubbing slowed down, but had not completely stopped yet.


"Um..." She struggled to come up with an answer. Her grip on him loosened considerably, letting him breathe more easily, though it wasn't enough for him to get away yet.


"How about you? You have scales and fur to protect you. How would you feel if you didn't have those?" The dragoness's grip slackened once more, and in that moment he was confident she would give him his privacy.


"I... I..." Suddenly her grip tightened again, making him gasp in surprise and moderate pain. "I don't care. You would have to be a fool or highly prepared to fight a dragon, no matter their state, and success is never promised." Yuki resumed washing the stunned human, being sure to get everywhere she could reach and restraining him as needed, returning his washcloth once she was done. The dragoness leaned against the wall and looked back at him with a coy smile. "Now then, wash me."


"Uh..." He was still rattled from the experience, as strangely enjoyable as it was, even as she flicked her tail in his face and winked at him playfully. He shook his head and went to work. Braxton tried not to think about the fact that he was washing someone while not having any clothes on, but the confusion was too dense for him to sort out. He wringed out the cloth and reapplied some soap before scrubbing her back. Her scales were easy enough, but the fur and mane required a little more effort. "Wow, you sure are dirty. I guess you needed this more than I thought."


"It sure feels that way." Yuki let out a moan when he brushed against a sensitive spot and pushed back against him, forcing him to lean over her. The dragoness didn't bother to turn around, leaving the human with no choice but to reach around her. She growled softly from the unintended massage. "Ooh, yes. We should definitely do this more often. I can tell you like it."


"N--"


"Don't delude yourself." He looked at himself and noticed that the washcloth had fallen on the floor and he was rubbing her with his hands. Her tail was hanging over his shoulders. Braxton stepped away almost immediately, feeling very much ashamed at just how close he was to...


"Y-Yuki... I'm so sorry... I don't know wh--" She turned around and silenced him with a kiss and hug, and with her tail she shut off the shower. This time her touch was gentle and soft, and when he looked into her eyes, they seemed to lack the shine they normally had.


"I loved it, and I'll love it even more if you come around." She smiled sadly at him, and he knew she was feeling guilty over what happened. "I promise to never tease you like that ever again, all right?"


"But I almost--!"


"No, it's my fault. I'm getting desperate for you, and my feelings are making you do the same for me. If we stay together, eventually it's gonna happen. I've already chosen you, and I have no regrets about my choice." Wrapping a towel around him, she carried him to his room. "I'm sorry Braxton. I shouldn't have pushed you so far." With that she stepped out of the room, leaving the young man to himself. He had never seen her look so forlorn before. In fact, it looked as though she was on the verge of crying.