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Mira sat comfortably on the couch, her phone in one hand as her free hand combed through Rumi’s unbraided hair. The halfling’s head rested in the crook of Mira’s neck, wearing Mira’s polar-bear pajama shirt.
She couldn’t remember the last time Rumi had let her hair down. Whenever it was, it certainly hadn’t lasted long. Now, as she ran her fingers through the long strands that cascaded down Rumi’s body like a silky blanket, Mira found herself captivated. The hair was undeniably shiny. It wasn’t like Rumi’s hair, up in her usual braid, wasn’t shiny already; it was just as beautiful, but something about her hair being down seemed to make her stand out even more.
Mira felt content, the rhythmic rise and fall of Rumi’s breathing against her skin grounding her. It was a comforting sensation, despite the slight shiver it sent down her spine.
Accepting Rumi’s changes had been… interesting, to say the least.
Since the Idol Awards and the beginning of their hiatus, Rumi seemed to have a newfound energy that was almost contagious. She was bouncing off the walls, unable to stay in one place for long, and she had taken to releasing that energy in their personal gym.
She’d also developed a peculiar habit of chewing on things—trinkets that had been long forgotten, small objects that Mira and Zoey had left lying around, only for them to find those items in Rumi’s mouth.
There were moments when they accidentally startled her, and she’d jump a few feet in the air, her heckles standing straight up, just like a cat caught in the act.
Rumi had become more affectionate too—more open to hugs and cuddles, as if she relished the warmth.
Initially, she never took the initiative to hold either of their hands, but she’d stare at them like she wanted to. When Mira and Zoey asked, she’d nod, and her hand would wander to meet their own.
Now her fingers sought out theirs without fail, intertwining effortlessly.
She was also content to rest her head in their laps while they watched documentaries Zoey picked out or simply sat together in comfortable silence. It was endearing.
With this acceptance came physical changes as well.
Rumi’s ears had become slightly pointed. It wasn’t something that someone would notice right off the bat. They’d have to be looking closely to tell the difference, but even then, they’d need a photo to really compare.
Her patterns glowed more often, a soft pulse that, under further inspection, was in sync with her heartbeat. When she was angry or upset, however, her patterns would flare a magenta color, discordant with her body, and that’s when Mita and Zoey knew to give her space, with a couple check-ups in between.
Luckily, that hue hadn’t appeared as frequently as they had expected.
And then there were the canines.
When Mira first caught a glimpse of them—the day they found out—they were noticeable, sure, but they weren’t as long or sharp as they were now.
Mira couldn’t help but wonder what they’d feel like, grazing against her skin.
It was one of those unfiltered thoughts that crossed her mind every now and then.
Whenever Rumi yawned, spoke, or smiled, her fangs were on full display. Time had passed, and Rumi must have been aware of her changes, as she made an effort to hide her teeth around them, which stung more than Mira cared to admit.
Mira sighed, her fingers wandering to Rumi’s scalp as she began to scratch the area gently, like one would with a cat. Rumi leaned into the contact, pressing deeper into Mira’s neck.
A low, vibrating noise rumbled from Rumi’s throat, and it took Mira a moment to process what she was hearing.
“She can purr?!” she quietly exclaimed, her fingers pausing momentarily.
A whine escaped Rumi when Mira stopped, prompting her to quickly resume the soothing motions. The purring grew louder, filling the penthouse with an unexpected, melodic sound that made Mira’s cheeks heat.
It was… nice, oddly enough.
Despite the initial shock, the noise washed over her like peaceful waves.
Just weeks ago, she had been horrified at the thought of Rumi wanting to harm any of them, but in reality, Rumi was just a big humanoid cat.
“WE’RE BACK!”
Rumi’s eyes snapped open, wide and alert, and in an instant, she pushed herself away from Mira, creating a noticeable distance between them.
Mira barely had time to react, her hand still suspended in the air where Rumi’s head had been moments before.
Zoey and Bobby stood in the doorway, holding bags of takeout, their expressions frozen in shock as they stared at the scene before them.
Bobby raised an eyebrow, a bemused look crossing his face. “Are we interrupting something—”
Rumi sat up, her cheeks now as flushed as Mira’s. “NO!”
Of course, Bobby had questions.
He was never one to shy away from digging deeper, especially when it came to matters as complicated as… this.
The girls exchanged glances, a silent consensus passing between them as they huddled together to decide how much to reveal. It was a weighty decision, but ultimately, they chose honesty.
As the conversation unfolded, Bobby’s inquiries weren’t limited solely to Rumi’s situation. He deftly shifted gears, probing about their… relationship.
Mira felt her cheeks heat, caught off guard by the sudden change of topic. She opened her mouth to respond, then closed it, and opened it again, but the words never came. Zoey essentially removed herself from the conversation, her eyes darting to the floor as if to avoid the spotlight. Rumi sat quietly, her gaze fixed on the carpet, her legs crossed on the couch next tk them.
Bobby shifted his focus between the three of them, a sigh escaping his lips.
“Listen, girls,” he said, leaning back in his chair, “I don’t care what you do with or to each other,” he continued, and the three girls felt their faces burn at his words, Rumi’s patterns pulsing a soft pink in response.
“But as long as you’re happy, and I still have a job, I’m cool with it.” He added with a gentle smile, easing some of the tension in the room.
“Now that that’s settled, let me get this straight,” Bobby began, his tone shifting to one of seriousness. “The three of you are chosen by a magical barrier called the Honmoon to protect it from demons who break through to steal souls. Rumi, however, is part demon because of the genes from her father, and your magical mentor made you hide it for twenty-four years without telling anyone, leaving Mira and Zoey in the dark until recently, and you’re telling me all this because you trust me?”
“Yes,” Mira nodded, crossing her arms.
“Wow. I’m honored and all, but this is kinda a lot,” Bobby uttered.
“I mean, at least when we disappear, you’ll know what we’re doing?” Zoey offered.
“Yep! Yeah. Good to know for the future,” Bobby replied, a chuckle escaping him. “You girls always disappeared during rehearsals, and of course, I never questioned it, but it kinda worried me.” He laughed awkwardly, clearly trying to process the information.
“Sorry, Bobby,” all three girls chimed in unison, a chorus of apologies that felt both genuine and a little sheepish.
Suddenly, a spark of realization flickered in Bobby’s eyes. His hands slammed against the coffee table, causing all of them to jump.
“WAIT SO THOSE EFFECTS WEREN’T EFFECTS?!”
The room fell silent for a moment as Rumi shifted slightly.
Rumi finally lifted her gaze, meeting Bobby’s wide-eyed stare. “Yes. It’s all connected to the magic of the Honmoon,”
Bobby’s expression shifted from shock to a mixture of awe and concern. “That’s… insane. But also kind of amazing?” He ran a hand through his hair, “And here I thought I was just working with a band.”
Zoey couldn’t help but giggle. “Yeah, well, welcome to our world. It’s a lot more complicated than it looks on stage.”
“I can’t believe this. My life is officially a fantasy novel,” he said, “But seriously, you three are incredible. I mean, wow!”
“So, what’s next?” Bobby asked, leaning back in his chair, a newfound enthusiasm lighting up his features. “You’ve got a whole world to save, right?”
The girls exchanged glances. They were more than just friends; they were a team, united by the Honmoon, and maybe even destiny itself.
And together, they would face whatever came next—demons and all.