Scruffy’s Adventure

Written by Scruffy–hime

Edited by Luciferia

Chapter 19: Close Call

“You’ll be safe here for a while.” Ria assured Scruffy as she closed the door behind herself.

“Where are we?” Scruffy asked suspiciously.

“This is my house.” Ria replied. “Don’t worry, I live alone. We’ll get some supplies then head out when it gets dark again.”

Scruffy still didn’t trust Ria but he had no other choice at the moment. He was exhausted after all the running and fighting he had to do. It had taken them hours to reach her house. It was a small building only three rooms total.

Ria led him into the main room and motioned at cushion for him to sit on. “Want some tea?”

“Uh… sure?” Scruffy replied.

“You do know what tea is right?”

“No… I lost my memories recently… I don’t really know much about anything.”

Ria looked at him stunned for a moment before asking, “Then… How did you fight like that back there?”

“No idea, I was just acting on instinct.” Scruffy replied after a moment of thought.

A surprised look crossed Ria’s face, “So what do you know?”

“Uhm… I woke up yesterday, got hit on the head, met Airi, ran around the forest and almost died several times…then I came here and people tried to kill me again.”

“Lirasi said something about you being a demon?”

Scruffy shot Ria a confused expression, “What’s a Demon?”

“Demons are magic. They keep to themselves up north. Humans have started wars with them many times but we have never win. They never retaliate either, they simply decimate our army then go back to their own cities.

“People are usually scared of them, but some have gotten friendly and learned what they could about them.”

Ria walked into the kitchen and got some cups for the tea she was making. After she poured some she sat on a cushion across the short table from Scruffy.

“Careful, it’s hot.” Ria cautioned.

“Thanks, but if i really am a demon then shouldn’t you be scared of me?”

“I see no reason to be.” Ria said taking another sip, “You don’t strike me as the type to even want to drink the blood of someone, I watched how you fought earlier. You really didn't want to hurt anyone did you?”

“I don’t like violence… Is there anything else you can tell me about them? Any physical things that might give me away as one? Still don’t know if I believe I am one.”

“Well as far as physical goes, Demons can change their appearance to look human. But their true forms vary greatly, They can look like a monster or beast or they can be pretty similar to humans.

“From how Lirasi described your demon form it seems you were similar to human but had horns and a black aura surrounding you.”

Ria paused to take another sip of her tea, “But it’s unlikely that you are a demon. Only high ranking demons can live outside their city. And even they need to feed to do it.”

“What do you mean ‘feed’?” Scruffy asked.

“They feed off Humans or Ythra. I've heard several ways. Like eating the flesh from their bones or just drinking their blood or even just having sex.”

Ria and Scruffy drank the rest of their tea in silence. When they were done Scruffy thanked her again.

“I need a bath after all this running. You should join me.” Ria said.

Scruffy blushed violently, “I think I’ll wait.”

“If you insist.” Ria said as she went into the bathroom, “Feel free to join me if you change your mind.”

Scruffy sat on the cushion and thought about what happened since he woke up. He didn’t think Ria was lying but he couldn’t believe he was a demon. He considered how he craved meat and how he really enjoyed the taste of Airi’s blood.

“I guess it’s possible…” Scruffy mumbled to himself.

Scruffy thought for a while longer until Ria had finished her bath.

Scruffy’s looked away and his face went bright red when Ria walked out of the bathroom naked. Ria smirked and walked over to stand in front of him.

“What’s wrong?” Ria teased, “You don’t think I'm pretty?”

Ria was short, but still taller than Airi and had a slender body. Her bust was smaller than Airi’s but she still had a nice figure with long legs and pale skin. Her dark auburn hair was short, only coming down to her shoulders and had several layers to it. She had light green eyes.

“No… It’s just… you’re naked…” Scruffy replied embarrassed.

Ria grabbed Scruffy and yanked him to his feet when they heard people walking outside. Ria ran into the bathroom with him just before someone opened her front door.

“Ria?” a woman called, “Ria, Lirasi ordered us to search every house. Ria?”

“Maybe she’s in the bathroom?” a different woman called.

“Ria are you in here?”

Ria pulled Scruffy into the bath with her. The water turned red as the blood covered Scruffy fell into the water.

She whispered to Scruffy, “Take a deep breath.”

It was all the warning he got before she grabbed his head and shoved him underwater. Scruffy almost lost his breath when he opened his eyes and his face was between her legs. Ria pulled him a bit closer when the door opened and two women stepped in.

“Ria, we were ordered to search everywhere for them. You have not seen him have you?”

“No, after he killed my platoon he hit me over the head and made a run for it.”

“He… he killed all of them?”

“He killed the ones that didn't run away in fear.” Ria replied in a blunt manner.

The woman walked closer. Ria’s face turned a light shade of red as she pulled Scruffy closer, pressing his face to her bare skin.

“Are you okay? This looks like a lot of blood.”

“I’m fine. I got some light cuts but all of this isn’t even my blood…”

“Oh… Well… Just let us know if you find him, we will be searching the area.”

“I will.”

Ria held his head against her for a moment longer until she was sure they had left. Scruffy gasped for air as she let him up. Scruffy’s shied away from her as she laughed at him.

“That wasn’t so bad.” Ria laughed.

Scruffy didn’t reply as he turned a dark shade of red.

“Well now that you're in here, we may as well get you cleaned up.” Ria said as she climbed out of the bath.

“I can probably do this by myself…” Scruffy replied.

“Where’s the fun in that?” Ria laughed again.

Ria held out a hand and helped Scruffy out of the bath. She knelt forward and pulled down his pants.

“What are you doing?” Scruffy yelped.

“Shh,” Ria replied as she tugged his pants the rest of the way off. “We can’t have you covered in blood and guts while we are trying to sneak out.

“And besides, you got a close look at me so it’s only fair.”

Scruffy sighed as he gave in and peeled off his soaked shirt. Ria teased him more as she helped wash the blood from him.

Ria made Scruffy stay naked until his clothes had dried. Saying that she didn’t want to stop ogling him yet. Too tired to argue, Scruffy asked if he had time to take a nap before they left.

“Thought you didn’t trust me yet?” Ria teased as he laid on the floor.

“I don’t, but I'm starting too.” Scruffy replied. “I guess if you don’t kill me in my sleep then I’ll have to trust you.

Besides, either way I’m too tired to even try to run from anything right now.”

Ria laughed, “We should have a couple hours before I get all the things we need. I’ll wake you when it’s time.

“And I promise not to do anything too inappropriate to you in your sleep.”

“Thanks.” Scruffy replied as he passed out.