Chapter 1 Page 7 - The Kitsune's Cradle Kitsune and her shrunked friend chapter 7 by The Reaper

Inside the golden, humid depths of Yukihana's stomach, Matthew had found a strange sort of peace. The panic that had gripped him earlier had dissolved into a warm, hazy lethargy, the rhythmic pulsing of the kitsune's body acting like a living cradle. However, as a man of practical nature—even a 20-centimeter one—he knew that being in a stomach usually ended in one of two ways: being spat out or being absorbed. He shifted his position, feeling the velvet-soft walls press against his back, and decided to set the terms of his stay.

"Alright, Yukihana!" he called out, his voice sounding muffled but firm. "I'll stay here for a little while longer. It's actually... kind of cozy in here. But we need to make a deal first. I'll be your friend and stay right here, but only if you promise—and I mean a real, magic kitsune promise—that you won't actually digest me. I'm a friend, not a meal!"

Outside, Yukihana let out a sudden, melodic gasp, her amber eyes snapping open. The notion that Matthew still feared for his physical existence, even amidst their budding emotional connection, sent a jolt of guilt through her. She looked down at her stomach, her expression softening into one of pure, heartbreaking tenderness. The idea of actually losing him—of him becoming nothing more than nutrients to sustain her own immortal life—was suddenly repulsive to her. He was the only person who had ever looked at her and seen a friend rather than a prize or a predator.

She brought both hands to her belly, cradling him with a fierce, protective grip that made the walls around Matthew contract in a warm, reassuring squeeze. "Digest you?" she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of amusement and sincerity. "My sweet, silly Matthew... the thought of losing you is unbearable. I promise you, by the moonlight and the nine tails of my ancestors, that not a single hair on your head will be harmed. You are far too precious to be a meal. From this moment on, you are the most protected thing in this entire realm."