The Thief, The Trickster, and The Stolen Kiss

Kain sat across from Princess Lysara, trying his best to look like a respectable "official royal artifact retriever" and not a thief who had accidentally kissed two women in less than a week.

He could feel Tsuki's presence beside him, lounging comfortably, her smug energy radiating amusement as if this whole meeting was nothing more than entertainment.

Lysara folded her hands on the table. "Your mission is simple. There's an ancient artifact hidden within the Ruins of Vel'Anir—a relic known as the Phantom Jewel. I need you to retrieve it before it falls into the wrong hands."

Kain raised an eyebrow. "Sounds easy enough. So what's the catch?"

Lysara's eyes narrowed. "There is… competition."

That got his attention. "Oh?"

"A rogue thief known as Nyssa the Black Gale has also set her sights on the Phantom Jewel. She's been after royal artifacts for years, and she's not above using underhanded tactics to get them."

Kain smirked. "A rival, huh? Finally, something fun."

Tsuki grinned, golden eyes gleaming. "Ooooh~, another thief? Maybe she'll be better at handling you than I am."

Kain ignored her. "Alright, anything else?"

Lysara sighed. "Just… try not to burn down the ruins."

Kain grinned. "No promises."

---

Kain sat on the edge of his bed, sharpening a dagger, when he felt a presence dangerously close.

He looked up.

Tsuki was leaning in, way too close, watching him with a sly smirk.

"My, my~. A rival thief? I wonder how you'll fare~."

He sighed. "Can I have one night without you messing with me?"

She pouted dramatically. "Aw, but teasing you is my favorite pastime!"

Kain gave her a deadpan look. "Ever thought about getting a hobby?"

Tsuki tilted her head. "Mmmm, I have one."

Kain narrowed his eyes. "Oh yeah?"

She leaned in closer, whispering near his ear. "You~."

Kain's brain short-circuited.

His entire thought process shut down as Tsuki lingered just a little too close, her warm breath brushing against his skin.

She was doing this on purpose.

"You—" Kain started, but Tsuki pressed a single finger against his lips.

"Shhhh~," she cooed. "What's the matter, thief? Heart racing?"

Kain jerked away, scowling. "Oh, you are so asking for it."

Tsuki's grin widened. "Oho~? Am I?"

Kain grabbed her wrist, pulling her forward—

But Tsuki moved at the same time.

And then it happened.

They toppled over together, Tsuki landing on top of him, their lips crashing together—

But unlike last time…

Neither of them pulled away immediately.

Their breath mingled, the warmth of their bodies too close, too intoxicating.

For just a moment, neither of them moved.

Then—

A surge of energy erupted from Kain's chest.

His entire body tensed, the glow of magic spreading from where their lips touched.

Tsuki's golden eyes widened. "What—?"

She felt it.

A burning sensation spread across Kain's skin, a mark appearing on his chest, glowing with divine energy.

It was the same color as Tsuki's tails.

The air crackled with power as Tsuki snapped back, eyes wide.

Kain, still catching his breath, blinked at her. "…Okay. That was definitely not normal."

Tsuki stared at the glowing mark on his chest, her expression unreadable.

"This…" she murmured, voice quieter than usual.

Then, suddenly, she grabbed him by the collar.

Kain barely had time to react before she kissed him again.

Hard.

Kain felt the warmth of her lips before his brain even registered what was happening.

Again.

For the third time.

His body tensed as Tsuki, grinning like a fox who just raided the henhouse, pressed into the kiss. She was doing this on purpose, and Kain could already hear her teasing words forming before she even pulled away.

But then—

Something changed.

A strange pulse of energy erupted from his chest, sending shivers down his spine. The air crackled as a bright golden glow flared between them, and suddenly, the teasing atmosphere vanished.

Tsuki jerked back, eyes wide.

Kain froze, staring at her.

The room went silent.

Slowly, almost mechanically, Kain looked down at his chest.

There, glowing faintly against his skin, was a symbol—an intricate fox-like marking in swirling divine script.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Neither of them moved.

Then—

Tsuki, for the first time since Kain met her, completely lost her composure.

"…Wait. WAIT. HOLD ON—WHAT?"

Kain, still looking at the glowing mark, snapped his head up, horrified.

"WHAT DID YOU DO?!"

"ME?!" Tsuki grabbed his shirt, shaking him violently. "YOU'RE the one who kissed ME!"

"TWICE! BY ACCIDENT!"

"AND I DID IT FOR FUN!"

"THAT'S NOT BETTER!"

They both pointed at each other, staring in utter disbelief as the realization hit them at the same time.

They screwed up.

Badly.

Kain clutched his head. "Oh gods. Oh no." His voice broke. "WHAT DID WE JUST DO?!"

Tsuki grabbed her own face. "I— I DON'T KNOW! THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A JOKE!"

Kain threw his arms in the air. "THEN WHY THE HELL IS THERE A MAGICAL GOD MARK ON MY CHEST?!"

Tsuki spun in place, tails frazzled, golden eyes flicking between him and the glowing symbol. "Oh no. Ohhh no, no, no. This is BAD. This is REALLY BAD."

Kain grabbed her shoulders. "WHY?! EXPLAIN!"

Tsuki sputtered, ears twitching wildly. "Because, YOU IDIOT, I JUST—" She hesitated.

Kain's stomach dropped. "You JUST WHAT?!"

Tsuki shook him aggressively. "I JUST DID A DIVINE BOND RITUAL WITH A MORTAL, YOU ABSOLUTE MORON!"

Kain went pale.

His breath hitched.

Then, very quietly—

"…I'VE ONLY KNOWN YOU FOR A FEW DAYS!"

Tsuki screamed into her hands.

Kain screamed into his hands.

They both screamed into their hands.

Kain turned, pacing frantically. "Okay, okay, let's just think. Maybe this is reversible. Maybe there's a way to—" He looked up at her.

She was silent.

Too silent.

Tsuki, normally full of smug arrogance, was frozen, completely stiff.

Kain felt ice crawl up his spine. "Tsuki."

She looked at him.

And then, in the smallest voice he had ever heard from her—

"…I don't know how to undo it."

The silence was deafening.

Kain broke first.

"YOU WHAT?!"

Tsuki waved her hands frantically. "I DIDN'T KNOW THIS WOULD HAPPEN! IT'S USUALLY A BIG FORMAL CEREMONY! WITH INCENSE! AND CHANTS! AND WITNESSES! NOT JUST—" She gestured at them. "—WHATEVER THE HELL THIS WAS!"

Kain fell to his knees.

"I ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED A FOX."

Tsuki collapsed onto the floor.

"I ACCIDENTALLY TOOK A HUSBAND."

They sat there, both staring into the void of their collective dumbassery.

Kain slowly turned to her. "So, just to be clear—"

"YES, WE ARE STUCK."

Kain groaned. "THIS IS YOUR FAULT."

Tsuki slapped his shoulder. "HOW?! YOU KISSED ME FIRST!"

"TWICE! BY ACCIDENT!"

"AND THEN I KISSED YOU BACK, SO WHAT?!"

"SO APPARENTLY, IT MATTERED, TSUKI!"

Tsuki flopped onto the floor, staring at the ceiling. "Oh gods, what do I even call you now? My… my consort?" She gagged. "Ew."

Kain grabbed his pillow and screamed into it.

She rolled onto her stomach, grinning despite the chaos. "Oho~. My divine mate~."

Kain threw the pillow at her face. "I'M GOING TO LOSE MY MIND!"

Tsuki cackled into the mattress. "Oh, my dear thief~. You have NO idea what you just got yourself into."

Kain flopped onto the bed, utterly defeated.

"I'M SO SCREWED."