#side striped jackals

[blogforfauna]

Lupulella adusta

Side-striped jackals are in the same genus as black-backed jackals, which means the species are closely related. Side-striped jackals are larger, averaging around 20 pounds (9 kg) but weighing up to 30 (13.6 kg). That’s 10 pounds more than the black-backed jackal.

While black-backed jackals prefer dry savannas and forests in Southern and Eastern Africa, side-striped jackals generally live in wet flatlands, marshes, and mountains in Africa’s more tropical regions. This includes the Congo Basin as well as the countries of Mali, Nigeria, South Sudan, and others in a large band across Western, Central, and Eastern Africa. Their distribution is expanding into surrounding countries as well, which likely means their population is increasing.

All jackal species are omnivores. This means they eat whatever is available, including fruit, carrion, birds, reptiles, insects, etc. Side-striped jackals have never been recorded hunting large prey, preferring carrion, plants, and small animals. They usually search for food at night and on their own or in pairs. These jackal pairs are very territorial, aggressively chasing off unrelated jackals and other predators like leopards and hyenas.

Jackals are quite social and often live in small family groups. Because of this they are very vocal, using a range of barks, howls, and yapping calls. Side-striped jackals are known to have a call that sounds like an owl hoot.

I rate side-striped jackals 14/10. Their white stripes are very unique

Photo credits:

(1) Dave Brown (2) Chris Fourie (3) Leon Molenaar (4) greatplainsconservation.com (5) Scotch Macaskill

[antiqueanimals]

Brehm's Tierleben. Written by Alfred Brehm. Illustration by Gustav Mützel. 1900 edition.

Internet Archive

[sheepchip]

Finishing up the canines with “true dogs”— Canis, Cuon, Lycaon, and Lupulella!

[opellisms]

Oh woops! Look at the time! Time for the anual explosion of March Mammal Madness art!

Featuring the round 1 and 2 artwork for the first 2 divisions, since I forgot to post yesterday.

Dadbod division: Emperor penguin round 1 & 2 Greater Rhea round 1 Lined seahorse round 1 Wolverine round 1 & 2

Mighty Stripes division: Scottish wildcat round 1 Sumatran striped rabbit round 1 Striped polecat round 1 Side-striped jackal round 2 Striped hyena round 1 & 2

[warcrimesimulator]

Sundevall's side-striped jackal (Lupulella adusta adusta) Okavango Delta, Botswana

Photos [1, 2] © Stephan Peyer

[fossil-night]

hey do we have new fursona tomorrow

[gaydogmarriage]

it fucks me up that cyno has such a strong wolf motif that it suppresses the (more inspiration-accurate) jackal/dog motif. like i actually kinda appreciate the blending together of multiple different canines bc even mythology is often blurry about the distinction of similar but different animals and having both a wild jackal and a domestic dog motif to play with is fun, but the wolf is sooo forced in there. they even went as far as to replace the canis in canis aureus (scientific name of the golden jackal) with lupus. hijacked the dog to make it wolf instead. wolves are also in the canis genus it's fine!!!!!! it's all canis!! always has been!!!!!!!!!!

[mechawolfie]

still working on his design. lord help me

[fursona-resources]

Species: Wolf-like Canids (Cuon, Lycaon, Lupulella)

This series focuses on helping people choose interesting species for their fursona through informing them of the many, often overlooked, species out there! This post is about wolf-like canids.

──── ◉ ────

Species:

Dhole (Cuon alpinus)

Size: 50cm (19in) height (at shoulder), 90cm (35in) lenght, 45cm (17in) tail lenght, 10-21kg (22-46lbs) weight

Diet: carnivorous, preys on ungulates

Habitat: alpine meadows, montane steppes, montane taigas, forests

Range:

Status: endangered

Please note! The dhole has 7 subspecies!

Of which I would like to highlight:

Ussuri Dhole (Cuon alpinus alpinus)

Cuon alpinus lepturus

──── ◉ ────

African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus)

Size: 60-75cm (24-30in) height (at shoulder), 71-112cm (28-44in) lenght, 29-41cm (11-16in) tail lenght, 18-25kg (40-55lbs) weight

Diet: carnivorous, preys on ungulates

Habitat: savannah

Range:

Status: endangered

──── ◉ ────

Side-Striped Jackal (Lupulella adusta)

Size: 35-50cm (14-20in) height (at shoulder), 69-81cm (27-32in) lenght, 30-41cm (12-16in) tail lenght, 6.5-14kg (14-31lbs) weight

Diet: omnivore, viaried. Preys on small mammals, invertebrates; eats fruit.

Habitat: woodlands, scrublands

Range:

Status: least concern

Please note! The side-striped jackal has 7 subspecies!

──── ◉ ────

Black-Backed Jackal (Lupulella mesomelas)

The black-backed jackal has 2 subspecies:

Cape Black-Backed Jackal (Lupulella mesomelas mesomelas)

East African Black-Backed Jackal (Lupulella mesomelas schmidti)

Size: 38-48cm (15-19in) height (at shoulder), 67-81cm (26-32in) lenght, 6-13kg (13-29lbs) weight

Diet: omnivore, preys on small mammals, invertebrates, birds, reptiles, fish; eats carrion, berries

Habitat: varied; coastal deserts, savannahs

Range:

Status: least concern

──── ◉ ────

[pinkgibbon]

Furrys from last year/early this year

Gus is an armadillo of some sort and kim is either a side striped or black-backed jackal idk

[wolfboyzsworld]

my belief on why i am therian/nonhuman

(REMEMBER JUST MY OWN TJEORY)

I beleive in past lives 100% and i definately think ive had a past life strongly connected to this, personally i believe that all your lives are what affect your soul as a living being, i think ive had more nonhuman past lives than any human which has made my soul feel wrong living a human life right now? im not sure if this is making sense but its making sense to me.. the past life/lives that i think have affect my current rn are where ive lived in a canine body, rn i am qurstioning if i have multiple theriotypes or just the one Side Striped Jackal, but it definetly doesnt feel like its the only animalistic part of me. I think that you can also be influenced by the animals around you!! theres the chances i have had a feline past life but i dont feel as connected to, i think i have a stronger connection to canines because i grew up around them and learning more abt them constantly! which had made it easier for me to understand my therianthropy. obviously this is all just a theory and i guess theres no 100% definition of how someone is a therian but this is what i think! I love hearing other nonhumans theorys and beleifs i always appreciate the communication in online therian communities!! ofc there could be holes and everything in my theory this to me is just my belief and you will probably think smth different!! (could be an important mention) ive never been in a stable mental state even from a young age and even now i still dont fully understand everything going on with me mentally but this could also be an influence on how i am nonhuman, i dont feel certain on this but i do think its possible for my mentally state and how ive felt to lead me away from feeling like i fit with humans driving me to make a stronger connection with canines which like i said feeling a connection to those of them around me helped me understand that i am infact nonhuman at a young age (i assumed everyone felt this way until i realised it was a nonhuman thing) ANYWAYS THIS PROBABLY MAKES 0 SENSE AND IVE JUST BEEN TYPING FOR AGES!!! LMK WHAT U THINK AND UR THEORYS AND BELIEFS!!! :>

[antiqueanimals]

Brehm's Tierleben. Written by Alfred Brehm. Illustration by Gustav Mützel. 1900 edition.

Internet Archive

[blogforfauna]

Lupulella mesomelas

Until recently, jackals were in the Canis genus with wolves and coyotes. They are now in their own genus called lupulella, which consists of only two species- the side-striped jackal and the black-backed jackal. Golden jackals aren’t included in this genus because recent studies have shown that they are more closely related to grey wolves than to other jackal species.

The smallest jackal species is the black-backed jackal, found in Southern and Eastern Africa. They weigh roughly 13 to 20 pounds (5.8 to 9 kg) and are named after their distinctive “saddles,” or dark-colored bands on their backs.

Black-backed jackals are quite social. Most of them do almost everything in pairs, including hunting, digging dens, and raising pups, and they often form small family groups or packs. Because they are often hunted by leopards, eagles, and especially hyenas, which are much larger than them, groups of jackals are often more successful in raising pups and guarding their food.

Jackals usually target small animals like lizards, rodents, and hares, but groups of jackals will target impala, wildebeest calves, and other larger prey. They also eat insects and vegetation like plums and figs.

Although they are regularly hunted for their fur and by farmers and ranchers protecting livestock, black-backed jackals are classified as least concern. This means they are quite common and are not in danger of extinction.

I rate the black-backed jackal 12/10. Their ears are the perfect size

Photo credits:

(1) Thomas Reich (2) Sean Crane (3) Sean Crane (4) Chris Hartzell (5) Michael Cohen

[gaymaramada]

Got @weirdozjunkary ‘s STH + PIB AU on the brain so have some sonadow angst :)

~

Sonic watched in fascinated horror as the words etched themselves onto the map — this was it. He was so close. Just a few words and this would all be over.

“Star light, star bright,” He would have his lives back. He would be safe from the jackal.

“First star I see tonight,” Everything would go back to the way it was. He wouldn’t be scared anymore… right? All he needed was to make this wish.

“I wish—”

“I can’t believe I fell for it again.”

The voice made the hedgehog jump, and he whipped around half expecting to see a blind eye and two razor-sharp sickles — instead, he saw a familiar striped hedgehog scowling at him from the edge of the star with a little orange fox by his side. Somehow, that was worse.

“Shadow,” He started, only to falter because what could he even say? Every predetermined moral he had was screaming at him that this was wrong, but it was hard to focus on that when his blood was racing through his veins as his heart thundered in his chest. His eyes flitted back and forth between him and the map, its luminescent text drawing him in, “Y-you don’t understand—”

“Don’t understand what?” Shadow spat, his barely-contained anger filtering through his voice as he stalked over to the hedgehog, “That you’ve been playing me this whole time?”

“I need this wish,” Sonic’s hands were shaking — he felt so small like this, cowering away from his rival like some scared little kid. He held the map in front of him like a shield, hiding from those judging eyes that twisted at his heart and head. He needed this. He needed this, Shadow couldn’t understand.

He wasn’t sure, though, who he was trying to convince anymore.

“Do you, now?” Shadow drawled, his lip curling into a sneer, “Your life just isn’t enough? Not up to your standards? No, Sonic the Hedgehog deserves more.”

Sonic felt dizzy as he frantically looked back and forth between Shadow and the map. Shadow stepped closer, sarcastic disgust dripping from his tongue, “It’s not enough to just be a hero, adored by thousands, trusted by thousands.”

Suddenly, the map disappeared from his view, and Sonic looked up to see it grasped within Shadow’s hand, held behind him as he jabbed a finger into Sonic’s chest — his voice rose into a growl as he trapped Sonic in his gaze, eyes like daggers as they bore into him, “It’s not enough for him to have people he knows he can trust in return, is it?”

And then, for the first time since he’d arrived, Sonic looked at Shadow — really looked at him. His nostrils flared as he stared him down, ears flat against his head and teeth bared like a predator about to pounce. He was furious, more so than the hedgehog had ever seen him, but there was something else there that made him stall, evident in the slight twitching of his brows, the way his chest heaved as if he’d just run a marathon, the subtle shakiness of his hand as it clenched around the map like he wanted to crush it — somewhere in those crimson eyes that held so much fury was a genuine pain that he’d only seen him direct his way once.

To have people he knows he can trust… Sonic let out a breath as his posture sagged, the realization hitting him like a ton of bricks. He must have been making a face because Shadow abruptly pulled back, huffing as he glanced down at the map in his hand, “… Yet you’re still running. Still the same ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ you’ve always been.”

“But I’m not!” Sonic burst, startling himself with the suddenness of it, “I’m not Sonic the Hedgehog! I… I-I’m…”

He coughed out a sigh, shoulders going slack as he caved in, catching Shadow’s eyes and admitting, “I’m on my last life.”

To his surprise, Shadow drew back a bit, blinking as his eyes widened and his scowl dropped. Sonic took it as an opportunity, needing him to understand, “I need to get my lives back, Shadow. Without them, I’m not… I’m not…”

“Not what?” Shadow clipped, “The legend?”

Sonic’s stomach dropped, curling into himself without even realizing it. He wanted to deny it, to correct him somehow, to shake him by his shoulders and scream I’m being chased by the freaking Grim Reaper, but when he opened his mouth, the words wouldn’t come.

Shadow waited for a beat, and Sonic prepared himself for another barrage of insults to come his way. Instead, Shadow just sighed, crossing his arms and shaking his head as disappointment fell off his tongue, “… I truly expected more from you.”

He spared another glance at the map, eyes flitting up to meet Sonic’s before he dropped it at his feet. Sonic all but scrambled for it, falling to his knees and gripping it to his chest. Shadow scoffed above him, and Sonic shrunk under his gaze as he spoke, “Go on, then; get your lives back.”

He leaned down a bit to meet his eyes, those crimson flames making Sonic feel like absolute slime, “Just do us both a favor and keep them out of mine.”

With that, Shadow turned on his heel and stalked off, fists clenched at his sides as he brushed past Tails, who had been silently observing from the sidelines. His baby blue eyes followed the black hedgehog, then turned to find Sonic with a pleading look, almost as if he were silently begging him to stand, please don’t give up, you can’t give up.

And despite it all — the guilt weighing down on his shoulders, the desperate fear coiling in his gut, the dizzying feeling of his priorities battling through his mind — Sonic felt something burn in his chest, stealing his breath and forcing his voice to project out a final, desperate cry, “Shadow! Death is after me!”

And Sonic didn’t know if it was genuine concern on the other’s part, or merely blatant bewilderment at the vagueness of what he’d just said, but against all odds, Shadow turned around, his brow raised in a rare look of raw confusion as he replied, “… What?”

[weirdozjunkary]

I did another fic in the PIB AU. This time of the infamous panic attack scene. It’s fairly long, but not the longest I’ve ever written

———————

KA- FWEEEW!!!

A spectactical aray of confetti bursted from the baker inspo the air. Sonic splat, the confetti clinging to himself. At any other time, this cluster of colourful paper adorned with a cute party horn would’ve been cheerful, but now it seemed more gruesome.

“BLEGH! What?!”

“OHOHO! So that’s what they do!” Ivo cheered. He was already aiming up another shot. Unicorn horns are deadly. “Cool!”

“NO! ITS NOT COOL!” The iridecent beatle shouted, appalled at the doctors amazement by this spread of colourful destruction.

Another horn stuck into a bakers side. “AUGHYOU SHOT ME-“

KA-FWEEEW!!!

Another explosion right in the hedgehogs face. He sneezed at the dust and confetti in the air. “Ugh! The sight is off!” He heard ivo groan. And just as he could stop himself from sneezing, Sonic was hoisted up by his bandana.

“I got him mister Horner!” Another horn stuck into the bakers side.

“MY BAD!”

“Oh no.”

KA-BLAM!!

Silence. Only accompanied by a faint growing ringing through the hedgehogs ears as he flew through the air slowly. It didn’t stop till he tumbled against the ground, his bandana untying itself from his throat. There, just within arms reach, it was the map. It had fallen out of his grasp through the explosion. And as the world around him moved by in slow motion, he propped up on a knee and reached out a hand to it.

He froze. That sound. That sharp and sickening melody that made his hair stand up on end and his stomach twist violently. He could hear it. Just a few feet behind him.

He gasped out air from his lungs. Hoping to god that when his eyes drifted from the map behind him that he wouldn’t see what he dreaded to see. But once his body was fully turned around. As his heart pounded in his ears and his lungs felt tight and empty. He could see it. That jackal. Unsheathing his sickles from his dark cloak. Staring at him with his vibrant eyes.

He is here. HOW is he here? The last time he saw him was running from Ivo Horner’s bakery. And still, those eyes, so glassy but vibrant like marbles. They pierced frozen daggers into his. It made them ache.

His body moved before his brain caught up. His heart raced in his ears, pounding so hard his chest hurtt. His lungs were on fire as he wheezed while he ran. Ran away. Ran far. Ran fast. Just get away from this fucking maniac!!!

“Sonic? SONIC! WAIT!” Tails shouted, grabbing his fallen bandana and chasing after him.

“Tails?” Shadow puzzled. He took his eyes off of the map for a second. Just enough for the face of a large hammer to whack him away.

“Thanks for the map, Stripes!” Amy gawked as she laid her eyes on the map she snatched up from the ground. It sparkled and shimmered. Changing the scenery on it and then the world around them. The ground broke and shifted, sending cliffs and pine trees high into the air.

“NO!” Both Shadow and Ivo shouted in anger at the group that ascended higher into the air.

“HEY! You’ve just been crimed by the Chaotix Crime family!” The young bee shouted.

“So long, you plonkers!” Amy added and left with the rest of them. Projectiles flying past them as they ran into the newly formed forest behind.

“!LOS VOY HACER A TODOS ALFOMBRAS DE BAÑO!” Shadow angrily shouted. He kicked the ground and bared his teeth in frustration. “GRAGH!!! SONIC!!! WHERE ARE YOU?!”

His legs could barely keep him standing. The only reason why he didn’t fall over yet was the proper yak motion of his legs keeping him going forward. His footsteps were heavy and sporadic, so was his breathing. He heaved with each step, each movement of his arms. His eyes darting around the dark forest. He could’ve sworn he saw him. His face. His eyes. Him. The one trying to take his life.

“SONIC! SONIC!” The twin tailed fox cried out with worry. Where could he have gone?

There. He was at the base of a tree. Huffing and heaving as his eyes continued to dart around in front of him. That hunter is near. He’s just waiting to pounce. Waiting to strike. He’s here. He has to be.

“Sonic! Sonic! Are you okay? What’s wrong?!”

Tails’ voice fell deaf on Sonic’ ears. He huffed and wheezed with tears in his eyes. He was waiting for him, the jackal. The moment for him to strike. He didn’t know if Tails was truly there or not. And Tails. This boy was so worried for his friend. He felt helpless. Moreso Sonic to Tails.

But, he looked at Sonic’s face. The pure terror and panic in his eyes. And almost as if he had done this before, he rested his head against his chest. He could feel it, hear it. His heartbeat so fast and loud. A sporadic rhythm that pounded so hard that it could leap right out of his chest.

But as Tails laid there, his eyes shut and an arm wrapped over the hedgehog, he felt a hand lay gently on his head, and the hedgehog’s heart and breathing slow. He didn’t move, didn’t flinch, didn’t even open his eyes. He just laid there as Sonic pet him. He only looked at him once he heard him huff out a sigh.

“Thank you, Tails.” He said.

“What’s going on with you, Sonic?”

Sonic stammered and looked away. He couldn’t look this sweet boy in the face. Not to tell him what’s really been going on. Why he decided to pursue this star. What his wish truly was. “I… I am down to my last life. And I…” He gulped down a hard lump. “I am afraid.”

“Well, it’s okay to be afraid.”

“No! Not for Sonic the Hedgehog! I’m supposed to be a fearless hero. A legend.” He slumped further down the base of the tree. “But without any lives to spare. I am… nothing.” He shot up and clenched a determined fist. “I need that wish to get my lives back!”

“You should tell Shadow, then. He would understand-“

“No no no! He can’t hear none of this stuff!” Sonic said as he put a hand over the fox’s mouth briefly to silence him.

“Okay?”

What neither of them knew, was not far behind them was the black hedgehog, slicing through the prickled grass. “¿Adónde fueron ese idiota y su zorro?” He muttered to himself. His ears shot up once he could hear the blue hedgehog.

“Shadow will never trust me again. Not after Santa Coloma.”

“But that was just one bad heist.”

“Santa Coloma wasn’t a heist, Tails. It was a church. With a priest and guests… and Shadow.” He reminisced back to that day. A sour feeling painfully waved over his chest. “Everything but me. I ran away then too.”

“Oh...” Tails responded, letting his mind wander a little. “Oh.” He finally gasped in shock once the realization hit him. “OH! You left him at the altar?”

“It was wrong, I know. I’m ashamed of it.” He sighed. “I just wish I hadn’t hurt ‘em so badly. I regret that day a lot.”

“So… maybe you should tell that to Shadow. It might make you feel better about it. It might make him feel better about it, too.”

Shadow stood behind the tree, arms crossed and a look of uncertainty clearly on his face. Of course Sonic wouldn’t have said this to his face, his pride was too fragile to admit defeat. But, something about what he said, perhaps the tone or what have you. It felt genuine, though full of sadness and melancholy.

He had been running all his life, both of them. Running from enemies, from friends, loved ones, eachother. Running out of fear. Fear of being betrayed, of being hurt again. He was like him, even if they didn’t know the extent of it— of each other— they both were running. Maybe. Maybe they don’t need to run.

“Sonic! Fox!” Shadow called as he came into their view. “There you two are. What the hell happened?”

“S-Shadow!” Sonic stammered and stood up, finally tying his bandana back on. “I-uh- I lost the map. I messed up.”

“We’ll get it back, don’t worry. We’ve been in worse prickles.”

“WHAT?! Who told you that name?!” Sonic shouted, only to receive a confused look from shadow.

“…What name?”

“Uh… n-nothing!”

[soranihimawari]

Shaken not Stirred

7. We always used to have sleepovers as children, why would it be weird now?"

Pairing: teen->adulthood friendships||nanami x yn

Warning: 🔞nsfw! bc sexual awakenings and teasing may affect those who’s first choice was hawk girl or j.depp (specifically Cry Baby era)// nanami & reader realize their friendship was built on lustful attraction versus friendly ones as they grew up. 👀 also, implied that reader’s family has yakuza or mafia ties…

Rating: adult!relationship with nanami kento [adult as in a good fucking means someone tried to test reader’s patience and they are not one to stand by and let nanami be insulted…]

You are writhing beneath him; a man twice your size is above you, giving into his earthly desires. His voice is gruff and demanding as he pulls another pitiful moan out of you. He mocks you, lustfully licking a stripe from your neck to where your ear connects—it’s hot. The heat in the autumnal day is now cooling, but the bed creaks. Something ancient is awake and angry, his broken growl of your name hangs in the air. He fucks you to his rhythm as you cry out you can take one more fleeting orgasm. And the jackal of a man laughs muttering how brave you must be.

Rewind yourself to 72-hours ago when you arrived back on your home neighborhood in Sendai. You’re reuniting with some old friends after you found out your last remaining uncle had passed. Being in your mid to late twenties and working for a moderately ran start-up company for blue light lenses, you thankfully had merciful bosses who believed in putting family first. Though rare, they did make you file a leave of absence as you finalize your travel arrangements in the office before the end of the week.

You fly out on cold February morning, kind of overrated but if you’re able to get to Sendai Ciry by dinner tomorrow, your folks would have said it was worth the red eye fees. Honestly, once you traverse through bay check and the security points, you’re at your gate, eyes heavy as sleep is something you lacked.

Fourteen hours. Fourteen hours (and if you count the other twenty four you were up for, you’re sure you’d put your body through some sort of cardiac issued stress), however you were able to picked up by an old neighbor—Nanami Kento. Sure, the two of you grew up and apart, but considering the other options of your contacts, you went with the most reliable one. He bows as he greets you, his driver acknowledges you and you introduce yourself to the man and apologize for the delay.

“Snow this time of year is brutal,” the driver chuckles.

You nod as Nanami opens the passenger door for you. You give him your thanks as you sit down and strap on the seatbelt.

Looking back as both the driver and Nanami get in after you close your door, you fidget on your seat and nervously crack your knuckles, chuckling here and there as you listen to their banter until you speak up at an upcoming red light.

“Umm… I’m sorry, but I forgot to ask if I could spend the first few nights with you, Nanami-kun? If not, I know you’re busy with work, but if it truly is a problem, I could find a hotel to stay in…”

You’re stifling a yawn and he notices the slight wrinkles at the sides of your eyes. Surely you’re not still suffering from insomnia before trips, he thinks. Then, after he ponders for a light or two, he agrees.

“Bless you, my parents just texted me that my room was part of their remodeling phase and it’s getting a fresh coat of paint right now. I don’t mind taking the train from Tokyo back,” you explain with a soft smile.

You don’t remember much after the turn to his apartment high rise. You figured you knocked out and the driver, Mr Iji, had taken your things up for Nanami because well, for lack of better words, Nanami would have been carrying you. At the thought, your cheeks flush and you swat away all the raunchy things that could have happened, but it didn’t.

Nearly six in the morning and you are awakened again this time by an alarm and a half dressed adult blonde best friend. There’s several bandages on his arm and ribs from what you used to consider an awful part time job. He worked in an office from 9-5, but he did clock in some hours since he went back to being an adjunct teacher. Apparently even in this relic of a neighborhood, something keeps killing his colleagues. He told you all this before when you were nineteen and he had just turned twenty a season prior:

“You ought to be careful next time,” you hum as you help him place gauze over his cut brow. “I won’t be here to patch you like Shoko-chan can.”

“You can stay,” he hums, sort of pleading to you when the alcohol seeps and stings between the stitches there. “Mm…was that necessary?!”

Shows him the message from Shoko.

“Doc said so,” you mirthfully laugh as you see him frown. You put away the first aid kit and sigh. “I worry about you. This job, can’t you quit it before you die?”

“What? Why would I?!”

You realize he hasn’t loosened his grip on your hand; the alcohol must still be stinging a bit you reason.

“Because I can’t lose my best friend right after we had just gotten back on better terms,” you’re gentle tone makes him look you in the eyes and it dawns on him just how right you must be. “Besides, who’s gonna come bother me in the U.S. when I get my doctorate degree in medicine over there? Don’t send Gojo, I’d kill him with whatever fad he’s on now…”

Nanami chuckles.

“My girl is a clever one,” he says.

“If I really was yours, you wouldn’t be talking,” you tease. “Remember what happened when you told me you loved Hawk Girl and I still loved that crybaby movie?”

“‘Get wings or I think you’re a square?’ Oh get over yourself, we were seven and eight.”

You laugh and slip your hand out his… “I know! Isn’t that wild? Anyways, I better get home now.”

You grab your bag and wave over your shoulder, “See you at the airport. Thanks for offering to take me!”

The conversation plays in a loop in your mind and he’s in the middle of greeting you when you walk up to him and study his face, then his body…he has so many knicks and scars and even bruises. Some deeply rich in color you think he has internal bleeding. Then coffee maker begins whirring for both of you and you force his face to glance at you. You hold his chin firmly and move his face to see the same scar from the conversation still prominent with his bangs swept back.

“You told me you quit,” you half smile.

Nanami turns, wincing as he holds his bandages on his ribs to hand you a mug, but your hand presses against his side first and his breathing stutters. It isn’t the close proximity that causes him to do so? It’s just…he hadn’t seen how bright your eyes are in the dawn.

“What’s wrong? How did you…?”

You’re adjusting the gauze and your breath ignites his skin in the most subtle of ways and you adjust the pressure on his side. You gauge how he reacts and you know how he gets when you fret over him and you’re afraid you might have angered your host.

“Not important,” Nanami stubbornly stated, but he saw how the wrinkle in between your brows becomes prominent before walking away.

“I didn’t mean to pry,” you whisper and straighten up to walk away from the kitchen.

Silence ruled over you both as you fall into line with helping him make some rolled eggs and rice. He glances over every once in while, keeping his hard pressed lips together, he focuses on how delicate you’re chopping the chives. Your hands, he’s noticed, are calloused over from your trade in the medical field.

“I’ll leave tomorrow,” you say to him. “I found a hotel near the memorial services building.”

You take your plate once your dish is finished and sit on the table waiting for him. You eat together, he didn’t try to make much small talk, but you say some hurtful words.

“I never backed away, so why?”

Your voice cracked a bit when the plates were placed in the sink.

“Because you don’t deserve to use your talents on people like me,” he stands behind you, wrapping an injured arm around your waist, you’re pulled into his chest. “Can’t lose you too.”

Your hearts hammer like a forger beats the metal into a fine shield. You can feel his pulse practically race through this veins in his forearm around your waist. He whispers he’ll be back no later than six-thirty.

You think nothing of it as the day progresses even going so far as to cancel the hotel reservations. The services are day after next, so you don’t have much time left with Nanami before your life would be filled with aunts and would be retired uncles from your father’s side who’s ask awkward questions. Your cousins though? They’re immature and annoying, but the worse part? Everyone would ask you if you’re married yet, expecting, or trying to out you as many believe you’re not as you define yourself. Surely, family can be invasive, but yours is a whole other level. Hence why you being Nanami to these functions growing up or at least steal away to ditch the gatherings and hang out with him at his dorm room halfway across the prefecture.

Even now, as you don your ceremonial robes for the hybrid family traditions, he leans against the door way connecting his room to yours. The bathroom light backlights your frame as he hums in approving. Communicating with Nanami has improved, but you are reminded by him to move one stone at a time before moving a whole beam. He said that old saying of your grandmother to you when you introduced him to her in her flower shop. Nanami offered to help with the chores one afternoon and you, you decided it would be a good trial run before introducing your new friend from the middle school you started would be worked into your everyday life. Things did go well, or at least you thought they did until graduation day. His parents were a no-show, and your parents thought it was a bit awkward having him stand next to you for photos until the family matriarch decided to show up and pose for photos with him claiming how much she loved her future grandchild-in-law. The embarrassing situation was swept under the rug for the later half of the next fifteen years: in that time, you two grew up and apart especially with your residency being in the United States and he would continue his studies here in Japan. Only now, after a death in the family has returned you to your home soil do you stand before the boy you liked-maybe even dared to love-and he adjusts his spectacles to see you clearly.

"Think this is too much?" you tilt your head this way and that as he notices the bronze glitters of your neutral makeup.

"You look beautiful, even for a mourner," Nanami tells you as he takes your hand in his as he is to escort you per the request of the elders.

"Must you come with me?"

"Mr Iji is bringing the car around the corner," Nanami checks his phone. "And yes, if I don't, then your family might have its curse clinging to you."

Last night, after his shift on your second night with him, he walks into the kitchen to see you reading a few debriefings. Some were inscribed with the year of your second year and you meet his eyes when you finish reading about the Haibara-case.

"You're crying," Nanami states this easily as he dries your cheeks with a kerchief.

"Why didn't you tell me? Is this what you didn't want me to see?" You hold his wrist. "Min, please answer me."

He sighs, nodding with a head bowed in some form of shame. You move to the bedroom where he chooses to open up to you and tell you what you need to know.

"Just the facts?" you try to plead, but even your pout is enough to make anyone cave, but he doesn't budge although he did think about how your line of work in the medical examiner's office at the morgue could use some of the details to be familiarized.

Both of you stay up all night, crying together, laughing at Gojo's antics and how it had affected Nanami's ways as a sorcerer, but you stay true. You're not afraid of him nor his talents. To the outside world, he is Nanami Kento, director of sales from 9am-5pm, but only after six on the weekends, does he dabble in sorcery.

"Your family is experiencing tremendous amounts of grief," Nanami is pragmatic for sticking close to you. "Curses feed on raw negative human emotions. I'm going with you to the service tomorrow night."

Currently, Mr Iji's car is seen around the curb as you step in like before. Your family has no idea you were going to bring Nanami with you, yet when you are dropped off by him at the memorial service hall, he extends his arm to you. You greet your elders together and you bow to your godmother who's freshly widowed. As you console her, Nanami waves a hand in the air with such finesse you think he was a tea servant trainer in another life. Regardless, you chalk it up to his spectacles that help with seeing the other wordly parasites.

"...and you brought Nanami?" your godmother asks.

You nod. "He wanted to come. Mentioned he stopped by uncle's tie shop before the incident with the break in."

You motion for Nanami to come over and your godmother hugs him after he gives her a slight bow and condolence greeting.

"You were the only person who loved that pattern," she states, chuckling. "My husband fought very hard to keep that least selling item in stock because of you, and for that, I thank you."

She bows to him and cups your face.

“You remind me of us: a worrier and a warrior, praying for the the other to be kept safe.”

“Auntie, it’s—”

Nanami kisses your hairline and your words escape you.

“Exactly as you say, ma’am. C’mon, your mom’s looking over here…”

It’s unbelievably effortless as she hugs you and him. Her brother’s photo is on the offering table, lookin at you three. Your father is outside smoking with a few work friends from his gallery.

“How is dad? He was close to uncle Rob, wasn’t he?” You ask.

Nanami stands a little off to the side between you and your mother as he eyes your father’s boys club. Some of them make obscene hand signs admiring your curves as you had filled in while abroad. You’re not paying attention until Nanami snakes his arms around your back to whisper a, “behave. I’ll be right back.”

“Huh? Oh,” your eyes follow his and see your father and uncle’s shared friend group eying you disrespectfully. “Thank you.”

Nanami walks outside and he has a stern face while your mom nudges your arm.

“He’s a good one, I can tell ever since you told me about him,” she laughs.

“Mother,” you rolls your eyes and she ushers you to the offering table where you pick a plum & leave it at the alter for your uncle.

Meanwhile, Nanami puts the respect back on your name as the fools your father would have allowed to fuck you if you so wish were getting an earful from your friend.

“What makes you think you could ‘ave a go, huh?” Your father’s cigarette hangs low. “Y’know that kid of mine stems from a Yakuza-driven family on both sides.”

“And I hunt devils for a living, curses black an smoky,” Nanami coughs before covering his nostrils with his handkerchief. He smirks, your father can tell before insulting the young man further. You nearly drop your plate of food you were going to being over to Nanami as you heard your father call him a derogatory nickname for a half-blood person.

“Nanami, call Mr Iji. We’re leaving," you reach out to hold his hand. Your father chuckles as he hurls one more insulting dig in your direction and you pause your steps.

Marching up to your father, you rudely withdraw the cigarette from his lips, and put it out on his eye. He yells at you bellowing a hit order and banning summons, standing tall, you are so close to punching him in the jaw, but you did get his henchmen in the nose.

"Do not dare insult him again," you are filled with iron and vinegar. "Lest you forget who is the true seat holder to your puppet king. Nanami, let's go. We're done here."

In the heat of the moment, Nanami kisses you with finality, murming a, "Yes ma'am."

So here you were, hours later, three orgasms deep with the blonde man. You're breathing unevenly, panting, praises in feeling full and satisfied. Nanami's hips matches yours, you feel him tensing as he shyly hides in the crook of your neck and he tells you the story of his latest injuries.

"It's ok," you whisper, hotly into his mouth. "You're with me now, we're here...balls deep in this cavernous pussy which was always going to be here...ngh!~that's the spot, baby."

Nanami glistens in the sunlight peeking through his blinds. It's dawn and he cums with a little more encouragement; he slumps forward, clutching you to his chest. You too are a dewy mess, your ear turns to his bare chest and you listen to his heartbeat.

Hours later, you yawn before climbing into his bed again with the new sheets spread out, Nanami finishes his pre-sleep routine. He took the initiative to change the soiled sheets while you were in the shower, washing yourself clean from the rousing bedroom activities. You were joined a few minutes later with a bare Nanami. He remains a silent protector, a man of few words, but he is gentle and caring like you were made of fine porcelain- his hands were lightly scrubbing you, kneeling down to wash your front clean, both with his tongue and loofa. He made you believe heaven can be found within the tiles with him worshipping you like a slave moth to its sacred fire. Impossible to even try to focus to return the favor, he forgives you because you did the most basic of things to warrant this type of love: "You gave your father an order and made an example of his asshole crew."

Nanami Kento emerges from the shower room, steam rising from his nude body. Your eyes rake his body low to high, head to toe, as he dresses himself in his pajamas post dragging the boxer briefs over his thighs higher to his waist.

"I can hear you undressing me again," he muses when he pulls an undershirt over his body.

"You caught me," you chuckle back.

"Are we going to talk about this?"

The blonde lays in a relaxed position before you leaned into him, starting the ministrations of tracing his scars with your fingertips lightly. Nanami hums prompting you to answer.

"We always used to have sleepovers as children, why would it be weird now?"

"Because," Nanami tilts your head up to look at him. "You've had my heart packed in your suitcase since you left almost a decade ago. "

"You finally caught up to me, huh?"

You smile when Nanami leans forward to kiss you-it's simple and passionate. The curtains block this part of the universe where a humble doctor and a sorcerer melt into each other creating another realm of possibilities as their relationship blooms fresh.

Months later, you arrive to your new flat a few minutes away from the hospital that hired you. You sit down with a new case file handed in to you by a colleague. Nanami has yet to come home from a surveillance mission with one of Gojo’s students, yet you spoke too soon into the air when Nanami knocks on your door. You open it as he slumps forward saying his days might be numbered because of a patch-faced curse.

“Mahito’s alive?”

You escort him to your couch right away to administer first aid as necessary. A stitch or three were needed when you peeled his bloodied shirt off him.

“You knew him?” Nanami winces when he breathes between your hands sewing him shut. Again for the second time in four days.

“Mahito was one of the old hit men my great grandparents hired. They didn’t know he was a curse at all, maybe a misguided youth, but yeah…he’s clearly had work done and had become stronger.”

You nod saying you’re done with the stitching as Nanami holds your hand delicately in his.

“You should have told me,” he half smiles, weak from the day’s battle.

“I have a case file that you might be interested in reading with me. This body was exhumed around the turn of the century. Look familiar?”

The corpse on the slab from back then looked eerily similar to Mahito’s playfully long nose and long silvery hair.

“He died with a smile on his face after razing his town to the ground…” Nanami reads the report. “He was sealed and then unsealed?”

Nodding you out the first aid kit aside and sit on Nanami’s lap for a few moments, putting the sealing cream on a gauze strip and taping over the stitches.

“He was, yes. But this is why,” you pause to cup his face when you were done. “I tell you to be careful.”

Nanami kisses your inner palms.

“I’ll come home to you a little shaken.”

“Not stirred?”

“You’re so quick witted…,” he nips your jaw playfully flirtatious.

“I’m the sitting leader of a branch of the mafia thanks to my uncle passing who, by the way, left me in charge because I knew a sorcerer…”

My uncle’s will is next to his photo. Right next to it? There is a small vase of forget-me-nots that Nanami gifted me with. We stay on the couch for a little longer, talking about the future, the present, and a little about the past: we feel invincible when we’re this close to each other. What we do not know is how long we have left especially when there are plenty of curses who have their eyes on us around this part of the city.