[Parties were a common thing in the Asahina estate. Kanade has long since gotten used to them.
The first thing she learned when her breeder had finally found someone willing to pay their exorbitant price for her, was that Lady Asahina was a woman who valued appearances. She was wealthy, extravagently so, but she was careful in how she expressed that. She wasn't tacky; from the colors of the rooms to the art on the walls, everything matched with soft, cool colors. It was simply meant to highlight their positions in this world - herself a homemaker involved in local political and social circles, her husband a doctor, and their beloved daugher studying hard to follow in his footsteps - rather than shine a spotlight on it.
It was the main reason why she had bought Kanade for Mafuyu. Many of the local breeders were all about showing off in a stifling way, from rare breeds to bright fur or feather or scale patterns that took them years to perfect. Macaws with feathers so bright they almost seemed to glow, chameleons who could match any color or pattern. They were highly sought after, but she sought out something with a more ethereal beauty for her daughter. So Kanade, with her silver-furred ears and tail that matched so well with her hair, so beautiful but not flamboyantly so, had been gifted to Mafuyu several years ago - a surprise for scoring at the top of her class upon graduation.
"If my dear daughter is going out in the world soon, she deserves a pet that can truly compliment her. One that can glow just as well as she can!"
... And they'd been inseparable since. Kanade was the perfect accessory; Mafuyu had given her the companionship she so desperately craved, that light in the stifling dark of loneliness that had threatened to smother her since she was a kit, and she was content to be the pretty little thing that trailed after Mafuyu during social events, always two steps behind, ears pulled back in a constant show of submission. Nobody questioned how close such a well-behaved, quiet pet was to her master, and so nobody questioned those times where she'd occasionally nudge against Mafuyu's side, or brush her hand against Mafuyu's. Those times she could sense the stress starting to twist itself up inside of Mafuyu, threatening to choke her or tear her apart inside.
Constant touch. Small gestures like that in public, or in private where she'd curl herself around Mafuyu and let her run her fingers through her hair or along her tail for hours on end until that tension coiling inside of her eases. It was this comfort that she was most happy to give Mafuyu, and she never once failed in providing it.
So it killed her, when her heat had come on fast. Her heats were unfortunately irregular, a result of somewhat frail health, so she wasn't always able to track them. She thought she'd be fine, at least for another few days or so, but she woke up burning, like there were warm coals resting just beneath her skin. Even the act of dressing for the evening - a suit so dark blue it was nearly black, with silver embroidery along the lapels and cuffs - was torture, the fabric almost feeling like sandpaper as it rubbed against her skin. She just wanted out, to find a way to cool this fire burning inside of her, to... to...
But no. She had to keep up appearances. So she pushed that feeling down, fangs biting on the inside of her cheek, and fell a few more steps behind Mafuyu than usual. Kanade hated it, but she couldn't touch her like this...
It was easy to keep quiet and keep her head bowed as Mafuyu made the rounds, chatting to her mother's friends and her father's coworkers. But as time went on, as the guests' focus shifted from Mafuyu back to her parents... it was hard, to remain in control. Kanade's steps fell a bit heavier behind Mafuyu, her breathing going just a little ragged. And should Mafuyu turn to her, she'll see Kanade's face flushed, looking somewhat clammy. But all throughout this, she doesn't say a word.]
Heat (oh god i'm so sorry for this novel)
The first thing she learned when her breeder had finally found someone willing to pay their exorbitant price for her, was that Lady Asahina was a woman who valued appearances. She was wealthy, extravagently so, but she was careful in how she expressed that. She wasn't tacky; from the colors of the rooms to the art on the walls, everything matched with soft, cool colors. It was simply meant to highlight their positions in this world - herself a homemaker involved in local political and social circles, her husband a doctor, and their beloved daugher studying hard to follow in his footsteps - rather than shine a spotlight on it.
It was the main reason why she had bought Kanade for Mafuyu. Many of the local breeders were all about showing off in a stifling way, from rare breeds to bright fur or feather or scale patterns that took them years to perfect. Macaws with feathers so bright they almost seemed to glow, chameleons who could match any color or pattern. They were highly sought after, but she sought out something with a more ethereal beauty for her daughter. So Kanade, with her silver-furred ears and tail that matched so well with her hair, so beautiful but not flamboyantly so, had been gifted to Mafuyu several years ago - a surprise for scoring at the top of her class upon graduation.
"If my dear daughter is going out in the world soon, she deserves a pet that can truly compliment her. One that can glow just as well as she can!"
... And they'd been inseparable since. Kanade was the perfect accessory; Mafuyu had given her the companionship she so desperately craved, that light in the stifling dark of loneliness that had threatened to smother her since she was a kit, and she was content to be the pretty little thing that trailed after Mafuyu during social events, always two steps behind, ears pulled back in a constant show of submission. Nobody questioned how close such a well-behaved, quiet pet was to her master, and so nobody questioned those times where she'd occasionally nudge against Mafuyu's side, or brush her hand against Mafuyu's. Those times she could sense the stress starting to twist itself up inside of Mafuyu, threatening to choke her or tear her apart inside.
Constant touch. Small gestures like that in public, or in private where she'd curl herself around Mafuyu and let her run her fingers through her hair or along her tail for hours on end until that tension coiling inside of her eases. It was this comfort that she was most happy to give Mafuyu, and she never once failed in providing it.
So it killed her, when her heat had come on fast. Her heats were unfortunately irregular, a result of somewhat frail health, so she wasn't always able to track them. She thought she'd be fine, at least for another few days or so, but she woke up burning, like there were warm coals resting just beneath her skin. Even the act of dressing for the evening - a suit so dark blue it was nearly black, with silver embroidery along the lapels and cuffs - was torture, the fabric almost feeling like sandpaper as it rubbed against her skin. She just wanted out, to find a way to cool this fire burning inside of her, to... to...
But no. She had to keep up appearances. So she pushed that feeling down, fangs biting on the inside of her cheek, and fell a few more steps behind Mafuyu than usual. Kanade hated it, but she couldn't touch her like this...
It was easy to keep quiet and keep her head bowed as Mafuyu made the rounds, chatting to her mother's friends and her father's coworkers. But as time went on, as the guests' focus shifted from Mafuyu back to her parents... it was hard, to remain in control. Kanade's steps fell a bit heavier behind Mafuyu, her breathing going just a little ragged. And should Mafuyu turn to her, she'll see Kanade's face flushed, looking somewhat clammy. But all throughout this, she doesn't say a word.]