Chapter 11

Shouts everywhere, orderly footstep. That's the first things we hear as we get out of the dungeon's portal. I'm confused for a second. Then it hit me: the time in the dungeon and outside aren't the same.

"This... At least my parents will be a little less worried since we didn't disappear for a time" Eliza says, her voice laced with fatigue.

"Yeah... Let's go back please. I'm too tired and I really need a bath." Anna adds with a sigh.

I smile slightly at their words. We are indeed all in various state of dirtiness. Sweat all over us. I may be the most dirty one actually.

As I turn toward the portal a sudden need to touch it arise in my mind. It's like I'll miss on something if I don't.

""Jane?"" Both of them call me.

I didn't even notice I let go of their hands and took a step toward the portal.

"I... I need to touch it. I must." I answer briefly, finally reaching it.

The moment my hand makes contact with the arch it lit up with a bright white light, blinding me for a few seconds. When I can see again there is no more portal. Even the ground, that should have been marked by it, is smooth. As if nothing was ever here.

Then a splitting headache hits me, making me clutch my head in my hands and falling on my knees. I barely hear Anna and Eliza's hurried footsteps.

It's informations. That damn portal just poured raw informations in my head. It's too jumbled for me to understand yet. But I think it's about space, something like what the last group of Gobelins we fought did.

The girls shake my shoulders as they try to wake me up from the pain.

It takes me one or two minutes before it goes away and I'm left panting like I ran at full speed for a time.

"I'm... I'm fine. Sorry it was... Weird. And painful. But it's okay now." I say as I try to reassure them, a strained smile on my lips.

With their help I get up shakily and look at where the portal was just before.

I can't understand why it would disappear like that. Aren't dungeons supposed to be indestructible? Lasting forever?

That whole situation is weird. But my head still hurt a bit and we are all tired.

"Eliza can you drive? Sorry to ask you that..." I ask, turning toward the white-haired girl.

"It's fine. We aren't that far anyway." She answers me with a nod and a smile.

The journey toward our car is punctuated by shouts around us. But we don't hear or see anymore monsters. Seems like the army managed to take control of everything.

There's almost no destruction around us. At least that's a relief. But I know people died. And I know I can't do anything about it. I'm no hero and I don't plan on being one. If providing help is possible, of course I'll do it.

After reaching the car we finally go home, to Eliza's house.

Funny how it's 'home' for me. I guess I thought like that for a long time.

I wince a little when I sit in the back, straining the little cuts and bruises I got while fighting... What was his name again? Grab? Greg? No that sounds like a human name. Ah, Grub. Seriously, I don't know who named him or if he named himself. But that sucks. Whoever did it was hungry at that moment.

When we reach the house we don't even have time to open the door, Eliza's mom is already here in the entrance. Her face is twisted in concern, her fingers tangled together.

As soon as she sees us get out of the car she rush at us, enveloping us three in a tight hug.

"Thank goodness you're here. When the dome cracked and I heard there was monsters in the city I was so worried!" Her voice is choked with repressed sobs. She push us a bit away and look at our faces. "Are you alright? Injured? Do we need to go see a healer?!"

Eliza tap on her mom's arm with a smile as she shake her head.

"We're fine Mom. Jane protected us well. Maybe a few bruises and cuts. But nothing time won't heal." She answers, her tone calm and soothing.

Her mom's shoulders sag in relief as she sigh. Then she push us into the house. We let her do it as we smile. It warms me to have someone worrying like that about us. Of course I'd rather avoid worrying anyone at all. But it'll be impossible. Not with the Academy and the dungeons. Especially if my hunch about those is right.

"Oh wait. Let me get our bags!" I say, rushing to the car to get them.

Can't forget those. Well, mostly because I don't want to wear my old clothes. They don't fit and I don't like them anyway.

When I come back the girls are nowhere to be seen. Shrugging my shoulders I make my way to my room. When I pass by the door to the bathroom a hand shot out and grabbed my arm, yanking me inside.

"Wow what?" I exclaim, confused of what just happened.

When I turn around, our bags still in hand, I see Anna and Eliza smiling at me.

"Uuuh... Hi? Hum. Did you perhaps need clothes?..." I ask, my voice hesitant and shy-sounding.

Their gazes makes me shrink a little on myself as I try to be even smaller than usual. My tail is swaying nervously behind me and my ears are flat on my head.

I swear I see Anna swoon in place as she steady herself on the border of the sink.

"Well. We are all quite dirty. And we need a bath right" Eliza start slowly, her tone calm but I'm almost sure I hear something dangerous behind.

"And... We remembered you refused to bathe with us yesterday." Anna continue, with the same calm but dangerous tone as Eliza. Hers is even sharper.

"So this time you aren't escaping." Eliza finishes, and it's not sounding like a question but a finality.

I don't know when. At some point she circled me and is right between me and the door. She even lock it with a soft click that ring in my ears.

My eyes widen and I retreat a little. Anna wrap her arms around my waist when I bump into her, hugging me close.

Why do I, the foxgirl, feel like a little prey right now? I can feel my heart trying to leap out of my chest with how nervous and... a little looking forward? As I am.

It's not like Anna and me never bathed together as kids. We're still twins so we were doing everything together. But it's been a few years since the last time. Since when the differences in body between us were very noticeable.

But we're both girls right now. So it's... Fine? I guess?

The only problem is her attitude recently... Like... No, don't finish that thought Jane. Not... Yet.

I've never bathed with Eliza though. Going to the beach doesn't count at all. So it's the first time. I don't think she ever proposed to either. Even when we were kids.

But once again... We're all girls so it's fine?

"Hum... Alright I guess?" I answer a little hesitantly.

Eliza perks up immediately at my answer and I feel Anna relaxing considerably against my back. I didn't notice before, both had their shoulders tensed and their jaw set. My twin's arms were even a little trembling. As if they were afraid of my answer.

Cute. Why are they both this cute?! Should be illegal. Yup, I'm sure it's illegal.

"Then let us take care of you Jane" My twin whisper in my ear, sending it twitching.

Her words bring tingles down my back, my heart having fun tumbling non-stop in my chest. I'm screwed right? There's no way I'm walking out of here without melting uh.

I sigh a little and take Anna's hand to get them off me.

"Okay but please let me undress myself. Also, you aren't allowed to not relax too. Okay you two?!" I say, narrowing my eyes at them.

There's absolutely no way I'm letting them just 'serve' me. I don't want that. Our relationship isn't like that. They are the closest people I have and we all support each others. Nobody is better or above anyone. Whatever our bond evolve to.

Yeah, I may be pretty stupid I admit. But I know something is changing between us. I do have some doubts but nothing is sure. So I'll just let it happen. It's not like I understand it.

I swear I heard a 'damn' coming from Anna. But let's pretend nothing was said, my sanity depends on it. Eliza simply smile fondly at me, not commenting at all, and starts to undress.

After a few minutes I find myself sitting on a stool in the shower area, naked, both of them behind me. Anna lather some shampoo on my hair, avoiding my ears for now, and start to massage my scalp gently to work the foam.

I can't restrain a little sound of contentement. This is such a good feeling. My eyes closes slightly and my tail start to sway a little, eliciting a small complain from Eliza.

"Jane make your tail behave, I'm trying to clean it!" She gently scold me, her tone laced with amusement.

"Uuh sorry, this feels great so... I can't control it perfectly yet." I answer sheepishly.

I concentrate a little so that fluffy thing doesn't slip out of Eliza's hands. I'm a little concerned about what her hands on my tail will bring me. But it's fine. It does need to be cleaned.

A startled noise comes out of my twin, prompting me to tilt my head back to look at her with curiosity.

"Jane, since when do you have highlights on the inside of your hair? It's amazing! You look even better like that!" Anna exclaim, adoration in her voice.

Confused, I take a lock of my hair in hand and look at it. She's right. The red is still here. But the inside is dark blue, just like the tip of my ears and tail. Before today it was simply very long, around my waist, red hair.

That transformation I did in that last fight must have changed the colour somehow.

"Ooh, I like it. It's cool!" I coo in appreciation.

"I agree with Anna. It's such an upgrade from before. You were beautiful. Now you are gorgeous." Eliza add from behind and I feel my cheeks burning intensely.

That was foul play, throwing a compliment that strong suddenly. I swat her in the face with my tail to make her shut up. She just laugh before she grabs it at the base as she pour shampoo on it.

I freeze slightly when I feel her hands, but relax just after. Between Anna's hands on my hair and scalp and Eliza's on my tail I feel like I'm in heaven. It's so relaxing and feels way too good to be true. A low and slow purr escape my chest and I hear the two girls giggling.

I'm almost sad when the time to rince comes. But I don't show it and just usher the girls to sit. It's my turn now to take care of them. It's just that I'm not as good at them but I have a secret weapon.

I start with Eliza as I lather her hair with shampoo. I'm really careful to not spill it everywhere. Once I'm done I smile mischievously and extend my claws slightly, then I start to gently scratch her head. Just enough to not injure her. I see a shiver travel her body and a little moan escape her lips. She jumps in place and put her hand in front of her lips, her cheeks reddening so fast I almost thought she got burned.

I arc an eyebrow, surprised, but still don't stop my massage at all.

Told you I would get back at you girls.

On the side Anna looks envious and is restlessly squirming in place.

"What? What did she do?!" She ask since she can't see the tip of my fingers buried in Eliza's hair.

"Y-you'll see. W-wow. It's amazing. And almost dangerous. Please don't ever stop Jane." Eliza answer, a little breathless.

This makes me smile fondly. Even if it wasn't to kind of get back at her, I would still do it. It's enjoyable to see her relax like that. Even more when I know I helped her reaching that state.

"I'll have to stop to do it to Anna though" I say without stopping at all.

She just grunt as acknowledgement but doesn't comment. She doesn't seems to be able to anyway. Even with her hand on her lips I can hear some satisfied sighs and little noises.

I don't ignore the rest of her hair though. I'm very careful and gentle with it. I don't want to pull and hurt her at all.

Once I'm done with Eliza I go ever to Anna. She's so excited she practically vibrate on her stool. Even her wings are fluttering slightly. I giggle in my hand before I do the same as for Eliza, lathering Anna's hair with shampoo.

She basically melt when I start to scratch her scalp with my claws, leaning back to stick to me. I freeze at that, hands still where they were.

"Hum... Anna? It's... Uhh... A little hard like that..." I say, hesitating a little.

I've been trying to ignore the fact that we're all naked, a given for our location I know. But now I can feel her body's heat as she squish my breasts between us.

But she doesn't answer something else than a contended 'Hm-mh'. I sigh, my cheeks burning red, and continue her scalp massage. It's pretty difficult to do with her stuck to me like that, but I still manage to do it thoroughly. When I push her shoulders to separate us she whine a little.

I shake my head and grab one of her wing softly. She freezes immediately, her face and ears turning red.

"I, uh, wha, J-Jane? W-w-what are you d-doing?" She asks as her voice is stuttering and breaking.

"Hm? Well, I'm helping you wash-up of course." I say matter-of-factly, my voice taking a little teasing tone.

She let's out a whimper as I make my fingertips glide over her wings slowly. I can see Eliza giggling in the corner of my eyes. I stop teasing my dear twin and finally start to gently wash her wings.

I could say it's a weird feeling. But not that much actually. It's like touching very warm and smooth leather on the edges and warm and thin silk for the webbing. If feels really nice to touch.

I have to be very careful though. It's like a weak breeze could tear them apart. Meanwhile as I work diligently Anna is but melting under my touch, she's muttering things like 'not fair' or 'wait until I get my hands on your tail'. Uh. That last one sounds dangerous.

When I'm finished find ourselves in the bath. Thankfully it's big enough for us to lie in without feeling cramped.

I draw my legs against my chest, cross my arms above it and put my chin here as I sigh in contentement for the hot water lapping my skin.

"I needed that..." I say, closing my eyes.

"We all did yes. Nothing beats a hot bath after that kind of day." Eliza agrees.

"I have a question though." I say. "The bath is pretty big right?"

"Yup! It almost feels like we're in those big public baths!" Anna nod at my question.

"Then why are you both sticking so close to me?!" I say, my voice tinged with incredulity.

For some reason I'm not aware of they are both right against my shoulders, our hips almost touching. There's something more bothering me though. Since entering the bathroom my heart didn't stop jumping wildly in my chest. And I would be very grateful if it could stop doing that.

I guess It won't around those two though...

"Hmmm? Is that really a problem?" Eliza asks, her voice languid but laced with calm amusement.

"It's comfier like that Jane. Deal with it." Anna cuts in with a finality to her words.

I'm speechless. But well, If they are happy with it... I can't deny I am too.

Suddenly I feel two sneaking hands crawling up my spine and settling at my ears. I stiffen and look at them. They have the most perfectly innocent face on. But their hands are devious as they start to scratch exactly where it feels the best.

I feel myself melt as a loud purr rumble in my chest. Eliza uses that opportunity to scoot even closer, never stopping the scritches, as Anna settle without shame on my lap. I'm too weak to do anything or to protest, so I just let them be as I close my eyes. On auto-pilot, I put my right arm around Anna's waist, making her jump a little, and take Eliza's free hand in mine to massage her knuckles slowly.

I could fall asleep just like that. Could be great if it was the case every night... No, not that line of thought.