With a long sigh, Lyse unlocked the front door of her apartment. Yet another good night’s sleep had been interrupted by the chimes ringtone of her phone, the one she’d set for her two closest friends. That particular alert so late at night always meant the same thing. It had for five years, since the three had met as high schoolers. Now Lyse was 22, had a place of her own, a nine-to-five job — and the same obligation to the world.
As she entered her humble apartment, a strange scent caught her attention. It was a pleasant, familiar aroma, one she couldn’t quite place except for knowing it didn’t belong in her home. Had something spilled and gone bad, she wondered as she walked into the den. No…it was actually quite nice, too nice to be spoiled food or drink.
The closer she came to her bedroom, the stronger the smell became. The door was closed — she never closed her bedroom door, given she had no real reason to. As Lyse neared the door, she felt…something within. A presence.
An Exomagia. The creatures that came from beyond the veil, that preyed on humankind’s hearts and souls. The monsters Lyse and her friends had fought for five years, aided by the magic of the Moonly Maiden. Lyse placed a hand to her chest, conjuring a pearlescent dress to replace her ordinary clothing. Her brown eyes became a deep blue, her blonde hair turned a light-blue, and sapphires sparkled into being on her attire.
With her magic summoned, Lyse grabbed hold of the doorknob, then charged into her bedroom.
As soon as she entered, the aroma flooded her nostrils, and she quickly recognized the smell. One of her girlfriends in high school had been a smoker. The scent of smoke was at a bit harsh at first to Lyse, but she got used to it in the company of that girl. And though Lyse always denied ever trying, she had been curious on occasion to take a puff, or even share a cigarette with her at the end of a date. But there was something about cold, wintry weather that somehow made the scent of her girlfriend’s smoke more pleasant to Lyse.
The fragrance filling her bedroom was so similar, and it wafted from the cigarette placed in the long holder held by the kitsune on her bed. She immediately recognized the Exomagia — a few prior had taken such a form, though none had borne such thick and fluffy tawny tails, or such a long and flowing mane of tawny hair. The body beneath the kimono-esque dress was shapely, accented by her tight attire.
Her appearance, coupled with the scent of her smoke, stunned Lyse enough that the kitsune was able to rise before Lyse and speak first. “I’m glad to see you finally made it home, after a long and stressful day. Or night, perhaps.”
Misty-blue smoke continued to rise from her cigarette, something Lyse found her eyes drawn to. “Wh…what are you doing here?” she snarled at the Exomagia. “What do you want with me?”
“You don’t need to be so aggressive,” replied the kitsune with a teasing smile. “I’m here to help you relax, to take away your stress.”
That was what that ex-girlfriend of Lyse’s had said sometimes about her smoking. “You’re going to be real stressed soon, after I banish you!” She raised a hand, the sapphires on the back of her gloves shining with pure light. “Crescent of Aquarius, let the pure waters quench the burning hatred of darkness!”
Light formed in her hand, solidifying into a pearly bow tipped with a sapphire at one end. Drawing back the shimmering bowstring, Lyse took aim, a blue arrow materializing in her weapon.
The kitsune simply took a long drag from her cigarette.
“Aqua Arrow!” cried Lyse.
Just before she fired, a thick cloud of smoke left the kitsune’s lips, shrouding her from view. The watery arrow passed through, striking the wall behind and disintegrating into bubbles.
The smoke wafted towards Lyse, and though she tried to hold her breath, the fragrance of it was even stronger. It reminded her of the nights she’d cuddle with that ex-girlfriend, while her date enjoyed a cigarette. While Lyse was kind of enjoying the smell, kind of wondering what smoking was like, daring herself to ask if she could try —
“I did say you should relax, maiden.”
The voice behind her prompted Lyse to turn around, and the kitsune lowered her cigarette just as she pursed her lips and exhaled.
Sweet, fragrance smoke flooded into Lyse’s face. Out of a sort of instinct, she inhaled through her nostrils. Even if she hadn’t, the strange soothing calm that washed away panic and unease would have still taken hold. Her stance loosened, and her weapon faded away as her will faltered.
Giggling softly, the kitsune said, “Isn’t that better? To not want to fight and struggle? Sometimes we all need a night where we just relax…” She drew closer, and her tails began to curl around her, towards Lyse. “…to lie in bed, peaceful in rest, enjoying simple pleasures…”
The tails began to stroke Lyse’s body. When they touched her exposed skin, she gasped. They were so soft, so fluffy, so gentle, that everywhere they touched felt the way her mind had from the kitsune’s smoke. She sighed gently, and sighed again as the kitsune exhaled another drag from her cigarette into Lyse’s face.
Slowly, Lyse’s body leaned into the kitsune’s.
“Yes,” whispered the kitsune. “Relax, Lyse.” She took a small puff from her cigarette, then without exhaling, locked her lips to Lyse’s.
Lyse inhaled, letting the smoke into her lungs. She hadn’t smoked enough as a teenager to develop a craving, yet the kitsune’s smoke seemed to satisfy some need Lyse had never known she had. When their lips parted, she saw a faint hint of smoke upon her breath, watched the kitsune take another drag.
They kissed again, this time with more smoke, then a third smoky kiss. This last time, Lyse exhaled a visible trail of smoke, reminded her of those times she’d smoked.
“Perfect,” whispered the kitsune. “Come…”
They walked side-by-side, the kitsune’s tails continuing to caress and stroke over Lyse’s body. “Who…who are you?” Lyse asked, her voice high and quiet. Any hint of panic or anger in her tone had vanished.
“You may call me Kyu,” replied the kitsune, as she sat down on the edge of Lyse’s bed — then pulled the maiden atop of her.
Lyse’s lips immediately went for hers, and the two kissed — not rapidly, with desire and heat, but slowly and tenderly. She could still taste the cigarette smoke upon Kyu’s breath, longed for it. She even drew away from kissing, as much as she enjoyed it, to let Kyu take a puff before they continued.
She didn’t know how long it lasted, but eventually Kyu gently nudged Lyse off of her, lower on the kitsune’s body. For a moment, Lyse wondered if they were going all of the way…until those fluffy fox-tails began to curl around Lyse’s torso and head. She shuddered with each graze upon her cheeks, each stroke along her body. One tail offered itself as a pillow to Lyse, and she nestled her head upon it. It bore a perfume-y scent of smoke, and so did the rest of the kitsune’s tails. Fresh waves of smoke washed over Lyse, blown her way by Kyu, each one provoking a happy new mewl from Lyse.
She would have made love if Kyu desired it. She could have pleasured herself, rapidly and intensely. But being in this loving, cuddly embrace, bathed in the sweet fragrance, relaxed and peaceful…it was better than anything. Better than mere friendships, better than having to drag herself out of bed once more to fight monsters, all while no one could know why she was usually tired and grumpy during the day…
She inched up closer, laying her head on Kyu’s chest, closer to her streams of cigarette smoke. As the kitsune took another drag, that feeling of craving welled within Lyse. It had been relaxing, hadn’t it? The feeling of the smoke cooling in her lungs, watching the smoke drift away as she blew it out, feeling the nicotine enter her system…
“Kyu…” she whispered, “may I have a cigarette?”
The kitsune smiled, and her tails squeezed Lyse gently. With a snap of her fingers, a cigarette appeared in Lyse’s lips. A second snap lit the end.
Lyse closed her eyes, taking hold of the cigarette with one hand as she took a long drag. Her exhale came out as a sigh, and she opened her eyes to watch the smoke drift away — eyes that now bore misty-grey pupils.
She finished her cigarette in the embrace of the kitsune’s tails, smiling wide and happily. Kyu had finished hers sometime prior, but she conjured and lit a new one in her holder once Lyse had finished hers.
After blowing a wave of smoke over Lyse, Kyu asked, “Aren’t you happy that I helped you relax like this?”
Lyse answered, “Mm-hmm.” The once-bright sapphires that adorned her magical dress had turned grey-blue as well, with a swirling appearance that resembled cigarette smoke.
Kyu lowered her holder to Lyse’s lips to let the maiden take a puff. “Then I suppose we should also help your friends relax too, don’t you think?”
Part 2
With one final converged attack of fire, water, and lightning, the draconic Exomagia let out a long, echoing roar as it dissipated into shadowy sparkles. The three maidens landed upon their feet, posing in the moonlight with wide smiles.
Lyse was the first to break away from her stance. “Good job, everyone,” she said. “I’ve…I’ve got to get going.”
Before Rebecca could say a word to her, she’d already transformed back to her normal self, and was walking away from her and Terri. She hadn’t known Lyse to hurry off like that after a fight; Lyse usually made sure her friends weren’t hurt or anything afterwards. Glancing to Terri, Rebecca asked, “Does Lyse seem a little…off to you?”
“She probably just wants to get home and get some sleep,” Terri replied, the crimson-haired magical girl giving a comfortable smile. “I can’t blame her…all these late nights really take a toll on me. Sometimes I wonder how I drag myself back to bed without staying as my maiden self.”
Rebecca couldn’t deny that. At 23 years of age, protecting the world from the Exomagia had become half of her life. Once, she’d been terrified for her life; now that she knew she had strong friends by her side, it was little different from her day job. Except for not paying, but perhaps the salary was “life without becoming slaves to monsters.”
Next to her, Terri transformed back to her normal self, a raven-haired young woman. “I’d better get to bed myself. Night, Rebecca.”
“Night,” Rebecca replied, staring off after Lyse. With a quick chant, Rebecca transformed back as well. Her golden hair became a normal blonde shade, her pretty dress returned to a white tee and blue jeans.
Though she figured she ought to get home herself, part of her remained worried about Lyse. Maybe she’d just ask Lyse what was wrong, if something was bugging her.
Thankfully, Lyse didn’t seem to notice Rebecca trailing her. After a few blocks, Lyse did stop, reaching into her purse. Her hands rose to her face, then…a cloud of smoke rose from her.
Lyse was smoking?! Rebecca knew she’d had an ex who smoked, but Lyse had insisted she’d never taken up the habit. Her stomach twisting, Rebecca hurried after her friend as she continued.
Finally, she cried out, “Lyse!”
Lyse froze.
When Rebecca caught up to her, the scent of Lyse’s cigarette lingered in the air. Rebecca usually hated the stench of smoke, but it seemed gentler around Lyse, perhaps because of the brand of cigarette. “Um, Rebecca…” Lyse said, turning around.
“Lyse,” Rebecca asked, “since when do you smoke?”
“Oh…” Lyse couldn’t look at Rebecca, even as she took a puff. “It’s just…it helps me to relax after a battle, that’s all…”
“But it’s a terrible habit!”
“Maybe.” Despite her apparent shame, Lyse continued to take long, deep drags, the fragrance of her smoke strengthening in the air.
“Lyse, you can’t start smoking just because things are difficult. You’ll get addicted, it’ll hurt your health.”
Shaking her head, Lyse uttered, “I’m sorry.”
She turned away, and continued on her way, puffing away as she walked. Rebecca watched, frustration and concern welling in her core. How long had Lyse been smoking? Rebecca had known other smokers, had known how the stench permeated their clothing and body, yet Lyse had never borne the tell-tale lingering smells. She must have started only recently.
She watched another exhale rise from Lyse before decided she had to get on home herself. They’d definitely talk about it in the morning.
***
Rebecca’s thoughts on what she’d observed the night before had taken a 180. Though she’d meant to tell Terri, to ask her to talk with Lyse too, a feeling of guilt had stayed Rebecca’s hand.
In the end, it was Lyse’s life. It wasn’t as if Rebecca didn’t have some vices of her own, even if hers were cheese sticks rather than cigarettes. And it wasn’t like Rebecca always saw Lyse smoking; maybe she did feel like she needed a smoke after the intensity of a fight against an Exomagia. After all, even as nervous as she’d been to be discovered, she’d looked so calm, taking frequent and deep drags from her cigarette, long flowing exhales…
She headed to Lyse’s apartment the next morning, ringing the doorbell. Lyse opened the door. “Hey, Rebecca,” she said, “is something wrong?”
Rebecca almost affirmed that, but didn’t want to guilt Lyse over her smoking more. “Can I come in?”
“Sure.”
As Rebecca entered Lyse’s apartment, the smell of smoke lingered in the air. Maybe Lyse did smoke more than Rebecca realized. The two sat down on the couch together, and Lyse said, “I…I know what you’ll want to talk about.”
“Yeah,” Rebecca answered. She spotted an ashtray on the coffee table, a cigarette in a long holder smoldering on the edge. “Lyse, I wanted to apologize about last night.”
“Why?”
“Well…maybe I was too judgemental. I was just worried about you, and want what’s best for you.” The smoke rising from the nearby cigarette smelled nice…too nice. “I don’t think you should smoke, but if you choose to, I’ll respect that.”
With a small smile, Lyse said, “Thank you, Rebecca.” She reached for a cigarette case on the table, taking one out. “Would…” she asked, glancing to Rebecca.
Though she thought Of course not, Rebecca just shook her head. As Lyse lit her cigarette, aromatic smoke wafting towards Rebecca, Rebecca had a thought occur to her. “Wait, whose cigarette is that?”
“That would be mine.”
A graceful hand reached for the cigarette holder as Rebecca turned, and before she fully took in the figure before her, a thick cloud of smoke filled the air before her. Rebecca expected to cough, to be revolted by the stench, yet instead…she shuddered at the aroma. Something about it was relaxing, even just the second- hand smoke.
Once the cloud faded, she saw the woman who held the cigarette holder. She bore nine tawny fox-tails, pointed ears atop her head, and a long mane of hair. In an instant, Rebecca knew what was before her. “Exomagia!”
Before she could stand, Lyse grabbed her wrist. “Rebecca…relax.”
And before Rebecca could realize what had happened, Lyse lunged for her, locking her lips to Rebecca’s. The flavor of smoke flooded Rebecca’s mouth, sank into her lungs, filled her mind. Her eyes widened, then her eyelids drooped a little.
As Lyse pulled out of her kiss, Rebecca uttered, “Lyse, you’re…you’re under her spell…”
“She’s under the spell of relaxation, indeed,” spoke the kitsune, blowing another thick cloud of smoke over Rebecca. She couldn’t stop herself from inhaling through her nose, a long deep breath. “After all, fighting my kind is so stressful. Everyone needs a way to unwind, and I’ve helped Lyse to find a way she enjoys.”
Rebecca’s eyes wandered over to Lyse, as if to beg her friend to break free of whatever spell the kitsune had over her. But watching Lyse take a drag, blow the smoke into Rebecca’s face… Hadn’t she always had a bit of a thing for Lyse? Her
cute water-themed maiden friend, the gentle spirit she was. She wouldn’t have succumbed to some monster’s influence. Maybe she really did enjoy this.
All the while, the two before her continued to smoke, continued to bathe Rebecca in smoke. Lyse scooted closer, turning Rebecca towards her, while the kitsune sat behind Rebecca, drawing her onto her lap. Those thick fluffy tails began to coil around Rebecca, sending tingles through her skin as they stroked her bare flesh. Rebecca rested back against the kitsune’s body as one tail stroked her cheek; even the kitsune’s tails bore the perfume-y scent of their cigarette smoke…
Lyse took a long drag from her cigarette, then kissed Rebecca. She inhaled the smoke from Lyse’s lungs into her own, feeling a strange buzz fill her head, then watched the smoke waft out of her nostrils. A sigh escaped her; maybe she understood why Lyse had taken up this habit.
“Before you judge your friend for smoking,” the kitsune said, “perhaps it’s only fair that you try it for yourself?”
“She’s right,” Lyse said. “After all, I always wondered what smoking was like. I actually did like it when I was younger, but now that I’ve started smoking regularly, I feel so much more relaxed.”
Lyse certainly enjoyed it. Maybe she would as well.
Without waiting for an answer, Lyse took a quick puff, then slipped her cigarette between Rebecca’s lips. And Rebecca’s curiosity got the best of her, prompting her to take a drag.
She expected to cough, as per most folks who started. Yet the smoke smoothly filled her lungs, left her throat in wispy bluish trails. Almost immediately, she felt more relaxed, calmer. The kitsune’s tails embracing her felt more comfortable, bringing a deeper warm and tingle into her core.
Next, the kitsune placed her cigarette holder between Rebecca’s lips, and she took a drag from that. The two girls on each side of her alternated, letting Rebecca puff on their cigarettes and taking a drag from their own as she shared the other’s. Both exhaled over Rebecca, leaving her constantly wreathed in smoke.
When both Lyse and the kitsune’s cigarettes were finished, Lyse reached for the cigarette case. She placed one in the kitsune’s holder, and the kitsune lit it with a snap of her fingers. Lyse held one out for the kitsune to light before taking a puff.
And she placed a third between the lips of her friend Rebecca, whose pupils were now the same smoky-blue as Lyse’s, who immediately took a drag as soon as the kitsune lit it.
Lyse drew closer in, joining the embrace of the kitsune’s tails. “My friend’s name is Kyu,” Lyse said, gently blowing smoke in Rebecca’s face. “She’s the one who invited me to start smoking, who showed me how relaxing it can be.”
“Are the two of you…lovers?” Rebecca asked, taking a puff and exhaling towards Lyse. Something about the act seemed so playful, and she trembled inside as the kitsune exhaled over the two coiled in her tails.
Lyse could only giggle softly. “We do cherish each other’s company,” Kyu answered, “and we’ll both be happy to invite you into our embrace.”
The thought of all three of them, lying in bed together, making love…feeling the kitsune’s tails wrapped around her naked body, the three of them smooching in- between puffs of their post-coital smokes.
“I’d love that,” Rebecca said, taking her longest and deepest drag yet, letting the calming buzz flood her body and mind.
“Me too,” Lyse replied. “But I’d really love to invite Terri to join us, too. Wouldn’t you?”
All three of the women shared a playful chuckle, followed by a puff of their cigarettes.
Part 3
With a combined attack from the three, the manticore Exomagia burst into light, the blast nearly sending the three Maidens flying. But they stood their ground as its energy faded, leaving no trace of the monster.
Smiling, Terri said to her friends, “Good job, girls. That was a tough one.”
Lyse and Rebecca both nodded, transforming back to normal. “See you later, Terri,” Rebecca said, while Lyse repeated the same.
Terri didn’t quite change back yet. She watched her two friends depart, walking together down the street. It seemed like tradition for the three of them, as close as
they were, to all go their separate ways after defeating one of their foes. Yet as of late, Lyse and Rebecca always went off together. Terri had her suspicions on that, but figured with a chuckle that it was her friends’ right to keep any possible relationship a secret from her.
Now Terri transformed, and as if she was just an ordinary woman in the night, she walked home.
***
It was the next day that she discovered their secret by accident.
Terri hadn’t intended to hang out with them that day; she had to do her shopping, and as she returned home with four bags full of groceries, she spotted Lyse and Rebecca walking on the other side of the street. “Hey girls!” she shouted, just as Rebecca lifted a hand to her mouth.
She was…smoking?
Rebecca waved back as she exhaled smoke, while Lyse seemed to hide one hand behind her back. There wasn’t any traffic and no nearby intersection, so Terri hurried across the street.
“What’s up, Terri?” asked Rebecca, her left hand bracing up the arm that held her cigarette.
“Rebecca,” Terri asked, an eyebrow raised, “since when you do smoke?”
Her friend chuckled and shrugged. “A while now. Honestly, it just helps take the edge off, especially after we fight an Exomagia.”
Behind her, Lyse slowly lifted her own cigarette to her lips, as if she’d been trying to conceal it but the craving had been too much. “Sorry…” she said, smoke wafting from her lips.
“I mean, you shouldn’t smoke,” Terri said, “but I’m not going to be a jerk about it.” Terri’s sister was a smoker too, and always nice enough to not smoke around Terri, who’d always hated cigarette smoke. Thinking about that now made her realize that she didn’t catch a hint of the acrid odor she usually loathed. Whatever brand of cigarettes her friends were smoking, more smokers should have used.
“Need a hand with those groceries?” asked Rebecca.
“If you two aren’t busy, I wouldn’t mind the help.” Both of her friends took one bag each in their free hand, tagging along with Terri back home.
***
Now that the cat was out of the bag, it seemed there wasn’t a single time Terri hung out with her friends that they weren’t already smoking or lit up a cigarette partway through. She’d expected to be repulsed by the smoke, yet…
Maybe it was just her being more willing to tolerate it because of her friends. When Terri passed by other people on the street smoking, she hurried away from the stench as quickly as possible. Yet with Lyse and Rebecca…their cigarettes had a pleasant aroma, an almost perfume-y scent, as if it held none of the unpleasantness of regular smoke. She didn’t mind it at all, whether they were outside or even in Terri’s house. The two had been about to step outside for a smoke, but Terri insisted it was fine if the window was open.
It was fine…until she had the dream.
What led her to find the two of them, she didn’t recall afterwards. But Terri stumbled upon the two, some part of her knowing it was a dream. Her friends stood together, playful smiles upon their lips. Their hair, rather than their natural colors, was that of their magical forms: blue for Lyse, golden for Rebecca.
But protruding from their hair were two fox-ears each, and both had a swishing fox- tail.
And both of them were completely naked.
As Terri approached, curiously unable to say a word, Lyse raised a finger to her lips. Magical energy formed into a slender rod in her mouth — a cigarette. Rebecca waved a finger before the tip to light it, the tip glowing as Lyse took a long drag, exhaling the smoke over Rebecca’s face. Rebecca smiled, inhaling deeply, as Lyse passed her the cigarette. She blew her smoke at Lyse in turn, and this exchange continued a few times.
Then they began to kiss after each drag, long smooches that ended with both girls exhaling smoke. Their bodies pressed against each other now, their free hands embracing the other. Why was Terri seeing all of this? Why couldn’t she take her
eyes away from this sight? The sweet smoke barely reached Terri, its faint fragrance drifting into her nostrils.
As their cigarette neared its end, the two broke from a smoke-filled kiss…and looked to Terri.
Both of them approached her, sliding an arm around her, leaning against her body — oh, Terri was naked too!
Rebecca took a puff, blowing the wondrous smoke over Terri’s face. Terri closed her eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply. Next, Lyse did the same, and the smoke seemed even sweeter this time. She’d happily drift back into normal slumber like this…
With enough cigarette left for one drag, Lyse raised it towards Terri’s lips, and Terri let it slip between them.
Then Terri’s eyes sprang open.
Darkness greeted her. She laid in her bed, all alone, clad in pyjamas and certainly not naked. No smoky aroma lingered in the air.
Had she just been…fantasizing about her friends? About them smoking? Maybe she was envious of the relationship she was sure they’d started, but of smoking? Terri shook her head as she sat up. As much respect as she had for her friends, and despite how she didn’t mind their cigarettes, it was still a gross habit. She certainly didn’t want to smoke, and maybe it was her responsibility as a friend to talk to them abou —
Then she sensed it.
The arrival of an Exomagia.
Terri scrambled to get her clothes on, her concentration too focused on preparing to ponder one last question she’d held on her mind.
***
She was the first to arrive in the park where she’d sensed the monster’s presence. Terri had transformed along the way, her hair a deep crimson and her body now clad in a red frilled dress.
The moment she spotted the monster’s silhouette, she summoned a flaming silver sword, raising it before her. Behind her, Lyse and Rebecca’s footsteps arrived behind her. “Exomagia!” Terri shouted. “We’ll banish you back to the darkness!”
A snicker left the Exomagia as she approached. The woman was a kitsune-esque monster, with prominent fox-ears and nine thick tails trailing behind her. In her hand was a long, slender rod with smoke drifting up from the end —
—!
“You sound so agitated,” spoke the kitsune, lifting her long cigarette holder. “You should think about relaxing, calming your body and mind.”
As the kitsune took a long drag, Terri’s mind replayed the strange dream. That her friends had been smoking in her fantasy was odd enough. But the unusual features they had possessed…
She turned back to Lyse and Rebecca, and as they took drags from their cigarettes, she spotted the strange smoky color in their eyes.
The two blew their smoke into Terri’s face, and Terri couldn’t help but to inhale the fragrance. It made her head spin a little, flooded her mind with a feeling that took the edge of the panic that’d filled her mind at the realization.
She managed to respond, “Lyse…Rebecca…what has she done to…”
The kitsune’s tails brushed against Terri’s exposed skin, bringing a euphoric shudder to her. Their curling embrace pulled her body around to face the Exomagia.
With a long inhale from her cigarette, the kitsune locked her lips to Terri’s.
Terri’s lungs flooded with the kitsune’s smoke, her lips remaining locked to Terri’s to keep her from exhaling. A light-headed feeling welled in Terri, but it was a nice feeling. The flavor of the smoke, too…it was just as nice as its smell…
When the kitsune finally released her kiss, Terri watched the smoke trail up from her own lips and nostrils. The dancing grey-blue was almost hypnotic to watch…
She felt herself be turned around in the embrace of the tails, to face Lyse and Rebecca once more. “You girls…” Terri said weakly.
Lyse shuddered as one tail stroked her cigarette-holding arm while she took a puff. “You don’t need to worry about Kyu, Terri. She’s our friend.”
While Lyse exhaled her smoke over Terri, Rebecca added, “If it wasn’t for her, the two of us wouldn’t have been able to relax enough to realize our feelings for each other.”
“So…the two of you…” Terri breathed in Rebecca’s smoke.
Both giggled. “Honestly,” Lyse said, “I’ve always thought you were cute too, Terri.” Terri’s body tingled at that comment, and at the sight of Lyse’s next puff.
“Why don’t you relax with us, Terri?” Rebecca asked. “Let the stress of being a Maiden drift away.” Rebecca leaned in, the kitsune’s tails rubbing along her as she gave Terri a smoke-filled kiss.
Her two friends began to alternate such kisses, all while Kyu’s tails lovingly stroked Terri. Her body danced with arousal, desire…craving. Every smoke-filled kiss made her feel nicer in every way, every wave of smoke from the kitsune behind her.
Once her two friends finished their cigarettes, two new ones materialized in their hands — with a third in the hand of the kitsune that lowered before Terri’s lips. “Won’t you try it with us, Terri?” asked Lyse, before putting her cigarette in her mouth.
It took only a few moments of staring for Terri to make up her mind. The tails further cuddled her as she took the cigarette from Kyu, and all three girls leaned in close as a spark rose from Terri’s fingers.
All three took simultaneous drags. Terri expected to cough as the smoke filled her lungs, but perhaps all the smoky kisses had prepared her for that. The flavor, the aroma, the even deeper feeling of relaxation that sank over her body as she exhaled the smoke.
Chuckling, giving a coy wink of her grey-blue eyes, Rebecca said, “You look pretty hot when you exhale, Terri. Like a pro.”
Terri glanced back with her own smoke-colored eyes. “Such a flirt…”
Lyse’s bedroom was where the kitsune Kyu soon made her lair, and where she spent most of her time with her three Maidens. She loved nothing more than to lie in the bed, smoking, her tails coiled around the three girls while they enjoyed their cigarettes and each other.
She shared smoke-filled kisses with Lyse now, while Rebecca and Terri took turns sharing a cigarette. By now, with all three under her power, her darkness had finally consumed their light. The three former defenders of humankind were human no longer, all three sporting fox-ears and fox-tails like their mistress. The two others bore three tails, a mark of their power as former Moonly Maidens, but Lyse bore a fourth — a gift from the kitsune, one Kyu had blessed her with via a smoke- filled kiss.
Without their protection, humankind stood little chance against the Exomagia.
But that didn’t stress any of the girls, as they let relaxation fill their minds and lungs with each puff of their cigarettes.