#kunen

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The stains of Summer heat were in the air and the house was nearly complete, needing only the finishing touches on the roofing, when Kunen heard an unusually loud bustle coming from the market. Curious, he paused in his task of getting back with the tar for the roof and asked a passerby, "Why all the commotion all of a sudden?"

"Travelers, returning to the Neightbourhood." The passerby said.

Travelers? Returning?

Kunen dropped his basket and sprinted straight for the hubbub, nearly forgetting his hat in the rush. It took some weaving through the gathered crowd, but sure enough, at its centre, were Paco and Muri.

Muri spotted him first and shouted above the noise, "Brother, ho!"

Paco's eyes were quick to snap right onto Kunen, finding him as easily as one breathes. "Kunen!" Paco exclaimed.

His smile was genuine. His eyes held that happy crinkle at the edges. Kunen's whole person flung himself forward, his hat flying off this time, and he exclaimed back, "Paco!"

He grabbed his friend up in a desperate, yearning hug and Paco hugged him right back, laughing and even twirling them a bit. Kunen didn't spare one thought to the crowd around them, too caught up in his friend's warm and present and lovely being.

He was home. He was truly home.

Such sweeter thoughts had never before existed.

When they did finally have to pull apart, Kunen raised his hands to cup Paco's face and said in a gush, "Look at you! A full-fledged traveler!"

"Look at you!" Paco returned, grinning and placing a hand over one of Kunen's. "Got a new coat like a proper adult!"

"You like it? I like your new look, it's lovely on you."

"Like it? I love it! It suits you."

There rose that impulse again, that dizzying desire, and Kunen didn't fight it this time. He leaned in to kiss Paco, soft and sweetly on the lips. Paco returned it as enthusiastically as the hug and everything was sparks of popping flames in his chest.

He loved Paco. He was in love with his best friend. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with the lovely Muckrish he was currently kissing. Kissing!

When, again, they had to separate, Kunen refused to go very far. He pressed his forehead to Paco's and whispered a breathless, "Welcome home, my dear Paco."

"Wonderful to be home, Kunen my love." Paco said quietly in answer.

"Okay, break it up, you two." Muri said loudly, catching both of their attention away from each other for a moment. "Your lovey-dovey schtick's gonna make me barf."

The house! Kunen lit right back up with excitement as he tugged Paco along, towards their Forest. "I have to show you what I've done! I had help from Hikari and Paulina, of course, but I think you'll like it! I hope you'll like it."

Paco laughed and came along, the two of them only pausing to grab up Kunen's hat and the basket he'd abandoned. Muri rolled her eyes at them as she followed, but even she couldn't interrupt just how absolutely giddy Kunen was to have his friend back.

His love. His heart's long grown weed. His dear and lovely Paco.

He would never tire of thinking such things. No candy could be as sweet as the song which practically rang from every bit of his being. With Paco's hand in his, all was right in the world. All was right in his world so long as he had his friends by his side and nothing to uproot that anymore.

Kunen

They/Them

Red hair (flared out), green eyes, triangular nose, pointed ears, waxy green skin, short blue-green Oni tail, sharp fangs and claws

Casual clothes: green hoodie, black long-sleeved button-up, brown cargo pants, black boots, black fingerless gloves

5 feet 2 inches

15 ~ 20 years old (thin and wiry)

Forest Sprite / Blue Oni mix; a perfect blend of both of their worst instincts (secretive, suppresses his bigger emotions, connects himself to a single other being)

Tends to be annoyed with others. It took him until he was an adult to learn to relax around his friends.

Paco is his heart's biggest yearning and the one being he's connected himself to. He has two older half-sisters and was raised mostly by his father.

(His alternate outfit is what he wears once he's an adult. The hat and coat were a gift from his family)

Paco

He/Him

Fluffy brown hair (waterproof), blue eyes, big and round nose, tanned and slimy skin (his hands and feet are dry, cracked, and discoloured), webbing between his toes and fingers (also cracked), enflamed gil markings on his neck

Casual clothes: orange bandanna, blue polo shirt, orange shorts, white crew socks, red and white sneakers

5 feet 5 inches

15 ~ 20 years old (has some chub / blubber to him) (he's transmasc)

Muckrish; his discolouration and unnaturally dry hands/feet come from having been born in the City and being raised there until he was around 10

Peace loving and friend to all to an infuriating degree. Kindness is his most prominant trait, but he's careful not to be a doormat. Wears his heart on his sleeve, even when filled with his own barbs.

Kunen is his best friend. He's also besties with Kunen's sister (Muri). He and Paulina were sweet on each other as children, but settled on just being friends.

(His alternate outfit is what he wears as an adult when he and Muri are travelling back to Kunen's Forest. He's more sensitive about his discolouration now having met other Muckrish)

Hikari

She/Her

Wild black hair, four golden diamond eyes, ashen grey skin, has no nose and no ears in this form

She wears a long sleeveless white sweater and white shorts in her humanoid form, keeping her feet bare

5 feet 5 inches in humanoid form

7 feet 2 inches in her full wolf form

15 ~ 20 years old; shifts her form depending on her mood

Werewolf; was abandoned as a child and grew up taking care of herself in the Forest. Gets along well with Muri (Kunen's sister) and Paulina (Paco's friend).

Fairly nonchalant and chill. Enjoys teasing and playing with her friends. She cares deeply, but tries not to show it. She's probably the one who "gets" Kunen the most.