"Good morning Sweetie."

  A child stretched in his mothers arms, yawning, waking up and blinking quite uncertainly. Everything seemed so… familiar. Safe. Right.

  He even began to cry softly, earning a soft noise from his mother attempting to console him.

  He hung around his mother's neck for support and cried for a good bit, unable to stop as she rocked him and even went about feeding him some berries.

  –

  ~Ahaha, look at him, crying already. He's a bit pathetic... Well, I guess that suits him.~

  ~Mm… he is in a childs body again after all. I'm sure you cried all the time when you were that old.~

  –

  Why was he hearing voices besides his mothers? Rou's eyes focused and he looked around at the home. Despite the familiarity, he couldn't quite put his fingers on just… what was going on. Sure, he'd watched the scene countless times on the high-dimensional screen, seen the small cottage, in the little village. But at the moment, it didn't seem right.

  What was wrong?

  Seeing her son's face so scrunched up in thought, Shiela giggled and gave him another kiss on top of his forehead, hugging under his butt and dancing around with him gently as he'd finally stopped crying. It wasn't until Rou was rocked back that she seemed to stare at his face, at his body, at… everything.

  And he stared back at her.

  "..."

  "..."

  "Dominic!"

  Shiela's panicked voice suddenly yelped out as she trotted outside the cottage door. She found him not far outside, especially as he'd ran towards her.

  "What's wrong?"

  Rou could see his father, everything so familiar. Oh right, this was the first day he reincarnated. Wait, first day? Was? Rou reached up with one hand shakily and held his head and let out a soft whine, his parents looking at him quite uncertainly.

  –

  Before Rou realized it, he was in the church with the older feline priest that he enjoyed in the last life, whose laugh was rather charming in its own right. Having healing magic cast on him. It didn't seem to help with the headache, though Rou finally asked in his mind.

  'Affection, what's wrong?'

  "Hm? There's nothing wrong. …why are your parents freaking – ah shit, I forgot to… damnit, damnit!"

  It was the same voice as the one he'd heard in his head, but somehow, it wasn't. It felt like it came from someone else.

  –

  ~Oops, you forgot something?~

  ~Ah, haha, that's right, I forgot that after he customized how his body looked that I didn't do anything to prevent others from noticing the changes and…~

  –

  As Rou listened to the two voices, all of which hurt him deep inside, but still left him with a headache.

  –

  "It would seem Affection is suggesting he's okay. At least, that she's aware of things and not to worry."

  –

  Rou was in and out of awareness from the headache before he finally shook his head and things seemed normal again. Of course, by that time, he was already back home and Rou wasn't sure how long had passed. It was night, his parents quite undressed as they often were for bed. The three hugging each other under the warm blankets and now the other two, him excepted, were asleep. His mother behind, arms around him as they ever were, and his fathers arms around them both from the other side.

  Why did this all feel so painfully nostalgic?

  Wait, this isn't…

  It suddenly clicked.

  'I'm back home… but that's not possible, everyone… AAAH'

  His head suddenly felt as if it was going to split again as he heard a soft voice from somewhere deep inside his soul.

  ~Easy, don't think too much, okay? You might not remember everything yet, but it'll make sense one day. You trust me, trust my voice, yes?~

  It was true, Rou implicitly trusted the voice and he suddenly felt warm and safe, both outside, and inside, as if his very soul was being hugged and soothed. The headache faded and it wasn't long before he fell asleep again.

  –

  It hadn't even taken a few days for Rou to start to realize he had somehow come back in time, from somewhen at least. Though he couldn't remember all the details, he could feel that he wasn't alone. Not only were his parents back, having gone somewhere, but he was back here in this home that he also felt like he hadn't been to in forever.

  As Rou sat on his mothers lap in the bathing room being cleaned off with a sprayer tool as was quite common, she seemed to have accepted by this point his physical changes. His slight changes in his looks. And… even the little 'ring' colored patch of fur on his left and right ring fingers.

  For some reason, Rou felt there should only have been the one on his right hand, and white in color, contrasting to his black fur on his forearms and hands.

  But instead, there was two, the right red, and his left pink in color.

  Rou almost felt as if the two voices deep inside him were tied to these.

  He idly reached up to touch the side of his head like he was scratching it, but instead summoned his screen.

  Status Screen 1.03

  Name: Rou Erial(???)(???)

  Titles: [Pathetic] [Miracle Child] [Affection's Pet Project] [Beloved of the Gods] [???????????????????]

  Strength: G - 1 [What do you expect, you're a child.]

  Agility: G - 1 [What do you expect, you're a child.]

  Intelligence: D - 1++ [A child with an adults memories from another world.]

  Constitution: G - 1+ [Still a child, but has Healthy Body perk.]

  Charisma: E - 10 [Cute child.]

  Magic - Power: G - 1 [Unlearned]

  Magic - Control: G - 1 [Unlearned]

  Magic - Capacity: G - 1 [Unlearned]

  Perks

  [Subject to ???'s whims - Locked by ???] [Subject to the whims of the Gods] [Healthy Body] [Customized Looks] [???????????????????]

  Status

  [Unique Soul - Locked by ???] [Merged Memories - 4% - Locked by ???] [???????????????????]

  Notice:

  Status System partially locked by ???

  It all seemed different from what Rou remembered. Unique Soul? Merged Memories? Who or what was ??? all over his status screen? It was if it was broken, the question marks trailing off the screen itself into the nearby recesses of the background.

  But as Shiela saw Rou looking up at the ceiling from her lap, she looked down at him briefly, then up again, and back down.

  "What're you looking at sweetie?"

  "Mmm… don't know."

  She smiled contently and began to brush out his fur and peace returned for a bit.

  'Hey, Affection?'

  It was a thought that just… came about idly.

  "Yes?"

  ~Yes?~

  …

  Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  ~Oh right, he's not talking to me.~

  "..."

  'I love you.'

  Affection, in her domain in the high-dimensional realm, stared in confusion. "Love… have you lost your fucking mind?! We just met not all that long ago! So weird!"

  –

  ~Ahahahaha~ Laughing rang out from somewhere inside Rou's soul and he wound up smiling at the sound of it. ~Right, we haven't… really spent time together yet. But at this rate, won't we… not have the same past?~

  ~I think it's alright. Once Rou reaches a safe point, your soul can join with your old body? But mine… mm. Not sure I can with that stupid contract of Borgain's.~

  ~Right, right, we'll have to come up with something.~

  ~Please. In this life… I don't want to ever be sad. I just want us to be happy. All three of us, happy forever.~

  –

  As Rou listened, it hurt his head a little, but they'd realized that hugging his soul from within and sharing warmth did help ease the pain whenever they talked.

  'Your tail is beautiful and you have the softest fur and-'

  "Well of course I do, so kind of you to notice, but that doesn't mean you can try and sweet talk me like I'm some common strumpet in a bar! What's wrong with you anyways?"

  'Mm… not sure. But whenever I think about you, Affection, I find myself smiling.'

  Affection was quiet a moment longer before snorting softly, "So weird."

  Notice

  Title Gained - [Fluffy Lover]

  Title Gained - [Good Tastes]

  Rou and the two other souls within him began to laugh, in fact, the souls inside cackled and laughed much more than Rou did, though Shiela seemed quite confused, albeit happy none the less, that Rou was laughing.

  –

  "Mom, dad."

  A couple months later, having simply enjoyed and soaked up his life with his parents again in a way that felt so perfect, the two looked at him over dinner and asked, "Yes?" at least, his dad asked, Shiela simply looked at him curiously.

  "Do you… trust me?"

  It was such a strange question that the two looked at each other in confusion, then back at Rou.

  "Yes?"

  "I mean, you're a kid, but you're also our son, so yes? What's wrong?"

  "..."

  Rou whined internally as he wasn't sure how to bring up what he was thinking and feeling. He was only a child after all! How would he even know these things, or know to ask, or know what to suggest? He could always use Affection's name, right?

  'Hey, dear?'

  "Dear? DEAR?! I AM NOT YOUR DEAR! HHMPH!"

  Affection seemed annoyed, but after a few moments relented and returned to ask, "I'm not your damned dear, but what do you need?"

  'I think something is wrong, but I don't know how else to tell my parents and have them believe me. Can I use your name?'

  "Uh, I guess I don't mind since you asked, but… what do you want to bring up with them?"

  'Just listen. You can… share my senses, right?'

  "...yes, I can, but how do you know about that?"

  'Just a guess. Go on.'

  "..."

  Notice

  Affection is sharing your senses

  Rou smiled slightly before saying towards his parents, "Something scary might happen in the forest soon. Maybe it already happened. Maybe… you can stop it. Affection wants you two to come look with me. Please?"

  "I SAID NOTHING OF THE SORT!"

  'I asked if I could use your name and you agreed, you can't take that back!'

  "But… UGH, stupid brat, why would you even… there's nothing even out there."

  'I can't get rid of the feeling that there is. I know we don't know each other well, but please, trust me Affection?'

  "...aaah screw it, fine. I'll go along with this but if you burn me, Rou, I'll turn your fur green or something."

  "That's a lot to ask, Rou, why is it scary?"

  Rou pointed at Dominic and said, "Fang. Claw." the second word came as he pointed at his mother. "Bad fang. There's a bad fang. Somewhere in the woods… I don't know when. Already, or now, or soon. Between…" he thought about it and heard a voice in his soul.

  ~Carneltown and Lamelia Village.~

  "...Carneltown and Lamelia Village. In the woods. Between here and the capital. In…" Rou seemed to think and pointed, "...in that direction."

  His parents were a bit freaked out, but finally Shiela asked, "Affection you said? But why would she tell you this? Why ask us?"

  "She says she is being safe."

  For a bit, all were quiet, then Dominic said simply, "I'll go look."

  "No."

  "??? I'm your father, you do not tell me no like that."

  "No." Rou stated again, looking at him resolutely. That flat stare left Dominic rather awkward.

  "Fine then. What?"

  "You, me, mom. You are fast. Mom can heal. And I will know… if the scary is already there, or not. Together."

  "No, you are not going."

  "I will go."

  The two sighed, not quite understanding why their sweet child was saying all this and being so stubborn. It wasn't just Affection telling him to. They could see it in his expression. He was being stubborn.

  "I refuse to let you go no matter how much you say otherwise. You can kick, scream or fight me all you want but you are not going anywhere."

  "Affection says she will ask your mother."

  "...how DARE you threaten me like that."

  Shiela's tone was suddenly venomous as she looked at Rou, then up at the ceiling, before growling, "I am not putting him in danger, and don't you DARE to ever use her against me."

  "Mom…"

  "WHAT?!" Shiela snapped at Rou before realizing it wasn't Affection, but him speaking, and instantly folded as she saw tears in his eyes, running to grab him and hug him, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I wasn't yelling at you, I didn't mean it!"

  One of the perks of still being a child. Rou could cry easily by hurting himself. He kicked his toe against the table when she was complaining to Affection and it just worked out perfectly timing-wise~

  "Clever little shit."

  ~Hah, so manipulative.~

  –

  It would seem the threat of them, or Dana, did actually wrap up Shiela and Dominic into things quite quickly. Especially as Rou apologized softly the next morning when he was picked up by his mother and bundled up in thick clothes and tied loosely around her midsection, facing her.

  "Affection says she's sorry. I'm sorry. But it has to be us. Without… without dad we aren't fast enough. Without you, we might get hurt, and without me you might… not come back. Us. Please?"

  His parents looked at him before sighing and both hugging him. "Okay. But when this is all done, your mother, Affection, and I are going to have a talk."

  "Right, there has to be a better way than bringing you along. You're a child."

  "Mm… this is why."

  Status Screen 1.03

  Name: Rou Erial

  Status

  [Healthy Body]

  "I can smell it. You can't. It smells scary."

  "...you smell things?"

  "Mm. You smell warm, safe, and comfortable." Shiela was instantly won over, hugging Rou tightly and seemingly close to getting weepy as she had a habit of.

  "And me?" Dominic was curious as to what he smelled like to his son. Rou, feeling impish, responded softly, "Mom. You're always hugging her when you think I can't see you." Both parents promptly felt awkward, but amused as well, not having thought that their son had caught onto their frequent bouts of trying for another child.

  Or at least going through the motions.

  Of course, Rou and the two other souls in him got a good laugh out of their expressions.