Prey and Predator

I'm back with another chapter. Enjoy!!

The night was quiet, with only the soft sound of rustling leaves outside the window and the occasional creak of the house settling around us. I lay on the futon Inko had set up for me on the floor, staring up at the ceiling, feeling strangely restless. Inko and I ended up talking for another hour or so before she decided to go to bed. I could hear Deku's soft breathing from the bed.

But something was off.

My ears twitched, picking up a change in Deku's breathing. It was subtle—something only my wolf senses could catch—but it was there.

It was shallow, uneven, almost like he was trying to hold something back. I frowned, my eyes able to see clearly through the darkness.

"Deku?" I whispered, keeping my voice low. He didn't respond, just curled up tighter, his body tense, trembling. His bunny ears twitched and flattened against his head, his legs curling up close to his chest. My chest tightened. What the hell was going on?

I pushed the blanket off and stood up, moving closer to the bed. "Oi, Deku, you okay?" I asked, a little louder this time. His nose twitched, and he let out a soft whimper, his face scrunched up in pain. His entire body shook slightly, as if trying to make himself as small as possible, and alarm bells started ringing in my head.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I demanded, my voice edged with panic as I reached out to touch his shoulder. He flinched, his body tensing even more, and his legs kicked slightly like a rabbit trapped in pain. "Shit, Deku, are you hurt?"

"N-no," he managed to say, his voice strained and breathless, his bunny ears pressing down hard against his head. "It's... I'm fine, Kacchan. J-just go back to sleep."

Like hell I would. He looked like he was in agony, curled up like a scared rabbit. Panic and frustration bubbled up inside me, and I clenched my fists, hating how helpless I felt.

"What do you mean, 'fine'?" I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended. "You're obviously not fine! Just tell me what's happening so I can help, damn it!"

Deku shook his head, tears forming in the corners of his eyes. His ears trembled slightly. "I-it's nothing, Kacchan. I-I promise."