Kiss the Stranger

I woke at the sound, but it took me a moment to fully come to. Through the haze of sleep, the faint noise had seemed merely annoying. Even after I realized it was a groan, I lay there a while longer.
“…Hah!”
I truly snapped awake when I heard his ragged breathing. Reflexively I lifted my head—and realized I’d fallen asleep leaning on the bed’s headboard. I’d been tending his wound after working late and drifted off. Half in dreams, I blinked and at last looked at his face.

He lay half-curled, unmoving—but his pallor and rapid breaths told me he was trapped in a nightmare. I remembered waking him once before, soaked in cold sweat from a bad dream.
“Um…”
I hesitated—I’d named him “Kamar,” but never used it. Alone together, there’d been no chance. Now I needed to call him.

“Kamar.”
I swallowed and spoke the name I’d given him. Would he even hear it?
Hah… hah…

His breathing stayed rough. I regretted not using that name often.
“Kamar, open your eyes. Kamar!”
I called louder, again and again—but his nightmare only deepened. I grew anxious.
“Kamar, snap out of it. Wake up—it’s okay, it’s only a dream.”

“Ugh….”
“Kamar!”
I finally yelled. Rikal woke with a startled meow; I mumbled “Sorry,” then turned back to him. Sweat beaded on his forehead. His face twisted, he groaned as if in pain—his hand shook and he ground his teeth. I knew I couldn’t leave him.

“Kamar, open your eyes.”
“…….”
“Kamar!”

I gripped his shoulder and shook him. With all my strength, I jolted him—and at last his tightly shut lids fluttered open.
“…Huh?”
He blinked, bewildered, as if he didn’t know where he was or who I was. Relief flooded me that he’d woken.

“It’s okay, Kamar. You just had a bad dream… This place is safe, you’re fine.”
I repeated “You’re fine” as I patted his arm. Pushing back the damp hair from his forehead, he exhaled the breath he’d been holding—and then caught my hand and kissed my palm.
“…Thank goodness.”

His voice was low, hushed—quieter than ever. I still held his head and asked,
“Do you remember what you dreamed?”
He stayed silent, still holding my hand, then spoke slowly.

“It was raining… and my mother.”

He shut his eyes again.
“I hate rain.”
His voice trembled as he continued.

“When it rains… I remember that day. My mother, covered in blood in front of me… I couldn’t do anything, I just watched. With every thunderclap, every flash of lightning, I saw her… a blood-soaked corpse… her dead eyes looking at me.”
He began trembling again. Though his body was many times larger than mine, he looked more fragile than any creature.
“Gunshots…”

His voice broke.
“Mixed in with the thunder… gunshots…”
His trembling hand clutched mine. A single tear slipped from between his closed lids. He sighed with a sob, and I could bear it no longer.

“It’s all right.”
I bent and pressed a kiss to his temple.
“It’s okay. I’ll protect you.”

He opened his eyes. I looked into those violet eyes—made brighter by tears—and vowed:
“I’ll keep you safe, no matter what. You’ll never be hurt again. So don’t worry.”
He said nothing, simply stared at me. I offered a reassuring smile.

“I’m here.”
He gave a short laugh, then glanced at my hand in his enormous one—and I blushed at the contrast.
“Don’t forget you saved me, and you still feed me.”

I straightened my chest, trying to hide my embarrassment. To my surprise, he agreed.
“You’re right. If it weren’t for you, I’d be dead by now.”
His clear, sober face made me wonder if he’d just been crying.

“…You’re teasing me, aren’t you?”
I asked, suspicious. He answered with mock offense.
“Of course not.”
“Liar.”

I scowled, and he burst out laughing. His laughter chased away any remaining tension, so instead of teasing him back, I comforted him.
“Don’t be so upset. At least you remembered something. Soon you’ll recall happy memories too—though the painful ones came first, the good ones are many more.”
I stroked his hair to soothe him.

“You’ll have so many good memories, I’m sure.”
He watched me quietly, then asked softly,
“And you?”

I looked up.
“If you lost your memory, like I did—”
“…….”

“What do you think it’d be like?”
He waited in silence for my answer. If I lost my memory… I thought over the comforts I’d given him, the whispers I’d offered.
Would I have any good memories to recall?

I pictured my childhood—and these past days with him: the playful kisses, shared laughter, idle conversations.
If Kamar had never appeared, I’d have lived a meaningless routine, day after day, with no hope of rescue.
As that thought struck, my fingertips tingled.

“If I lost my memory…”
I spoke with difficulty.
“I wouldn’t want to forget you.”

Meeting his gaze, I continued.
“If I forgot you, I’d be so very sad.”
Finally, a faint smile curved his lips.

“Me too.”
He held my hand with one arm and stretched out the other. His hand at my nape guided my head forward. Standing so close, he paused—then without hesitation, his tongue brushed my lips. When I parted them, his tongue slipped inside. His lips met mine, soft and urgent.
I didn’t know if [N O V E L I G H T] I bent down or he drew me up—but soon we were kissing. He shifted the hand that’d held my head to my back and pulled me close. Our lips parted only briefly before meeting again. Drawn together, we rose onto the bed and he hovered above me.

Kamar’s body was immense and heavy, pressing me down like a rock and stealing my breath. My cheeks flushed hot when he propped himself on his arms and leaned in. The weight pressed deeper, and I felt him settle between my thighs. His massive length pressed against me through cloth, and I trembled uncontrollably. Despite my confusion, he kept kissing me. Tongue drawing mine, he ground against me in a slow, intoxicating motion. I couldn’t decide where to focus—on his kisses or his stirring below.
“….”
I felt him smile against my lips. He moved his arm to take my loose hand and guided it to his neck. Hesitant, I lifted my other hand to encircle him. Then he gripped my waist and suddenly rolled us over.

Ah.
My gasp vanished in his mouth, and when I blinked, I was pinned beneath him. He peeled his lips from mine.
“Are you okay now?”

He asked softly, though I didn’t ask. I only nodded, face burning, and he pressed me again—one arm around my waist, the other drawing my head down to his mouth. Saliva met as he moved his tongue, the wet sounds echoing in our stillness. I closed my eyes and surrendered to his kiss. Though ashamed, I felt heat rising between my legs. Kamar, too, was engorged. I momentarily longed for his touch below when his hand braced my hip—and then, without warning, he gripped my buttocks with fierce strength.
“Ah!”
I yelped and our kiss broke as I stared up at him. He whispered,

“…Do you hate it?”
He asked as if giving me an out—that I could say no now. I swallowed.
He would leave. I’d be alone in this oasis again, and I’d never dare hope for another visitor.

I mustn’t miss this chance—each memory would be sweeter and more painful to lose.
The answer felt inevitable. I spoke softly.
“No.”

“…Good.”
He tugged my hair and I opened my mouth to welcome his kiss.