That night they dined on a thick stew Fuku had made from the provisions he’d gathered in the city.

It was Ben’s first hot meal since being freed from the Labyrinth, and with just a touch of salt it was the most fantastic thing he could remember eating. He recalled similar stews from when he had been human, but some of the ingredients Fuku had added were new, bringing out flavors unlike anything he’d ever tasted—slightly spicy, with a hint of sweetness and a light tang.

Once they’d eaten their fill and Fuku had scraped the sides to get every last bit. Ben leaned back against the stump he’d carried over, and Fuku nestled comfortably against his side.

Ben understood his companion had other desires, but he had explained his situation. Even so, the Tanuki stayed close and continued to show affection. And although it was different from how he would have behaved as a human, he genuinely welcomed the closeness—even if his hide still twitched involuntarily at the touch. Some traumas could not be healed so quickly.

“That was an excellent meal, Fuku. Thank you,” Ben said once they were settled. It was not the first time he had said it, but he felt it needed repeating.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it. I used some spices from Japan—the path from Kakuriyo, my home realm, leads there. The flavor was a little different from what I remember, but still familiar too.”

“Hmm… something that evokes a memory of home is always welcome,” Ben rumbled. He wasn’t sure what Fuku meant by ‘home realm,’ but he let it pass. He wanted Fuku to feel comfortable enough to share his past in his own time.

Fuku just sighed and relaxed, patting his full stomach.

Minutes passed as they sat and the sun dipped below the horizon. The glade darkened and the fire popped, casting flickering shadows that danced upon the ground and into the surrounding trees. The small creek burbled in the gorge, its trickling lulling the overfed pair to a restful doze.

“Ben,” Fuku asked, his voice soft, “are you sure you want to go with me?”

Ben was half-asleep and took a moment to think of what to say. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“Well… it’s going to be dangerous. I can hide and sneak around the monsters and guardians of the dungeons, but that’s not going to be an option for you. Plus, to gather information, I need to go into cities. There’s a lot of walking and camping, and nights usually aren’t like this, with a nice fire and a full tummy. It’s usually cold and hungry.”

Fuku paused, but Ben could tell the thought wasn’t finished.

“And… I don’t want to make you uncomfortable,” he said quietly. “I mean, you know I like you, and I get that you don’t really feel the same, and I…”

Ben pulled Fuku in closer to his side. “I am used to traveling, or at least, I used to be. The cities… well, we have a solution for that now, right?” 

He paused, unsure how to say the rest, how he truly felt. Mostly because he wasn’t sure himself. Things were changing too fast, he was having a very hard time keeping up.

“You don’t make me uncomfortable Fuku. It has been a very long time since I had anyone to even talk to. In fact, you have given me the greatest gift of all: a friend. I am just sorry I can’t reciprocate in the way you’d like.”

As he spoke, something inside him began to loosen, a barrier in his mind holding back his emotions. 

Ben could feel his chest begin to tighten, he felt his muscles begin to shiver. His breath started to come in quick shallow gasps—as his mind finally processed where he was and what had happened to today. 

Then the barrier broke.

He’d been running on adrenaline since leaving the Labyrinth. He’d been dealing with everything in the moment, not secure enough to process all the things in his life that ate at him.

So for the first time since being freed he really slowed down and considered where he was—when he was. The world was so different now, and he wasn’t sure he had a place in it.

Before he could stop himself—before he knew what he was doing—his mouth opened and words began to spill out. 

“It’s so much… It's changed so much. I don’t know who I am or how to function… I’m scared. I haven’t been scared for—centuries.” the last word cracked, the weight of it dropping like a heavy stone.

Ben felt his chest heaving, felt his eyes stinging. He’d been fine only moments ago, but now—it was as if everything was crashing in around him all at once. His time in the Labyrinth, this strange new world where he now found himself, even the fact that he was the Minotaur, he wasn’t him—not ben the human, ben the beast. 

In the Labyrinth that hadn’t mattered. It was his curse, it was what was demanded, but now… he was free, yet he was no longer who he had been.

“I… I’m so scared Fuku… I’m not me anymore. Who am I?” he mumbled through the sobs which were quickly overtaking him.

He felt Fuku move, he drew his arms close to his chest and closed his eyes against the stinging tears.

A gentle touch surrounded him. It was Fuku, but it wasn’t. The enlarged Fuku’s arms wrapped around him, fully, engulfing him. A soft chin lay against his head, squeezing between his horns. The soft fur of Fuku’s body and the warmth surrounded him.

For a few moments all Ben could do was cry, sobbing into the warm soft fur.

Then the huge Tanuki spoke, but it was not the squeaky voice he was used to, it was warm and rumbled from deep inside, like the purr of some great beast—steady, grounding, impossible not to lean into.

“Ben… you don’t have to figure everything out right now. You don’t have to be strong all the time. Let me take some of the weight you carry. I am your friend, your companion. I will be here whenever you need me.”

Ben lifted his arms and buried them deep within Fuku's fur, finding the body below and holding tight. He didn’t know how Fuku had gotten so huge, but couldn’t help but get lost in the comfort his companion provided.

He sobbed, he let out the fear and frustration, all the while the Tanuki held him close, until the sobs finally slowed and the moment of vulnerability had passed.

Ben sniffed, regaining control of his emotions and he felt the Tanuki shrink around him, the huge blanket of soft warm fur reduced to the puffball sitting in his lap.

“I am sorry you had to witness that, Fuku—but thank you for your support.”

Fuku just smiled and sat back on his haunches. “What are friends for if not to be there when you need a shoulder to cry on? And you have a lot to deal with Ben.”

Ben nodded and pulled Fuku in close, keeping him on his lap, happy to have his furry friend near.

They fell silent again, a happy, comfortable contentment settling between them. The rest was left unsaid but was felt by each of them softly in the quiet. More could be discussed, but that would only work to unravel the peace they had found. So they closed their eyes and let sleep eventually take them.