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Finding My Husband in Another World: Season 1: Chapter 1: Voyage

I couldn't believe it. I'd lived what I'd considered most of my life not knowing what love really was. When I finally found it I hurt knowing it couldn't last as long as I'd want. That's not to say we didn't do our best to make every moment seem like forever. Still it couldn't last. Being twenty years older than my husband I always knew, barring some horrific accident, I'd go first. I'm not going to say that it was easy or not painful, but I fought as long as I could and the last thing I remember from that life was my husband holding my hand and telling me he would always love me.

Then I found myself somewhere else being offered the chance at reincarnation on a different world. I insisted on waiting, however the god assured me, with a sacrifice of points I'd earned during my life, my husband was guaranteed to reincarnate in the same world and we would both have the memories of our past life. With what points I had left I made sure I'd be reincarnated as a summoner and trainer. Also that I would have the skills for opening a dimensional storage space and an assessing eye.

I was born into the noble Trevant family and raised as the heir, despite my mother being a servant rather than Lady Trevant. Then on my fifth birthday my little brother was born and he was legitimate which meant I needed to be disposed of.

As I was dragged from my home my memories of my past life were awakened. Allowing me to escape.

Ten years later and I was finally able to become an adventurer. I also entered the Royal Magic Academy and was kicked out the same day. However one of the students seemed to like me so he hired me to be his personal guard. That lasted a year. Then when he had a fight with his family my team, including a slave that we basically stole from him, returned to our life on the run.

After four years on the run our past caught up to us. That is to say the one that forced us to run found us. To my surprise he had been my husband from our former life, only we hadn't realized it.

It was two full days on the ship we were escaping the human continent aboard before he was able to open up and talk about the last four years.

"Cheri, it's been a nightmare going this long without you. I need you to know that. I only wish I'd had my original memories when we were at the academy together. Then we could have planned an escape that would have kept us together."

"I know how you feel my chiot."

He sighed. "The morning you set of on the school trip to the island. Gou . . . I mean Ren, and I headed home. I didn't even realize Sky was with us until he settled on my shoulders. When we arrived, Father got really mad about me having Sky. To this day I don't know why, but to protect him I sent Ren to bring him back to you."

Sky jumped up on the bed where we were sleeping and rubbed against Rider. "I'm pretty sure he has no animosity about it." I said ruffling his head fur causing him to purr.

"Anyway, I guess you could say I sulked in my room for a couple of days before being ordered out. I had to attend dinner with my family, something I never enjoyed, but this time was really bad. Father told me that he had arranged an advantageous marriage for me with another noble house. As you might have guessed, even without my memories of our shared life, I was already in love with you. I showed father the bracelet and bracer and informed him I'd already accepted your proposal and you were the only one I'd ever marry."

"Probably not the smartest choice." I laughed.

"Yeah. Father lost it and ordered that you be hunted down and killed. Hearing that triggered my memories. It wasn't difficult to figure out your real identity after that. I mean, calling yourself Prowl and being able to shift into a black tiger with white stripes? It was really obvious. So I used our spirit's connection in order to tell you to run. I didn't tell you who I really was because I knew you'd try to save me. I didn't expect you to take Ren with you. However, seeing how he has grown since then I'm glad you did."

"Well, you didn't make him wear any slave markings so when I placed the arm cuff on him I basically legally claimed him."

"He was altered and that is a sign of slavery."

"You might want to check again, you'll find that he is fully intact."

"Then the Dragon did give you regen?"

"No, heal, cure, and purify. Since then I've also gained a cheetah and a rabbit. How about you?"

I went back to the academy, but I was constantly watched and never allowed the chance to gain any new elements. My only refuge was a few hours a week at the guild. Your pass let me get in and they only knew me as Rider, so I worked on getting to know everyone I could. A couple of weeks ago, just after graduation, I slipped into the guild and then walked out as Rider. Star kept me updated to your location so I headed for the port city. I took my guild test along the way. It was just a coincidence I ran into all the mail I'd sent you and my first job was to deliver it to your last known location."

"Yeah, and surprised me like you can't imagine."

Rider smiled. "I know you don't like surprises but that's why I love doing things like that for you. Usually it keeps you on your toes. Anyway the first thing I did when arriving in the port city was to book passage for all of us across the ocean to the Beast Continent. I know I'll stick out, but since you can shift the rest of you should be able to blend in with the Beast Kin and Demi-Humans rather easily."

I placed my hand on his shoulder. "Close your eyes and envision yourself as you fursona." I was shocked at the outcome. Rider had changed into a demi-human wolf as expected. What I hadn't expected was that instead of the blacker than black fur he was white with black tiger stripes and had oversized saber fangs."

"Tiger, what's wrong?" He asked.

"Um, I'm not sure you're going to be happy about this."

He glanced down and then laughed. "I guess this is my fault. For just a moment thought about my tiger form. So I guess we're both tigers then."

"Um, no. You're still a wolf, mostly, it's just you have white fur instead of black. Not that it matters, since I find you attractive no matter what form you're wearing."

"You mean I can shift back?"

"Yes, just like I can. I didn't just sit around and get lazy, I kept practicing my skills so now I'm able, thanks to a combination of Moon, Star, and Dawn's powers, to give others the ability to shift."

"If you have our permission to do so." Dawn said.

Rider tilted his head, did one of your summons say something?"

"Right, you can't hear them unless I properly introduce them to you."

"Wait! We're sort of confined here if you summon them you might sink us." Rider yelled.

"Ah, one of the many reasons I'll always need you in my life. You keep me from doing stupid things.

He grinned. "You never do anything stupid, my love."

***

With things finally settled between us we decided to make ourselves useful. Not that either one of us had experience on a sailing vessel, still Rider could cook and I could . . . well, I could clean at the very least. However we immediately discovered we were confined to our quarters. The guard called for Ren who came to explain the situation.

"Master Rider, did you do any research on this ship?"

"Of course. It was the one leaving for the beast continent the earliest. I also know that it is captained by a demi-human, but that is a good thing since anyone following us would never expect a couple of former nobles to submit to demi-humans."

"Of course. Did you know that it is a smuggling vessel and most of the 'cargo' are actually escaped slaves?"

I groaned. "Then the last thing they want to see is a couple of humans. They'll likely think we're here to spy on them."

"Ren, come here."

"Why?"

"I'm going to remove your collar." Only someone of my house can remove it and it marks you as a slave."

"Master-"

"No! No more of that. We are companions only. I rejected my nobility when I came after my mate."

"Mate? You mean you really are the one that Prowl has been forcing himself to remain pure for?"

I had to laugh, I couldn't help it. "I'm hardly pure. The things I could tell you about what Rider and I have done."

"Cheri, let's not upset the young man." Rider insisted.

Ren just looked confused.

"We're both reincarnates. We were husbands in our past life so we're actually, mentally, much older than we look."

Ren grinned. "That explains a lot. I bet your families were close. Close enough, if you hadn't been forced out, Rider would have bonded with you as his primary mana source rather than having to pull it from the environment around him."

Rider and I looked at each other realizing that Ren was right. I was probably fated to become Rider's companion and guardian all along forcing me to relinquish any claim on my family's titles. It's just my father . . . or perhaps his wife only saw me as a threat.

"Love, we're together now. What is fifteen years that you've had your memories, and the five I've had mine? We actually found each other without even knowing it. Now we have many more years together, even if we are on the run. Can't you be happy?"

I sat on the edge of the bed and wiped my eyes.

"Love, don't cry."

I laughed again. "I'm not sad. I'm happy. You always make me see the good side of things. I've missed that so much."

"Oh, is that all you've missed?"

"Get over here so I can show you what all I've missed."

"Yes, Papa Tigre." He said grinning.

Ren whined and turned away. We could both hear him whimpering.

"Ren? What's wrong?" Rider asked.

"Nothing Master."

"He has feelings for me." I admitted.

"Oh? Do tell."

"Well, we've been sharing a bed since I became your guardian at the academy. Not that anything has happened between us. I've been very careful about that and after I used regen on Ren he's spent most of his time in chastity."

"Tiger, that's mean. I mean what was done to him before was worse but to give him his bits back and then not let him use them? Shame on you."

"Master Rider, it hasn't been that bad. My, ah development was delayed so for most of this time the urges haven't been very strong. Also knowing that Prowl was forcing himself to remain chaste by force of will alone gave me strength when I did feel urges."

Rider eyed us both up. "Prowl, just how much of you is from our original lives?"

I smirked, "Well, physically I can say I received good genes, though to be honest, if you don't have one hell of a growth spurt it is going to take a while getting used to being taller than you. Otherwise I'm completely mentally the same." I sighed. "Both the good and the bad, but we were together long enough that I was able to shut out the negative voices with thoughts of being together again. Also my summon spirits helped as well."

"Are you sure you're completely the same?"

"Yes."

"Does that include your ideas about relationships?"

Suddenly I realized what he was getting at. "Love, I was devoted to you, and only you before and I still am."

"Yes, because that's what I wanted. However this is a second chance and I'm saying maybe this time I'll try things your way. Ren, you have feelings for us and I know we both have feelings for you. I'm not saying things will be easy, and I'm not sure about what is acceptable in this world regarding male relationships, never mind plural male relationships, but . . . what I'm trying to ask is would you like to become our second husband?"

"I . . . would you really allow that? I mean you're both nobles and I'm just a demi-human slave."

"First you're going to need to stop thinking of us as your masters and instead as your lovers or mates." Rider insisted.

"Also, something else you should know, in our previous lives we were part of a community that loved and wanted to be demi-human just like you. Fortunately my summons give me the ability to allow individuals change between human, beast kin, and demi-human. So if you want I can give you that ability."

"No! Well maybe, I could see where it could come in handy considering our situation."

I laughed "You certainly took that better than Chaza. I thought she was going to kill me for even suggesting it." I said glancing up at the ceiling and likely the spot above on deck where Chaza was puking.

"Enough talking. It's been far too long since I've been intimate with my husband and now I'm lucky enough to have two husbands to enjoy." Rider said, happily.

"Don't you think we should wait at least another year? I mean you're not exactly legal."

"What age is legal in this world? Besides it's about maturity and consent and at this point, mentally we're both over a hundred years old so don't make me tear your clothes off. Though I'm really tempted, but it would be a waste of resources."

I unbuttoned and slowly removed my shirt, trying to make a show of it."

"Mmm Tiger, did you waste ability points so you'd develop a body you knew I couldn't resist?"

I felt Ren wrap his arms around me from behind and start to undo my belt. "Mas- Mate, we're going to have a lot of work fighting off other males and females pretty soon."

"Ooo that's a fight I've been prepared for both of my lives." Rider replied.

I blushed. Rider was just trying to make me feel good. In my old life I was never really physically attractive. At least in my own mind, despite Rider constantly assuring me I was.

***

"Prowl, wake up. The Captain wants to see you."

I looked at Chaza as I worked the gunk out of my eyes. "It's been two months, why does he want to see me now in the middle of the night?"

"It's low tide so he can't just sail into the harbor. Also, all but the Captain's loyal crew have been off loaded to one of the barrier islands. They wanted me to join them, but slogging through mud and sand isn't any better than being sick here for another day."

"Why here? This is the beast continent, he should be able to make port at any demi-human port."

"Don't ask me. Ask him when you get there."

I started to pull on my clothes as Chaza turned her back to me.

"Honey, what's going on?" Rider asked.

"We've arrived, sort of. The Captain wants to see me."

Rider started pulling on his clothes as well. "Not without me. Ren. Ren wake up."

"I'm awake." The fox said jumping in surprise.

"Gather-" Rider looked around, "Oh, right we've been keeping everything in the pocked dimension. Get up. We don't know what the Captain wants all of a sudden but it's best to be prepared."

I cinched my belt and the pulled out Knockers. "Here, just try not to reduce the ship to splinters without reason." I said handing it to Chaza.

"Oh baby, it's good to have you back where you belong. I've messed you so much. And that only happened . . . Okay, I'll really try this time since I don't want to play in the mud."

We were all a little disturbed at Chaza's performance. Sure she often talked to the hammer but never like that, at least where we could hear her. We followed Ren out on deck, since we never had been allowed out of our room, where I was surprised to see several humans.

"They're new." Chaza whispered.

"Probably hidden below decks like we were." I muttered.

Ren knocked on the Captain's cabin door.

"Enter. Oh, I hadn't expected all four of you."

The Captain was an imposing orc. While his trousers were well maintained and looked respectable and a ridiculous Captain's hat with a large green feather that clashed with his skin shade he wasn't wearing anything. The first thought I had was pirate. I quickly pushed that down. I had no right to judge by my former life's standards. "You wish to see us, Captain."

"Ah yes, I wanted to tell you that you are free to move about now that our crew of refugees is no longer aboard."

"If you don't mind me asking why not sail to a port where they could simply go ashore?"

"Profit sir, profit. By morning at least half will have been rounded up by the hunters and sold back into slavery. They'll then be herded back into the hold and my crew will transport them back to be collected by their former masters for a hefty fee. And then I'll do it all over again and all it costs is the time to change out the sails and flag so that we are not recognized. Now I know you're adventurers and not adverse to slave ownership so I thought, for a little fee I'd have a couple of crewmembers row you ashore and you can make a nice sum by getting a head start on the other hunters."

I activated multiple skills. Illusion so it would look like I was considering the offer, invisibility so he couldn't see me, and finally speed. I doubted even my team noticed anything until the Captain coughed blood onto the desk he'd been seated behind. "You know, the brain can continue to process information for a couple of minutes after death? So as you contemplate that I'd just like you to know I've been reincarnated once. If you're given the chance beg for a world where you live as a slave otherwise if I get the chance I'll come for you again."

"You could have let me take care of him, you know." Rider said, glaring at me. "I even had a joke about bacon ready."

"Sorry Love, maybe next time. So what say we take our leave and see if we can give the former slaves a better chance to escape?"

"What are you thinking?" Rider asked.

"You make a solidified sand bridge while I Keep everyone invisible. Obviously the hunters don't know exactly when this ship was due to arrive so that will give everyone a head start."

"Damn."

"What?"

"I want to burn this ship to nothing but if I do, it will alert the hunters."

"It's okay, little brother. I've added a few enchantments to my Knockers. This ship will never see port again. Still we'd better go before a loyal member of the crew catches scent of this blood."

We made it out and had started down the side when the dingy returned.

"Ah! Perfect timing."

"So you took the Captain up on his deal?"

"Well it was just too good to pass up. However there has been a slight change of plans."

Multiple eyes narrowed.

"Oh, it's good for you. Rather than taking us to the port, where other hunters may be watching, we'll make the crossing with the slaves. Keeping them together and organized and then capturing them as soon as we hit the mainland. Means more profit for my team. That also means you only have to row us over to the island. Of course if you do want to get to port sooner that's fine by me, but it still means less work."

The looks of skepticism turned to smirks and the obvious pleasures of port giving them several hours before the ship docked and they had to get back to work."

"Welcome aboard." a rather nasty looking human said, as they helped us into the boat.

***

Once we reached the island our rowers basically tossed us into the shallows and immediately started for the port. We struggled up on shore and quickly discovered how small the, basically sand shoal was. Only a few of the liberated slaves were risking the mud flat. The rest were huddled around, likely waiting for sunrise not knowing this spit of sand would be underwater soon.

"Knockers, hammer of the gods. I call upon your power." Chaza had started spinning holding the hammer outwards building momentum. "Strike hard. Strike true. Let nothing divert you from you path and strike through!"

I cloaked us in invisibility as she released the hammer. It flew, just above the water line, directly toward the ship's keel it started to glow. The force basically blew off the bottom third of the ship's prow and it started to take on water, fast. Then the first mast toppled over taking the second with it the third just dropped and kept going leaving just the top sticking up like it had impaled the wreck.

"Knockers, return." Chaza commanded. And within a few seconds the hammer returned taking off the rest of the ship's prow. As it got closer Chaza jumped up and grabbed the handle, Used her own momentum to change the trajectory creating a small crater when the hammer landed. "Yes, you're a good boy. Now let's go wash off all that nasty blood you picked up."

I felt a bit sick though I wasn't sure if it was what she said, the gore covering hammer, or the fact she kissed it before washing it. "Rider, from here on out it's probably best if we use our demi-human forms."

"Your what?" Ren asked.

We shifted and Ren gasped. "My god! You're so- so-"

"Don't start. Prowl already has a big enough ego. Bad enough you're sleeping with them." Chaza said, as she returned

"I don't see what our sex life has to do with you." Ren snapped.

Chaza dropped Knockers. "Your what? I meant that the three of you share a bed. I didn't- Wait, you're sleeping together? When did that happen? Prowl, have you broken your oath to find your husband from you previous life?"

"Well if you hadn't spent nearly every day up on deck being sick you might have known. Chaza, I'm Rider or Wolf, my other names really don't matter, what is important is that I am Prowl's husband. I just couldn't remember until my father threatened to have both of you killed. That triggered my memories. I'd have joined up with you immediately but I was watched very closely and was only able to escape during the commotion of the Academy Graduation,"

"But you're a wolf and he's a tiger and you're acting like it isn't illusion magic." Ren insisted.

"It's not. You mean this whole time you thought I was just casting an illusion?"

"Well yeah, I mean I thought you were joking when you said you could make it so I could change into a human." Chaza said.

"Oh it's real. Some sort of bonus skill or gift for making pacts with both his original summons." Rider said, happy to have information that Chaza didn't.

"Enough of this. While we are on this continent this is how we're going to be. No need to let the assassins that have been tracking you think that we've switched continents. Now, Dustarii I call upon your powers to transform the surrounding sand into a solid bridge for everyone to cross to the mainland."

"As you wish, Master, and might I just say it is good that you are once again among your cherished companions."

"Don't try sucking up to them. Only Prowl is a summoner and he's the one that convinced me you'd be useful, so don't go trying to convince him to get me to release you."

"Master, I would never-"

"Dustarii. Bridge. Now." I commanded. The elemental froze for a moment then turned and began forming the bridge.

"How did you do that?" Rider asked.

"I don't think I could with your other elementals, but you were using me as a mana battery when you made the pact with Dust. Therefore by exerting enough mana I can give him orders. Well, not so much give but reinforce orders you've already given."

"So you're my back-up generator?"

"I'll power you up any time you want me to."

"And they say its foxes you have to be careful off." Chaza complained.

"Hey Ren, want to complete a circuit? We've got plenty of power for you too." I said, grinning.

"God, I was so happy to be back on solid ground, but now you're going to make me hurl again."

"Okay, enough fun let's get these refugees rounded up and off to a running start before the hunters know they're here." Ren insisted.

***