Posing for Kumo

Living with a mangaka had some eccentricities. When Murakumo needed references to practice anatomy she'd slip on her mask and plaster her monitors and workspace with images of bare bodies. It was quite a sight walking into her office space; sometimes it could be a pleasant surprise and others I would make excuses to leave the room. Recently I'd started going to the gym to burn off a layer I'd built up and all that hard work had finally started to pay off. I would catch Murakumo taking peeks at me as I would walk around our home but she would never come clean about just what she was looking at.

 

'Could I ask you for a favor?' Murakumo had snuck up on me from behind with a sketchbook in hand and her hannya mask on. She eyed me up and down and put on a deep voice 'I've always been so focused on drawing women that my skills with the male form are lacking. Could you pose for me?'

 

Not once had Murakumo asked me to help with her art in any way. At most she might ask for a drink or to bring some food up to her office 'What are you talking about? Can't you just use references.'

 

'I've tried but its not working' Murakumo's voice was a low growl 'I got so good at female anatomy because I had a friend to help me out and now I need that help again.' Murakumo pumped her fist 'I need a There's no one else I can trust.'

 

I was reluctant but if it was for Kumo then I had to do it 'Okay, I'll help. Just what do you need me to do?'

 

Murakumo didn't answer. She simply snatched my hand and pulled me into her office and made me stand in the middle as she bathed me in light sources. I wondered just what I'd gotten myself into and if whether I was now part of some kind of experiment. Satisfied with her set-up Murakumo stood me in place and her hands curiously lingered on my shoulders and I swore I heard a delighted hum come from under her mask.

 

She stood me still and skipped over to hide behind her easel 'Could you take off your shirt?' There was a slight purr to her voice 'I need to see you.'

 

At the time I would have preferred if our roles were reversed; Murakumo might have been a mangaka that spent most of her time indoors but if you saw what she hid under her clothes you could be fooled into thinking otherwise. My attitude changed as I slowly raised my shirt up and I heard Murakumo giggle like a schoolgirl. I stood frozen with the shirt over my head and listened out just to be sure. I didn't hear anything so I pulled up my shirt and tossed it aside.

 

A blast of hot air came out from under Murakumo's mask. It was like a wild bull ready to charge. 'Could you do this pose?' Murakumo snortled and pushed a picture forward for me to emulate. I followed suit and soon Murakumo had me performing all kinds of poses and scribbled in her sketchbook. She had me turn my back to her and flex I didn't know what purpose it served but I heard a click from a phone camera and caught her red-handed with her smartphone pointed at me.

 

'It's just a photo reference' Murakumo slurped up some drool in the corner of her lip 'Now take your pants off.'

 

'What?' I scoffed.

 

'Relax' Murakumo's voice quivered 'You haven't got anything I haven't seen already.'

 

'Alright but if you want anything else to come off you'll have to reach out and take it yourself.' I dropped my pants and kicked them aside 'So what pose did you want?' I asked but Murakumo didn't answer she simply sat beside her easel with her eyes locked on me. Even through the slots on her mask I could see her green eyes locked on me and she panted through the gap for her mouth.

 

'Kumo?' I persisted but she still remained silent with her arms clutched to her chest 'Is something wrong?' I walked over to her but she still didn't respond to me in any way. I peeked over to look at her sketchbook and there was little more than a few preliminary lines and scribbles with a long scrawl across the page where she had obviously lost focus on her work 'Wait you didn't draw anything?'

 

Murakumo finally moved. Her finger brushed down my body then hooked over the strap on my underwear. Murakumo's eyes were locked on the package in the front. She pulled the band out and leaned over to take a peak. 'What are you doing?' I snatched Murakumo's mask from her face and she squeaked. I got a look at Murakumo and her face was bright red.

 

Words raced out of Murakumo's mouth 'It's nothing! I was just thinking to myself for a bit!' She spluttered 'I wasn't happy with the lighting. I was thinking about the bedroom.' Murakumo shook her head violently 'Wait! No! Um, not like that I mean it's just its a bigger space so I can get better angles and-'

 

'The bedroom?' I interrupted 'Sounds like a good idea.' I saw Murakumo's eyes light up and she bit her lip. Kumo jumped out of her seat and trailed a finger across my chest. Murakumo's eyelashes fluttered and I lost myself in those big emerald eyes that beckoned me to follow as she left the office towards the bedroom. She'd left her sketchbook behind but luckily we wouldn't need it.