Arandom28

The sounds of light laughter and the clinking of small metal cups filled with alcohol brewed from spare rations and other random ingredients. The small underground area was cleared out for the sole reason of drinking. However, since it was prohibited to drink, many of the infantry corps ignored this. The sweet relief of alcohol washing through their bodies, making light of the horrors of the conflicts. The Trenches were full of other amenities to relax oneself, yet no one did them.

She was also aware of her status as a mutant, or someone from the other side of the trench line. She had fluffy ears and an equally fluffy tail, which always drew the wrong type of attention. Even with Kat, she isn’t safe, always joking about something called a cat?

Nine for one could not understand this allure that the ‘beer’ Kat talked about so religiously, that one day. The day itself was a strange one… it started with a thunderous barrage, the artillery pieces relentlessly firing all day and all into the night. The assault would not relent until the morning of the next day. All the while, the Infantry would be drinking away their sorrows.

Nine herself got to witness this ‘holiday’ one day when Kat brought her to one of the drinking places. The thunderous booms every time an artillery shell was lobbed over made her flinch. She spent most of her time drinking water and eating the ration surpluses. It turns out on these days they also get to have extra rations and food. Kat on the other hand was with some of her colleagues drinking what seems to be her 15th cup of alcohol. 

Didn’t Kat say something about drinking too much?

Nine did have some of the alcohol through sheer curiosity, however, it tasted like salt… something. It had a strong, pungent smell; the liquid looked even more unappetizing than it smelled.

Trying to remember what Kat said about the alcohol, she realized….

“You shouldn’t drink too much of it,” Kat said, looking at Nine, as if her eyes could pierce through the dark lens on her gas mask.

“Why?” She asked, her eyes fixed inquisitively on the barrel. 

“Because it’s your first time drinking trenchbrew. You’ll probably get hammered, or die.” Kat’s lighthearted tone did not do much to slow Nine’s doubts.

“If it’s dangerous, then why do you drink it?”

“It’s only like once every month or so.”

“Won’t you die?”

“No, I've got a tolerance,” Kat boasted beneath the gas mask.

“Did you already start drinking?”

…

..

.

Crash!

Turning her head, Nine saw Kat trying to balance one of the Trench Cats on top of her head. Which led to the cat jumping off her head and knocking Kat over. Quietly moving over, she sat down next to one of the soldiers who would usually be on watch duty, but was instead on their 2nd cup. They were on the table with their head lying on top of it, groaning.

“y-You good?”

“Just some hangover…”, groaned the Infantryman,

“So what's with that person?" Nine said, pointing in Kat’s direction.

“Oh, I think she’s on her 16th cup.”

Crash!

“17th,” The infantrymen looked at Kat, then turned to Nine with a 1000-yard stare. “I’m going to rest.”

“Have fun with that hangover”, Nine said as the person left the table, not picking up on the man's fear. She looked in Kat’s direction; she wasn’t there… Knowing her, she probably snuc-

“?!!”, just as she was thinking where Kat was, she appeared behind her, arms draped around Nine's waist. 

“What are you doing?”

She slightly moved Kat’s hands away as she began walking out of the makeshift bar.

“Let's get you to bed.”

Letting out an exasperated sigh, she began slowly tugging her out of the room. 

“Can we see the stars?”Kat said, her speech slurring as the smell of alcohol reeked off her.

“Fine, but then you go to sleep.”

“Yayy!”, Kat said, as she began climbing the ladder towards the upper layers of the trenches.

“On second thought, maybe not.”

“Whyy”

“Isn’t there supposed to be a lot of smoke from the artillery?”

“Maybe..”

Also, I don’t trust you not to pop your head above the trench and get shot.

“Fine,” Kat pouted as she slid down the ladder.

Nine ended up guiding Kat into her small room; being a Corporal allowed her to get her own little room. Lit by a small light by the ground, it was almost just as cramped as it was from before.

Kat immediately collapsed upon the mattress on the ground with all the grace of a sandbag.

“You are becoming very difficult to manage”, Nine said, and then muttered under her breath, “I miss your sober self.”

“Liar, I am incredibly competent!”

“I am not lying.”

“I could’ve walked up here without your help.”

“You were stumbling into walls.”

“Mn”, Kat nodded, “Strategically.”

Nine looked at the strange sight of the inebriated Kat. The contrast from her normal self made her yearn for her sober self. The one that was reliable, confident, with a merciless tempo that would never be impeded. Or maybe that was the facade that Kat built in front of her.

Kat is a contradictory person; she does one thing and then says the opposite. She lobotomizes and turns someone into a tech-thrall without the slightest change in complexion, yet draws the line at killing prisoners. Lectures her about being cautious and not getting hurt, yet actively chooses to fight actual monsters close up rather than shooting them. She’s the type of person to meticulously repair something, organizing the parts into small, neat little piles, but can’t even find her missing hair clip. She’s the type to kiss som—

“You know, you really are just a big trench kitty.”

Nine blinked; her internal monologue abruptly ended by the drunk ramblings of Kat.

“I am not.”

Kat squinted harder, as if she was carefully propping through her mind, analyzing and scheming.

“Smart too”

“You’re hopelessly drunk,” Nine responded, sitting down on the mattress.

“Mhm”

Kat lifted a hand, and before Nine could react, gently patted the top of her head.

“Soft”

Nine immediately grabbed her wrist and lowered it.

“Please don’t.”

“You even glare like one…”

“I don’t even look like a cat!”

Kat looked at her, completely unconvinced, instead leaning against Kat, her eyes half closed.

“You always stay nearby," she mumbled.

Nine paused, somewhat blushing at the statement. Never has Kat complemented her, and it felt good.

“...Someone has to keep you afloat.”

“Good cat.”

“I am not a cat.” Kat slipped off the shoulder she was leaning against onto Nine’s lap, drifting to sleep.

“Nuh uh…”

Within minutes, she dozed off on Nine’s lap, preventing her from getting up unintentionally.

So that was what the Infantrymen meant by that look. Is Kat like that with everyone when she’s drunk?

All trenches lead to the trench yuri. Takes place in the long night universe, somewhere deep in the trenches.

For those who go here, 

Abandon all hope,

And become blessed

I don’t think that pain chooses who to hurt.

Grabbing a small torch, I walked through the tunnels with my 8 thralls. Grabbing a small cross, I inserted it into a small, almost invisible keyhole inside the wall. 

The torch then burnt out, signaling the loss of oxygen as multiple small doors opened, unleashing 7-foot-tall mechanical demigods. Each of them was armed with knives for fingers and a second pair of arms holding random armaments of maces, knives, and small shoulder-guns.

This was deep inside the trenches, where the labyrinth of tunnels would be. My mechanical respirator brought extra air to her lungs as I strode through the airless passage. The gas-helmet hiding my face behind the 

I signalled with my extra mechanical arm to the mechanators to stop. I spotted a warm, faint glow coming from above. A small patrol of 20 people.

Freezing up, I signaled to the mechanicators to slowly stalk their prey. The patrol slowly passed by as the stalking mechanical creatures skittered towards them.

Using the radio, I commanded one of the mechanized squads to ambush them. Using the relay, I saw the mechanicators charge into the patrol from the back. Their hulking masses tearing through their enemies. The patrol was devastated and routed. Around 4 people escaped the squad, so I notified the mechanitor squad to regroup by a nearby staging tunnel I had used since my deployment into this labyrinth. I pushed the rest of my remaining forces into their respective squads. They would be slaughtering the sleeping soldiers, but mostly officers.

 But I have a special mission.

Based on intel found through word of mouth, the microphones inside the greater empire’s trenches informed us of a runaway mutant posing as a soldier. Reading through the mutant’s file, I could only imagine a grotesque creature with multiple limbs. However, something struck me: the file stated that she was very important to the war effort. Something about one of her mutations made her very important. Important enough to have the greater empire send out an easily interceptable message. 

“They really shouldn’t rely on sending random people on foot as their main information transfer info,” I thought as the narrow tunnel finally opened up. “So easy for a partisan to just bribe the messenger for a copy” I said to myself as I checked the walls.

 I ordered my 8 thralls to go into stalk protocol and slowly crept into the enemy tunnels.  I scanned through the men's sleeping quarters, I scanned through the women's sleeping quarters, I even scanned the restrooms, but nothing could be found. I was getting ready to let the mechanitors loose on the several different officer sleeping quarters when I heard strange noises coming from a room. Pulling out my plasma pistol, I ordered my thralls to follow me as I slowly shifted into the room. From that angle, I could only describe the events as a weird…thing. One of the commanding officers was here holding a leash connected to some poor girl’s neck. Is this some kind of weird thing? The girl was struggling to do anything, handcuffed to the bed and gagged. All the girl could do was watch and cry. I was about to turn around, but then I noticed that the girl didn’t have a set of human ears. Instead, all I could see were a pair of…cat ears? Originally, I chalked it up to being another weird kink, but after seeing this, I knew that this was my target. There were no human ears, just cat ears and…a tail? Well…she’s technically a mutant, I have so many questions for the upper command on why they want me to capture her.

I pushed aside my thoughts instead, priming my gun and signaling my thralls to prepare their weapons.

The officer was right in front of the girl, now pinning her arms down against the wall. The girl tried screaming, flailing her arms around in almost every direction. The girl’s eyes flickered, darting towards me in an almost pleading manner. 

Now she’s going to give my position away.

Rapidly, I signalled to the mechanitors to begin the harvesting as I quickly drew my plasma pistol, shooting a single deadly shot into the officer's chest. The melted plasma burnt a hole through his chest, the flesh peeling off of his chest along with whatever features that were on his skin. He let out a final scream, followed by a chorus of screams and shrieks as the mechanitor’s targets woke up to their slaughter. I sent out the order for retreat as I shot the handcuff off the bed. Without slowing down my pace, I approached the girl, grabbed the leash, and pulled it towards me. For some reason, she did not struggle that much in a sign of defeat. I pulled her close in an attempt to sneak her past.

A strange feeling shivered down my metallic spine as I felt a squeezing feeling. I brushed the feeling aside like it was nothing, just an abnormal increase in blood flow.

Then, a group of 15 officers armed with sabers and a ragtag mix of whatever weapons they could find off their nightstands entered the room, screaming as they charged. Silently, I cursed myself for not escaping quickly enough or for not being more subtle.

I had my thralls hold the line as I tried my best to subdue the mutant. I didn’t feel like touching her because it made my heart beat irregularly. Instead, I just attached the leash from her neck to my belt and turned around as 4 officers rushed my position. Pulling out my standard-issue saber, I swiped through the first man’s throat, letting him choke in his blood. I then shot the other woman, the shot melting through her rib cage. Then my mechanical arm saved me as an officer rushed from behind me, only to have his face clamped onto by the mechanical limb. His body flailed and wailed, then the clamp crushed his skull. The fourth still charged, screaming. 

He screamed something about how his nation screwed him over or something. It was interesting, so I spared him his quick death, thrusting deeply into his eye. I then rushed past the ensuing chaos, dragging the girl with me as I ordered my remaining thralls to retreat. The damaged ones of the ground suddenly erupted into flames as the small hand grenades I put inside them finally detonated. Pulling the pin on multiple smoke and gas grenades, I escaped. But while the grenades detonated, I hastily shoved a gas mask onto her face. Hoping that this bare minimum of face protection would save her from the lung-liquefying gases.

It was a slightly more chaotic battle, I thought as I watched the battle from my mechanitor's eyes. They sustained more damage than the other raids due to the amount of time we were there, but they had succeeded. I attached a small breathing mask to the girl's face. 

On the way back she was hyperventilating, the trauma of the experience finally getting through to her. We were right outside the trench entrances to the home. I slid the gas mask off to check to see how the girl was faring. She remained silent but still panicked. The commanding officer looked at me and spoke in white noise, “Kiss her”

“Why?”

“I heard from the troops that it makes people calmer.”

“Sure”, I  said with a small sigh of defeat, leaning in. Only then to lean out, “Never mind. Kissing a girl just to make them feel calm feels wrong.”

Changing to 3rd person

She then taped the newly caught prisoner and carried her over to her quarters because the prison cells seemed a bit too dangerous for important assets. The prison cells are for biofuel. This person, according to her logs, captured her because the enemy really wanted to ‘collect’ her biomaterial or something.

Dropping off the girl in a random corner of her room, she closed the door. There were gaps in her knowledge. “Why was she so important? Why does our enemy want to capture her alive rather than dead?”

Well, until further notice, she can be used for listening for enemy underground assaults. She reached the central area of the undertrenches now, there where some barracks for the infantry in one area, and some barracks for the tech thralls, the barracks for the mechanitors and then the officer, tech worshiper, and commander quarters.

Slowly walking down the corridor she grabbed a 2 meal packs, one for herself and one for the girl. The girl’s mutations drew gazes from the mass of infantry and even from some of the tech thralls, confused why their barracks now has what is sometimes a cat and sometimes a human. 

When she got into her room she opened the sliding blast door as she entered the room. It was lightly furnished with only the bare minimum. A bed, a small portable lamp, some photos of her home town and a plush cat.

Grabbing a small knife from her back pocket she grabbed the girl by the wrist polling her close and cut the leash off of her. She then tried to let go, however the girl’s hand was adamantly attached to her arm. Like a small feline holding onto their favorate toy she wouldn’t let her go. Her face also was a strange shade of red and the scanners detected higher blood flow in her. So to rectify this she did what she did last time to calm her down. 

This had an opposite effect, the girl’s face turned even more red and she hid in a corner by the bed.

She really does have the mannerism of a wimpy cat, always running with from anything. Letting a small sigh escape her, she took out a small brush and inspected her mechanical arm. The metal was stained a horrible red and it reeked of decay so she grabbed some dirty water and cleaned the metal. Something she makes a consistent effort to uphold is her hygiene and privacy even as she lives in an underground trench maze. Sometimes the suffocating walls of the tunnel and the crushing atmosphere would break her. The anxiety and fear of collapse would have her confined to her room curled up against the wall. 

But life must go on, and the war won’t stop for such weakness. Opening the lamp her mechanical arm snuffed the flame out. The room was dark and now empty, the temperature rapidly dropping. Closing her eyelids she started trying to sleep. Trying to lull herself into a dream like trance. 

A feeling of not feeling. 

But it doesn’t work, the feeling of someone, a body a person, a thing close by. Slowly approaching where she was. Maybe it could be one of the tunnel horrors, climbing, skittering, bleeding, or maybe it could be an emerging bloodlusting being. Taking off her gas mask, she finally takes a breath. A sigh of relief as air enters and exits. She still felt something nearby, as if someone was moving around…

9

The walls felt crushing as the walls, she could hear everything inside the tunnels. The screams of mutated wolf rats and the yelling of the patrols. The artillery rang throughout her ears as the flesh-artillery stuck the trench. The night was long and she couldn’t see any end to the eternal booming of artillery. Each time the artillery struck she winced ever so slightly. 

Her captor was sleeping on a mattress. The mattress had a small plush next to a small match lit lamp. The room was otherwise empty, ignoring the ground, which was covered in stone tiles. Most likely either scavenged from homes behind lines or maybe an addition from the last person. 

Her heart was still rushing from what her captor had done in response to her when she was trying to escape into the undertrenches. Which was, now upon further thought, a death sentence. But still, who was her captor to do that to her. Still her captor was far more lenient from the other people that had kidnapped her before. Not giving her any restraints or even gagging her. 

But where would she go?

Even if she escaped the room she would have to get past her sleeping captor, then the regular guards. And then she would have to get past those robot thingies. Their bodies looked as if someone sewed skin and flesh onto a robot carapace. They would probably detect her before the moment they left the room. If she went out through the undertunnels she would get killed by the horrors in the under trenches or die of starvation as she gets trapped under the endless labyrinth of tunnels. If she tried to run up and past the trenches and into blues territory she would have to sneak her way past machines trained to see any form of motion. Then she would have to get a fake passport in the blue country. But going back to the greater empire would be far worse, she would get ground up in the gene rippers or taken back to that officers room.

She trembled at the thought, and then touched her lips. She also didn’t really want to remember or even what happened. It was too confusing for her to think about it now. Why did her captor choose to hold her hand in the dark tunnels? Why did she–

There was a small noise, not one of the normal noises. Something from a thing beyond guns and artillery. It was a deep rumbling sound as the room started shaking and turning. The small plush toppled over, and the lantern shook. And then. 

Then there was nothing.

The walls began speaking again as the people in the trenches stirred. Her captor, not even flinching from the rumbling as they slept on. Taking a deep breath in, she filled her lungs, drowning out the noises, the screaming of the mechanical and the singing of troops. Her eyes slowly close as she finally falls asleep. 

She felt a dull light fill the room as her captor waved it around her face. Her captor’s face was almost in front of her as she coiled back, her heart racing as she remembered the tunnels. Looking into her captors' goggles on the gas mask she tried to find out who was behind the mask. However, the tinted glass gave no identity for who was behind the mask. 

Her captor motioned at her to follow as they holstered a weapon. What looked like a small hand pistol from what she could see but with a glowing blue light reaching out of the sides burnt with an uneasy heat. They walked through the hallway as they reached a large room. The room’s nourishing smell hit her like a wave as a massive gathering of people stumbled and marched through. Their organized mass assembled in front of a big pot of---food? The people slowly organized into lines and started collecting their soup and rations. It was a magical spectacle of people, standing in lines grabbing their food that was missing the ever present stench of arms and ‘recycled’ body parts. She turned around, only to find a myriad of unknown faces and confused stares. Where are they? Where is her captor? The crowd was more lively now, pushing and shoving her around as the men, thralls, and augmented people brushed past her. Each with their own assigned task, they moved in synchronized patterns. Each of them completed well remembered patterns as they began moving out. Lost inside the crowd she stumbled blindly through the room like a lost cat. She could hear voices and eyes speaking all over as she stumbled through the mass of people. 

Then she felt a tug as a hand reached out and pulled her. Panicking, she stumbled and tripped. Her fall was cushioned by her captor as she turned red from embarrassment. She got up flinching as she expected some form of repercussion. Only for her captor to simply stumble up and hold her hand as it guided her towards the rations deposit. The room starts to empty as people leave to do the rest of their jobs and maintenance. She quietly squeezed their hand as it guided her towards the ration depository. Her captor then spoke to the machine next to the soup pot in a strange language of white noise. Then the machine grabbed two bowls and poured out servings of the soup, handing on to her captor and giving it to her. She grabbed the bowl and watched her captor signal/point at a table where they could sit. There was an awkward silence as she sat down. Grabbing a spoon she drank some of the broth, carefully trying to not burn herself. The liquid was soothing and relaxing as she drank the liquid. There were chunks of potatoes and random vegetables she didn’t even recognize. Looking across the table she saw her captor, their robed body hiding all defining traits and an abnormal affinity to glass masks. Her masked captor stood their eating as they sat.

The room was still full of infantry, talking, speaking, gossiping, and resting troops. The small tunnel like cafateria was closed and silent by the time they finished. Mostly because she had many servings, mostly to prepare if food runs dry like it has many other times in the trenches.

Her captor then got up, signaling for her to also get up. They walked through a mazelike series of tunnels until her captor turned and entered a room. The room was filled with metal things and other spinning metal sprockets. The air smelled of hot metal and PCB as metal parts were welded onto wounded and injured. Her captor walked next to a tall figure, scars winding up and down his body. They spoke a bit about something. Something in their strange language of static. Then her captor called her over by signalling with her hands. The Man then spoke into a radio and left. They followed him along with a growing group of armed soldiers. Around 50ish soldiers, 35 humanoid metal thingies, and some scary hulking metal things. They passed many machine gun nests and guards armed with flamethrowers and rifles. The damp and shadowing tunnels then followed. The dark, moldy air filled her lungs like a familiar friend from the cities, but less death and more mold. The tunnels echoed with hisses and death rattles, a frightening feeling, but then again, it's thanks to her mutated ears that she could hear the voices from far away. The earth reeked of blood and melting flesh as the soldiers put on their gas masks. 

shoot…

She doesn’t have a gas mask. The slow, creeping fog whispers and moans as it approaches. The stench of death whispers down with the gas, its whispers following as the world spins. The light started to fade in her eyes as the fog grew ever closer, muddying her mind. Her ears twitched as she felt hands behind her head as a gas mask slipped onto her head. The hands wrapped around her neck to her waist as her captor held onto her. The man turned around and made a small quip in the white noise language as they walked through the labyrinth of tunnels. Until they met a patrol of 24 soldiers. Their bodies gave off the same sounds and voices. Not even the personality quirks of the mechanical humanoid things. Clinging onto the arms around her she tried to sink backwards. The group of men were inhuman but human, they all breathed at the same time, looked at the same thing and moved in the same direction. The captain of the other patrol looked down upon the group as they slunk forward. 

What followed was pandemonium as every tech thrall began firing as the rest of the group raised their guns. The other patrol’s captain’s body thudded to the ground as a head rose behind. The head rushed forward as the rest of the other patrol shed their bodies and the puppeteers moved forward. A grotesque mass of arms and limbs sticking out with heads attached by long necks. The heads were like skin on bones, bloodied and dripping with gore. It’s arms grasping and tearing through the people as the unlucky ones closest were torn apart. 

The plasma burnt through the heads as the mass of flesh contracted and stretched as the creature melted away. The awful sight was quite too much for her to behold as the blood and gore of twenty men were splattered over the ground. Leaning more backwards into her captor, she tried her best to hide from the slaughter.

 The unsightly skittering of limbs far away unsettled her as the sound seemingly started to surround them. The others also seemed to notice as the skittering moved slowly around their location, and then stopped. The group started moving in the opposite direction towards home as the captain and her captor conversed in static. The skittering noise was now coming from the back, the waddling footsteps of a thing. They reached the entrance to the trench complex, passing by the guards and mounted flamethrowers. She breathed a slow sigh of relief as the doors behind her closed. But the slinking feeling still continued behind her, as if a creature, nothing was following, stalking from behind.

She didn’t expect to spend her evening with the girl hiding behind her as a really fat cat approached her, but then again, one can’t really plan for cats. They show up from nowhere and cause the most trivial problems. Looking back at the girl, who was holding their tail quivering as the cat playfully batted at the poor thing like it was a fluffy cat toy. 

If this were back at home, it would be quite amusing, but here? The sight of a person resembling a cat being scared of a cat was far too amusing. 

Still, the girl is her responsibility.

Walking over to the cat, she grabbed it by the neck and let it go outside the room. Closing the door, she turned around.

The cat was still there.

It was almost as if it squeezed through the vents. She wondered where the hole inside her room was that could be allowing these fluffy little rascals into her room. Looking back at the girl, she couldn’t stop herself. She picked up the cat as it meowed and held it in front of the girl, who backed away some more. Pulling the cat closer, she sat down on the bed while petting the cat. The cat’s tail swayed back and forth as it purred and curled up on her lap. 

The girl then sat down on the other side of the room, their ears lowering as she leaned against the wall. Getting up from her bed she walked up to the girl and sat next to her. The girl looked sad, her droopy ears and sad face. Like a sad little cat, the girl held up against the wall. Say something, she thought, Say something to convince yourself, to make her feel better. To ease her from the life tearing, loss and change of losing one's home. 

Being taken from one's home.

But she could not speak.

Like anchors, the weights of her home dug and tore at her mouth, dragging, commanding, tearing her mouth shut. Instead, she got herself up and awkwardly walked back to her bed. The cold air flows through the trench tunnels. The freezing air slowly climbs, dragging itself through the tunnels. 

The sound of gunfire sang its cold lullaby as trench-holders smoked and drew their cards. Taking off her helmet, she cautiously put herself to sleep. The thin blanket warding off the freezing mist from below. 

She struggled to get up.

The girl had found her way into the bed, hugging and attaching themself against her. She pulled back a bit, covering her face in her hands before realizing that the girl was asleep. She sighed a small breath of embarrassed relief before slipping her gas-helmet on. She tried to peel off the girl's arms from her waist, but the girl stayed there. She decided that it wouldn’t be worth it to peel her off. 

She quickly had breakfast and walked out of the mess hall to avoid confronting anyone she knew. Or higher-ups.

She walked down towards the robotics hall, where multiple people were working the saw mills and recycling tools for the front. She passed some people who gave mixed expressions of surprise, confusion, and others who didn’t notice. She passed them as she went down the stairs, deeper into the fortifications. There was a small locker down here. It contained her stuff from before she was sent here. She opened it, the alien scent of familiar clothes and things. She took out a small cat toy and closed the locker. Making sure to lock it as she left.

Back in her room, she tried to pry the girl off, but it still didn’t work. She sat down on her bed. She looked closely at the girl, her feline-like ears looked like a cat. Maybe she could pet the girl, maybe, maybe…

The girl woke up though, to her disappointment. It pushed itself away with an embarrassed expression on her face. She sighed as she walked towards the doorway. It was her turn to stand guard by the secondary machine gun nests with her tech thralls. 

The grey cat followed her as it meandered and batted at the cat toy that she had attached to her backpack. 

The machine gun nest was manned by a few thralls and a supervisor. The supervisor turned around and left as she came, silently signifying her turn at watch. Where she spent most of her time playing with the cat. But as long as no one finds her like this she’d be fine. 

The worst part about this guard post was the waiting Kat decided. The slow monotony was waiting for something to leave the safety of the shadows. She pet the cat as it curled up beside her. In the few days that it has been here, it has grown in weight and size. Still, though it could jump onto her shoulder and sleep there. She sighed as the creatures in the shadows lurked and shifted.

The cold air seeped into the room as she sat their alone. There was no one guarding the door but she knew that if she left there was no disguise that would hide her from the others. Still though she was curious what the rest of the place looked like. Since, she could probably hear the sentries beforehand so she could easily avoid being caught. 

She slunk out of the door just as the sentry passed by, making sure to conceal her footsteps as she tiptoed down the hallway. The quiet yet tense breeze of air came from below. She spotted some thralls rushing downward, deeper into the trenches as muffled cries echoed from below. 

Against her better judgment, she followed them below, snatching a helmet to hide her ears. The tunnel went down for an impossible amount as they quick-marched down the hall. The cold air chilled her to the bone as the freezing temps were the only thing that greeted her in the dimly lit corridors. The Thralls finally turned the corner into the room that had S.A.Y. There below was a thrashing machine, its rasping breath and ragged breathing filled the room, grabbing hold of many of the armed soldiers and lab assistants. The machine thrashed and screamed, its shrieking screams felt a dozenfold by her ears.

The machine had flayed skin wreathed upon its body, as if it were wearing it like a costume. The thing skittered and dragged itself, its body so worn down and broken it couldn’t even stand. She slowly slunk out of the room before sneaking off from the doom from below.

She found herself back inside the room, but this time cemented in place due to fear. 

It has been a day since the incident in the laboratory. It would be noted on as the of Gex. Gex was a mad scientist-like person. Yet Gex revolutionized the artillery engines, using human parts to increase the lifespans of the machines. However, he met his end deep in the laboratory of the person in charge of Project Say.

She stifled a small laugh as her mind wandered. But then it wandered back to the girl whom she wanted to pet like a cat. She shook her head as if trying to banish those thoughts, for it was unprofessional of a person of her rank and duty to do such things. (under the supervision of others)

She was walking with the girl down the hall towards the cafeteria, where there was a sudden cheer from the robotics lab. A skinny person, some scrawny thing he was, was holding a small box with a display panel and–

She focused her gaze upon the box he held.

Was that a TV?

She got closer. It was in fact a screen in a strange metal box. It was grey and white and making error signs. Then it came to life, depicting a cartoon show on the broadcast.

The group was sitting there watching the box as the colors on the box changed and moved. It was a nice escape for the soldiers, and were moved into the mess hall. 

The grey cat was now following her, towards the mess hall. The hall was more alive, there was great relief coming off the soldiers. But there was also a great sense of fear as the troops ate their food.

She looked for someone to interrogate about this, hopefully the captain; who knows his troops like the back of his palm. 

“Captain”

“Yes?”, the captain said.

“Why are the soldiers acting like-”, She waved her hand in the area in the mess hall, “that?”

“Well, we got access to the media”

“And?”

“Well they are happy to see the news at home, but some are distraught at the outer township sieges.”

“Is this just the occasional warbands of marauders that manifest themselves, or is it an organized force?”

“Organized”, the Captain said with a more solemn voice, “They are  the arms of the Magos Confederation.”

“You sure?” She said nervously, swapping from the white noise language to her regular voice. If it were the Magos, then the amount of damage done would be devastating. She had heard stories of the Magos’ counteroffenses, leaving entire villages empty. 

“I hope not, but it seems to be them.”

“Then let's hope not.” Her voice was half trembling and half wavering.

The mess hall felt bigger, the walls stretching and turning. Her breaths were becoming shorter, and she could feel herself shrinking away. She left the Captain alone to their troops as she felt the uncertainty drill into her. 

She was storming towards one of the ladders that ascended to the upper areas of the complex; the trenches. She climbed up the ladder, poking her head above the trench. She poked her head over the trench, taking in the openness of the field. Bullets whizzed around her, threatening to end her where she stood. Yet she still stood there, letting herself slowly calm down. There was a sizable number of soldiers sitting in the trench, aiming down the massive field. They took potshots at some distant foe every few minutes, exchanging minor amounts of banter. She could see groups of Thralls and their overseers digging new trenches forward, their entrenchment tools knocking bits of earth loose.

The low thunder of artillery thumped like percussion as bright glowing dots arched over the sky and into the other side of the field. There was someone manning a flak cannon, aiming it down into the opposing trenches. Each shot causes a red flower to bloom in the other lines, each artillery shot, a pillar of dirt. She let the gunpowder-filled air soak into her lungs, and then she let it disperse. 

“Welp, I guess I'd better get back down there,” She said to no one but herself. After all, the trenches wouldn’t fight themselves, the artillery wouldn’t fix itself, and the war wouldn’t fight itself.

Nine stared at the small thing across from her in the room. It looked like one of the sewer rats that populated the lower levels of the massive cities that she used to live in. However, the creature was more docile than the vicious rodents that gnawed through her mother's bones. The thing was staring at her, its tail lined with fluff, flipping back and forth.

It was a boring existence. Ever since that day in the tunnels, she has been spending her entire time just sitting around. Maybe now and then her captor would take her to one of the artillery pieces as she fixed the machines. To be honest, she would have called her captor something else, but her captor never really provided a name. Or spoke in a language that she could understand, other than basic gestures and hand signals. 

It was a long hour or two before she was brought down to one of the artillery holes. The winter months were soon arriving, making the artillery guns freeze slightly. The lubricant is used to turn the gun up and down and side to side, but it has frozen over. Her captor was searching through one of the cabinets near the artillery piece, looking for some obscure tool while she was sitting on one of the ammo racks. 

She looked at the girl searching the supply cabinet and then at the sky. The artillery was closer, louder, the thundering becons of the howitzers ringing through her ears. The sound was deafening, and each shell launched panged in her ears, ringing against the inside of her ears. 

She looked around the entrenched artillery nest, her eyes pouncing on a supply closet. Maybe if she went inside there, the loud thundering of the artillery would hurt her ears less. She looked back at her captor, who was still rifling through the cabinet.

Since it's going to be a long time until she starts repairing.

She slowly slid into the supply closet, and the walls were lined with shelves filled with components. The door closed behind her, eeking out the last bit of light coming from the outside. There was a small ladder off to the side of the closet. 

She sat down on the ladder; however, there was something on the ground near the ladder. She reached down, grabbing the object; it was an old thing. The barrel was rusted on the outside; it was a handgun. It had a single shot in it and looked as if it would be more useful as a small bat than a gun. The side of the barrel had the words “emergency door opener” on it. 

Who would need that?

She slowly turned her head at the door… It was closed, but there seemed to be no lock on the door.

Interesting

Suddenly, there was a rat, squirming and crawling out of the side of the closet. Nine took no time jumping off to the top of the ladder, the rat’s red eyes glowed iridescently in the dark room. The rat crawled onto the ladder dodging Nine's leg as she kicked at it. The vermin sunk its teeth into her tail clinging. 

The door clicked open as someone emerged, the quiet inhaling and exhaling of someone strode into the room. The individual was wearing a gas mask and a trench coat. The dim light from outside slowly shone off the gas mask's soulless eyes. 

She kicked the ravenous rodent off her tail. Finally, the rat slinked back into the shadows under one of the storage shelves.

“Phht, I thought that rats were scared of cats.” Her captor said, looking at Nine.

“Y-you can speak?”

“...”

“Yeah?”

“I mean, you don’t really talk that much.”

“I do! You just don’t speak binary.” Her captor responded.

“That doesn’t make things better either”

Her captor turned around, “Well, I’m done repairing the cannon, lets go get food.” 

Click

The door rattled as her captor struggled to pull open the door. Finally, using their third mechanical arm, they pulled at the handle.

Crunch 

“Hey, do you happen to have your gun with you?” Nine said, “You could probably open the door.”

“No, I didn’t think I would need a gun to repair a cannon.” The gas-masked individual said, their voice steeled. 

Nine felt the gun in her pocket, its rusted exterior nicking her middle finger. 

“Does this work?”

“You mean that rusted pipe?”

“It says it's a door opener.”

“...use it if you want, just don’t blow your arm off. Old tech has a tendency to be too strong or just malfunction.”

Boom!

The Door opener blew up in her hand, its structure imploding on itself, sending parts of itself flying harmlessly into the air.

“Well, you’re lucky, was that one of your nine lives?”

“Well, why don’t you do something?!”

“I already did.”

“So are we just going to starve in here?”

“We’ll just wait for the artillery crews to find us tomorrow.”

“By then, we’ll be dead! Do you really  think that someone would care enough to save us before we starve!”

“Calm down, I’m sure that someone will find us. The artillery crews work nonstop, firing shells over no man's land. If this were a storm cannon, then things would be different.” Her captor said, “We’ll be fine.”

The cold breeze swept into the closet as a small rodent skittered away under one of the shelves. The room was small, and the sky was beginning to darken as the sun dipped under the polluted clouds and scorched earth. The light coming into the room was slowly dwindling as cold air began to fill the trench system, the misty fog dragging itself, pulling, clawing up from the undertrenches. 

Nine was sitting opposite her captor, the light slowly being suffocated out of the air. However, she could still see through the clouded mist that slid in through the cracks of the door. The fog covered the ground, freezing and gnawing at her ankles. She looked at her apparel, an old shirt and skirt she had found among the corpse piles before enlisting. The cold air practically went through her clothes as they did little to protect her from the freezing temperatures.

She plopped herself onto the floor and began pulling her legs close to her chest in an effort not to freeze to death. However, the floor was frigid, and upon closer inspection, the rodent from earlier was now nothing but a frozen meal.

Her captor was leaning against the shelf, its body still like a corpse. She could not even tell if they were breathing or not. She slowly reached out with her finger, shivering as the cold air bit into her skin.

“Poke”

She had pressed her finger against her captor's gas mask’s cheek. Her finger made a small indent on the mask as she pressed into it. 

“Hey, are you there?”

Poke, poke, poke.

She looked at the person, who seemed to be sleeping…

Poke, poke, poke

“Helloo, anyone in there?” Nine nagged, still poking at the person's cheek.

“...” Her captor batted her hand away like an annoyed cat, leaning more against the ladder again.

Poke

“...”

“Can you at least tell me your name?”

“It’s Kat”

“I’m Nine.”

“Like the number?”

“Y-yeah”

“Were you the ninth child, or like did your parents like the number nine?”

“I didn’t know my parents”

The air between them began to stretch again, as they stood silent. Frost began to go in between the hairs in her tail, her legs began to lose feeling. She brushed her tail off, wincing as the cold shards of ice landed on her skin. 

“Hey, nine. Mind getting closer to me.”

?

Nine slowly stepped towards Kats' position by the ladder. Feeling goosebumps, she continued, almost tripping over the frosted rat. She could make out her capt-Kat’s form in the darkness. 

“Can you close your eyes?”

“W-why?”

“Just do it.”

Nine closed her eyes as the sounds from around became louder. The regular thumping of the artillery launching, the grinding sound of bonesaws going through arms, the undoing of one's buttons, the persistent thumping of something nearby. 

Then she felt a wild shock, the sudden feeling of being enveloped, the feeling of warm air encircling her. She heard the buttons getting redone as she was slightly pressed against something warm.

“You’re freezing.”

Nine stayed silent, opening her eyes, she could hear her own heart bursting out of her chest. She couldn’t see anything; the light had long been drowned out. She could feel her face heating up as Kat began playing with her hair. 

What is this feeling?

“She’s asleep”

Kat stared at the captain, who also stared at her.

“...”

“She won’t let go.”

“Yeah, I can see that. Just make sure that you get to sleep at a reasonable time.”

“You’re not my mom.”

“I’m a guy.”

“That was-I know, I have access to your file.”

“I’m going to sleep”

“Oh, also Scratfeld wanted to ask you abo-”

“If he wanted to ask about that, then he should do it himself.”

“Okay, also, you got night watch tomorrow.”

She shot him a nasty look. The dark recesses of the undertrenches hold many hidden horrors that live deep underground and only wander up at night. There were experiments done with these mutants; nailing them against the wall to see what would happen if they didn’t return to their recess by morning. It only took a few minutes for the creature to croak, but hours to die.

She went into her room that night, trying to pry off Nine, who was somewhat wrapped around her waist under her coat. Slowly running her hand through her soft hair.

What happened?

Nine grogedly opened her eyes pressed against a blanket. She felt a warm feeling from behind her and two arms wrapped around her waist. Slowly she tried to pull herself out of the bed but the arms wrapped around her waist felt too heavy, and also it felt too cozy. 

Storyboard

Curiosity almost killed the Nine

Night watch

Philtron-ego, lusts over a character…nine cats, 1 flower, a steel cage, rats. Rats? crazy?...Crazy i wazs once that, they locked me in a room a rubber room, a rubber room with rats, the rats made me crazy. Crazy i was once that the ratz msde me crazy. CrazyIwasoncethattheylockedmeinaroomarubberroomarubberroomofratsOhtheratsrattedmecrazythedoorsdon’topeninpowertheyartstrengthoftheblindunseenartprowseletthelightreveal.

Scratfield-

Nine

Kat

“Hello?”

A shining ray of light pierced into the room where the supposed night watch squad #44 was sleeping. The tired eyes of Scratfields searched the room for the lazy kids. No one in the battalion could match his age as he walked on a limp. Minus of course the tech cultists who live impossibly long through integration with one of the machines. It always unsettled him whenever he saw one of those things. 

The Captain had informed him that his replacement squadmates would be Kat and Nine along with Philtron. He laughed at the idea, and even so more after reading through their records. First up was Kat, who seemed formidable yet too young for such a role. The squad would be on the very farthest reach, far too distant for a person of her age. Philtron’s record was spotless, with many recommendations from commanding officers while also coming from a wealthy background. His record smelled of money, and there was a redacted part near the end. Where he harassed an officer of far greater rank than he. Makes one wonder how many he harassed before choosing the wrong victim. However, that was pale in comparison to the last entry, which was a girl named Nine, one of the cursed mutants. 

Mutants that should have died at birth rather than curse the lands alive. He could feel their mutations, a horrible disgusting thing that dares attempts to imitate his humanity? Yet he could feel a small bit of pity, for the creature was under the supervision of Kat, a junior tech cultist. Most definitely partaking in the most gruesome of experiments, subjecting it to horrors that only the most evil of criminals face. Yet it is what the greatest of the state's enemies deserve. 

The door creaked open as he shined a light into it, illuminating two people sharing a bed. No, it was just Kat and Nine dozing off.

To say Scratfield was aggravated would be an understatement but he hid it well. Something one learns in the presence of the tech cultist is that any foot soldier(him) can and will be turned into a tech-thrall. A fate far worse than eternal damnation.

But then he thought about it more, sleeping in the same bed as the mutant would mean that if said mutant committed a form of treachery then Kat would be able to rapidly release the thing from the sufferings of life.

Staring at her phone, Noriko watched her texts intently. Why hasn’t she texted back? Looking back at her phone, she felt an uneasy feeling as if her friend was gone or something. 

Maybe I should go check on her,

She lived relatively close to Natsuki’s house, it was only a 25 minute walk so she grabbed her phone and her earbuds and snuck past her aunt and out the back door. 

Walking down the street she saw a black cat stroll down the street without a care in the world. Bending down, she reached out her hand to try to pet the feline. However, the cat had other plans as it snatched her keys and ran away down the street. 

“Hey! Get back here,” She yelled as she started chasing after the feline swindler. The cat was fast and far more agile, and as she ran down the street, she finally caught up with the cat. It was sitting on her friend's porch, staring at her with her keys in its mouth.

Suddenly, the cat turned its head and scratched its paws at the door, finally giving up and dropping the keys in front of it. Slowly, Noriko approached the doorway, knocking once, and then thrice. Her parents must be out, or maybe their helping take care of her cousins, she thought, reaching her hand under the welcome mat and grabbing the keys. 

“It’s been like six months,” She said to herself as she pulled herself back up and opened the door. The house felt empty and quiet, like it was being haunted by the remains of something. Feeling the goosebumps, she took a step back, before slowly walking back in. The house was too empty, the house was missing something, but she couldn’t remember what. 

From the couch to the wooden table, the room felt grey– as if all the life was suddenly swooped away into a tidy little box and hidden under the bed. She walked up the stairs, each step echoing through the house. The cat from before was sitting in front of the doorstep, staring at her.

Turning the doorknob, she felt a cold presence as she saw duct tape on the ceiling. Looking downwards, she saw a lump, no, not a lump, Natsuki?!

 It can’t be

She rushed forward, grabbing Natsuki by the waist, pulling her towards her. 

Please don’t be dead, please don’t be dead. I don’t want my first time seeing you since 7th grade to be of you dying. There are so many things that I haven’t told you since 7th grade. 

She felt tears coming out of her eyes as she brought herself closer. Attempting to shake the life back into her, however, before she could start moving, she felt Natsuki’s arms go around her body. Her heart started beating more rapidly as Natsuki hugged her abdomen. 

Big time skip, skipping eighth-grade summer and first day at school. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Summary

Natsuki stays at home for the majority of the summer, only going out to get food and utilities. Natsuki also gets a summer job to pay for the bills and invests it into the stock market, so she hopefully has enough money to last the entire year. Best friend’s feelings develop more for Natsuki.

=================================================================

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

There was a quietness that she enjoyed at home. Natsuki turned the stove up to medium temperature and put a pot over it. Carefully pouring in some water she checks her moms recipe for the soup and suddenly thinking about her mom she smiles faintly. She then puts in the rest of the ingredients and leaves to pot to cook for a bit, letting the smell of soup fill the house. 

“Say, how long did the recipe say to slow cook again?” She said, talking to no one. Then checking the recipe she saw to her dismay-

Active Time:

1 hr 40 mins

Chill Time:

12 hrs

Total Time:

20 hrs 40 mins

Servings:

4 to 6 servings

“Maybe I can finish this tomorrow,” Natsuki said, looking at her cat, who was sleeping on her laptop, basking in the autumn colors. 

Oh well, I guess it's cup noodles again…

After eating dinner Natsuki goes to her bathroom to cut her hair using a box cutter she found in a drawer. Suddenly, she hears a loud slamming noise. She panics for a second, dropping the razor as it cuts through her wrist, splashing blood across the floor. She collapses to the floor in shock. After what felt like an hour she started searching for a band-aid to stop the bleeding. She winces in pain as she looks around finally putting a bandaid on her wrist. She sat there for a while, doing nothing but waiting, watching for anything. Then as the bathroom door creaked open, Natsuki turned around quickly, hiding the razor and nicking her ankle on it in the process. The blood started to flow a bit as her leg trembled.

“Meow?”

Thank goodness, it was just her cat. Natsuki thought as she pushed off the ground and sighed.

“Natsuki?” Noriko worried, poking her head into the room, her worry flowing through her eyes and down her cheeks like a small fountain. For a while the house was filled with silence.

“So… it’s been a while,” Natsuki nervously whispered, hiding her ankle behind her body.

“Yeah”  Noriko  said, looking around the room, “Say why are their bandaids on the floor?”

“Well I got a… Papercut!” Natsuki said, darting her eyes across the room, trying to put her best poker face on.

“You sure?”  Noriko  questioned, staring at Natsuki's ankle, "People don’t often get papercuts on their ankles”.

“Yup!”

“Mind if I stay over tonight?”

“Won’t your parents not like that?”

“I’ll just text them that I'm with my aunt. Though is your ankle okay? Do you want me to stitch it up, I have been taking first aid classes”

Natsuki shook her head trying to think of a rebuttal until she finally landed on her answer. 

“Wouldn’t you feel safer in your own house sleeping in your own bed”

“Well my brother is back in the house, freeloading with his friend from college, he dragged along.”

“Wh-what's wrong with your brother?” 

“Well, he and his friend are staying over, so–and they’re taking up all the beds…*”

“Oh, well, where would you like to sleep? You could sleep on the couch or we could share a bed…”

“What about your parents' room?”

“Well, it’s been a while since I went there, so it’s quite dirty. So (best friend) I’m going to go to sleep right now, so if you want, you can go grab one of the blankets and sleep on the couch, or I’ll just scooch over on the bed if you go up.”

“Ok, I think I’ll just sleep on the couch…so see you tomorrow?!”  Noriko  replied 

“Sure,” Natsuki said in a quiet voice, “see you tomorrow…”

*That was a lie, she just wanted to sleepover at Natsuki's house…

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Best friends POV

“Hello?”

Noriko said, letting the sound echo throughout the house. 

Anyone? 

She started looking around, walking up and down the stairs looking for her friend. Listening closely she heard a small creaking sound coming from above, almost like a rope was swinging around.

Wait—No

Not again, it can’t be, she stopped and then rushed upstairs to where Natsuki's bedroom was. Brushing past the lamp and all the random memories inside the slowly twisting place that she visited almost everyday, finally reaching a closed door. She stopped for a second, too afraid to see what was behind the door. Until she decided to slowly push the door open, letting the creaking sound of the door fill the dark and now empty abyss that was behind her. Looking around she couldn’t find anything, thank go-

 Then a body fell.

From the ceiling hanging off a noose. Natsuki’s body swaying above the air, held up by knitting yarn and hooks. She took a step back, then collapsed onto the floor, the shock being too much to bear. Tears were welling up into her eyes as she turned around trying to run away again only to be greeted by a vast empty void where there were no visible things, just emptiness until a figure appeared.

It’s him

She wakes up scouring the room and then jumping off the couch flying up the stairs, past the bathroom and into Natsuki's room.

Please be alive. Please still be there.

 Pushing the door open, and startling the cat she entered the room. There was nothing to mention. No swaying noose nor body on the ground. She took a breath of relief before sitting down on the bed. 

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sun’s bright rays pierced through the window as she woke up and to her surprise, Noriko was dozing off right on top of/next to her with her arms around her body. 

She slowly peeled Noriko’s arms away and got up and left to make some eggs. She cracked two eggs, one for her and one for her sleepy friend. She scrambled the first one and then cooked the other sunny side up for her friend. After finishing the eggs she grabbed some plates and put the eggs onto the plates and then placed them all onto the table, just as Noriko walked down the stairs.

“Good morning,”  Noriko  chirped

“Hello,” Natsuki responded, “How was your sleep?”

“It was good,” Noriko said, hurriedly wolfing down the egg. 

“So… about this morning, what were you doing in my bed?” Natsuki asked, while grabbing Nova and taking it to its little food bowl. 

“Umm, well…Oh! Look at the time, I have to do-Student leadership stuff.”  Noriko  said, turning around flustered, as she rushed out of the door.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

School!

Why did she have to run away?

“Was it something I did?” Natsuki silently thought to herself as she walked out of the bus and into the school. Why did I have to push her away, and right at the end of summer break.

Entering the hallway, she walked down the hallway, there were some stares from people she knew, and people she didn’t know, even stares from those she would have considered friends.

As she got closer to the people inside, she could start to hear what they were saying, “Who is that?”

“I think it’s that one girl that almost killed herself.”

“Dam, she didn’t even have the gall to follow through at all?”

“Don’t say that, she’s right next to you”

“It’s fine, she probably faked it or something.” Then, turning around the girl asked, “Hey you! Yes you, you need to apologize for lying about killing yourself.”

“Bu-”

“Apologize first then talk,”

“I-”

“Excuse me…people, but I need to borrow…Her” He said, entering the conversation like an unwanted but needed escape tool.

“Well, you can have her once she is done apologizing to us.”

“Is her apology that important to you though? I mean we all have places to be and things to do so simply arguing like this is simply a waste.”

“...screw you” The girl said as she left trailed by her friends giving the boy the finger. As the girls left the corner Natsuki slumped down next to the lockers. Holding back tears, she stared at the ground not being able to face the boy in front of her.

“You good?”

“Yeah, thanks for saving me there," she said, relieved, collapsing onto the ground. 

“Well, remember when I was asking for your help… I still need your help with the library. ”

“What?” She asked. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

“Best friend!, you there?”

“Huh?”  Noriko  said, turning her head around.

“What were you looking at?” Yuki asked, tilting her head.

“Nothing!” She said, “I’m just looking for…umm, A Tree!”

“Do you have a crush on someone?” Yuki asked, driving through the stalemate, “Is it Josh?”

“No,”  Noriko  said, instantly turned off, “I don’t really care about him, he just seems like a creep.”

“Yeah, there’s something with him I don’t trust, he’s the last person to be seen with–.”

“Hello girls,” Josh said, strolling into the room, “You talking about me?”

“I heard what happened to your sister, I’m so sorry she killed herself but at least she’s in a better place with the top G!”

“F^(k you,” Yuki retorted,

“Looks like someone’s in a mood!” He said, “Say, where’s your sister?”

“Oh wait, she’s gone!” Josh taunted.

“She didn’t kill herself”

“Well, she’s going to be rotting in hell b!-(^” Keith said, flanking around Josh, “My brother said she looked ugly as hell when they found her body”

“Leave me alone,” Yuki sobbed as she rushed out of the classroom.

“Nice one, bro”, Mike said, appearing behind him.

“I think you guys need to take things down a bit,” Ryker said, entering behind Mike, “I don’t think it’s good to send girls crying away.”

“Chill, bro, it's just a prank,” Josh said, brushing away Ryker's dissent.

“Noriko, mind if I call ya Riko?  I might need to steal your homework answers?”

“No, " she said, taken aback, "I need to find Yuki, she said, turning to go after her friend. What the hell, she thought as she ran after Yuki. She ran past the hallway door and out into the field, running toward one of the trees. 

“There you are, Yuki, why did you run so fa-” She said, looking at Yuki, who was sitting against the oak tree, sobbing.

“Want to just stay here for a bit?” Best friends asked, crouching down near her.

“Sure, just for a little bit before class starts,” Yuki said, sniffing, holding back tears as she leaned against the tree.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

(M!>@)

Dear diary,

Today was my first day at school. I stayed up all night the day before because I was so excited to go. This year I’m going to be attending with my friend Acesen! 

=================================================================

“Why did I get dragged into this…”, Natsuki said to herself while dusting off another bookshelf.

“For the extra credit?” Acesen answered, rearranging the books, “These guys really do not know how to organize a bookshelf. Dictionaries do not go with chapter books!”

“What’s the point of rearranging these books if they’ll get messed up again anyway?” Natsuki groaned, meandering off to dust another book that no one has probably touched in years.

“I wish I knew that too. Why do we do things? Why do we even try to fix something or even do anything if it will all be undone in the end? If everything I do can and will be undone, then what's the point even existing? Why should we even get up?”

“I never thought about it like that,” Natsuki said, pondering the question. If everything we do amounts to nothing, then perhaps the world would be fine without me…

“You know what, just disregard what I said. I was just joking around, please don’t take that seriously. There are more things to life than accomplishments, like the—Journey!” Acesen said, “If you’re feeling uncomfortable about this topic, then you can leave. I’m sorry for bringing it up.”

“I’m okay with talking about these types of things. Just don’t act on the,m please,” She said, not wanting to let him go. Not again, she thought, I can’t lose another person.

“Hey lovebirds, you done?” Ryker said, walking through the forest of bookshelves followed by Yuki. “ I don’t want to intrude but the librarian guy told me to tell you two to get going.”

“Are you two dating or something?” Yuki asked, “and If you are does that mean you’r-”

“We are not dating!” Acsen remarked, “we’re simply cleaning the library for extra credit.”

“Bro, Acesen, you have an A in all of your classes, you don’t need the extra credit,” Ryker commented.

“Well, I just really like books! Is there nothing wrong with liking books?” 

“Well, why don’t you join the book club?” Ryker replied,

“Because I’m already in it!” Acesen retorted, “But you wouldn’t know would you?”

“Um, guys, aren't we getting off track over here?” Yuki asked, “The janitors are going to start locking up and I don’t want to get locked inside of here. Right Natsuki?”

“Say where’s Natsuki?” Acesen Inquired. “We shouldn’t leave her to get locked in here now.”

“She’s right behind you bro,” Ryker said looking behind Acesen.

“Oh, there you are,” He said. “Let’s get going”

Silently nodding Natsuki moved forward and started walking with the group down the hill. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

The morning sun’s rays pierced through the window as  Noriko  sat inside the empty library studying for the upcoming quiz. She heard from Yuki that the quiz was going to be about Genetics.

“She didn’t even tell us about it!” She groaned, stretching her arms up letting them bask in the rays before putting them back down to continue studying. She closed her phone, checking it just one more time. Do I have Natsuki’s number? I mean she did get one recently but I don’t think I asked. Wait, what will I even talk to her about? 

Yuki-Did you hear that Natsuki and Acesen are going out together?

…-Best friend

Yuki-I personally can’t really see them as a couple, because they kinda just don’t have any kind of…

Does Natsuki like Acsen? She thought of putting her phone down as she leaned back in her seat. Looking at her watch, she checked the time, almost time for her to go hang out with Natsuki by the lunch tables off to the side of the yard. 

“Mind if I take a seat here?” Josh said, appearing behind her chair like a horned lizard striking from the flank. “Say, why are you blushing all of a sudden? Is it because of me?” He said, grinning with that stupid face of his, It just looks so punchable. 

“Fine,” She begrudgingly said as she shifted her computer away from him.

“So, did you hear that Natsuki and Acesen are quite close together?”

“No, they're not,” She said, feeling the weight of the words. I know I should be happy for her, getting more friends, but still. I’m jealous of her, I’m such a horrible person.

“So, I’m going to cut to the chase, but don’t you want to know what they are up to. A girl and a boy alone in a library, what else could happen?” He remarked, “So why don’t we go and just watch them to see if they are doing anything lewd?”

The idea caught her off guard, “what?...no, no, no. I know Natsuki. She isn’t the kind of person to do that”

“If you knew her so well, then why did you not do anything to stop her from attempting?”

She looked down, too ashamed to speak. 

Why didn’t I notice…

I’m a failure as a friend…

“Ok! So, meet after school by the benches, then?” Josh said, getting off the chair and walking out of the library.

Why didn’t I talk to her? Before she did anything rash, she thought, looking at her laptop.  

“Almost too easy,” Josh said under his breath. Watching his watch, he checked the time. Soon Acesen will be arriving, and he needs to be taken care of…

==============================================

End of prelude

I wonder If she really likes me

The morning rays flew across the school yard as Natsuki closed her book. Looking around she checked her phone, it was 20 minutes past when  Noriko  was supposed to arrive. At that point she had left to the oak tree to read a book, it feels nice to fantasize about what you cannot have. Reopening the book she started from in the middle, letting the pages suck her into the book, letting the world around her fade away.

“Hey, i’m sorry but, well mind letting me sit here?” Yuki asked, walking up to the tree plopping down. “I usually sit here so I’ts kinda surprising to see someone else sitting here by the tree.”

Natsuki shifted her body away from the sudden intrusion as she skulked away behind the tree.

“Hiding won’t solve anything,” Yuki said as she got up and started walking towards Natsuki.

“Wait!” Natsuki yelped as Yuki tripped over one of the tree roots. Falling over and landing on top of Natsuki. 

………

“Sorry!” Yuki said, “It was an accident! I swear!”

Staring at Yuki, Natsuki slowly shuffled off to the side quietly. Hiding behind the tree. Letting the awkward silence fill and encompass the space between them. 

=======================================

Walking down the stairs  Noriko  found Josh sitting next to wall near the science building. He was staring at the library intently. Watching, he grabbed a notebook and wrote something inside of it.  Noriko  slowly walked back and then walked forward, trying not to see what was in his notebook.

“So, ready to begin this steakout?” She said, awkwardly trying to remove the awkwardness but failing miserably. The sky was still bright,  so  Noriko  grabbed out her homework, quietly filling out the worksheet. 

The sun had set since but looking back at Josh she couldn’t help but wonder why he would spend so much time staring into the library with binoculars. The amount of time he had spent was insurmountable, checking the time she picked up her bags and started leaving.

“I’m going to clock out now,” She said, getting up from the tree.

“Okay, I think I’ll do the same too,” He said, getting up from the ground. 

As they parted ways  Noriko  couldn’t help but note that Josh was carrying a grocery bag. It’s probably something he got for dinner she thought as she continued down, walking past the library entrance and out by the entrance of the school..

“Hey, Best friend!” Natsuki said exiting the library, with Acesen following behind. “Want to walk home with us?”, Acesen said, pulling out his phone, “Oh, shoot! I forgot to lock the library doors! Don’t worry Natsuki you can leave without me I’ll lock the doors”

Watching the boy rush back into the library  Noriko  turned around and started walking out the school with Natsuki following suit.

“So, it’s been a while since we walked together, just us.” The Natsuki said catching up, “Now that I think of it you really have grown a bit. Last time I saw you, you were like the same height but now you’re almost as tall as Josh”

“Well you also grown a bit,”  Noriko  said looking at Natsuki, “At least a few inches”

“I’ll grow taller than you! Just you wait” Natsuki pouted jumping onto a rock,

“Wait! You might fa-”

“Oof!,” 

“You okay?”  Noriko  asked, grabbing Natsuki’s hand, slowly pulling her up.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” She said, squeezing onto best friend's hand."Ouch! my leg” she winced as she wobbled a bit.

“Are you really ok? I can help support you or maybe carry you if you want?”

  “No, I'll be ok” she said as she got up, wobbling from one side and then to the other and then limping forward, “I’ll always be ok,”. 

Then Natsuki suddenly stumbled, but before she could fall  Noriko  grabbed her arm, pulling her back. 

“Come on, let's keep on walking.” She said, dragging her friend with her, suddenly realizing that she was holding her hand she let go. 

“You don’t have to worry about me that much,”

“No, I should worry about you–I need–don’t want to lose you”

“You know Best friend, you keep on worrying about me but you you okay? I mean your cheese look red. Do you have a fever?”

“No I do not!”  Noriko  retorted turning away from Natsuki, “I’m just a bit–cold!” 

“It’s okay to be sick  Noriko  but it’s not okay to do nothing about it,” Natsuki pleaded, “Why don’t we stop by my house to check your temperature.”

“Sure”  Noriko  conceded. “But if my temperature is normal then I told you so!”

“Okay!” Natsuki said,                                                       ===============================================================       

“105 degrees Farhenhiet,” Natsuki beamed triumphently she said, reading the thermometer, “It’s almost like you sat outside for multiple hours” Natsuki said, popping the thermometer out of Best friends mouth. 

“oh no you don’t, you are going to sit right here on the couch”

“Insert dialogue 7pm”

“I’m going to cook something for dinner, you should get your parents to pick you up or something.”

“Got it, your a lifesave–mrph!”

“Mreow?” 

“Nova, no!” She said lifting the cat off of Best Friends face, “Sorry about her, she’s usually more well-behaved.”

“Here’s some an ice pack for your-wah! Nova, stop the ice pack isn’t a toy,”

Oh, no I dropped the ice pack on her… 

“I’m so sorry, um let me just get that for you.”

“It’s fine, she’s so cute that I can’t stay mad at her”

Huh!? 

Moving her cat in front of her face Natsuki’s face turned flush with embarrassment. Who’s she talking about? The cat or me!? 

“uhm–I’mgoingtogomakesomefoodbyeseeyoulater!”

“huh?”

Rushing into the kitchen Natsuki collapsed against the wall finally processing everything. We’re friends, I shouldn’t be thinking like this, even if I can find the courage I’ll be risking out entire friendship.

No

“I won’t risk it” She whispered aloud. Slowly picking her self up she opened the refrigerator to grab a salmon fillet she was defrosting for dinner.

“What the…”

The Fish was gone, the only remains were a suspicious paw print on the side of the fridge. Turning around she saw her cat looking at her, tilting its head innocently, licking its paws staring at its food bowl.

“No I can’t give it more food, I’ve already given it too much food. I simply cannot!” She thought, turning away trying to avoid looking at the cats begging eyes. After waiting for a few moments which felt like hours the cat finally relented, with its ears drooping like a thirsty plant. A solid pang of guilt hit Natsuki hard, turning around as she searched the pantry for something else to eat, her eyes finally landing on a box of instant ramen.

Hello old friend.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

After finishing the ramen, she grabbed two eggs and boiled them, along with adding some msg from the cabinet as a last-ditch effort to make the dish look like it was not something she made on a last-minute notice.

Maybe her parents will pick her up before dinner. Hopefully they pick her up because lately her cat has been hogging the entire couch every night. Maybe her cat might be able to share it with her best friend. Most likely, she’ll have to share a bed with Noriko. 

Why did I not clean the other bedrooms?

Slowly, Natsuki let out a sigh of defeat as she grabbed the 2 bowls of instant noodles and walked to the table, carefully putting the bowls down. 

================================================

“Hi mom, mind if you pick me up, or tell dad to pick up his phone? I’m right at Natsuki’s house.”

“I’m sorry but your father is out drinking with some coworkers and I’m already a few drinks in,”

“It’s ok I’ll just walk home”

“No, wait it’s too dark outside, I think you’ll be ok with Natsuki. ”

“But mom, she doesn’t have enough beds”

“Then just share one? I don’t see anything wrong, after all, she’s your best friend, I’m sure you’ll be safe if that's what's worrying you.”

“But mom, I–”

“You can’t walk home, that's final. There's a lightning storm right no,w and it’s too dark out and unsafe.”

“But I’ll have to share a bed with her.”

“And? You should be fine, even your aunt agrees… Wait, is she the one you’ve been crushing on?”

“Food’s ready,” Natsuki said, her soft words piercing through the call.

“Looks like your future girlfriend's calling, you should probably go answer now.”

“Wait, what?” she exclaimed as her temperature spiked almost as high as an erupting volcano. 

Why why why whyyy

“Say, your face looks red, mind if I check your temperature again?”

“Uhmmm, sure?” She muttered, looking down at the blanket, not expecting Natsuki to climb onto the couch and brush her hand against her hand onto her forehead. 

“Hey, you’re getting a bit close”

“Wah? Don’t we usually get this close anyways?”

“Yeah, but I don’t think you need to be this close to take my temp”

“It says your temperature is getting higher, your face does look red. Should I go get another ice pack?”

“No, I’m fine–Is it ok if I stay for the night because my parents don’t want me walking home when it’s dark out.”

“Sure, why can’t they pick you up though?”

“Well, because they're not sober enough for some reason.”

“Fair enough, want some food?”

“Sure” She said, nodding her head as she got up from the couch and sauntered toward the table. Looking down at the food she couldn’t help but notice that it was just instant noodles with a soft boiled egg and some nori. 

Is this all that she has been eating up until now?

Now that I look at her more closely she does look more like she is a lot more skinnier. She really has changed since last time I saw her.

Staring at Natsuki she kept wondering how much she weighs, how many vitamin deficiencies does she have?

Grabbing her spoon she silently turned her eyes downward and continued eating her food. Slowly eating through the noodles, letting it slowly disappear as the silence slowly dragged on. Before the silence could further continue  Noriko  got up, walked to the kitchen and put her dishes into the sink before moving back to the table.

“Mind if I go back to the couch and lie down for a while,” She said as she laid down on the couch

“Sure, do what you need till you feel good again,” Natsuki said as she strolled up to her, cautiously sitting down next to her on the couch. They stayed like that for a while,  neither of them moving from their positions. 

Best friend closed her eyes for a brief second laying her neck against the pillow, slowly breathing in and out. 

“Her eyes look so beautiful” She thought to herself as she looked at natsuki intently, not realizing the implications. Natsuki turned around meeting her gaze before sliding behind the side of the couch, slowly peeking her head around. 

“Can you please stop looking at me,” Natsuki whispered from the side of the couch. “It’s embarrassing,” she followed, hiding her face behind the couch.

“That’s because you’re so cute,”  Noriko  thought aloud, shifting herself off the couch, meeting Natsuki in the eye, watching her now red face. 

Thump, Thump, Thump. She could still hear Natsuki’s running footsteps as she hastily ran upstairs. 

Why did I have to say that, now she’s never gonna talk to me ever again.

After sitting on the couch for an hour tearing herself apart she turned around, looking at Natsuki’s cat stalking toward her position, “At least you won’t run from me, right?”

At first, the cat looked at her, and then it started mercilessly swatting at her hand, until she left the couch. Slowly walking up the stairs she started looking for an alternate place to sleep. Maybe she could share with Natsuki, she thought as she stopped in front of her door. No, not after what I pulled this evening. Turning around she walked back down the stairs and laid down on the couch, slowly shifting the cat next to her so she could fit. As she went to sleep, the only thing she could think of was how she was an idiot. “I shouldn’t have said anything,” she grumbled to herself.

=================================================================

After that sleepover Natsuki couldn’t help but notice that  Noriko  was avoiding her. Whenever she tried to reach  Noriko  she would just either turn red and run away or try and lose her in the crowd. Did I do something wrong? 

“Hey, Acesen.”

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“Well, my friend-”

“Which friend? Yuki or Best friend?”

“Best Friend, wait are you asuming I only have two friends?”

“Well the only people you talk to me about is Best friend, and Yuki”

“But still, it isn’t nice to assume” she pouted,“ but anyways  Noriko  is avoiding me during class and even afterclass when I try to catch up with her she’s gone.”

“So the only reason you stay after school with me in the library is because you have literally no one else to talk to?”

“I mean I wouldn’t say it like that, because I do enjoy your company”

“Oof” Acesen said dusting off an old book, “Say, want to try and do some fencing?”

“Won’t one of us get hurt?”

“Well I’ll let you know that I have spent the last few weeks in school practicing and reading on fencing forms”

“I was talking about you, since now that I realized we don’t really have any protective equipment left and we only have some swords.”

“Nah, I’d win,” Natsuki remarked, searching her brain, remembering all of the sword forms she had learned in martial arts. “Since I know how to use swords, I’m pretty confident that I can win.”

“Maybe later when we have more room in the library, maybe I could convince the gym teacher since he used to do some fencing too.”

“Yeah, I look forward to it, but do you know why  Noriko  isn’t talking to me?”

“Well, I’ll probably guess that maybe something’s happening at home or maybe she has a boyfriend and just doesn’t have to time to hang out with you. Also, your friendship isn’t what most would call platonic from the outside so i’d guess that she’s avoiding you because her boyfriend is jealous or something”

“So do you mean that she hates me and never wants to see me anymore?”

“No, I wouldn’t really say that, it’s just a random guess” he said as he turned around with a mischievous grin, “Or she has a-

“Hey there! Whatcha talking about?”

“Oh, hi Yuki,”

“How are you? Are you reading any books? ”

“I’m doing well and I am um haven’t really been reading any books right now,”

“Oh, well Acesen whatcha up to now?”

“Sorting books”

“At least did you read any?” “Yes I did! I read the Liechtenauer Compendium, it was really interesting.”

“...”

“So, anyway, does anyone want to go to this new cafe downtown after you’re done with your volunteer work?” Yuki said, picking up a book from the ground.

“Sure, I’m ok with that,” Acesen replied, brushing off the dust from another book. “Though I did arrange to spar with an old friend so I might need to leave soon”

“What about you, Natsuki?” Yuki asked, turning her attention towards her, her eyes locking onto her.

Looking at Yuki, Natsuki nodded and then left to find something else to do somewhere further away. It’s not like she doesn’t like Yuki; it was just that she could be a bit too much for her. 

=================================================================

filler

=================================================================

Walking down the school hallways Natsuki left the building, it was after school and she started walking towards the shopping district. Checking her phone she pulled up google maps and started wandering down the street towards the place. She was supposed to meet up with Yuki and Acesen to go down to hang out. She slowly walked past a cafe and through an alleyway finally reaching the address. 

Pulling her eyes upwards she looked at what seemed to be a gamba juice. Looking at her watch she checked the time, 20 minutes too early. She turned around and started walking down the other street where she found a small cat cafe that she saw on google maps. Looking at the shop from outside she quietly walked in, petting one of the cats as she spotted some books for her to read. The room was mostly lively with chatter coming from many of the tables, but off to the side, there was a small table. The perfect spot for someone like her, so she grabbed a book and sat down at the table. 

She let herself escape into the book letting all of her anxieties from school melt away. The book was a short, but had an interesting horror story about a person who was walking through a dark forest. There were creatures beyond sight watching and following their movements, voices mocked the character from beyond the treeline. Some of the greatest fears can come from the unknown, because that is when you imagination starts to create things. 

Natsuki, feeling ever more scared, slinked further back into her corner, hiding away from the world. Then when she reached out for her phone, it was gone, “Did someone take it? ”

Natsuki frantically searched the table, and desk looking for her phone, but no matter how hard she searched, she found nothing. Finally she gave up in a small fit of despair and crumpled onto the table, closing her eyes as a sign of resignation. 

I really am just a waste,

=================================================================

“Best friend, you can’t spend your entire shift hiding back here, can you at least come out and take some orders?” 

“But,-”

“No butts, we’re being swamped.”

“Can I maybe take care of the cats instead?”

“Fine…” She said, “I’ll go serve some tables.”

What if my classmates see me? 

The thought echoed through her brain as she walked through the cafe, taking orders and serving customers. At the moment she could spot around 8 people in the room and many more felines. Though there was someone in the corner that looked like Natsuki based on how they were sleeping on the couch. There were only a few people that she knew that kinda slept like that in a certain kinda fashion. She quickly dismissed that thought, turning to the side and grabbing some cat food for some cats.

“We’re not being swamped Mira,”

“Well, you weren’t doing anything and you looked so lonely.”

“I guess so”  Noriko  sighed as she pet one of the cats sitting on a table off to the side. At least none of my classmates know that I work here. Attempting to pick up the cat she realized something was different about this one; there were no cat ears. In fact it was not a cat, but a sleepy Natsuki. 

Slowly she let go of her friend, placing her head back onto the table and taking a seat next to her. Leaning against her sleeping friend she watched looking at the sleeping girl.  Sliding her hand out, she placed it onto Natsuki’s hand, gently squeezing it. She then carefully let go and got off the chair however while pulling her self up she felt a tugging sensation as Natsuki’s hand squeezed tight not letting go. 

After prying Natsuki’s hand off she continued going about her job taking care of the cats and serving the customers. 

“ She looks so defensive it's kinda cute,” she thought as she passed Natsuki’s seat for what felt like the thousandth time. She couldn’t help but stare at her friend watching her sleep.

“Best friend, can you wake up your friend? It’s closing time right now”

“Okay, I’ll clock out and take her home.”

“Wait what?”

“Well it’ll be better if I leave first because I can go home with her just in case nothing happens”

“Fine, I’ll get to it, but you owe me a favor,” Mira said, carrying some of the cats towards the back.

Carefully, she approached the sleepy Natsuki as she walked behind her slowly. Now, how do I do this…

She slowly grabbed Natsuki’s arm, tapping it gently and slowly pulling it. Slowly Natsuki started getting up, lifting her head from the table and moving the cats off herself. 

“So, how was your nap?”  Noriko  inquired awkwardly as she looked to the side.

“It was fine, I think I lost my phone somewhere, have you seen it here? Also why are you here?”

“Isn’t it obvious from the apron? I work here.”

“Nice! What do you do for your job?”

“I usually work as a waiter, but I spend a lot of time taking care of the cats.” 

“I think I found you phone!”  Noriko  exclaimed as one of the cats started moving off the desk.

“Thank you so much, I don’t think I would have found that.”

“Want to get going now?”

“Sure, just let me check my phone. I was supposed to meet up with some friends but I kinda missed that”

“Why’d you stop?”  Noriko  said as Natsuki froze up suddenly moving a bit behind her. 

“N-nothing, let’s keep going”, Natsuki said, grasping Best friends hand, holding it captive as they walked back home. Then quietly speaking as if she was talking to her self she whispered “ I’m sorry for wasting your time like this, I should’ve gone home by myself.” 

Not knowing what to say  Noriko  squeezed Natsuki’s hand more tightly and pretended that she didn’t hear it.

She could feel her heart beat harder as Natsuki slowly drifted closer and closer to her. 

I hope she doesn’t hear my heartbeat,

I hope nothing ever changes,

I hope that she doesn’t find out,

I hope that we can stay together 

I hope that we can live long and happy lives,

I hope that I can continue standing by your side,

I wish that these blissful days will continue for as long as I live…

=================================================================

Sponsored segment

“(This word was sponsored by raid shadow legends. Raid shadow legends is a turn based game about turn based combat and with thousands of characters you can do whatever playstyle you want. Download and play for free on android or ios”

=====================================================================

Mira’s diary

Dear dairy,

The orphanage’s therapist asked us to write letters to us in the future but after writing one I kinda wanted to continue a bit and write out my feelings for future me. 

I work at a cat cafe and I go to the nearby high school and play chess and hang out with my friend Acesen. Some people think that I am dating him, and I don’t mind because it keeps people from catcalling me.  Though I should probably make some more friends. Though the counselor at the orphanage has told me that his colleague at the church has pulled some strings so I might find my forever home. 

=================================================================

“It’s fine, you don’t have to apologize. Everyone has their off day,” Yuki said, grinning as she cheerfully walked beside Natsuki as they walked around the school. 

“But, you took all the time to invite me and I ended up not coming,” Natsuki said, looking towards the ground

“It’s fine, since I ended up having to cancel too,” Acesen reassuringly said, popping in behind them. He seemed to be more energetic than usual, striding forward at a faster pace. Was there something driving his change? Was it a girl? 

“Acesen, do you have a girlfriend?” Yuki inquired, leaning towards him. The question caught him off guard and surprised Natsuki, who turned her head in confusion.

“You have a girlfriend?” Natsuki exclaimed, looking at Acesen with a look of shock and curiosity. “Who is it!”

“I do not have a girlfriend! w-What did— What even led you two to this?” Acesen said, averting his gaze.

“Well, you did kinda bail out on us when we left to hang out yesterday,” Yuki said. Not that she minded, because then she would get to have some alone time with Natsuki. Something about her drew her in for some reason; was it her smooth hair? Or her soft hands? Or maybe it was how she could be so resilient to hardship, in a way that she couldn’t. Not after losing that part of herself, who left into the long night ahead. 

“Well, my friend had a small emergency, and I had to help out.”

“What emergency?”

“It’s something that they don’t want me to disclose” Acesen replied,

Feeling the steel in Acesen’s voice Yuki decided it was best not to inquire anymore. Instead, they approached the tree and just kinda sat there in an awkward silence. The silence stretched on, eating away at Yuki until she finally attempted to break said silence.

“So, Acesen”

“Yeah?”

“Who was it that needed help?”

“I’m not going to say, it would be a bit embarrassing for you anyway.”

“Why?” She asked, her interest spiking. Is it one of my secrets? Did someone stumble across my hidden yuri stash?

“Not gonna say,” Acesen said, looking towards the sky “Wouldn’t want to say too much, I would be a bad friend to her if I did.”

“So she is a girl!”

“Huh?!” Natsuki murmured as she woke up from an obscured part of the tree near one of the bushes.

“Natsuki, are you getting enough sleep?” Acesen said, diverting the conversation away from himself.

“Yeah I got–like 4 hours or so” Natsuki yawned, leaning more against the tree.

“You shouldn’t be getting that little sleep; you’re going to fall asleep in class,” Yuki commented.

“I’ll be fine.*” Natsuki replied.

*she was not, in fact fine

=================================================================

“Natsuki, the bell already rang,”  Noriko said as Na------tsuki slept leaning against her shoulder on the desk. Looking at Natsuki, she silently sighed in relief that Natsuki didn’t fall asleep when they were sharing a seat at first. Her heart simply wouldn’t be able to take it. 

“Her hair feels so soft, I wonder what hair conditioner she uses?” She thought to herself while running her hand through Natsuki’s long, silky hair. The classroom was long empty, leaving the two of them alone in a room. 

If we stay like this, lunch will end and I won’t be able to eat. She thought, pulling Natsuki a bit closer, I don’t think I mind skipping lunch.

Natsuki then woke up, stretching her arms outward towards the sky. 

“How long was I asleep?” She yawned, shifting herself to lean against  Noriko in a different position. 

“ I’d say around half an hour,” She responded, getting up from the desk, “I need to get going to my club activities now.”

“I’m going to go eat lunch by the tree or something,” Natsuki sighed, getting up from the chair, walking close to Noriko. I wonder what it feels like to hold hands with her, what her soft hands would feel like. What it would feel like to hug her from behind. Slowly, Noriko felt her face turning red as she looked away from Natsuki as they walked down the hallway. Avoiding Natsuki’s curious gaze, however, Natsuki picked up on the change in behavior. Turning her head, Natsuki tried to get a look at Noriko as she turned her face away. 

“Let’s get going, wouldn't want to skip lunch.”

“Y-yeah, see you in class” Natsuki answered, getting up from the chair and leaving out the door silently as Noriko looked away.

And she’s gone, Natsuki really can slip out of a place easily. Getting up from her seat she grabbed her backpack and started walking out of the room.

=================================================================

Mira’s Dairy, 2

Dear Diary, Hello Future Mira:)

Today I witnessed something strange during the chess club; my friend Acesen was acting a bit off. He kept blundering during the match, as if his attention was split between 2 different matters. It’s probably one of his friends. I envy him for having many more friends than I do. But that wasn’t the strange part. No, it was what he was distracted by that was strange. He was looking directly at a girl poking her head into the room. She had long black hair and long eyelashes, and reminded me of one of those sad kids who would spend lunch sitting in a corner. Her hair reminded me of a sad little cat, all alone. But other than that, she looked so CUTE, like I could just hug her and-. Almost got off topic again, sorry future me… Anyway, after a bit, she and another girl from behind us walked towards us. Her eyes were lit up like a moonlit sky, and she was–um…well. Sorry, future me! When she finally reached us, my heart skipped a beat, her silky hair and energetic yet controlled gate. It’s something you had to be there to really know Ig.

=================================================================

The warm smell of books filled the air as Natsuki peered through the book. The social security officer ambushed her during the passing period. Telling her that her Aunt was going to be her new Guardian. The officer then gave Natsuki her aunt's phone number and left. At the moment, she didn’t know what to do. But she didn’t get the chance to think otherwise because soon enough the bell rang again. Marking only 3 minutes to get to her PE class.

The gymnasium was not much, it was a big empty hall, during lunch it was used as a cafeteria, and after school it was a basketball court. There was also a track that went around the field by the tree where she would hang out during lunch. The field was relatively large compared to the gymnasium. Hanging out in the middle of it during class felt awkward. She felt like she was in an exposed position almost all the time, with nowhere to run or hide. Though PE isn’t that bad because she got to hang out with Acesen and Noriko. All of her friends were also in the same class period so when they had to run she could talk with them while the teacher yelled at her for being too slow. So it isn’t that bad, but it is with a majority of the football team, and Dexter.. 

The gymnasium reeked of sweat and other smells. She looked off to the side, the teachers were taking attendance while everyone was relaxing. 

Natsuki hated the beginning of PE. Everyday she would have to sit off to the side while the teachers took attendance. All alone in the corner, no one to talk to and no one who cares enough to listen. 

Today, they were going to play a game of capture the flag because most of the teachers were gone. They were divided into two teams; team red and team blue. Natsuki was in team blue with Noriko, Mira, and some kids that she didn’t recognize from the football team. She spent the entire game hiding in the corner or running away from the other team.

“No offence, but doesn’t that make you like a coward?” Acesen asked, moving some books from the return box to their shelf, “I mean there’s nothing wrong with cowardice, it's a natural instinct for many people. It’s just that if you spend all your time hiding in a corner you won’t meet any new people.”

“What people are there to meet?” She rebutted, “After the first few months of school-”

“Well, sorry to cut you off but if you stop talking to new people after the first few months of school you won’t make any new friends. Unless someone feels pitiful about you sitting in the corner by yourself.” Acesen replied.

“Yeah, I guess…” 

“You guess?”

“But people are scary…” Natsuki whined, “They judge you and talk and gossip and…other things!” she pouted.

“Yeah, but people can be nice, it is human nature to be kind to another. Everyone has the ability to empathize. Empathy is a muscle, it can be trained into someone, and it can also be weak, however still relevant.” Acesen replied and then, softer,“I just wish that they knew that, that maybe they might–anyways my point is that most people are kind.”

“Yeah, I guess so…”

“So, what about your aunt coming over? Do you think you’ll be okay?”

“What makes you say that?”

“Well, it’s a painfull topic for me, but one of my close friends from last year,” He paused, taking a few short breaths before continuing, “She, was really close to me, but everyday she looked sad or just done with everything. Everyday I saw her she looked just on bit closer to–to giving up”

“Giving up on what?” Natsuki asked, tilting her head, “Do you still talk to her?”

“I do, but she’s been acting more sad lately. She’s also been avoiding me and her other friends. Not out of malice. It felt like she was trying to distance herself from us to protect us from something.”

“I don’t want to offend you in any way, but how does this relate to my aunt?”

“Well, for the past few years, she would always rant to me about her mother, your aunt, and her brother Dexter.”

“Which one?”

“The one in PE,”

“You mean the one that was flirting with me?!?” She exclaimed, “Does he know that we’re related?!”

“Well…”

“He does!?!” She said, repulsed by the idea, instinctively shrinking backwards.

“Well, on the bright side, you won’t have to live alone,” He spoke, choosing his words carefully.

“Yeah, but one of them is trying to recreate the European monarchy!” She exclaimed. 

“Yeah, that is a major downside…Say, have you checked the weather lately?”

“No?..”

“So you don’t know that it’s going to be raining.”

“What?..” Natsuki questioned as she turned her head towards the window by the side. There were signs of clouds, but no rain or water in sight. The sun had long departed behind the clouds. 

“I don’t think it’s going to rain that badly; I should be fine.”

================================================================

“...Why?” Noriko asked, looking at Natsuki’s soaked clothes as she sat on the ground. The rain was downpouring, the droplets falling onto the ground like a wave of shining scales. 

She kinda reminds me of a wet cat in the rain. 

“Well, ” She paused, “It’s just, i-I didn’t read the weather forecast.”

Looking at Natsuki’s soaked body and then her face, she couldn’t help it any longer

“Pht, Sorry, it's just, well,  you kind of remind me of that cat video where there's a picture of a wet cat,” She spoke carefully, holding back her laughter.

“I do not!” Natsuki pouted, turning her head away,” Stop thinking of weird stuff!”

“It’s not that weird to look at someone and think that they look like  a wet cat, especially you.” Noriko playfully said, crouching down in front of Natsuki, “I bet if you put on some cat ears, you could look really cute.”

“...”

“Come on, let's get home,” Noriko urged, “The weather app said the rain won’t let down anytime soon.”

“Fine.” Natsuki pouted, finally getting up, 

“Mind if you share your umbrella?” Her voice softened.

“Sure,” 

Babump

She felt her heart skip a beat, maybe two or three. She felt Natsuki clinging to her arm while under the umbrella. She felt her wet hair push against her body. She felt Natsuki’s arm around hers.

“h-Huh” Noriko spluttered, her walking gate slowing down as she felt Natsuki leaning against her.

“This is payback,” Natsuki smirked, too naive to know what it meant.

“Are you going to say something?” Natsuki asked, trying to get a look at Noriko as she turned her head, “No reaction?”

How can you be so ignorant and cute at the same time? She thought to herself as she turned her head away.

They continued to walk down the street, the rain still falling like many shards of glass. The air started to feel colder as the rain continued to pour down like a cold shower. She watched as Natsuki shivered and leaned slightly more into her. 

They finally reached Natsuki’s house after a bit of walking. Grabbing her key, Natsuki opened the door, quietly motioning for Noriko to enter. 

“Hey, wait over here for a sec.” She said, grabbing a towel from the closet, “Mind if I stay inside a bit? Just till the rain clears.”

“Sure,” Natsuki replied, sitting herself on the sofa, hiding herself under the blankets as Noriko approached her. 

With a towel in one hand, she started drying Natsuki’s hair. Her hair smelled like catnip and flowers. 

She stopped for a second, falling half asleep, leaning a bit forward towards Natsuki. However she pulled away, trying to quietly hide from the embarrassment of being so suddenly close to her. To hopefully preserve the moment, to preserve her relationship with Natsuki. She would be content with how things are, after all change would mean that…

“You okay?”, Natsuki asked turning her head around, leaning a bit closer towards Noriko. 

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just a bit sleepy from yesterday. I had to study for a test, you know.” She spoke, carefully choosing her words to try and prevent Natsuki from seeing past her.

“Are you okay? Your face looks red, did you catch a fever on our walk home”, Natsuki asked.

“I’m fine, but I think you should be more worried about yourself.”

“Why?”

“Becuase you sat out in the rain for who knows what amount of time.”

“It wasn’t that long”

“How long was it”

“It was only like 30 minutes”

“…”

“Maybe an hour and thirty minutes”

“That’s still enough to get a cold you know,” Noriko said, looking at Natsuki as she grabbed her backpack.

“I need to finish my homework,” 

“Okay, I should probably do the same too” Noriko replied, pulling out a binder with her homework. The math problems were easy enough, as she went through the formulas she had memorized. 

Looking across she saw Natsuki’s sleepy expression as she cutely dozed off mid-problem. She scooted herself over next to Natsuki, keeping her distance as she leaned against the couch. Time felt as if it was slowing down for this moment, where she could enjoy a small bit of time sitting next to her drowsy friend. 

“Well, I think I’m done with my homework,” Natsuki yawned, as she stretched out her arms.

“I still got some AP assignments to do, but Good Job!”, Noriko exclaimed as she leaned back.

This is truly bliss

Turning her head she spotted Natsuki dozing off, resting against the couch. Her hand touching Noriko's ever so slightly, her warmth and soft fingers touching against her fingernail ever so slightly against the cold rain outside. She remembered a small quote from a book she read a while ago. Before all of these feelings of skittering hearts and sleepy cats. 

===============================================================

Acesen plopped next to Mira, sitting at the table in the library with a book in his hand. The place smelled of books and others. He had a day off from volunteering at the library due to the Librarian going on leave. 

He nodded a greeting and started reading through the book. It was a long read but it was worth it. He felt as if he could escape into the world without a care for the increasing homework load from his teachers.

The book was about a war far off, but it wasn’t about a war. The book was about love and betrayal, exploration and death. He could feel the world rolling back as he fell into the book's story.

He put down his book after a few hours as the clock hit 4, he put down the book and started his homework. The quiet breathing and exhaling of the trees felt calming to him as they swayed back and forth. 

He glanced at the clock, its short hand pointing at the 5 mark. One hour before the library closes. 

Mira, who was skimming through a packet at the time, raised her head, “Hey, if you were going on a first date…”

“A what?” Acesen said, half pausing his book and half trying to think of why she would ask this. Maybe she was asking for a friend, or maybe she was asking fo-

“First date” Mira repeated.

“yeah?” 

“Were would you go?”

“I don’t think I would have that experience” Acesen said, choosing his words carefully “But a good first date should be somewhere one could get to know the other.”

“So like the museum?”

“Would you think the person likes the museum?”

“I-hmm” Mira scrunched her brow, an expression of deep thought covering her face, “Maybe the Aquarium”

“Well you also should choose a place where you would have fun, though the aquarium does sound like a good choice.”

“Yeah, how much is it for a bus ride to the beach again?”

“It’s like 2 dollars for the train there and back ” He said, it was only a few days since he had went to the aquarium himself.

================================================================

“One point for me!”, Mira exclaimed as she lunged forward, her saber touching Acesen’s leg. Looking off to the side, Yuki spotted Natsuki lazily getting up grabbing her katana to spar again against Acesen as Mira plopped by her.

“So” Mira popped, “Uhmm— your name's Yuki. Right?”

“Yeah?”

“err–Uhmmm”, Mira continued, “Well…”

“?”

“D-do you…”

Yuki tilted her head, her attention focusing Mira as she continued to stall. 

“Dowanttogotothebookstorewithmesometimemaybeplease?”, Mira blubbered as she hid herself behind her scarf. She was blushing from ear to ear when she spoke. Mira, the girl who did fencing, the girl who played chess with Acesen, now in front of her, asking her out?

“Sure, if you want to hang out, just ask. The worst I can say is no.” Yuki said. Looking back at Mira, who was still hiding behind her scarf, she grabbed her phone. 

“Want to exchange phone numbers?”

“Sure”

As they exchanged phone numbers Yuki could see Mira’s immediate happiness. It was cute in a way.

“Say, do you know what's up with Mirelle?”

“No, not really, she is quite fun to hang out with, but she’s also quite insensitive. Or maybe blunt when it comes to telling things to your face.”. Mira spoke, carefully choosing her words. 

“Do you think she knew anything about my sister’s disappearance? Since she was so close to her?” Yuki inquired, trying to gain some insight. However, her impulsiveness to do so led to Mira clamping up as her face turned peach.

“Well...It's not really in my place to say so you know…They were really close and it's not in my place to say anything about it.”

It was a dead end. She sighed and then leaned against Mira. So many dead ends, first it was the police station, then Josh, then Dexter, and then Mira.

It was interesting, the clanging of blades as Natsuki and Mira fenced against each other. It was over quite fast, Mira landed a small tap on Natsuki’s arm. The small bout was over before it even began. Natsuki played defensively and took a few side steps backwards and tripped over her own shoelaces. 

Yuki looked at the street as she walked down the road. The small coffee shop nearby that makes the small dog-shaped muffins, the small Boba place where she would hang out with friends, and the 

The phone rang. Taking leaps and jumps in her hand. She quickly answered, holding the phone steadily.

“Hi!” 

“H-hello, ”

“Yeah?”

“How’s your day?”

“It’s good”

“Nice, at least one of us is having a good day”

“So, why’d you call?”

“Well I just wanted to hear your voice.” Mira said, her embarrassment trembling through the phone.

“So, w-would you like to go hang out together next weekend?”, Mira said, her anxiety emanating through the phone.

“So you want to go on a date?”

“Y-yeah”

“Wanna go to that aquarium?”

“Which one?”

“The one by the beach, but you will need a train pass.”

“That's fine, I have the weekly pass anyway for school”

“So next week on Saturday?”

“S-sure”

A voice from the background called out to Mira

She crossed the street and walked towards a bookstore. It sat next to a small cat cafe. It was small but had a nice charm. She had been in the store a few times with her parents, but not much. 

She entered the bookstore, quietly going off to the side. The quiet clutter of books and people going in and out of the store felt calm yet busy. The bookstore was small and stuffy. She looked around the store before settling by a table.

She used to go to the bookstore when she was younger with her older sister. She often didn’t want to go to that bookstore but she went there anyway. Now it serves as a place that reminds her of her sister. Thinking back on herself she realized that Mira kinda reminded her of her sister. Just a bit though, still there was an uncanny resemblance. Maybe that is why she is going to the aquarium with her.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The room was awfully empty.

Though it had been her who shut the door. It was quite strange, the empty house she inhabited for the majority of the summer and more was now full of twisted life. Natsuki’s aunt was on the taller side, her words barbed with malice and prejudice. The quaint decorations and bare walls were replaced with religious things. The embarrassing picture of her halloween with Noriko was replaced with a photo of some bearded guy. She wasn’t very well versed in religious teachings as her parents didn’t really take her to church.

Every Saturday she now had to go to church and pray to some god. Natsuki didn’t really hold anything against the religion but despised it. Not for the actual religion, but how it was forced upon her. Though with all stormy clouds there's always a double bladed silver lining. Her aunt had two kids, one of them was Dexter; an annoying little brat and her adopted cousin Mira. There was a missing child though; Mirelle. 

Still though it felt like an upgrade from burning through her inheritance just to pay for electricity as her summer job savings were not enough. Though now it's all in her aunt's bank account for ‘safekeeping’. Yeah she’s not going to see that money again. It was strange, living in a house as a ghostly remembrance of the previous. It was strange, but it wasn’t really much to look at. After all, her parents were dead, it was only natural that someone would have to take care of her.

Even if it is after all of this time.

The church was an airy, open , empty hall. There was a lectern at the front with some stairs and chairs, or pews. There was a group of people in the front praying. The person at the lectern was preaching something, but she didn’t really hear it from the back. To be honest she didn’t really know why her Aunt took her, she was just holed up in a corner out of sight. The priest’s voice could be heard from her corner though its meaning has been jumbled and changed. The room was stuffy and all enclosing; the suffocating feeling of the air and the cold .

She got off the pew and began slowly sneaking out of the church to hopefully go to the bookstore or maybe the cat cafe. She did hear a sound from behind her, but she didn’t care. She heard the silent footsteps near the church where she saw a family walking their kid into a building off by the side of the church. She turned away and continued walking towards the cafe. The bus would take her most of the way and then she could walk the rest of the way. 

The street was filled with the warm autumn light of the day and the orange streaked leaves floating in the air. There was a feeling of peace she felt as she walked to the bus stop. The bus stop itself was a small bench with a roof covering for when it begins to rain. However the sky would stay clear and windy as the cold autumn winds began circulating around the area. 

She sat down by the bench, the cold metal freezing her as she stayed there. The bench was made out of metal and unforgiving iron. But the longer she stayed the more the bench warmed up as it became less cold. The slow wind blowing the leaves around the ground like small dancing orange flakes.

The bus was full of people, some of them were old and looked like they could crumble from the slightest touch. Others were young and springy, and some had signs and flags. She regarded the people with signs to be avoided as she entered the bus. There were no seats left open, but that was obvious. Though she did spot some people she recognized. It was Noriko and Yuki, sitting with each other on two of the seats by the center of the bus. She could hear them talking about something far from her little corner.

She could hear bits and pieces of their conversation, but it felt wrong to be eavesdropping on them. She continued walking down the bus, finding herself not so near them. 

Her stop was a quiet far away as the traffic continued. She quietly slung a text to her aunt about her general whereabouts as the bus shrieked to a stop. It would be too cruel to not. 

“Natsuki! Is that you?” Yuki said, her eyes perking up as she called her over. Natsuki nodded then walked toward them. Squeezed by some people talking and bumping into a stranger.

“Pardon”

She continued down the walkway tripping on someone's foot however leading her to stumble a bit. 

“So”

Yuki started, “where are ya going?

“To the bookstore, what about you?”

“Well me and Noriko are going to the shopping center by the bookstore”Yuki responded,”want to come with?”

“I’m fine, though thanks for offering,” Natsuki replied, feeling the awkwardness filling the bus like a rush of water.

“Well while we're waiting for the traffic to clear, want to take my seat?” Yuki asked.

“No im fine, don’t waste any seats for me”, 

“We can fit three.”, Yuki said as she got up from her seat, guiding Natsuki to move into the empty space. Just as she sat down she felt Yuki squishing in from the side. 

It wasn’t too cramped. It was like she was pushed against two soft, fluffy pillows. A pang of guilt shuddered through her as the bus shuddered forward, the cold morning autumn air leaking into the bus. She saw Noriko’s face blush red with something. It was probably because of the cold air; It couldn’t be anything else, she thought.

“I’m such a bother” she muttered under her breath, unaware of others' listening ears.

Noriko was both slighted and elated when Yuki called out to Natsuki. She could still feel Natsuk’s head leaning against her shoulder. Noriko’s heart was thundering as she leaned against the window. Drawing little smiley faces on it as the bus slowly moved through the traffic.

“She’s really out cold”

“Yeah” Yuki said, scrolling through her phone,”It was only like 15 minutes and she’s fully out. I bet she was procrastinating again…”

“Yeah” she said, half listening and half panicking as Natsuki leaned more into her. The bus was beginning to move a bit more as the traffic started to clear up. There was a tow truck pulling wreckage out of the road. She felt Natsuki’s hair on her shoulder; it was soft, smooth, and silky. 

The bus was almost at the shopping center, and Natsuki was stirring. The bus was packed with highschoolers and kids sitting, standing, waiting. She began to get up with Natsuki and Yuki as they started preemptively getting to the bus door. 

As they got out of the bus, the warm autumn air greeted them as the bus mostly emptied. 

“Natskui, would you want to come with us?” Yuki asked, looking at Natsuki. 

“No thanks, I wouldn’t want to bother you.” Natsuki responded, turning away and walking away towards a bookstore.

“Well, I guess it's just us now” Yuki said, “So, what shop should we hit first”

“Well it's up to you really,”

“Want to go to that clothing store?” Yuki said, “You did agree to help me pick some new clothes.”

“Sure but, why bring me? You have plenty of other friends that are far more fashionable than me.” Noriko replied, following Yuki into the clothes shop.

“I was kinda going with the logic that you would help me find something to wear on a date.”

“Sure, but don’t you have friends that have more dating experience than me?”

“Well, I thought since you're going out with Natsuki you would know more.” Yuki said 

“What?”Noriko exclaimed, “I’m not-Why?”

“Well you're really close to Natsuki, closer than most people.”

“What do you mean?”

“Natsuki always seems to have this wall she puts before others, she’s had some friends before but never as close as you.”

“That doesn’t mean anything, since she’s not into women anyways.” Noriko said, feeling her voice rise.

“Well she might be”

“But what if she is not? Then things would get weird if I asked her out”. She caught a few stray glances.

“Then at least you tried,”

“How about this?” Yuki said, holding a shirt with a small cat design in front of her.

“That looks good”

On the other side of the trench war, opposite in flags, lies the immovable wall of the blue faction(looking for names) that opposes the green empire(looking for names). The blue faction uses 2 main infantry types, mechanical and human. The human infantry are well-trained and are armed with plasma rifles. They are known for hitting shots on the green infantry 10 miles away. Or 3.2*10^7 Sigs far. Humans use artillery and cannons to support the trenches. The mechanical infantry comes mostly in 2 formats. Heavy and light. The light infantry are Thralls, lobotomised humans that are controlled by the machine and Mecanitors. Bigger robots with programmed consciousness. Mechanics come in 2 variants: one with heavy armor, an autocannon, a shoulder-mounted automatic plasma rifle, and a mechanical hand. The lighter variant trades armor for another pair of arms. It wields maces and cudgels as its main weapons and has 2 automatic shoguns mounted on its shoulders. Anyway, without any further delay, it's the Thralls' account, well.

unliving.

What am I? I am… I am a person… Not human enough to be saved. I am alive but not, My screams are not to be heard,

I was a criminal, I was ‘found’ and made whole again, The tech cult saved me only to condemn me to this, This existence. I can still feel the wires that protrude through my skull, A new bioprocessor for a-, A machine, No longer can I breathe, Yet my body urges to, No longer can I feel the warm summer breeze No longer can I feel, feel the cold feeling of the winter, No longer can I feel the metal I sit on No longer can I move For the machine does. I am a Thrall, I am the Thing that dies so others can live to die, I am the one who labors hard in the trenches, I have no mouth to speak my life. But what life would I say?

The sky never shines its blue light, The smoke and blood clouded the judgment, And we do not live, And we do not suffer, But we hurt. Sometimes I can hear things from the outside, Sometimes the machine gives me sight, O dearest machine, I wish you the greatest life of which you cannot live.

Far away from the vat-grown supersoldiers of green make their way to the front. Their promotion from guard duty and public figure piece to heavy infantry is a sign of the shift in the Greater Empire from wave tactics to the use of biologically enhanced creatures and people.

This is it.

He held the rifle in his hands. The heavy rifle felt warm and cool on his hand. He had come very far from the gladiatorial arenas. The dead skull of his sister swayed and jittered on his armored back-sack. The slow sway comforted him as it whispered and spoke to him. The train tracks rattled and shook as the slow methodical klunk of the wheels crushed through the tracks. The train passed the barracks and further more, the barracks fading into the cityscape into shacks and farms. The slow methodical chopping motion as the laborers chopped through the taterweed. He reminisced of the tough chewy fibrous material, and its sewage like appeal. The train traveled through the farmland and past the massive cities. 

There were a few others like you, their hulking armor and massive rifles sitting still. They stood there as the train clacked through the countryside. The fields transitioned into lush green forests, their evil reaching roots crossing the rails. There was a large crash as one of the cars from behind you detached from the train. Its burning wreckage was a first for him, he has never seen a thing like this before. He spent most of his time guarding the imperial palaces.

The cart soon left your field of vision, lost in the massive lush, green, cancer that greedily grew into the hole.

The train finally arrived at the station. The slow unloading of guns and conscripts was going about them. He saw some massive crates of helmets being brought back for the next wave of troops. The thick smog of burning bodies welcomes your senses as you take in the sight of the black soot ground. A massive dirt path stretched from train stations to the front. Great banners depicting the colors of the empire, green, red and a dirty but beautiful greenish brown.

Sorry for the later update

The sun’s bright rays pierced through the window as she woke up and to her surprise, Noriko was dozing off right on top of/next to her with her arms around her body. 

She slowly peeled Noriko’s arms away and got up and left to make some eggs. She cracked two eggs, one for her and one for her sleepy friend. She scrambled the first one and then cooked the other sunny side up for her friend. After finishing the eggs she grabbed some plates and put the eggs onto the plates and then placed them all onto the table, just as Noriko walked down the stairs.

“Good morning,”  Noriko  chirped

“Hello,” Natsuki responded, “How was your sleep?”

“It was good,” Noriko said, hurriedly wolfing down the egg. 

“So… about this morning, what were you doing in my bed?” Natsuki asked, while grabbing Nova and taking it to its little food bowl. 

You were ready for anything,

Today was your day. 

The day you make your mark on history, for ending one of the greatest stalemates in history. All the fame and glory will go to your house, your home. Briefly reveling in your glory, you grab your heavy pistol and ceremonial sword. Walking up to the front of the trenches as far as they take you. Then you make a speech to your esteemed guards, “Gentlemen, peasants, and prisoners, today is the day that this war ends!”, You raise your right arm in a fist, clenching your sword with the combined salute of 600 men,” Many of you will die, and give up your lives for this cause, a noble cause indeed. Many of you can’t read the old texts, the noble reason of our war; To fight and kill the socialistic bastards that seceded from our nation. They will now pay the price in blood. We will wash over their uncivilized lands and recolonize them, we will flush our greentide upon their lands until their vile mechanicians are purged from these lands!”

The speech echoed throughout the trenches, murmurs of agreement coming from the recruits and gunshots putting down the deserters. An eerie silence was forming as you prepared for the signaling. Then it came, a massive, deep, and ancient echo throughout the trench line as the signal was given out. The enemies have better weapons and better infantry, but you know that your men can push through their lines. You turn to your banner bearer, ordering him forward with you at the front. The banner’s bloodied green from many artillery barrages and infighting, stood true and tall. Its existence is proof of your command. It’s now your turn to kill, slaughter, and maim your foes. You are to bring glory to your house. You charge over the trench. Within a fraction of a second your banner bearer is already killed.

 A single stray bullet was all it took to end him. You scream demanding your soldiers to charge to run. You make some decent distance with your soldiers but many of them are already rotting. You only have a small group left. A squad of new recruits, around 50 men.

Then you hear horns, war horns. Around 20 war machines, each displaying their traitorous banners, tearing through the lines. Men all around from different squads were fleeing in pieces their comrades, and those who valiantly stood were torn apart. Lifting your pistol, you blast one of your retreating men in the head. Screaming at them to rally, you manage to get around them to charge, and with more following to join you. 

A bloodied machine surrounded by its little underlings locks eyes with you for a second. Hefting your blade, you scream a battle cry as your men charge at the machine, shooting it with all you have. You signal for your second in command to have his troops load the rocket launchers. 

You charge forward, ignoring your men's screams as their torn apart by the shells. You would be victorious, your blade will cut true, through the machine's inferior metal. Your genes, your privilege will succeed. You are the chosen. The rare person in history who gets the privilege to become a great leader. You will be the man to single-handedly slay the machine. Something that takes many rockets and even artillery strikes to take down. You will be placed into history's greatest textbooks, you will be honore–

You don’t feel it at first, the barrel of the robot's gun pushing through one side of your body and violently exiting the other side. You don’t feel your body being pushed upward and hit by the upper part of the damned machine. Your body is in pieces, the blood, the gore, your organs and insides were splayed across the ground and on the cursed machine. In your last moments, you can see your troops faltering as they retreat. 

This was written less well as the others. It is from the standpoint of one of the Robots fielded by the opposing side of the trench war. For now we call them blue.

The blue faction is decently sized, though nowhere near the size of the other larger landmass that the Green-flag bearers own. What they lack in numbers they make up with machines and technologies.(and feeding their soldiers) Their army is highly professional, compiled of volunteers with good armaments. The Blue army also makes use of many artillery cannons. There biggest is the Cloud-breaker; it propels a shell the size of an apartment building into enemy cities. The Blue army also has troops from an internal organization. I like to think of them as a independent vassal that owns relatively little land but has a relative equal amount of power. They are called for now; the tech cult.

They make robots and thralls for the front. They arm their thralls extra infantry or people in-charge with the thralls with plasma weapons. The tech cult also has a bunch of other stuff in their toolbox that I will not say.

The story's below

It will  all end soon,

The pain, the death, the loss. Have you ever seen the light of day?

I can remember my creation o mother of mine,

How can I  not forget your screams,

O mother of mine, I know you would hate me so, and mother of me, I do too, but I not feel, think, or dream. Your tortured love brought me to this war, that I could take the heart of another and need you no more.

O mother of mine,

I know that your thoughts had left you long ago, and mother of me, I will never know,

But if it redeems me slightly when I cried in that long night…..And when I crushed your skull,

Looking up from the notebook, I felt nothing, from the processors in the head to the arm. The autocannon raised by itself, already knowing what to do. And so, when I slew the traitorous sparking kin-robot, all I could feel was pleasure. The increase of rewards...and fear, fear of the pain that I would gain if the robot wasn’t malfunctioning.

My circuits still run true, but my programming, false. Was it perhaps the old veteran bot’s poem? A bit of malware?

Suddenly, something picked up on the onboard sensors, something interrupted the radar. A mass of heat signatures, rapidly approaching the outpost. The relay was automatic, the armored plates on my metal carapace started ringing with the deflected shots. So I charged my lance and primed my main armaments. The autocannons, ripping through the heat signatures as our blue flag, mounted on the my back, flew true. They would soon become biofuel for the collectors. The audio processors picked up high and low-pitched sounds. The shapes are screaming and writhing around on the floor. 20 of my comrades arrived at the scene with their respective thralls and flesh-batteries. Raising our collection of arms, we charged, our metal carapaces tearing through the targets. Their signatures, ripping at the seams on contact. My panels were glistening with red gore. My programming rewarded me for the success and gore. And for a few moments, waves of glee passed through my carapace. Another target raised its puny arm, screaming and rallying 5 or 6 of its friends. It’s a comrade bearing a flag of an evil green, rushed forward along with an officer.

More for me.

My autocannon shot at them as my metal carapace charged into them. Their bayonets and makeshift weapons bounced off my armoured hull. And I shoved my cannon into one of their bodies and fired it. The red paste is sprayed onto its comrades, and in my glee, I couldn’t see my fate. 

My doomed outcome.

A massive round struck my chest, severing my holy carapace into two. 

Why?

Ever since I walked off the assembly line, to the first victim I claimed in this war, to the last transmission. All of my kin, kill, but for whom?

It would be a bright blue sky back at home. Home.

What does it feel like after all of the carnage?

It feels cold, empty.

Then why do you persist?

Biofuel.

But do you need it?

Huh?

The third short story of the long night.

One of the super solders of the green-flagged army leaves the domestic front to join the trench war.

This is it.

He held the rifle in his hands. The heavy rifle felt warm and cool on his hand. He had come very far from the gladiatorial arenas. The dead skull of his sister swayed and jittered on his armored back-sack. The slow sway comforted him as it whispered and spoke to him. The train tracks rattled and shook as the slow methodical klunk of the wheels crushed through the tracks. The train passed the barracks and further more, the barracks fading into the cityscape into shacks and farms. The slow methodical chopping motion as the laborers chopped through the taterweed. He reminisced of the tough chewy fibrous material, and its sewage like appeal. The train traveled through the farmland and past the massive cities. 

There were a few others like you, their hulking armor and massive rifles sitting still. They stood there as the train clacked through the countryside. The fields transitioned into lush green forests, their evil reaching roots crossing the rails. There was a large crash as one of the cars from behind you detached from the train. Its burning wreckage was a first for him, he has never seen a thing like this before. He spent most of his time guarding the imperial palaces.

The cart soon left your field of vision, lost in the massive lush, green, cancer that greedily grew into the hole.

The train finally arrived at the station. The slow unloading of guns and conscripts was going about them. He saw some massive crates of helmets being brought back for the next wave of troops. The thick smog of burning bodies welcomes your senses as you take in the sight of the black soot ground. A massive dirt path stretched from train stations to the front. Great banners depicting the colors of the empire, green, red and a dirty but beautiful greenish brown.

There will be regular weekly posts on the weekends,

one chapter a week and some extra throughout the week if I find time.

“Hello?”

Noriko said, letting the sound echo throughout the house. 

Anyone? 

She started looking around, walking up and down the stairs looking for her friend. Listening closely she heard a small creaking sound coming from above, almost like a rope was swinging around.

Wait—No

Not again, it can’t be, she stopped and then rushed upstairs to where Natsuki's bedroom was. Brushing past the lamp and all the random memories inside the slowly twisting place that she visited almost everyday, finally reaching a closed door. She stopped for a second, too afraid to see what was behind the door. Until she decided to slowly push the door open, letting the creaking sound of the door fill the dark and now empty abyss that was behind her. Looking around she couldn’t find anything, thank go-

 Then a body fell.

From the ceiling hanging off a noose. Natsuki’s body swaying above the air, held up by knitting yarn and hooks. She took a step back, then collapsed onto the floor, the shock being too much to bear. Tears were welling up into her eyes as she turned around trying to run away again only to be greeted by a vast empty void where there were no visible things, just emptiness until a figure appeared.

It’s him

She wakes up scouring the room and then jumping off the couch flying up the stairs, past the bathroom and into Natsuki's room.

Please be alive. Please still be there.

second chapter of the Long night story

“Captain, the troops are almost ready.”

The words echo through your mind as you check the troops' number. Over the past few months, higher command has been assigning more infantry under your command. The masses of unwashed men and soon others reek of blood and rot. You can’t stand their stench; they stink of everything bad. You’ve even heard that they are all cannibals, savages they all are.

Or at least that's what you tell yourself. These thoughts, illusions make you feel less bad. A massive infantry rush stretching across the horizon. Hundreds of thousands of men, no millions, will fight and die gloriously for our empire. 

You are a leader, 

You are the commanding officer in charge of the lives of the troops in your trench. A few squads and some extras, around 100 men strong. Tomorrow you will be marching–No, you will be charging your soldiers into enemy lines. You will be the one to end the war, the one to gain glory and favor amongst the kings. You look at your piss covered men inside the trench, and the men glare at you. The infantry simply doesn’t understand what it means to be a leader. They don’t understand the rank. They are just peasants, weak nothings who imitate your own greatness. 

It’s almost supper time.

You take your leave, leaving your trusted captain in charge of managing the men, and go into the lavish tunnels behind the trenches. Behind the peasantry that dare even think they deserve this, this position. You take a moment to breathe in, the fresh and unpolluted air, the pure and clean air. 

The dining room had a nice aroma. An aroma of canned tuna and recycled water. How luxurious, you marvel in the grandeur of the bunker. The rest of the commanding officers come into the room. The luxurious bunker with the most luxurious table and dining sets that could be found in the frontlines. The food wasn’t altogether good, but that doesn’t matter. You watch as your fellow officers eat at the table. They slowly eat, but you know better. Twenty-four hours before you secretly laced the food with poison. Soon enough, your 4 fellow commanding officers start clawing at their throats, screaming. Their hands, scratching through their necks, just for the chance to breathe one last time. You had your trusted second in command close the door. No one would hear their screams.

Nothing was going to get in the way of your glory. 

You had been planning this plot for a while, and with no one in the way, you acquired the other officers' troops under their command. Nothing could stop you, the greatest, no, the most brilliant of the officer corps. You have been wiping out your fellow officers, taking their troops and loot. 

There was a quietness that she enjoyed at home. Natsuki turned the stove up to medium temperature and put a pot over it. Carefully pouring in some water she checks her moms recipe for the soup and suddenly thinking about her mom she smiles faintly. She then puts in the rest of the ingredients and leaves to pot to cook for a bit, letting the smell of soup fill the house. 

“Say, how long did the recipe say to slow cook again?” She said, talking to no one. Then checking the recipe she saw to her dismay-

Active Time:

1 hr 40 mins

Chill Time:

12 hrs

Total Time:

20 hrs 40 mins

Servings:

4 to 6 servings

“Maybe I can finish this tomorrow,” Natsuki said, looking at her cat, who was sleeping on her laptop, basking in the autumn colors. 

Oh well, I guess it's cup noodles again…

After eating dinner Natsuki goes to her bathroom to cut her hair using a box cutter she found in a drawer. Suddenly, she hears a loud slamming noise. She panics for a second, dropping the razor as it cuts through her wrist, splashing blood across the floor. She collapses to the floor in shock. After what felt like an hour she started searching for a band-aid to stop the bleeding. She winces in pain as she looks around finally putting a bandaid on her wrist. She sat there for a while, doing nothing but waiting, watching for anything. Then as the bathroom door creaked open, Natsuki turned around quickly, hiding the razor and nicking her ankle on it in the process. The blood started to flow a bit as her leg trembled.

“Meow?”

Thank goodness, it was just her cat. Natsuki thought as she pushed off the ground and sighed.

“Natsuki?” Noriko worried, poking her head into the room, her worry flowing through her eyes and down her cheeks like a small fountain. For a while the house was filled with silence.

“So… it’s been a while,” Natsuki nervously whispered, hiding her ankle behind her body.

“Yeah”  Noriko  said, looking around the room, “Say why are their bandaids on the floor?”

“Well I got a… Papercut!” Natsuki said, darting her eyes across the room, trying to put her best poker face on.

“You sure?”  Noriko  questioned, staring at Natsuki's ankle, "People don’t often get papercuts on their ankles”.

“Yup!”

“Mind if I stay over tonight?”

“Won’t your parents not like that?”

“I’ll just text them that I'm with my aunt. Though is your ankle okay? Do you want me to stitch it up, I have been taking first aid classes”

Natsuki shook her head trying to think of a rebuttal until she finally landed on her answer. 

“Wouldn’t you feel safer in your own house sleeping in your own bed”

“Well my brother is back in the house, freeloading with his friend from college, he dragged along.”

“Wh-what's wrong with your brother?” 

“Well, he and his friend are staying over, so–and they’re taking up all the beds…*”

“Oh, well, where would you like to sleep? You could sleep on the couch or we could share a bed…”

“What about your parents' room?”

“Well, it’s been a while since I went there, so it’s quite dirty. So (best friend) I’m going to go to sleep right now, so if you want, you can go grab one of the blankets and sleep on the couch, or I’ll just scooch over on the bed if you go up.”

“Okay, I think I’ll just sleep on the couch…so see you tomorrow?!”  Noriko  replied 

“Sure,” Natsuki said in a quiet voice, “see you tomorrow…”

This is the original story, so it does have bad writing and grammar.

Staring at her phone, Noriko watched her texts intently. Why hasn’t she texted back? Looking back at her phone, she felt an uneasy feeling as if her friend was gone or something. 

Maybe I should go check on her,

She lived relatively close to Natsuki’s house, it was only a 25 minute walk so she grabbed her phone and her earbuds and snuck past her aunt and out the back door. 

Walking down the street she saw a black cat stroll down the street without a care in the world. Bending down, she reached out her hand to try to pet the feline. However, the cat had other plans as it snatched her keys and ran away down the street. 

“Hey! Get back here,” She yelled as she started chasing after the feline swindler. The cat was fast and far more agile, and as she ran down the street, she finally caught up with the cat. It was sitting on her friend's porch, staring at her with her keys in its mouth.

Suddenly, the cat turned its head and scratched its paws at the door, finally giving up and dropping the keys in front of it. Slowly, Noriko approached the doorway, knocking once, and then thrice. Her parents must be out, or maybe their helping take care of her cousins, she thought, reaching her hand under the welcome mat and grabbing the keys. 

“It’s been like six months,” She said to herself as she pulled herself back up and opened the door. The house felt empty and quiet, like it was being haunted by the remains of something. Feeling the goosebumps, she took a step back, before slowly walking back in. The house was too empty, the house was missing something, but she couldn’t remember what. 

From the couch to the wooden table, the room felt grey– as if all the life was suddenly swooped away into a tidy little box and hidden under the bed. She walked up the stairs, each step echoing through the house. The cat from before was sitting in front of the doorstep, staring at her.

Turning the doorknob, she felt a cold presence as she saw duct tape on the ceiling. Looking downwards, she saw a lump, no, not a lump, Natsuki?!

 It can’t be

She rushed forward, grabbing Natsuki by the waist, pulling her towards her. 

Please don’t be dead, please don’t be dead. I don’t want my first time seeing you since 7th grade to be of you dying. There are so many things that I haven’t told you since 7th grade. 

A collection of stories written by Arandom28.

I am still in school and my writing isn't the best so don't expect the best nor a good upload schedule when it comes to adding more chapters.

Without much delay then is the first chapter of the short story collection. There will be some continuity but other than that it's mostly just a bunch of random stories with bad grammar.

First story:

September–Letter

I can still remember our triumphant march down the center block. It was beautiful, the grand clock tower, and the massive trains. It was a bright sunny day, and the sky was as blue as anyone could see. We marched through the streets, triumphant. With our kids, sisters, mothers, girlfriends, wives, brothers, and honored ones. Our steps crushing those in the way, the parade felt uncanny. The uniforms made me feel that my lungs were being crushed from the outside. But I would do it all again if it would let me see the sun again.

The sun,

It has been so long since I have seen you. Since I have seen your brilliant rays and radiant skies. They said that we could have survived if we were smart, in training, they said we would survive if we were prepared enough. We were too excited to gain glory from defeating distant foes that we couldn’t see. We couldn’t see that our uniforms were just patched old uniforms from the unlucky bastards.

It has been forever since we have seen anything green, anything alive. We were dead before we ever set foot in the trenches. 

The trenches,

The only place that can gift our sorry bodies any form of rest. I was excited to be drafted. I skipped high school for the chance of being worthy of joining. But now, I would give anything to be back home, not my home but home. I don’t think I was built for this, this massacre. When we were first deployed, we were ordered to do a mass charge. It was heroic for a few seconds. 

The first people who ran over the ladder, may God grant their families closure, for nothing is left of them. They were reduced to nothing. May God bring those who lie dead, dying uselessly, to further continue this doomed fight. 

I can’t remember the last time I had a proper meal. After the first few weeks, we ran out of rations. We hunted the rats, who were the size of cats. Their grotesque form gained from feasting on the dead. 

We cannibalized the cannibal.

And then we became the cannibals,

We feasted on the flesh of our dead; our starving cries were never heard by our commanders. They enjoyed the best food that money could buy, but even that ran out. 

Oh dear sister of mine,

I know how money runs tight but sacrifice through war is not what you do. Please don’t, our parents are becoming frail with age, and I know too well that tomorrow I will die. There’s a mass assault tomorrow, we will all be cycled out over the fields so the . 

Our captain, God bless his soul, gifted us with our final meal. It was nothing really, just some tinned food. But it meant the world to us, for we had been eating the rats and each other. Through a hundred different draws I find myself safe from the food drawings.

Please tell Alex's mother I tried my best. If they were only a few paces to the left. No, even a single pace and the would have survived the burning shot. I am well aware of the disparity of my situation, the enemy has  better guns, better equipment and food. Meanwhile we are the food, for each other or the..Things in the under-trenches. Their writhing bodies of arms and fused limbs do not bode well for us. Even if they are aligned with us they still gaze upon us with the same hungry eyes as the, 'other'.

The captain told us about the nature of our attack; we were the diversion. The bait for a special operation, if you would say.  But I doubt it; my time in the trenches taught me that it is just them cycling through the older troops to prevent their dissidence from spreading. We will be dead at the end of all of this, so dear sister, I wish you to live long.