Nobody ever looks up.
The motorized carriages lit up the streets as they passed by. The vehicle looked like ants from up above. I almost made out the lights from Snakewater.
Out above the apartments made of brick. Up above had a lack of cleanliness. Dust entered my nose. Nobody was meant to be up here. But here, the roofs were cleaner than the streets in Hognose.
I heard the distant sounds of combustion. Me being above looked so surreal. I saw all there was in the city from so high, the lights, and the buildings.
I let out a sigh. Today was no better than the last day. When I felt no hunger, Donovan gave me more fish. I ate a lot of fish recently. When I hadn’t slept all that much, Donovan and Thousand Cuts rested in my stead.
Was I supposed to feel sad? They wouldn’t let me feel that way it seemed.
“You should watch out from where you’re looking. The shadows might envelop you if you aren''t careful,” a hand clasped on my shoulder.
I felt the touch, yet I was unmoving, “You know, Thousand Cuts. I’m not meowing for you.”
“Ah, you’re no fun,” Thousand Cuts pouted.
Well, from what I learnt was that when I wasn’t surprised, I didn''t meow. My mood brightened a little bit more when I saw her defeated expression.
“Nice try, But there will always be another time,” she said
“No, there won’t,” I responded
“White Shroud, I must have struck a chord,” the swordswoman leaned on the building’s edge. “I haven’t seen you this worked up since you cuddled with me last night.”
“What I did has nothing to do with affection! I was cold, so I decided to sleep in your room. You shouldn''t get any wrong ideas!”
“But you looked so so adorable, especially when you—”
“Please don’t say it,” I begged. “And you should tell such lies, I’m not cute.”
her smile burst out from her mouth in a sudden ambush, “Thousand Cuts never say her words lightly unless they are to deceive, You were the one who purred while with me,” she finalized her attack.
Of course, she put me on the defensive. I recoiled back, “That… purring has nothing to do with being friendly!” I defended, like how one counters an ambush. “I purr when I’m comfortable, that’s all. How about –Nya~ mind your business, and tell me why we came all this way?”
“What did you just say?” The swordswoman raised her voice
“What?” I tilted my head. I looked up to see that Thousand Cuts covered her face. My tail shot up, “How about you mind your business: that’s what I said.:
“Nope that’s not what I heard,” she leaned in closer, “How about you repeat before you stutter again, catboy?”
My hair flared up, “There’s no way I am meowing for you!”
“But hearing you say those meows make you look so—”
“Nya!~ stop saying that I’m cute!” I clasped my mouth before I could say another word. Her ambush was a forgone conclusion. I resigned myself to my fate, “Why did you make me meet you here this time?”
Thousand Cuts relinquished her flamboyant stance, “White Shroud, you remember, do you not? We’re here for a rendezvous.”
So this is how she wants to play it? Okay, I’m game, “Why take the effort to get up here? Out of the way from all the people, and away from prying eyes.
She leaned in close, “Funny that you should mention that. I fancied that we would go somewhere more intimate — where nobody can see what we’re up to,” she whispered in my ear.
*Lub* *Dub*
My heart beat faster the closer she leered. Her voice sent a shiver up my spine. I could almost taste her presence. A *thousand* thoughts raced in my head. Was she — no, she can’t be.
Thousand Cuts, broke through my thought when she brought out an envelope.
Wait, did I just… No, that was only a moment of confusion, nothing more
My hands reacted alone, as they snatched the letter from the crazed woman’s grasp. Black wax covered the paper, stamped with a pattern because, of course, she did. My fingers struggled as I tore apart the letter. Her intimacy intensified my already heightened emotions.
Not because of possibly romantic interest, no; definitely not that!
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Yet my tail kept thrashing, despite how much I calmed it, like the tractor it was. My mind was the same as my heart, turbulent.
Then I saw the contents. My pupils dilated. They spasm on all the names, My eyes never left the page.
“Saintress of Sins,” I uttered.
“I wondered what names you find suitable…” Thousand Cuts trailed off.
“Mistress of Darkness,” I said louder.
“Can you please find me a good name? I picked these out…” She stopped.
“Bade Duchess,” I put the envelope down. “You’re not even married to a duke!”
“Can you stop screaming, and hear me out!” Thousand Cuts said while crossing her arms.
“Hear you out?” I asked in indignation. I paused. Maybe I was acting too flustered for my good. Perhaps she has a point, “Alright — I’m listening, but you better make a good point,” I crossed my arms.
Thousand Cuts talked about when the chaos erupted in the dining room. Donovan outright dismissed the cleaning staff, and he gave both her and Wade a toothbrush. The other operatives who joined in the brawl handled a mop.
Her scrubbing the floor with bristles gave her time to think.
“You’re telling me you''re considering changing your name because you''re bored with it?” I asked point blank.
No, that''s not what I implied,” she said. She looked down at street level. Nobody''s taking what I say seriously, like all I am is just one big joke. That''s why I must have a good name.”
“Don''t forget the fact that I already know how ridiculous you can be,” I titled near the edge of Thousand Cuts. We watched the cars pass by. I don''t understand, but I knew where she was coming from.
“Mekiko — can you not go near the edge,” she gently pushed me away.
“Why? I''m a nyancan, my balance is better than most.”
“Just… Don’t go near any high places. For me, okay?”
I stepped away from the edge. I knew what she was implying, yet I asked anyway, “Thousand Cuts, what are you talking about?”
The swordswoman receded away quietly. I asked again, there was no response; only the sound of her delicate footsteps. Was she thinking that I was going to do — that?
I don’t know how I feel, but, “I’m hurt,” was the closest thing that came from my mouth. I sensed her tremble away in an unconscious response, she already put up a fortification between us. My advances wouldn''t work when she guarded herself away from me.
“I — I didn''t imply anything. I only wanted to check if you were doing alright.”
This is how she shows her concern? My hand clutches the envelope, “You think of me as pathetic?”
“Mekiko… I didn’t say that.”
“One bad thing happened to me, and already you assumed the worst? There was much that I could''ve done, but to look for the easy way out? Am I allowed to feel sad without resorting to the extreme?”
“Can we go down for a second? I know that you are in pain. Mekiko, how about we talk about this while not up here.”
“How about I don’t?” I said back. My hands clutched onto her envelope. There was so much that I was unaware of.
I am naive, and I am aware of that fact, but I also knew that I was not that meek kitten everyone pretended I was. I thought back to the note that Thousand Cuts gave me. I couldn’t change how people perceived me, but I could control who I was. That letter that the woman handed me, there was potential for ample banter and silly debate.
However, that wasn’t me, like the possibility of me falling off the possibility of me falling from a building.
My fingers snapped, sparks formed from the tips; a burning sensation. The paper engulfed into a smouldering pile. My eyes glazed over as the letter plummeted into the nighttime abyss. The embers festered into ash and ebbed through the air.
“We’re not playing a game…” I trailed off when I was about to announce her name. “Thousand Cuts, your name is ridiculous enough as it is. You don’t need another stupid name.”
“Is this why you''re mad at me, Mekiko?” She glanced up.
“That’s not why I’m mad. We’re talking about who we are as people. As a gentleman—”
“White Shroud,” she pointed above my head, “I saw your ears twitch! That proves that you do like my name as Thousand Cuts!”
“You can’t tell intentions by looking at my ears!” I yelled.
At the end, there was ample banter and silly debate.
I watched as Thousand Cuts practiced her swordsmanship. She trained under the moonlight. She ebbed and flowed through each move, like a synchronized dance. Each step connected with her strikes. Each movement had a purpose.
Watching her made me realize. There was so much that she did that got on my nerves, and yet I desired so much to be with her. She was a friend, and I regretted burning her letter. I wanted respect, but not like that. If I was going to gain dignity, I wasn’t capturing my pride with fear and negative emotions.
The reason for the sombre tones of midlight landed on me. Thousand Cuts was someone who deserved respect, someone special.
I let out a width of a breath, “Hey… Thousand Cuts,” I stepped up.
The swordswoman ceased her practice mid-swing., and asked what I wanted. My ears lowered. I considered what I wanted to say. Sorry seemed insincere. There was not a doubt that entered my mind, and yet a pit persisted in my stomach. Why was that?
My lips trembled for a word. I couldn’t let her leave.
“Do you…” I bit my lip, “do you remember our time back at the Mamba Market?” I asked, she acknowledged. I said, “You wished that we would go to the bar, and visit old acquaintances. ‘Bury the hatchet,’ as you said.”
“About that,” she put away her sword. “I spoke on that a while ago. You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. I changed my mind, I could admit that it was a stupid idea to bring you along.”
“Nonsense,” I pointed at her. “That pub back you said all those months ago, I could tell that means more to you.” She asked what I meant, I said, “what I’m implying, is that we go there. I admitted that I wasn’t ready, but now I am. There was so much that I saw in Snakewater that I couldn’t take back. I’m aware that the pub is an awful place. Don’t bother dissuading me, I’m aware, may you take my hand and go on another adventure?”
“White Shroud, how bold of you to tell a lady at this time of hour,” she pretended to gasp.
Did she really call herself a lady? My ears twitched. Although I indeed called myself a gentleman moments ago.
“Alright, I accept your proposal,” she rubbed her chin. “But you shouldn’t take what you said so lightly, for I always keep my word.”
“If you are okay with us going. I got the perfect day to prepare.”
My tail swayed hard as the swordswoman continued her dance.
The vehicles crawled down below, like metallic caterpillars. The puffs they made with their combustion engines. Although they went by slowly in the night. Tomorrow was going to be more hectic.