Driving back from the shop, I smile a bit. “Finally, I got my bike fixed up. Maybe Lumi will enjoy riding on it with me.”

  Shaking my head, I ride through the streets faster than I should… well, legally. ‘I think I know a shortcut actually, let’s try that.’

  Starting down a side route through alleys, I wonder about the last time I was going so fast on the road. ‘Before… with Reta, actually. On the way to my brother.’

  Turning down a corner, I find myself at the cafe quick-no.

  Slamming to a stop I jump off the bike, racing to the burning building I’ve called home.

  “Lumi!” Slamming through debris, I feel the burns scorching my skin just like before.

  Reaching a blockage, I start tearing up the wood, struggling but slowly breaking my way through it. One heavy board at a time.

  Finally, I manage to force my way through, and make my way into the kitchen. The heat is suffocating, and I can barely breathe.

  It doesn’t matter.

  Spotting the stove off, I don’t even know how the blaze started. The Queen again?

  Seeing Lumi’s tail sticking up through the rubble ahead of me, my eyes widen. “Lumi! I’m almost there, just hold on!”

  Forcing rubble out of the way, it takes me precious seconds to even reach her. And by then, my lungs are burning and my muscles are starting to give on me.

  ‘No, no I got you. I got you Lumi, I won’t let you die. Not like him. Not again.’ Tears running down my face, I force my suffocating body to move, to force the rubble away from her face at least.

  Finally, I can see her face… her eyes are blank, staring at nothing. Dead-

  ***

  Gasping for air, I shoot up out of bed, Lumi clinging to my arm in her sleep.

  “Ha… ha… she’s okay… it was a dream… hah… fuck…”

  After a few minutes of calming down, I wiggle my arm away from her and go to the kitchen to think.

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  “Oraxia… I miss her and her protection from nightmares. It’s just so hard to sleep lately.”

  Rubbing my eyes and filling a glass of water, I take a small sip. “I don’t think I’ll be finding her… no matter how hard I search, it’s bearing no fruit. Nothing. This city is too big.”

  Ears wilting, I look down at my reflection… bags heavy under my eyes. Reminds me of when I was younger, always sleepless.

  “Those nights were caused by shitty parents and fear I’d wake up to one of them dead… ugh, I’m not sleeping tonight.” Realizing those thoughts of the past would only keep me up, I put some coffee to make.

  Only to hear Lumi’s quiet voice behind me as I pour the water in the coffee maker. “Neither can I… could I get some?”

  My body tenses up, before I force myself to relax and nod. “Sure. Nightmares too?”

  “Yeah… yours sound worse. Parents dead?”

  Sighing, I sit down and pat my lap, which she tiredly sits on. “Yeah… they cared about us, me and my brother. But… they weren’t perfect. Alcoholics, and the nasty kinds of drunk with one another. One wanted to party, the other wanted quiet… and somehow it would get physical often. Especially around holidays.”

  “...is that why when Yuna would mention christmas, you weren’t interested?”

  Nodding quietly, I just give her a hug from behind. “Yeah… I don’t blame them for it. Not entirely, anyways. They were still my parents, still raised me, still fed me.”

  “Right… I get it… I think. I mean, my mom never was like that… but I love her even after she’s been gone for so long.”

  “...died? Or?”

  At her quiet nod, I gently pet her, her head relaxing back into my chest.

  Our tails gently entwining, and listening to her breathing, we relax a bit together.

  After a little while, the coffee is done, which is when I put her off my lap and go to make us some cups.

  “...do you really think we can’t find her?”

  Sighing, I hand her a cup of coffee. “No… I don’t think so. Not until she wants to be found. For now… I don’t know. Just try and fail to sleep I guess.”

  As she takes a sip of coffee, she has a look of thought. “...I guess I could tell my friend the situation then.”

  “The singer?” Sipping some of my own, I flinch and blow to cool it off a bit.

  “Yeah, the singer. Her name’s Roxanne. She’s got a really good voice… and reminds me a little of you.”

  Cocking my ear, I add some extra milk to cool my coffee. “Does she? How?”

  “Um… well, she’s very straight to the point, and you both have good singing voices.”

  Blushing, I look away, pretending to be disinterested. “Thanks, but I can’t sing.” I even remembered to keep my tail still this time.

  “No, it’s really good! You should sing some more.” …my tail wags despite me, and I sigh.

  “It’s not that good, alright?”

  “...fine fine, I’ll leave you alone…”

  “...wanna cuddle on the couch and binge some anime until we pass out?”

  Smiling a little despite the situation, she nods. “Sure.”

  ___

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