Authors Notes (IMPORTANT)
Damn, where to even begin? Okay, so um, I'm really sorry, it's really inexcusable that I have not updated since FOREVER. I've been busy, it's my Graduation year.
So, I may not update very much after this one, I'm really sorry. I have my exams in a couple o days which Span 2 months, so guaranteed I will not have time within this period. In the 6 months I have after that I have to take intensive language courses as I plan to study abroad next time(in a top 10 university), as well as the fact that I'm finally planning to begin developing a big writing project of mine.
So uh, my life story, pretty much. Do buy my book when I release my first one (not any time soon unfortunately)! I'll post a chapter of an existing fanfic and the notification will be in my author notes haha XD. Really though, any sales is much appreciated. Thanks mucho.
Yeah. I'm tired and busy. What worse combination can there be? Actually, let's not tempt Fate.
Otherwise, please enjoy this rushed and crappy chapter (I was really rushing, I had to study). I honestly think I could have polished it and made it better, but my time I am allowed on the computer is just…So little.
Reviews make my stress level go down, I imagine, unless it's Flames. But whatever, just do what you will. By the way, new poll up on my page! Do let me know what you think.
IV – Mornings with a Mithra, A father's resolve.
'Lightning's Perspective'
"Nyaa~" I purred.
The kind, silver haired human was petting my head kindly and lovingly, and I loved every second of it. Although it feels like I'm being domesticated, strangely, I didn't hate it. As long as it was him…Anything would be fine. Those were my honest feelings.
He was having fun playing with me, at least, his facial expression showed it. He was patting my head, stroking my ears, and messing around with my swishing tail. I was having a lot of fun! I thought for a second, that maybe life like this wouldn't be so bad. If I just submitted myself to this man and let events take its course, I'm sure my life would be enjoyable day after day.
"Claire!"
…! That voice…Serah? I looked behind me, and sure enough, Serah was there waving at me.
"Claire! Please come back! We all miss you…I miss you…" Serah trailed off and gave a sad smile.
Claire, almost instinctively, tried to get up and move. However, Hope held her down.
"…Claire, are you leaving…? You're leaving me to go back aren't you…" Hope said with a sad tone.
"N-no, I..I mean…" I stuttered, unsure of my own emotions.
I want to go back to Serah and my friends over at Mithra Village, I do. But…But I like being with the human male. It's fun being with him. Back at Mithra village we always worry about security and we patrol frequently, it's a chore and a bore. Here, it's just fun and enjoyable, every day.
However, who will keep Serah safe? …Definitely not that idiot Snow. On the other hand…What will that big human do to the kind one?
"Claire, please don't leave me. I really enjoy being with you, I want to be with you…!" Hope pleaded.
"Claire, what are you doing? Hurry and come back!" Serah shouted.
I looked back at forth between them, my ears slowly drooping and tail swishing around in panic. I was unsure of my emotions…What should I do? What do I want to do…
The obvious choice is to go back, that's what every part of me is saying, especially my brain and body…And yet, my body will not budge. My heart is giving me conflicting messages.
The human embraced me even tighter and petted my head again…Almost sadly.
He sighed in resignation with a hint of sadness contained.
"It's okay, Claire…Go back to where you came from. It's only right that way…"Hope said, smiling sadly.
"…? B-but why?" I questioned him, unsure of his intentions.
"I always wanted you Mithra to live freely, unbound by humans. It's what you deserve; it's also where you belong, back with your loving family and friends. Cherish them, and eventually, forget about me, too…" He ended it, trailing off sadly.
I shook my head. For some reason, I didn't want to go. Not just yet.
"B-but, It's fun being with you! You're different from the rest of the humans! You were so kind to me…I really loved every minute I was with you…" I whispered sadly.
"M-maybe you could come back with me…?" I asked softly, almost pleadingly.
He shook his head sadly as he continued to lovingly stroke my back.
"I'd love to, really I would. But I can't. I'll be ostracized, cast away, and then hunted down by my own people. It was really…A great deal of fun being with you, Claire. Take care…One day, when you have your own family with a Manthra you love, knowing that, that's good enough for me." He said, tears trickling down his face.
It struck me hard. I was speechless. He was crying…For me…
Why am I feeling this way? It's only been a couple of days I was in captivity, I should be happy to be able to go…home. And yet….I have this strange feeling. One I have never really felt before, that I am unable to describe.
I…I don't want him to cry, I want to see his brave smile…The smile that saved me day after day. The one that would never fail to cheer me up no matter what.
"It's okay to forget me. You should. Any lingering emotion for humans you have should be severed for your own safety, if more idiots send out hunting parties again, don't show any mercy…Thank you for everything, Claire. Your companionship meant everything to me. You can keep those clothes I bought you, it can be a keepsake. Feel free to discard it anytime…though…" He finished weakly. He looked very faint, with traces of tears over his face.
All of a sudden, he got up and away from me, and then began to walk away slowly, turning his back to me, tears dripping onto the floor.
Stunned, I held out my hand and pleaded for him not to go.
"W-wait! I haven't even said thank you yet! I…I never even found out your name…" I collapsed on the floor as Serah came running to me.
"Come on Claire, forget about that wretched human who kept you imprisoned for so long. Let's go!" Serah enthusiastically said.
What Serah said struck me.
"Wretched…? Please don't call him wretched…He was a very, very kind person…" I muttered softly.
"What are you talking about? All humans are…" She trailed off. Or, more accurately, nothing registered in my head anymore.
A flood of my memories with him spanning from my first meeting with him until now swirled around my memory banks, occupying my field of vision with vivid flashbacks…
I could not stop the tears that dripped down my cheek…
"Why…If only I could have stayed with you a little longer…Just for another day…" I hit the floor, hard, with my fist and whispered softly, painfully...Emotion overtook me as I let my regrets flood my very being.
If only I had a little bit longer…Even just a day…I wish I could repay you for all you have done.
'Hope's Perspective'
Now if you were wondering, yes, I am staring at Claire's sleeping posture.
She apparently sleeps like a feline, on all fours with her head on the pillow and her hands on the side. Her ears are still actively twitching and her tails lazily swishing back and forth. Her facial expression, however, was irresistibly cute. It gave me the urge to just pet her…
Maybe, just maybe, somehow I had comprehended why people like to keep Mithra's as pets. I still don't condone it, but I can remotely understand now…
Still, seeing her sleep so peacefully like this makes me happy. She might be able to adjust to her new life here. I'll make it enjoyable as best I can, for her sake.
As I smiled and thought happy thoughts about the future, I heard a soft sobbing noise.
Alarmed, I looked at Claire's facial expression. It was creasing up with apparent sadness and she was lightly sobbing.
I was alarmed, to say the least. I had no idea what was going on! I panicked for a while, until I realized it's probably a bad dream.
'I better wake her up before it gets worse!' I thought to myself in a panic.
I shook the cage lightly and shouted her name.
"Claire! Claire, hurry and wake up! It's just a bad dream!" I implored her.
She just continued to shiver and sob, as I stood there, helpless.
"Oh man, it's only been a couple of days and we got a problem already?" I mumbled to myself.
I could almost hear my old man's evil laughter echo in my mind.
"Shut up dad, I'll take good care of her." I muttered to myself.
I looked around for inspiration, something that I can use…?
I found the stick that my friend gave me. I remember that he gave me that stick after he was playing catch with his Mithra and saw me playing with her afterwards. Said something about me liking her scent or something…I don't have any weird Fetish like that.
I picked it up and swallowed…hard. I may not live through this…!
I took the stick, opened her hatch and…And well, I poked her back…Hard.
She woke up with a jerk and hit her head on the top of the cage.
"Hnnn ~ Oww…." She cried in pain.
"Oh no, Claire! Are you alright?" I reached out towards her. She turned to look at me, hissed and bit my hand.
"AGHHHH!" I shouted in pain and fell on my back, rolling on the floor, blowing on the bite mark on my hand.
Dad's definitely going to call me out on this…
Her tail was originally straight up and fuzzy, but it eventually calmed down and went back to swaying left and right. Her expression, from anger and pain went back to being calm and collected.
She was backed against a cage wall, shivering a little bit.
When I took a closer look at her, there were traces of tears on her face.
I smiled softly and put my hand through the hatch again. She slowly moved towards me, taking very deliberate movements…As if doubting my existence there.
Claire regarded the hand with apprehension, but eventually grabbed it with her furry hand and held onto it tightly.
She rubbed her cheeks against it and purred in satisfaction.
I smiled and petted her head with my other hand.
'She really resembles a feline…' I grinned as I thought that to myself.
I blush unconsciously as I notice just how cute she looked rubbing her cheeks against my hand like that.
"I hope you don't mind me staying with you for a bit…I'm not a bother, am i?" She asked nervously.
I raised my eyebrow in slight confusion. Her tone of voice and actions this morning didn't really suit her usual behavior. Well, I like it that she's showing a slightly more vulnerable side to me.
I smile and stroked her back (as far as my hand could reach) and her ears.
"No problem, Claire. I told you I was going to do the best I can to make this an enjoyable time you spend in my house."
She smiled and closed her eyes, evidently enjoying my pampering.
Her smile was dazzling…I found myself mesmerized at the very beauty of it.
I won't let dad ruin that smile…Not for anything.
I looked out the window into the sunrise, just past the hills.
I hope that this morning that I spend with my precious Mithra, Claire, to last just a little longer…
Yeah, those were my honest thoughts. At least, for the time being, it was.
I simply looked at Claire again, and strengthened my resolve.
One day, Claire, I promise. I'll get you back to where you belong. For now, just stay with me for a bit, yeah?
'Bart's perspective'
And so there I was, wasting away another day in the office, reading documents and stuff.
"Why doesn't my son understand…?" I sigh in exasperation.
Hope, my son…
I know he loves the Mithra's, and that's great. As a father I couldn't be more proud that he had found himself something to like, to love. And that is, another life.
Just like how I came to love Nora…
I sigh once again as I finished up a report on the latest Mithra hunt.
Why can't he understand that I only do this because we need it?
I put the pen down and stared out the window, into the woods.
That's no surprise I guess, I never once sat down and talked to him.
"It's because of this Mithra trading that we are where we are. It gave me an opportunity to rise in the business world, to give you and Nora the comfortable life you have now." I said solemnly to nobody in particular.
You get bullied everywhere because of your love of them, and it pains me to see my own flesh and blood get so beaten up like that.
However…I have to keep up appearances.
Even if you hate me for it…
Even if you loathe me for it…
Even if you know me as the demon that is your father…
That you detest me with all your being, and wish that I was never your father…
I'll accept it all. This was my choice.
I sign the documents required for the next shipment with a new resolve.
Understand that this was needed, Hope, for our sake. One day, Hope, you will understand. Understand that society is not as simple as to change their way of thought. I was forced to succumb to society's cruel hands and dabble in this field…You will too, someday.
You must learn to give up; you will come to understand that no matter how much we struggle, we simply can't win against that which is Society.
Unconsciously, I had broken the pen because I applied too much pressure.
I'm sorry Hope. I have to do this. I can't regret this, I won't.
It is my duty as a father to educate my own son to the ways of the world, no matter how unfair it may be.
Authors End note
TWIST! Oh man, we actually find out more about Bartholomew in this chapter, as well as Claire's insecurity about her current situation!
Also, Hope and Claire bonded a bit after she revealed a more…Vulnerable side of herself to him. She is curious about how Hope is so different from the rest of the humans, and does not know herself why she feels this attachment to Hope.