Chapter Text
The crackle of a whip. A scream.
“Stop it!” Korone screamed, growling, seeing red. Okayu was the only thing she had left… “Don’t take her away from me!” She jumped in front of the injured whimpering girl. Korone growled wildly at the much older man, who readied his whip.
“Koro-san… No…” The young feline croaked, reaching her hand out to pull the older girl from the man, but Korone didn't budge one bit.
“Don’t hurt her!” Korone shouted again, glaring at the man who laughed maniacally. He raised his arm upward, getting ready to whip the canine. Korone clenched her teeth and closed her eyes, preparing for the pain from the whip.
A loud sound came from behind the old man, which forced him to stop.
“Intruders!” They could hear, before the men shouted out in pain. Another explosion.
Taking advantage of the confusion, Korone kicked the man’s shin, causing him to keel in pain. She ran back to Okayu, desperately pulling the purple-haired child on her feet.
“Hurry Okayu, let’s go!” She shouted furiously.
“Just a little further more, Okayu!” Korone shouted, pulling along the younger girl frantically past the crumbling prison. Okayu panted heavily, helplessly being dragged by the canine girl. Everything hurt, and felt numb at the same time, but Korone pushed on, not wanting to waver so that Okayu could survive.
Korone could tell that Okayu is already reaching her limit. In the first place, Okayu was not very athletic compared to Korone - she’s younger by four years, and she’s sustained much more abuse than Korone.
The stupid myth that felines are cunning and clever had made the guards harsher on Okayu than Korone - for holios’ sake, she’s a child!
Please , Korone thinks to herself, Even if I don’t make it out of here, if Okayu could…
I’ll protect her until the end. That is what I promised her.
Korone’s eyes open, and she sits up violently, heaving. It was just a dream , she realises, and breathes a sigh of relief. It’s been at least 10 years since Mio and Fubuki had saved Okayu and Korone from that hell hole prison, and one year since the two have left for their own adventure.
And it’s been about a month or two since Marine and her crew picked them up to go along with for adventures. The Houshou pirates have been very nice to the two of them - offering to teach them newer things, such as cooking. They were also really entertaining, as if being a comedian was in their blood.
Things never got boring on the pirate ship, and Korone has noticed that Okayu has been much happier, being around new people and interacting with them.
Korone feels especially grateful towards Marine, the captain of the ship, who happily welcomed them on her ship with open arms. Okayu has also become close friends with Aqua, the actual leader of the pirates, although not in name, but with the way she commands the pirates, it seemed so.
“...Koro-san...?” Okayu calls sleepily, from next to her. She yawns and wipes at her eyes sitting up. The feline eyes at the clock next to their bed to see that it’s only 5am.
“You okay...?” She asks worriedly, rubbing her palm back and forth on Korone’s arm. “You have a bad dream...?”
Korone sighs and lies back down. Okayu follows her, but keeps her eyes open, watching the dog tentatively. The brown haired canine nods her head, “Yeah. Sorry for worrying you, Okayuu…” She pouts apologetically, making a quiet whiney howl.
Okayu smiles, purring, “It’s okay Koro-san. I’m always here for you, if you ever start to feel lonely, after all~” she proceeds to rest her head at the crook of Korone’s neck.
Korone giggles, “You’re always with me. That’s why I’m never lonely.” she says in an affectionate tone.
Okayu laughs in return. “That’s true.” she agrees.
Shortly, the feline goes back to sleep. Korone, on the other hand, has trouble doing so.
She stares up at the ceiling of the boat that they’re on, feeling the rocking of the boat on sea, smelling the salt of the ocean, hearing the waves crash against the ship.
It’s a reminder of the peace and life that Okayu and Korone had survived to live for.
Korone looks down at the sleeping cat. She breathes in, and out. No irregularities. It’s reassuring for her to see this - because it means that Okayu’s alive and safe. And that’s all Korone needs to be happy.
“ Everyone’s gone… Everyone I loved is gone… There’s no reason anymore… Everyone precious in my life is gone...”
Korone can still hear Okayu’s words ringing in her ears.
“Don’t give up! I promise you! I’ll protect you! Until you have found another thing precious in your life, and have a reason to live, I’ll protect you! We’ll get out of this!”
To this day, Korone has kept her promise to Okayu. Okayu was always Korone’s first priority above everything in their travels. She’s taken care of the feline, assuming responsibility for her safety and survival.
Back then, Korone had never let the guards abuse Okayu for too long - always jumping in front and taking the heat.
Okayu is like a little sister to her - someone that she has to take care of. Okayu needs her. Needs her to be responsible and good. They’re best friends, and Korone would do anything within her power and beyond to make sure that she doesn’t lose her.
Because if she loses her… What else does Korone have left?
The dog eventually succumbed to sleep, after thinking too hard.
“Thank you~” Korone greets the mail bird cutely, patting its head affectionately. The bird squawks before flying away - probably to the next person it needs to send mail to.
“Hm? What’s that, Koro-saan?” Okayu asks, wrapping her arms around Korone’s waist, looking over her shoulder.
“Ah! Ogayuu~” Korone says, “Just in time! Fubuki-chan sent a letter to us!” She waves the letter in front of Okayu who nods her head.
“Ohhh, nice~ Read it out loud?” Okayu asks, and Korone nods her head.
She opens the letter and begins to read.
“Korone and Okayu,
Konkon! It’s Shirakami! How have the two of you been? It’s already been a year since we split ways! Mio gets so worried about you guys everyday, always telling me to send a letter asking if you’re okay, or if you guys have sent a letter. Please send one to ease her worries!! www. Are you guys getting along fine? I would hate to see my favourite girls break up, so no fighting! Mio says hi, and that she misses you guys! Me too!
See you soon!
Fubuki.”
“So it says.” Korone ends reading the letter, looking over at Okayu, who laughs at the letter.
“Always so carefree, that Fubuki-chan, hmm~” Okayu drawls amusedly, tail wrapping around Korone’s waist affectionately. Okayu blows a raspberry into Korone’s back. Korone giggles, reeling in a little, “Wait- Okayu- t-that tickles!” She pushes Okayu away who only laughs at her reaction. She reaches in to try and tickle Korone again.
“Always so lovey-dovey, aren’t you guys?” A voice from behind them says, and the two beastkin turn around.
Korone’s face lights up, “Ah, Mari-rin~! Good morning~!” Per usual, Okayu puts a distance from Korone, and opts to casually lean on the fence on the edge of the deck. “Hehhh, I wonder about that~” Okayu says, laughing once again when she spots Korone pouting at the ‘rejection’.
“Ah, I see Aqua-chan is awake now, I’m gonna go say hi~ See ya~” Okayu drawls and quickly walks away.
Marine nods her head, “humu humu” she says, closing her eyes. Korone and Marine watch Okayu walk away, before comically looking at each other again.
“A fight?” Marine asks tensely.
“You’re wrong!” Korone retorts fast, whining. “She’s always like this! Always so clingy and then she acts so cold when you guys come! I really don’t know why she’s like this…”
Marine laughs boisterously, and walks forward to rest her arm on Korone’s shoulder. “I’m sure she’s just embarrassed! Look at her, she’s blushing.”
Korone looks at Okayu to find that she actually IS blushing.
But she’s also talking to Aqua.
“...Huh.” Marine says, suddenly less upbeat than before. She looks at Korone worriedly, and then repeats her words. “She’s blushing. While talking to Aqu-tan.”
“Ah, you’re right.” Korone replies, looking at the pair. Her lips are cut in a straight line, neither smiling or frowning.
The captain looks in front of Korone, nervously inspecting her expression. “Ano… Don’t be mad… I’m sure it’s nothing… They’re probably just fooling around.”
Korone finally looks at Marine, with a confused expression. “Huh? Why would I be mad?” She asks, but Korone realises she probably already knows the answer.
Marine looks back with an equally confused expression. “Aren’t you guys, like,” She makes an inappropriate gesture. “Dating?”
“Dating? Who?” Korone asks.
“You and Oka-nyan?”
Korone couldn’t help but laugh. And then she goes straight faced again. “You’re being serious?”
Marine nods her head, unable to hide her confusion. “Un, un.” She hums in affirmation. “You guys aren’t?”
“GYAHAHA!!” Korone squeals and laughs at Marine. “Maririn you’ve got it all wrong! Okayu and I aren’t actually dating.”
“Eh? Ah? Huh?” Marine goes, baffled. “Actually??”
“Un!” She affirms.
“Then what are you guys?” Marine asks confusedly.
“Hm… Family, I guess? She’s like a little sister to me!” Korone hums, tapping her lip. Her eyes widen, “Ah- not blood related or anything. We’re cat and dog, after all!” she clarifies. Korone scrunches her nose, thinking, “We’ve just been together since forever, so I can’t help but dote on her!”
Marine stays silent, still surprised.
Korone giggles, still laughing over Marine’s misunderstanding. “I can see why you’d think we’re dating though! We are pretty close! And we play along with the jokes too!”
“Talk about misleading…” Marine says, and then shakes her head wildly, unable to believe it, “No no, I’ve seen you guys kissing before… that’s way closer than just ‘pretty close’ … If anything, friends with benefits would be more understandable!”
“Ah that? Ahaha! We just get pretty into it sometimes! We just do it casually though!” Korone says.
Marine pants heavily, tired with going back and forth with this dog. She eventually decides to just give up completely in trying to make sense of this situation. She crosses her arms, nodding her head. “Hmm? So that’s how it is??? Hmmm??” She mutters to herself. Korone watches her do this and wonders if she’s losing her mind.
“Yosh!” Marine opens her eyes and nods after some time, coming to some unsaid conclusion. She claps her hands together. “So let me get this straight.”
“Yes?”
“You and Oka-nyan aren’t dating.”
“Yes!”
“You see Oka-nyan as a little sister, more than as a lover.”
“Yes!”
“You don’t care if Oka-nyan dates Aqu-tan?”
“...Yes?”
“I can sense a sister complex here… Gross.” Marine says, slightly repulsed.
“I’m not a sis-con! We’re not actual sisters!” Korone retorts, huffing angrily.
“Ahaha…” Marine laughs amusedly. “Whatever you say…”
“Ahh, mou, I don’t care anymore!” Korone says, crossing her arms and looking away, “Hmph!”
“Ahhh… Korone-saaan… I’m very sorryyy…” Marine says, speaking formally to try and ease her anger, bowing profusely.
Korone stands tall, and places her hands on her waist, laughing like “MU HA HA HA!” with a smug grin she announces, “And with that, your captain has bowed her head to me! I am your new captain now, BOWOWOWOWOWOW!”
Marine looks up, gasping, posing like she’s very surprised. “No! I can’t believe this has happened!” She cries fakely, wiping away fake tears. “I’m sorry for letting you guys down…”
“GYA HA HA HA!”
“What even are those guys doing…” Okayu mutters amusedly, looking from afar.
“Ah- Ahh… Okayu slow down, you’re making a mess…” Korone says, hurriedly getting a napkin. Okayu swallows her food and instinctively looks toward Korone. Korone wipes Okayu’s mouth with the napkin. Okayu makes a sound of complaint but doesn’t move.
“All done! Now slow down, okay?” Korone nags, throwing the napkin away.
“Ehh?? But this is Koro-san’s precious cooking, so I want to enjoy eating it! What if it starts to get cold~?” Okayu says, not slowing down her pace whatsoever, and subsequently making a mess again. Korone shakes her head, getting another napkin and folding it in the collar of Okayu’s shirt. “I’m happy you think that, but it’s rude to make a mess!”
Okayu continues to eat her food and Korone just watches her eat. Occasionally she moves forward to fix Okayu’s clothing.
“With how you guys act, it’s less of a couple and more of like watching a mother and her child.” Botan says, pulling a chair and sitting opposite of the two.
Lamy giggles and sits next to her wife. “You’re right. The preciousness is still overwhelming though~” Botan laughs and nods her head.
“I suppose this in its own sense would be flirting.” Botan agrees.
Korone looks at the two, “Botan-chan! Lamy-chan!” she exclaims happily. Korone purses her lips and taps her chin. “Well rather than either of those, I like to think of myself as Okayu’s older sister!”
Botan and Lamy stare at her weirdly. “Sis-con?” Botan asks, laughing.
“No! Not sis-con!” Korone retorts almost immediately. “What’s with everyone recently and labelling me a sis-con…”
“No, no, you’re probably just the strange one. I don’t know any couple that would say that they’re an older sister to their partner…” Botan replies.
“Eh? Couple? We’re not dating though.” “We aren’t actually dating though~” Both Okayu and Korone answer at the same time. They look at each other, and Korone laughs once again at the misunderstanding. She notices that Okayu didn’t laugh along with her.
How strange.
They have the same humour, so Korone wonders why Okayu didn’t laugh with her this time.
“Oh… Is that so…” Botan says, and looks at Lamy who shrugs her shoulders.
“You guys are still so close though~ I’m jealous~” Lamy says, trying to save the awkward situation. “How did you guys meet?” Both Korone and Okayu look at each other, unsure of what to say to that.
“Ah… Well… We grew up together since we were children~” Okayu answers, “She’s always doted on me since then~”
“Ahh… Close since you were little? How nice~” Lamy swoons, giggling. “Botan and I are similar, though we didn’t really hang out until we were 12~”
“Ah!” Korone says, trying to change the subject. “You finished your food, Okayu! Do you want seconds?” Okayu shakes her head, “No, I’m okay~, I’ll just put my dishes away now. I’ll be heading up to the deck to see if Senchou needs any help~”
Okayu always takes seconds, and thirds, but Korone understands that she doesn’t feel like eating anymore because of the subject. Korone nods her head, “Got it! Bye, bye Okayu~”
Okayu waves and then leaves. The brown haired canine sighs. Lamy nervously looks from Okayu to the sullen dog.
“Um… Did I say something wrong?” Lamy asks nervously. Botan also looks confused.
Korone smiles weakly, “Our past is just a little bit… of a sore subject…” the canine explains, rubbing her hand. She can feel the pain from the past…
Losing everyone she was close to was needless to say, traumatising. Korone is sure that Okayu feels the same way, since the only person that was precious to her - her grandma - was lost. It is why Korone made the promise to always protect her.
Lamy opens her mouth widely, as if saying “Ah…” in understanding.
She nods her head, “It’s true that we’ve known each other since childhood…” Korone starts, “Well… We lost everyone we loved… And we’ve pretty much only had each other...”
Lamy and Botan look at each other sadly.
“She needs me. So..” Korone sniffles, a tear falling down her eyes when remembering these memories. “...Yeah.”
Lamy moves around the table to embrace Korone. She signals toward Botan to come, in which her wife comes and does the same thing. Lamy brushes through Korone’s hair, and the gesture just makes Korone start to cry a little. “There there, you two have been through a lot, haven’t you?”
Korone nods her head. “Mm.” She says.
Somehow, being hugged like this… She’s reminded of her mother. Korone misses her mother.
Lamy pulls away, hands on her shoulder, “Also, it’s not just that ‘She needs you’, it’s also that ‘You need her’, right?”
Korone nods her head. “You’re right. But she needs me to be strong. I promised her, after all. That I’d protect her.”
Lamy sighs, but doesn’t say anything more. She decides to just let this go and let Korone figure this out for herself. “That’s very noble of you, but don’t forget about yourself, okay?”
“...Okay.” Korone mumbles, nodding her head.
Lamy pats her head. “Good girl.” She says.
When night time comes, Korone can’t sleep again. Her head is still stuck with what Lamy was talking about earlier that day.
“Don’t forget about myself?” Korone whispers to herself, trying to make sense of those words. “What does she mean by that?”
Korone already takes plenty of care of herself. She makes sure to eat properly, and sleep properly (if her mind isn’t muddled around like this already).
Besides , Korone thinks, turning her head to look at the sleeping cat. Okayu needs me more than I need myself .
Korone reaches forward toward Okayu, patting her head. Instinctively, the younger girl moves her head, leaning into the touch happily. Korone smiles softly, silently swooning over the feline’s cuteness. She opens her mouth to whisper.
“There isn’t anything more that I want, than for you to be happy.”
She means this from the bottom of her heart.
Korone closes her eyes, and eventually, she goes to sleep.