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When Emu opened the window, a gentle breeze coolly caressed her face after a long, hot summer day. The moon rose in the sky, bright and lonely, as it did every night. While the world slept, the feline girl stood on the window still and admired the stars. Her tail danced softly with their twinkling. Since her owner was already asleep, she could take as much time for herself as she wanted and, being a nocturnal animal, enjoy herself before the inevitable morning tiredness (although her owner always pointed out how active she was day and night).
Her nose twitched unconsciously, and with it, her tail swayed, and her eyes sparkled with excitement. Another catboy or catgirl? Despite her stay as a domestic, she liked talking to them. Wrapping her fingers around the still impetuously, she leaned out a little further and… “Oh, what do we have her…! Ah! ” Ouch! Her forehead bumped into a talking something.
Emu closed her eyes and rubbed her throbbing forehead. How it hurt! “Ow, ow, ow.” And, at the sight of a blonde hair paired with floppy ears, her eyes sparkled. “Tsukasa-kun!”
‘Tsukasa-kun’ wore a light brown jumper, topped with an adorable yellow bow twirled around his neck. Additionally, a dark green jumpsuit slung over one shoulder, worn slightly (by that yellow patch below his knee). Both his ears and tail were dark, contrasting with his hair.
Without a doubt, he was a stray cat.
“Ah, mercy, you beautiful cat!” he grumbled, combing his hair back. Their close faces made her cheeks blush. Unconsciously, they sniffed at each other before the blond cleared his throat. “How do you know my name?”
What a good question! No idea. Emu knew it was Tsukasa, but also didn't know him. Ouch, what a mess!
“Because Tsukasa-kun is Tsukasa-kun!” She exclaimed seriously, despite the big smile on her face.
Scratching his chin thoughtfully, he frowned. “Hmm, but I don't remember seeing such a pretty white cat before, I wouldn't have forgotten.” For some reason, his compliments were making her heart race familiarly, associated with Tsukasa, too. But why? They had just met! The blond cat brought his hands to his hips. “Anyway, lucky me! Since it's such a beautiful night, why don't you come out with me to play?” And he took her collar with his index finger, drawing her to him determinedly. Emu gasped. Now, one could distinguish the subtle gradient of his blond hair to pink — those cat-like pupils traced in the orange of his irises, where she reflected. Their faces were so close that their noses almost brushed once more. “I'll bite it off. Then you'll be free.” Thereupon, Tsukasa held out his hand to her, keeping a safe distance. “You and I, lying on a rooftop watching the cars go by — think about it, Emu! Run away with me.”
Despite the gleam and fuzzy inside her at such a suggestion, Emu was speechless at the sound of her collar rattling around her neck as she raised on the footstool to take it. No. She could not leave. In that house, Emu had everything she needed — Besides the person who adopted her.
“Eeeh? What are you saying, Tsukasa-kun? I can't just abandon my owner just like that!” Right! He, too, said something weird. “Ah! Emu is also my name! Did you read it from my collar?” Still, she took his hand with both of hers and played with his fingers and palm, careful of her nails.
Tsukasa widened his eyes and searched for her collar again. “A-Ah? Huh? Of course! What else could it be? And it's a shame you'd want to miss the chance to be with a star like me. Every day is a different and uncertain stage to perform.” And, with his free hand, he rested it on hers and flexed his elbows, drawing them between their faces.
“Yeah, yeah, sure! It's super mega fun! But you'd change your mind if you tasted delicious food every day and slept in a warm bed. This collar is important to me, and so is my owner.” Her tone faltered, but it didn't take long before she pulled herself together at an idea. “Ah, I know! Why don't you better tell me about your adventures? I usually talk to other stray cats, so where would you like to go?”
Tsukasa let out a “hmm.” thoughtfully and lured her out of the window. Emu leapt towards the roof with him, landing on it with an “ EEEK!” from him. “More careful, beautiful lady! Or you'll end the last of my seven lives.” He sighed. “Changed your mind?”
“No!” Emu looked up at the starry sky with increased interest, and then at the shooting star in her hands. “But I felt like stretching my paws.” She released them for a spin, billowing her pink dress. With her hands behind her back, she cocked her head to the side to see him so attentive to her. “You didn't answer my question.”
In a blink, he nodded. “Right! In addition to becoming the world's best-known stray cat, someday, I'd like to escape this city to see the aurora borealis. Ambitious, but I'm sure I'll achieve it someday, you know? Don't tell other cats, but we only have one life instead of seven, so I want to make the most of this one.”
Now, thanks to Tsukasa, Emu's mind was full of possible places to visit. From the series she watched with her owner, she knew the world had numerous opportunities to offer, beautiful scenery and delicious food to eat. Perhaps on their next trip together, she could convince her to go where Tsukasa wanted. Of course, when she was in better health… Surely, she would recover sooner or later!
When she opened her mouth to speak, their tails bristled at the mere sound of a “WOOF!” In the street before the rest of the barking. “Aaah!” A hoard! Emu immediately jumped to the window, agitated. Her breathing became heavy. Tsukasa, for some reason, just stared down. The ears on top of his head were stiff and attentive. She didn't get to see his face.
“Come in, Tsukasa-kun! Until the dogs leave.” She held her hand to him, leaving half her body outside the window.
“Ah, there's nothing to be afraid of. They're bound!” And he turned to her, smiling bravely. “But fear not for me — I always deal with them almost daily.” Watching him take a few steps back, Emu raised her eyebrows. “Nothing to be uncomfortable about…”
As he kept walking away, Emu pursed her lips and frowned, her gaze full of sadness. “Wait, you're leaving already!?”
“Yes, I must take care of business! I'm not afraid of dogs at all!” But there he was still, walking away with an uncomfortable smile.
Emu found it very convincing.
“Okay, come back tomorrow!”
“I will, fair lady!”
Emu stood leaning on the footstool, watching Tsukasa run nimbly through high places until he vanished from her sight. Her heart stopped thudding as the barking faded away as well. Still, she decided to wait for a while, just in case he returned. The weight of her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, a breeze stopped blowing from one moment to the next. Instead, a certain familiar melody began to play. It was very upbeat, and oh, that was Len singing!
When Emu opened her eyes again, everything was dark except for the light on her bedside table and her vibrating phone. The tune playing was a particular song she fell asleep listening to. What was it called? Ah, right! It's a Wonderful Cat Life, or something like that. Wait, cats? Oh, her dream!
Picking up her phone immediately with a big smile, she slid the alarm to the right and hummed the lyrics.
She had to tell Tsukasa-kun about it!
…
Wait, what dream?