Chapter 1: New Dreams
It's been a year now since the Juuni taisen ended, the 12 warriours were scattered across the globe and back to their daily lives. But the memories of the gruesome war still haunts them until today.
Tora. Real name Kanae Aira. She was laying down at her little apartment drinking her favorite booze as usual. The place was dirty and filled with empty alcohol bottles.
Tora: *Signs...Geez, I ran out of booze again...
Tora: I guess I'll buy some more at the store
She slowly stood up, wore her black leathered jacket and went outside. It was Sunday, so the roads were crowded with traffic. Tora doesn't have a car nor she knew how to drive so she gotta walk to the store by foot.
She heard cars and trucks honking each other and people screaming in front at the traffic...
Tora: *Shit...Can't you guys shut up...It's giving me a headache here
Tora: I think the grocery store is just up ahead...I'll make haste
Tora raced to the store because she was fed up with all the noises of the traffic. In a few minutes, she arrived at 7/11 grocery store. The weather was quite hot too, so she got her body all sweaty.
Tora: *pant *pant...I got all wet and sticky ==
Tora: All because of you...my lovely booze~
She entered the store and grabbed her favorite brand of booze on first sight. She immediately started drinking it.
Clerk: Ah Miss! You can't do that!
A shy female clerk interrupted her.
Tora: *Burp...why?
Clerk: Erm...you have to pay for it first...
Tora: Heh...what a drag
Tora looked at the clerk with her baggy eyes and she was immediately shocked by Tora's ferocious aura.
Tora: Oh okay...wait a minute
Tora took out her wallet and opened it. Unexpectedly, she was out of cash due to overspending on different brands of expensive booze. She was shellshocked.
Tora: (what! I'm out of cash! This can't be happening right now!)
Clerk: M-miss?
The clerk looks at Tora innocently as she was still afraid of her.
Tora: ...Ehehehehe...I don't have money to pay for it...Can I have it for free^^?
Clerk: Erm...according to our system...I don't think that's possible
Tora: *gulp...Oh (Shit this is bad, what are they going to do to me!)
Clerk: I think you would have to...pay for it...
Clerk: Or the police will take you...
Clerk: I-I'm sorry Miss scary fearsome tiger, but that's the law!
The clerk gathered up her confidence and shouted with a bow. She got too tensed.
Tora: *speechless
?: I'll help her pay for it^^
A mysterious figure walks up to the case. It was someone Tora knew...
Tora: *shocked...You!
?: It's been so long time, Tora no senshi^^
Orange, Red and dark green spurred from her feathered cloak and bikini. Her light green hair matches perfectly with her eyes. The feathers of her crown symbolizes...
Tora: Niwatori no senshi!
Niwatori took out some money from her wallet and gave it to the frightened clerk.
Niwatori: Here you go ~
Clerk: Ah~ she's so kind and beautiful...I think I'm in—-(blush)
She snapped...
Clerk: O-Oh, thank you so much miss!
She accepted the money with gratitude and bows again...
The two girls walked out of the store with their favorite drinks on hand. Tora felt great relief because if it weren't for Niwatori, she would've been handed to the law and into jail. No booze for a lifetime.
Tora: Thank you so much for paying this for me Niwatori. You're a life saver!
Niwatori: No problem, Tora-san~
Niwatori: How have you been^^?
Tora: The usual...drinking booze and all...
Tora: And...money ==
Niwatori: Oh... why don't you apply for a job? Part-time?
Tora: Erm...I did...but...
(Flashback)
Tora was a waitress, working part-time at a restaurant. But got super-aggressive when the customers complained about the food. She got fired because she almost killed one of the customers.
After that, she applied for a fishing job near a local pond. She got fired because she almost ate all of the fish.
Thirdly, she applied for a cosplay job at a maid-café. She was forced to wear a cat-maid outfit. The customers were having a fun time laughing and teasing her ears and so...she got fired for almost killing everyone.
Tora: It didn't turn out very well...ehehehe
Niwatori: Oh I see...
Niwatori: Hmm, would you like to start a coffee shop business with me ^^?
Tora: Heh! Coffee shop? ...
Niwatori: Hmm?
Tora: I-Its embarrassing but...I've always wanted to open one during my high school days... a silly dream of mine
Tora: I threw away that dream because I thought it was never going to happen anyway...and then I got into Juuni Taisen
Niwatori: I see...how unfortunate
Niwatori: But the war is already over and it's a thing of the past now, We should start fresh in building our new lives. Don't you think ^^
Tora: ...you do have a point
Tora: S-so we're really doing this? Opening a coffee shop?
Niwatori: Yes, if you'll agree~
Niwatori: I loved coffee, it was always beside me when I'm feeling alone and on days when I'm depressed. It was my best friend. And...I think...opening one with you...Tora-san makes me feel... not alone anymore (blush)
Tora: (Blushes harder)...Alright, alright... just stop making that face already... It's very embarrassing!
Niwatori: Niceeee~ we can talk about this at my place ^^
Tora: Alright...how long does it take for us to walk there?
Niwatori: Who said anything about walking?
Niwatori took out her I-phone and called up her personal driver. , he was Korean. He moved in with his family to Tokyo city a few years ago, because he likes the food here. He was still struggling to speak English though.
A few seconds later, arrived with his cab, he parked it nicely beside the girls with a rough hand brake.
Tora: *spits out booze* so fast!?
Niwatori: Yes. always had a plan to slice through this crowded traffic~
: I'm sworry Miss Niwatori. I was rate bekos I waz stock in a kar assident.
Niwatori: it's okay. At least you've arrived safely ^^
The girls went inside the cab as started doing what he does best. "Sit taight girlz, we're goin in for a fun raid". The girls buckled up their seat belts as the cab began moving.
Tora: Heh? What does he mean by fun ride?
Niwatori: (giggles) you'll see...it's exciting! (eyes shinning brightly)
Tora: W-w-w-w-wait-
Cutting off Tora's sentence, speeded up like a rocket. They were riding at 190 above, the mirrors showed nothing but speed lines. They were turning from each shortcut lane to another. And Tora was beginning to feel funny. Niwatori. On the other side, was enjoying the ride like how a kid would enjoy a roller coaster.
Shortly after, they've arrived at Niwatori's mansion. The golden gates opened with a scan of 's license as they began to head in, there was a huge garden for visitors to enjoy the view of the golf course and a majestic royal fountain passed down by the Niwatori family line. It was marked with golden trims of complicated flower designs.
: Okie girlz, we here
Niwatori: Yippy! Thanks
Niwatori: Let's go inside Tora...Tora?
Tora: Grrrrrhhhhhnnnn...
Tora showed a pale green face like she was going to explode at any moment. She immediately opened the door before the peak of her release and expelled a huge amount of booze, as well as her cup ramen breakfast. Thus, making the beautiful floor of tiles filled with vomit.
Luckily, they were not inside or it would've gotten even worse.
: O Mai GOD!
Niwatori: Tora-san! Are you okay (gently stokes her back to ease the vomit)
Tora: *gives an okay sign*
Niwatori: You don't seem like it!
Tora: *continues to give an okay sign with snot dripping down her nostrills*
Niwatori: Ermm...are you sure?
Tora: Y-Yes...*blarrrrkkkkk*
Niwatori: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Tora vomits all over Niwatori :)
The agents carried the sick Tora up to a couch and Niwatori heads up to her room to clean up the mess that was all around her.
She changed into a plain white T-shirt with a pair of orange/green shorts.
Niwatori: Ah~ I feel much better now
Saw Tora sleeping on the couch like a cute baby tiger.
Niwatori: (giggles) you're awfully cute for a warrior of the tiger huh...
She peeks in closer, she could feel Tora's breath in all her pores. It surely stinks like booze, but she was okay with it.
Niwatori gently tidies up the loose bangs on Tora's face and gave her a motherly smile.
Suddenly, Tora opened up her eyes.
Their faces were close to each other and they could feel the rhythm of each other's breathing. They both began to blush heavily, as their eyes locked in without a need to blink.
Tora: ...Niwatori? (blush)
Niwatori immediately pulled away to change the subject. Her index fingers were subtly touching each other.
Niwatori: O-Oh Tora-san...h-how are you feeling?
Tora: I-I'm a lot better now...thanks to you Niwatori
Tora said as she gently bites her lip. She was avoiding eye contact because she doesn't want Niwatori to see her blushing look.
Tora: (Why am I feeling like this...you need to calm down Tora...you're strong, you can overcome this...)
Tora: *takes a deep breath to calm herself*
Niwatori: So...let's start discussing about the coffee business ^^
Tora: *explodes with a red face* Y-Yes!
Niwatori: Tora-san, do you have a fever? you're face...
Niwatori gently placed her hand above Tora's forehead. Her hands felt warm and it gave her a tingling sensation inside.
Tora: Hahahaha...I'm okay. I just feel abit hot because of the weather
Tora gently grabbed her hand to assure her that it's not a big deal. She was unaware and continued to hold it.
Niwatori: Okay well, let me share with you the details
Niwatori: Erm Tora-san, my hand...
Tora: Eh!...Oh sorry, I must have drank too much hahahaha
She lets go of her hand. She was holding it tightly the whole time and she did felt abit of resentment before letting it go.
Niwatori: Well then, let's start~ ^^
The girls began to dive in on their coffee project business. The both were very anxious about it and can't seem to stop sharing their ideas to each other. Tora was quite surprised that Niwatori loved coffee as well, for they have not known each other for long. But even so, they shared a common dream of opening a coffee shop. And their friendship began to grow stronger and stronger over this.
Tora: Hihi~ this is Tora
Tora: I want to congratulate you for reading this story, and I hope that you would read the rest of it as well. FOR NOW AND FOREVER!
Tora: Oops sorry...I got a little excited...
Tora: Hmm...I think I should drink some sake or red wine perhaps? What do you think?
Tora: *Ahem* anyways...do stay tuned for more of me and Niwatori. For it is the story that foretells the legends of a phoenix and a tiger!
Tora: EVERYBODY, CLAP YOUR HANDS!
~I hope you all enjoy this part of the story, have a great day and safe blessings~
Tora: How is it? How is it? I sound cool right? Please tell me I sound cool saying that phrase. I've practiced it over a thousand times already!