March 18, 2018
Today was… not what I expected. It was normal most of the time until few minutes after lunch. My new host, Kurusu is really nice and really knows how to cook. My other housemates are nice over all… But they are… how to put it nicely?
Mikey stops writing on his journal when his human roommate shifted. He sighed and continued.
They are the reason why the rest of the day was insane. At least they are not going to eat me… I am not sure about the Arachne though. As far as I know, we can get along, but I don't like how the arachnid and the dullahan were looking at me… it makes me nervous. Going to another host in general made me PARANOID!
But it was a choice that I made and they knew I would me nervous about this. That's why I am writing in this JOURNAL and not DIARY to calm myself down a bit. This was Manako's idea. Now if someone ever finds this and reads this I don't want to start with an over used cliche. But this is one I cannot avoid. So I'll start it like this; I was in a van with my "host" before Kurusu…
"You sure about this Mikey?" Smith asked while looking down at Mikey, who was sitting next to her.
Mikey looked up at her, folded his ears backwards and nodded. "Y-Y-Yes." He said timidly.
"I don't know man. The girls do tend to get rough." Zombina reminded, hiding her gigantic smile.
"And carless." Doppel added.
"Like the harpy with how childlike she is."
"With her sharp talons and all."
"The slime's tendency to nearly drown people."
"Oh and don't get me STARTED on the arachnid."
"Stop it! You're scaring him." Manako commanded.
The mono-eye look at the mouse person who was now in a tight ball rocking back and forth.
"I'm sure it'll be fine Miley." Manako said trying to comfort him.
"Don't worry Mikey! Everything will be ok!" Tionishia exclaimed, pressing Mikey's small body against her cheek.
Mikey took a deep breath and loosened up. "I-I-I'm better kno-argh." Tionishia pressed on him harder making him stop breathing.
Mikey instinctively grabbed her cheek and squeezed as hard as he could. It acted like a pinch for Tio sense compared to her, to almost anyone really, Mikey is like a doll.
"Oh! I'm sorry!" Tionishia apologized as she held him in her cupped hands.
Mikey gave the thumbs up as he finally regained his breath.
Mikey Blacktail is, as you would've guessed it, a mouse/human hybrid of 18 years of age; a Mouse Person, wearing a black shirt, and green shorts. His black hair was long to cover the sides of his head, a small hole on the shorts was made to slip his black fur tail, and the mouse ears on top of his head, constantly twitching. He is bare foot for two reasons.
Reason #1: Any shoes that fit him are made of plastic and VERY uncomfortable.
Reason #2: He was never a fan of covering his feet sense he spent most of his life bare foot.
No one knows how his species came to be but it is known that they are very shy and paranoid, always moving and never still. As the name implies, they are basically small humans with some mouse like features consisting of a relatively long and thin tail covered in fur, buck teeth that are perfect for chewing, and of course mouse ears on top of their heads.
Everything else is surprisingly human like.
Of course, like other liminals, there are sub species like the Jumping Mouse People primarily living in deserts, and the cousin species, the Rat People who are, obviously, larger and stronger. Some people could argue that the Jumping Mouse people are the original species, but there is no real proof to confirm that. All that is known is that they exist.
Mikey Blacktail is also few of his kind that took part on the Cultural Exchange Program.
"We are here." The driver said as he stopped the van.
Mikey sat up rather quickly and started to twirl his tail nervously. "I-I think I don't w-want to do this a-anymore." He stuttered.
"Don't worry little guy…" Smith smiles. "I promise you everything will be just fine."
Mikey looked at the other liminals and they all shrugged their shoulders.
Smith placed a cupped hand in front of Tio's and Mikey jumped in. As the doors opened, Zombina handed Mikey suitcase that the government made along with some clothe, which some may or may not be switched to Barbie doll clothing.
Smith walked up to the door and knocked on it. "Coming!" A man's voice called.
The mouse person's heart started pounding even faster, at a rate that could kill him if his body wasn't build for such thing.
The door opened to a tall man. Messy black hair, brown eyes, a white shirt, grey sweat pants, and a heavily bruised face.
"Ms. Smith. Nice to see you again." the man said, who may or may not be lying.
"Likewise 'Darling" Smith greeted, adjusting her sunglasses. "His name is Mickey Blacktail. He's the one I talked about earlier."
Mikey looked up at Kurusu who looked down on him. The man gave a reassuring smile that calmed Mikey down.
"Um… nice to meet you!" Mikey said, loud enough for his new host to hear.
"Nice to meet you too." He responded.
"I am serious about this one Kurusu. If something bad would to happen to him, you will be in big trouble." Smith said in a serious tone.
After we greeted, I jumped into Kurusu's hand and made our way inside. I didn't know what to expect when I came in, but I did know that there was no turning back. Kurusu would then call out to the other liminals to do some more introductions. My heart almost bursted out of my chest when the others came to the living room. True, I lived among the likes of Tionishia and Zombina for around a year, but I adapted myself to them. But this is a whole new experience for me. I had to learn how to adapt to SEVEN different liminals and FAST! I was freaking out.
The bigger liminals looked down at the Mouse Person, each having different thoughts and expressions.
The first one to speak up was the centauride. "Greetings small one, I am Centorea Shianus. It is a pleasure to meet you."
Next was the mermaid. "How delightful. My name is Meroune Lorelei Du Neptune."
Mikey's anxiety has temporarily stopped and was changed with confusion; his small brain trying to process the name.
"Oh but please, just Meroune is fine."
The harpy, SOMEHOW, snuck and popped right in front of Mikey, making him instinctively jump back and almost fall from Kurusu's hand. Lucky for him, his host maneuvered his hand for that to not happen.
"I am Parpy the Hapi! Or was it Hapi the Parpy? No it was Carpy the Marpy… I live here!" She cheered.
Now bearing a blank expression, he looked up at Kurusu who had the same face.
"She is Papi the Harpy."
"And Suu!" The soft spoken slime added.
The Mouse Person blinked at her presences. She smiled at him, and he nervously smiled back.
Everything went better than I expected… until I saw the last three.
Mikey then felt the dark aura surrounding the other remaining three… especially the lamia. The human/snake hybrid then slithered to him and bend over to face him and narrowed her eyes.
"You are not here to steal my Darling from me are you?" She hissed.
Mikey frantically shook his head in fear.
The Lamia hummed, and slithered away. "I got my eyes on you." She said before disappearing into another room.
Next was the Arachne, who touched her chin with her claws with… curiosity?
"Such a small creature. So… underwhelming." Was all she said before making her leave.
Mikey let out a HUGE sigh of relief, and held his breath to look at the dullahan… All she did was shake her head and leave as well.
"Th-th-that was… um… weird." Mikey mumbled.
"Don't mind them. They are nice people once you get to meet them." Kurusu reassured, walking to the living room table and setting the Mouse Person down.
I took a few seconds to contemplate how big the lounge room was. Defiantly bigger than MON Squad's place sense this is a house of eight… well now it is a house of nine. After setting me down on the table, there was this awful smell that was KILLING my nose. Kurusu took action and ran out to what I would soon learn to be the kitchen; leaving me with the four that greeted me in the entrance.
Mikey couldn't stop coughing and gagging, worrying the centaur.
"Let me aid you." She said. In a fast manner, she scooped Mikey and opened the nearest window.
The mouse person gasped the cleaner air. "Th-thank you."
"No worries my small friend. It is the job of a knight to serve and protect the innocent." She said.
"I am sorry to interrupt, but I am afraid we missed your name." Meroune commented while making her way to them.
"O-oh right. M-my name is Mikey, Mikey Blacktail."
"Ricky Cocktail?" Papi said to herself.
"Mikey Blacktail." Centaurea repeated.
"Mikey Laketail?"
"BLACK. TAIL." Meroune said slowly.
After a few seconds of thinking, the Harpy lit up like a candle. "Mikey Blacktail!" She exclaimed.
Papi then turned around and took her (in)famous three steps.
"…What am I doing here again?"
Everyone sweat dropped, including Suu.
After the horrible smell disappeared, which I learned it was the Miia's cooking, Kurusu took me around the house for a tour.
"And this is the kitchen and dining room." Kurusu said.
Mikey would think it was a nice kitchen, if it wasn't still slightly covered in purple ooze.
"S-so this is w-where the smell came from?" He stuttered.
"Yes." Kurusu said grimly.
After that we moved upstairs to see the rooms of my housemates. Centaurea's room was styled like a traditional Japanese room with the tatami mats and decorated with her swords and armor. Papi's and Suu's room looked colorful, a kiddie pool worked as Suu's 'bed'. Miia's room was a regular room and Meroune's room was a big salt water pool, so I have been told. Then Kurusu took me to his room, where he thought it would be best for me to sleep in the window. I agreed to that.
Then we came to the end of the hall and looked up to the small string hanging from it.
"This is the attic. Rachnera lives there." The host explained.
The Mouse Person nodded his head.
Then they headed back down to the living room where Papi and Suu were watching some random anime about a world where almost everyone is/wants to be a pirate in search a treasure.
"Oh my god. They still air that?" Mikey asked no one in particular.
"Do you know it?" Kurusu asked.
"I watched it several times before, but I thought they were done with that." Mikey answered.
And what a show it was. Kurusu placed me down, next to Papi to watch it together, and went to run a quick errand. Once the show was over, I was at the mercy of a hyper active Harpy, and a Slime that might have known better than to hug me straight away.
I have been told that Suu was a hugger like Tio, but a different kind of hugger.
"Let's play a game!" Papi exclaimed. In a blur of blue feathers, Papi went to the TV grabbed two remotes, one blue the other red, and handed one to Mikey, who gently placed it on the couch.
"Um… w-what game are we going t-to play?" he asked.
Papi thought for a moment. "A car race game! Race race race!" She said.
She then turned on what was the Nintendo Switch, waited for it to be fully functional, and picked a game that was already in the console, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
"Um… I don't think I can reach all the buttons all to well." Mikey commented.
"Huh?… Tail." Suu said, pointing at the black fur covered tail.
Mikey looked at it, making it sway back and forth.
"My tail is half my body length." He thought.
The Mouse Person then looked at the harpy who was already picking a track.
"O-ok. I'll do my best."
And we played for almost a two hours. For forgetting everything in three steps, Papi knew almost every shortcut, every power-up and what it does, and even some miner GLITCHES that could've helped me with Rainbow Road. And being in the size that I am, I had to juggle through jumping, drifting, steering, using the power-ups, all while keeping my tail pressing the 'GO' button. I did a lot of running when I was younger, but this was EXHAUSTED!
"Again! Again!" Papi exclaimed, after winning her 100th race.
The Mouse Person groaned and flopped backwards to the couch.
"You don't want to play anymore?" Papi asked, looking down at him.
"No thank you. I'm finished with games for the day… maybe done for the rest of the week." Mikey panted.
"Well, it looks like you are having fun." A voice said.
The three turned around to see the Arachne looking down at them.
Mikey did a hard gulp and twiddled his tail. "Um… a bit yeah."
The Arachne smirked. "I can see that. Please excuse me for my behavior earlier. I am Rachnera Arachnera." She greeted.
"M-M-M-Mikey B-Blacktail."
"Nice to meet you. I came here to tell you that lunch is ready."
Hearing that news, Papi gave a loud, "YAY!", grabbed the bucket that Suu was on this whole time and into the kitchen, leaving Mikey and Rachnera alone.
We stood there for what felt like an eternity. Of course until Rachnera spoke up.
"Do I take you there?" She asked
Mikey started to shake. "I-I-I I um… uh…"
Rachnera shook her head. "If you want you can walk there. I am not forcing you." She said before making her leave.
"Wait!" Mikey shouted.
The Arachne stopped and turned around to face him.
"I-I would l-l-like some h-h-help." He shuddered.
Rachnera made her way closer to him and lowered her clawed hand and open it.
Seeing those claws made Mikey VERY uncomfortable. He gulped, and managed to get enough courage to climb on.
I didn't know how to feel. Rachnera just picked me up, I grabbed onto one of her claws to not fall or anything like that, and then she set me down on the table. She seemed nice, not like what I have heard about OTHER Arachnids. Though I knew better than to bring that up. My paranoia still didn't go away though.
"Mikey," Kurusu started. "what do you usually eat?"
"I um… Almost anything really. I rarely eat meat though." The mouse person responded.
"Anything in specific?"
Mikey shook his head.
The host of the now larger family nodded his head and went to work on the kitchen.
In the table, the following happen.
Miia was daydreaming, Papi and Suu were eager to eat, Centorea, Rachnera, and Meroune waited patiently, and the dullahan had her head appear right next to Mikey, which scared him.
"I apologize for frightening you in such way." she apologized.
"Apology a-accepted." Mikey said.
"I don't think we greeted each other properly. I am…"
"Her name is Lala." Centaurea interrupted.
The dullahan puffed her cheeks. "How dare you interrupt my introductions?"
"How dare YOU try and scare our new home-stay?" Centaurea asked back.
The body flinched while the head looked away. "It is the truth." She mumbled.
After a few more minutes, Kurusu came back with two plates on each and hand and gave them to their designated liminal. After repeating this several times, Mikey perked up when he saw his plate. Sure, to everyone else it was just a bundle of fancy cut fruit… and it was just that. But it is something that can comfort him ever so slightly.
I dug in. It was just a few strawberries, blueberries, apple and raspberries, but fruits are part of my diet for a reason you know. For a few minutes, the only noise was Miia praising Kurusu's cooking and Papi gobbling her food. But then came in the curiosity of the others.
"Excuse me Mikey," Centaurea started. "but who was your host prier to this house?"
Mikey gulped down the food he had before answering. "I was with S-Smith and the M-MON Squad for a while."
Everyone was surprised.
"Really? Ms. Smith tended you like a responsible host should?" Rachnera asked, sort of grunting the last part a bit.
Mikey hesitated to respond. "Not really. I spent most of my time with Tionishia and Manako."
"Interesting. If you don't mind me asking. Where are you from?" Meroune questioned.
Mikey stopped eating and looked at the mermaid. "I don't know. Like most Mouse People, my parents and I just keep moving. I have been told that I was born in France, but spent most of my time growing up in the forests of Norway."
"France? The country of love?" Miia asked excitingly.
The Mouse Person nodded his head.
Miia then smiled and stared at the ceiling, imagining her and her 'Darling' contemplating the sunset on top of the Eiffel Tower and leaning in for a kiss.
"Norway? Are you fluent with Norwegian?" Lala asked.
Mikey shook a bit. "Um… Jeg antar jeg er." He said with a small chuckle.
(A/N: Yes, I used Google Translate for that. I am sorry if it wasn't accurate to what it was meant to say, which was 'I guess I am.' Please, excuse my ignorance and enjoy the rest of this chapter.)
His housemates started plainly at him.
"I said 'I guess I am.'" Mikey explained.
"Interesting. How did you make your way to Japan then? It is a long way from Norway to here you know." Kurusu commented.
Mikey nodded his head in agreement. "Long it was. I came across an agent like Smith back in Norway. We talked for a while and offered me a place in the Exchange Program. I agreed to it."
"It is rare for your species to come out of hiding. Especially back in the old days where you were a food source for many." Lala commented.
The Mouse Person took several deep breathes after hearing that.
A food source we still are. I remember the many, MANY close calls I had with cats, dogs, and had to run for being to close to some bird nests. I didn't make a comment on that and finished my food. After that, I convinced them that I could maneuver the house on my own. Even though I would feel a MILLION times safer around Kurusu, being lazy is one thing I don't want to be. I lived in Norway, lived with MON for almost a year, how hard is it maneuvering a house with eight bigger creatures?
Making his way down a flight of stairs with a ramp to it's side, Mikey was sort of regretting going down there. But he kept moving forward… even though his very shaky legs made it almost impossible. Finally making it to the bottom, he was confronted with a sliding door. Lucky for him, it was slightly open. Squeezing his body through the small opening, he went in the large room with the salt water pool Kurusu mentioned earlier.
"Wow. This place is bigger than I thought." He said to himself.
"It is isn't it?" A voice said.
Mikey jumped about two feet, (for someone his size that is a lot) and knelt down, butt facing skyward.
"I'm sorry for coming in without permission!" He shouted.
"No need for an apology Mikey."
The Mouse Person looked up to see Meroune's head peeping out of the pool.
"What brings you here, Mikey?" She asked.
"I was um, just exploring." He confessed.
The mermaid nodded her head. "Mikey, do you feel comfortable in this house hold?"
"What do you mean?"
"Pardon me, let me rephrase. Do you feel comfortable around us? Miia, Centorea, me?"
Mikey looked away and blushed out of embarrassment. "I-I mean, it's still my first day here, s-so I can't say."
"Understandable."
"Why do you ask? I-If you want t-to answer of c-course."
Meroune then upped herself to where she had her head rest on her arms.
"It's just that I have no real knowledge of land creatures. I once mistook Rachnera for a crab when I first arrived here. And well, I noticed that you never stopped shaking, even when you where eating."
Hearing her worried voice made me remember my time with MON, especially with Tio and Manako. They worried for me sense I first saw arrived with them and I know they still do. And plus, I won't gain anything from lying, not that I could either. So I told her the truth.
"My species is small, weak, and are cowards. I am no exception. The first thing I learned was to keep moving no matter what. We lived in constant fear, and when I had to leave the 'family group' that fear turned to paranoia. I had too many close calls with cats and almost fell several times. I got tired of that life, so I met an agent and he got me a spot in the Exchange Program."
After finishing his little backstory, Meroune placed her hand on her chin. "And is it working?"
Mickey gave a small chuckle. "Not really."
The mermaid hummed and smiled. "Well, I hope that we can both get along." She said.
Mickey looked and smiled with a small blush. "I-I hope s-so too."
"Another odd question, if you don't mind answering. Do you know the whereabouts of your parents?"
I froze to her question. I know she doesn't mean harm, and I knew I was going to away from them one way or another, but the thought of me never seeing them again was… heart wrenching.
"I d-don't know." The mouse person mumbled.
"I am sorry for asking. I didn't know it would effect you." Meroune apologized.
"Nononono. I'm fine, I swear." Mikey lied.
After a few seconds of silence, the mermaid spoke once again.
"Do you swim?"
The Mouse Person looked at her and nodded. "Y-Yes."
"If you'd like, you can 'take a dip' here to relax. I now it helps me to relax."
Mikey quickly turned away to hide his blush.
"Th-thanks f-f-for the offer." He said quickly and went made his way back up stairs.
Leaving the mermaid alone, she returned to the pool and started to think.
"He doesn't know where his parents are… oh the tragedy!" She exclaimed, imagining being in the same situation where Kurusu was the only one that gave her comfort for him to only die at the very end…
It was probably rude of me to leave like that, but it was by complete instinct. After making my way up the stairs again, I walked to the hall planning to go up the other stairs, a pink scaled tail stopped me.
"Oh no." Mickey thought.
The Mouse Person followed the long body to finally meet the Miia's, oddly glowing red eyes?
"Um… hello." He greeted.
Before he could react, Miia wrapped her tail around Mikey, scaring him half to death, and slithered to her room.
I did not know what to do. I thought sense she was part snake, Miia would eat me whole. That wasn't the case, though the reason why she dragged me to her room was… interesting.
The lights were off at Miia's room, so Mikey didn't know where to go. He knew that he was in her bed at least.
"Are you sure you are not here to steal MY Darling from me?" Miia's voice asked.
"Y-Yes!" Mikey exclaimed.
"Good, because… I need your help."
Out of nowhere, there was on light shining down at Miia, who was now wearing military uniform, and a white board with the pictures of the others.
Mikey sat there all confused. "Help for what?"
"To make Darling fall in love with me!" Miia shouted and slammed a horse crop at the board.
"Here's the situation. We know that Papi and Suu are in love with him as well, but they don't do show it so often… and they look more interested in playing video games. Lala is still unknown. BUT, our main priorities are these three."
The Lamia the pointed at the "enemy".Rachnera, Meroune, and Centaurea.
The Mouse Person raised his hand.
"What's your question soldier!?" Miia shouted, making Mikey jump back.
"How and why am I part of this?"
Miia chuckled with a smile. "A good question that deserves a good answer."
Suddenly, she flipped the board to see what was behind it. It was a drawing of the house, with pictures of everyone, including Mikey somehow, in their rooms.
"With your small size, you can easily spy on the others. I want you to spy one these three and bring me information on their plans for my Darling ." Miia explained.
"Permission to ask a question!" Mikey shouted.
"Granted."
"What if I refuse?"
The Lamia looked at the Mouse Person with deadly eyes.
"If you refuse…" She started. "I will make sure that rachnera has her way with you. And let me just say… you may not survive."
The simple thought of being tangled in a spider's web frightened Mikey. And that is with just a regular spider!
"I'll do my best… SIR!" Mikey saluted.
"What I like to hear. Take your rest. You start tomorrow at first hour."
And with that in mind, she turned off her lights, she was back to her normal clothing, and pushed me out of her room with her tail. I was more confused than afraid. By then it was getting dark and Kurusu called everyone down for dinner.
At the foot of the table, Mikey looked at it with amusement. "You can climb this." he said.
He grabbed the edges of the table leg and propelled himself upward. Reaching the top, he jumped on the table with ease.
"Easy." He said while "dusting" himself off.
"I can see that."
The Mouse Person jumped and got to a protective stance at the voice's owner.
"Such a scaredy cat you are… or rather scared mouse." Rachnera commented with a grin.
Once again making himself look smaller, he looked at the Arachne and asked. "Y-You saw th-that?"
Rachnera nodded her head. "As I was walking in, yes."
"Oh…"
A few seconds of silence later Rachnera brought something up.
"I overheard what you agreed to do in MIia's room."
Mikey froze. "Oh that! W-Well you see um… I uh…"
"Save your excuses." She started. "You don't have to worry much about me. You are far too small for my needs either way."
That statement confused him for a moment until he got what she meant.
"Oh…"
"And I doubt you can get to my room without any help anyway." She added.
And that was the second time I talked to her. At this point I was convinced that we can get along as long as I don't press the wrong buttons. At dinner I was asked a few more questions like how long was I with MON, and how I like it so far. Kurusu would surprise me, and Centaurea, with a bowl of vegetable soup. God damn was that good.
And for the last time, I like it here so far. Sure I have to find my way around Miia and her "O.M.D.F.I.L.W.M." Also known as:
Operation
Make
Darling
Fall
In
Love
With
Me
Long name for an operation if you ask… anyone. So yeah, I Mikey Blacktail is now part of this family until… something happens. I just hope nothing goes wrong.
Mikey Blacktail then closed his JOURNAL and placed in on his side. He shifted on the extra kitchen mitten Kurusu found and got comfortable before falling asleep.
Let me just say that... yes, a Mouse Person. I wanted this character be the always scared to later be less scared. I know that some people won't like the name Mikey, and I can see why. But I am no good with names so it stays. I have no idea where this story is going, even though I have a few scenarios already in my head.
Now the Journal. This is experimental. I didn't want to do a first person POV story because I am no good with it. So I decided to go to "The Main Character Narrates part of the story while the events that are happening are told in the third person" way.
Either way, I hope I pleased some of you and that I didn't trigger any Norwegians with me using Google Translate.
See you next time in 'Everyday Life in a Big World'!