Author's notes.

So here's another, in case you wanted more. When I first started it was just an idea, and I was hoping this idea wouldn't simply implode under the sheer size of the world Fujino Omori had made. There is so much detail here that I'm not sure how much I should describe without things getting out of hand. I know many (if anyone?) readers are going to come to this fanfic having at least watched some of the anime, while others have read some of the books. So how much is too much detail?

Anyhow. Lets see how our poor not yet adventurer gets along with their new friends, despite being unable to read, write or speak the local language.

Chapter 3, Money talks.

We were all smiles for a moment after the round of introductions. I seemed to be welcomed into Mama's home, and her acceptance seemed to be all the others needed.

That moment lasted until my stomach decided to make itself known. For all I knew, this really was just a body made from cosmic dust, and this would be its first meal ever. I frowned, considering that, and hating that I really knew nothing about my new situation.

Nothing except, I was hungry.

Mia chuckled, Arnya laughed, and Syr ducked back into the kitchen. With a wave they directed me to sit down and an empty table. Food and drink was brought out a few minutes later, enough for at least four.

By no means a feast, it was a far FAR cry from my old life... Only a few hours ago. Ready made meals and not quite fast food where what I lived on previously, but I'm pretty sure microwaves weren't even a notion in this world. Two loaves of sliced bread, plates of shredded meat, some cheese and cut up tomato were placed on the table, as well as big wooden mugs of... I wasn't sure.

After Arnya sat down and started constructing a sandwich I took the hint and made one for myself. There was some banter back and forth, between Syr, Arnya and Chloe. It was hard to mistake friendship when one sees it. Even my tail seemed to be happy with the atmosphere, as I had to think about stopping it from waving back and forth. While I couldn't understand them at all, the lack of conversation coming my way didn't make me feel excluded.

Not that I wasn't paying attention to other things while we ate. Ryuu had stepped out just after the table had been set, Mama was casually cleaning the bar top and engaging the lone customer who came in. The streets outside the window were busy with people going back and forth going about their day. Most of them wore plain but well made clothing. The mercenaries? Seemed to be a normal thing as well. Chatting with others like themselves, passing by the common people without incident. Curious...

I wanted to ask a question so badly right now. Were they militia? What is going on that there would be so many?

Asking 'where am I' and 'what year is it' seemed pointless to worry about. Magic and different humanoid races existed, telling me this just wasn't Earth. Here and now were what I wanted so badly to ask about. All I had was a name I made up, a single borrowed uniform and a place to work. At least, I was assuming I'd be working here. My treatment so far hinted at kindness being free, but charity not so much.

After I finished the drink of... I wasn't sure what it was honestly. Sweet, a little bitter, and mildly alcoholic. I stood and gave my belly a pat to signal the still eating cat girls that yes it was good, but I was done. I started collecting empty dishes. I got an approving look from Mia, who said something to the other three, making them re-double their efforts to clean their plates.

I suppose washing dishes was the same no matter what era you were in. Dirty dish in, clean dish out. Chloe was apparently on drying duty who handed them to Syr to put them away on sturdy wooden shelves.

During this time, I wondered how this city, without electricity, managed to have running water. I considered 'magic' as the answer, but it seemed impractical. More questions, no answers.

I nearly dropped the plate in my hand when something brushed my tail. I'm sure I made some noise too, but with the feeling of my nerves locking up from the base of my spine to the top of my head I wasn't sure. I turned around faster than I intended to face my attacker, my tail seeming to seek shelter by wrapping itself around my hip and into my free hand.

Arnya was there, looking momentarily surprised but she stuck her tongue out of the corner of her mouth and scratched the back of her head a moment later. I made what I hoped was a grumpy face at her, and she replied by pointing through the inner window that looked out from the kitchen to the common room.

A new face was there. Standing just in front of Ryuu, and talking to Mia was another young woman. Brown hair, green eyes, pointed ears, slim figure and dressed in a uniform of smoke gray with white sleeves. Had I met some one like this back home, I'd have thought banker, or perhaps corporate lady. She adjusted her half rimmed glasses on her nose as she spoke to Mia, then turned to look at me after Mia pointed in my direction.

Local authority? I thought to my self as I dried my hands, gave one of Arnya's pointed ears a pat and walked past her into the common room. I ignored Arnya's noise of indignation and stood just out of arms reach of Mia and the newcomer.

She gave me the same 'point to self' introduction I'd gotten from the others, saying "Eina Tulle." while I gave her my new name, "Kodori."

We sat down and what followed must have frustrated Eina to no end. She tried several languages, at least four, and I understood nothing but that they were questions. She took a piece of paper from a pocket, with four different types of script on it, and I could understand none of it. I did note that the first line had matching letters to the signs around the shop. A strange combination of lines and curves. I also noted now that I looked, that there was a sort of V symbol next to the things written next to each entry on what I assumed was the menu board and chalk board stand just out side the door. Money maybe?

Aha... Something to hook my mind onto.

Inspired, I put my finger on the corner of the paper, shaped my hand as if to hold a pen and looked around. Eina perked up at this possible avenue of progress and put a pen on the table. I noted it was not a quill, but a fountain pen. More out of era things, I mused to myself as I held it, and wrote on the paper.

First, I wrote in block letters, my name. I.

This got no response, and Eina and I shared near identical sighs.

We shared a look at each other and smiled.

She then stood and said something to Mia, putting the paper and pen back in her pocket, before turning and leaving, sketching a bow to the room before stepping out.

I looked at the menu board again, thoughtful. Mia must have mistaken the look on my face for something else, because she put one of her big hands comfortingly on my shoulder. I looked up, smile on my face, and got to my feet. I now had a start to understanding the language of this new world.

Inspired, I made the same 'need a pen' motion and went behind the bar Mia managed, to the register. I noted, but didn't think too much on exactly how much it looked like an old fashioned cash register, as I looked for and found the latch to open it. Quickly, before anyone could complain, though I think they realized I was on to something, and didn't bother stopping me, I scooped out a handful of the small coins inside and put them on the bar top.

A pen and bit of paper was put next to me, and I started manipulating the coins. Mia stood beside me and watched as I did so.

The numbers... They were nearly identical to what I knew back home. Now that I looked at the currency, I sorted them into denominations. 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500... I split up the money into piles and wrote my version of the number beside them. Mia wrote hers in return. We went back in forth for a minute or two, before I went back to the top of the page and spoke. "One."

She replied with a smile, "One."

I had to stop myself from doing a dance on the spot. Progress. An ANSWER, to something. I looked up to Mia, then to the door at the first customer of what I assumed was going to be the evening rush. Quickly, I piled the coins into the middle of the page, drew a circle around it, and wrote that strange V next to it. "Money."

She smiled again, scooping up the coins and sorting them back into the cash box expertly, "Valis."

After the dinner crowd of random looking mercenaries had come and gone, and cleanup was over with, Mia and the rest closed up the front door and started turning the chairs and stools up side down and putting them on the tables. I was handed a broom, and with a nod I started sweeping. Progress. I still didn't understand any words. But numbers... A universal language, no matter what universe you were in.

I started yawning, not long afterward, though the rest of them seemed to be going strong. As the list of work to do shortened, the girls started leaving. Eventually it was just Mia, Ryuu and I. Mia dimmed the lights some how, I think by brushing the side of the crystal inside the lamp cover, and said something to Ryuu, then she called my name and started up the stairs.

I was led to the door next to the bathroom, and without pausing she opened the door, and waved me inside. A bed, a wardrobe, washbasin and mirror were the only furnishings. Not that I could complain. My body, now idle, was telling me that I could have slept on rocks and roots for all it cared.

Mia put a hand on the small of my back and gave me a little push into the room. Taking a step in, I felt...

It was odd. Less than a day ago, I was a middle aged factory wage slave who, while bored with his life, had stability. Stagnant, but stable. In the span of that not quite day, I had gone from having nothing but the fur on my tail, to having a home. Despite everything being so bizarre. Sure I couldn't speak or read the language, but a single act of kindness had replaced everything I had 'lost' with me ending up on this world. Out of everything that had gone wrong, this was the only thing that needed to go right.

I turned around to face Mia who had just started to turn away, and on impulse gave her a hug. I hoped she wouldn't take offense but this was the only way I could think of to show her how thankful I was.

He response was a gentle pat on my head, followed by gently prying me off of her.

She entered a room as well, and I returned to mine, closing the door behind me. The bed was filled with feathers, and smelled faintly of the outdoors. Hung to dry? My history lessons on Canadian Frontier living shuffled through my mind as I undressed and hung my uniform in the wardrobe.

I felt a moment of awkwardness as I undid the ribbon around my breasts, feeling like I could finally take a proper breath again and shiver as the cooler night air touched my skin.

Nope, still not going to bother a woman about her clothing ever again.

Notes

Still here? Thank you for sticking with it. I hope the 'silent movie' isn't wearing on you too much. Don't worry. Now that I've gotten 'day one' done with, I'm going to be accelerating the time a little, switching to more of a 'highlight' reel as our hero(?) gets used to the new world, and get into the story proper. Chapter length will increase as well.

Till next time.