A new day had started for many in the world, but it would be the last day for one particular person. This person was neither evil or bad. He was kind hearted, loving, and loyal. He had his flaws, his good and bad tendencies, but he was perfect in his own way. Despite all these characteristics, he wasn't even human. His name, was Skinny.
Keitaro woke up to the sun beginning it's journey into the sky. He watched the sky slowly change from a dark blue to a purplish orange while he slowly stroked Skinny's fur. The whole night Skinny didn't make a move in Keitaro's lap. For Keitaro, all night long he sat on his bed with his tiny friend, never sleeping himself. As Keitaro remained entranced with the morning sun, Keitaro felt a stir in his lap. Skinny held Keitaro's thumb with one of his paws. Even in a dimly lit room filtered only by the crack of dawn's light, Skinny could see the tiredness on Keitaro's features. The same went for Keitaro, who could see the sad expression behind Skinny's furry face.
"Is it time Skinny", Keitaro sadly asked. "Is it time?"
Skinny shut his eyes and nodded once, "It's time Boss."
The two had talked about this day. Keitaro honestly thought he would be the one to leave. Now, the roles were reversed. He so badly wanted more time, just a little bit more. But if Skinny said it was time, then it was time.
Before even six o'clock, Keitaro had showered with Skinny, brushed his fur clean, changed the bandages around his waist and even had a small outfit prepared for his furry friend. With help of Shinobu and Kanako, a miniature replica of his military outfit was prepared for Skinny. It was complete with pockets, buttons, a beret, and a small hole for Skinny's tail to exit. As he combed out his fur and adjusted the tiny sleeves, Keitaro couldn't help bu notice the little details about Skinny. How soft his fur was, how short his size was, and how perfectly the outfit fit him.
Keitaro prepared a hardy meal of warm chicken, fresh fruit, and a piece of toast with peanut butter and jam for Skinny. As the little martin ate his breakfast, Keitaro dressed himself and left a note on his door, telling the rest of Hinata Sou and the ERT that he had already left with Skinny. After Skinny had finished, and the place was all tidy up, the day had started for Keitaro and Skinny.
The boy and his martin sat on the monorail waiting for it to stop at their first destination. Stopping at six thirty, they arrived at their first location, a track meet. It wasn't just any old race, it was where the Rainya Cheetahs were having a league meet. Greetings were passed back and forth with the coach, and some of the younger runners. However, they were there to watch the race. It was one of Skinny's last wishes, to see a track meet in person.
He didn't ask to see a baseball League game, or a World Cup soccer game, or even an NBA basketball game. Skinny wanted to see the Rainya Cheetahs race in a high school league meet, just because Keitaro was once a part of it. Seeing them all compete reminded Keitaro why it was so competitive. The adrenaline rush when you were on the track, the shouting from the coaches and team players for the other runners to keep going, and the fact that you remained on the edge of your seat waiting to see if your teammate was going to finish first, it brought back old memories indeed.
Keitaro leaned on the rail of the bleachers as he cheered and shouted for the Rainya Cheetahs. Skinny was just as enthusiastic as he sat on the rail and yelled for the runners to not give up. Looking at his tiny companion enjoy the race really delighted his heart. Then it began to hurt again. For Keitaro knew his time was ticking fast, and knowing by the end of the day that Skinny was going to be gone. It hurt Keitaro on the inside. Keitaro masked away his sadness from Skinny as he cheered for the team, rubbing the fur on Skinny's back.
Although the Rainya Cheetahs didn't win all their races, they finished strong with second place in the league meet as a team. An hour and a half passed by watching that race, and it was now a quarter to nine. The two found themselves surprisingly close to a holy shrine. Although they were never too big on fulfilling a spiritual side for themselves, they believed it was as good a time as ever to pay some respects.
Skinny and Keitaro purchased two wooden Emas before writing a wish on the back. After a quick bow of respect, the tiny plaques were left hanging on a small bamboo tree. It's often said that the higher you hang it, the better the chances are that your wish will be answered. The tree they chose was small and not that close to the sky, but hopefully the kami would receive them. Keitaro and Skinny never knew what they each wrote on his plaques, neither did they ask. Keitaro kinda hoped maybe a kami out there would body check the inevitable for Skinny to be on earth a little while longer. He let Skinny crawled on his shoulder, giving the tiny mammal a rest from walking.
Another event Skinny always wanted to try, was surfing. It was an odd request for a tree dwelling creature to ask, but it was a request Keitaro couldn't refuse. Keitaro never learned how to surf, let alone, barely know how to swim. After borrowing a surfboard, and taking to the ocean in some freshly bought swim trunks, it was off to the sea. as expected, things didn't go so well. The young man and furry mammal fell off over, and over again. During the fray, Keitaro was swallowed up by waves, slammed into sailboats, caught in a fishing net, and even pursued by a ravenous shark.
After about two hours, Keitaro drug the surfboard, which now had a huge bite mark in it, back to the beach. Skinny followed right behind his master. Needless to say, the surfing lessons didn't go so well. Anyone would've felt like a failure after poorly attempts like these. However, the small pine martin wasn't phased at all. In fact, he was laughing hysterically. Keitaro looked back to Skinny, just to be sure he wasn't going through some sort of mental break down. Skinny didn't look like he was breaking down. He legitimately looked happy. The laughing became contagious, for soon Keitaro was laughing out too. Their laughter died down to a few chuckles after quite some time.
"Man Boss, this was beyond hilariously great", Skinny told Keitaro.
"Yeah", He replied. "I don't remember having this much fun at the beach before."
"Yep. Kinda wished we had done this sooner", Said Skinny.
Keitaro paused mid sentence right there. It was a shame that this was the second, and last time Skinny had ever been to the beach, the first being the tea house at the beach that one time. That sharp pain in his chest, known as sadness, began to hurt again.
Keitaro asked Skinny, "What do you wanna do next Skinny?"
Skinny thought for a moment, "Hhhmmmm?...I have one idea, but it's kinda rough. You wanna try it?"
"Anything you want Skinny", Keitaro softly spoke. "Anything you want."
Keitaro would partially regret telling Skinny he could do whatever he wanted, for now Keitaro was pinned against a tree, avoiding automatic paintball fire.
"How you holding up out there Boss", Skinny called through a small commlink in Keitaro's ear.
"I'm pinned Skinny", Keitaro yelled. "I've got nowhere to run!"
"Where are you Boss?!"
"Uuum", Keitaro looked around. "I'm by some kinda tree house with a tire swing and a slide!"
"Okay Boss, listen closely! Look around, you should see a wooden tower somewhere in the distance! You see it?!"
After a quick survey, Keitaro found what Skinny was talking about.
"Yeah, it's about two hundred meters away from me!"
"Okay, run to it Boss! Just run to it!"
"Why, what are you gonna do", Keitaro asked not seeing the big picture yet.
"Don't worry Boss, just trust me", Skinny ordered his master for a change.
"Ok here gooooes!"
Keitaro ran as fast as his injured legs would carry him. Luckily he didn't need a crutch this time, but that still didn't mean his progress was any faster. People could be cruel, especially children. It seemed like everyone was after the guy in the cast. Like in any dramatic chase movie, or chase scene, Keitaro did the one thing everyone would be upset about, he tripped. As Keitaro tried to get back up, three paint-balls zoomed past his face and hit a tree.
"Wait-Wait-Wait-Wait! Hold fire! Hold fire!"
Approaching from the thicket of the forest were six other people. Each of them were armed, and wearing a blue vest. Looking down at his own chest, Keitaro was wearing a red vest. It was assigned to him when teams were randomly selected.
Keitato slowly raised his hands and whispered into his comlink, "Skinny? I need that plan...Now..."
"Game over Red, we win this match", Said one of the blue vested guys.
Luckily for Keitaro, Skinny made his move. From the tower, a rain of paint-balls showered upon their enemies.
"Ha, Suck It Blues", Skinny laughed.
Wearing the red vest in victory, Skinny used the gun like a turret to mow down his enemies. The gun eventually ran out of ammunition, and left a once blue, but now painted red squad.
"Did we win", Asked Skinny.
"I think you got 'em", Keitaro confirmed the overkill Skinny just performed.
After a well painted victory, Skinny and Keitaro grabbed a bite to eat at a small sushi bar. It wasn't anything formal, or fancy, rather just a quick meal so they didn't have to slow down their progress.
"Hey Boss, so what do we do with miso soup? Do we pour it on the stuff", Skinny questioned.
"You know, I'm not sure", Keitaro admitted. "I think we drink it."
Skinny watched as Keitaro made a fool of himself by downing the soup in one go. Skinny could not help but laugh as he now had a mustache of the soup on his upper lip. When Keitaro noticed the mustache he began to comb it with his chopsticks like a man combing his mustache with a tiny brush.
Joining in on the fun, Skinny used one of the chopsticks as a back scratcher. Keitaro was bellowing with laughter. This was another one of those aspects that made them such a pair. Being with someone who you could laugh and smile with, it was something more than just pet and master. It was the bond between Master and Partner. Their laughs slowly left them. Keitaro couldn't help but ruffle Skinny's fur again.
"Hey Boss, look it", Skinny pointed, "A sticker booth!"
Indeed it was. At around one o'clock, Keitaro and Skinny found themselves in downtown Tokyo. From all things they could have come across, it had to be a sticker booth. Keitaro once had a little obsession with personal sticker photos. It was one of the things few people around him ever knew, including Naru, and Skinny.
"Can we take a picture Boss", Skinny cheerfully asked.
"Of course we can", Keitaro agreed as they walked to the booth. "Man, I haven't been in one of these things in such a long time."
The booth was small, maybe big enough for only three people. The seat was worn out, and slightly ripping near edge. Keitaro had to wipe off the camera face, since it looked rather dirty. If this was going to be a photo, it was going to be a damn good one.
"Ok, smile", Keitaro told Skinny.
After a quick flash, and a small whine of the camera, it was done.
Before either of them could move, or even drop their smiles, a voice behind them whispered in Keitaro's ear, "You know a grown man like you shouldn't be taking pictures with his pet."
Keitaro and Skinny jumped and hit the opposite end of the booth with a thud. They didn't even feel the presence of a third party in the booth with them, let alone Keitaro never felt a gentle hand rest on his shoulder during the photo. After readjusting his glasses, EKitaro could see just who this third party was.
"Naru", Keitaro questioned once he saw who it was, "What are you doing out here?"
"I just had to run a few errands, and I saw you two taking a photo", Naru told them. "I hope you don't mind if I snuck into that one."
"No not at all", Skinny said as he took the quickly printed photo strip from the tray. "Look, it's perfect."
Keitaro showed them the sticker pictures. It was almost a complete copy of the first time Naru and Keitaro took a photo all those years ago. They were just older, wiser, and included Skinny in this one.
"This sure does bring back memories", Naru said.
"Yeah...It does", Keitaro nodded.
Skinny noticed how Keitaro and Naru seemed lost in their blast from the past memory.
After a pause Naru spoke up, "Well, I better get going. I'll see you later today, Keitaro?"
"Yeah", He old her. "I'll, I'll be home later tonight."
"Okay", Was all she said. "I'll see you later then."
Naru turned around and started for home. Skinny looked at Keitaro watching Naru walk away. From what he heard, they hadn't discussed what was going on, BETWEEN THEM. Keitaro probably didn't want to think about his relationship with Naru at the moment. However, Skinny was going to be gone soon, and he wanted to make sure he was going to be okay after he left.
Before she went too far Skinny shouted, "Naru! Come spend the day with us!"
This caught Naru completely off guard. She knew what was coming, and Keitaro had discussed that he wanted to spend the day with Skinny alone. It wasn't intended to brush her aside, it was just to spend as much time with Skinny as possible. Even so, Skinny wasn't about to let the whole day be just between them, it would only make it that much harder at the end of the day.
"C'mon Naru", Skinny said as he pulled her by the strap of her shoe, "I really want to spend some time with you too."
Skinny, wait", Naru satrted, but was haulted mid sentence by Skinny.
"No more waiting! I don't have any time to wait", Skinny stopped her right in front of Keitaro.
Skinny watched the two stare at one another. The lack of words only made it that much more awkward. Thankfully Skinny was there to act as the bridge between them.
"Boss, Naru, I know where I wanna go next!"
Naru knelt down by Skinny, and soon Keitaro was to follow.
"Are you sure you want me to tag along", Naru asked. "I don't want to be a third wheel."
"I want you here with me Naru", Skinny assured her. "Unless Keitaro doesn't want you around."
The girl and martion turned to Keitaro, hoping he wouldn't object. Keitaro was a deer in the headlights. This was supposed to be a day between him and Skinny, but having her with them could be a blessing all together. He struggled to respond for a moment, but was able to catch his breath.
"Yeah, I'd really like it if you'd spend the day with us too, Naru", Keitaro spoke her name with a smile.
With a smile of her own, she answered, "Yeah, me too."
This was a real sweet moment that Skinny was just eating up. It was like watching two humming birds taking turns at a flower, you couldn't help but watch and enjoy.
"Yes, good! Let's go, we're really on the clock now", Skinny told them.
Again, I have left and returned with another chapter. To be honest with everyone, I have been neglecting to write anything. This chapter was supposed to be a very long one, but I decided to break it into two chapters and give you all the first part. I've made you unfairly wait too long and I owed you that much (Especially you Samhan). A lot has been happening lately. Mainly school is doing better, I'm about six classes away from getting my Associate's Degree. So study time has been doubled. I also recently bought a motorcycle, and I've been dying to ride it. However, it's my first time riding, and I'm kinda rusty. Hopefully I don't rack myself up.
The main reason I've had such writer's blog is because it's been kinda depressing to write. For any of you that watch RWBY, or Red vs. Blue, Monty Oum passed away not too long ago. It was a shocker, and I felt pretty sad. I haven't felt that sad about someone dying that I never met since Steve Erwin died. Another big depressor has been Naruto. Yes my favorite anime and manga series came to an end, but I was okay with that. The reason I'm so upset about this is because they're destroying what the series stood for. They're breaking down the characters, and turning them all into people I don't know I recognize anymore. (That's all I'll say about this. I don't wanna start anything on my fanfic.)
The biggest thing for me not being able to write is because of these two chapters. We all know what's coming, and I know what will happen in detail. It's kinda sad to have to write the end pages for one of your own characters. Nonetheless, I've posted a new chapter, and for those who doubt me, I WILL finish the story. I just have some things to deal with first. And I'll let you all know, I can finish it off within six chapters. After that, the whole story should be complete.
Here in this part of the story, Keitaro want's to spend Skinny's last day doing whatever he ask Keitaro for. Still, we kinda get glimpses of Keitaro getting a little sad and depressed. As an animal with instincts, Skinny could pick up on this. This is probably why he asked Naru to spend the day with them near the end. The scene with Keitaro, Skinny, and Naru in the sticker photo booth was kind of a recap/reference from chapter one of the Love Hina series. I had to look it up and quoted almost word for word. The paintball scene was probably my best scene in this chapter. When Skinny yelled "Ha, Suck It Blues", that was a reference from Red vs. Blue (I'm still sad about Monty Oum, forgive me). For any of you that have seen "Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever", you can tell that's where I thought of Skinny using the paintball gun like a turret.
I hope this chapter satisfies you all for the time being. I'll get back to writing what I can, when I can. For now, I hope you all haven't lost all faith in this story. Reveiw, write, like, or hate is all up to you. Till next time, MaximalCatPossible out...