Here's the next chapter! I hope you enjoy this one. Many thanks to Ryu_no_me for beta-reading this.

Luka realized she'd fallen asleep on her feet, sitting in the doorframe, when Miku rolled out of bed in the darkest hour of the night. The soft sounds were enough to wake her, so she listened to the various noises in the bathroom with one ear, then watched as Miku returned with a fresh hot water bottle and a small glass of water.

She collapsed back into bed and promptly passed out again.

Now awake, Luka studied her distant form for a little while longer. She had fallen asleep thinking of the different ways she could help the poor woman. Once she was human again, it would all be a cakewalk. Tell the boss to either not fire or to re-hire her, give her a thoughtful gift, thank her for the care, anything to not only fix the wrongs but to help soothe the aches. But that would only happen after she would once again master speech, which she definitely hadn't done yet. Most consonants were murky and muddled, her vowels at odd notes. She knew that it was unreasonable to expect perfection, but she did need to reach for something comprehensible, and she simply didn't have that yet.

But what else could she do? She couldn't pour her a glass of water. She couldn't cook for her, clean for her. She couldn't feed herself, could barely wash herself, couldn't even get her own head out of a jar! So how could she hope to bear the weight of Miku's pains, have the strength or coordination to keep the sickness at bay? She couldn't call friends for her, couldn't get her a fresh change of clothes. There would be no soothing washcloth placed on her forehead, no medication fetched, prepared, and handed to her, only waiting and watching as she slumbered, slept restlessly, her dreams surely plagued by endless loops and repeating frustrations, the messy fever dreams that brought confusion and anguish as often as they brought healing.

Luka stood to her four feet and approached the bed. Miku was once again fast asleep. She would probably barely remember getting up at all come morning. Luka, however, remained awake and alert for far longer, pondering her options, her limitations.

There were painfully few things she could actually offer the poor woman: her company, her attention, and her trust. Luka offered the first two freely, and planned to continue to do so for the rest of the night, preparing to curl into a loaf on the nightstand. But as she stood there, watching Miku sleep, a frown pulling at her lip, her breathing heavy, she had to wonder. She knew that the technician appreciated her presence immensely, having thanked her for spending time together a few times. And the few times that they played with the bird on a string together, Luka's attention to Miku's presence while eating, and her time spent solving the puzzles must have communicated somehow that Luka cared about her efforts. Miku wouldn't ever understand what had led up to the trash can incident, and that was fine: she still had to feel to some extent that her cat was aware of her and paid attention to her.

But trust?

Luka hesitated, sitting down on the nightstand. Miku was out like a light, curled around her hot water bottle.

Miku hadn't given her a single reason why she had to distrust her. There were the painful moments, but Luka could recall exactly two: the vet visit and her rescue from the jar. Necessary evils, even the cat had to keep that in mind. The vet couldn't assess her health without getting his hands on her. The blood draw had been traumatic but... She hadn't been hurt, physically that was. And the jar, which had hurt, had only hurt for a little bit. Once it was over, it had been fine. Other than those moments, though, Miku had gone out of her way to secure her safety, happiness, and health. She fed her on tiny plates when she knew that she was scared, protected her from others, and more.

There were future plans to keep in mind, however. Luka knew that once Miku felt that she trusted her, she would call the vet. A nightmare to avoid at all costs. She couldn't afford to be friendly and cuddly if it meant being stuffed into a carrier and put under the knife.

Luka felt her tail twitch when different memories came to mind. More recent memories, fresh in her mind's eye, still laced with fear, the beating of her heart against her chest, but when she had been cuddled in that towel, held close, her face gently cleaned...

Oh, she had yearned for company. Luka was a social person after all. But contact. It had been weeks since she had felt a touch that hadn't scared the hell out of her. The more she looked at the sleeping technician, the more it sunk in how painfully she missed being close to a person. Holding a hand, holding someone close, being held, or even just a casual touch?

It was true, that you only missed what you had once it was gone. She missed company, but closeness was a whole other issue. She needed it. It scared the hell out of her but she needed it. Even if it would send her to the vet eventually. She could always hiss at the carrier, perhaps. She'd know when the appointment is coming up. She'd buy time if needed. She could do it. She wanted to do it.

Luka gulped. Reasoning her way into allowing it was one thing. But as Luka stood, ready to make the short leap to the bed, the very last restraint still pulled, keeping her still.

It was still scary, after all. Never had she been so vulnerable. So frail. What was once a soft touch, a gentle stroke, could now press her into the ground, squish her, break her. She remembered how Gakupo's two hands could easily wrap around her entire body. How the vet had pulled her limb into place without any difficulty. Even Miku could... She could do anything, really. She could harm her in an uncountable number of ways.

But she hadn't, yet.

Luka stepped onto the bed. Miku didn't move, curled on her side under the covers. The closer she got, the more Luka heard her breathing, felt the warmth radiating from the bed.

She swallowed her apprehension and slowly, gently, felt for a spot next to her. Somewhere that wouldn't step on her sleeping form, but that was still warm. Not too close to bother, to touch, but not too far to give the impression that she was still being distant.

For a long time, Luka remained afraid. With her limbs tucked under herself, there was no fast way to get up and run. If Miku would wake up while she slept and touch her, there would be no way to avoid it. She'd be vulnerable. Exposed.

But as time ticked on, the sleepiness took over. The room was warm, and Miku didn't move much. And, as Luka repeated to herself over and over, like a mantra, that Miku wouldn't ever intentionally hurt her, wouldn't think of it, it was almost like a lullaby, and eventually she too drifted off to sleep.

"Evie...?"

The question, soft, choked, gently roused Luka from her slumber. She blinked awake to find Miku's face a mere arm's length away, exactly where she'd left her, still lying down, gazing at her with wide eyes. Her whole body was still under the blanket, which radiated warmth.

She hadn't touched her while she slept.

Luka all but melted, letting her eyes close again. She was terribly sleepy: most of the night's rest had been uneasy, and she didn't feel like it was daytime quite yet either. There were no blues in her vision, so it was definitely still dark in the room.

After a few seconds of quiet, the blankets rustled. Luka gulped. This was the moment where Miku would try to pet her, press her palm against her skull—

She smelled skin. Opening her eyes slightly revealed Miku's hand not far from her face. Her tail twitched, her ears drew back, but Luka made the conscious decision to let her eyes close once more, forcing her ears to point forward as much as she could. It was bad enough that they moved, but that they moved of their own accord was maddening. Betraying her anxiety as it rose, because now it would happen, she was sure of it.

"May I actually...?"

Luka let out a soft chirp, keeping her eyes shut. In response, Miku inhaled deeply. Either she was gathering courage, still waking up, Luka didn't know. But she did know, she just knew, that soon, soon...

A couple of fingertips suddenly, gently, rested on her head. The touch was feather-light, barely parting through the fur, and stayed there, stock-still, for what felt like minutes.

Luka relaxed somewhat. As if she'd somehow spoken, the answering gesture was a little bit more confident, the cautious touch becoming a more bold scratch behind the ears.

Oh, now that did feel nice. Even if it felt like the wrong place, the ears entirely on the wrong spot of her skull, there were definitely nerves there that appreciated the attention. She felt it all the way down her neck, but not in the way of a painful spasm. She felt more and more warm and relaxed.

"You're actually..."

Luka opened her eyes to look at the technician. Miku was still looking at her, watching, her eyes huge and unblinking. After a brief pause, the hand turned to cup Luka's cheek, and while it was terrifying—her whole skull fit in her palm—Luka leaned into the touch, trying to communicate that she was alright.

Miku let her head fall back, her other hand coming up to cover her eyes.

"You trust me."

The tone she spoke in, disbelieving, pained, almost breathless, was heartbreaking. Luka swallowed her fear as the hand on the side of her face continued to scratch at her cheek and neck, still leaning into the touch, learning to breathe with a huge fist right next to her brain.

It was terrifying. But it was so soft, and so tender. The touch was incredulous, pausing at moments as if to let her reconsider, trembling somewhat.

"Oh, Evie," she sighed. "You sweetheart."

Luka meowed, but she wasn't sure what she intended to say. As the hand traveled from her face to her back, she tensed for a moment, but there too, the touches were only kind. There wasn't a single moment where Miku used her nails, would pinch, push or pull too hard. It was only a soft, shy touch, in the direction of her hair, almost as if she were timidly smoothing it down.

Luka still needed a minute to get used to it. Then another to embrace and accept it, and a third to internalize, for good, that she wasn't in any pain, nor would there be any harm coming to her. After that long moment spent stuck in her head could she finally breathe, and although the hand was entirely too large, the touch wholly unlike any other affection she'd ever gotten in her life, it was a kindness, and it was exactly what she had missed most.

As they both got used to it, the gesture turned into a repeating, but predictable stroke from the base of her neck to as far as she could reach down her back, and Luka felt her limbs turn to putty under her frame, the ears relax, her head nodding forward, only the tip of her tail twitching occasionally. The touch soothed her, ironed out the tension in her muscles, it warmed her from the inside out.

Luka breathed, feeling something almost like a burp, or like a cough, rise at the back of her throat. She stopped it once, twice, but as she grew more and more familiar with the contact, more and more content, her restraint fully melted like snow to the sun. Finally, it emerged as a continuous, rolling purr.

Luka was too relaxed, completely boneless, so when she realized what it was she couldn't even be mortified. How dare she purr, adopt this uniquely cat-like trait as an action of her own, a voice of her happiness, how dare she stoop so low, reduce herself by so much.

Well, when she heard the sob that broke through Miku's entire body, she felt that it was worth it.

The next time that Luka woke up, she was fully rested and absolutely starving. But the next information that she parsed was far more urgent: the heavy weight that rested on her body. She flinched, claws at the ready, only to find Miku's arm lying on top of her. It wasn't so heavy it would crush her, and she was, apparently, still deep asleep.

There was no danger there. Luka breathed, let her claws disappear, and rested her head for a little longer. The touches had been quite soothing, she had to admit. She couldn't even remember if she had fallen asleep first, or if Miku had. Either way, it was something she could eventually get used to. It would take a little time, and she certainly wouldn't allow anybody else to get close to her, but Miku? She could trust her.

First though, she was hungry. Luka turned her attention to the technician who slumbered on. After wriggling from under the arm, she approached her pillow to better gauge the situation.

She couldn't: everything was blurry. But a few sniffs revealed the presence of salt, perhaps sweat. As she got closer, she also felt Miku's elevated temperature radiating off of her. So, the fever was still there.

Luka looked around. Light was seeping past the curtains, betraying that it was at least morning. Judging by her hunger, it was probably already noon, if not later still.

They had both needed the sleep. Luka sat down, looked back at the technician. She ought to wake up, get themselves both something to eat. It would do her some good. Perhaps Gumi's leftovers included chicken. Maybe she would be able to make soup.

Luka meowed, resting a paw on what she guessed was Miku's cheek. It was squishy, so it was probably right, but it didn't get her any reply from the technician.

"Miku!" she meowed, letting the purr roll back up her throat. It was a strange sensation, but she hoped it would make her happy. She patted the cheek again, making sure that the claws were safely stowed away. "Miku, you need to get up and eat."

The technician grumbled, moving away. Luka wouldn't be discouraged, putting both paws on Miku's face—she wasn't exactly sure where, her paw pads wouldn't tell her, but she was pretty sure she was avoiding the eyes.

"Miku! I'm hungry too!" she meowed. "Feed us!"

Finally, she grumbled. "Oh, gosh, Evie..."

"You're finally awake."

"You're like a little engine, jeez."

Luka watched her wake up, rubbing at her eyes. As she moved, lifting the blanket, warmth escaped from beneath like a huge, monstrous sigh.

"We're both hungry," she meowed when Miku took too long.

"Yeah, yeah, breakfast..."

"How are you feeling?"

"Pushy this morning, aren't we?" Miku chuckled as she sat up. "Still open for some pats?"

Luka stayed put, eyes on her, and didn't move when the hand returned to her cheek, the thumb delicately rubbing at the bone under her eye.

It was nice.

"Gosh. You made my whole week, Evie." She swallowed thickly, adding, "I'm so honored."

Luka didn't answer, letting the whole weight of her head rest in the palm. It was warm, stoking her purring.

It felt really nice. Luka wanted to smile when she heard Miku giggle in response.

"You're just a shy little lovebug, aren't you?"

"Hm, don't push it too far," Luka meowed under her breath.

"Ok, fine, I'll get us some food. Alley-oop!"

Luka watched her stand, then pause, standing still for a moment. Just as she started to wobble, the technician sat back down, shaking her head.

"Man."

"You're light-headed?"

"Yeah, yeah, coming right up," Miku said with an audible smile. "Just give me a minute."

Luka stayed silent, standing when the technician did, and following her to the kitchen. Instead of keeping her usual distance, she trailed her a mere pace away, going as far as to jump up on the kitchen counter when they got there.

"You're growing bold, aren't you?" Miku asked.

"I won't move from here," Luka meowed indignantly, sitting down on the far corner.

"Man, I'd hate to have to start enforcing no-counter rules now that you finally trust me..." she mumbled, preparing the new dish of food. When she saw that Luka didn't get close, she added, "As long as you stay there, though, I won't shoo you."

"Good," Luka chirped.

"Ok, that's for you..." She trailed off as she started preparing her own meal.

This was almost normal. Ideally, Luka would be helping along, cracking a few eggs in a hot pan, perhaps shooing the other woman back to bed so she could take care of things for her. Being in a kitchen together with someone was a special kind of social, something either quiet and trusting, or animated and energetic, but it was symbiotic, pleasant, and human. She shared the kitchen with her parents, her friends, her lovers... To be chased out of it would hurt in more ways than one.

Luka sighed quietly. Feeling more human was both a blessing and a curse. She felt less like a cat...but still was one. Those last lingering details, like the fact that she fit on the counter, that she couldn't grab anything, say a word, those were like cruel little whispers that pierced through the dream.

Someday soon. Soon.

"Ok, breakfast is served!"

Luka went to her spot on the floor, Miku sat at the table, and together they ate, mutually watching one another.

Miku ate with more appetite than the previous evening, with a little more energy. She wasn't completely better yet: her voice was still thick with whatever plagued her, and her movements were somewhat sluggish.

"You're actually really sweet, aren't you?" Miku whispered suddenly. Luka didn't reply, so she added, "I really hope a family isn't missing you, somewhere out there."

She paused her eating.

"I haven't gotten many replies to all the posts about finding you. Those that did were obviously hoping to get a free cat."

Luka meowed. "The people looking for me aren't looking for a cat, unfortunately."

"Yeah, a bunch of liars." Miku sighed. "Just a few more days and it'll have been a couple weeks since you were found. Vet says I can reasonably call you mine, then."

Luka resumed eating, unsure what to respond, if at all.

"Do you like the sound of that?" the technician asked quietly.

At that, she had to make a conscious effort to keep eating, to not visibly falter.

She didn't. Not really. She hated being a cat, being far from home, being with people but being unable to actually be with them. She hated not being able to actually partake in conversations, be there for people, to hold hands, to cook, to be a person.

"...I hope you do."

Luka didn't reply.

Soon after eating breakfast, Miku returned to bed to rest some more. Luka hesitated by her cat tree for a moment, wondering if she would be safe practicing talking while the technician slept. In the end, she thought against it, rather deciding in favor of curling up against her side and sleeping some more as well.

The rest of the day went on in a similar fashion: they slept, or Luka purred while Miku tentatively pet her along her back or gently caressed her face. Sometimes, the technician would stand to get some medication, a new hot water bottle, or to refill her glass, but otherwise they spent their whole day in bed, purring or sleeping. At sundown, Miku served them both more food to eat, and then they were back in bed for the whole night.

Since they had slept the whole day, the night's rest was a little more restless. Luka in particular escaped to the living room to quietly practice speaking a little, and to play with the puzzles, if just to have something to do. Just when she thought that being a cat could get so tediously boring, Miku joined her in the room and together, they quietly played with the bird on a string in the near-total darkness of the night. Luka slept more soundly after that, pressed against Miku's side.

The following day, they were awoken by the doorbell. Luka felt her fur stand on end and was ready to escape to the tree, but Miku shuffled over to open the door for Gumi. Luka listened as the friend was welcomed in; she came bringing more leftovers, which Miku only accepted after a bunch of insisting. After a moment, they settled on the couch, so Luka kept to herself in her cat tree, catching up on overdue grooming.

Having fur was such a chore.

She listened in on the conversation, since that was the only way she could learn anything. Miku had apparently felt her health turn for the worse midway through the morning. It was the principal who had sent her home, with a sincere order to only come back when she was right as rain, alongside a lukewarm apology for pushing too hard. Her job wasn't in total jeopardy quite yet, but Miku felt like she was using borrowed time: the turn in her health had served to make him feel bad, and would only delay the inevitable. The power outages just kept happening after all, no matter how much she scoured over maps and replaced older wiring. Something wasn't right and she couldn't figure it out.

Other than work, she was doing rather fair. Not being able to do anything other than sleep was depressing of course, but that was hardly unexpected. Sitting out of volunteering time, too groggy to indulge in hobbies, it all served to make her feel lousy. But at least she got some time to think and rest, and consider how all the recent events made her feel. Her appointment with her therapist would be soon enough, too, and she looked forward to that.

The conversation eventually drifted to Gumi's life, which interested Luka less. She retreated to the hide to finish her grooming, occasionally picking up a detail here or there: Gumi had a cat herself, worked in a café, and neither had seen or heard from Rin since the encounter in the grocery store.

They babbled on, Miku's voice growing progressively more and more fatigued. At one point, both women stood to go towards the bedroom, which piqued Luka's curiosity: after descending from the tree, she peered into the bedroom to find Miku once again lying in bed. Gumi was tucking her in, whispering short phrases to which Miku replied in simple grunts. Luka then watched Gumi go to and from the bathroom to give her a fresh glass of water, then a cool cloth which she carefully placed on the technician's forehead.

Luka watched it all from the nightstand, taking in the way Gumi's hands gently applied the washcloth to the clammy forehead, how she combed Miku's hair, all done so slowly, softly. Miku was asleep, or close to it, no longer reacting to the care, merely breathing.

Gumi didn't leave right away. Luka stared at her, but the woman stood so stock-still, she was only a collection of blurry shapes. Yet, Luka knew she was staring at Miku in turn, staring for a long time, still running her fingers through the teal hair.

Luka felt her tail flick, and she stood, confidently striding to Miku's side on the bed.

"Oh, hello Evie," Gumi whispered, voice low.

"Don't wake her," she chirped, feeling through the covers for a soft space to lie down in. Once she found it, she curled into a little ball, making sure she could keep her eyes on the guest.

"You've gotten cuddly, Miku told me."

"Don't try your luck."

Gumi chuckled, cast one more glance towards the technician, then whispered, "I'll show myself out. Keep taking good care of her, ok?"

Luka felt her ears flatten at the words, then watched without a comment as Gumi left, closing the door behind her.

She couldn't take care of her. Not the way Gumi had. Miku deserved the company of a person, a loving friend.

Luka let her head rest on the covers, trying to coax her ears from their angry position. It was in vain: no matter what she did, or how much time passed, they remained tucked back, pulled by a quiet, simmering anger.

For there was nothing she could do. Nothing at all.