Persona BLEACHED 5: Chapter 1

Persona BLEACHED 5
Chapter 1: Sunflower in Bloom
---
October 25, 2018. 14-year old writing prodigy Ringo Kubo discovers her older brother, Tohru, murdered in an alley. From that moment forward, her world, and the world of all those closest to her, would never be the same.
Nearly a year later, a meeting with a mysterious, golden-eyed girl named Rose thrusts her and her friends into the Metaverse: a realm born from humanity's collective consciousness. By coming to terms with their innermost traumas, the youths gained access to the Metaverse's power: Persona, the true self. Harnessing this power, Rin and her friends put a stop to the machinations of her brother, who used his own demise as a springboard to greater power.
August 7, 2028. Professor Ringo Kubo's first day as a literature teacher at Tokyo's Naruki Ascension Academy. Alongside her beloved Rose, Rin welcomes her first class of students: 
The strong and noble Kibō Ishimaru, heir to wrestling and political dynasties;
The spirited and good-natured Sahir Musa, a soccer star hampered by injury;
The O'Donnell twins, both of them aspiring actors: pure-hearted theater girl Barbara, and idealistic hero fanatic Max;
The brilliant and generous Carrie Blackthorne, daughter of late environmental geniuses;
The sharp-tongued and introspective Kenneth Southgate, a sculptor hampered by a difficult home life;
The affectionate and bubbly Natalia Van Damme, a skilled clothing designer once hampered by depression;
And the girl who would become Rin's most dedicated pupil, the quick-witted yet deceptively kind Kit So-yin, gamer extraordinaire who would grow to become the group's leader.
Awakening to their own Personas, the students, taking on the name of the Ashen Artisans, came into conflict with a shadowy cult known as Death's Hand, whose leadership was directly tied to this world's origins. Alongside a Death's Hand defector, the polite, serious maid Sakuya Hanakotoba, whom they befriended, the Artisans put a stop to the cult, and ended the terror brought by its deadliest member, the devilish Kerberos.
August 4, 2029. Year Two for the Ashen Artisans begins.
With the threat of Death's Hand ended, the young Persona users would not be resting for long. A new construct of the Metaverse began to wreak havoc on the public in the form of Prisons, which would increase the popularity and fame of tormented souls, at the cost of twisting their personalities.
As the group toppled the Prisons, they discovered that their creator was in fact one of their own: Max, who had gained power during the fight with Death's Hand and wished to use it to create a world without villainy, at the cost of people's free will. Joined by the fiery Ibuki Hinotama, a former wrestler who had been changed by the Prisons, the Artisans stopped their misguided friend. His benefactor, who shared origins with Death's Hand, revealed himself to be Dr. Edelhardt Wolfe, Rose's father, who wished to free mankind from suffering. By battle's end, Edelhardt was destroyed, and Max had vanished.
August 16, 2031. Max, now going by his maternal surname Jadefang, begins his life anew in Tokyo. Tracked down and brought to his senses by the Artisans, he seeks redemption with the aid of Ibuki, whose prior frustration had been replaced with love. This path to a better future takes a sharp turn, when an accident awakens the Persona users to a new truth: theirs is not the only universe.
In trying to close the book on his misdeeds, Max inadvertently brings over the Max O'Donnell of another world. This Max hails from a world where everyone possesses magical abilities, and is overseen by a global military union known as the Planetary Defense Force. Brought over to their world, the younger Max is drawn into the P.D.F.'s conflict with the sinister Wolfpack gang, led by the world's most notorious criminal: Johnny O'Donnell, the older brother of this world's Max.
Incensed by this interference, Johnny brings his entire force over to Max Jadefang's world, and a massive battle ensues. Together, the Artisans army (now joined by eager yet scatterbrained zoology student Tabby Fairweather, who had befriended Kat at university) and the P.D.F. wipe out the Wolfpack and their allies, and the younger Max delivers the finishing blow to Johnny.
With friendship struck between the two worlds and the threat ended, peace could finally be a reality. The young Artisans would now be free to shape their lives as they saw fit.
Our tale picks up, four years hence...
---
July 15, 2036
Shibuya ward, Tokyo. One of the Japanese capital's busiest areas, a center for fashion and finance. On a Tuesday morning like this, the famous Shibuya Crossing was flush with people heading either to work, or to the nearby train station. With the students still out for the summer, traffic was comparatively light, yet rare is the day that this crossing isn't home to substantial crowds.
In the northern part of the district was the Yoyogi residential neighborhood. Here, inside of a first-floor apartment housed in a modestly-sized complex, was a comfortable scene. The decor was a mixture of miniature statues crafted by the man of the home, while his significant other ensured that the furnishings were all made from the softest materials.
Garbed in pink pajamas, the lady of the home was fast asleep. Curled up on the end of her bed was a fluffy, yellow cat with a bushy tail. The room's occupant stirred awake, and stretched, as the cat trotted over to her. She obliged the feline with a pat on the head. "Mmmmph...good morning, CiCi. How are we this morning?" She spoke with a Dutch accent.
"Mrraaawr!" her cat cheerily responded.
"Heehee, I'm so happy to hear that! Has your dad fed you?"
"Mrraaawr."
"You'd say no either way. I know you by now. Let's go say good morning."
The young lady was petite in stature, and had emerald green eyes along with blonde hair that went just past her shoulders and had something of a 'spiky' quality to it. Her nails were painted a light pink. Her name was Natalia Van Damme, 23 years old and hailing from Belgium. Her room was filled with the tools of her trade: needles, yarn, and a shiny red sewing machine. Inscribed on it in gold lettering were the words 'Happiness Machine 2.0'.
Hopping out of bed, Natalia walked out into the living space, her cat close behind her.
"I thought the air was feeling more cheery."
Sitting at the dining room table was a young man with dark hair, tied back into a shoulder-length ponytail. His eyes were red. His garb consisted of a red sweater vest worn over a black long-sleeved shirt, along with black dress pants and shoes. He spoke with a Liverpool accent. He drank coffee from a mug, and appeared to have sketches in front of him on the table. "Good morning, Natty. A pleasant sleep, I hope?"
"Good morning, Kenny~. Yessir, it was." Natalia hugged him, before turning her attention to the kitchen. "You have breakfast already?"
"Two muffins to go along with the coffee. It's going to be a busy day."
"I can tell from your paperwork. You all set on a plan for Mr. One-Eye?"
"I've got three options I'm fairly comfortable with. Once he's set on one, we can start getting the building materials over to Osaka. 'One-Eyed Dragon Sushi - Osaka' felt like such an obvious move, I'm shocked someone with as keen of an eye for business hadn't thought of it before."
"Well now that you've gotten your foot in the door, I'm sure all of Professor Kubo's friends are gonna be asking you for building plans. It's a win-win for everybody. And the payday doesn't hurt, either."
"You know that money isn't my main concern. That being said...I won't argue with that."
Kenneth felt something pawing at his leg. CiCi was poking at him. "Mraaawr?"
"Again? I just fed you ten minutes ago. Did you think I'd forgotten? And please don't get that fur on my pants..."
Natalia giggled, and continued to work for a few minutes. She handed Kenneth a bag. "There you are, homemade lunch for my working man~."
"Thank you. I'll be home in time for dinner. Oh, and before I forget, I'll be stopping in to check on progress at the store. If everything follows my estimations exactly, you should be all set to open within a month."
"Yay! I can't wait to see it done! Ohhh..." Natalia held her stomach.
"Is everything alright?"
"It's the butterflies, Kenny. I've wanted to open my own clothing store for my entire life. Now it's almost here...ooooh, I can't wait! My dreams are right in front of me, and I couldn't be happier."
"And I couldn't be happier for you, my ambitious muse. Just like how our cat couldn't be happier to have something to climb."
Kenneth pointed out a large collection of boxes in the corner, all of them mailed from Belgium, and containing the clothes Natalia would be selling. At this point, however, CiCi had climbed on top of the pile. Natalia giggled.
"Right, I'll be heading out. Have a productive day, Natty."
"You too, Kenny~." Natalia hugged him again.
"Give Ibuki my regards." Kenneth picked up his belongings, and headed out the door.
"Okey-dokey, little puff. Let's get ready for the day!" Natalia bounded back to her room, as CiCi watched from her lofty perch.
When she emerged, she was now wearing a white, frilly tank top, along with white pants and brown Mary Jane shoes. Her hair was tied back. She carried what appeared to be a dress, though only the top of the hangar was visible, the rest of it being enclosed in a white covering. "No stains, no wrinkles. I really hope she loves it."
"Mrraaawr."
"Yeah, you get it." Natalia grabbed her purse. "I'll be back later. Have fun with your jungle gym."
Leaving her apartment complex, she took the train all the way to the lively district of Naruki. Here was home to many a shop and restaurant, as well as the area's most prominent high school: Naruki Ascension Academy. Natalia and her friends had all attended the school, and seeing it again from a distance filled her with nostalgia. It had been nearly a decade since she first walked through its doors, something that completely changed the course of her life--and who she was as a person.
Her destination today was an apartment complex in downtown Naruki, the district's most developed section. Traveling up to the fifth floor, she rang the bell in front of apartment 5-107. Shortly after, the door opened.
"Heeey, cutie." The woman at the door was 26-year old wrestler-turned-hairdresser, Ibuki Hinotama. She possessed an athletic build, along with red eyes. Her hair, long and dark, had a red streak on the left side of her head. She wore a black and red hoodie, opened to reveal a black tank top underneath, and had dark jeans. Her nails were also black, as were the hoop earrings she wore.
"Hey there, goddess." Natalia chimed back.
"Come on in. Sorry it's a bit messy. I should be taking it easy on my day off, but, y'know. Laundry's not gonna take care of itself."
"I didn't think Fireball Ibuki knew how to take it easy." Natalia walked into the very pink apartment, where there were indeed clothes scattered around the place. "No Maxie today?"
"Oh, you mean, 'Anchor Blue'?" Ibuki laughed. "The studio's got him doing promotional stuff for the next two weeks. He tells me it's more exhausting than actually filming."
"Still crazy to think that he's *actually* a superhero now. Has he given you any sneak peeks?"
"Just this one pic." Ibuki grabbed a large photograph of a figure garbed in navy blue, Sentai-style armor, with an anchor emblem at its center. The title of the show, 'Umi Sentai Ankager', was in the upper right-hand corner, while scrawled on the bottom was the name 'Anchor Blue'. "Look at this dork. Look at this absolute NERD."
Natalia giggled. "Of course they made him the blue one."
Ibuki hugged the picture. "I wuv him so much! I'm seriously so jazzed that he's doing something he loves. I haven't seen him this happy in a long time."
"Maybe it's more to do with him getting married to the coolest girl in Naruki."
"Honeeeeey. Hey, so on that subject...I'm guessing that's 'it' you're holding there, right?"
"Yep. I followed all your requests to a T and got the measurements *exactly* where they need to be. All that's left is your final approval."
Natalia handed Ibuki the dress. "Oooh boy." Ibuki, sitting on her couch, put her hands together, appearing to be readying herself. "I'm sorry. I...I seriously can't believe it's actually here. I've dreamed of this since I was little. For the longest time, I didn't think it was possible for me. Now here it is."
"Here it is. Open it up and tell me what you think."
Ibuki unzipped the covering. She put a hand over her mouth. "Oh, my God." She took out a long, white gown, with a slit in the front of the skirt. Embedded into it were waving lines, reminiscent of a fire. She got up, and looked at it in a mirror. "Oh, mama, this is so beautiful..."
"Want me to help you try it on?"
"Yes, please! I've just gotta see this. Hopefully Maxie doesn't come home early..."
A few minutes later, Ibuki was in front of the mirror again, this time with the dress on.
"Well?" Natalia asked.
"I love it. I love it! You've outdone yourself big-time, Natty. It looks perfect, it feels perfect...I'm five seconds from calling up Maxie and telling him we've gotta get hitched right now!"
"M-Maybe we should hit pause on that. But I'm so happy that you love it. I've studied the process a ton, but this was my first time actually making a wedding dress."
"I would not have guessed that from looking. It's everything I wanted and more. I can't wait to show my sister. Thank you so, so much for this, Natty. I don't know how I'll repay you."
"If it makes your big day that much more special, that'll be enough for me. Well, that and the actual payment."
"Ahaha, already in businesswoman mode. Don't worry, I wasn't gonna take it for free. I'll wire you the cost by the end of the day. Alright, let's get this nice and tucked away for the next month. After that, I'm treating you to lunch."
Changing back into her casual wear and putting on a pair of black flats, Ibuki departed with Natalia. As they walked by the apartment next-door, Natalia stopped. "Hey, should we see if Cindy wants to come along?"
"I...wouldn't recommend it." Ibuki replied.
"Is it that bad?"
"Good days and bad days. Lately it's been more of the latter. She'll come over when we invite her, and she promised that she'll make it to the wedding, but...she's as close to a full recluse as you're gonna find. Me and Maxie are trying really hard to get her outside more. I'm hoping it's just homesickness." Ibuki shook it off. "Let's head out. She'll come out when she wants to."
The two left. Inside of the apartment, its occupant sat in front of a computer screen, the lights dimmed.
---
Nearby, the pair had sat down outside of a restaurant to eat. "So, how are you and Kenny liking the new place?" Ibuki asked.
"It's going pretty good so far. Neighborhood's nice and quiet, and it's not far from where I'm setting up shop. Hasn't been hard to readjust, either, at least for me. Just have to think back to the three years we were here."
"Gotta imagine it's still tricky after four years in Europe. Speaking of your shop, how's that coming along?"
"Great! Kenny's estimating that I can have it up and running in about a month. My parents already sent over all the clothes. I'm so excited to get started. It's so crazy to think that we're all starting to make what we've been working towards into reality."
"Welcome to adulthood, cutie. Way more freedom plus way more responsibility. We're all gonna try to be there for the grand opening. Gonna be way easier with everyone basically being local now."
"Everyone except Tabby."
"I mean, Australia's not *that* far, right? Closer than Europe, anyway."
After a bit more banter, the conversation turned back to the dress. "I seriously can't believe this was your first time making a dress like that. Everything about it was perfect."
"Oh, you're just flattering me. I've spent my whole life studying different stitching techniques. You being so specific about what you wanted definitely helped. And honestly, it was a great experience making it. I'm planning on offering a wedding deal for whoever comes in and asks. There's just something special about helping with someone's big day."
"Maybe it's your heart preparing for when that day comes for you?" Ibuki winked.
Natalia blushed. "Ahehehehe..." She composed herself. "Well, I already promised Kat and Care that I'd make their dresses whenever the day came. And I've already gotten some inquiries from your future sister-in-law."
"Oh, boy. Barbie doesn't waste any time, does she? Barely been a week since the Keebster popped the question! Just brace yourself, Natty. Cuz if you think *I* was specific about what I wanted, oh, you haven't *seen* specific..."
"I know how Barb is. I'm sure she'll be fine about it. She doesn't have an aggressive bone in her body."
"Doesn't gotta be aggressive to be particular. You're gonna have fun finding her exact favorite shade of blue."
"She's not gonna want a blue wedding dress...is she?"
"She could go for the full princess outfit, for all I know."
Natalia gulped. She shook her head. "Anyway...pretty crazy time for the family, huh? You and Maxie in about a month, Barb and Keeb in the future...how's their mom been handling it?"
"....." Ibuki went silent. "Ms. Annie is...okay. I'd say about...90% back. And I'm happy to say she finally caved and she's gonna be moving to this side of the world after the wedding."
"Well, that's great! It makes more sense with her kids here, after all."
"Yeah. We're being super careful with her. It was a big-time scare. Maxie and Barbie don't wanna take any more chances with her being so far away from where they can keep an eye on her. You just don't expect that to happen, y'know? Woman's not even 50, in perfect shape and health, and then BOOM. Heart attack out of nowhere. It's scary to think about."
"Yeah. Life can change in a blink. But she's doing better now, and she's gonna be here with her kids. I'd call that a reason to be happy."
"True that. Hope she's caught up on her Japanese, though. She's gonna need it."
A waiter came by. "All done, ladies?"
"Yes, sir. I'll take that check." Ibuki replied.
"Let me--" Natalia spoke up.
"Nuh-uh, I said it'd be my treat. I'll take it."
"Well, okay."
The waiter departed. "Got anything else you wanna do, Natty?"
"I've actually got a few more errands to run. I'm gonna stop in and see how the store's coming along."
"Roger that. Guess I'll just go back and...organize my clothes. Bleh."
"A clean home's a happy home. And you don't have to clean cat hair out of your clothes."
"And whose fault is that?"
"I can't help it when she's so cuddly and huggable!" Natalia puffed her cheeks.
"Pffhaaaa." Ibuki laughed. "The more things change, eh, Natty?"
"Right you are, Future Mrs. Jadefang."
---
After parting ways with Ibuki, Natalia made her way to Naruki's market district. "You want to talk about things not changing...this place never changes."
In front of her was a green building, with a sign that read 'Kubo Family Market', accompanied by an outline of a gourd. Next-door was a red-colored shop with a sign reading 'Hanazaki Floral Services', along with silhouettes of flower petals blowing in the wind. The market, as the name indicated, had been in the family of Ringo Kubo dating back to her grandfather. It was currently under the management of her eldest brother, Hyōtan, known as Tan for short. The flower shop, meanwhile, came from her mother's side of the family, many of whom were ikebana experts. Her mother, Miu 'Hana' Hanazaki, was the store's founder.
As Natalia reminisced on all the times she'd gotten cooking material from this market, she noticed a small sign on the front window of the flower shop. It read 'Under New Management'.
"Huh? New management? Did Professor Kubo's mom retire? The store still has her name on it..." She turned to the market. "The owner here probably knows more."
She walked inside. "Hello? Anyone home?"
Suddenly, a boy popped up in front of her. "Hiya!"
"BAH!" Natalia jumped.
"Ah! Oh, hey, Ms. Natalia! Sorry, did I scare you?" The boy wore a green apron over his shirt, and wore a blue cap over his dark, somewhat wild hair.
"Uri! How many times do I have to tell you not to jump out at the customers?" Out from an aisle came Tan Kubo. Eight years Rin's senior, he possessed dark hair that was even more wild than the boy's, along with a beard and tribal tattoos. He also wore a green apron.
"S-sorry, Dad..." Uri, his 14-year old son, apologized.
"I appreciate the enthusiasm, kiddo, but you can't surprise people like that. Especially when we get a lot of older...oh, hang on, there's a familiar face."
"Hi, Mr. Tan." Natalia greeted.
"Why, hello, Ms. Natalia! What brings you back to this side of the globe?"
"Oh, I just moved here. I'm setting up a clothing shop in Shibuya. I was getting the lay of the land again, it's been a while."
"Oooh, you picked a good spot for that. Anyone who knows anything about fashion goes right to that place."
"That's why my mom gets all our clothing from there!" Uri interjected.
"Shhh! You don't have to bring that up!"
"Oops, uh, I mean..."
"Your wife buys all your clothes for you?" Natalia asked.
"I mean...Kirumi has a much more discerning eye than me, I really don't--" Tan stuttered.
"Daddyyyy..." a small voice piped up.
"Oh, shoot...!" Tan hurried behind the counter.
"What was that?" Natalia questioned.
Tan bent down. "Sorry, sweetie, didn't mean to walk off." He picked up a small girl, wearing pink clothing, with red hair.
"Oh, hello! What's your name?" Natalia asked.
"Marin." the girl replied.
"Aren't you adorable! How old are you?"
"She just turned two. She's still learning how to talk." Tan replied. "And yes, I know who she looks like. She got the Hanazaki genes."
"I was just gonna say, she's like a mini version of Professor Kubo! I thought I heard her mention that she was gonna be an auntie again. So you have babysitting duty?"
"Today, yeah. Me and her mom take turns. Kirumi's sisters all live far away, same with Rinnie. And I don't want to saddle my mom with her all the time. She should have some free time in her retirement."
"Her retirement...right, I was wondering about that. So who's running the--"
The shop door opened. "Yo. I ran out of sanitizer. Got any extra bottles?"
There stood a young woman with chin-length, dark red hair and eyes. She wore a long-sleeved, red and black striped sweater, over which she wore a pink apron, along with dark pants and boots. On her right wrist was a bracelet made out of red and black string, and on either side of her head was a black bow. Her nails were black.
"Hiya, GoGo!" Uri greeted. "Let me go grab some!" He ran off.
"Don't trip, melonhead." The woman's attention turned to Natalia. "Oh, hey. You're one of Max's friends, right?"
"Hm? Wait, you're..." Natalia looked over her, before coming to a realization. "Oni girl?!"
"PLEASE don't call me that."
"Oh, I guess Rinnie didn't mention it, huh? Yeah, GoGo here's running Ma's store now." Tan clarified.
'GoGo' was, in fact, Ringo Kubo--just not *this* world's Ringo Kubo. Ten years younger than this world's Rin, she came from the universe of the P.D.F. On her world, her Naruki was destroyed in an attack by the Wolfpack, and though she survived, her family did not. She swore revenge against the Wolfpack as well as the P.D.F., who she blamed for failing to stop the attack. She eventually joined up with the former, both in order to get close enough to Johnny to kill him, and as a way of getting to the Defense Force. However, Max convinced her that the path of revenge was an empty one, and so she turned and joined the side of the Artisans. With nowhere to return to, she remained on this Earth, where the Kubo clan took her in.
"I...was not expecting this." Natalia replied.
"I don't look like the flower type?" GoGo questioned.
Uri reappeared with a bottle of hand sanitizer. "Here you go!"
"Thanks, squirt." GoGo took it. "...what's with the look." She turned to Natalia.
"Sorry, I just...didn't know you were still here after all this time." Natalia replied.
"I never left. Ms. Hana took me in and taught me everything she knows. About flowers, and..." GoGo sighed. "Other things. Nothing more than that." She turned to leave. "Thanks for the bottle. Oh, and...Natalia, is it? If you see Max before I do, tell him I said hey, and congrats on the acting gig. Later." She left.
"Catch you later, happy girl!" Tan bid. "...oh, don't look so suspicious. GoGo might be prickly, but she means well."
"She's definitely not as upbeat as Professor Kubo. But as long as she's not doing Oni things anymore..." Natalia said. "Oh, right. I actually do have some shopping to do. Sorry for talking your ear off, Mr. Tan."
"Ahh, don't worry about it. Let me just get this little lady down for her nap. Uri, man the counter, and no more jumping, dig?"
"Yes, sir!" Uri saluted.
"(One thing is definitely for sure. The Kubo clan...never changes.)" Natalia thought.
---
After finishing her shopping, Natalia returned home to drop off her groceries. As she put them away, she hummed to herself. "Hmmhmmhmmhmmmm, hmmhmmhmmhmmmmm~..."
CiCi trotted up, and brushed against her leg. "Mraaawr."
"Hiya, poofie. I'll get you some treats in a second."
She felt something brush against her other leg.
"C'mon, don't be impatient, I'm gonna--"
Natalia turned to see the cat was on the counter. "Mraaawr?"
"Huh? How'd you get up there so--" She looked down to see CiCi staring up at her. She looked back to the cat on the counter. "BAH! What the--why are there two of you now?!"
"Mraaawr." Another, identical-looking cat bounded over.
"Three?! CiCi! Did you learn how to clone yourself?! Is that what this is?!"
"Mraaawr." Another cat arrived. Then another. And another. Within a minute, there was a swarm of identical cats sitting or standing all over the floor and furniture.
"I'm going crazy...I have to be going crazy! Ohhh, Kenny's gonna faint when he gets home! He's gonna think I'm some crazy cat lady!"
"Mrraaawr?" some of the CiCis looked inquisitive.
"CiCi, I know you're adorable, but this is too much, even for me! I'm gonna go bankrupt just on cat food alone!"
As she looked through the crowd of fluffy felines, however, she spotted something unusual. Perched on the arm of her sofa was a black and white cat, with distinct yellow eyes, that were staring right at her. "Mwehehehehe..." It seemed to be laughing.
"...ooooh, come on! Don't scare me like that!"
"Hehehehe....my, what a chaotic scene you've found yourself in, Natalia." a woman with a Mid-Atlantic accent spoke. She stepped out from the shadows. She was an older woman, with mid-length blonde hair and red eyes. Her attire consisted of a black corset, long gloves and boots, along with a black hooded cloak. "Where does one even get this many identical kitties?"
"This is so mean, Lady Gardner! How am I supposed to know which one's the real CiCi?!" Natalia demanded.
"Isn't that something you should've thought about before adopting 60 of the same cat?"
"Change it back! Kenny might never recover if he sees this!"
"Oh, fine then." The cloaked lady snapped her fingers. All except one of the CiCis--the one on the counter closest to Natalia--popped out of existence. "I would've thought you'd appreciate a fluffy paradise like that."
"One poofie is enough for me." Natalia picked her cat up. "So what brings you here, Lady Gardner?"
'Lady Gardner' was in fact Natalie Gardner--Natalia's counterpart from the P.D.F.'s world. She was an experienced witch from a prominent coven, and was mentor to her world's most powerful magic-user: Emily O'Donnell, the daughter of their world's Max. And as Natalia was well aware of, she was ever the trickster.
"Paying a pupil a visit. We haven't had a tutoring session in a while. I'm checking in to see if everything's going alright."
"Oh, everything's going great. Sorry I haven't been in contact. Between the move and getting the store ready for opening, I've been crazy busy."
"So the day you've been working towards is nearly here. Suppose you won't have much time for little old me from now on."
"I'm sorry, I--"
"Oh, don't apologize, dear. It's all part of being an adult. And besides, I don't know how much more I can teach you that dear Emilia would be okay with. She is very protective of the coven's secrets. There are some things she knows that even other life-long members don't."
"Well even if you can't teach me more magic than you already have, you can always teach me other things."
"Like what?"
"I don't know, life things. We've been having these sessions for four years, but it still feels like...like I don't know what makes you tick. I've heard you talk about Lady Emily more than about yourself."
Natalie looked ponderous. "There are reasons I'm not very upfront, Natalia."
"Do you not really trust me?"
"It's not a matter of trust. It's a matter of some things not being pleasant to talk about. You have things like that, don't you?"
Images filed through Natalia's mind. Almost ten years ago, far more somber than she was now, and standing on the edge of the roof of her parents' store. She snapped out of her memories. "Yeah...you're right."
"It's nothing personal, dear. I'm here for you if you ever need it, because you are such a delight to be around. And do let me know when you're opening, because my wardrobe could use a few updates."
"You bet I will. You're not heading out already, are you?"
"I...may need to head home quickly. I may or may not be missing an important coven meeting under the pretense of taking Esme to the vet."
"Mwehe." her cat sounded.
"Word of advice, Natalia. Don't pick up my lying habits. Ta-ta for now. Come along, Esme."
The cat hopped off the couch, and disappeared with Natalie into a shadowy portal.
Natalia sighed. "People from her world don't open up very easily, do they?"
"Mrawr." CiCi sounded.
"Well, let's get you fed before I head back out, little puff. And that's puff, singular."
---
Shortly after, Natalia made her way to the Omotesandō section of Shibuya, a street lined with zelkova trees that was home to many luxury goods and international fashion stores. This, she and Kenneth agreed, was the ideal place to set up shop.
She had chosen a small, standalone building that could have additional space added to it if need be. Kenneth had believed this to be the best option as it offered better visibility and more opportunities to expand than if it was inside of a shopping complex alongside hundreds of other businesses. The building itself was colored a faded red, though was slated for a paint job as soon as inside renovations were complete.
With a large bag in hand, Natalia opened the front door. "Helloooo...anyone home?"
Inside, ladders and assorted renovation equipment were strewn about, with the floor itself in the process of being replaced. "Hey there, Ms. Natalia! Anything we can help you with?" one of the workers asked.
"Just checking to see how it's coming along. I brought you all a little something for all your hard work. Homemade, of course~." Natalia opened her bag, inside of which there were a number of cookies wrapped in plastic.
"Oh, you are far too sweet, Ms. Natalia. Can't remember the last time a client baked us cookies."
"Well not everyone was raised in sugar like I was. So how are we looking?"
"Flooring should only take a couple more days at the most. After that, we can get started on the paint job. Long as we can get the shelves and furnishings in quick-like, you'll be all set to open before summer's done."
"Yes, I'm so happy to hear it! I can't thank you all enough for things going so smoothly."
"Thank that boyfriend of yours for having everything planned out. He's checked in here every single day to make sure it's perfect. Count yourself lucky to have a guy that's that supportive."
"I do that every day I wake up~. Is he still here?"
"He left a few hours ago. But Ms. De Roos just came in. She's checking the back."
"Oh, perfect! I'm gonna go say hi."
"Watch your step. Don't need you tripping on a tile."
Natalia walked to the backroom, which was barren, much like the rest of the building. There, another young woman was looking around.
"Got enough room for a few sliding racks...maybe I can convince Natty to let me have a studio back here..." She, like Natalia, spoke with a Dutch accent.
"Hiii, bestie!" Natalia chimed.
The woman turned around. She possessed curly, light brown hair, with some strands obscuring her left eye. She wore a green and blue striped shirt, blue jeans and sneakers. She was Layla De Roos, one of Natalia's best friends, who worked as a sketch artist. "Hey, Natty!" The two hugged. "Checking in?"
"Yep, and giving the workers a token of my gratitude, courtesy of the Van Damme kitchen."
"Oh, those lucky lads. Sven is gonna be so bummed he ran off when he did."
"And what is your 'dashing' boyfriend off doing?"
"Well, he stubbed his toe on the wall and he went to 'get medical assistance before it got infected'. Dude didn't even hit it that hard."
"You sure know how to choose them, Layla."
"He means well, and it's kinda charming, in a goofy way. They can't all be refined artistes like some people."
"Hey, at least yours can go up the stairs without any problems. If it makes him feel better, I've got an extra bag for the two of you. I wouldn't leave one of my besties empty-handed."
"Oh, Natty, always thinking of everyone else first. Now on the subject of besties, where's our favorite 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous' pair? Thought they'd be here by now."
"Oh, stop. They're gonna be in Seoul for a few more days. Kat's sister just had twins, and it's really chaotic over there. Mainly because they had no idea it was twins until the very last moment."
"How do you go the whole nine months without realizing it's twins?"
"Every scan they did only showed one. The girl was hidden behind the boy the entire time. Kat says it was a madhouse when the doctors told them there was another kid."
"When isn't it a madhouse with that family?"
"Right? I was just telling Kat that it's typical for girls in her family to be crazy like that. So, her and Care are gonna stick around for a few extra days to help get everything under control. Her sister and her brother-in-law are in a daze, from what she's been saying. They're shooting to be in Japan by Saturday."
"Well, guess that means I have you to myself for a few more days before they wrap you in a plastic bubble and take you away."
"You make it sound like they're controlling. They just care a lot, that's all. If it makes you feel better, I already told them not to get involved with the store. However it goes, it's gonna be because of me. Not my parents, not my generous-to-a-fault best friend or her kinder-than-she-lets-on girlfriend. I love them all to pieces, but I need to prove I can do this."
"You will, I know it. Doesn't mean you can't ask for help. I'm here, and so's your whole circus of pals. But you do need to make it clear that you're always at the reigns. All this, right here, is your baby and no one else's. You got here because you believed in yourself, and believing in yourself is your..."
Suddenly, magical sparks came out from Layla's index finger as she twirled it around.
"Layla, don't! Not in public!" Natalia covered her finger.
"Come on, there's no one else back here but you and me."
"Lady Gardner was at my apartment earlier, and she might've followed me here. I haven't told her that I taught you magic."
"I don't see the big deal. You've told me at least twenty weirder things than magic being real. Like your pal Kat actually *being* a cat."
"She's not really a cat. She can just turn into one. Big difference."
"Uh-huh, sure."
"I still can't believe you believed me about all of it."
"Was kinda hard to doubt it when you made a box float. Plus, it did fill in a lot of holes about what happened between me and Max. I'm glad you trusted me enough to tell me all that."
"Of course I would trust you with it. You're one of my best friends. I don't want to keep secrets from you."
"I'm forever grateful that you have room in that big heart for me." A notification popped up on Layla's phone. "Oh, lovely. Guess who slipped on an ice cube he was using to manage the bruising on his foot?"
"Oh, boy."
"Welp, now I've gotta go play doctor. I'll see you later, Natty. Oh, before that, I've got a bunch of design ideas I wanted to go over with you whenever you've got a moment."
"I've got a lot of moments. Provided he hasn't sent himself to the emergency room, maybe you and Sven can come over for dinner tomorrow night?"
"Will the lady of the house be making said dinner?"
"Oh, but of course~."
"Then call it a double date. I'm already counting the minutes." The women hugged. "See you soon, bestie."
"Byeeeeee."
Layla left, and Natalia followed soon after. "It's all coming together, Natty. Everything you've worked for is almost here. It's just a matter of--"
In her blissful thoughts, she bumped into a passerby. "Ah--I'm so sorry--"
The individual, wearing a black 'gakuran' school uniform, did not turn around, and continued walking.
"Umm, okay. Rude. Who even wears a uniform in the middle of the summer..."
As she walked away, the individual looked over his shoulder. "Hrmm." He continued onward.
Natalia could not have known it, but at that moment, the ephemeral blade known as fate had once again fallen.
---
Back at her apartment, Natalia was putting the finishing touches on her room, placing three framed photos on her mantle: one of her with her parents, one of her with Kenneth, and one with the rest of their friends, at a party four years prior. CiCi watched as she did so. Then, they heard the front door opening. 
"Sounds like your dad's home."
She stepped out to greet Kenneth. "Hey, Mr. Artist."
"Hello, Ms. Businesswoman. Was it a fulfilling day today?" he asked.
"Oh, yes. Ibuki absolutely loved her dress."
"As I knew she would. You never fail to match anyone's tastes. It bodes well for when the shop opens."
"Oh, you don't have to keep praising me. I'm already your muse~."
"Well, you'll have to put up with just a bit more of my praise." Kenneth handed her a vase filled with sunflowers. "Something to match your radiance."
"Ohhh, my favorite! Thank you so much~." She gave him a peck on the cheek, then moved to put the flowers on the mantle. "From the best flower shop in town, I'm guessing?"
"But of course. One under new management, I noticed."
"I found that out when I swung by the market earlier. I wasn't expecting to see her again."
"Neither was I. Though, I suppose it makes sense. There is no home for her in her world, only ruins. And even with the Wolfpack ended, I recall her not caring much for the Defense Force, either. Professor Kubo and her family are probably the best group for her to find a home with. Even if she is a bit more...grouchy than the Professor."
"A lot of people used to say the same thing about you, Kenny."
"Credit you and our feline leader for changing that. The more time goes on, the more I look at my old self with embarrassment."
"Most people are like that, though. There's no growth without stumbling a bit, first. Of course, with me, it wasn't really a stumble. More like...being one foot short of falling off a cliff."
"You avoided it and rebounded all the same."
"And so did you. So, why don't we celebrate another good day with some dinner?"
"I could not think of anything better."
Kenneth sat down as Natalia worked on their meal. CiCi hopped onto Kenneth's lap. "Couldn't help but get my good pants furry, could you?"
"Mrrawr."
"Oh, you are impossible. Thank goodness your mother hasn't found more of you."
"Ahehehe..." Natalia nervously laughed. "Uh, anyway, we're having guests over for dinner tomorrow. Layla wants to discuss design ideas with me. She's bringing Sven with her."
"So I'll need to hide the fine china, understood."
"I'm already thinking of wrapping everything in plastic."
"Even that might not be enough. I trust Layla's judgement and he's definitely a polite fellow, but I've never encountered someone so clumsy. Not even Tabby."
"I think a lot of it is just nerves. Once we were with Tabby long enough, she got a lot better. I mean, she'll still drop a plate every now and again, but still. He respects you a lot, Kenny, so maybe he just needs to watch you be cool and collected."
"Perhaps. Just so long as I'm nowhere near a staircase."
"...hey, Kenny?"
"Yes?"
"Not to get serious again, but...do you think I'll be a good store owner?"
"This is rather sudden. Having last-minute doubts?"
"Not really, but...I've been thinking a lot lately. I've dreamt of this for such a long time, and now it's almost here. I'm so excited...but I'm also really nervous."
"It's only natural. But you also have every tool to succeed. You've trained for your entire life for this. You watched your parents run their own store. Your clothing consists of the most comfortable material, like the wearer is being wrapped in a hug, and the store itself is in the fashion center of Tokyo. I won't say that it will all be easy, but you have everything you need for this to be a success. And if there's something you aren't sure about, you have the best support system around to help you. Your parents, Layla, Caroline and Kat. Myself, of course."
"And I'm so, so happy that you all would help. I want this to be successful, because...it'd mean I made people happy. If I can make even just one person happy every day, then I consider it job done."
"Well then, every day should be a success. Because every day, you give me that radiant smile, and I'm reminded that I get to spend my life with the embodiment of sunshine."
Her cheeks rosy and her stomach fluttering, Natalia turned around and kissed him. "I love you, Kenny. Thank you so much. It's gonna be okay, I just know it."
"Keep up that positive attitude, and you'll surely succeed."
"Thanks, Kenny. For that, I'm packing extra love into your dinner~."
As she returned to her task, thoughts passed through her mind. "(I just need to stay positive, and believe in myself. That's my magic. And as long as I have my magic...I can't lose.)"