Manticore Lives Here Now

- Sokoro

Mmm...

Ghhhh...

What... Where? My apartment. Huh? Must have been a dream. Geez, I'm going to talk to Nicky about those late shifts. Maybe, I can be moved to an earli-

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" (Sokoro)

(Humanoid Kāma covering her ears) "Again with the screaming. You know, I have extremely sensitive ears."

There is a large, naked woman in my room! How did this- What happened last night? God, this isn't funny.

"Wh-Who are you?!"

"What do you-"

"Whoever put you up to this -"

Wait... Are those... cat ears? A scorpion ta- Oh god.

"Kāma?"

"That's my name."

"Oh geez." (Sokoro turns around) "Why are you in my- No, first of all, why do you look like... that?"

"Oh, this?" (Kāma looks down at her body) "I shapeshifted to make it easier to access your living space since you were asleep and I was too-"

"No, I mean how do you look like that?"

"That's not what you asked though."

"You know what I mean."

"How would I know what you mean? Am I supposed to read your thoughts?"

"That's not what I-"

"And why are you looking away from me while talking? It's rude, you know."

"Because you are naked, if you haven't noticed."

(Kāma tilts her head in confusion) "So what? Haven't you seen a naked woman before?"

"No... not in real life."

Why did I just admit that?

"You shouldn't freely admit to something like tha-" (Kāma)

"I know!" (Sokoro hangs head in shame)(quietly) "I know..."

...

(Kāma sighs) "If this form makes you uncomfortable I can go back to my normal-"

"NO!" (Sokoro with wide eyes)

I do not to see that agai-and I can see everything now. (Puts hand over eyes.)

"Uh... No, you don't need to do that. Can you please just wrap that blanket around yourself? And then we can just start over."

She's not saying anything.

"... Very well, but I expect to be rewarded for these concessions."

"Sure. Sure. Whatever you want."

I'm going to regret saying that.

"You can open your eyes now."

"Thank you. Okay, first, how are you able to shapeshift? Second, why are you in my room?"

"Well, I once encountered a shapeshifting fox-creature hunting humans in my territory. We argued, we fought, I ate her and gained a tin portion of her powers."

My head hurts. I have about fifty more questions, but I might end up annoying her.

"As for your other question, don't you remember?"

No no no no. What is she talking about?

"R-R-R-Remember what?"

"You said I could stay with you."

"No.... N-No no, I didn't."

"Yes, you did."

"No, I..."

She didn't...

"When?" (Sokoro)

"On the way here." (Kāma)

She did.

"When I was half-asleep?!"

"You also called me nice."

"I was talking about your fur!"

"Oh, thank you. My body temperature allows my fur to dry quickly."

"Yeah, it was kind of like-Hey, don't change the subject! You took advantage of a sleeping man."

"You make it sound like a bad thing."

"Here's a new life-changing experience for you. With humans, that is a very VERY bad thing! (Points at the door) You need to leave."

(Kāma narrows her eyes and points at him) "Listen. I chose spare your life last night. Not just you, but every human living in this settlement. If you want me to remain docile, you'll keep me happy. Understand?"

What kind of deal is this? I have to stay on her good side or I'll die? Why am I even dealing with this? I mean seriously, of all people why does it have to be me who keeps the unholy abomination from going on a rampage? As if I don't already have enough don't already have enough crap to-

(Sokoro sighs) "I understand."

"Good." (Kāma with smile as she plops down into his bed) "Ah, I forgot how comfortable human dwellings are."

Comfortable for who?

"One more question. Why exactly do you want to stay with me?"

(Kāma raises her fist) "I want more pizza."

You could have just led with that. Pretty sure, I have some leftovers in the fridge from- Wait, what time is it? I need to get to school! Crap. Crap. Crap! Where's my phone? Okay, there it is. It's dead. Right, I didn't get the chance to charge it. Okay, where's my charg-and it's destroyed. Right, that stupid dog ripped it up. I was supposed to get a new one. This day just keeps getting better.

Oh, the clock!

"Um, hello? I asked for more pizza." (Kāma)

"In a minute." (Sokoro)

I just need to go to the living room and the batteries in the clock are dead. It's been stuck on 3.30 am for days now and I always forget to go out and get new ones. Brilliant, now I don't know what time it is and I know for a fact that I'm late, not to mention the-

"PIZZA!" (Kāma)

"I'M COMING!" (Sokoro)

Geez, she's so damn needy. Please let them still be in the fridge. Please let the fridge still be working. Yes and YES! Frozen pepperoni. Four big slices. Finally, something is going my way.

"You said you would have it ready in a minute." (Kāma)

"I wasn't referring to a literal minute." (Sokoro, while putting pizza on a plate).

"Then why did you say 'In a minute' if that wasn't what you meant?"

*Sigh* "Humans like to talk in expressions and metaphors. We say one thing, while meaning something else."

"So you lie a lot?"

"... No… We just… communicate with the assumption that the other person knows what we mean…"

(Puts pizza in microwave) You know, saying it out loud makes it sound kind of-

"That's stupid." (Kāma)

Yeah, that. (Pushes buttons)

"And why would you make such an assumption with me?"

"I don't know, you're able to speak English so I thought you'd understand… How are you able to speak English anywa-"

"Give me my pizza or I'll eat you!"

"Okay. Okay!" (Starts microwave at five minutes) "I just need to heat up, unless like eating cold food."

"... No..."

"Then exercise some of that patience from last night."

"Fine."

*Sigh* That's one problem solved. I'm going to have to get her some clothes for my personal sanity. I need to replace my charger, because my mom will give me hell if she calls and I don't pick up the phone immediately. I could shower, but I don't think there's any time. I should probably have some clean clothes left, at least for the day.

Now, I just need to get to school and… Oh crap, I have an assignment due today! Damnit, I was planning on doing it all last night when this happened. Okay, relax it's due at 9 pm and I've got time, hopefully. *Sigh* Guess, I'm missing classes again.

Right, I have to keep my promise.

"What are you doing?" (Kāma seeing Sokoro enter the room) "Where's the pizza?"

"Still heating up." (Sokoro opens cupboard to reveal collection of suggestive anime girl body pillows)

(Kāma sits up) "What are those?"

"Something I have to get rid of." (Sokoro in tears)(Looks up) "At least one of us can keep a promise without strings attached!"

"Who are you yelling at?" (Kāma looking up)

"God..." (Sokoro pulls body pillows out and leaves)

"Which one?"

*Microwave ding*

(Sokoro pulls out pizza and takes it to Kāma)

"This is all I had. I'll see if I can get you more later."

"Thank you!"

"Yeah…"

Now, where did I put those matches?