Aku

Today I decided to be an artist, and like any artist I started to draw. My skills weren’t the best, but I could draw kind of good. I sat at the couch in the lounge. I was drawing a picture of Snowball. Snowball was modeling for me. She was sitting on the table watching me.

My pencil moved with precision as I re-drew lines and erased others. I gave it some serious focus. The drawing was almost perfect. It had a few parts that looked a little off but over all I think it was good. Once I finished I sat up and gave the final product an appraisal.

“I give it a 7.5.”

I didn't have any crayons or markers so I left it as it was. Besides Snowball is as white as a ghost. Hmm…. Could Snowball be a ghost cat? It kinda made sense. It was meant to be a witches familiar except those were typically black not white. Snowball might be a ghost cat.

Seeing my drawing filled me with pride. Still I probably wouldn't show this to anyone, other than Snowball that is. “What do you think Snowball?” I showed Snowball the picture then remembered she wasn’t actually alive. Gotta stop doing that.

“I think it’s nice. In fact how about I hang it on the fridge.” Shadow reached over my shoulder and took the drawing from my hands.

I was a bit embarrassed. The thought of it being hung up made my face blush. “No, you don’t have to do that!” I reached for the drawing only for Shadow to lift it up high where I couldn’t get it. I felt tears about to spill so I jumped for it but she pulled it away last minute then dropped it into her inventory. My head hit the ceiling and I came crashing back down onto the couch. I cried in pain and out of embarrassment. I rubbed my eyes as tears came streaming out of them.

“Are you alright master? I told you not to jump in the house.”

“I’m okay.” I cried. My little head bump was the least of my problems. If she puts it on the fridge I’ll never be able to take it down. I'm to short and Shadow doesn’t like it when I stand on chairs, or jump in the house. This lady, she’s a bully.

“Shadow! You cant put it on the fridge! I’ll hate you forever and ever! You cant!” I kicked in frustration.

“Don’t be so dramatic it’s a lovely drawing. How about I draw a picture and you can hang mine up where ever you want.” The thought made my two brain cells spark.

I can probably embarrass her with her own bad drawing. The opportunity was to good. “Okay!” I almost jumped for joy. I bet I can black mail her for candy.

That feeling didn’t last long as she smiled her evil cat like smile. Her eyes even turned to slits like some kind of lizard person. My confidence wavered. Maybe I made a huge mistake. I feel like I’m about to be taken advantage of. Like a merchant selling bath water and calling it a miracle potion.

Shadow opened her inventory and brought out a frilly white dress. It wasn’t a wedding dress but that didn’t stop it from looking fancy. She handed it to me but instead of taking it I took a step back. I looked up to her in confusion. “What? What’s that for?” I took another step back not wanting to even touch the dress in fear of it somehow being associated with me.

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For the past few days I’ve been wearing shorts. Originally I was having fun cosplaying as Aku but you can only do it for so long before you get tired of walking around in a skirt. It gets old.

“Your gonna be my model. Wear the dress and sit over there.” She pointed to a chair.

Was this still worth it? Candy was sweet. Worst case scenario I hang her drawing up over mine. She did say I could hang it up where ever I wanted, and the rules don’t say anything about using her drawing to cover up mine.

I let out a breath then equipped the dress. Even going as far as to pick out some other things that would go with it. Including some white knee socks, a bunch of petticoats, some brown marry Jane’s, and to literally top it off my ghost ribbon.

Even though I was tired of cosplaying I refuse to do it half assed. Thanks to the small mirror on the wall I got to see my eyes change to a light brown. The ribbon turned pure white. I looked pretty cute. Maybe it was time to start dressing up again. For funzies I spun the dress around. Yup, still satisfying. Shadow giggled.

“You know Master I wouldn’t mind playing dress up instead.” She gave my dress a little pat down smoothing out the skirt. It was obvious she just wanted to get close to me without scarring me away. As expected she hugged me from behind and rubbed her cheeks with mine.

“Shadow stop it!” I struggled but found no escape.

“Oh, don’t be a drama queen. It’s been a while since you looked so cute!” She released me then ushered me over to the chair.

I wanted to get this over with so I sat down. I felt my legs dangle. No matter how much time passes being small was so annoying. It’s like I lived in a world of giants. This must be what left handed people feel like.

Shadow sat on the couch, picked up my pencil and a new sheet of paper. She started drawing. Her tail swished as her pencil moved. She was going all out. I wanted to ask if she’s ever drawn before but remembered I was supposed to be a model.

She looked like she was having trouble. “Hold on, let’s fix something.” She picked Snowball up and placed her in my lap. “Give this little guy a squeeze. You look a little stiff so stop trying to be a statue and act more like your shy self. Shy seems to suit you best.” The thought of shy suiting me made me wonder what Shadow actually thought of me.

She was really taking this seriously. Maybe I should to. I hugged Snowball like I had so many other times. This made me feel a bit more relaxed. It showed on Shadows face as her smile went from fake to genuine. I felt pretty comfortable going forward. She went back to drawing.

In total it took her almost an hour to finish her drawing. I was surprised it took so long but watching her was something else. It reminded me of the passionate NPCs that worked so hard in town. She was really into it. I wanted to see it for myself. From where I was I could tell it would be something special.

“Alright, I am done.” She proclaimed.

I hopped off the chair and ran over. Snowball wanted to see to. It was… “How did you?.... That can’t be real.” I stepped away from Shadow. This couldn’t be real. How did she know?

She looked to me worry in her eyes. “Are you alright? I know it’s a little scary but it’s kind of a hobby of mine. I do it with multiple people.” This wasn’t real.

I stepped back even more knocking my old drink off a small round table next to the couch. The drink spilled and startled me so much that I fell on my butt. I could feel the juice soaking into the dress, but I wasn’t worried about that.

“Oh, Master be careful!” She tried to help me up but I slapped her hand away from me and pushed myself as far away from her as I could.

I cried out “Don’t touch me!”

She finally started to take me seriously. “Master. Your scaring me. Why are you so upset? Its just a drawing. Its not real or anything. That monster thing isn’t real. It can’t hurt you. I’ll get rid of it if you want.”

“Are you fucking with me! Why of all things! Why did you draw that! And…. How the hell did you know!?” I couldn’t look her in the eyes anymore. This person was not Shadow. Even if she knew she would never do that to me.

“First off language! And second off what are you talking about! It’s just something I made up. Are you really afraid of a little centipede? It’s not real.”

It's not real? This isn’t real….

None of this is real.