After grabbing some basic home supplies, the Knights headed home. The sky outside had turned orange by the time they had arrived.

Somehow, time had moved a lot quicker than either of them had anticipated. Shizuka hadn’t forgotten her hunger though, and now Tsukiko had her own stomach to take care of.

Entering the house, they stumbled through the dark hallway. They shoved whatever they could into the small refrigerator. Hopefully, it would keep them cool for a little while while they got ready.

Tsuki tried to flick a light switch, but only a very weak orange light turned on, leaving the kitchen quite dark. Tsukiko stood in front of a stove with pots, pans, and her supplies. Shizuka took a seat in a chair several feet behind her.

"Alright, now that everything's settled, what can we make?" Tsuki turned back to Shizuka.

"I dunno, you're the chef." Shizuka yawned.

"Hmm." Tsuki was annoyed by her answer.

"What're you thinking?"

"I… have no idea." Tsukiko admitted.

"What'd we buy?"

"The basics. Vegetables, meat, some spices… but I'm actually clueless." Tsuki stared at the bag.

"Just heat up some meat and vegetables, idiot." Shizuka laughed.

"C'mon, It's gotta be more effort than that!" Tsukiko reached into the bag.

"Why? It's food." Shizuka rolled her eyes.

"Shouldn't it be special?"

"Having you here is special enough, ain't it?"

"But… Fine." Tsukiko gave up.

"Don't stress out, drinkin' buddy." Shizuka stood up.

"Ehh?"

Shizuka slithered over to the fridge and pulled out a can of beer. "Let's drink, pal!"

"Nah, I don’t wanna chop stuff drunk. That’s an easy way to lose a finger." Tsuki reached for a knife.

"Your loss." Shizuka cracked open her beer.

Tsukiko started chopping some vegetables on an old cutting board. "Not gonna help?"

"Don't wanna slice a finger off." Shizuka held up her fingers and wiggled them.

Tsuki groaned. "So that's how it is."

"Hey, you're lucky I didn't go back to my room. There’s this show I’ve been meaning to watch."

Tsukiko placed a seasoned piece of meat on a hot skillet. "Maybe I should eat all your food then."

"Hey, I’m still here! I will sit here patiently and await my food like a good girl." Shizuka crossed her arms.

"Yeah yeah."

"I’m still surprised someone like you visits such weird websites." Shizuka prodded.

"This again?" Tsuki worked on the food.

"It's suspicious."

"I get bored, okay?"

"What interests you?" Shizuka leaned back in a chair.

"Hmm… I usually read the games, TV and tech stuff. I laid off cuz no one really talks about anything worthwhile." Tsuki tried her best to cook and talk at the same time.

"That it?"

"It's not worth talking about, is it?" Tsuki very carefully maneuvered the hot pans around.

"Oh, you're no fun." Shizuka whined.

"I stopped visiting it as often when I got closer to Fumiko."

"Closer?"

"We grew up side by side. We were friends, but not as close as we are nowadays." Tsuki sauteed vegetables.

"Nowadays you’re lovers." Shizuka didn’t bother to soften the blow.

Tsukiko stuttered. "I-I guess you can call it that."

"Don't worry, I don't judge." Shizuka rubbed her hands together.

"…before that, I was really really lonely." Tsuki stopped focusing on the food for a second.

"You keep saying that." Shizuka crossed her legs.

Tsukiko's voice got deeper for a moment. "Back then, I spent most of my free time online cuz I didn't really have anyone. That's why I feel kinda bad for you, Shizuka."

"Don't worry about me, I'm just a lost cause." Shizuka leaned back.

"You're not." Tsuki countered.

Shizuka opened her mouth to say something else before giving up. "Sorry."

"It got really really dark back then. That's why I'm here. I wanna cheer you up like Fumiko cheers me up." Tsuki seasoned the sizzling greens.

Shizuka responded awkwardly. "That's noble, I guess."

"…plus, I'm trying to chill out cuz I found a lead toward who stabbed Fumi." Tsuki added.

"Really?" Shizuka straightened up.

"Technically, only Sylvie knows." Tsuki sighed.

"How the hell's that supposed to work?" Shizuka leaned back again, complaining.

Tsukiko stirred the contents of a pan. "Code words or something. The Damascenes are weird like that."

"…is Fumiko really worth all this trouble?" Shizuka looked away nervously.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Tsuki turned around.

"I don't know her, but… I did stuff like that for the guy I loved. He wasn't worth the trouble." Shizuka tried her best to look Tsuki in the eye.

"Fumi's never done anything wrong to me. She's always been loyal and even protective. She's a good person, trust me." Tsuki shook her head.

Shizuka seemed a bit nervous. "He got me out of my shell at first too… but then he got in trouble and I had to bail him. Then he started manipulating me, using me… hitting me."

"Hitting you? You of all people?" Tsuki scoffed.

"I let him." Shizuka looked away again.

"And this was--." Tsukiko didn't even finish her sentence.

"Fumiko's father. To think, she could've been your cousin." Shizuka shuddered.

Tsukiko shuddered too. "Don't even wanna think about it."

"Why? Cuz you're fucking your almost-cousin? Or cuz she'd most likely be the product of rape?" Shizuka’s already rather weak filter completely faded.

"Please stop."

"You should tell her I'm the reason the bastard can barely walk." Shizuka winked.

"How?" Tsuki turned back to the food.

"Cuz he tried to get handsy with me. Aurelia'd been telling me to cut off ties, so I was already mad. He puts his hand where they aren't supposed to be and I break both his legs in several places." Shizuka laughed.

"That's a bit much…" Tsukiko began plating her rather basic meal.

"In hindsight, I should've kept going." Shizuka made one of her hands into a fist.

Tsuki slid a plate of basic cooked meat and vegetables over to Shizuka. "You'd regret it."

"I could've gotten away with it." Shizuka took a bite. "Yep, that's it."

"What?"

"The food came out great." Shizuka gave her a thumbs up.

Tsukiko sat down in a chair next to her. "I'd hope so."

"You ever fight with Fumiko?" Shizuka spoke with her mouth full.

"Not physically… no." Tsuki played with her fingers.

"You guys ever fuck when you’re angry at each other?" Shizuka smiled.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"…sometimes." Tsuki sighed.

Shizuka took another bite. "So, what do you guys fight about anyways?"

"Mostly petty stuff. We got stressed out and got into a huge argument after Mom and Haruka moved out." Tsuki stood up to get her own plate of food.

"That's good." Shizuka nodded.

"Why's that?" Tsuki spoke as she put the finishing touches on her homemade meat plate.

"Cuz." Shizuka looked Tsuki in the eye. "You're equal. Neither of you controls the other."

"I guess." Tsuki walked back to her chair, taking a bite out of the meat.

"I don't know what he's like now, but Fumiko's dad was a real piece of shit." Shizuka took a sip of her beer.

"Still a piece of shit." Tsuki played with her food a bit before taking another bite.

"He isolated me. Blamed me for shit. Whenever he did anything bad to me, he'd say it was my own fault for making him do it. He tried to force me to get rid of the jacket and wear what he wanted me to wear. He tried to cut me off from Aurelia." Shizuka burped.

"Sounds about right." Tsuki put down her plate of meat and went for the fridge.

"That's just the half of it." Shizuka frowned.

"He stopped being so controlling though. Now he's just an annoying old man. He used to brag to my Mom and Dad over his shitty desk job. I scared him off though." Tsuki opened the fridge door and reached in.

"How?"

"One time, he took a swing at Fumiko. I put him through a table." Tsuki closed the door, cold beer in hand.

Shizuka nearly choked. "Hah, holy shit! You're a fuckin legend."

"After that, I had to teach Fumi how to defend herself." Tsuki opened the beer.

"I'd have never expected her to be a fighter."

Tsuki yawned. "Well, I didn’t teach her that well. She can defend herself, but I don’t think she can go around picking fights like I do."

"Why do you say that?"

"She tried to protect me once. It was kinda messy, but she won."

Shizuka sighed. "Y’know, I still think about Nakano sometimes. Sometimes, I feel like things could have been better if I tried to change him."

"Probably not. He’s a real piece of shit." Tsuki took a sip of her beer.

"I don't think I can handle much more loneliness." Shizuka spoke quietly.

"That's why I'm here." Tsukiko held out her hand.

"I don't wanna be a burden." Shizuka pushed her hand away.

"You’re not a burden." Tsuki chuckled.

"Then what am I?" Shizuka’s face was serious.

Tsuki took a deep breath. "A friend. An ally. My aunt. The First Knight…. You're family. I already feel closer to you than I do Mom and Dad."

"Really?" Shizuka asked.

"Quit trying to put yourself down. You're only trying to make yourself feel worse." Tsuki scolded her.

Shizuka quietly returned to eating. "…thanks."

"Sorry, that was cheesy." Tsuki smiled.

"I haven't heard genuine encouragement in a while. Feels nice. You're too good to me." Shizuka had a little grin on her face.

"I'm just being myself." Tsuki awkwardly scratched her head.

"Yeah, but I feel like I don't deserve it."

"You can't stop me."

Shizuka looked at her niece. "I never told you to stop. Call it a guilty pleasure."

"Stop being so stubborn."

"You first."

--

After finishing her meal, Shizuka dragged Tsukiko back to the main room. As she entered, Shizuka fell to her knees and then to the floor.

"You okay?" Tsuki stood over her.

Shizuka rolled a few times before stopping on her back, facing the ceiling. "Tired."

"We didn't do much." Tsuki kneeled down next to Shizuka.

Shizuka yawned. "Tired."

Tsukiko sat down next to Shizuka. "Gonna go to sleep?"

"Nah. It's like… back pain tired. Like I need to take a break, y'know?"

"From what?"

Shizuka stared up at the ceiling. "Stressed."

"What're you stressed over?"

"Y'know, the usual. I've got a lot of things weighing me down right now." Shizuka stared blankly.

"Shame I can't sit down and solve ‘em all in one night." Tsukiko sat down.

Shizuka's back cracked as she adjusted herself on the floor. "You really are tryin' to get in my pants, huh?."

"What?" Tsukiko turned quickly.

"Kidding. You're clearly dedicated." Shizuka laughed.

Tsuki sighed. "Good, I got worried for a second."

"Calm down, man."

"You're right…" Tsuki scratched her head.

Shizuka rolled over to check her computer monitor. "I think you and I'll be good friends after all."

"Really?"

"Yeah, you're weird, stubborn too. I like that about you and you sister. I’m pretty stubborn myself, but you guys never give up."

Tsuki hesitated before speaking. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"I won't ask why you stopped, but what's keeping you from being a Knight again?" Tsuki asked.

"I want to be a Knight again, it's just something that's… It's been so long."

"And?"

"It's serious business, Tsuki. I know we all have our own reasons to be Knights, but in the end, the goal is the same. Protecting people is hard, and I don't know if I'm ready to make the leap." Shizuka frowned.

"What would you even lose?" Tsuki asked.

"I could lose a lot of things."

"Like what?"

"I could lose you, Haruka, I could lose my mind…" Shizuka played with her hands.

"So, why're you still wearing the jacket?" Tsuki countered.

Shizuka sighed. "You caught me."

"So…"

"Call me next time something big happens, alright?"

They both sat in silence. Neither of them knew how to keep the conversation going. Tsuki’s eyes began to scan the room, as Shizuka started staring up at the ceiling again. In a corner sat a small orange bottle.

Tsuki approached the bottle and grabbed it, inspecting it. It had a white sticker with mechanical text pressed on it.

The top of it had been broken, and the cap was lying next to it, slightly damaged. The contents of it had been spilled on the floor.

"…the hell're you doing with Mom's pills?" Tsuki turned around.

Shizuka responded in monotone. "I tore something a while back and I asked for something for the pain."

"Why not get them yourself?" Tsuki held the bottle up to her face.

Shizuka refused to turn to look at her, only scrolling up and down on the page she was reading. "Lazy."

"Why's the bottle smashed?" Tsukiko's voice grew darker.

"Cuz I threw it." Shizuka started biting her nails.

"Why?" Tsuki prodded.

Shizuka stayed quiet.

Tsukiko approached her. "What were these for?"

Shizuka ignored her again.

"This dosage is overkill. These are for surgery, what the hell were you doing with them?" Tsukiko towered over her.

"Don't worry about it." Shizuka lowered her head.

"I'm not an idiot, Shizuka." Tsuki kneeled down next to her.

Shizuka whimpered. "Then why bother me about it?"

Tsukiko sat down next to her. "Cuz it's scary."

"Yeah, well, shit happens." Shizuka’s hand turned into a fist.

"That’s not an excuse." Tsuki pushed against her excuse.

"…don't tell Haruka." Shizuka mumbled.

"Only if you promise to talk to someone next time. Call me, something, anything." Tsukiko demanded.

"...It was last year, alright? I'm… better now." Shizuka turned off her computer’s monitor.

"Sorry for making a big deal about it." Tsuki bowed her head.

"Just keep it between us, okay?" Shizuka turned around to look Tsuki in the eyes.

"I will." Tsuki nodded.

Shizuka replied after a short silence. "You're awfully bright."

"Ehh?"

"I didn't expect you to notice. I’m getting kinda sloppy." Shizuka laughed whenever things got awkward.

"I’ve thought about it myself, you know?" Tsukiko admitted with guilt in her voice.

Shizuka rolled over to look at Tsuki. "You can't die yet."

"I know that now. I wish I knew that earlier." Tsuki felt a strange pressure in her chest.

"You sure talk about that a lot." Shizuka narrowed her eyes.

"I just feel… good, knowing I'm somewhere better now." Tsuki smiled gently.

"You're makin me feel worse." Shizuka shook her head.

"Am I?"

"Not really." Shizuka laughed again.

"Am I or am I not?" Tsuki was made uncomfortable by her vague answers.

Shizuka rolled over and put her head on Tsuki's lap. "Can I sit like this?"

"What're you doing?" Tsuki fidgeted.

Shizuka looked up at Tsukiko. "I need a pillow."

"Uhhh." Tsuki paused. "Sure, fine."

"I really didn’t expect you to spot it." Shizuka looked up at Tsukiko.

"You made it obvious." Tsuki tried to remain cool in the strange situation.

"How?"

"I saw your bookmarks." Tsuki smirked.

"Huh? Damnit, you're right! I should really get rid of that." Shizuka trailed off.

"Nah, I don’t snoop."

"Someone’ll snoop sometime. I don’t want folks to know what my fetishes are." Shizuka shuddered.

"What?"

Shizuka blushed. "I’ll tell you what they are if you ask nicely."

Tsuki groaned. "Not that interested."

"Pat my head now." Shizuka demanded.

"No." Tsukiko looked down at her.

"What, was I bad?"

"What?"

"Would you rather do something else, then?"

Tsukiko's hand immediately landed on Shizuka’s head. "Creep."

Shizuka dragged a blanket over her body.

"What're you doing?" Tsuki shook her.

However, despite her best efforts, Tsuki now had a woman sleeping in her lap.

"Goddamnit, Shizuka." The Third Knight groaned.

Tsukiko was now stuck, unable to move even an inch. She stopped patting Shizuka’s head and then gently tried to move her head onto the floor.

Unfortunately, the sleeping woman stirred everytime she tried to push her off. After a minute or two, Shizuka began to snore quietly, so once again, she tried to move her off. She successfully managed to get Shizuka’s head off of her lap.

"Stay…" Shizuka mumbled as her head touched the floor.

"Huh?"

"…there’s pillows over there." Shizuka pointed at the wall, half awake.

Tsuki crawled over to a drawer that pulled out of the wall. Inside was a neatly folded blanket and pillow. "What am I supposed to do with these?"

Tsukiko turned around to see Shizuka asleep again, her head resting on a pillow.

"Guess I'm sleeping on the floor…"

Tsuki laid down on the floor next to Shizuka. She wrapped herself up in the plush blanket, and laid there thinking about the day she had. Still, she was a bit tired from it all, and she soon fell asleep herself.