𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓

01. disarray

✧˖*°࿐ •*⁀➷

ONE.

kagura mikazuchi is a simple woman. she has lived her entire life doing her best to make it easy and smooth since she was almost 6. maybe it's things such as avoiding taking the bus, or maybe just wearing monochrome clothing that don't look to flashy. things like this are what keep her mind at ease.

now here she was in her not essentially minimalistic, but cozy apartment watering her plants. the sun was hiding behind the clouds, trying its best to reach out and touch everything, but it just wasn't working. she spoke softly to her plants, giving them little assurances that they were growing beautifully.

kagura looked out the window of her apartment, staring at all the people down below. they seemed so far away from her.

she slightly glanced over at her clock, reading 8:12 am. there was only an hour left before she need to head to work, but that was plenty of time to get some reading in. instead though, she decided to cook breakfast and enjoy a meal while soft music played from her phone. her mornings weren't usually this peaceful, but on the rare days they are.. she tries to embrace them. kagura always tries her best never to take anything for granted..anymore.

she finished her meal and headed out the door for work. it was a local cat cafe a few blocks from her apartment that recently opened. kagura has always loved cats, but her complex doesn't allow pets unfortunately. this job was her alternative to getting to see cats even if she couldn't keep any of them. of course the cats at the cafe can be adopted, but each time one does, kagura feels immense sadness that she won't get to see them again.

she walked on the sidewalk as the sun was starting to kiss her cheeks softly. it was a warm feeling that she enjoyed. for a tuesday morning, it was surprisingly quiet outside. kagura tied her straight black hair up as she walked, carefully not to accidentally bump into anyone. countless people she has met over the years have complimented her hair, but she never saw the appeal in it. she always thought it was just a basic color..nothing much to it.

kagura walked into the cafe, hanging her tote bag on the hook along with her coat. instantly one of the cats, her favorite cat, frosh, rubbed her head against kagura's leg. the woman scratched the cat's head endearingly with a soft smile on her face. this cat meant a lot to her, more than any other cat in the cafe matter of fact. frosh was the sweetest.

"morning kagura!!"

milianna, but millie for short. that was one of the workers at the cafe, and one of kagura's friends. they both were hired at the same time, and instantly their dynamics clashed. milianna was much more outgoing than kagura, but they were able to make things work.

"morning millie. has any come in yet?" kagura asked brewing some coffee. mille shook her head while picking up one of the cats. suddenly the bell rang for the door and in came a familiar face that kagura wasn't delighted to see. seriously? this blonde bastard?

"yo kagura! long time no see!"

sting eucliffe. the idiot who tried to give one of the cats some skittles when he first visited the cafe. he ended up adopting one of the cats, lector, who happily ate the skittles. kagura argued with him for an hour that cats should not have something like that, let only candy. kagura tired her best to make sure he wasn't allowed to adopt any of the cats, but her boss agreed to let the blonde adopt lector.

"it's to early for me to deal with your nonsense you nuisance," kagura replied, irritation and sarcasm laced in her voice. she heard a chuckle that didn't belong to sting though, which made her look slightly behind the man. usually string would bring his girlfriend yukino to the cafe, but this time it was a man. he had black hair, maybe even as dark as hers. he was wearing a black flannel with black cargo pants, and was a bit taller than sting. she hadn't seen him with sting before over the numerous times he has visited the cafe. great. another idiot to deal with, she thought preparing sting his coffee.

"oh by the way, this is rouge. he's my childhood best friend." kagura looked at sting in the most uninterested way possible while handing him his usual drink. rouge, nodded at the woman and kagura instantly took notice of the earring he had in his ears. they suit him, she thought subconsciously as the two walked away to one of the tables. milianna was busy baking croissants while kagura sanitized some of the tables. she noticed that frosh was rubbing her head against rouge, who lightly scratched her head. they remained like that for 20 minutes, which inevitably made her jealous.

kagura remained behind the counter reading her book, east of eden, before she heard someone walk up to the counter.

"excuse me, i was wondering if i could have adoption papers for one of the cats."

panic set in as kagura realized rouge was going to adopt her car. she felt her hands get shaky and her breathing started to get heavy.

"um which cat d-did you want to adopt?" she asked in the calmest voice she could manage. the last thing she wanted was someone to take notice of her anxiety.

"the one right next to my table if that's alright," rouge said softly pointing at frosh.

"w-well actually that cat cannot be adopted."

"oh? i thought every cat was able to be adopted."

kagura felt her anxiety rising as the thought of frosh going away clouded her mind.

"t-that cat is my favorite. i-i really don't want to let her go."

"why didn't you adopt her if you love her that much?"

"my apartment complex doesn't allow cats," kagura said looking down at her hands.

"oh."

kagura felt her face getting hot and she wanted to end this conversation. her fist started to clamp up and slowly felt tears pricking her eyes. this can't be happening. not now.

"how about this.. i'll adopt her, but you are welcome to come see her whenever you'd like as long as i'm home." rouge looked down to make eye contact with kagura to make sure she heard him. she raised her head slowly, twirling her thumbs in a circle. it's not like he was taking frosh away from her—well he was— but he's offering to let her see the cat.

"okay. i will agree to that."