6 This Isn't My World; Will I Fit In?

Under the covers of the futon, I'd look into the ceiling with the beams stretching across the room. With my mind thinking, I still find it almost unbelievable that I woke in another world. If it wasn't for the cat-people and the floating gems and the magic, I'd think it was a prank. That I'm in some off the grid place on the Catalina Islands and someone is recording my reaction to post it online.

I look over to Kanna who was watching me with the blanket half covering her face, her ears relaxed. Normally, something like that would weird me out but it's like an angel is looking at me. Then again, she probably thinks I'd do something to her in her sleep.

Maybe it is a prank. Her cat ears are fake cotton. Yet, they felt authentic. I can't remember for some reason and I can't rest until I find out again.

Steven: "Kanna?"

I sit up and look to her.

Kanna: "Yes?"

Steven: "Could you come here for a minute?"

Kanna: "Why?

I could see for myself. I've been around cats long enough to know them as well as myself.

Steven: "Please, let me pet your ears."

She sits by me and her face turns tomato red. I started petting her, as she lowers her head. I'm gently bending and twisting her ears.

This is so amazing!

I don't feel anything robotic that would make them move but they're moving and twitching on their own!

Kanna: "Nya~"

I don't believe it. She just did a meow! She starts rubbing her head into my chest and continues to meow and purr.

Steven: "Kanna?"

Now I've done it! How do I get her to stop?! As if things couldn't get any worse, the Elder walks in with Kanna wrapped around me.

Elder: "Kanna? Are you awake? I forgot to—oh dear—well, this is—what—how—my—Mister Omeo—Kanna—pardon the intrusion!"

Steven: "Wait! It's not what it looks like!"

Captain Esmond: "What's going on in there, Elder?"

The Elder hurriedly closes the slide. I could still hear them through the paper-thin walls and Kanna stops and buries her face in my shirt.

Elder: "Don't walk in there, Captain."

Captain Esmond: "Walk in there? What are you—wait! You have to be joking!"

Elder: "I'm afraid not."

Captain Esmond: "Y-you caught them in the middle of it?! And you're not going to stop it?"

Elder: "She's an adult. I have no choice but to respect her decision. Now let's leave before it gets more awkward for me."

Captain Esmond: "But they barely know each other!"

Elder: "We're leaving, Captain."

What about me?! I manage to break loose from Kanna and move her away. Almost like she planned it, she starts laughing uncontrollably.

Kanna: "Ahaha! It-It's what you get! You thought Nekomatas meow and purr?"

Steven: "What?"

Relieved, I fall on my back, staring into the ceiling. I thought I broke Kanna and the Elder was going to kill me for it. She's kind but a dangerous joker.

Steven: "Who's Cynthia?"

Kanna: "A-a friend."

She loses her smile and sighs. Damn, something must've happened. I'd rather not ask and have her remember. There has to be something to get her to forget for now. It's my fault I made her remember.

Steven: "We should go to bed."

Kanna: "We should."

I get back into my futon and finally shut my eyes to sleep. After tonight's fiasco, I'm completely spent. My eyes get heavy and my vision is totally black; I was asleep.

In my sleep, I had a nightmare.

Time flew backwards and when I was able to grasp the world around me, everything flew into a black void. I stood in the void and gazed into the eternal darkness. It was so quiet that I could hear my labored breathing.

A sharp pain overwhelmed my heart and I fell. The next thing I knew, the very same demon Girl that attacked me was hovering over me, putting pressure where I was stabbed.

Demon Girl: "I, uh, didn't mean to stab you in the heart. I reacted with instinct."

Her eyes began glowing a very ominous purple.

Demon Girl: "Okay, this is dangerous but I don't have a choice. I'll heal you completely and drop you into the ocean before Shadow Leap fails. I don't know where you'll land but it's better than ending up in No Man's Land."

I didn't have a chance to say anything. My vision filled with light and I see myself falling in the sky towards the blue ocean. Just inches from hitting the water, I sprung up from my futon and scare Kanna.

Kanna: "Woah! What happened?"

Steven: "I had a nightmare."

I manage to collect myself and fall back into my futon. Kanna, worried, gets out of hers and sits next to me.

Kanna: "It must've been scary."

Once the shock of the nightmare wore off I slowly began to weep under the blankets. Being right next to me, Kanna hears and gently rubs my hair that was exposed.

Kanna: "It's alright…"

Kanna…

Are all Nekomatas this kind and caring?

I pop my head out of the blankets and properly rest on the futon.

Steven: "Sorry… I'm fine now."

Kanna: "That's good."

She goes over to her futon and drags it right next to mine. As she was putting her pillows and blankets back together, I sat back up trying to figure out what she was doing.

Steven: "What are you doing?"

Kanna: "You'll feel safer if I'm nearby. We're not sharing blankets or anything like that so it's fine."

The only problem lies with me. If the others saw us like this in the morning, they'd think something is up for sure. Well, there's no point in me backing out when I did this. I could always explain myself. I cover myself and finally go to bed and we both become fast asleep.

In the morning, I wake up to Kanna stretched out across her futon, like a cat. I'd pet her if it weren't for what happened last night. I nudge her gently to try and wake her up.

Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click www.webnovel.com for visiting.

A couple of nudges and groans later, she yawns and stretches. She sits up while holding the blanket up to her shoulders and notices me in her room.

Kanna: "Oh, good morning."

Steven: "Good morning, Kanna."

Kanna: "Where's uncle and Esmond?"

Steven: "I just woke up too."

Kanna: "Well, let's find them."

We get up and head to the audience room first. The big sliding door was open and the Captain was sitting outside looking into the vast ocean. We walk up to him and he looks like he's deep in thought.

Kanna: "Hey, Captain!"

Captain Esmond: "Lady Kanna, Steven, good morning."

Kanna: "Have you seen my uncle?"

Captain Esmond: "The Elder is tending the garden."

Steven: "There's a garden?"

Captain Esmond: "A bit down the hill, yes."

Kanna: "I'll go get him!"

Captain Esmond: "If it's fine, may I have a word with Steven, ma'am?"

Kanna: "Yes it is, I'll be at the garden when you finish."

I sit with the Captain and stare into the ocean. It looks like it'll go on forever if I try sailing it. I wonder what's on the other side of it.

Captain Esmond: "So, how was it?"

Steven: "How was what?"

Captain Esmond: "You know what I'm talking about, last night. Everyone in the estate heard it."

Steven: "Everyone?"

I could feel my face burn up when I realized what he was talking about.

Steven: "It wasn't like that!"

Captain Esmond: "Really?"

Steven: "You can even ask Kanna, she was playing a prank on me!"

Captain Esmond: "A prank? Huh, looks like she's still a kid."

Steven: "A kid?"

Captain Esmond: "Yeah, spends every summer here, so I've seen her grow up, kinda."

That's nice, seeing someone grow up. My parents raised me well or at least I like to think they did. They did teach me everything I know.

The Captain stands up to leave, stopping by the door before looking at me. He had a serious look on his face, making me question if I had offended him before he started speaking again.

Captain Esmond: "You're still young. Whatever Kanna does is her choice but I have one question I want you to think of on your own…"

Steven: "W-What's that?"

Captain Esmond: "Who are you and what's your place in this world?"

He silently walks out, leaving me to think. Looking back to the ocean, I think about what the Captain asked.

Steven: "My place…"