The Cheshire Cat- Chapter One, Fragrance

The Cheshire Cat- Chapter One, Fragrance

“Isn’t she just a beautiful child?” A new mother said, holding her small daughter near.

“Ah, yes. She’s just simply lovely, dear. She looks just like you.” The father said, smiling at his daughter. Yet, the doctors stared at the child as if she was a freak and, in a way, she was. After all, the little girl had purple hair with pink highlights, purplish-pink eyes, purple cat ears with pink stripes, and a purple cat tail with pink stripes.

But, to the new mother and father, she was the most beautiful child in the world. “What shall we name her?” The mother asked, smiling at her dear husband.

“Kaoru…” He said, “Is that okay, love?”

“Perfectly fine. I love the name.” She said, “Kaoru Nekoi… It just rolls off the tongue, don’t you think?”

And, that was the girl’s name. Kaoru Nekoi… Mommy and Daddy’s little neko girl… Years later, she was still Mommy and Daddy’s little girl. One day, the girl saw her mother talking on the phone with someone.

“Ah, Yuko-san… It’s so good to speak to you again. Did I interrupt you? No…? Good. I just needed to talk to you.” Her mother said.

Kaoru stared up at her mother curiously. Who was this ‘Yuko-san’ her mother was talking to? Was this person a man? A woman? Who knew…? Kaoru wondered if this ‘Yuko-san’ was a nice person.

“Oh, it’s nothing. I just wanted to tell you about you our daughter. …Yes. I know I said I told you when I had her, but the first six years of little Kaoru’s life have been very busy for us. …Oh, right. That’s her name. Kaoru…”

“Mommy…? Who are you talking to?” The neko asked.

Her mother held the phone away from her. “A family friend… You wanna talk to her?”

“Hai…”

“One second then…” She said, as she began to talk to Yuko-san. “Oh, Yuko-san is it alright if you talk to my daughter? She’s probably quite curious about you… It is? Great! Thanks.” She said, before handing the phone to Kaoru. “Be polite. Promise?”

The purple-haired girl nodded. “Hai, Mommy. I’ll be real polite to Yuko-san.” Kaoru replied. Then, she held the phone to her ear. “H-hello…?”

“Oh, hello, little one. You are Kaoru Nekoi, right? Ametsu’s daughter?” A woman’s voice said.

“Hai. And, you are Yuko-san… Right?”

“Yes, little one. I am. So… I hear your mother say you’re a little different from other girls. Would you like to tell me why?”

“I think it’s because my ears, hair, and eyes aren’t like Mommy’s and I have a tail.”

Yuko replied, “Oh? Go on…”

“Well, my eyes are like a kitty’s, but they’re purple and pink. Same goes with my tail. My eyes are purplish-pink and my hair is dark purple with natural pink highlights.” And, so the two talked for some time. But, soon it was time for little Kaoru to let the kind lady go. “Yuko-san, Mommy says I have to go say bye-bye now. So… Bye-bye, Yuko-san. Take care.”

Years passed and Yuko and Kaoru talked less and less. Soon, Kaoru had made it to Middle School. Her parents had made it so she could wear a hat, to hide her ears, during school and so she did. One day, she was talking to a friend outside school. “Hey, Kao-chan? What do you have to hide under that hat of yours?”

“I hide nothing, Shi-kun.” She told her friend.

“Just tell me, Kao-chan!”

“I hide nothing!” She said, taking a step back.

“Then, if you hid nothing, then why are you so nervous?” He said, taking a step toward her and quickly pulling her hat off head.

Kaoru let out a shriek. “Leave me alone!!!” But, then, her friend stopped.

“K-Kao-chan…”

“Shi-kun… What’s wrong…?”

“Y-you’re a… a demon…” He said, turning to run and dropping her hat.

“I’m not a demon… I’m just different!” She said, but it was too late. Shi-kun was gone and, from that day forward, Kaoru kept her distance from all of the other kids.

Then, things went for a turn for the worst possible events to come. It was the last day of Middle School and Kaoru was just getting home. She was singing a song that she’d heard not too long ago. When she turned the doorknob and walked in, she let out a gasp. Her parents were dead!!! Or… Almost, at least…

“Mom! Daddy!” She called out, running to her parents. “What happened?!”

“Darling… A… A man came here and asked for you… Then… Oh, we don’t know… But, it’s time for us to go...”

“Iie!” She said, tears in her eyes, not wanting her parents to die.

“Listen to your father, Kaoru… It is time for us to go… But… We want you to know this… We love you…” And, then they were gone.

“Iie! Iie!!! Mother, Father… Stay with me!!!” She said, as tears ran down her cheeks. But, it didn’t matter. Her mother and father were dead and she could do nothing about it. So, she stood up, after some time, and searched the house for anything else out of the ordinary. Then, she saw a note and began to read it. It was in her mother’s handwriting.

‘Dear Yuko-san,

You know how we arranged for our daughter to live with you? Can it be soon then we had arranged? Someone’s found out Kaoru’s secret quite a while back and we need to get her to safety. I’m sure she will gladly work for you… After all, you and she talked so very well, years ago.

Also, how has Moko-kun been since he went to sleep last? Has he awoken or will even my little girl not get to see him awaken, just like me and my beloved husband? Oh, my… Our little girl will be coming home soon. We have to…’

But, the note had ended abruptly. It was stained with blood. Her mother had been attacked writing it. ‘Mother wants me to go to Yuko-san’s to protect me…’ She thought, ‘Well, then… I shall go to Yuko-san’s… But, I must send her a letter first. I mean I can’t just barge into her home. It would be rude… And, so much like that dumb character everyone relates me to…’

She sighed, getting out a pen. “Alrighty, Yuko-san. Just let me write you this letter and I’ll be there soon…” And, with that, she began to write…

‘Dear, Yuko-san,

Do you remember me? It’s me. Kaoru Nekoi. I read that mother wanted me to come live with you. So, I want you to know that I’ll soon begin my journey to your home. And, I’ll gladly help you with whatever I can. And, once I get there, will you please tell me who Moko-kun is? Well, I’ve gotta go. I have to pack and, since I’m going to you by foot, it’ll take so much longer to reach your home. So, Yuko-san, wait for me please. It’ll be over a month until I get to your home but, once I’m there, I’ll help you absolutely everything you need help with. Well, I really do have to close this letter now. Take care of yourself.

Sincerely,
Kaoru Nekoi’

Kaoru studied the paper. Was it enough to let Yuko-san know she was finally coming to meet her? Did the handwriting look decent? After some time, she decided that it was satisfactory.

‘Oh, yeah… I dunno Yuko-san’s address…’ She realized. But, after some time, realized her mother had written it all on an envelope, ready to go. “Will it be enough?” She said aloud, “Hmm… Yeah. I think so.” She said, mailing the letter.

Then, there was only one thing left for her to do, pack up and leave. So, she went to her room, for a final time. “Alright… I’ll just back the necessities and I’ll get the Hell outta here…” She said.

The first place she went to her was her closet. It was chock full of clothes, she realized, but she didn’t need all that much stuff, really. “I’ll only take what I like...” She muttered, as she took out what she liked.

She took out only two hats, three sets of gloves, a pair of boots, a pair of shoes, four shirts, two pairs of pants, and two skirts. But, she also took out several hair ornaments. Amazingly, she was able to stuff it all into a bag and still have room. “Alrighty, then… Anything else I need?” She asked aloud.

“Oh, yeah... I need my toothbrush, a hairbrush, some toothpaste, and some things to snack on… Oh, and one more thing. My money... I need it all, since I’m never coming back here.” She said, getting everything else she needed and placed it in the bag. She looked at her room. She had no electronics, just a few notebooks, several pencils, and a kawaii cat plushie that her mother had given her. So, she somehow managed to stuff that all into her bag and, still, it was still light!

She shrugged it off. “A mere coincidence…” She told herself, “That’s all it was… Coincidence…” And, with that, Kaoru started on her journey…