Natasha: "A little chat…?"

She wonders what Oshio wants to talk about. When she had "dreamed", they had hardly discussed... The man nods and starts eating his breakfast. He didn't put much milk in his bowl and takes only the cereals on top. He chews them slowly, each one crunching harder than the other in his mouth. He swallows it all without making too much noise and takes another spoon, but answers to Natasha first.

Oshio: "You are new here, after all…"

Natasha: "That is a fact…"

The handmaid watches Oshio while he eats his cereal. His red hair is badly combed, but the style suits him. His right eye is hidden by a tuft, but he doesn't seem to mind. The other one that shows is a beautiful yellow, bright and sparkling. He is wearing a servant's suit, but it is cut off at the arm parts. Like Master Milo, he has a long, loose scarf around his neck that reaches to his shoulders. On it is a large pin in the shape of the logo of Milo's faction. His hands are clad in dark blue gloves and his brown pants go well with the rest of his clothes. Natasha finds him rather beautiful, a side "threatening" emanating from him, in spite of his rather calm air.

Oshio: "What was Milo's father like, Samus?"

This question makes Natasha's heart miss a beat. She swallows what she has in her mouth and makes a small smile.

Natasha: "Master Samus was so kind, so sympathetic... He took care of me like his own daughter, but he didn't hesitate to point out my flaws. He never abused me or anyone... He was a great Master."

Oshio: "Milo told me he was selfish and self-centered, but very nice."

Natasha: "He's not totally wrong, ahah!"

She remembers all the times Master Samus would talk about himself for minutes and hours on end. Always saying that he deserved his place, that he was so nice and that if he wanted to, he could have an even better life... but he wanted to make others happy and comfortable, so he didn't abuse his handmaids and friends.

Natasha: "No one is perfect, but I consider Master Samus to be a person who comes close to perfection... Well, came close..."

Oshio listens to her while eating his cereal. He is not so interested in Milo's father, especially since he is now dead, but it is a good way to start the conversation. Also, he should put Natasha at ease: being new here, it's best if he's friendly with her and gives her a place in their faction. He put down his spoon, even though he hadn't finished his breakfast.

Oshio: "Hmmm, I see. I'm sorry you have to part with him."

Natasha: "Death eventually catches anyone, doesn't it..."

Oshio: "Some faster than others..."

Natasha turns to him. He whispered something that she didn't quite hear, but Oshio continued the discussion directly, not giving her time to question him.

Oshio: "I am sure you will get along with Milo very well. He is very kind and thinks of others first, even though sometimes he is complicated to understand."

Natasha likes Master Milo, but she is sure that one day she will adore him. From what she's seen of his personality, he seems so kind, so caring, so proper... and cute!

Oshio: "Normally, you should get along with everyone here."

He takes a strand of hair while staring at Natasha.

Oshio: "Even if you are a Cursed one."

Natasha looks down and does not hide her concern. Oshio squints and sighs.

Oshio: "Natasha, don't fret."

He crosses his arms.

Oshio: "Milo's the kind of person who doesn't judge anyone, so don't worry about him. I don't care if you're a Cursed, you're not going to bring us any harm either. The others won't care, especially if you're accepted by Milo. The only person who might have a hard time with you is Chris."

Natasha: "Chris...?"

Oshio: "The gardener. He rarely comes, so don't worry... However, I know he always finds a reason to judge people. The last time he criticized Jiax for her looks, he almost ended up as burnt flesh."

Natasha smiles and thanks Oshio for his words. He gently waves his left hand.

Oshio: "It's only the truth."

Natasha: "What about my dark skin or the fact that I'm a Kitta...?"

She's happy to know that no one plans to judge her for her Cursed genes, but that's not the only thing that's "different" about her. Oshio looks at her cat ears and smiles.

Oshio: "I don't think you have to worry about that either. I don't see why you think having dark skin is worthy of criticism, it's just a skin color."

Oshio: "For your cat ears and tail, I think it's a good way to earn points from Milo, Jiax or Kenoze. Personally, I think it's really cute and you just make me want to pet you."

He does not hesitate on his words, he is honest and serious. She laughs and nods.

Natasha: "Master Samus often stroked my hair... My purring was his favorite lullaby."

Oshio: "The purr of a Kitta is a cure for sleep deprivation... At least, that's what they say. That would be true for cats too."

Natasha: "I don't know if we can say that it is a cure, but it definitely helps people sleep."

Oshio takes the spoon in his hand and smiles again.

Oshio: "If I need sleep, I know who to call."

Natasha starts to laugh. Oshio thinks she's cute when she smiles, but he closes his eyes while taking a bite of cereal and thinks of something else. He cracks his shoulder and touches his neck. Natasha continues to eat, already in a better mood. The cereal is to her liking and the milk very fresh, which she likes more than anything.

They both finished their breakfast at the same time. Natasha drank the milk from the bowl with great pleasure and Oshio followed her lead. He's not the biggest fan of dairy products, but every now and then he likes it. Butter or cheese is not really to his taste, even on slices of bread. He takes the bowl from Natasha when she's done and brings it to the dishes.

Natasha: "T-thank you."

Oshio: "Hm."

The maid pats her belly and smiles. She touches her own cat's tail and slowly runs her hand over the hair: it's something she likes to do. Oshio comes back and sits next to her again.

Oshio: "..."

He watches her stroke her cat's tail and Natasha gives an embarrassed smile.

Natasha: "I-It's nice... That's all..."

Oshio: "I'm not judging, anyway. I was just wondering what it feels like to be a Kitta."

Natasha: "What does it feel like...?"

Oshio nods with a smile.

Oshio: "Even though Kittas are often persecuted, treated in a bad way and even enslaved, I think many envy all of you."

Natasha listens to him carefully. She has never thought about such a thing, as she has always been treated well with her former Master. She has often heard stories about the Kittas and the pressure they face every day, including the bad looks she once had to endure.

Oshio: "Being human is good, I guess. However, to be a Kitta? A Hourna? A Rena? That's different, it's still being human and it's cuter. I wish I was cuter."

He crosses his arms.

Oshio: "I may be handsome, but I don't think I'm cute. I have silly human ears and no animal tail on my back. It's disappointing."

Natasha looks at him with a gaping mouth. She has a bewildered look on her sweet face and does not blink. Oshio closes his eyes and puffs out his cheeks.

Oshio: "To each his own desires."

Natasha tries to hold back her laughter, but she finally explodes and starts laughing. Oshio opens one eye and looks at her with a small smile. When she laughs, Natasha can't help but move her body a little, a habit her former Master loved about her. Oshio stops puffing out his cheeks and puts his hands on the table. Natasha calms down and takes a deep breath.

Natasha: "What it feels like to be a Kitta..."

Oshio turns his gaze to her again.

Natasha: "I don't know what it feels like to be human, so I'd have a hard time saying... But..."

She touches her ear.

Natasha: "It's very soft and pleasant. You hear the noises louder than humans do, so sometimes it's distracting, but that's it. Having a cat tail is a lot of fun, especially since you can control it easily."

She shows him by swinging it from side to side.

Natasha: "Otherwise, purring is very nice, but sometimes it's noisy for ourselves... Nothing that bothers."

Oshio: "In short, all qualities."

Natasha: "Well, it's on the physical side. You have to remember that from what I know, Kittas are often used as sex objects or put into slavery..."

Her smile fades and she sighs. She loves being a Kitta and doesn't want to change, but it saddens her to know that her race is treated this way. She's never met another Kitta in her life, but she wishes she had... Only humans, over and over again. Afterwards, she understands why: the human race makes up about ninety-five percent of the entire population of the world. As far as she knows, the Kittas make up more or less one percent, which is not bad.

Oshio: "It sure can't be fun... At least here you don't have to be afraid of being judged. I think you'd get along really well with Jiax, honestly."

Natasha looks into his eyes. They are sparkling, she likes to observe them.

Natasha: "Jiax..."

Oshio: "She is Milo's personal guard. I'm just a servant, but they treat me at their level..."

He smiles.

Oshio: "I promise you'll feel like you belong here. I hope you do, anyway."

Natasha returns his smile and thanks him with her heart. This man is very nice to her and she appreciates it very much. Oshio opens his mouth to say something, but it is another voice that sounds in the room.

???: "Oooh, but it's that my two servants are talking!!!"

The Master enters and stands between them. He grabs their heads with his arms and hugs them, bringing their faces close to his.

Milo: "What are you talking about?!"

Oshio: "I was asking her what it felt like to be a Kitta."

Milo: "Eeeeh?! Me too, I want to know!"

He turns his gaze to Natasha and she blinks.

Natasha: "It-it's nice and cute and has its advantages, but humans exploit us so it has its disadvantages..."

Milo: "It's true that humans are stupid for this."

He rubs his cheeks against the face of his two servants before undoing them from his hug.

Milo: "I must admit, it would be nice to have ears like that..."

He touches Natasha's and rubs them. She smiles and closes her eyes, taking pleasure. Oshio watches them without saying anything, arms crossed. Milo starts rubbing both Natasha's ears and they spasm. It's a natural phenomenon that happens when you touch a cat's or Kitta's ears too much: they protect themselves by "flapping", scaring away anything that touches them. Milo let out a long "Awwww" and Natasha blushed.

Natasha: "I-It's natural..."

Milo: "That's cute!!!"

Oshio clears his throat and Milo turns to him.

Oshio: "We'll have to work soon, Milo."

Milo: "Of course, I don't want to bother you any more than that! But first things first."

He turns to Natasha and takes her hand, which surprises her. He stares at her more seriously and his gaze catches the handmaid's.

Milo: "Are you feeling better?"

Natasha: "... Yes, Master."

Milo: "Did you eat well?"

Natasha: "The cereal was good."

Milo: "You don't know the place, so I advise you to follow Oshio and help him with his tasks. You will get to know the place."

Natasha wants to tell him that she already knows the place, but given the conversation they had the day before, she prefers not to say anything and nods. Milo smiles.

Milo: "I'm sure you'll do a great job. If you feel bad, don't hesitate to take a break or call me. You also have Oshio by your side, so everything should go well."

He takes care of her and she likes it. She thanks him for being so sympathetic and he replies with an even more beautiful smile. He gets up and puts his hands on his hips.

Milo: "I hope there are some jelly sandwiches left, because I'm craving those!"

Natasha remembers that in her dream, when she came down, it was…

What he was eating.

Nevertheless, she doesn't think about it more and gets up. Oshio imitates her and tells her to follow him. She executes and stays behind him.

Natasha has this sense of déjà vu that eats away at her. As the day progresses, she notices that she ACTUALLY knows the place. All the rooms are just as she has seen them before and the tasks are the same as she remembers. She feels bad, but she manages to get through the day and in the evening, when they eat dinner, Natasha thinks about it all.

It's too strange for her not to get her head around it.

She is distracted when Sulman arrives with a cake

to celebrate the arrival of Natasha.

The same cake as in her dreams.

It is tall, beautiful, and well prepared. Its aura is sweet and its smell caresses everyone's nostrils. Sulman puts it in the middle of the table and congratulates Natasha again on her new job at Milo. She smiles at him.

Natasha: "Thanks, I'll do my best!"

The others congratulate her in turn and the handmaid can't help but smile and show her joy at what would be her new family. Milo strokes her hair passionately and tells her to help herself first. She agrees and doesn't take much, so Milo cuts off another piece and gives it to her.

Natasha: "B-But—"

Milo: "This is a party for you, enjoy it! Two desserts on the same night, we have to enjoy it!!!"

Natasha giggles and accepts the gift from her Master. Everyone helps themselves and they wait for Natasha to eat first. She takes a bite and savors the taste, the fresh cream kisses her palate and the sugar is already reaching her. She puts a hand on her cheek and smiles: it is so good! The others start to eat in turn and everyone congratulates Sulman for this great dessert.

Natasha: "..."

After dinner, Natasha washed up and got into her pajamas. She quickly laid down in her bed and is currently looking at the ceiling.

Natasha: "...."

She thinks about many things. All the events that resemble her "dream"... She can't get her head around it. It's way too similar.

Natasha:"....."

Talking about it with her Master or anyone else is not a possibility: they would look at her strangely. She can't really prove that her dream is not actually a dream, but neither is the other way around.

I thought that convincing myself that it's a dream would make me think about it less, but it doesn't seem to be working... Natasha thinks. She sighs heavily and wonders what to do.

Natasha: "If my dream is like a premonition..."

So Milo was going to be murdered tomorrow.

She closes her eyes and thinks about something else. Thinking too hard doesn't suit her, she starts to feel bad again. She moves to take a more comfortable position and remembers the pillows in Milo's room... She really wants one. They look so soft…

Natasha wakes up around 6:30 a.m., which gives her time to take a morning shower. She washes up humming and dresses properly for work. She walks down the stairs, but instead of going straight to the kitchen, she stops at the end and looks ahead.

???: "Hello."

Standing in front of the front door is a man who is standing on the wall. She walks up to him and greets him in turn.

Natasha: "Hello... How are you?"

His blond hair is combed back, but a few strands of it are acting up in front of his forehead. She doesn't recognize him at all... His eyes are a violent blue, but some kind of glitter shines inside them and makes them more friendly. He has a neutral expression on his face: he seems neither cold nor comforting.

???: "Natasha, isn't it."

She nods and lowers her head out of politeness.

Natasha: "I am Natasha, Master Milo's new servant. Nice to meet you."

The man stares at her, judges her with his eyes. He says nothing, he has nothing to say in any case. His foot is placed on the wall behind him, his arms are crossed and his other leg supports him. He observes her, notices each of her features and analyses her aura.

???: "..."

Natasha raises her head and observes him. He still hasn't said anything, he doesn't introduce himself. She feels the atmosphere changing, she wonders if she should leave.

???: "I see, it's you."

Natasha: "...?"

Harry: "My name is Harry, your Master's trainer. Nice to meet you."

He holds out his hand and she shakes it happily.

Natasha: "Nice to meet you."

He closes his eyes and waits for someone. Natasha asks in her head some questions about him, but she doesn't have time to think about it when a voice calls out to her.

Oshio: "Natasha!"

He runs to her and stops when he sees Harry.

Oshio: "Oh, Harry."

Harry: "Oshio. Hello."

Oshio: "Up already...? It's rare to see you up before eight."

Harry: "..."

The man does not answer anything. He keeps his arms crossed just as he keeps silent. Oshio sighs and turns to Natasha.

Oshio: "I was going to eat, but I saw you on the way down. Another small bowl of cereal?"

She accepts and follows him. She lets out a small glance behind her, taking one last look at the man named Harry.

The day goes smoothly. The work is done well and quickly, so Natasha can chat with Oshio a little longer than expected. On the horizon, Adara lies behind the plains of Ambleurs.

Oshio: "A sunset is always nice..."

Natasha: "I agree."

When she still lived in her former Master's castle, she would sometimes spend whole minutes watching Adara descend into the sky. Enjoying the changing colors, the star giving its place to Charon and day to night.

Oshio: "You seem to like the work, it’s nice."

She nods.

Natasha: "The castle is even bigger than Master Samus's, but I don't feel like I have any more work to do. Still, Master Milo only has you."

Oshio sighs and touches his hair to put it in place. While looking at the horizon, he thinks about before…

Oshio: "I wasn't alone, actually."

Natasha turns her face towards him and questions him with her eyes. Oshio remains fixed on the horizon, but he feels the eyes of Kitta watching him.

Oshio: "Before you came, Milo had another servant. Her name was Arissa, she was a good friend of everyone."

Natasha listens carefully, learning something new.

Natasha: "Arissa..."

The man nods and lets a small smile burst on his lips. He seems happy to talk about her, but at the same time, a nostalgic look crosses his face.

Oshio: "She was younger than anyone else, but she was still mature. She had a childish side, but she could be serious. Helpful, friendly and with so much energy, she was a little ray of Adara here."

Oshio sighs.

Oshio: "But overnight, without warning, she disappeared."

Natasha: "Disappeared?"

Oshio: "No trace of her anywhere. We looked for her all over the castle, all over Ambleurs and even a little further, but she was nowhere to be found. It's like she vanished from this world."

Natasha doesn't know what to say. She listens silently, her Kitta ears pointing to the sky.

Oshio: "Milo thinks she was kidnapped, but Jiax thinks she just ran away... But I don't see why she would have left like that."

Oshio remembers her smile, her good mood and the energy she gave off. She used to jump around and do her work very seriously before joking about something totally random.

A precious ray of light, now lost in total darkness.

Oshio had always had a good time with her by his side. Sometimes they would play pranks on Milo and run for their lives, even though their Master was always having fun with them both…

Oshio: "When she disappeared, it made the mood in the castle a little more gloomy, but..."

Natasha: "But...?"

Oshio turns his face towards her and smiles.

Oshio: "Afterwards, we heard about your arrival."

She opens her eyes wide.

Oshio: "Milo's father heard the news and knew that he would soon succumb to the disease, so he told him that he would send a certain Natasha here, the handmaid he

loved the most."

Natasha smiled in turn. With joy, with sadness. She still missed Master Samus: for her, they had not spent enough time.

Oshio: "I have to admit, it cheered us up. We didn't know anything about you, but Milo was telling us that he was sure you would be great."

Natasha: "That's nice of him."

Oshio: "Milo is special, but there's no denying that he's nice. He just has a hard time making himself understood sometimes."

Natasha: "Hihi."

Oshio: "Natasha."

The man extends his hand with a smile.

Oshio: "We hope you will feel comfortable in this family."

Natasha lets out a big smile and grabs his hand happily. She shakes it and thanks him a few times, which makes Oshio laugh.

Time for bed. Natasha arrives in her room and jumps on the bed, happy with her day. Everything had been good and the shower she had just taken refreshed her. She grabs a pillow and locks it between her arms, cuddling it as if it was the last time she would see it. She remembers Oshio's words and is glad she was able to talk with him. Milo is a kind Master, Oshio is a very nice person, Sulman is a cook with a beautiful smile. Harry is strange, but she couldn't talk to him much... She hasn't seen the gardener named Chris yet, but it's because he's not working these days. She doesn't know why, but she certainly hasn't asked. Jiax is the only person Natasha hasn't talked to yet, but she has seen her at the table with the others: she is very pretty and seems very nice, too.

Maybe I should talk to her tomorrow! thought Natasha. She wants to be part of this family. To be included and to get to know everyone in it! She squeezes the pillow happily and looks forward to the next day. She closes her eyes and lies down comfortably on the bed.

When a thought crosses her mind.

Natasha opens her eyes, slowly. She keeps the pillow between her arms and she remains motionless. She stares at the wall in front of her. The light is off, so she can't see much, but it doesn't matter to her. She blinks and a shiver runs through her.

Natasha: "......"

She says nothing, but the thought that has just crossed her mind gives her a new shiver. Her heart beats faster, her breathing accelerates little by little. Stress grips her and her hands start to shake.

... Two whole... days.... thinks Natasha. She swallows loudly and closes her eyes again, but a ball forms in her stomach. She purses her lips, but nothing helps.

This thought forces her to get up.

Natasha leaves the pillow aside and gets out of bed. She yawns and clenches her fists. Her brain is bothering her, but she herself knows that she needs to listen to it. She remembers vividly her "dream" that seemed to be reality. One detail in particular stands out when she thinks about it…

Her death.

Including that of her Master, Milo.

She can't forget it. This sight, her emotions, her fear. Natasha takes a step forward in her room, but she doesn't really know what she is doing. Where does she want to go, what for?

But her spirit forces her to move, for whatever the reason.

This thought..

Two days have passed... It is the twenty-first of May... My dream…

Information is racing through her brain. Remembering what she saw and remembering what she felt... She doesn't like it. She REALLY doesn't like it.

Natasha is shaking. Weakly, but she is shaking.

That thought in her mind... If her dream wasn't really a dream, then—

Then tonight, Master Milo was going to die. He was going to be murdered.

No... Natasha doesn't want that. She shakes her head. It had only been a dream, not reality... It had never really happened. It was her inner doubts that had played on her head, nothing more…

So why do I want to run and save him?

She has a Tempus, but she is weak. Whoever the killer is, she can't do anything. She can only warn him of the impending danger, but if this had all been a dream, then she would be bothering Master Milo unnecessarily. She takes her hands, clutches them together and wonders what to do.

Will I at least... see if he's okay...?

She hesitates. She hesitates so much. She doesn't want to see a dead body again, dream or not. She doesn't like the sight of blood, nor the smell of death.

Natasha doesn't want to get stabbed again.

She wants to stay alive, she feels good being alive. She swallows loudly and turns to her bed. Maybe she can go to sleep and just hope to wake up quietly the next day? She stands in her room, unable to make a decision. Whatever she chooses, something is bothering her. She puts a hand in front of her mouth and forces herself to decide.

Natasha squints, thinks and finally chooses.

She takes one step forward... before returning to her bed. What she experienced before must have been just a dream, so she didn't have to go bothering her Master. She lies down, takes her pillow back into her arms and closes her eyes. She will wake up the next day before seven in the morning and continue her work as a servant. She doesn't have to worry about it.

It had all been a dream...

A door creaks. Natasha opens her eyes suddenly and a shiver goes through her entirely.

She is immobilized by fear. Fear. FEAR. Her eyes tremble in their sockets, her arms clutch the cushion tightly. She doesn't know who has just entered, but she is sure that it is the door of her room which has just opened.

That someone or something has just opened the door.

She wants to ask who is there, to use her voice to be reassured, but her throat is frozen. In her head come back the traumatic images of the corpse of her Master Milo. In her body the feelings of death pierce her. In her heart fear and dread swell.

Natasha wants to scream or cry, but the tears don't flow, the voice doesn't sound.

She is still immobilized.

One step.

She hears it.

Another step.

Natasha is on the verge of tears. She is so scared, she is so scared......

We get closer to her.

She wants to run away, to be reassured, even to fight if necessary. She doesn't want to stay there, immobilized by fear...!

A movement.

She blinks.

Someone goes to her bed.

Natasha stops shaking, but her breathing is so low.

Another movement; we get even closer to her.

She is still so afraid, but her body accepts that she moves her head, that she uses her eyes to observe who is there.

Slowly, the lying Kitta is their prey.

Natasha wants to know who it is. She wants to see his face, to be reassured when she sees Milo's beautiful smile.

A black silhouette, a hood on the head.

That's all Natasha can see. That's all she can notice, from her position. Still lying in bed, a pillow in her arms and sweating from fear.

???: "Cutie~!"

A female voice. High-pitched, but a woman's, not a little girl's. A simple word was used and it would be the only one Natasha would hear. The only sound this person will make.

And her weapon went through Natasha's face like it was butter.

Natasha didn't have time to understand, nor to think. A blade got stuck between her two eyes, but those were also crossed. The hooded person removes her weapon from the Kitta's skull and stands over her.

???: "...~"

No words, no sounds.

Just a smile so unhealthy, so terrifying…

So amused.

Natasha quickly loses consciousness and immediately after…

Her soul flies away.

Her body becomes a corpse, her life becomes death.

Natasha is dead.

In this same castle, Milo is murdered, lying in his bed, an eternal sleep.

What Natasha thought was a dream…

Is nothing but her new reality.

Chapter 3: Acceptance of the illogical

Milo: "Just trust me, okay?"

She says nothing. She just stands there, motionless and frozen. She looks ahead, but her eyes show no life. Natasha is stunned and Milo blinks.

Milo: "Natasha...?"

He approaches her and goes to ask her if she is well when he stops in his movements. She raised her head towards him and fixes him with her beautiful red eyes,

flooded with tears.

Natasha: "Ma... Master..."

Milo takes her in his arms and pats her back.

Milo: "Natasha, it's okay. I'm here."

Natasha begins to cry her eyes out and falls to her knees, held by Milo. Her voice can finally be heard and her tears can finally flow.

What she thought was a dream is now clear to her.

She returns in time.

[BACK CAT TIME]

Arc 1 : Where Stars Are

Born.