The Fox and The Doll

Xitlaly opened her eyes briefly, sitting up as she came back to and looked around. Wherever she was, despite appearances she was still aboard the ship as she could tell from the rockiness of the motions. Her eyes darted towards the nearby figure leaning against the window before finding focus and revealing whom it was.

"So, finally came to huh? Heck of a witch you sure are, doing what you did earlier. Though I could have sworn last I checked a witch is supposed to be breathing."

She locked eyes with her, causing Xitlaly to shrivel back. Well, okay maybe she was a bit more than just a witch after all.

"I was wondering what was special about you compared to the others. Oni girl, plant girl, it had to be a little more than a witch girl. So, may I ask what it is you girls did to have the church on my ass?"

Xitlaly looked down, debating herself on her response. Cassie Nobody, curious fox girl with more than a few questions to ask. She noticed the gauze wrapped around her forearms before proceeding to pick at them. She didn't get too far.

"I'd rather you don't, your arms were beginning to fracture after the stunt you pulled. So yea, wanted to see what all this trouble was about before we arrive. Or is that a bit much to ask for?"

"I'm thankful for your hospitality... I'm guessing this is your room?" She nodded. "Well, it looks really nice and you certainly have quite a confortable bed to sleep in. But it isn't my place to say what we are doing, as for why well we all have our own reasons."

"And do you have any second thoughts about them? You know what kind of girl you are inside, really? Here." Nobody stepped forward, approaching the young doll before revealing a tattoo on herself, one similar looking to the kind Ketsueki has. "Can you read from this, tell me what my life is or who I am based on this?"

"What, no. I'm... what's with the weird questions?"

"I am saying," she continued before stepping back. "That you are a really unique girl with different talents to offer. You're not like your friends, we're more similar than you think really. But that's not my place to say now, is it?"

Xitlaly stared awkwardly as Nobody pranced over to the larger doors, her two tails looking cute and fluffy as she approached them.

"Well, rise and shine then. Your girlfriends have been worried sick since you passed, 'bout time they shut up already."

Opening the doors, their silence was quickly broken as Sans stepped in, smiling warmly as soon as she saw her friend feeling better. She walked over and gave her friend a gentle hug, caressing her two arms as she sat with her in bed with Nobody watching.

"Thank heavens, it is good to see you feeling better. Ketsueki will be pleased to know that."

"Hey, where is she?"

"Well, she's up on deck having a moment to herself really. I believe I upset her, but that will pass over. I am just delighted to see you still with us. Please don't exert yourself like that again, it took a strain on you and I can-"

She paused momentarily, looking back at Nobody before leaning forward to whisper. "I could feel your body was ready to give when you held on to that spell."

"Smooth. Fox ears are great at hearing by the way, toots!"

Sans frowned, looking back at her before turning back to face Xitlaly. "Anyways, I will go tell Ketsueki the good news. Get some rest okay?"

"Will do hehe. Thank you Sans." She smiled, watching her Dryad friend exit the doors before Nobody walked over and locked them. "Uh, what are you doing?"

"Certainly not keeping you hostage, so don't get your panties in a bundle." Nobody smirked before removing her kerchief, allowing her cute fox ears go be out in the open. Her third tail began to unravel from around her neck as well while she leaned against the two doors facing the doll. "Not like I could anyway, I'm fairly certain you could turn this whole ship inside out if you wanted. I just wanted to make a deal, you and me. I like to get involved on certain customers, after all. Get to know them a little more, and right now I figured I could speed up your recovery if you don't mind sharing your life story with me. How's that sound?"

Xitlaly scooted back a bit as Nobody smiled, both girls had an idea of where this was leading to. "Why me?"

"Because, sweet thing, you seem like a valuable customer to me. I care about your health, corpses don't do good for business after all."

"I'll be fine tho-"

"Zip it! Best not take any chances, if you are what I think you are then this will certainly do more good than harm. So buckle up, buttercup, I'm about to show you some of my magic."

"Kets!"

The Oni girl closed her eyes and sighed as Sans joined her at the rails.

"Xitlaly is awake now, and much better too! I told you, you had nothing to fear. You may be at ease now."

Ketsueki stayed quiet, before pressing a lit cigarette to her lips.

"Ketsueki? I did not know you are one to smoke."

"I don't, I quit a while back. Just... yea. I'm glad by the way, about Xitlaly. But..eh."

Sans silently observed her Oni friend continuing to blow smoke, inhaling the bud between her lips before sighing. At last, she flicked it away and sighed.

"Your mother... may I ask about her? Are you two close?"

"What do you think, can you read it off me? Look into my tattoo and tell me what you see." She answered back.

"I... I do not need to use magic to see you are upset. Please, I beg for your forgiveness for my intrusion from earlier. It was not my intention to install ill will to our friendship, and I hope we can recover from this mishap. But Ketsueki, what troubles you? I can tell it's beyond what I did, please." She placed a hand on her shoulder to comfort her. "It is not healthy to bottle up feelings, you know?"

Ketsueki remained silent, nothing was going to budge. By now it had gotten dark, the stars littered the black sky and Sans took a moment to appreciate nature's beauty. From the reflective surface of the sea, it looked like they were surrounded by a billion glittering lights.

"Nature truly is a wonder, is it not? Sometimes, it provides us with true beauty unlike anything we can ever imagine to see, to live through in our lives, no kind of photo can imitate what our eyes behold in life."

She grasped the rails and flexed her arms, leaning alongside her friend.

"But then, nature can be cruel as well as tsunamis and heavy storms can easily decimate shelters and lives built around its surface, common folk who don't deserve such cruel fates have **** but to submit to the confusion that is fate."

Ketsueki looked over to her, now locking eyes as Sans began to smile. Her hand slid over and cupped hers.

"Yes, nature is a great many things, good and bad, beautiful and ugly, nature is a very complicated thing. But we mustn't reminisce on the damage of its ugly side we are left with. Out of a volcanic eruption, new soil is brought and nature shows new colors through flowers and plants, crops and fruits for all to enjoy. For at the end of every storm, there lies a rainbow to leave us with a glimpse of hope. And right now Ketsueki, if you allow me to call you friend, I will say we are that hope of which our kind needs right now. Will yo-"

Ketsueki silenced her as her arms wrapped around her green body, hugging her tightly burying her face onto her neck. Sans was surprised but blushed and closed her eyes in comfort, hugging her back.

"I don't expect you to share with me your life's history, I haven't earned that. Just know that from this blight, despite its cruel nature, has led us here. Life may have had us as strangers, but this blight will make us sisters."

"When are you gonna shut up with your stupid sniff speech about nature and crap." Ketsueki giggled, pulling away and rubbing her eye. "I know I've been a bit of a bitch lately, I'm just nervous about all of this. And going to see my mom, well you'll see what I mean in a bit. But Sans... thanks for sticking with me despite how we met. I... I missed that."

Sans beamed and hugged her once more. "Of course Ketsueki, you have nothing to apologize for. Come, we must go see Xitlaly once more!" She skipped over to the double doors, turning the handle only for them not to budge. An odd look fell over her, and she fidgeted around before giving up. Ketsueki took the lead, pulling her aside before peering in to look through the colored glass. She recoiled back with eyes as large as saucers.

"What is it, what did you see? Is our friend in trouble, does she need help?"

"No... no I think she's getting all the help she needs."