2018: The Good and The Bad and Beyond

2018 for me was quite a good year, a lot has happened then. Looking back in the last post I wrote in 2017, what I wrote doesn't really reflect my current opinion. I was quite ambitious at the time, I am now more laid back than I was back then - I don't think I will fly to the moon anytime soon and I'm fine with that.
Now let's get to the summary of this year, with the bad going first (just to get it out of the way).

Bad things about 2018

• Last year I wanted to get better at maths in 2018 and sadly that has not happened much, although I did do maths occasionally, I did not do it to the extent I wanted to last year - and there is a reason why: I did not really have a great plan, there was nothing I did that had a solid goal to work towards unlike my programming or even learning Japanese. With those I set myself small goals with things like learning Kanji and trying to do a couple of mini-experiments or creating small projects that could be completed in under 4 months. I did mention that I wanted to learn maths to improve my programming and I still do, but I now think that I should perhaps integrate it into my programming... somehow. I also did not improve on art as much as I would have liked although I did a lot of pixel art for Bounty Hunter II and my other games. I didn't really do much digital art or traditional art (except for the lame little doodles I would do in my lessons or, less commonly, at home).

• Due to my immense ambition last year, I started to feel the pressure of demotivation at school as I have to worry about an increasing amount of things like homework and coursework. Don't get me wrong, I still want to do the best I can but I feel like the ambition has died down since last year, to the point where I was starting to question the value of school again, like I did in 2016. I don't want to get too personal here with school but I was never really a 'school person'. Look, I can understand that a formal education is valuable to employers and it is required in some jobs like medicine or academia (maybe this might change in the future with apprenticeships). But the way the education system functions is pretty flawed in my very humble opinion and I hope to do a blog post on my opinions on education maybe at some point next year (although I am aware it may get some backlash). But I definitely learned that putting effort into something because you were pressured to do it or just because you may have been 'good' at it, can make you more likely to burn-out when the extra load comes in. Anyone who is in high school take note of this!

That's all the major negatives or beefs I've had with this year, on to the positives, and thankfully there's a lot more of that then the negatives.

Good things about 2018

• I fulfilled my promises of completing both Bounty Hunter II and Red Blue Adventures: Crash n' Brawl in the time frame I set in 2017. I feel quite proud of this accomplishment - it's like I can set myself goals and work towards them as hard as I can and at the end be rewarded with an extra project or two under my belt. Both were quite a blast to develop and I have learned a lot from both projects; BHII is especially something I'm proud of since the game was the first one I've finished that actually has a clear story to follow and actual characters with actual dialogue. Although the characters are not what you would get out of an RPG game like 'Final Fantasy' - it's still a game with some sort of story to tell other than 'Defeat this bad guy and save the world'. It's more like the first Half Life game where a story is being told but there are a lack of stand-out characters (except for Gordon Freeman and the G-Man). I'd love to make another story-oriented game like this in the future - or perhaps I might already be developing one!

• I started to learn a new language which was Japanese starting in May, this can more-than make up for the fact that I have not practiced maths that much. Especially since the language is radically different from English in almost every way like the syntax and characters. It also taught me a bit about Mandarin Chinese through Kanji and I honestly don't see these symbols as weird signs from the ancient gods anymore. In fact I was thinking if I get decent enough at Japanese, I could have a bit of a go at Chinese - I could call it the Bay-Jing challenge! Anyway, I'm glad I finally summoned up the courage to learn a new language like Japanese, it helped me become more enthusiastic about learning a foreign language.

• Not only did I finish 2 games, but I also made more games than I did last year and I managed to push out their source code for the world to see. I also learned a lot making each of these games, which can show how I could accomplish a lot in a year. I learned a bit of  3d modeling, I finished a game in C++, I had a go at implementing a 3d design in a 2d environment (with partially working collisions) and I learned about the A* algorithm which are pretty cool accomplishments within themselves. I started to also learn some JavaScript (in which I'm making another small game on). I like to think that, what played a role on this was that I adopted a more focused and structured mindset on what I do, and try to not be distracted by anything that is not related to my work. This did help me a bit in school too, so I am seeing this play a role outside of my games. I also enjoyed my life a little more, which nicely leads into the next point.

• I started to really assess the value of things like social media or other things that may distract me. This was something that really affected me last year, I often went on things like twitter ,especially during summer of 2017, and I used discord (although I don't count it as social media) a lot during October of the same year. Later on I started to subtly develop feelings of anxiety and general feelings of unproductiveness. I didn't really contemplate these feelings until early 2018 where someone by the name of Cal Newport pointed out that spending lots of time on things like social media can really make you feel a sense of depression when you see someone showing off how cool their life is or how it can pull away from your work when you idly check if you have received any messages. I have adopted the name of this which is "check stimming" and it has been something I've been doing for probably longer than I'm aware of (since 2011 probably) when I would check my inbox for something cool.
  These things have been in the back of my mind for a while. As a result of this realization in late April 2018, and after a lot of consideration and archiving I decided to let my twitter account fly away. I had lots of doubts, indeed I may have lost some potential friends, I may have destroyed one potential area of advertisement for my games and blog, but I was using it less and less as time went on. I questioned the value of twitter, and I honestly don't regret deactivating it. No longer do I have the temptations to check my messages or the tweets of people I'm following, (not that I cared too much about them anyways). I'm considering doing the same for DeviantArt, but I feel like it's a bit too much of a bold move to quit it cold turkey. I can post art and I use it as a way of traffic to my blog. But if my blog has enough traffic, then I'll probably make the move to pull the plug on DeviantArt and de-activate it. I'm not considering quitting Discord anytime soon because it offers a more personalized way of communicating with people rather than Twitter or Facebook. I'm not quitting YouTube either since it allows me to upload trailers and possibly in-depth videos about my games or anything that I think deserves a video - though I would link them via my blogs or website rather than directly promoting them on YouTube itself, although if there is a less centralized alternative, I'd happily jump ship. Maybe in the future I could also blog about digital minimalism too. I've also created something that I would like to use in lieu of any/most social media in the future which I'll show in the next section.

• I've made my own website and hosted it, I want this to be the place that I check the most things and update. I see it as a way to amalgamate things like my projects, my source code, art and my blogs so I can have a convenient platform to share my kind of content on. It was also a great way for me to teach myself HTML and CSS (which are quite easy to learn but hard to master) and web-design in general.

Beyond 2018 and into 2019

• I would like to improve my Japanese skills further and have a more solidified approach to learning it, as in I have one method that is the most efficient I'd have for the present and stick to that. I'd like to know almost every Kanji that appears on Japanese newspapers or media by maybe mid-2019. I plan to put my main focus on sentince-mining since I've been adding sentence flashcards to Anki so I could learn about grammar rules on there. I really hope it will help, I hope it will.

• In terms of maths, I would like to create a better approach to it, perhaps in the form of making a game that contains some form of mathematics (i.e. a game that uses SAT collisions or something like what Sebastian Lague makes). I'm not too sure about art goals but I would like to post at least a few digital or traditional artworks next year, for the most part my art goals have pretty much been on hold this year in exchange for things like making my games which I don't mind too much. But don't worry I'll still keep drawing and won't stop any time soon. I don't count on too much of these things being improved but it would be a bonus to see them improved.

• In terms of making games, I would like to see around 4 or more games being finished next year, because I want to keep improving, pushing myself beyond my limits and creating new projects. One of them includes a project that has stemmed from 'Magnum Foundation' which is a successor to one of the games I have released so far, which I plan to release late in the year. I would also like to reveal the other project which is more ambitious and again is a successor. I also plan on pursuing projects that are not games, like websites or perhaps small little simulations and miscellaneous things (like something on Node.Js or a calculatior) but games are usually the easiest area to come up with ideas for.

• I would like to also get a real job, to get experience of the real world - whenever it's a minimum wage job like working in the Krusty Krab (RIP Stephen Hillenburg) or some weird retail store. I've never had a real job before so I think working at any kind of job I can get my hands on would be a good idea for me to gain some experience of the working world. I could also make a bit of money as well!

• Since I have a website up and running, I would like to improve on its looks and make it look more like a website that one may look up rather than something from 20 years ago. I would like to make it have an art section. I would like to just generally make it a more usable place for me to easily post content and I could possibly give it some traffic.

• I would also like to travel a bit more, yesterday I went on a hike to somewhere outside of London and let me be honest, I have no regrets. It was quite fun socializing with the two people I went with (who were not part of my family) and appreciating the countryside more. In March I'm going to Italy (Venice) on a photography trip so that's something for me to look forward to. As well as that I'd like to go on more hikes/visits outside of London whenever it is by myself or with the two people I went with. I'm strongly considering to go to the land of the rising sun A.K.A Japan in possibly the summer holidays. My dad (who is aware I'm learning Japanese) suggested to me the idea and insists that we do something towards it. I'm quite euphoric of these things. It's nice to go out and travel outside of that little well called "London", sure London is convenient and comfortable (for me at least), but I will get a better appreciation of other cultures and places if I go there. These travels would be far more rewarding than the instant gratification and novel stimuli of social media. Which can lead me into my final point before I end this blog and go outside to wait for the final minutes of 2018.

• I plan to re-hash the way I look at technology, by using it to deeply cultivate the things I truly love, to interact with communities, learn new things and stray away from shallow activities like check-stimming and use it instead to connect with the world at large. The true value of when I meet people on the internet is meeting them in real life and establishing a deeper relationship that is harder to replicate by merely technical means like going out or enjoying a movie. I don't hate technology, on the contrary in fact, but misuse of it like anything else can lead into disaster and as a result, a less pleasant life. In other words, technology should be used as a tool to be controlled to enhance our lives rather than letting them control us (although I'm less sure about AI that uses enhanced machine learning algorithms).

Conclusion

This year has been quite a blast, I learned a lot and thought about things that were subtly popping up in my head throughout the years. It was to a large extent, better than 2017 in my opinion. I feel like I'm taking my life in a more healthy and productive direction, and I would like to continue this in 2019. I am hopeful it will be a good year and hopefully I'll have more wisdom and knowledge than I do now.

By the way, did you know next year is also the final year of the 2010s and when the last of the 90s (let alone anyone born before 2000) babies will be in their 20s. Happy birthday in advance, to anyone born on the 1st January 1999!

With that being said, I hope you all have a lovely happy new year!

That's all from me!

Project To-Ki-YO #2: Immersion and Kanji practice

Hello there... or should I say,
こにちは皆さん、元気ですか？
(Hello everyone, how are you doing?)

What I have been doing

A lot has happened over the past few months, I've tried quite a lot of ideas and methods to learning Japanese. I've installed an app called "Anki" to help me with Remembering the Kanji (RTK) and I've got to say: it's pretty effective for making me remember. I have also tried to immerse in numerous media, mainly NHK news (the BBC or CNN of Japan if I'm not mistaken), NHK's easy Japanese which I've done more recently. Surprisingly anime and video games played a very minimal part into this immersion process, for reasons I'll detail later.

Remembering the Kanji

Since last time I blogged about this, I finished going through every singe Kanji and then installed an SRS (spaced repetition software) software called "Anki" which was far more efficient. The way Anki functions is that it is a digital flashcard application where you recall the flashcard's awnser. I think I should have started using Anki earlier because I had to endure a load of August trying to come up with the stories for all the 2000 Kanji again as well as having to write stories for 1000 more (which I did not go through on my way back home), all of which I could have started much earlier. You honestly did not want to be there when I was writing the stories, I spent long hours trying to work on ~100 of them a day on top of the labuor-intensive process of drawing & animating the sprites for my latest game Bounty Hunter II as well as having younger siblings barging in to my room and making an absolute mess out of it. I have a few of these stories presented here in these pictures.

Around September 14th was when I finished writing most of the stories for the Kanji and I could finally focus on trying to consolidate them in my brain.

Once it came to the consolidation process, things were only a little easier since I've had to memorize the stories I've created (some of which I had forgotten after I created them) and draw them out accordingly. Some of these stories I've also had to polish too. I reduced the cards that I reviewed to 25 per day.

The way I use Anki is that I tend to often press "Again" for the ones I do not know and try to recall them via drawing them on paint with my graphics tablet (A Wacom Intuos), once I'm more certain with them I press "Hard" which takes the card off temporarily. This is quite a good strategy since I can focus on the harder cards and later on be able to actively recall the cards that I pressed "hard" on so I can eventually press "good" which takes them off permanently for the day.

Around November or this month I reduced the new cards to 8 per day, so I can give myself less of a workload as well as allowing me to still have energy to memorize older cards I have done in order to consolidate them well. This would straighten the forgetting curve and allow for a larger amount of retention.


















Immersion - Do's and Don'ts

I've tried many things like video games and anime, I don't think these are particularly good places to start since I've had difficulty understanding what they mean. Especially with video games, because if it is something like a game that is more action-oriented I have found myself skipping long dialogue so I can focus on the more core aspect of the gameplay. Visual novels can be an exception to this as the plot is pretty much the gameplay, although I haven't tried much of them - this will be something I'll try out in the near future.

In terms of anime although I have watched only Jojo's bizzare adventure: Stardust crusaders, Beyond the Boundary and Delightful Moomin Family. The reason why the amount of anime I watched was so low was that it does a very poor job of helping me understand the syntax of the language, everything feels a lot more complicated - sure it could help me pick up a word or two, but it did not give me a way to attain things like conjunction and or what is what in a sentence. I had the first two in Japanese subtitles so I could follow in with the Japanese, however when it came to understanding the language I often found myself pausing and rewinding so I can understand the sentence or use something like google translate to get a feel of what the characters were saying.

Although I did make some sentence cards out of them with Anki, the sentences still felt far too complicated for me to comprehend. The dialogue was slightly easier to follow in the Moomin anime since it is probably meant for a younger audience than most anime is (and I did not even have Japanese subtitles for that anime) but I still found myself constantly pausing the anime to transcribe what I've heard. I don't know about you but I'd rather listen to the anime and watch it throughout so I can actually understand the story rather than stopping and switch tasking.

Okay, so if anime/manga or video games are not a good place to start, then what is?
My answer would be learning simple sentences out of something like Tae Kim's grammar guide or listening to something like NHK Easy Japanese or news. The former I will discuss in the next section.
Easy Japanese gives very simple sentences and conversations and the people in the program go through all the particles (things like は, の and を), verbs and sentences, thus easing you into the Japanese learning process and giving some insight into speaking Japanese. News podcasts are also something I can just easily listen to passively, whilst I'm doing something else or doing nothing without extra stimuli like images.

I'm not saying that I'm against playing video games or watching a show to learn a new language - what I'm trying to say is that they are not a good way to starting out with learning a language due to their unstructured nature in terms of language learning. It's better to start with something more simple.

Sentence memorizing

I mentioned about Tae Kim's grammar guide not too long ago, let me explain to you why I think it's effective to starting out. It is because it is a grammar guide and you would expect simple sentences to appear out of a grammar guide. This makes it easier to learn sentences without any complications, plus they give you the Kanji with its readings, wait- I'll talk about readings because that is what I struggled on at first and why it is a waste of time to memorize every single one.

There usually are two basic readings Onyomi and Kunyomi, the former is from Chinese readings used in joined up Kanji whilst the latter is from Japanese readings which are in single Kanji. That seems simple enough, but I'm not done there - since there are also exceptions like Kanji for names, multiple Onyomi/Kunyomi readings and using them in different contexts so it is not always a matter of just Onyomi vs Kunyomi. I learned that I was just better off just memorizing them as they are in one big bulk i.e. 図書館 (Library) which is としょかん in Hiragana.

Anyway, with the sentences, my goal with the sentences is not to necessary understand them but to learn new words without having to look up the readings. It's worked rather well for me as I can recall a number of words I've learned whilst having say the sentences out loud.


Conclusion & future goals for Japanese

I have done quite a lot over the past few months since the last post, the main focus has been on trying to look at basic sentences, basic passive immersion and learning Kanji. I will continue on that for a bit longer until I reach a more intermediate fluency.

In the future I plan to try and learn more about the tenses and syntax of the language and shift the focus away from memorizing Kanji. I could even try to play a video game or watch something in Japanese.

That's all from me!
さよなら！

Magnum Foundation: The foundation of a plan

Hello there!
Since exams are over, I will discuss what has been happening on the game development end. I've been working on two projects in little chunks at a time. One of them is a small JavaScript game which I plan to release (hopefully) in February of next year; the other one is a far bigger project which I have been working on since April, shortly after Red-Blue Adventures was released. This project has the codename - Magnum Foundation.

The (very tentative) plan

I intended to have this project's development started right after Bounty Hunter II, but I thought it would be a better idea to work on it whilst Bounty Hunter II was being developed. With hindsight, I feel like I may have been putting too much on my plate as BHII was mentally taxing enough (as well as a cancelled project I worked on at the time as well). Development also was not too smooth as I would encounter quite a lot of road blocks due to me overestimating my skills. However, I think I was better off doing this than having to experience all these roadblocks at a later point. Plus most of the basic gameplay features are there in a very infant state.

Anyhow, about the plan of this project: I plan to have this project create the foundation for 2 new games (hence the name 'Magnum Foundation'), one which I'm estimating a Q4 2019 release (December to nicely conclude the year as well as the 2010s) and another which I'm estimating a release in Q4 2020. I do plan both games to be sequels to previous games I have made.

Level editor

This project also contains a custom-built level editor which I try to make easier to use than something like Bounty Hunter II's fiddly one. The design of this editor looks more intuitive, as it has a save button, a brush, eraser and a object selector. The least functional of all these features is the eraser since it's quite a time consuming process to add in a way to erase tiles on a certain layer or even switch layers.
Although I do hope to fix these problems at some point in the future, I still think this level editor is functional. The best thing by far about the level editor neatly ties in to the next section.

POUCH 2.0

If you do not remember from my previous blog posts what this stands for, it stands for "Prownie's Amazingly Ultimate Cutscene Handler" (pretentions I know). I remade it with what I learned from Bounty Hunter II's cutscene handler and another open source game called "Pokémon Unity" which has a really cool looking cutscene editor which helped me make this one. It is far easier to dabble around with than Bounty Hunter II's editor as you can just move the cutscene elements around by clicking arrows rather than having to do complicated procedures and dealing with messy UI which I could not blame anyone but myself for adding in. Here is a visual explanation of what I'm talking about (along with the level editor):

I have also implemented a number of new features to POUCH like checking certain event flags (which are basically numbers) and checking items, enhanced the dialogue system to include pictures of characters. These features are essential if you want to work on a story-oriented game since things change around the player depending on what they do.

I have also created Utility events which can be activated by POUCH which I will discuss in the next section.

Utility events

These events are basically events that seem far too complicated to create in POUCH, examples can include a shop or a way to check if enemies are defeated. These are triggered by POUCH which pauses its execution to poll this event. For example if you activate a shop the cutscene will pause and bring up the shop menu.

The build I fully implemented the shop was on the 2nd Year anniversary of 'Evermoral'

 You can use the arrow keys to navigate through the menu and buy the items you want. I might talk about inventories at some point in the future (although I don't know if it will persist in the final game).

Conclusion

I do expect to talk more about this project in the future and I do plan to reveal one of the projects, in maybe March 2019 and the other one later in the year. Admittedly, I'm not sure if half of the features in Magnum foundation will make it into either one of these projects but that's the nature of creativity and knowledge work. Despite the fact that I've recently released Bounty Hunter II, I still get worried that development of these projects may wain down or get cancelled completely since these are more ambitious than most projects I embark on. But still, completing Bounty Hunter has somewhat given me confidence that I am capable of finishing such things and I may be more intermediate with the processes of creating such projects. It's also not just the workload of finishing these projects that worries me, there is also the need of balancing things like a day-job (something I honestly want to get for the experience and a bit of cash too) and also living a life, because I don't want to just spend all my time developing games and looking like some shut-in, I would also love to travel.

However, I am hopeful that I will balance all these activities, after all Einstein managed to publish a bountiful amount of thesis's whilst working as a patent clerk. This may sound cliché, but if he can do it, I could do it. 

That's all from me!

p.s.
On an entirely unrelated note, since early 2018, I've been following a blogger by the name of Cal Newport who is a Computer Science professor at Georgetown University who writes blogs about topics that are full of things that bash on conventional wisdom like. He is infamous for having no social media, yet living a happy and successful life. He is publishing a book called "digital minimalism" which centres around using less technology which I defiantly suggest you check out. Or you can read a decades worth of his blogs which will may motivate you as much as it did me. http://calnewport.com/blog/2018/12/04/my-new-book-digital-minimalism/

New website!

Hello there!

I've been teaching myself HTML & CSS (and a little bit of JavaScript) recently and it has given me some motivation to create a website.
If you want to see it go here.

How did I host a website?

The reason that I've made a website now rather than earlier was that I would need to pay for a website hosting service to get my website up and running which has been the main blockage to me creating a website. But thankfully, I found out you can host a website for free on GitHub, so I used that to host my website. Maybe I might pay for a website hosting service if I get some sort of monetary income.

Why I did not use Wordpress, Squarespace or Weebly?

I thought that these sites (as useful as they can be for making websites in a short time), wouldn't allow me to make something purely from scratch. Being th technical person I am, I like to make something from the ground up to learn about all the things people take for granted i.e. scrolling bar and linking to other web pages. Although it would be much easier to have some nicer looking designs with something like wordpress, I don't mind the fact that my website looks like something from 20 years ago, I'll make it look prettier when I get to better grips with CSS and HTML.

Upcoming features

Although at this point in time, I'm quite busy with other things (which are not related to game development) so I don't feel like I'm in the right place to add more features. I plan to add in:

• More description to the "About" section.
• An art gallery (as an alternative to DeviantArt).
• Easter eggs.
• A custom blog.

In terms of the last one, I can't really imagine in my head how to do such a thing without blogger (what I am using as of writing this), but I would like to do it at some point. The first 3 are easier to implement in so I'll probably focus on those after I become less busy.

That's all from me!

Evermoral - Free forever

Hello there!

It's been 2 years since the last installment/reboot to the Ratchet and Sinro series was published on Amazon. I'm putting it here for free because I did not write the book for monetary reasons, it was a passion project of mine and I also want it to be easier for people to read the book to give me criticisms of it (because I have seen some flaws with the story). I've also done a few corrections and minor changes here and there, the story and events are still the same.
I've got a prize for you at the end if you finish this story by the way.
You can enjoy or cringe through this story now for free, forever!

Prologue

Hiya!

It’s me. 

The loving and carefree person.

Who doesn’t mind a thing when it comes to people’s problems.

Now then, you are quite an interesting fellow.

Let’s focus on your problem.

Well then…

You’ve suffered a terrible fate haven’t you? Heh heh…

And you don’t know where you came from?

Or who what where how you are…

Well… I don’t expect you to…

BECAUSE YOU’RE ALONE

YOUR FRIENDS ABANDONED YOU...

AND IN RETURN YOU ABANDONED YOUR ONLY REMAINING FRIEND WHO WOULD NEVER DARE TO LEAVE YOU...

I WAS ONCE A FUTILE LITTLE MORTAL LIKE YOU

LET’S LEARN ABOUT THIS UGLY WORLD

TOGETHER

Heh... That’s all from me!

Chapter 1: Odd Beginnings

The sun was blazing in the clear blue sky as the land stayed silent. The glistening lake water in the distance was shining like silver polished to the nth degree. The grass was as green as emeralds and fitted with the lush scenery. Even though the place felt like a calm reservoir outside a lush garden, no-one seemed to be present, except from one, who was a small red anthropomorphic squirrel with eyes the same colour as the grass. He rose from his unconsciousness as soon as he woke up; with his vision extremely blurry, everything looked like it had melted right in front of his eyes. He felt heavy.

‘What is this place... why am I here...?’ thought the red squirrel as he felt a strange feeling in his heart. A voice of a young man echoed through his ears.

‘I’ll always be there for you Loki’ 

“Huh... my name is Loki...” murmured Loki, “Thanks lovely voice... b-but I can’t remember anything else...”

He stood up with a feel of uneasiness from his body, as his vision became less blurry. He walked around the place for a bit trying to find out what happened, but he couldn’t find any answer. In hopes of finding out why he was here he decided to head to the forest nearby and sprinted there like a dog. Walking into the forest, he felt like he was being followed by a strange being...

He looked behind him and saw a purplish-blue small dragon who did not have wings. “Hello” the dragon cheered. Loki was shocked for a second but he did not hesitate to turn around. 

“Er...Hey,” replied the Loki, somewhat paranoid.

“You from ‘round here?” asked the Dragon curiously.

 “I dunno...” replied Loki scratching his head, “Do you know where I came from?”

“No, I see you walk in forest then I follow you,” answered the dragon, looking around the forest, “It strange to see red squirrel like you in the forest, especially as you pretty big for one. But then again what would a little dragon be doing here”

Both of the two giggled quietly like two little children.

“Heh, I know right? It’s strange to see someone like you in the forest too,” chuckled Loki. “It’s like two odd people meeting together. I don’t even know anything about how, where or why I’m here. Or even what this place is...”

“Wow, you don’t remember anything? It’s what they call amnesia right?” asked the Dragon.

“I guess...” replied Loki as he thought, ‘Dunno what amnesia means... but I guess it means forgetting things...’

“What your name?” asked the dragon excitedly.

“I think the name’s Loki...” replied Loki. The dragon got out his hand and held Loki’s hand and shook it like someone pulling a weak branch.

“I Sinro, nice to meet you Loki!” replied Sinro as he gleefully added, “I live in town not far, I come here to play.” 

Both of them walked through the colourful forest, Sinro showing Loki the way to his den. Sinro’s den was a small shack of wood and leaves. It seemed to resemble something looking like a house. The ‘house’ rested on a small space on dry dirt occupied by countless trees surrounding it.

“This my shack, I collect all sort of things,” replied Sinro. “It look good, don’t it?

“Hey… it’s looks very comfortable,” muttered Loki, “I think it’s somewhere I could live”

“I Live here sometimes and often play in forest,” explained Sinro as he giggled, “It very fun!”

Loki decided to take a nap inside the shack, he felt quite comfortable or maybe that was just him finding a lot of places comfortable to sleep honestly, even sleeping on a rock would be comfortable for him. 

“Loki! No sleep now we gotta find food!” yelled Sinro as Loki woke up.

“Yeah, good idea Sinro!” replied Loki.

The two wandered around the forest for hours and hours as Sinro was occasionally talking to Loki about what he would do in the forest like exploring places, and the sun was going down. 

They were starving and very tired from walking around the forest all day trying to find something edible. They luckily found a part of the forest with mushrooms scattered everywhere like weeds. They took the mushrooms off the ground, tore off sticks from nearby trees and piled up the sticks. 

“Let’s cook these mushrooms!” yelled Sinro as he shoved the mushrooms through the sticks, and prepared the fire by rubbing two sticks together, he created a small smoke “Loki you mind blowing into this?”

Loki blew into the fire as soft as a gust of wind. Sinro glared at Loki like a coach.

“C’mon man! Blow into these as if your life depended on them!” demanded Sinro as Loki blew harder into the smoke, which became flames, “That ought to do them!”

 “WOOOAH! THIS SO cool! I never cook something by flame in long time! We got big day ahead of us tomorrow, we eat, we sleep, got that?” asked Sinro.

“Yeah, totally up for it!” replied Loki enthusiastically as he immediately realised that he didn’t know what the ‘it’ of what he said was, “Whatever this may be…”

Sinro dropped the stick but picked it up just before it was going to touch the fire; he blew out some bits of fire on the stick.

“Oh, DARN! They nearly burned! Well... it could been worse,” yelled Sinro in shock as he quickly pulled the mushrooms back. He gave half of them to Loki and both ate the mushrooms like two starving poor travellers; well, actually they were. But both of them hated the meal ironically enough, so why did they have to eat it so fast rather than spitting it out? Who knows?

Loki laid down and gazed at the glistening stars in the black void of the sky but the tranquil atmosphere was ruined by Sinro’s snoring. Loki had a hard time sleeping and constantly kept covering his ears even though he was snoring too.

 Morning rose and Sinro got up like a dog ready to play while Loki was still exhausted from the lack of sleep he had last night.  The fire of the sticks was out.

“Wake up! Wake up!” yelled Sinro as he was jumping up and down like an energetic frog, “We have big day today!”

Loki, struggling to wake up, marginally opened his eyes and muttered, “S-Sorry, not up for it now,” then fell asleep again. Twenty-minutes later, Loki finally woke up slightly less tired than before; he got up and stretched his arms. Sinro was jumping up and down... doing nothing but wasting energy.

“Finally you wake up, you lazy slump!” yelled Sinro annoyingly, “What took you long?”

“Me intensely dreaming,” replied Loki, happily relived. 

“While you sleep you seem to say “Kaj” a lot” explained Sinro, “Is he someone from dream, or... Princess Okami’s brother?”

Loki thought about the name Kaj.

 “Hey, I think I’ve heard that name from somewhere... but I don’t know where” replied Loki as he stumbled on the thought of princess Okami, “Wait, who’s princess Okami?” 

“You never heard of Okami?!” asked Sinro shocked, “How could you!?- Oh... you don’t remember anything do you? She’s the princess of the castle not too far from where I saw you”

“Now you mention some castle near where I woke up, is that castle where I came from?” asked Loki

Sinro immediately replied, “from the top of head I Dunno, Anywho I know town near here,” Sinro went off and Loki slowly followed on. 

After Sinro constantly telling Loki the direction to the town as they walked, they finally went outside of the forest to see a town full of people doing several jobs like merchants dealing with tools and magic potions, postmen constantly running in a fixed pattern to deliver mail and people who guard the town. It also had many stone medieval-like houses with a church in the middle. The two strolled into the town and immediately many people stopped what they were doing and joyfully gathered around Sinro and Loki. Sinro greeted them happily.

 Many were asking, “Is that a new friend you found?” and, “Welcome back Sinro”.

“I take it that you belong here, don’t you?” asked Loki to Sinro as he awkwardly introduced himself, “Hi guys. Name’s Loki”

“Yeah! These people take care of me and I the light of party!” replied Sinro as he high-fived the people, “Loki my best friend, I meet him day ago! In forest! Be nice to him please.”

“Hiya Loki!” greeted a librarian as he shook Loki’s hands.

“Woah! Nothing like this ever happened! A friend from a forest?” asked a man.

“He’s quite cute, I think my cats will love him,” noted a middle-aged woman.

“Can I keep him mummy?” asked a little boy who was jumping about.

“No sweetie, I’m allergic to squirrels,” replied his mother. 

“No wait, they don’t like squirrels, sorry!” realised the middle-aged woman, “Especially if they’re as big as him”

“Where did he come from? What’s his attitude like?” asked a young lady, “Hi Loki. Nice to meet you!”

“He’s quite odd but friendly guy. I saw him on meadow. Yeah a friend from forest,” replied Sinro to the respective people who asked those questions.

“Now that Sinro’s distracted I can think about life...” muttered Loki to himself, “I don’t have a purpose in this story do I, No?”

You do Loki. Don’t be like that. I know what you are. I am helping you find your true identity. YOU ARE SOMEONE IMPORTANT TO ME.

“Er... I’m important to you? How?” Loki asked somewhat surprised of a voice that is ‘in his head’.

“How are you helping me find my memories? Hello?” asked Loki as he heard no answer.

You’ll see. 

“Hello? Urm... dunno what that was all about. I supposed that voice must have been from my extra 20 minutes of sleep,” replied Loki smirking, “Maybe ‘Kaj’ has special powers...”

 At the other side of the town there were important-looking men with purple robes going into the town hall, carrying a money bag. A lady could also be seen inspecting as if she was spying on them and running out of their view. 

“Hey Loki, there is princess Okami!! Lemme see her” yelled Sinro as he constantly kept tugging Loki’s tail as Sinro’s heart was skipping a beat. As the group villagers were surprised too of the princess and ran to her.

“She’s a princess? Eh… I have more things to worry about, like my existence” replied Loki smirking and shrugging, “See y’round”

“No you must come!” snapped Sinro jumping up and down and blushing, “I want see her now! Now! NOW!”

“But you can see her another da-”, stopped Loki mid-sentence as he was being dragged by Sinro. 

Sinro ran to the lady dragging Loki as fast as he could. Loki was trying to stop Sinro as much as possible by sulking to Sinro and slowing him down like a ball on a chain being dragged by a Ferrari to catch up with the villagers happily surrounding the lady. 

Chapter 2: The Distress in the Damsel

In a big castle there lived an extremely humble king. He was a middle-aged person who had long brown hair, big beard and fair skin; he wore a white lab coat and his name was Carl. He had many guards, and tried his best to persuade a lady to become a commander of his army. The lady was fair-skinned and had medium length brownish purple hair; she wore a white blouse with skinny black trousers and she was called Okami. 

Okami also had a 5-minute younger brother called Kaj who had a similar skin colour to Okami, short brown hair and wore a long purple scarf. He would usually wear a black trench coat under his emerald green shirt and a crimson tie. Kaj works for Carl but secretly is in contact with his parents by sending a letter by means of a carrier pigeon.

Okami had fled from the castle without any witnesses noticing her, running through the many trees and carefully jumping down the mountains. Through the trees was hidden a village. Okami ran towards the village like a panther. 

Once she arrived, she saw the people who she was meant to guide go into a town hall, carrying a bag of money. 

She quickly ran past them like a bolt of lightning. She walked around the town seeing the small shops and many people. The first thing she saw was men in purple robes (people who work for Carl) going into a town hall, carrying a bag filled to the brim with money. Many people all the sudden gathered around her as she felt very shy of getting attention. 

She looked around her seeing many joyful faces thinking, ‘this is awkward... what do I do? I don’t want to abandon them because it will give everyone a bad impression of me! I’m a princess, I need to sort myself out. Ok, ok. I’m a brave woman. I can do this!’

“Guys, I don’t think she’s really comfortable with us looking at her,” yelled one of the villagers awkwardly. The other villagers were repelled from Okami as they were walking away sadly muttering. Okami sighed in relief, but that relief was short lived as a certain duo arrived at her back and she fell back to square one.

She saw Sinro jumping up and down with a big smile while she was seeing Loki smiling at her with “Glee”. Okami looked suspiciously at Loki as if she has had a grudge against him. But she would never think Loki would get anywhere beyond Carl’s lap.

“Heeyyyyy, how’s life in that bloomin’ castle of yours? Li’l Princess?” asked Loki trying too hard to impress her, “Got big gauntlets of money?”

“Hey! I don’t need money to be happy!” complained Okami shocked, surprised and somewhat offended, “W-wait, why are you here?”

“Err...” replied Loki blank-faced, “I think I’m here because... of this story?”

“Oooh, interesting”, glimmered Sinro, “what lies in this story?”

 “I think it was some squat about er... I think... something about finding – Actually... you are a major part of this ‘story’,” replied Loki in confusion as he pointed at Sinro, “You led me here so you should know.”

“What business do you have here? Going to do the same thing as that red squirrel eh? Trying to spy on me?” glared Okami at Sinro as she carried him with telekinesis off the ground. Everyone looked at Okami in shock. For a few seconds there was an awkward silence, which took a while for Okami to realise (while still carrying Sinro). Okami thought, ‘Oh crap, I’m damaging my reputation. Why do I have to vent my anger I have at these two! Today can’t be any worse can it?’

“I don’t wanna interrupt anything but I think it’s better if you have this conversation somewhere else. Y’know where there is less people...” offered Loki as he giggled, “I mean it’s not like I mind you threatening Sinro and asking if he’s suspicious - just saying.”

The villagers stared at each other, puzzled.

“Loki - you have just made this situation more awkward... ” whispered Okami to Loki, still carrying Sinro by telekinesis. She dashed to the area with trees that was the least populated. The townspeople continued doing their jobs like normal people would as well as some of them discussing what happened. 

“I don’t spy on you! I just want to greet you, so many people tell me about how great you are!” replied Sinro happy to see Okami even though he was choking, “CAN I HAVE YOUR AUTOGRAPH? One last thing, could you put me down. I can’t breathe.”

“Alright I guess,” replied Okami as she stopped her telekinesis, “Autograph? Aww, I think I’m a being a bit too generous for this. Grab me a piece of paper. I’m only doing this because you made my day. Not because I like autographs or anything.”

Sinro got a piece of paper and gave it to Okami; she took a pen from her breast pocket and signed Sinro’s photograph and put a heart on it. Sinro blushed and took it happily. Loki also got a piece of paper and gave it to Okami but she declined it.

“Nerds only!” yelled Okami as she threw the paper back at Loki and demanded, “I’m not finished with you! How did you escape Carl’s castle? And what are you planning?”

“Nothing… I dunno how I even got here, I don’t remember much or even anything,” replied Loki, “You seem a bit tense… Y’mind calming down a bit?”

“Yeah, you’ll blow up if you get mad,” added Sinro, still adoring the signature.

“Quiet you! Go back to snuggling my signature, then that will be the lesser of two fools I have to deal with,” intimidated Okami as fuchsia glowing sharp objects, looking like throwing knives, appeared on her hands.

“No! Stop, he’s my friend! He’ll never harm anyone!” yelled Sinro as he stood in the way, “I can prove it! Loki hit Okami!”

“Here.”, replied Loki as he pretended to weakly punch the air.

“Wow...” giggled Okami at Loki’s punch as she thought ‘I guess without Carl you’re powerless...’ 

 “O-Okami,” asked Sinro nervously as he inched up to Okami, “C-Could you join us?”

 “Well, I don’t have anything to do since I fled from the castle I live in, so I suppose I could,” replied Okami as she glared and pointed at Loki, “And Loki, just because I am joining you it does not motivate me to be your friend, well until I know you a bit more… maybe, but don’t get your hopes up!”

“You lose power? You no princess? Why? You powerful and all mighty,” asked Sinro worryingly.

“Well, the castle belonged to my parents until Carl took over the castle, now he’s taking over the village,” replied Okami with some tears on her eyes, as she explained why she got sent out. Loki and Sinro listened.

“That really sad story,” replied Sinro, as he cried like a baby losing his mother.

“Tragic, frankly tragic,” replied Loki with sadness in his eyes, like someone hearing a sad backstory of someone they may never meet.

“Well, what’s happened has happened! Well, depression aside, first of all we need to get out of this place, those men in the town hall are up to no good,” explained Okami, as both of them nodded. “They plan on buying this village and if they find us I’ll be put as prisoner, Loki will regain his memory; he’ll be back to square one and I don’t know what will happen to Sinro.”

“Okay!” yelled Sinro as Loki nodded.

The three went to the deck and Okami paid the sailor with her pocket money to the cheapest place far from the island. The sailor told them to wait inside the ship.

Meanwhile at the town hall, after the soldiers paid the mayor to buy control of the town…

“Our mission on buying the town is complete!” said one of the soldiers clapping.

“And we can get a load of wine to celebrate!” cheered another one as he got out the wine from a nearby chest. 

“As much as I would like to join your party, I got to do something! Be right back!” yelled Kaj upon realization of seeing Okami, Loki and Sinro walking in the distance from the view of the window.

“Well, well if it isn’t my sister and my love Loki…” gleamed Kaj quietly.

 He quickly went out of the town hall and to the deck and snuck up near the 3 as they were walking onto the ship.

“Perfect, they are going in the ship,” whispered Kaj with a very eager smile and his heart pounding, “Now then, I shall commence my plan!”

He yelled, “Sailor!”

“What can I do for ya? Wanna go in the ship? It costs 20 grains (currency) for one person,” asked the sailor trying his best to be as happy as possible.

“Which island are you going to?” asked Kaj calmly.

“C-Chevir,” replied the sailor shyly.

“May I change the location to Greentwin, Mr. Sailor?” asked Kaj confidently.

“Eh… I have heard you were one of the people that recently bought this place, so I will,” replied the sailor in a more honest tone as he was thinking, ‘Thank heavens he wasn’t gonna threaten me.’

Kaj paid the 20 grains; even though he was one of the people who owned the place, he was still aware the sailor had families to feed. The sailor told Kaj to have a good trip as he walked into the ship to control it and Kaj replied, “See you later!”

Kaj went inside the bar of the ship, trying to avoid attention of Loki, Sinro and Okami. The three decided to go to the sitting area. Sinro and Okami put their heads down on a desk and slept. Loki slept sitting. A few hours later, the ship arrived at the port of Greentwin and the three got off, with Kaj getting off too, but away from the three. Most of the trio (except Sinro) were exhausted. The town consisted of many tall brick buildings and shops.

“Sigh, I’m so… tired,” moaned Loki, slumping around.

“You should be the last one to say ‘Oh I’m tired’,” ridiculed Okami, “I had to wake up at 6 am this morning and I’m not moaning.”

“Well then, are we going somewhere?” replied Loki, looking around.

“I don’t know, just be glad that we are safe and away from those bad men and that Loki is not under Carl’s iron fist,” replied Okami, concerned about Loki’s safety.

Kaj, hiding behind a building, quietly whispered to himself, “Heh I’ll show you where we are…” 

The three walked through the town and continued their unforeseen journey out of the town. 

Chapter 3:  The man of stealthy dexterity

After hours of walking in the colorful forest, night was getting near. Loki was getting suspicious of his surroundings.

“I smell something fishy,” explained Loki as he pointed to a pond next to a tree. “I think it came from there, the pond.”  

“Yes, I am watching you. In fact, I have been watching you on your entire journey!” replied a dark and gloomy voice.

HEY THAT’S MY JOB YOU IDIOT!

“Show yourself!” demanded Okami courageously.

“….Calm down there’s nothing to worry about,” replied the voice calmly, as the person jumped out of the tree as he thought, ‘that voice that I practiced fooled them better than I thought, a-a bit too much better’. It was Kaj.

“Brother?” asked Okami, shocked.

“Kaj?” asked Sinro out of context, despite the fact he didn’t know such a person existed, “Okami’s brother, I mean?”

“Kaj?” asked Loki as he (sort of) recognized Kaj and blushed heavily, “What a hunky guy… I love that smell of Kiwi on you…”

‘Huh so that’s why I was constantly saying the name ‘Kaj’ the other day… I guess this is Kaj…’

“Thanks” replied Kaj happily as he then took a proper look at the person who complimented him and stuttered, “Oh hello Loki, I saw you a few hours ago with Okami and some dragon. I’m curious, how did you appear with her?”

“Uh?” asked Loki dumbfounded staring at Kaj, “d-dunno, stuff happened and before I knew it I’m with some weird dragon and a demonic lady“

Okami glared at Loki as if she were eager to strangle him. She clenched her fists snakingly and imagined herself strangling Loki while ironically thinking ‘Must. Not. Strangle.’

“I see…” replied Kaj as he replied worriedly, “I-I hope you didn’t get into any fights…”

“Nah, I don’t think so” replied Loki laughing, “I’d never fight anyone, dude…”

“Good, good… glad you are safe” replied Kaj with a sigh of relief.

“Who are you supposed to be, ‘Kaj’?” asked Loki.

“W-wait y-you don’t remember who I am” asked Kaj, “I-I’m your good friend remember?”

“I…I don’t exactly remember…” replied Loki as he thought, ‘But I do remember a radiation of feelings every time I go near Kaj or even think about him’

“That’s a shame, at least you are here though” replied Kaj, “I thought I’d never see you again after I left Carl’s”

“I think Okami told me about Carl’s area” replied Loki, “He owns a castle right?”

“Yes indeed” replied Kaj, “I was sent to take over the other town with a bunch of guards… I didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to you… I thought you would stay with Carl… and… and… not want me anymore”

“Nah, I don’t think so…” replied Loki as he blissfully replied, “I-I’d still want you… I think”

“Well it’s weird how you remember how you want me, but not me as a person” laughed Kaj as he smiled and thought ‘I don’t care though, I’m glad he still remembers that’ 

“Hey… I agree” laughed Loki as he thought, ‘I don’t care though, I’m glad I still remember that from whatever heck of a past I’ve been through’

“So I’m guessing you guys (especially Okami) want to know why I’m not doing my duties with Carl” inquired Kaj, “And why I may have ‘stalked’ you to where you are now…”

“Yeah…” muttered Okami, “I was actually going to ask that a second ago, no- the whole time”

“Ho, ho! This is a better time than ever to tell you why I decided to casually walk out of Carl’s grasp” Kaj as he quickly brandished his map out, “This map my parents sent Okami by pigeon. Unfortunately for her, Carl confiscated and hid it away from Okami. On the day I left Carl, I stole the map without a hitch.  The ship you went on to get here was meant to take you to Chevir, but instead I took you to Greentwin Island which is this one. Greentwin is where our parents live, and this is the location they marked on the map”

Kaj pointed at the location of the world map. Both Loki and Sinro were gob smacked by the method Kaj announced.

“It’s great isn’t it?” asked Kaj happily, “Now all of us are here and are walking together!” 

“Y-EEEEEEAH!” yelled Sinro, “You did impossible!”

“Yeeeahh… dude” Loki calmly yelled as he excitedly thought, ‘I-I think I’m remembering the link of him… a-and those feelings of l-love…’

“It’s so awesome!” yelled Sinro to Loki.

“Yeeaahhh!!” replied Loki to himself, disguising it as a reply to Sinro. The two then chatted to each other and laughed a lot.

Kaj saw an opportunity to whisper to Okami since Sinro and Loki were laughing with each other. 

“I think that they should stay with us so we can prevent Loki from regaining his memories and annoying you. But what are we going to do with Sinro?” whispered Kaj.

“I think we should keep him here since he really seems to like me” whispered Okami giggling

“Oh really? “Seeming” to like you is an underestimate. He seems to be loving you by the way he described you and the tone of his voice” laughed Kaj silently.

“N-No! I don’t think he does! Like you’re the one to talk! Loki’s staring at you like a moth to a flame” moaned Okami quietly.

“Y-Yeah… I know. We do love each other indeed… That is the only part I don’t want him to forget” replied Kaj smiling as he thought ‘Well I hope he dosen’t forge that…’ Okami then smiled alongside him. Kaj was struck with a sense of dirty wrong-doing when he suddenly saw Loki next to him.

“W-we didn’t say anything! We were just-”, pleaded Kaj trying to giggle the matter off whilst Okami had a somewhat sulky look on her face.

“Uhm… I’m probably going to plead the 5th here…” muttered Okami to herself, ‘This is just getting weird…’

“H-hey Kaj can I hang out with you sometime? So I can know you a bit more” asked Loki nervously, shaking as hardly as an unstable building. Sinro had a short glance at Loki’s shaking for a bit before going back to messing around at a nearby tree.

“Sure thing friend” replied Kaj with glee as he thought, ‘especially if he wants to get his memories from me again’

“Yeeeaah!” yelled Loki smoothly as he smiled and thought, ‘H-he just read my mind...’

“Let’s not waste any time now and go to the town!” exclaimed Kaj, “We’ll be following this map as I previously said”

The three continued though the dark forest - oh wait, it’s four… sorry. Well Kaj knows his way while the other 3 don’t. He continued to read the map while walking with the others following him like little ducks with the exception of Loki who was trying to entertain himself by looking at the wildlife and imitating it while Sinro tried to swim in the nearby lakes like a dolphin. 

It felt like they were walking through an infinite forest with the occasional critters here and there. They finally arrived to the spot that Kaj was talking about. But they were confronted by a big brick wall which looked so long you couldn’t even see the end of it. There was a CCTV camera staring at the four, next to it was a speaker. On a wall there was a small screen embedded, showing a person that Okami and Kaj may be familiar with.

“Welcome to Greentwin how may I- Hey, Kaj and Okami, long time no see! I missed you Okami sweetheart, you won’t believe how much!” spoke a proud-sounding manly voice.

“Father? Is that you?” asked Okami, wide-eyed.

“Yes, it is darling!” replied her father with absolute pride in his face, “I’m so glad to hear your voice and see your face.”

“I missed you too, but where are you?” asked Okami looking around the forest while thinking, “This guy has some real magic.”

“I’m in a building in the city through this gate,” replied Okami’s father giggling “How’s life with that old geezer Carl?”

Loki was trying to walk away because he was scared of Okami, but Sinro was constantly grabbing him because he didn’t want to lose Loki. Loki eventually gave up trying to walk away and just decided to listen to a reunion conversation. Probably a more interesting thing to do than go off and annoy the wildlife – they have feelings too.

“It’s a long story”, replied Okami crossing her arms in frustration and walking in a pattern like a solider.

Flashback

Carl was discussing about important matters to Okami in her bedroom. Okami’s bedroom had pastel blue walls as well as a shiny wooden floor. There was a piano which Okami played from time to time, she only came up with a few good songs though. Her bed was wooden framed with a yellow matress dotted with flowers, next to the bed was a clock that read 7:23 AM.

There was a shelf next to the window behind the bed, it contained a lot of books that Okami liked- both fiction and non fiction. The most interesting part of the room was a picture of Carl and Okami’s mother, Carl was carrying a baby girl whilst the mother was carrying a baby boy. Okami positioned it there so she can feel at least a bit of positivity when it came to Carl’s antics. 

Carl was sitting on Okami’s bed, next to a somewhat slump looking Okami who was not giving eye contact to Carl but still trying to listen to him. Something in her mind was telling her not to ignore him.

“Okami, you must lead my men to the village here,” explained Carl as he showed her a map of the island and pointed at the location, “You need to spread my word about making this world a better place, and don’t come back until you fulfilled my task.”

“But I don’t want to be some shadow of an egotistic man!” replied Okami with a suspicious look on her face.

“I’m not egotistical! Is this how you tre-” yelled Carl as he realised he was being a bit too demanding, “Sorry, I mean err…. Okami… darling, I want you to be the most powerful thing in existence, I am relying on you to not only rule this place but be the commander of my army”

“... I don’t care…” replied Okami with an ominous look on her eyes, “Could you please...”

Okami looked away from Carl.

Carl was staring at her with an uneasy feeling before putting his hand on her shoulder then saying, “Look, I know you’re upset… I’m sorry I have to put you through this but I promise, once you get your work done then you can rule out this place. I just want the best from you-”

Okami swayed her face away from Carl and silently but quickly rambling from him and pushed anyone that was in her way mercilessly. She slammed the door open like a tiger breaking free from its prison hell. Actually she did like her bedroom, but she did not like Carl’s prescence.

End of flashback

“Interesting… I thought he was a nice man though…” replied Okami’s father with a confused tone in his voice, “I thought he would treat you nicely since he seemed so nice.”

“You know what they say ‘We don’t know what we don’t know’. It’s not like I’m a kid anymore! I’m in my twenties, I’m responsible for myself,” bragged Okami, “Tch. Carl’s followers tried insult and harass and mug and rob me but a few tried to suck up which was absolutely kind of them, but I have my own standards and being ‘nice’ is not going to top mine.”

Okami’s dad smiled, Okami felt awkward and flattered at the same time.

Okami calmly winked at the distracted Sinro (who Okami just got his attention) and giggled, thinking ‘Every cloud has a silver lining’ followed by her asking, “Where’s mum by the way?”

“Oh your mother? She’s busy working, in fact she has been so busy she has not seen anyone except me all day,” joked her father with a hint of sadness in his eyes, “Y’know her! She’s married to work I’m only 50% her boyfriend!”

“How is life Kaj? Eh? I can see you are reading an interesting book,” asked Okami’s father curiously.

Kaj gasped on the sudden moment in the book he was reading a book called ‘Nina’s recipes’ and then looked up to the screen. Sinro sneakily took it from his hand like a ninja thief; Kaj was a bit annoyed at first but decided to pay more attention to his father.

“That cake look a bit like you Loki except it called Ratchet for sum reason” said Sinro as he was pointing at the detailed drawing of the cake in the book.

“But that blue cake looks like you too,” snapped Loki as he pointed at the cake. Sinro and Loki laughed together like two cheeky monkeys.

“Oh sorry, it was the book not you. ….. life’s pretty boring dad, that’s why I didn’t have time to read that letter you sent me to come here, I had a ton of fun moving crates and humiliating myself with orders,” joked Kaj.

“Well better late than never, but it isn’t going to be much more fun here, you’ll be moving more crates!” joked Okami’s dad.

 “Oh God that’s a lot of work,” moaned Kaj yawning, “I have already had a 12-hour shift doing this.”

“Just kidding!” snapped Okami’s father laughing crazily.

“Thank heavens! I can finally have some rest, if I find somewhere comfortable, I don’t even get paid!” replied Kaj yawning.

“And by just ‘kidding!’ I meant you will have to do a job but only for 6 hours,” replied Okami’s father, “I never said you won’t have a job.”

“Could it please be helping in a kitchen or a restaurant, I’m quite good at cooking!” replied Kaj happily, “Thanks to this book I’ve learnt this”

“Sure thing! You seem good at it since you read that book,” replied Okami’s father.

“Can I eat the meals?” replied Loki, “I’ll eat all the unwanted food.”

“Me too!” YELLED SINRO HAPPILY, “I cannot let GOOD FOOD GO TO WASTE!”

“Yeah you do…” replied Okami as she asked surprised, “W-wait! How do you even know what you did, you said you didn’t remember most things unless-?”

“Dunno, I probably pick up things as I go…” replied Loki.

YOU SEEM TO BE ACKNOWLEDGING YOUR “AMNESIA” PRETTY WELL, LOKI.

“Y’never told me that you’d bring a friend along,” replied Okami’s father curiously smiling.

“Actually it’s two, one who likes me a lot for some reason (even though it’s nice having someone to support me) and one who looks somewhat suspicious,” replied Okami grabbing the two with her hands over their mouths, “Don’t ask why.”

“Oh… I see, well without further ado I will open the gates for you, I’ll see you in the big mansion in the town right ahead the town” replied Okami’s father. The two doors on the gate in front of the four opened slowly leading to a…

“Tunnel?” asked Kaj confused, “I thought this was a town, not a tunnel.”

“There seems to be a town in the distance right in front of us,” replied Okami, “A tunnel to lead the town, excellent - we have absurdly long corridors!”

The four walked into the long motorway tunnel inside a big hill and just… walked until they reached the other side which had a place which overwhelmed the four. 

The place was a town filled with a variety of different nicely crafted buildings as if different artists came to paint one picture, many people, streetlamps and a lot of shops. As amazed as the three were at the place, they didn’t know where Okami’s parents were. They spent several minutes looking for them while buying the occasional supplies they thought they may have needed for the journey. The four found Okami’s parents waiting patiently outside of a building that looked like a small mansion.

“Hey, hey what took you so long?” asked Okami’s father.

“We had to discover the city, and buy stuff that we needed,” replied Kaj as he added in a dreary tone, “As well as Sinro and Loki lagging behind”

“Well, a walk in a new town is nice, especially for dates,” replied Okami’s dad laughing, “I can see why you took so long, oh and you don’t need to pay for products if you’re Okami or Kaj.”

“So that’s why people gave a 99.9% discount to me,” replied Okami, “And Kaj paid less than 10 grains of his money.”

“Reluctantly,” added Kaj sullenly.

“Alright, then you two- I mean four, come in,” replied Okami’s father, “I’d like to know more about Loki and Sinro.”

Okami’s father let the four in by opening the door for them and they entered in. The main room was a small lobby with a few chairs, a table with chess, a vase on another table and a purple wall. The room looked very clean. Okami’s father led the four into the room where Okami’s mother was. It looked like a tidy jungle with paper stacked on each other on several desks. Okami’s mother was busy writing very important things down. 

“Hey Inuka! Y’mind knocking first? I’m but- Okami? Kaj?” asked Okami’s mother shocked yet very happy to see her children back after several months.

“Who Inuka?” asked Sinro.

“My father,” replied Okami quickly, “I don’t want mum to hear you. She’ll get infuriated with your presence”

Okami’s mother saw Sinro and Loki; she then looked confused.

“Who are these two?” asked Okami’s mother suspiciously, “I know you and Kaj liked to play with animals as kids but… why did you bring them?”

“I just went with the flow…” replied Loki as he shrugged his arms and smirked.

“I flow with Loki,” replied Sinro, “He my best friend.”

“Stuff happened and these two wound up with me,” replied Okami as she told the entire of the story (look back to chapter 2 if you forgot). 

“Hmm… I see, I know just the thing to discipline them!” replied Okami’s mother as she got out a rule book and gave them to Loki and Sinro to read. Loki read the majority of the rules but he did not know the meaning to most of the words that were there. It was not any better for Sinro since he did not know what any of the words meant. 

“Do you understand any of the rules?” asked Okami’s mother.

“Yep!” lied Loki, “I sure do ma’am!”

“What’s the first rule?” asked Okami’s mother.

“Erm… dunno I just looked at it and gave up because I can’t read,” replied Loki. Okami’s mother sighed and took the book. 

“It’s no use telling a bunch of critters rules,” said Inuka with a sigh, “Just treat them like pets, darling.”

“I suppose that is… these two look innocent enough” said Okami’s mother as she smiled at Loki and Sinro. Okami’s mother led the four to the floor above and showed them their rooms. She told the four that these were temporary rooms for the four (actually she was more of talking to Okami and Kaj) until they get individual houses built. Okami and Kaj had separate rooms next to each other while Loki and Sinro had to share the remaining room for guests. Inuka and his girlfriend went back to their office and carried on with their town mayor stuff. 

A few hours have passed since then, let’s see how the four are going on!

Loki & Sinro’s room:

The room was Spartan, it barely had anything. Just a carpet, a table and a big pillow (probably meant for sleeping). Sinro does not know what to use a table for so he used it as a chair. Loki uses it as a bed and brings the big pillow on to the surface on the table (the table is big enough for the two to sleep together). 

What do the two do? Well, they play cards and by cards I mean make a building out some cards nearby and knock it over. Loki also learned a lesson from it about life which is that if you think you can resolve everything with restarting you’ll just make the same mistake again. While Sinro learned nothing from it. But Sinro was writing letters to Okami about...  personal things, like something a dragon would not do to a human. Honestly, I’m serious. It is that convoluted.

Okami’s room:

Unlike Loki and Sinro’s room it was less Spartan with more things like books, comics, Nina branded magaz- wait how did that get there? Huh. Anyway they were neatly packed on to two big parallel placed shelves. The wall was nicely painted light purple and there was a table which had a lamp. Okami usually read the comics but would occasionally read the books if she wanted to learn something. She liked seeing all the pictures being expressed strangely and over the top. One was about a man who had spikey black hair and travelled to different universes. There were a few picture frames on the wall of Okami and Kaj when they were kids with their parents smiling. She every now and then practices throwing her little magic daggers at the wall. Under her door she kept receiving mails from Sinro (most of them filled with “Can I come to your room darling?” or “please can we talk for a bit”) which most she just skimmed but she can tell Sinro really appreciates and likes her a lot... 

...as a friend – OR DOES HE?

Kaj’s room:

It was very much like Okami’s room: he has the shelves with the same kind of books (including that cooking book he showed earlier that he bought from the store a while ago). The only difference between the rooms is that Kaj has a neat pile of papers. Most of them were loose diary entries he carried on the way here. The others were teared bits of construction paper ‘stolen’ from Carl. Lots of it. Plans of buildings, concerts and weird looking metallic objects. Despite how complex the designs looked (especially as they were torn up because Carl presumably did not need it). He also got one letter from Sinro which the ‘dear’ bit just said dear ‘person I love more than anything in the world’ at first Kaj thought it was quite strange that Sinro spontaneously developed a crush (?) on him but when he read the letter it was actually something that Loki may have likely ‘written’, even on the end of the letter it says “Loki ask me to write letter to you from him, he can’t write”. Kaj decided to keep it because he was curious of Loki hitting on him.

Chapter 4: The Unexpected visit

Dr Carl was in his throne room sitting and looking at the view of the forest and the distant town he was going to send Okami to, to lead his troops. He still felt sorrow for the argument he had with Okami. He constantly kept talking to himself about how badly he treated Okami. He even wrote a song about his feelings about the situation and music to accompany the song that he may give to his entertainers he hired a few months ago. Nina and Hamlet were his entertainers. Nina was a blonde short pony-tail haired elf lady with bluish skin who wore a tangerine-flavoured dress. She owned a pet who was a pig called Hamlet. Not just any old pig, but a pretty special one at that.

Every now and then Carl would write in his diary what he did on the day in his office/throne room.

“Dear diary, I have taken over this island successfully. Everything in this island is under control on my terms, but is it really rewarding with Okami gone?”

Carl continued “But I wonder where Kaj is? He’s been out for the last day or two. He would usually do an order of mine and return shortly, but now he hasn’t. He might just have had a party for too long or be hanging out with my other guards, because I did assign them to live in the town hall. I might check later. He’s my only hope of becoming a king since Okami left and she seemed so enthusiastic about becoming a queen… but now, it’s my fault… I hate myself for shouting at her. At least I have him.

P.S. I’ve been wondering where Loki has been... hope he comes back soon...“

Carl closed his diary and walked over to the window remarking to himself, “The sun is rising up, the birds are tweeting and the town is as happy as I’d like it to be.”

SOMEONE AWAITS YOU.

Carl gasped and calmly asked himself, “Hmm..? Is it that the voice I have heard once before?”

YES SOMEONE AWAITS YOU. YOU’LL NEED IT.

“I’m sure I did, or I might be imagining things,” gasped Carl, as he walked downstairs worrying, ‘Is this me being crazy or is it back again...?’

“Someone is at the door,” said one of Carl’s guards as she pointed at the door, “He’s been knocking for five minutes.”

‘So it is real…’ thought Carl, surprised, as he ran up to the sound of the knocking of the door. ‘That voice must still be with me...’

Carl quickly opened the big golden door and saw a pink bunny-like creature wearing a long red cloak and a leather helmet to hide its face.

“Greetings. The name is Nark. I’m here to have a little ‘chat’ with you,” Greeted Nark strictly.

“Y-yes… Who are you supposed to be?” asked Carl, trying to be formal and calm.

“I am a being who wants no more than your mutual respect,” replied Nark as it pointed at Carl, “I want to help you.”

“To be honest, I do not really need your help…” sighed Carl as he was about to turn away into his isolated life (writing in his diary).

“I want to help you achieve your dreams and hopes. You’ve always wanted to reconstruct society, haven’t you?” interrupted Nark, “I will be better than either Okami or Kaj from what I have heard from the other residents.”

Carl was extremely shocked that Nark knew what his goals were, Carl thought, ‘If it is by any means of getting those two back, then I need Nark!’

“F-Fine then. This is a matter we will discuss over breakfast,” replied Carl in a serious tone, as he went upstairs saying in a slightly calmer tone, “Oh! And please wait in the guest room.”

Nark went over to the guest room, located next to the main hall, and got out its paper of information and revised it like an actor revising for a big play by silently reading it. 

Nina, walking across the main hall, saw Nark reading. She stopped and quickly skipped towards it.

“Whacha doin’ little buddy?” asked Nina, smiling. Nark did not reply. In fact, it did not even look at her. Like she was never there.

Leave it alone. Please.

“Silent treatment, hmm?” moaned Nina, “Why does no-one other than Carl treat me like I’m never there? I’m just trying to give them a little entertainment!”

Nark still did not listen and continued its revision. You are a hypocrite saying that Nina, you pretend there is not a little voice in your mind when it tells you a simple instruction. I’ll say it once more.

Leave it alone. 

“Just wait here, little pink hopper! I’ll get my piggy!” snickered Nina as she rushed away.

YOU SELFISH DEGENERATE! WHAT PART OF ‘LEAVE IT ALONE’ DO YOU NOT GRASP?

“A-Ayee! Don’t scare me like that!” cried Nina as she ran to get the pig, “I’ll make sure that bunny gets entertained... weird voice.”

You are an idiot.

Nina ran into the kitchen and saw that Hamlet was eating the pancakes. The kitchen was messy with pots everywhere and cream splattered. The fryer was still on. With no time wasted, Nina ran up to Hamlet and grabbed her.

“Don’t be such a greedy imbecile!” laughed Nina as she giggled, “I’ve fed you already! These are for the guards not you, little pork chop!”

“Aww... I just wanted that... last pancake,” moaned Hamlet, as she drooled and was struggling to get out of Nina’s grasp. Nina ran back to the area where Nark was (still revising the later part of the book) and put Hamlet near Nark.

“Now then, I need you to entertain this rabbit creature here,” smiled Nina as she patted Hamlet on the head as she thought, ‘Oh darn! Breakfast will begin in – 5 minutes! I need to hurry and fill everyone’s tummies!’ Nina quickly ran to the kitchen. 

“Hello there, lovely. How y’ doing?” introduced Hamlet, “I like that outfit you’re wearing, it’s sexy!”

Nark did not listen.

“Do you want me to shape-shift into something nice?” asked Hamlet trying to look seductive by lying on her side.

No. It has got better things to focus on, like the reason why it’s here.

“Oh ok, I’ll just get out of here...” replied Hamlet to the voice in her head, “Who was that guy anyway?” Hamlet ran to the dining hall and slept.

Whew.

Meanwhile, Carl was in his room and wrote an unintentional part two to his entry. It said:

 “Part 2 

That werd voice in my hed was right! I’m not being insne or anyhing! It was genine and brefast wll be redy in 5 mins so I ned to hurry up” His handwriting was getting as messy as study notes when the teacher speaks fast because breakfast was about to be ready. As he wrote those very words, 5 minutes had already passed. A guard knocked on the door and Carl opened it.

“Yourrr breakfassst issssssss ready sssssssire,” hissed the guard.

 Carl got up and ran downstairs. Nark walked out of the guest room into the main hall and in the area to the left was the big kitchen. Carl was catching up to where Nark was. Many guards gathered around the table. Carl sat at his seat on one end of the table. When Nark saw it compared to the other seats, it thought, ‘It was just like the rest of the seats, maybe Carl wants to be in unity with all of the guards. That makes me ‘trust’ him all the more, heh...’ Nina served the breakfast to all the guards and Carl. Serving last, she went up to Carl and said:

“Morning buddy!” greeted Nina cheerfully, “I made your favourite: Cherry pancake!”

“Thanks a lot Nina, see you later!”

“See you later!” replied Nina gracefully as she scurried away.

“Now then… regarding what you were going to say, what is your plan?” asked Carl seriously. Nark got out the paper it was revising and read it very confidently, as if he knew that extra revision he had done would boost his confidence

“I’ve always wanted to find a way to reconstruct society like you,” stated Nark, as it just finished the food (it was actually pretty tasty), “I have been through many of the attacks society has had on me, including loss of friends, family and loved ones. And all this was because I acted strange and ‘mean’ to others. Even though I was trying to be... me.”

Carl thought about the reason he was single for a moment. His recollected a memory of his ex-wife walking into his basement.

“Me too. I divorced my wife 2 years after my twin children were born because I was playing ‘God’. Science was what was in my mind, I often bonded creatures to create new ones. Most of them died sadly... b-but I never wanted to k-kill any of them. She found out and... Look who I am now!” replied Carl sadly. Everyone on the table looked at Carl in shock as they were eating their food as they were never told this information, even though most of them were villagers from the island he took over.

Two twin children, huh? For some reason that seems familiar to me... 

“I’m sorry to hear that, do you make any more of these little creatures?” asked Nark as it was waiting for the answer.

“Not really - I mean not at all!” replied Carl, “I’m working on my island being as great as possible”

I KNOW YOU PLAYED GOD ON THAT POOR PIG’S SOUL. YOU FOOLISH LIAR.

“I shall encourage that build of technology and help those with finding the resources,” replied Nark with pride.

 “Oooh! What is technology?” asked Carl curiously. 

“I’ll tell you later” replied Nark as it saw Hamlet walking to another area from the kitchen. “On a side note, where did you get that little swine from?” 

“Err...m I think it was- hold on just let me think...” stopped Carl as he was thinking about the answer.

TELL THE TRUTH.

“I think I found it in a forest, living on its own. I befriended it and kept it as a pet,” replied Carl quickly.

“No, I was Nina’s pet and you genetically modify-” replied Hamlet, as he was interrupted by Carl.

“Yes, he was a pet of that lady you saw talk to me earlier and t-that other part wasn’t true,” begged Carl putting his head on the desk and murmuring, “forgive me for being rude.”

Both parts were true. DON’T LIE OR YOU WILL LEARN TELLING THE TRUTH THE HARD WAY!

“Hmm... I see. ” replied Nark, “Anyway – I’m sorry for asking that question!”

“It’s ok, these things happen. Now then – we were at technology, no? What is it anyway?”

“It’s a really great thing that allows you to do thinks you can’t even imagine”replied Nark happily as it showed a blueprint of several strange electrical objects, “it requires an awful lot of people and money to make, I think you could help too”

“Oh interesting...” replied Carl happily, “I’d like to help to see where this goes” Everyone finished eating and some left the dining room. The rest listened to the plan. 

“Good. It’s nice that you’re going to help me. I know you will enjoy this a lot,” replied Nark, as it pulled a bit of its hat to show its cute black eyes wink at Carl, “I hope I will be a part of your success.”

“Yes! And you shall be the Co-leader! Everyone, I would like to officially announce Nark as the Co-Leader!” yelled Carl with pride to his guards as they clapped. They spent hours discussing the plans for the future of the village and technology.

Meanwhile at Greentwin...

Okami’s room had many letters from Sinro. Okami tried her best to ignore the letters, but...more came.  Okami decided it was the best idea to write a reply. Okami quickly took the same pen she used to sign Sinro’s paper (He stuck it on his wall somewhere) and wrote “I’ll go with you if you stay away from me after we ‘date’” and slid it under the door. Sinro, getting out of his room, saw the paper and took it quickly. He read it... then fainted. Loki dragged Sinro back like a farmer carrying a bag of potatoes. On this opportunity, Loki decided to come up with some mischief...

Loki decided to listen to Sinro while he was asleep.

“I’m... coming... Okami...” muttered Sinro in his sleep.

Loki giggled and decided to act Okami’s voice. 

“Oh Sinro, Oh Kaj- I mean Sinro you lovely fluff cake” glimmered Loki elegantly.

“No... You... fluff cake” mumbled Sinro. Loki decided to walk up to Sinro and put his face close to Sinro’s.

“Ooooh... this my favourite!” muttered Sinro as he put his face closer to Loki’s and was about to kiss him.

Loki had an uncomfortable look on his face as Sinro’s came closer to his and Sinro’s eyes opened.

 “WAAHH!!” wailed Sinro backing away from Loki’s face, “Where Okami? You Okami?”

“You were only dreaming” replied Loki giggling, “You should have seen that look on your face. I was bored so I thought it would be okay if I could play Okami”

“Yeh, real funny... w-wait Is Okami here?! Where is she going?” asked Sinro out of breath, ‘I need to get Okami right now! What if she walk away like in my dream?’ 

“Let me check.” Replied Loki as he went outside of the room to check Okami, he knocked on the door.

“Hello?” asked Okami inside politely. Her door opened, with Okami smiling at Loki. Somewhat scared Loki thought, ‘Huh... that’s weird, all the sudden Okami is being nice to me... she was quite mean to me most of the time...’ 

“Could I ask you something?” asked Loki nervously.

“Go ahead” replied Okami happily. 

Loki decided to suck up by giving her a wink, “Where are you going with Sinro?”

“Err... Why do you need to know that?” asked Okami suspiciously.

‘Thanks for jinxing her Loki!’ thought Loki as he replied “Sinro asked me so?”

“Oh yes! To the park not too far from here” replied Okami happily once again as she thought, “Ah! Maybe I could ask Loki to come, he seems to know Sinro a lot”

“By the way, want to come with us?” offered Okami with an intriguing expression.

“Yeah, I don’t mind” smiled Loki with his full teeth.

“Cool! I’ll see you then” replied Okami happily as she whispered to Loki, “By the way. Could you stop Sinro from doing anything... weird when we get to the park?”

“Alright! I’ll try.” Replied Loki.

Okami lobbed herself in her room as she was shutting her door, she muttered with glee “I hope Loki can help me get around Sinro! Hopefully stopping him from going a bit too crazy, after all Loki knows Sinro more than I do.”

Okami started to think about Loki’s actions throughout the first time she saw him in this book to this point.

“Heh... I think I take it back that Loki’s not exactly possessed by Carl (he seems pretty normal), Sinro’s probably crazier for me to the point where he might want my blood” continued Okami, “Hopefully I can get through the outing with Sinro”

Loki went back to Sinro. Sinro was shaking and buzzing like a bee flying with a shy expression on his face. Sinro was muttering “Please go out with me, please go out with me...”

“She will Sinro. I’ll be coming with you too” replied Loki tapping Sinro. Sinro turned to look at Loki.

“YAAYYYYY!!” yelled Sinro excitedly. A few minutes later Okami knocked on the door. Loki opened it.

5 minutes of intensive changing later... 

Okami wore a tie on her shirt, an unbuttoned suit.

“You look very nice and smart Okami!” complimented Sinro excitedly, “Wait, you always look nice and smart!”

“T-Thanks I guess...” replied Okami as Sinro went up to her. She looked a bit nervous at Sinro being this close, she looked at Loki and pointed at Sinro. Loki grabbed Sinro. ‘I think those 5 minutes should have been spent forging a lie to Sinro of me being sick, just go with the flow Okami...

Just go with it like what’s intended...’

“Hey! Let go of me!” yelled Sinro struggling of Loki’s grasp. Sinro tried his best to stay away from Okami like someone trying to repel two magnets.

“Let’s go then” smiled Okami as the three went off, “Mum I’m going with these two”

“I hope you enjoy yourself and remember, stand up strong and happy” replied Okami’s mother. The three went out to the park for a bit. Okami walked happily with the two. 

The park consisted of several rivers and consistently planted trees. There were also different-looking wooden bridges for people to conveniently cross the rivers. Occasionally benches appeared. Okami decided to sit on one of the benches and the other two joined her. A soft breeze stroked the three. The temperature felt warm especially for Sinro, maybe because it was his heart that was warming him up adding to the feeling of butterflies in his stomach.

“H-hey, do you ever go out a lot?” inquired Sinro curiously to Okami.

“No not really. Especially at a time as late as this” replied Okami as she looked up on the clear night sky, “I usually spend my time helping Carl which isn’t the worst thing in the world to be honest. But it’s not the best either. It feels refreshing to go outside.”

“I go outside a lot, I play in forest with creatures there. I see friends at town, they really nice... but I already miss them. I like to see them again when I can” replied Sinro blushing at Okami.

“I can see that, well it may not be long since that they may leave their town and come here since Carl is gonna set silly rules in the town that they have to follow,” replied Okami with slight frustration, “I can imagine there is nothing that would encourage people to live under that tyrant’s fat, iron fist!”

“Really? That not good. I’m glad to stay here with you- I-I mean! Err- I’m glad to stay here because... I’m- I’m safe... ” staggered Sinro smacking himself in the head.

“Trust me, we left the town for the best.” Replied Okami happily as she thought, ‘He seems to like me... rather a lot. Maybe I could make him feel comfortable. Yes! I can manipulate him to like me! And he’ll be my bestest friend. I have never seen a guy so interested in me... especially a beast like Sinro’

“I guess... but we can visit there right?” asked Sinro with optimism as he thought, ‘I’d rather stay with Okami, but what about people of my village? NO! MY LOVE FOR OKAMI IS TOO STRONG! SHE ONE OUT OF A MILLION VILLAGERS!’

“Maybe...” responded Okami quietly as she thought to herself ‘I feel like if I go back there Carl is going to want me back, I’m already better off here, I don’t want to upset Sinro since I might be looked down to as impolite’

“By the way, why do you not like Loki?” Sinro asked out of curiosity.

“It’s not that I don’t like him- Loki? Are you comfortable with hearing this?” asked Okami looking at Loki busy staring into space murmuring things like ‘I’d rather be with you than anybody in the world my dear man’.

“Wai- wah? Comfortable with hearing what? S-something bout’ your opinions on my presence?” stuttered Loki as he looked at Okami and Sinro to see how their getting on, “Knock yourself out... I don’t care”

“Well it’s just that he’s with Carl quite a lot and he seems to follow him everywhere he goes. I thought that if I see Loki alone I feel nervous because he may have been a spy or someone working for Carl”

“To be honest I’m glad I forgot what I knew about him from hearing what you said about him,” replied Loki as he did a sigh of relief, “wow amnesia can sometimes be a cure rather than a disease”

“Huh...I suppose that’s true.” Replied Okami with composure.

“Okami, you seemed calm lately, why’s that?” asked Loki inquisitively.

“Hmmm...Don’t really know to be honest.” responded Okami as curious as Loki was as she then thought up of an answer based on what she recalled of her days with Carl, “Maybe because today went like hell 

“N-no I mean before today. Previously when I was in the castle I can recall you running away from me when I wanted to talk to you”

JUST ADMIT YOU DON’T HAVE AMNESIA, YOU CLEARLY REMEMBER WHAT YOU DID.

“Err...” replied Okami as she thought, ‘We’re not having this conversation’

“L-Let’s change the subject!” replied Okami quickly with a worried expression. Loki replied, “Yeah, I don’t think I want to remember my past life” 

“Hey there was one time when I was a kid, I would see other kids running around. I would join them but they run away from me. I was sad first but then I looked around village, and I see a few hiding and say “found you!”” said Sinro as he was nostalgically smiling, “They thought I monster because they never see one before, even adults in village thought I weird”

“But then they did the same thing the next day and I find them. They realise I play with them, not harm them. They play with me” continued Sinro as if he were acting an overture.

“When they grow up, they stop playing and work, but me?”

Sinro pointed at himself and nodded his head like a confident but arrogant actor.

“I continue play and enjoy myself, I became entertainer of town”

Okami thought, ‘Sinro’s a lot like Nina... like he’s literally copying her, which isn’t a bad thing... she’s actually the most fun I’ve had with being with Carl the past few months’ and Loki continued to listen.

“I tell bad jokes one was, ‘what is the trait of a poor person who draws faces?’ A POR-TRAIT!”

Loki giggled while Okami gave a brief chuckle.

“Not the worst I’ve heard, got any more bad jokes?” replied Okami somewhat chortling as she thought, ‘That’s also like Nina! She’s got the tendency to tell bad jokes... maybe Sinro might be her long lost cousin! Interesting!’

“Yeh! I got one! What do people say to a ghost that has courage? That’s the spirit!”

Okami and Loki continued giggling, but Loki’s was short lived since he was distracted by a particularly familiar figure in the distance. The figure turned out to be Kaj, on a moment’s notice Loki ran up to Kaj as fast as his heartbeat when he saw Kaj (without Sinro or Okami seeing). Kaj was somewhat shocked by Loki’s sudden entrance.

“Oh? What are you doing so late at night Loki?” asked Kaj concerned.

“To be honest I’d ask you the same thing but... I dunno” replied Loki shyly as he thought about what he was saying, was it a nice thing to say?

“Me? I’m... err just taking a walk...” replied Kaj nervously, “To get some fresh air, I’ve heard that Sinro was going out on some sort of date with my sister”

“H-How’d you know it was a d-date?” demanded Loki struggling.

“Because Sinro is fired up for her like a bullet to her heart” replied Kaj, “I saw you guys on the way out and Sinro really wanted to edge up to Okami”

“Yeah, Sinro’s been telling secrets about his feelings for her”, replied Loki as he thought ‘a double date perhaps? Kaj and I; Okami and Sinro?’

“Has the date gone well?” asked Kaj smiling.

Loki turned to look at Sinro and Okami in the distance. Both of them were smiling and giggling.

“From the looks of it I think it has gone to ‘plan’” replied Loki as he thought, ‘Why can’t me and Kaj be like this? Heh, hopefully one day...’

“The date had a plan?” asked Kaj

“Nah, I’m just using ‘plan’ as a buzzword” replied Loki giggling, “The only thing we planned was to come to this park”, ‘Which coincidentally is where Kaj was’

“I see...” replied Kaj as he sadly murmured, “I’ll be going back now since there’s nothing to do here”

“Wait, wait!” yelled Loki blushing, “I’ll be lonely thought, I-I need someone to... keep me company”

“I’ll keep you company then after all, I do want you to gain back our friendship” smiled Kaj as Loki thought ‘Oh my goodness this is a dream come true’

Loki was excited that he could finally spend time with Kaj. He hoped he would become as happy as Sinro was with Okami.

“Kaj, what was life like for you with Carl?” asked Loki.

“Well, it was not too frustrating or great either” replied Kaj, “Carl was a pretty respectable man to be honest. He treated me fairly nicely, Okami may not sound like it but she was treated pretty nicely too, it’s just she wants to have things her way. Which is the reason why she ‘hated’ you. I thought you were a pretty nice Squirrel.”

Loki was as hot as a volcano as Kaj said the compliment, Loki then thought ‘This is going really swell! Kaj could be the best husband ever. But... I wonder if he’s homosexual...’

“But due to her high suspicions of Carl she did not like you very much; you became violent to her due to this” continued Kaj.

“I kind of remember the feeling of violence I had” replied Loki with regret and sadness.

“Huh, for someone who has amnesia you do seem to remember a lot.” Replied Kaj thinking about what Loki said.

“I guess I do, It feels more like an old man and his memory than amnesia really” replied Loki in forlorn tone.

“Interesting...” replied Kaj putting his hand around his chin, thinking about what Loki said.

“Hey, just outta curiosity” asked Loki stumbling on his words, “You like women?”

Kaj cleared his throat as his face pointed towards the distance where Okami, who was listening to Sinro talking and making replies every now and then.

“I-I mean err... a-as l-lovers” snapped Loki desperately.

“No... I’m not very fond of ladies being my special someone” replied Kaj as he thought ‘Loki’s my special someone’ 

“I-I see...” replied Loki enlightened, ‘T-then my feelings of Kaj must have started from before I lost my memory!’

The two were talking less than Okami and Sinro were but they still stayed for the night.

Chapter 5: Blossoming love

1 and a half years later...

Okami and Kaj’s houses were finally completed and recently they had even moved their objects to their houses. What was a small town was now a huge city full of many more people (some being the villagers from Sinro’s place). The unique houses were turned into huge buildings, still having the artistic vision of the people who built them. There was also a big mall where, coincidentally, Loki and Kaj were ‘hanging out’ (according to them), more specifically the bar at the corner. The furniture, wall and floor were made out of the finest wood and had Chinese lamps scattered around.

“What will it be?” asked the bartender.

“Rize tea please,” replied Loki.

“And you?” the bartender asked looking at Kaj.

“Gyokuro Madam,” replied Kaj.

“Could you put two of the drinks on my tab?” asked Loki shyly as he put two grain coins on the table. He then looked at Kaj to see if he would react. Kaj stared at Loki awkwardly.

“Any more?” asked the bartender who then looked at Loki awkwardly trying to get change out from... God knows where, “You couldn’t even afford a sweet with that money!”

Loki checked his paw-like hands as he murmured, “Amazing! I have nothing more. Great job trying to rely on Kaj to pay it, now I can never be a true gentleman.” Loki was nervous, he only wanted to impress Kaj like a gay man trying to impress his significant other. I mean it in both ways. 

“That’s because I am the gentleman here. You can’t really try to be me, just be yourself little one,” replied Kaj, as he calculated the price minus Loki’s change and put down the exact amount of money, “Now two’s on my tab, lady.”

“Alright buddy!” replied the bartender as she went to brew the orders. There was silence for a while, save for the smooth jazz playing and people talking in the background as if they were part of the music.

“Hey,” exclaimed Kaj, looking at Loki for attention.

“Yeah? Sup?” replied Loki as he sighed, “I know, it takes forever to brew the drinks...”

“Come on, it’s only been 5 minutes Loki,” replied Kaj somewhat giggling as he directly said, “It’s not about that, I was going to ask how Okami is and if you’ve been getting along with her, as friends.”

Loki thought that if he lied to Kaj saying that he was friends with Okami, Kaj would be happy. However Loki did not talk to Okami that much.

“Suppose I do”, lied Loki immediately and quietly with a smear look on his face.

“I see...” replied Kaj concernedly, “Y-you ok? You seem a bit down...”

“Well, maybe I might chat with her a bit more,” replied Loki in a bit more of an enthusiastic tone, “We’re friends I think...”

Loki looked at Kaj to see his reaction to what he said. Kaj showed a concerning look on his face. Loki Looked away. 

Loki was thinking ‘I-I mean, out of everyone, the person I talked to the least was Okami. Well, I don’t want to make Kaj think I am a rebel against Okami.’

“Your drinks are here boys!” yelled the bartender happily as she put the drinks down. Loki and Kaj clinked their drinks and drank them in one go.

“That is one heck of a flavour, boss,” replied Loki, beaming at the lady, “That hot feeling on my lips feels satisfying!”  

“This is as great as ever,” replied Kaj smiling at the bartender, “Keep it up!”

“Thanks boys!” replied the bartender cheerfully as she went to serve other customers. Kaj and Loki put their empty cups down and walked out of the bar. 

In an isolated area near the bar, Okami was there in a stained maid outfit trailed with an awkwardly angry expression on her face. She was angrily muttering to herself.

Loki thought ‘Okami’s there... should I talk to her? She seems mad about something. Yeah! This is my time to shine... I’ll cheer her up and maybe I might impress Kaj.’

“Yo sup, Okami, how’s your day?” asked Loki confidently. Okami stopped walking but was reluctant to look at Loki. ‘Don’t look at anyone... Don’t look them in the eye! Y’know what they say: curiosity kills a cat’

“C’mon don’t be shy,” soothed Loki smiling, “You ok? H-how’s your day? What happened?”

Kind of reminds me about what I was like when I was younger, trying to be social. I once talked to someone I kinda favoured like that. Y’know...

SORRY! MORE STORY! MORE STORY!

“About?” asked Okami as one of her eyes looked at Loki. 

“Err... I dunno... your face’s lookin’ awkward today... some stuff happened?” asked Loki uncontrollably laughing at Okami’s suspicious expression on her half-turned face. ‘Don’t laugh at her be friendly... no no...’ thought Loki worried he would get yelled at.

Okami was unsure what to think. ‘H-he’s laughing at me... and he’s asking me as if he were everyone else trying to ask me... don’t be angry he’s just trying to be k-kin- NO! HE’S CLEARLY A SLAVE TO CARL WHY WOULD HE TRY TO BE KIND??? ‘

“If you don’t know what to talk about then don’t even try say anything to me, ESPECIALY IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT INSULTING ME!” screeched Okami harshly, as she was thinking, ‘Sinro... help me... I just can’t talk to someone who is on Carl’s side... w-wait he has ‘amnesia’ hence... he’s forgotten about Carl. C’mon Okami just get along with Loki... like you do with everyone else’

“Alright...” mumbled Loki sadly still trying to shake off the remaining laughter he had in. Okami ran quickly out of sight, Loki at first tried to catch up with her but he realised she seemed like she did not want him to be around, “D-dangit... I blew my only chance. Amazing job Loki! Kaj is going to not be impressed with me that I lied to him”

Loki then ran up to Kaj.

“Loki? Where have you been? You shouldn’t treat your man like that. Abandoning him...It’s not very polite,” replied Kaj, “I thought you wanted to ditch me for a moment.”

“N-no! I would never ditch you Kaj! I-I was just talking to Okami,” replied Loki.

‘Was he lying? How could he...’ thought Kaj, ‘He could have at least have been honest with me.’

“I thought you said to me that you got on with Okami, but she yelled at you...” asked Kaj in a concerned tone as he sadly asked, “W-why would you lie to me...? H-how could you?” Loki was reluctant to reply.

“I’m sorry dude, I-I didn’t mean to lie... I just w-wanted to make you happy. I-I tried... don’t hate me...,” cried Loki as he mentally recited those last words Kaj said ran away.

Kaj tried to catch up with Loki but Kaj couldn’t catch up. He glared at Loki in disappointment.

Not knowing what he wanted to do, Kaj decided to go out of the mall and walk around the city to keep him occupied.

Back in Okami’s house, Okami was laying on her front side on her bed like a grumpy cat. She was wailing and sulking.

“Seriously what’s wrong with this world? I’m not confident with Loki being around! Every time I see that furry face of his I get reminded of me being with Carl... AGHHHHHHH!” moaned Okami, smacking nearby pillows, “I-I had faith in him to fix my broken heart... but I should never trust that loathsome squirrel, especially as he laughed at me! Why weren’t you there for me Sinro? Did you have to rest at the worst moment?”

“Oh Sinro, come here you lovely little fool” glimmered Okami hyperventilating as she grabbed a blue Sinro-sized pillow and hugged it, “I wish you can come, to heal my broken heart!“

Outside, Sinro was waiting, asking himself “Why Okami lie to me? She say she at mall but she not there! So much for Loki making me stay up late. He clearly don’t care about me and Okami’s love!”

A doorbell rung several times. Okami quickly scrambled downstairs and opened the door. Sinro was astonished to see that he finally saw Okami.

“MY BRIDE!” yelled Sinro with excitement. Some others were looking outside their windows and getting out of their doors to see where the noise came from. They stared awkwardly at the two.

Okami carried Sinro in her house with her telekinesis and slammed the door shut. Okami pinned Sinro down on the floor as he was laughing.

“What the heck Sinro? You embarrassed me in front of everyone! Did you need to shout that loud?”

“Sorry I just wanted to take my sad feeling of you not there and release it like butterflies” apologised Sinro.

“No ‘hello’? No sort of greetings? Just telling everyone our relationship. I might as well as ‘take my sad feeling’ of being embarrassed and release it like a swarm of bees!” yelled Okami as she quickly grabbed Sinro and hugged him like a child hugging a big teddy bear. Sinro felt the warmth of Okami’s arms around his body, while he felt the coldness of Okami’s sorrow of being embarrassed. Sinro hugged Okami back and felt the lovely softness of her long hair. 

Sinro was being hugged so hard he could barely breathe but he did not care. Okami eventually let go of Sinro because of this but Sinro was still hugging her.

“Sinro. You can stop hugging me now” replied Okami awkwardly as she then thought Well he has been busy helping with the building of the city the last 2 weeks, I haven’t heard or seen a peep of him so I’ll let it by’

Sinro still embraced her. 

Sinro eventually stopped. There was nothing but silence, just that. The two did not know what to say to each other. But they were both thinking the same thing: Going on a date. But for a certain reason they could not. Sinro looked outside to see if anyone was there. Those people were still present. One of them looked at Sinro. Without a hitch Sinro pulled the curtains down in fear. 

“I’m hungry...” mumbled Sinro as his stomach was rumbling.

“Me too.” Replied Okami sadly, “Do you want me to cook something?”

“No I will! My cooking get better” replied Sinro. Okami looked concerned thinking ‘The last time I’ve seen him cook, he messed up the entire kitchen but that was a long time ago’   

“Let’s see then” replied Okami confidently smiling. The two went downstairs and got out the pots and pans.

“I will cook lovely vegetable stew!” yelled Sinro, “Gimme some tomato, broccoli and sweetcorn”

Okami scrambled to the fridge and took out all the asked ingredients. Sinro quickly grabbed several tomatoes and put them in a blender. Sinro then filled the bowl with water and heated it up.

“I don’t think this is how you make a vegetable stew” taunted Okami laughing mockingly at Sinro. Sinro become agitated.

“W-well, y-you just need to think outside of box” answered Sinro back as Okami thought ‘I will indeed then’

Okami scurried to the blender and turned it off. She poured the tomato sauce into the pot.

“HEY!” yelled Sinro.

“Did I do anything wrong?” asked Okami leering at Sinro and giggling, “Did I think outside of the box like you said?”

“N-no! YOU STOLE MY IDEA! I MEANT TO DO THAT!!” replied Sinro with jealousy and anger, “I WANNA SHOW YOU THAT I AM GOOD”

Sinro tried to break the potatoes apart with his claws but they ended up being wonkily cut. Okami used her magic knives to slice the potatoes. Sinro was jealous at the perfection and (reluctantly) dumped them in the pot.

“Magic me a knife!” yelled Sinro to Okami as a glowing knife was thrown at the broccoli, “Thanks!”

Sinro grabbed the handle and cut the broccoli to little bits. Okami was analysing what Sinro did and took the rest of the broccoli and cut them up as fast as flying eagle. As Sinro was going to put what he cut in the pot, there were already plenty of broccoli bits. Sinro dumped his chopped up bits of broccoli down the pot. Sinro stirred the mixture for several minutes until it looked appetizing. 

Once it was done Sinro touched the pot. Sinro felt the heat as if he stepped into a suddenly hot shower. Okami used her telekinesis to carry it.

“It’s hot Sinro, be careful” warned Okami.

Sinro felt the hot surface of the pan on his hand which he quickly pulled his hand away from the pan. 

“Thank- H-hey! W-Why is it that you always get to do all work for me?” moaned Sinro stomping his toes in jealousy.

“I was just helping you... that’s what friends are for” replied Okami smiling and clapping, “You seemed to have good potential”

“Yeah, until you help!” yelled Sinro angrily, “I-I don’t need you to help me!”

“Next time if you screw up, don’t go asking me for help since you seem to know everything about cooking” replied Okami irritably looking away from Sinro.

“Wait! I-I never say I know everything!” sulked Sinro trying to compensate Okami.

“But hopefully this soup won’t screw up...” replied Okami as she tried the soup, “Even if it does... I still have faith in you! After all, we all make mistakes don’t we?”

“Yeah!” asked Sinro as he muttered, “Like it?”

“Huh... it actually doesn’t taste as bad as I thought initially” replied Okami smiling, “Room for improvement but I think this would make a nice meal.”

Sinro tried it and poured a lot on to his bowl then slurped it. Okami poured as much (trying to stop Sinro from eating too much) in her bowl and slurped it. 

Both were full and satisfied with the soup.

“Maybe with a little practice, I think you’d make a good cook” smiled Okami, “Maybe on some days I can allow you to cook our dinner.”

“Maybe one day we invite Loki and Kaj and your mummy and daddy for dinner.” Replied Sinro

“That would be nice!” replied Okami as she thought, ‘I-I don’t think Loki would be someone good to invite... at least not with me around.... he just gives me all those bad memories’

Okami looked down and a tear snuck off her eyes. Her body was shaking unstably.

“What’s with concerned face?” replied Sinro as he put his hand On Okami’s.

“Oh nothing!” replied Okami who quickly smiled and tried to brush off the thought by saying, “I love you Sinro”

Okami held Sinro’s other hand and held it to chest-height as Sinro was instantly forgetting the fact that Okami was CONCERNED WITH A CERTAIN SOMEONE yelled “LOVE YOU TOOOOO MUCH!!”

At Carl’s castle...

Nina was inside a huge hall that had sparkling clean lapis blue floor and a silvery wall. She was holding a microphone which was connected to several boxy speakers. There were two stands on opposite sides of the room (both having one sign reading “prosecution” and “defence” respectively) and one big stand behind Nina. On the big stand there was a gravel. Next to the big stand was another smaller stand which had the label “witness”.

“I can’t wait for my next concert, it’s gonna have a lot of my fans! They will all be cheering for my latest song.” Yelled Nina excitedly to hamlet. 

Hamlet was constantly transforming from a pig into a human. She also put on shades every time she would.

“Yeah, yeah! We have 548 fans and counting” replied Hamlet acting like she was being electrocuted by happiness “I think it’s increasing as much as the words I am saying here”

“Have you revised your lines? Have you mastered cross-dressing? Can you turn into that special one?” asked Nina as she looked at her checklist.

“Yeah I think so! I’ve been spending all night doing that stuff, that’s why I slept for so long!” replied Hamlet panting.

“Awesome sauce! Now let’s practice our song” 

“1...2...3...go!”

Hamlet put a cassette tape in a stereo music player. Some mellow blues played in the background.

“♪Fellow lady friend, where have you been?♪”

“♪I’ve been Looking for you for so long♪”

“♪Now I hate you even more♪”

“♪Hey now, don’t get the wrong idea♪"

“♪I-it’s not like I like you or anything♪”

“♪This is the weird feeling of personal attraction♪”

 “♪I’ve searched the castle for you♪”

“♪You were nowhere to be found♪”

“♪So I asked your daddy if you were there♪”

“♪And he said you were in the next castle♪”

“♪I hated you then, but I still wanted you for some reason♪”

“♪Hey now, don’t get the wrong idea♪”

“♪I-it’s not like I like you or anything♪”

“♪This is the weird feeling of personal attraction♪”

Nark entered the hall room. Hamlet ran to the music player and stopped it. It also stopped on the most emotional bit of the music. 

“That’s a great performance”complimented Nark clapping “I have an order for you - it’s a very important one!”

“Oooh! What’s this order I wonder?”

“Alright, it’s to go to Greentwin and preform there, make sure Okami and her friends attend” replied Nark “Then take them on a special boat tour here, bring them to the castle and do that special performance I asked you to prepare and practice, the one we wrote together”

“Do you mean this?” asked Nina as she got out a script that says ‘Club Ayerpas: Special episode’

“Yes. Please preform this ONLY when the four get here. It will be live on every TV in this area” explained Nark, “Please don’t let me down...”

“Yes master. But I have a little question” replied Nina, “How do you know where Okami and her friends are?”

“I know plenty of things” replied Nark as it staggered, “D-don’t ask me how! Just do your job and be yourself... I know you can do this. I know it!”

Nina went out of the castle door carrying all the preparations with her pet pig and set her equipment in the town square. Nark went upstairs to Carl’s office and knocked on the big door. Carl opened.

“Oh? Hello Nark! What are you up to?” asked Carl smiling curiously.

“Well I have something special for you in tomorrow” replied Nark with arms folded.

“Oooh! I wonder what it is.” Glimmered Carl happily.

“It’s going to be two people you adore who are going to be visiting town” answered Nark, “Okami and Kaj are coming as well as a few of their friends they made”

“Oh my goodness! It can’t be true! They are finally coming to see me! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!” replied Carl, “I’m glad they made a few new friends too, plenty to look forward to tomorrow!”

“I know, I’m looking forward to it too!” replied Nark as it walked out muttering to itself “Don’t look forward to it too much.... heh heh....”

Back in Greentwin...

Loki was at Okami’s parent’s mansion, in Okami’s old room which is now his. He was doing nearly nothing but crying. On the little beanie sofa where he slept. 

“Yeah, I screw everything up don’t I, Beanie head?” replied Loki as he looked down to the beanie he was sitting on, “I know, we’ve only known each other for a few weeks but I think you have enough time to know what I’m like as I constantly talk to you every day” 

The beanie bag continued to stay static like it was fated to hear Loki’s every word of his daily life.

“The thing I really like about you is how you don’t say anything... and just stay there ‘listening...’” replied Loki happily crying. Loki continued venting, “You actually care about what I say, unlike Kaj who is just trying to ignore everything I say. He seems to talk to Sinro fine. Why can’t I just be treated like a friend and not just some awkward partner? I wish I gained back all my memory so I can just go home and not have to be with these friends... but I don’t know what happens in your head or what you think of this, or even if you have a head, but at least you don’t ridicule what I say. Heh sometimes the truth is better not being told... or you being silent is the truth”

A knock was heard on the door.

“Sorry I’m not in the mood for biscuits.” Replied Loki in a low tone.

“You seem to be sad about something” replied Inuka, “What’s the matter?”

“Yeah... I am, but it’s nothin’ serious don’t worry” replied Loki trying to force a smile, “It’s just a romance thing that people get... I hate romance. It’s nothing but a bunch of idiotic freeloaders trying to emotionally tear you apart! And their stupid friends supporting them.”

“That actually does seem like something to worry about!” replied Inuka in a concerned tone, “Who is your love interest?”

“Er...m it’s a guy...” replied Loki, “I’m too scared to mention him”

“Hey! Don’t worry buddy, this is a free country! You can state anyone-”

“I-I have a crush on Kaj” interrupted Loki quietly.

Inuka stared at Loki blankly. He thought for a moment. 

“HA! HA! HA!” laughed Inuka loudly smacking the wall, “That’s such a funny relationship! God wanted you to fall in love with KAJ??”

Loki looked even worse and tried to interrupt, “I-it’s not funny! I h-honestly l-love him!”

“It is! It is! I just love that connection! It’s so unique in every way! I’ve never heard of gay interspecies love! Don’t cry! You seem desperate for him!” yelled Inuka laughing hysterically, “Did you know Okami’s mother was a fairy?”

“Huh... didn’t know that actually, what’s that got to do with anything though?”

“I’m a human being and fairies aren’t! That’s totally fine! Interspecies love is great! It’s what I’d prefer!”

“Heh... you kinda cheered me up a bit, and motivated me to meet up with Kaj” replied Loki as he ran off free spiritedly, “Later!”

Okami’s mother appeared from Inuka’s left (opposite of the direction Loki went).

“Hey, what are you sneaking in Loki’s room for” giggled Okami’s mother,””

“I-it is about a love interest of his” replied Inuka, “It’s kinda like our relationship”

“Distant, but close?” asked Okami’s mother curiously.

“Weeeell, to an extent more like... different race” replied Inuka stumbling.

“Hmm. Interesting” glimmered Okami’s mother, “Very interesting”

“I could tell you about it in a little more detail if you want” replied Inuka excitedly.

“Sure, I’d love to hear” replied Okami’s mother.

As Loki went through the corridor and out of the corridor door into the main hall he ran for the door in hopes of finding Kaj. He decided to go near Okami’s house to ‘spy’ on the window to see if Kaj was there... “Nope, he isn’t there, maybe in her garden”

Clearly Loki used his ‘common sense’ (or more like ‘common stupidity’) and climbed on the fence between Okami’s house and the next-door neighbours. He landed flat on his feet on the grass.

“Obviously since Kaj would like greenery, he must be here somewhere” implied Loki to himself, “Maybe sleeping under that tree”

Loki went up to the tree. And looked underneath. 

“Nothing. Not even a creature resembling Kaj” murmured Loki “He often sleeps under trees when he and I hang out”

“You’ll be the one sleeping under the tree in a minute” replied a voice that sounded like

“Huh? Okami? Oh hi there- EHH? OKAMI!?” yelled Loki as he curled himself and hid under the tree as he thought ‘I’m the one sleeping under the tree now’

“What are you doing trespassing in my area?!” demanded Okami viciously.

“Erm...”

“Answer. Now.”

“Hey... you’re acting as if I stole something precious to you, I didn’t touch anything! Promise!” replied Loki, “”

“At least knock on my door! Don’t just think that you can jump over the fence like some assassin!” yelled Okami, “You’d better be lucky this was the end of my date with Sinro as he left a minute ago”

“How’d it go?”

“Heh... pretty well” replied Okami smiling with a small blush on her cheek as she frowned again and demanded, “But why are you here?! I demand an answer pronto!”

“L-Looking for Kaj!” yelled Loki jumping out of his hiding spot.

“Oh yeah... I’ve heard you had some sort of crush on him or something”

“H-how d-did you know!” yelled Loki stumbling.

“Sinro”

“Oh yeah... him” replied Loki as he remembered that one time where he and Sinro talked about their crushes, “Have you seen him anywhere?”

“I don’t think so...” replied Okami, “Sorry...”

“I apologise for trespassing, honestly I can’t come up with words to tell you how sorry I am” replied Loki.

“It’s okay! Just remember to knock on my front door” replied Okami.

“Alright... by the way speaking of Kaj...” replied Loki, “I have no idea what to say to him or if he’s going to forgive me if I apologise to him”

“Why would you need to do that?” asked Okami curiously.

“Cuz’ I ran away from him without even saying a goodbye, I literally spent the rest of the day isolated in my room with my beanbag friend trying to vent my frustrations” replied Loki as he kneeled and put his head on the ground like an ostrich crying, “I can’t believe I left Kaj all day, all wondering why I ran, all by himself”

“Errm...” stumbled Okami blank eyed as she thought, ‘He was so depressed that... he decided to talk to a little “friend” of his? Wow... that’s some hard core stuff right there’

“I think you should have left for shorter and come back... but I think it’s better to apologise sooner” replied Okami happily as she added, “I’ll help you find Kaj if you want and assist you in apologising, after all you do seem a little nervous in meeting him”

“I-I think I’m better off on my own” replied Loki nervously as he thought, ‘I feel like I’m going to tick Okami’s bomb off if I ask her to come... ‘

“You sure? You seem very nervous”

“I think I’ll annoy you if you come with me”

“What makes you think that?” replied Okami smiling as she thought ‘Well when I’m seeing him now I don’t get all those bad memories of Carl for some reason’

“Naah nonsense! You haven’t really annoyed me one bit, I just tend to overreact sometimes just tell me if I’m overreacting, okay?”

“Alright then... but am I in the way of anything that you have to do?”

“Nope. I don’t have any work today, the only other thing I’d do is play my piano, go outside somewhere and practice throwing my magic knives.” giggled Okami

“Just out of curiosity what’s your job?” asked Loki, “That question has always been in my mind”

“A part-time waitress, a brewer, a chef and someone who helps with the community” replied Okami sniggering a bit, “I do all these jobs to get some good reputation that I’m not some sort of helpless lady who is there just to look pretty. I’ve even influenced several people including Kaj using this kind of job model”

‘So that’s why I see her work at different places and Kaj doing similar jobs’ thought Loki. The two walked around the street hoping to find an answer. They felt a bit awkward being silent together, so while looking they decided to start a conversation.

“How’s Sinro?” asked Loki.

“He’s been nothing but fun to have around” replied Okami happily.

“Boy I wish I had that much happiness with Kaj” sullenly spoke Loki.

“Why? He isn’t fun?”

“N-no... I just think he’s just hard to please!” replied Loki, “I mean he’s great and all but there are just times when he just isn’t in the mood, like today”

“I guess you should just leave him for a bit” replied Okami, “I get that feeling sometimes, when I don’t know what to say to my significant other... so I just leave him be until I feel like talking to him”

“Thanks... that helped get me over everything” replied Loki with relief. The two looked further into the city and finally found Kaj in the square walking around. Okami and Loki went up to him.

“Hello there- Loki! You’re back! Great to see you again! I-I was kind of worried”

“I’ve took someone else along too”

“Hello my brother!” greeted Okami smiling.

“Hey, how’s your day?”

“Great, spend some time with Sinro. It was one heck of a time!” replied Okami enthusiastically as she then calmly added, “I think I should leave you two to... y’know, be with each other.”

Okami ran off.

‘That went better than expected’ thought Loki happily with relief.

Loki hugged Kaj, “I missed you too much to even comprehend” Kaj hugged back “Me too.”

The two stayed for a while, not saying anything to each other. But both couldn’t feel any more comfortable being with each other. Loki noticed people putting up new posters on the billboards saying 

“Club Angel: Come on the Tour with Nina to the island of Arokyo. Have a chance to see her latest episode live! Feat. Okami, Kaj, Loki and Sinro. Saturday 21st November 20XX”

“Hey Kaj look at this!” 

“Eh?” asked Kaj, “Oh? What’s this? A performance with Nina? Well I missed her quite a bit since I left that island”

“Is she that lady who people have been talking about a lot lately?” asked Loki as he added, “What is Arokyo?”

“Yeah she’s that star who people have been seeing preform on TV and magazines, I have a stash of them at my place.” Replied Kaj, “Arokyo is the place where Carl lives”

“So the island I got out of was...” replied Loki.

“Yep,” replied Kaj as he asked, “would you like to go there?”

Loki thought about the name ‘Carl’. Loki thought to himself ‘Well, this is my golden opportunity to see where I came from. B-but I’ll have to risk Okami having some real bad business with me... I guess some risks have to be taken’

“Y-yes!” replied Loki in a passionately nervous voice. 

“W-well you seem a bit nervous! I do agree that being in a show can be a bit nerve- wrecking at first but don’t worry it’s going to be ok.” Comforted Kaj as he happily muttered, “Ah... the days when we used to have her all the time in Carl’s castle, how she played those catchy tunes. Y’know Okami really enjoyed it, I can imagine the only reason she’d go back is because of Nina”

Okami ran back with Sinro to Kaj.

“You came back quite quickly Okami!” replied Kaj surprised as he looked at Sinro, “And I also see you little blue beast. Did you two come here because of these billboards?”

“Yeah! We did, it’s strange how Nina would feature us in her performance, she usually allows everyone to come” replied Okami laughing, “Well I don’t care! The only reason I would go to that old man’s town again is probably to see Nina preform! You are going to come with me Sinro right?”

“Y-yeah...” replied Sinro as he thought of the name Nina, “The name sound familiar”

“Really?” asked Kaj.

“Yes, I remember she used to be owner of me. It long time ago though, so I don’t remember” replied Sinro.

“Well you’re coming with me like it or not” replied Okami, “I’ll bet you’ll enjoy it with all your heart”

“Didn’t you say you didn’t want to go to the old island you were on?” replied Loki, “I-I mean I’ll regain my memories, and we won’t be friends anymore”

“Ha! What are you saying? I can imagine you won’t, it’s not like we’ll stay on the island for no more than two hours.” laughed Okami trying not to think too hard about the matter, “After all the posters did say they were a tour, right?”

“I guess so...” replied Loki, “Just need to think about enjoying myself... yeah, loving every second of what I am going through”

“That’s the spirit Loki!” complimented Kaj, “The event is at... the 21st of November right?”

“It’s a few hours till then” replied Okami.

“Yeah! Let’s go and spend time at café!” yelled Sinro with happiness. Loki closed his eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep.

“Erm... maybe not today perhaps,” replied Kaj, “Loki’s quite tired now so maybe another time”

“Okay! We will sleep to kill time” yelled Sinro

“Good idea, see you guys tomorrow!” yelled Okami as Loki woke up and walked off with the rest of his friends. 

Chapter 6: All things...

Everyone was at the city square, Okami and her 3 friends arrived. The big digital clock on the tall building said “16:24”. The shops iced around the city had a very few customers since a lot of them were fans of Nina. The big star Nina herself was on top of a massive plate held by guards wearing pink costumes saying “Nina & Hamlet”. Strangely the guards were not struggling to hold the plate.

“Say, aren’t the guards tired of holding this plate already after a long journey” asked Loki feeling remorse for the guards and imagining eating a big turkey, “They must want a big turkey on there, huh...”

“I guess they have been through worse” replied Kaj, “Trust me I’ve seen them do way worse”

“Hello! Nina you remember me? I was your old pet!” yelled Sinro to Nina, she didn’t respond or even look at Sinro. Sinro ran off to Nina but he was blocked by the crowd.

“W-wait! You know Nina?” asked Okami surprised.

“Yeah I do! She was owner of me!” replied Sinro, “She great mother to me!”

“Really?”

“She’s amazing but... I miss her a lot” replied Sinro scornfully, “I not see her in 10 years, and I just... just want to say... hi to her”

Sinro cried and Okami tried to hug him.

“No! Hug only make me cry more” moaned Sinro.

“You going makes me cry more” moaned Okami.

“I-I know, I just want to greet her...” cried Sinro as Nina yelled “Come with us to the boat you four! C’mon the show’s gonna start soon!”

There was a small carriage being carried by many strong-looking horse who wore similar armour to the guards holding Nina’s pad. The four were transported to the port they used to come to Greentwin. It did look similar to how they previously saw it except it looked like how the city used to look 1.5 years ago. The four got off and greeted the sailor.

“H-have I seen you before young man?” asked the sailor as he analysed Kaj, “Oh wait! I know you! Yes! Yes! You are the kind man who asked me to change the location right?”

“Yes indeed, we are going to Nina’s concert. Do you intend on going?” smiled Kaj.

“Heck yeah! I’ve been a big fan of Nina and Hamlet!” replied the sailor enthusiastically, “I own a lot of their merchandise! Not only do I get to see her show... b-but I get to be in it too! ME! IN NINA’S SHOW! WHAT COULD BE ANY BETTER?!”

“That’s nice to hear indeed.” Replied Kaj.

“We shall be off! Eat my change, you suck up sailor!” yelled Nina laughing as she threw money at the sailor’s face.

 The sailor thought with glee ‘I can buy ALL her merchandise with this money after I’m done with my bit! I just need to get my judge costume now’ the sailor set his specially painted boat that said “No.1 Biggest Nina fan”. First of all Nina ran into the boat as it opened.

The guards then marched into the boat in an orderly fashion, line by line by line by... line.

The four then walked into the boat in a casual fashion one by one.

The boat closed up...

The horn honked...

The ship sailed off into the sun through the glistening sea. Inside the cabin was many guards hanging about talking, drinking, eating and playing a Nina-themed casino machine.

The four were sitting in a comfortable couch VIP room which had a picture of Nina on the pink-orange checker wall. There was a CRT TV showing a skinny pink man preforming stunts without Nina.

“He lookin’ impressive” yelled Sinro in awe of seeing Hamlet hand standing while balancing wine bottles on his feet.

“It’s a ‘she’ Sinro” replied Okami awkwardly giggling, “I know she looks like a man, but she... has a weird sense of fashion”

“But it cool! She look very cool even if she look like man!” yelled Sinro laughing.

Loki slept while the rest of his friends were enticed into the show. The sky was dark but clear. It was night. The island was right in front of the ship. A load of buildings occupying one big metal pyramid complex with several shining lights. 

“ATTENTION ALL CUSTOMERS. WE HAVE ARRIVED AT THE SPOT” Boomed the announcer on the microphone.

Everyone got out of the boat on to the island. 

The port was pretty small, it had several small buildings. In the distance a big wheel could be seen. Several trees occupied the area, lights were being shone like it was a casino city. There were many neon-light buildings. The church in the middle was extremely huge and colourful like an orthodox church. People were walking around, in and out of those neon-light buildings. A lot of people ran to Nina and flashed cameras, threw anything they could at her in hopes of getting them signed (a lot of them were rejected but hey, she signed a few of her cookbooks that were thrown at her).

“T-this brings quite some memories” said Okami with a forlorn expression, “Some memories I’d like to remember and forget...”

“Me too... b-but is this where Carl is?” quietly muttered Loki, “I-I don’t’ want to get my memories of being here back” Loki looked at Kaj, “Well save for a few”

Loki cried as he thought he would gain his memories. He hugged Kaj.

“Don’t worry Loki, you’re good as you are amnesiac or not” replied Kaj, “I still have faith in you...”

Loki hugged Kaj even harder. Everyone who was on the boat followed Nina as she walked through the city to the big pyramid. The Pyramid was as big as a skyscraper, in fact some even call it the skyscraper.  Hamlet ran to Nina and gave her a high five.

“Good news and bad news big buddy!” yelled Hamlet snorting like the little swine she was, “Dude, Our performance out here is being cancelled, but the performance Nark wrote for us is not cancelled”

“Yeah, I was looking forward to that one more anyways! And it was the one we practiced for the most right?”

“Yep! I have prepared everything man, let’s go into the castle’s entrance”

“I will be preforming in the castle, kids! Don’t be late or you’ll miss out!!” yelled Nina scrambling into the castle. The sailor, who just got out of the ship, followed Nina wearing his judge costume. The city was then filled with people waiting for the performance to show up on the numerous TVs place around. The four looked around them and heard impatient muttering.

“I think the people around us are waiting for the concert” replied Loki waiting silently. ”Yeah... I don’t think us hanging’ around here is going to start the performance”

The quad decided to walk into the castle, they saw the guards. 

“You guys are the ones Nina wants right? She’s really missed you... that’s what I have been told” said the guard as he saw Loki and Sinro and demanded, “W-wait who are these two animals? You weren’t invited! Clear off! Shoo! Shoo!”

The guards got out their spears and threatened the two by thrashing their spears near them. Loki, upon backing quickly tripped over and wailed in agony “DAAADYYY!!!! Help! Help!”

Sinro, running behind his friends bawled “Mummy!! Help me!!” even though the person who was the closest to a mother was inside of the pyramid.

“Stop! Stop! Don’t hurt me I have so much to live for!” rebuked Loki putting his arms out, “Wait, wait, I-I think I’m linked to this castle... I think...””

“Uhhh... I think they were sent err...p-private invitations to come here sir!” lied Okami quickly.

“Y-yeah! Y’know you’re really wasting our time not allowing us here” added Loki as he asked, “Shouldn’t you go and watch the show with anyone else?”

“Y-yeah! I think we should go to one of the TVs here... it’s not like we’re allowed in this castle anyway...” replied the guard as the other added, “It was about time for our break anyway” 

The guards opened the door and ran off with their Nina-branded merchandise like a bull. Four of them without a hitch went into the pyramid.

SLAM!

The room was pitch black not a sound to be heard but the walking of echoing footsteps. They got louder and louder until it suddenly stopped. 

“Where’s the switch?” moaned a voice as it was grunting like a pig.

Another voice muttered angrily but quietly with a few curse words put into the mix. 

ZUT!

A small purple spotlight appeared on a figure who bended at first to the left direction as if it were talking to a midget. The figure quickly shifted pose to face the four, standing aimlessly in the abyss. 

“Four lights hit one star...” spoke Nina as four more spotlights hit Nina, one purple, one green, one blue and one red.

“It was that time of destiny when... the star reflects those four lights... TO THE WORLD!”

A large ray of lights shone on the four. Nina was looking at them, analysing them like a detective. A muscular pink man like person ran up on the stage. Her black specs flashed like lightning. She cockily smiled and flexed her beefy muscles or should I say... porky muscles?

“And I am the biggest star of them all kids,” yelled Hamlet continuing to flex, “I am the sun!”

“The sun shall seek which light reaches the horizons...” informed Nina as she held her microphone high 

“I dunno about you pink... man... pig... thing... but I think you’re better off being a whole lump of bacon” interrupted Loki.

“Hey! I worked hard to look human fool! I’ll give you a taste of my bacon fist, you seem to like bacon don’t you? Huh? HUH?!” yelled Hamlet infuriatedly as she leapt from the stairs to thrash at Loki, “EAT THIS SUCKER!!”

Hamlet gave out her hand and held two strips of bacon, “Here, it’s bacon. Enjoy it.”

“I’ll pass...” muttered Loki backing away. 

“I dunno if this was part of the script man!” yelled Hamlet, “I got this prop from one of our games, and yeah Loki it doesn’t taste nice.”

“To the sun with the script!” yelled Nina arrogantly, “Or maybe we can be a bit out of script. After all we’re just here to have fun at the end of the day, we still have plenty of surprises at our sleeves to our disposals! I don’t want to bore people watching this!”

The whole room lit showing a shiny looking hall with the clear silver stairs and the several other huge doors. 

“I’m your old pet! Don’t you remember me?” yelled Sinro.

“Nope sorry not ringing’ any bells” replied Nina as she thought ‘Actually I do remember you, b-but Nark told me that I was not allowed to act familiar with people such as these four because it said I should not let my memories intervene’ 

Nina then wept for a bit. She tried her best to keep a happy face but the tears in her eyes just couldn’t handle her trying to be happy.

“Wah! HA!” cried Nina trying to laugh, “Y-you’re so funny and sweet... C’mon let’s start the game already! The audience have their expectations people! They’re important! Hamlet! Get to the kitchen!”

Everybody went into the kitchen which was on the left of the castle hall.

 “Game 1: Culinary arts! That lovely kitchen where I spend most of my time in!” yelled Nina as she went into the kitchen, “This is also the birthplace of the meals that will make you appetized for more! My cooking is such a delight no?”

“I agree” replied Kaj happily, “I’ve been inspired by you so well, I became a cook myself”

“I’ve learnt cooking mostly myself! I just experiment with stuff and make good recipes out of those” yelled Okami egotistically laughing, “Take that Kaj”

“W-well, we all learn differently” smiled Kaj, “I was inspired to cook some crazy things by Nina”

“Regarding that I’m ready to inspire more wonderful potential chefs with this coming game” informed Nina excitedly holding a copy of her own cooking magazine to a nearby camera, “By the way, don’t forget to buy the latest issue of ‘Cooking with Nina and Hamlet #256’”

Some of the people outside watching the performance scrambled to any book shop they could find to buy the latest issue. They caused such a racket that even the host (Nina) and her guests could feel the mini-earthquake caused by the constant running of people to get the latest issue. 

“Nina? Could I-I have a copy please?” asked Kaj excitedly.

“Yeah sure you can, that will be 15.99!” replied Nina as she added “As you are a guest I’ll give you a small discount of 15 grains”

“Great, great! I’ll have a read of this when I get back home and come up with some very cool and unique recipes” glimmered Kaj as he paid Nina. Nina gave Kaj the magazine.

“Don’t cheat with that magazine though” informed Nina as she took the magazine off, “you need to be as good of a cook as lil’ Hamlet. There’s no way you can be better than she is pal!”

“Oh I will” replied Kaj brandishing a spoon, “I’ll show all of you how I am a great cook”

“We’ll be cooking cakes today! Let’s start! Ready.... GO!”

Kaj got out all the obvious and basic stuff like flower, eggs, sugar, butter and yeast. He mixed all the ingredients together. He added in a bit of the chocolate that was there and added other things. He then put it on a square shaped container near the counter. He put it in the oven and waited.

Hamlet was adding in anything she saw... like mushrooms, cracked eggs, sugar, the bacon props and any weird object you could imagine. She dumped this colossal sludge into a bowl and put it in the microwave and waited.

“Dude, this is my amazing masterpiece! Nothing could be better” yelled Hamlet as she pulled out a mouldy, out of shape and smelly cake. 

“Ha! That’s nothing compared to my awesome chocolate cake!” yelled Kaj happily. 

“Let one of the contestants try the cake” yelled Nina.

Loki took a nibble out of Hamlet’s cake and gave the verdict “It’s edible.” He tried Kaj’s cake and it kissed his taste buds with the sweet expression of “L-love...ly”.

“I-I’m glad you like my cooking...” replied Kaj flattered. 

“I remember those lovely meals you used to cook me” replied Loki. Nina tried Hamlet’s cake with a queasy expression “I-It’s okay” and then tried Kaj, with a smiling expression she yelled “That’s sooo good! Kaj wins”

Kaj was gob-smacked and as speechless as someone who lost his mouth and so was everyone else (save for hamlet).

“W-wow I-I’m surprised you got this right the first time...” replied Nina astonished as she went up to Hamlet and whispered “You were supposed to cook what Kaj was supposed to! I did not have a chance to execute part of my script because of you! Why did you have to loose!?”

Nina glared at Hamlet maliciously.

“S-sorry I forgot the recipe man!” complained Hamlet.

“Foolish pig... O-oh! Audience! Audience! I forgot I have people watching me! Act natural!” muttered Nina as she yelled, “Anyway our contestants exceeded to reach the ex...Expectations of Hamlet. N-next game!”

She ran out of the kitchen into the big hall next to the main one and saw the prop men cleaning things up. They quickly scrambled into obscurity. There was a big stand and three other stands as if the main hall were a courtroom. A big screen was behind the big stand saying

TRUTH OR DARE

Nina stood in one of the smaller stands. The sailor scurried to the big stand and stood behind here looking all shy but excited. Nina scurried over to the sailor

“Hope you have learnt your lines Mr. Sailor judge?” Nina whispered giggling, “Hope all goes well...”

“Now fellow viewers!” yelled Nina happily as she continued, “We’re in Game 3: Truth or Dare! Here’s how the game works, the judge in the stand over there asks the witness questions”

The judge waved and smiled at the camera, “Hi guys, hope you’re havin’ fun over there watching me!”

The watchers outside exploded into discussions of their opinions of this matter, some envied him, some were embarrassed and some just continued watching.

“I the host and defence ask the witness to tell the truth” explained Nina as she pointed to Hamlet, “While my good friend here is the prosecutor who dares the witness to do something”

“Isn’t the prosecutor supposed to prove the witness guilty and the defence does the opposite?” thought Okami peculiarly, ‘But what do I know about this stuff? I’ve only seen it in theatres and movies...’

“I hope you guys get a good laugh out of this, it’s not supposed to be serious” laughed Nina, “Let the game begin!”

The judge took out his sheet which showed lists of names, “Loki, on the witness’ chair!”

Loki went over to the judge, “Over there, next to where I am standing”. Loki proceeded to the small stand and decided to rest. 

WALLOP!

The judge banged his small hammer on the table and Loki woke up “O-ORDER! O-O-ORDER IN THE COURT! This squirrel is on trial for appearing in a mix of events that led to him here, Nina begin your quiz.”

“Alright.” Replied Nina as she asked in a passively serious tone, “So this piece of paper says that you have had a serious case of ‘amnesia’ right?”

“Yeah, that’s right”

“You apparently went through some big adventure to get here. Which according to this sheet somehow links to your amnesia. Tell me about your whole adventure... from the beginning to this moment”

“E-er... Yeah, so I woke up in some sunny meadow and met some dragon called Sinro. I wound up in some village and stuff happened... like me seeing some princess named Okami. (Good lord I can’t focus) We travelled on a boat to another island somewhere. I met an h-handsome man and then I ended up here... by stuff happening... staying with friends...” replied Loki as he drifted to his slumber. Kaj had a worried expression on his face.

“Hey punk! Wake your face up!” screamed Hamlet, “You didn’t tell the full story! I dare you to yell what you spent those last two seconds thinking of”

“K-KAJ!” yelled Loki, “You there?”

“Yeah Loki! Stay awake!” yelled Kaj supportively.

“Good boy for accepting my dare. Now Get off you little red skunk!” yelled Hamlet, “You are disqualified for sleeping during a game. Go and sit in the naughty corner, Yeah! That’ll teach you!”

“Hamlet, that’s enough rubbish talk!” yelled Nina, “I think he’s told the truth enough and you dared him, end of.”

“Okay...”

“N-next is Okami!” yelled the sailor. Okami laughing at Loki telepathically removed the limping Loki from the chair and walked in.

“So, we now know about Loki’s adventure, or what he’s said anyway. Now you saw Loki didn’t you Okami?”

“Yes indeed, thanks to this cheeky but lovely friend of mine” replied Okami as she pointed to Sinro.

“Hi there! Nice to meet you!”

“N-nice to meet you s-sir!” replied the sailor bashfully.

“So tell me...” said Nina as she looked at the sheet and asked confidently, “Well describe what your relationship was like with Sinro”

Okami’s nervous face then became a poker face. Sinro’s face looked confused, “What’s this gotta do with Loki”

“Ha, ha, ha! You’ll see blue beast!”

“Hey, I might be blue but I not beast!” yelled Sinro.

“W-well S-Sinro has a point...” replied Okami, “I’ll tell you anyway... It’s a pretty good relationship. There, that’s the clean, clear, solid freakin’ truth. Happy now?”

“Something tells me you didn’t fully tell the truth dude” replied Hamlet as she laughed at Okami, “Y’know what that means don’t you, smart old lady?”

“Actually no...” replied Okami sweating thinking ‘I’m not that old thank you... fat little pig’.

“A dare buddy.” Replied Hamlet as Okami thought ‘If I dared you to do something it would be to shut your bacon trap. Because I’d really like to smack some in your face, even if it will be the last thing I do’

“I dare you to tell the most awkward time you’ve had” informed Hamlet reading from the sheet.

‘Oh boy I have to bring that awful day up... oh help me’ thought Okami as she explained “Okay...Yesterday I had to help some bartenders. I had to serve some drinks, so I dropped some drinks and it splashed on the floor. Yes. Glass and wine. And it splashed on my shirt and trousers. And the crash of the glass was so loud everybody looked at me...”

Okami paused as she realised the expression on her face was telling her not to say anymore. She also looked at Loki who giggled at the story. Okami glared at Loki menacingly.

‘I’ll make you pay Loki... I swear it. With every being with my soul. And that madman Carl... I know he’s up to something not good. He must be in this pyramid somewhere.’ 

“Yes? Too much to convey” asked Hamlet, “You’ll be disqualified if you don’t tell us your entire day!”

“Disqualify me if you wish” smiled Okami confidently, “I don’t want to tell anymore”

“HAHAHAHAHA!! I shall embarrass everyone by me telling your entire day!!” replied Hamlet reading the script laughing, “And the crash of the glass was so loud everybody looked at me. I tried so hard to smile but it just became an awkward face where everyone looked at me. I then ran out while everybody was still looking at me. Then a certain someone was laughing at me as I screamed at him. And I ran off.”

“Oh god...” muttered Okami with blushed expression, “T-they literally read my mind. I’m mentally scarred now... But at least it’s done and I’m disqualified. Yay!”

Okami ran out of the stage happily. 

“ORDER IN MY COURT! S-Sinro get in the court!” yelled the judge.

“I think I’ll dare you Sinro” laughed Hamlet, “Try to make a rhyming poem with anything that is on your head for 5 minutes”

“That easy!” yelled Sinro clearing his throat “Loki, me want some beat”

“W-well I can’t really sing or make a beat... oh well, here goes nothing” replied Loki tried to beatbox and did it pretty well, even for a first try. In fact he sounded like a one man band added with occasional “Ooohs’” and “Ahs’”.

“I was on street

Dying from heat

I seeing things

Including rings

I saw a rock on the helmet

With brain saying ‘pelmet!’”

Sinro kept on rapping something like that for 5 minutes ending on the rhyme “I see lady on other side, I then take her on ride”

“Boombooossshhhhhh...”

Loki finished his beatbox with simulating a hit hat being slammed as hard as a coconut with a pickaxe.

“Alright! We have questioned all the witnesses!” yelled Nina.

“H-hey what about me?” asked Kaj running next to the small stand, “I’m Loki’s good friend! I know a lot about him!”

“Sorry I don’t think you’re supposed to go on, maybe next tiiimmeee” replied Nina giggling.

“Aww...” murmured Kaj as he walked off the stage.

“We have come up to one amazing conclusion” explained the Judge, “All these loose answers must have something in common right Nina?”

“Yes one thing...”

“NOTHING.”, yelled Nina.

“W-WHAT??” asked the four surprised. 

“Remember this?” asked Hamlet laughing like a hyena.

“I don’t think you little rodents were listening.” Giggled Hamlet “You should have known this from the start. If it builds up to nothing, it builds up to nothing! Y’think we’re lawyers? C’mon kids...”

“Well anyway guys and gals this concludes Nina and the Hamlet show!” yelled Nina, “We’ve had some great guests here.”

The four smiled with Loki’s looking awkward and Sinro’s looking confident. 

“Tune in next time to the NINA AND HAMELT SHOW!” yelled Nina as her and hamlet yelled “BYEEEE!”

Both of them took a bow and the cameraman turned off the camera.

Hamlet reverted to being a small pig.

“Guys you did a pretty good job back there! I’m pleased!” congratulated Hamlet, “Sorry for me being rudely sexy. It’s just my persona on stage”

‘You’d better be... one more second of that rudeness of yours could have made me go nuts’ thought Okami sinisterly. A guard rushed out of the door above the stairs and scurried panting to Nina.

The judge/sailor came off the court area.

“N-niccccce ssssssshow you puuuut onnnnnn therrrre” hissed the guard happily, “I have an order from the master that they’d like to pay a little visit to Okami, Kaj, Sinro and Loki.”

“Oh goodness! That was one of the most awesome things I ever did” cheered the sailor.

“I know right, that was cool!” yelled Sinro.

“Now if you don’t mind I’ve gotta get an autograph from Nina” replied the sailor excitedly as he went towards Nina and gave her his boot to sign which she did. The sailor ran off thrilled and happy.

“I’m quite eager to meet this ‘master’” said Kaj with a little smile.

“Me too!” yelled Okami excitedly as she thought ‘If it involves paying Carl a little ‘visit’...’

“Yeah, me three” added Loki as he literally thought what Okami thought... well with a slight difference that is. Approach wise.

“Y-you seem to be very excited Okami” replied Kaj happily, “Glad to hear your enthusiasm great sister!”

“Err... where is this master though?” asked Okami, “I’d really like to meet him- or her.”

“If you go through that door and er... dunno actually, you might need to find it yourself...” replied Hamlet giggling, “You could as well as look around this pyramid if you’d like.”

‘Oh brother I’m going to be here all afternoon... but I need to find Carl and seek my revenge on him!’ thought Okami.

“I guess we’d better look around here” implied Loki with a sense of determination, “Even if it takes all evening.”

‘Are you reading my mind? Or just copying bits of it? And you even seem to be as determined as I am to find this master.’ thought Okami as she came to the realisation of, ‘Uh oh... if Loki is going to regain his memories of Carl then... I’d better find him first!’ 

The four set off but Sinro decided to stay for a little longer to ask Nina questions.

“You remember me? Mama?” asked Sinro excitedly shaking Nina’s hands.

“Yeah I do!” replied Nina cuddling Sinro, “Long time no see sonny!! You seemed to have made a few friends haven’t you?”

“Yeah! They cool people” replied Sinro, “We spend over 1 year with each other, and Okami is my girlfriend”

“Oooh... interesting! You have the princess as your girlfriend! That’s so cool” glimmered Nina, “I’ve got this guy as my new pet! You’re always welcome to stay with us Y’know!”

“I-I would like to... b-but what about Okami? She don’t want to stay in this place, she come here to visit”

“Aww... I wouldn’t’ want my former pet to be sad. But if that’s what makes you happy then I’m happy” replied Nina smiling.

“You so nice ma’am, maybe after I meet with master I could stay with you and Hammy for day.” Replied Sinro with a smile on his face, “I miss you a lot!”

“Hamlet”

“Oh yeah.”

“I think that would be a terrific idea” smiled Nina as she looked at hamlet, “Wouldn’t it Hamlet?”

Hamlet nodded happily.

“And I could show you my awesome prop room and you could maybe help us with the next episode.” Replied Nina happily as she looked at Sinro’s friends, “Oh wait I think your friends are waiting for you. Go now. I’ll be seeing you soon!”

“Me too!” added Hamlet, “Hope you enjoy the pyramid”

“Bye guys!” yelled Sinro waving at the two, “Laters!”

Sinro ran up to Okami and Kaj, “Where’s Loki?”

“He ran off somewhere...” replied Okami concerned. She had the thought Loki would find Carl and gain his memories back. Trying to shake the matter off her head she replied, “I don’t think he’d know the way to the master... Let’s look for him.”

“I-I hope he comes back” worried Kaj. The three searched for Loki around the gigantic pyramid.

Loki was far from the three. In fact he was nearly on the other side of the pyramid’s interiors. He saw a lot of bronze statues of Carl. He came across one room that looked pink and had a lot of pillows. There was a big hallway which Loki could somehow recognise.

‘I-I think I’m starting to remember things...’ thought Loki as he went to one side of the hallway which had a big window. He started to remember...

'I was a happy little squirrel living with Carl...

I lived a private life with Carl...

Nothing could be better...

Until that fated day...

Kaj and Okami moved in to the castle in hopes of having a better future for themselves...

I was isolated from society...

Nobody except Carl knew I existed...

And soon it wouldn’t be him that only knew I existed...

Carl introduced the two to me...

And as the days went by I learned about them...

Okami did like being with Carl...

At first...

She then realised she was being ordered to do things by Carl...

He was preparing Okami to be the future queen of the island...

He wanted her to be the ‘Best’...

But she didn’t want to...

She just wanted to be herself...

She was extremely stressed...

I tried to cheer her up...

To make something useful out of myself...

But instead she got even angrier...

Meanwhile Kaj was always being asked to do a lot of the important stuff...

He impressed me...

This was when I realised life was more than just me being a pet...

I decided to summon up all the courage to talk to him...

And we became great friends...

And eventually... lovers...

It was not just me and Carl anymore...

Hey, don’t get me wrong, Carl’s a cool guy...

But Kaj was there for me a lot... he comforted me... expanded my world...

Those were the best times of my life...

Having another Carl...

But as they say, all good times come to an end...

I woke up, Kaj wasn’t there to greet me...

I searched the entire day for Kaj. I tried... but I was too late... 

Kaj was already in a town where I was forbidden to go...

I felt nothing but sadness...

Carl was the only one I had left...

He was like a father to me...

The only one apart from Kaj who could understand me...

But he was too busy...

To even bother with me...

Because he was bothering Okami...

One very early morning...

When everything was dark...

A strange voice I would have heard...

‘Loki walk into the hallway, you will find Kaj...’...

I snuck out of Carl’s room into the long and dark hallway curious about finding Kaj...

‘Jump down the window he’ll be there’...

I saw a small moonlit window as if destiny were helping me find my way...

I took no hitch and leaped out into the trees...

Out of the castle...

I landed in a strange land full of trees...

Behind me I saw the entire castle with its smooth bricks...

There was a strange pink creature looking at me, encouraging me to follow it...

‘Follow the pink creature’ the entity ran into the forest...

I decided to go through the forest...

And when I looked back...

The castle was nothing...

I did not know where to go...

I just progressed further...

And hey...

I saw a bright green meadow...

Encased in the orange sunlight of dawn...

I imagined Carl feeling as sad as I did when I lost Kaj...

But I wasn’t going to go back...

I felt tired and slowly closed my eyes...

And suddenly I forgot all when I woke up...

The only thing that drove me was my emotions...

To keep moving forward...'

Do you finally admit you do not have amnesia?

“Oh it’s you again... funny voice”

I think you need your ears checked up. I did not say anything. These are words of text, not a voice. Anyway... amnesia is a condition where you have forgotten everything, including your friends, all that you have learnt over the years. With that said, you never had amnesia did you?

“Well, now you mention it...” replied Loki thinking with all honesty, “I think I just have a poor memory. I tend to forget things. I don’t think it was enough to be called amnesia”

I’m happy you are admitting it now. I’ve been trying to tell you to admit it and hoping you did for the entire book, but you did not listen until you recalled all your memories.

 Well...go to the door next to you. I believe you will find someone dear to you.

“Well here goes nothin’” muttered Loki as he knocked on the nicely-crafted wooden door.

“C-come in!”

Inside was a golden room with a big comfy metal frame bed as well as a small red cradle which was Loki’s bed, both kept extremely tidily. There was also a CRT TV next to the bed which is currently off. In the back-centre of the room there was a shiny wooden desk which behind it was a big balcony.

The person sitting on the desk was Carl.

“Father?” asked Loki with tears in his eyes. Loki ran up to Carl as he got out of his seat and went up to Loki.

“L-Loki? I’m so glad you’re safe!” cried Carl, “Where have you been? I was too busy working on this amazing city so I had no time to think about you. I’m sorry...”

“Nah! I’m the ones who’s supposed to be sorry dude!” laughed Loki, “I left you all alone! Without even telling you!”

“It’s okay Loki... we all make mistakes...” replied Carl with a small smile, “I’m just glad you’re with me. You must have been through a long adventure with me not seeing you for a year.”

“It was a worthy adventure, I met some new buddies, had good food and laughs” replied Loki happily, “I know, I’m not allowed to go out. But it was worth it.”

“At least you came back safely... actually I’ve been thinking about how much you benefitted from going out. I’m happy about that.” Replied Carl, “I also saw you guys on TV. It was lovely seeing Okami, you, Kaj and Sinro”

“Oh yeah, Sinro’s Nina’s pet” informed Loki.

“Yes, she does talk to me from time to time about how she misses him” replied Carl, “I-I’m just excited to see those two come back”

“Y-yeah I guess” replied Loki smirking, “I think they’re seeing ‘the master’. I don’t know where they are or what their name is”

“The master is called Nark, he helped me build this entire city. Do you like it?” asked Carl.

“It looks nice actually” replied Loki, “Could you help me get to him please?”

“O-of course” replied Carl as he walked out of his room with Loki following him. They went through a pretty complex set of hallways and went to a big door that looked similar to Carl’s. The two went inside.

The room looked quite silvery and a bit like Carl’s room minus the two beds. There was also a big window that held the splitting image of Greentwin. 

In the meantime Okami and the two others were near Carl’s room. Okami went through the open door and saw nobody in there.

‘Damn it! I thought I had Carl!’ thought Okami. 

“Sigh... nothing” implied Okami sadly. The three decided to wander around the floor until Okami knocked the master’s door.

“Hello?” asked Okami as she pushed the door open. She couldn’t believe what she saw...

Loki started to shudder and hold Carl's hand in fear.

“What’s wrong Loki? I-it’s just Okami...” replied Carl as he saw Okami’s blank eyed flaring face, “h-hello there Okami... l-long-time no see!”

“Listen Okami I-I know this isn’t going to make things better” stuttered Loki, “I regained my memories... I don’t have amnesia... I wasn’t trying to lie about it... I just didn’t know what it meant”

“So I guess you were trying to spy on me this whole time, and then inform Carl on where I was so I could come back here permanently!” replied Okami with a tear, “HOW COULD YOU?!”

Okami started hyperventilating and laughing like a serial killer, Okami lashed out and threw a magic knife at the ceiling. She threw more. She then telepathically grabbed Loki.

“WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME?” yelled Okami slamming Loki down like a living basketball, “I KNEW I SHOULDN’T HAVE TRUSTED YOU TO COME WITH US! YOU ALWAYS MOCK ME! YOU ALWAYS HURT MY HEART!”

“Stop Okami stop! Please!” yelled Sinro dragging Okami back. Carl tried his best to pull Loki away from the magic, ‘It’s no use! Just got to try harder!’

“Back off stupid dragon!! You are nothing more than a stupid lizard who wants all my worth!” yelled Okami kicking Sinro.

Kaj watched the horror unfold as he saw constant kicking, punching, dragging and shoving going on with the four. It was like he saw an entire war in a smaller scale. He was crying to himself muttering, “I just wanted all of us to be friends... w-why did it have to end this way? I just wanted to come here to see an old friend and be done with it...”

“Hey! Hey! Guys” a happy voice echoed, “Is that how you introduce yourselves to me?”

Kaj was somewhat relived and the mini-war stopped. Okami stopped and thought ‘Now a voice is stopping me from getting my revenge! Grrrr...’

“C’mon! We don’t want revenge here...” echoed the voice, “Let’s all treat each other nicely like good boys and girls! Hm?”

“A voice isn’t going to stop me from getting revenge” yelled Okami as she telepathically held Loki, “See? That’s not hard! What are you going to do? Harm me?!”

“No I won’t. Don’t be silly!” replied the voice happily, “We will all meet in person”

“Wait... where are you?” asked Okami as she walked towards the door and tried to open it. It was locked.

“No worries, I’ll take you to where I am!” replied the voice, “I’ll give you a head start: The floor you’re standing on. We’ll chat once you get to where I am. Cheerio!”

The floor whirred and dragged down like a lift. The five were mid-air falling along with the floor. Some of the lights illuminated the metal walls.

The floor lift fell faster and faster. Until a sudden thud. The five collapsed. There was nothing but a small red light lighting the floor.

WRRRR!

The gate in front of the five opened. Lights then shone on the path beyond. Where the light shone was a rusty metal texture.

“Everybody alright?” asked Carl as he got up. Everybody else got up.

“Let me take a good guess where we are: At the end of the book?” asked Loki.

“It don’t look like it” replied Sinro, “E-even though it very dark and not very light!”

The five looked around the dimly lit room. It had rusty metal floors with some light showing preserved dead bodies in respectively sized container in some strange liquid. They were very strange looking creatures... like nothing you would see in the wild. They were clearly genetically modified.

There were withered lockers that had case files of experiments. But it looked more like a morgue than a graveyard.

“Hello again... you lovely humans” Greeted that familiar voice, “Was that little ride of mine’s good?”

“Y-yeah it was pretty ok” replied Loki, “I don’t think that crash in the end was that good”

“Well that was apparently my favourite part, but let’s talk about the situation at hand” replied the voice, “I’ve gathered you all neatly and nicely here, would you mind coming a little closer?”

The five blindly and slowly walked around since they did not know where Nark was.

“Well you guys don’t know where I am do you?” asked the voice, “And I said that I would appear here didn’t I?”

Nark walked from the darkness into the somewhat dim light of the room. Carl was bewildered at how he saw the person who helped Carl get to where he and his city were.

“Okami and Kaj you may not recognise me or even know me at all” replied Nark, “But I know a lot about you two. You may know me Loki... I saw you in the distance before you had this so called ‘amnesia’”

“Yeah... I think I remember seeing a faint image of you” replied Loki.

“That's right...” replied Nark who then smiled, “I was the one who said the prologue, I YELLED THEM IN YOUR EAR IN THIS VOICE”

Nark’s face turned into a wrinkled demonic one. Its black eyes had small blue pupils. 

“Oh and this is not my true body...” laughed Nark as its face started to crumble and fall apart. Nark was nothing more than a cape with dull pink grains. Several screens implanted on the walls around the room lit up. All of them showed an image of an eye.

I am actually the narrator...

That’s who I am.

Carl was surprised and confused he looked around for a dark spot to hide himself.

What a coward!

Do you want to know why I gathered you here? I gathered you here because I’d love to make a satisfying conclusion to this story. I would be starving of boredom should I have done it any other way. After all, this world is my toy box. 

I decided to gather you all through Nina’s silly little performance, even she doesn’t know the plan I have at hand. It was quite entertaining to watch. I loved every bit of it...

Because I wrote a lot of it! It was sooo lovely seeing this baloney come into action. Ha, HA, HA!

And one way this plan became successful was Okami and Loki.

“Me?” asked Okami inquisitively.

Yes you fool! I know the reason why you were excited, come a little closer and I’ll tell you. 

A vine came out of the darkness and coiled around Okami like an extremely fast snake. Okami was struggling “Let go of me! At once!” 

She tried to use her magic knife to cut the vine but the vine was too strong. She could not use telekinesis on it because it was too heavy for her to carry. ‘Ugh... I could as well as try carrying it with my own hands’. The vine took her to the biggest screen.

The pupil in the screen formed a demonic girl face.

YOU WANTED TO TAKE REVENGE ON CARL DIDN’T YOU? DIDN’T YOU?!

“No! I-I DIDN-N’T WANT-T TO TAKE R-REVENGE ON HIM!!” stuttered Okami scared that I would read her mind, “I-I just wanted t-to v-visit him! Y-you idiot!”

YOU LIAR! 

The vine slammed Okami down in several directions.

YOU STUPID, FOOLISH, IMBECILIC, SICK-MINDED, DISRESPECTFUL LIAR!

LIAR! LIAR LIIIIIAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRR!

YOU WANTED TO COME HERE SO YOU COULD FIGHT CARL UNTIL HE SPITS BLOOD AND CRIES SO THAT POOR LOKI COULD NEVER GAIN HIS MEMORIES AND ANTAGONIZE YOU!

IS THAT HOW YOU TREAT YOUR TRUE FATHER?

WHO'S THE IDIOT NOW? YOU ARE!

Okami screamed yelled “H-he is not my true father. INUKA IS!”

He’s your stepfather. Carl divorced your mother and lived on his own. He took you in because he cared about you he wanted you back, and that’s why I ‘helped’ him build this city. He did this all to take you back because he loved you. He cared about you.

Think about how he felt when you were gone for a year and a half...

Okami had her face down and a tear dropped. “W-why did he want to control me though” moaned Okami, “If he cared so much about me, why couldn’t he treat me with r-respect”

Because you were being so rude to him, he told you orders nicely. He only wanted the best for you, he gave you what you wanted. AND YOU REJECT THAT GIFT.
Also, Loki was never intended to be a slave to Carl, he was nothing but a family pet. He was ‘adopted’ to replace you and Kaj because that is how much he loved you. 

And instead of being friends with that family pet like your brother, you assumed that Carl stole a squirrel and making him obey his commands. 

HOW STUPID CAN YOU BE?

Kaj, Sinro and Loki were shocked at the truth. Sinro was especially concerned with Okami’s plans.

Oh Sinro oh Sinro, why did you make that stupid decision of falling in love with this evil witch? YOU ACTAULLY LOVE THIS WITCH!! HA!! Y-YOU DON’T EVEN LOVE HER DO YOU? Y-Y-YOU JUST LOVE HER FOR THE LOOKS DON’T YOU? D-DON’T YOU???

“W-well at first but when I talk to her, she loveliest thing I ever spend time with” snapped Sinro as he angrily asked, “Y-you just jealous aren’t you?”

... Y-yes I think I am sorry...

NO I AM NOT SORRY! GRRRRR SHUDDUP!! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! BE QUIET YOU LITTLE REPTILE!! I AM NOT JEALOUS! I’LL ERASE YOU FROM THIS WORLD!!

“Bring it on!” yelled Sinro confidently.

Another vine lashed out like a whip and coiled Sinro.  

“B-but b-before I go... can I TALK TO OKAMI PLEASE? PRETTY PLEASE?” begged Sinro with tears, “I-I just want to talk about matter with her... please?”

Talk to her now... before she dies...

“N-NO! I NEVER SAY KILL HER! I WANT TO B-BE WITH HER AND TALK TO HER... I-I JUST WANT TO CALM HER DOWN... PLEASE...”

Very well... then you should both die together, like Romeo and Juliet.

“I don’t care! It’s either me dying or both of us dying!” screamed Sinro as he replied to Okami, “I know you wanted to hurt Carl... b-but I still love you the way you are, I-I just think you needed to calm down...”

“Thanks Sinro you’re the best... really... I do think I needed to calm down... I’m sorry about the time I insulted you” cried Okami with joy, “I never really hated you... don’t worry Sinro...” Okami smiled at Sinro.

“It’s okay, I’ve always had faith in you...” replied Sinro with tears in his eyes, “I don’t blame you... you just get angry sometimes. We all get angry, even me.”

Both of them laughed as if they were living like they would be together forever. Both of them embraced each other.

Okay now, are you done with your tête-à-tête nonsense? 

“B-before we leave could I just want to say... I will remember you forever... I will burn you into my memory. You will be a part of me”

“You were always a part of me... even when I die now. I’ll always love hate you”

“W-wait what?” asked Okami laughing, “C’mon’ I know you Sinro! You’d never hate me right?” 

“O-Of course I wouldn’t hate you! N-no ignore what I said before! That wasn’t me! I definitely loathe you” yelled Sinro desperately.

“S-Sinro... y-you’re not serious are you?” asked Okami confused and somewhat upset. Her heart then felt like a withering apple, rotting with every ‘insult’ Sinro said.

“I-I AM! I’M TELLING YOU THE TRUTH I LOVE, CHERISH, ADORE AND VALUE HATE, DESPISE, LOATHE AND DETEST YOU!” yelled Sinro happily like his life depended on it. Sinro cried immediately after he heard that I changed what he said and felt heartbroken Okami surprised and puzzled quietly cried, “H-HOW COULD Y-”

Both of them faded away like smoke. Loki cried because he lost two of his friends. Loki thought about what he did with them for a year and a half with them. He definitely remembered that Okami was usually herself when she was with Kaj or Sinro. She was not threatening. He enjoyed hearing Sinro’s stories and seeing him make new stores.

But he enjoyed spending a lot of his private time talking to Kaj and sharing secrets with him who neither would tell anyone. 

Kaj was also upset because of how Okami was his good friend and sister.

HAHAHAHAHAHA! I LOVE PUTTING SAD ENDINGS TO STUPID RELATIONSHIPS. GOODBYE OKAMI AND SINRO! YOU’LL NEVER KNOW WHO LOKI REALLY IS! 

Loki and Kaj were grabbed by vines.

Loki is not a real red squirrel, he’s an artificial being. Look at him he looks bigger and fatter than a normal squirrel. What kind of squirrel has big eyes? What kind of squirrel has a big body? 

He was created as an experiment to replace Okami and Kaj, THAT’S WHY HE IS ALSO HALF HUMAN.  Actually it’s not just him. It’s they.

Lights shone on several capsules holding several well preserved dead bodies in some strange liquid. A lot of them looked like Loki.

One of the bodies looked like a smaller version of Loki. Upon closer inspection it had a label on the bottom saying “Red Squirrel #5 Mother of Test subject no# 45-68”

The light shone to the area right next to the capsules. It had several small lockers and a flat metal bed like it was a morgue. The lockers that were shone on were the lockers that had numbers 45 to 68.

Those were all the attempts Carl tried to make Loki...

He did all this to create you. And you spent some good time with Carl. He cherished you and you cherished him.

But that was until Kaj came in and you cared more about him. You left your father, the one who cared for you in return for that sick excuse of a man who is Kaj!

“I-I’m sorry, I just needed to do this for Okami... S-she’s my sister after all, I like both Carl and Okami equally” replied Kaj sadly, “H-her parents sent me a map and asked me to take her. So I decided to go out and find Okami so I could take her somewhere where she could be happy.”

Well no matter, you’re back here now. I’m happy about that. YOU ARE BACK WHERE YOU BELONG NOW, FOR A LITTLE LONGER. Trust me that was an entirely pointless decision. Now then, any last words BEFORE I ERASE YOU FROM THIS WORLD?

“Y-yes, I want to talk to Loki” replied Kaj as he smiled “it’ll be short I promise”

The vine holding Kaj had him closer to Loki.

Don’t get me waiting like those other two idiots.

“Loki, no matter what you will be my greatest lover, I loved spending every second with you. If I am doomed to never see you again, I shall meet someone else like you” whispered Kaj crying and smiling “But if you feel sad just remember l always be there for you Loki” 

“That’s it. Erase me,” replied Kaj smiling bravely.

“K-Kaj...” muttered Loki cried hugging Kaj, “I’ll always remember you... I’ll look over for you even if it takes my life”

“I will too...Farewell Loki” replied Kaj optimistically as he closed his eyes and hugged Loki. It lasted only a second before it faded, but to both of them that second meant a lot. The warmth and the memories it triggered. Kaj and Loki.

Loki felt nothing after the second, because Kaj was gone.

Goodbye pretty boy...

Goodbye forever...

Well it’s time I send both of you back to the upper world. Just tell em’ that I was planning on leaving and stuff. 

Oh those 3 little critters I erased? Pah! I’ll leave it up to you what to tell the people above. After all you two were the ones that caused this mess. Especially you Carl.

Heh...heh...heh...

One vine grabbed Carl out of the darkness. The two vines then proceeded to put both Loki and Carl on to the enormous lift.

Another vine appeared to push the button but stopped a centimetre away from it.

Wait... why do you need to leave now?

Would you actually think I’d do this to you?

LIE to a bunch of people? Tell them I’m leaving?

The vines violently grabbed Loki and Carl out of the lift and pushed the button so the lift could go up.

Both were trapped.

In the place I created? 

Do you think that I would allow you (Loki) to be your lazy self, sitting in a castle practically doing nothing?

Do you think you could get away with you sleeping in MY Island?

YOU ARE A FOOL! WHAT’S NEXT HUH? TAKING EVERYTHING YOU HAVE FOR GRANTED?

Carl, don’t think I’m not on to you either...

You’re selfish. You’re disrespectful. You fail to obey the contract I had with you which was mutualism. 

I was the one who did all the work for you to make this place a big and amazing place. I helped a load of workers. Sharpened tools. Learned a lot from your guards.

I did nothing but sacrifice to get all that money in the very room you sleep in. All you did was idle around in your room, fantasising about how much money you had rather than your true reason why you wanted to make a deal with me.

“...d-do you know the true reason?” asked Carl worriedly.

Oh yes... I do indeed...

You wanted your children to come back didn’t you? You wanted to have me lend my power to you so you could build this gigantic empire to get Okami back. You were clearly using me as a tool weren’t you?

Little do you know...

I was using you as well...

“D-didn’t you say that I failed to achieve the contract...” replied Carl, “I-I mean I’m sorry about that... I just wanted to have Okami and Kaj back as a family... I didn’t know it would lead to this”

No I didn’t use you as a person like you used me, I came to you so I can use your old lab which is in the room we’re all in right now. 

Your main use then expired but I decided to be nice and allow you to do something useful with your pitiful existence which was help me.

Like some hell of a father you are, trying to use me to get your children back...

Well... Your kids are now gone...

Joke’s on you. IDIOT.

Loki is all you have left now...

And you are all he has now...

“Mhm... yes you have some very good points...” replied Carl forlornly, “B-but how did you know that I had a lab, before I told you about it? And why did you use my old lab?”

I had a father who was just like you he had the same name, same old science-y career but not as fat or as lazy as you are. He owned the same kind of lab as you did.

I came from an alternate dimension so this world is similar in terms of layout. 

I knew I could count on you. And I cared for the ‘you’ of my dimension that’s why I tried to have this mutual deal with you.

And I did. And now, I have the power to erase people in this absolutely great form and it’s about time I erased you now.

“W-why did I even allow you to come in this building?” yelled Carl, “Y-you traitor! You swine! Y-YOU FOOL! Why do you claim that I was being self-centred, when the reason you came to me was to use my lab?”
Carl reflected for a bit.

I know, I’m not a very nice person either. We’re both on the same boat. What’s done is done, you can’t change it, and I can’t either. 

Eat dust baby.

“Carl!” yelled Loki on the top of his breath, “No! Don’t go away now!”

“Loki, Nark is right! Neither of us have much of a purpose now!” yelled Carl with tears in his eyes, “This was all a trap! I-I hate to say this b-but think I deserve this punishment well! You need to find your own path now! I wish you the best of luck! Farewell... my son...”

Carl disintegrated into thin air.

HAPPY NOW? ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS ARE GONE LOKI!

NO MAMMA TO CRY ON BECAUSE SHE’S DEAD IN THAT CAPSULE!

YOU NOW KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE IN AN UGLY WORLD.

AND YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN JUST PUSH A RESET BUTTON AND GO BACK TO THE FIRST CHAPTER AND ALL WILL BE LOVELY?!

IF YOU RESOLVE EVERYTHING WITH RESETTING YOU’LL JUST MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE AGAIN!

I had to learn that the hard way. You don’t have to because I HAVE THE POWER TO ERASE YOU. 

SAY GOODBYE TO THIS PUTRID WORLD YOU LIVE IN.

I’LL MAKE YOU SUFFER THE SAME WAY I HAD TO.

YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO LIVE AGAIN!

“You’re right, I didn’t really have much in the first place” replied Loki truthfully and somewhat optimistically, “But maybe... maybe I'll find a purpose in a new world.”

New world?
Have I sent them into new worlds?
I might have... 

Loki saw a glow, the world was fading away from him. The face on the biggest screen shifted from an eye to a short haired lady’s face who highly resembled Okami. 

She smiled with some tears in her eyes.

Loki had that face burned into his memory

But he thought about Kaj just before...

All things... 

Came to an end...

Chapter 7: A new world 

The moon was shining low in the clear dark blue sky as the park had the music of Owls chirping on the few trees. In the distance there were rusted iron fences being separated by a pathway which led to a gate. Beyond the gate were several buildings like shops, apartments and hotels. Most of them had no lights on their windows. In the park, Loki woke up with a ringing headache...

One of the owls looked at Loki blankly. Loki looked at the Owl as equally blankly. Loki was silent in both mind and speech. He did not say or know a single word.

The owl flew off out of the park and into the moonlight. Loki rose up and sprinted to the gate. He pounced over it and landed on the pavement. 

He looked around the dormant town. He had no clue where to go or why he was here. The only thing he saw was the occasional car that drove past the road. 

Viewing the park again, the rest of the owls stared at him in the same way as the first one did. They flew off, leaving the park completely void of any creature.

Loki walked on the pavement into the distance of midnight in the search for meaning.

A purpose...

EPILOGUE

Huh...

This book’s over. I don’t think there is anything else for me to narrate... Nope. Not even a single soul. I’m all alone by myself... in the 28800 words of this book.

Quite short for a book I should say. It seems I have sent Loki to a new world without any memory of his previous world, I presume all the others I have 'erased' all suffered the same fate too. I think he’s better off this way, he can find his own life maybe in the hands of new friends who will take care of him better than he was with Carl. I don’t really know if that’s true or not. I equally don’t care much either. 

It’s his life, I’ve toyed with it well enough.

Y’know, you get that feeling where you’ve lived your life over and over. You know everything that is going to happen. It’s all predictable. This odd thing called "Destiny" makes things happen. You can try to resolve everything by trying to reset but the result isn’t any different, because you were "destined" to do it. 

That was what my life was like. 

I was living in a world full of technology with things such as computers, cars, televisions and many other things like that. Similar to the world of this book. 

I was a bit like Loki how he only had a few friends. My‘dad’ and love interest. The latter was named Sinro, no he wasn’t a dragon he was a human. 

He was very handsome and had the personality of a love-gifted man... But he was then taken away by some other lady named Kaj, no not the entertainer. She was a world class thief who stole my lover. And she threatened me with my life if I didn’t give him to her. 

I know Kaj was a male in this book but oddly it was a female in my dimension...

Anyway, it turned out Sinro was hating me because I was out of his league and he assumed I was only using him as a tool for love...

I mean other girls liked him a-and I was just protecting him from them... especially Kaj...

I turned into a demon with the aim kill her by praying in an altar on a mountain. She was very strong. But I eventually managed to kill her. But Sinro was depressed he lost that true love of his life. Who was Kaj?

So he decided to commit suicide.

Everyone else started to hate me, I had nobody to believe in, not even my father...

He was in prison because of the products he made in his lab.

I decided to destroy towns, cities and even in some cases, entire islands. 

The last survivors sealed me in that weak pink bunny’s body (which was my world’s Loki, who turned braindead due to this) and I was sent to an alternative dimension. I mean, they had those weird powers. I don’t even know how they got them.

Anyway, long story short - I landed in this boring book world as a result of me being a demon. I was quite powerless in Loki’s body, but some of my demonic powers remained like the ability to narrate a story. I could see what the other characters were doing. I decided to use this to my advantage.

Well at least entertainment-wise.

Hence, I gained a lot of my demonic powers again thanks to the use of Carl’s lab.

I changed how the story was told, it was like several extra or modified pages on a book. 

I know what the story would have been like should I have not intervened. 

Loki would have slept that night. The next day he would wake up still worrying about Kaj and looking around the castle for him, never seeing him again, which Loki would eventually move on and continue to be an idle family pet.

He would have never met Sinro. Sinro, in turn would have never met Okami because he would have spent all that time camping in the forest rather than going back to town to introduce Loki. By the time Sinro would have come back, Okami would have been gone.

Kaj and Okami would have been the only ones that left the island. Their mother and stepfather would have built a more advanced town which Okami and Kaj wouldn’t need to be ordered, therefore quitting being a queen (Even in my alteration this is true) and becoming people who help others rather than rulers.

Carl would have not known what technology was, hence his island would not have been anywhere near as advanced as Okami’s Greentwin was.

And his motive to take over the island in the first place was to convince Okami (and in essence Kaj) to come back. He didn’t want to be rude and just take them. 

Regarding Nina & Hamlet, they would have eventually got bored of occasionally street preforming and cooking meals for the castle quite quickly so she then moved to Greentwin Island and become a successful pop star with a similar show after they saw many move out of Carl’s island and go to Greentwin.

Sinro would move out too since Nina was his owner and he rarely would ever see her, he thought that Greentwin would provide him with an opportunity to see her more.

At this point, Carl’s future would be very bleak at this point. Loki’s future wouldn’t be much different since he never had one in the first place, it was interconnected to Carl’s.

Carl would bleed money until he and Loki would live the rest of their humble lives in a ruined and abandoned village extremely broke.

Yeah, so I guess you could say I “saved” those two. 

It’s because I honestly didn’t want to see (what resembled) my father have a terrible fate. As with Loki, I honestly adored him in my previous world...

A bit like how Sinro has a friendly connection with him.

But the Loki I saw in the other world was pretty lazy so I decided to have his life mean something.

So I decided to kill two birds with one stone. Well more of avert their fates than kill them.

Even though the ending wasn’t as good for Okami, Kaj and Sinro. Heh... that’ll teach them...

But even then, all 5 suffered the same fate.

However, none of them really died, in fact they all are in the same position as Loki. They have no idea where they are or who they are or what happened. They are all in different dimensions. I don’t know where I have sent them, I can’t even control where I send them.

Similar to how I ended up in an alternate dimension. I was not stripped of my memory though, it was a punishment for me. 

It’s not very efficient of a punishment because if you try to resolve everything with resetting you’l just make the same mistake again. 

But, I-I just don’t know if it was worth all this damage. I just don’t know what would be the right decision...

Or if I’m truly happy with what I’ve done. Well I guess I got my anger and frustration out. B-but will I ever be happy?

I just wish I was happy like the old days.

Wait! Why am I taking to you about this? You can’t even respond to me. 

Jeez... do you have anything better to do with your time other than reading/listening to what is most likely a part of your conscience? 

The conscience that asks you to answer theories based on what you have learnt,

It’s a very boring job constantly having me reading a bunch of words in your head. But hey? How does I talking make anything better? I might as well as live on a cliff or something. After all it’s just a CLIF-HANGER! Get it? Ha! Ha! Ha… hah…. Heh… 

Aww… such a poor thing, I didn’t get to hear you laugh at my joke… 

Well speaking of this little cliff hanger…

I’m not going to progress this story any further…

… At least not in any kind of fundamental manner.

If you’re thinking “If that universe you were telling me had Loki, Sinro, Carl and Kaj. Where would Okami be?”

Well I am actually the Okami from that universe. Or you may have figured it out on the bit slightly before Chapter 7.

Nothing much, just thought I’d tell you. I'm probably going to end up in another world anyway, so there is no point of me caring what happens

Is there?

Maybe while we are here in the endless world of text. I just want to tell you something, I know you won’t respond but I think it’s something nice for you to keep in mind.

Y’know if I were ever to see my ex-lover and Kaj again, I’d honestly tell them

“I’m sorry for being such a monstrous demon...”

And I’d accept that Sinro has found another lover.

After all, we are all animals. Love is really just a natural instinct. We can just find another one if someone is taken...

Why bother resetting when you’ll just re-experience it all again?

I’m starting to think that what I did to all 5 characters was most likely the right decision.

I mean, I’ve averted their fates, they’ll find themselves a new future...

I wish I could end up like that...

Maybe I could, maybe I could start a new life like those 5...

I could do that actually...

Because I honestly have all the power in the world...

I can change any story...

But you know what?

I don’t really want to change any stories any more...

I just want to live a good life...
Perhaps that is all I ever wanted...

Yeah… That’s all from me!

THE END

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Since you have come this far, I'll give you a bit of a postmortem documentation of the origins of this book (dated 02/02/2018 and edited today):

I initially started this in 2014 as a sipin-off series to "Ratchet and Sinro" called "Ratchet and Sinro: Origins" which takes place before the duo's heroic careers took off and also describes how the two met.
The story was meant to start with Ratched playing with his sister, eating dinner. At mid-night Ratchet's home planet was being invaded by an organisation named D.O.O.M (think: Dr.Cruel in the 3rd and 4th installment); him and his sister were taken away and put into crates in the space ships of the aforementioned organisation. It flies into another planet and then the duo manage to escape, then fall into the sea. However they get separated (much like this), with Ratchet later on waking up on an island and meets Sinro who he doesn't care a lot about but eventually develops a friendship with. However the 4th installment was occupying my efforts at the time so I postponed it, and I was contemplating a 5th one afterwards.

I cancelled the series in March 2015 and in 20th July I decided to go back to the origins and wrote some more, however I had a writer's block and consulted my editor in September and advised that I think up the story as I go on. It was quite a helpful bit of advice.
There were lots of cut content i.e. Okami and Kaj dying in the end, Loki having a crush on Okami and a number of fight scenes which did not add to the story.

There were lots of changes as I was writing this book. Things like the narrator turning out to be Nark (or Okami from a different universe) came naturally as I wrote the 4th wall breaking narration. Carl  was meant to be much crueler than he was in the final story, he wanted to use Okami to command an army rather than simply be a lonely father longing for his daughter. Okami was actually meant to appear in the 5th installment of "Ratchet and Sinro" as a character named "Zelka". Kaj was not even intended to be Okami's daughter. The story's main villain was also meant to be a big monster that wanted to destroy the world.

I intended this book to be some kind of plan/blueprint for a game I wanted to make and realease around 2020/2021. It would have multiple endings, a story that would be directed by the player's actions, being able to play as Loki, Kaj, Okami, Sinro, Carl and even Narku; the game would also be an action RPG borrowing elements from games like "Seiken Densetsu 3"(聖剣伝説三) and "Terrainigma" (天地創造), the latter I was especially inspired by in early 2015 (which lead to this),

I intended to design the game and do the art whilst I (somehow) get other people to do the music and programming. However in mid/late December 2015, I insisted on making the game myself. I didn't want to start developing it until 2019 so I decided to make "Test" projects so I could learn all I could about making this game.

Turns out that after the failure that was Amalginment (which was in development when Evermoral was being written), I decided to ditch this dream idea shortly after "Bounty Hunter" was released in December 2016 (after 3 months of serious development), in order to focus on skill-building which is a much less sexier goal than making a dream project. But in the long run it seems like a far more appealing goal.

This story is technically part of the Ratchet and Sinro series, except it is completely different in almost every way. I didn't like the direction of Ratchet and Sinro so I decided to create Evermoral from scratch. Even the title is different to reflect the nature of what I wanted the game that this was blueprinting which was that it would be set around moral choices. The main character is also often trying to make moral choices as well in this book.

That's all from me!