Love and Mirth

A soft yet powerful melody flowed through Taiga's mind, slowly awakening her from her nap.

Her hazy mind was still processing what was going on, but after a bit she realized that her phone's ringtone was going off. The familiar piano chimes are from an old piece Taiga came up with herself a few months ago on her newest portable black electric keyboard.

She was actually very proud of how that one turned out, especially since she's just been practicing and experimenting, and saved it. However, no one else besides herself and Spark have heard.

Taiga's confidence in any of her artwork wasn't the highest, and she wouldn't volunteer to show it off in the first place... She was nervous about someone asking about and getting too close to her anyway.

She quickly got up and made her way to her duffel bag after wiping her eyes clean; blinking to clear up her vision while sighing.

"I can't believe I forgot to bring this with me... Good thing I didn't need it, I guess."

After finding it, Taiga grabbed and pulled out her shining, and also slightly chipped (in multiple spots), black flip phone. Taiga scanned her eyes over the time: 8:25 AM. It seemed that she only napped for about an hour and 45 minutes. However, looking at the Caller ID... She didn't recognize this new number calling and thought about it for a second; rolling her eyes afterward.

"I swear to god, if it's another scammer-"

She took a deep breath in and flipped open the phone, answering it and putting on a big fake smile trying to stay in a relatively good mood.

"Hello~?"

"Hello, Ms. Taiga!"

Taiga's mood was immediately shaken. It was Isolde.

"O-Oh, hello! Um-" Her shock was even apparent from her voice at this point.

"Sorry if I may have caught you off guard. I'm not at the office right now, so I'm calling from my personal number. I saved yours so that I could contact you ASAP like this if needed... Anywho, I wanted to let you know -- that you're hired~

You start Monday! How's that sound?"

Taiga was even more shocked. So much so that her jaw dropped. She shook her head and quickly regained her composure; her anxiety slowly being replaced with bliss.

"O-Oh, that's wonderful news!"

"Isn't it~?" Again, she quickly moved on, as she regularly seemed to do. Taiga could just imagine her fake smile disappearing and reappearing from her tones through the phone. "But, yes, your schedule for now: You'll be working the same times so far, from twelve in the afternoon to six in the evening, with Saturdays and Sundays off. That works for you, correct?"

"Er- Y-Yes, ma'am!"

"Awesome~ Well, any other questions you need from me at this moment? Otherwise, I'm sure you already know that you will be told everything that you need to know on Monday."

"No, ma'am... I'm confident, and ready to start. B-But I will ask if I have any... In the future."

Taiga was smiling awkwardly, but then slightly cringed to herself at her behavior. Still, she was elated that she even got this job in the first place.

"I can't thank you enough, I-"

"No, no, thank you, dear. You're just what we've been needing."

"Alright..."

"Well, we'll see you then! Ta~!"

Taiga heard the line disconnect and sighed in relief, flipping her phone closed.

After setting her phone back down by her duffel bag on her vanity's desk, she closed her eyes and stood there silently for a while. After a bit she suddenly burst out cheering loudly and started doing a funny-looking victory dance around her apartment. The sudden loud noise startled Spark awake again and he almost fell off the bed after shooting up; his hackles raised and eyes wide.

"What!? What happened!? Why did you scream, I-!?"

Taiga rushed back into the room and up to him, giggling a bit after seeing his poofed up tail and gently picked him up.

"Sorry~ But, you're going to be proud of me..."

Taiga stopped petting him in her arms and lifted Spark into the air. She started twirling around with him and smiled wide..

"I got the job, Spark!!! I did it~!" Taiga started laughing because of how happy she was.

Knowing Spark didn't like to be held for too long, she set him back down on the bed but was still brimming with excitement. Spark calmed down from her petting and was very pleased himself.

"That's glorious!" His tail swished happily along with Taiga's. "We should celebrate!"

Taiga thought and nodded. "You're right!"

"Really though... I'm so proud of you, Taiga. Despite everything, here you are. And... I'm so very glad that you're feeling better."

Taiga's heart felt filled to the brim, and like it was pouring out from the love overflowing from there. "Aw... Thank you. Truly. You're always there for me... I love you."

Taiga kneeled down and gently booped her nose against Spark's, closing her eyes and nuzzling his forehead with hers.

He started purring and did the same back.

"I love you too."

Taiga pulled back after and got an idea. "I know what I want to do to celebrate... Spend time with my bestest little buddy..." She pet Spark on the top of his head. "And eat the chocolate that I've been saving for a special occasion~♡"

"Oh boy..." Spark settled himself down more on the bed, looking like another cute, burnt bread cat loaf. "Don't eat too much again. I've never met anyone who loves chocolate as much as you do."

Taiga already had the box of chocolates in her arms, her cheeks full of almost half of the sweet treats already.

"...Don't judge me." Her words came out muffled through it all.

Spark softly chuckled and shook his head. Mostly because he knew that it was too late to remind her that those particular chocolates had vodka included in their ingredients. Taiga sure tasted it fast and remembered.

"Ugh!"

She wasn't too big of a fan of the mix, but still finished what was already in her mouth and enjoyed them overall.

After laughing about it more with Spark, she decided to dim the lights to make it even more relaxing for her and play some of her favorite CDs on her little pastel pink and silver portable stereo. Spark usually is too embarrassed to do things like this, but ultimately decided to get up off of the bed and join in on dancing with Taiga once she started.

"You're so cute~!"

"Ohh, hush, I am not." Even though Spark sounded grumpy, he was having a great time, as he always did with Taiga.

Taiga gently leaned down and grabbed onto his front legs and danced with him that way for a little before he got truly annoyed. He was so ecstatic to see her this happy after so long, that he'd put up with pretty much anything to keep it this way. After they got tired from all of the dancing and hopping around, Taiga tried out a peel-off face mask she bought a while ago, but never used. It actually felt very nice being put on. After seeing her now mostly green face, she laughed once again and popped her head out of the bathroom so that Spark would see her.

"Boo!"

"Nice try..." He was back resting on the bed after eating the treats Taiga gave him and opened an eye to peer over at her before closing it again. "Alien."

"Hey!"

She laughed harder and went over to sit beside him, resting her back against the headboard.

Crossing her legs and clasping her hands together, she sighed contentedly and closed her eyes, relaxing.

"I'm lucky to have you here... Compared to yesterday, today has been a blast."

Spark perked up more after hearing that and move to snuggle up to Taiga's legs.

"I'll never leave."

Taiga smiled more at that and softly pet him repeatedly from his head down the small of his back.

"Thank you. I never doubt that. But it's always nice to hear, heh."

Taiga giggled slightly and stayed like that with Spark in silence for a long while. She had another idea. "Wanna be brushed? I know you really like that!"

"...Go ahead."

His tone was calm, but the way his ears twitched, she could tell he was really looking forward to this. "Haha, here..."

Carefully Taiga removed his collar and thoroughly brushed his fur, and he sure was purring loudly. Making sure it was tuft and to his liking, she smiled lovingly and kissed the tip of her finger, lightly booping Spark's nose with it.

(https://i.quotev.com/rifs4ewj5s2q.jpg)

"Perfect."

After putting his collar back on, she put the brush away and laid back again.

Spark seemed very content and thanked her, then curled up to get some sleep. Taiga almost fell asleep herself but shot awake when she remembered she had to remove her mask.

Quietly she got up so she wouldn't disturb Spark again and went to the bathroom to peel off the mask. Taiga was pleased with how it felt, and the results. It was such a relaxing experience, and Taiga truly felt... Pretty. She softly touched the mirror, staring at her reflection for a while, truly feeling good and confident about herself.

Taiga noticed the sun was already setting. She'd have work in two days, but she felt even more prepared now. Looking down at her arms, she pulled them up, flexing her fingers and clenching her fists. "Maybe I'll try and train more tomorrow... I've been slacking... But, I'll worry about that when the time comes."

Taiga turned the lights off and went to her dresser drawer, putting a pair of pajamas on and headed to bed to get some rest herself. That night she didn't have any nightmares.

---

Around when it was late at night, going on early morning, a child's distant scream came deep from inside the local woods.

No one seemed to be alerted by it, since most were asleep, and many avoided coming near this area anyway because of the rumors of an "evil" witch living there. Those who did search didn't find anything but the greenery as well as the animals who inhabit the area, and therefore discredited such stories. But the woods were now prohibited because in the past, many children seem to have gotten injured in some way or worse whenever heading inside, causing parents to bring up the matter repeatedly to the authorities and even the mayor.

It's been a long time since that was enacted, and no problems have seemed to arise from said woods since.

A sudden flash of dark pink and hot white light comes from the deepest section of the woods...

And then all is quiet inside, even from the wildlife, for the duration of morning.

That is, people assumed as much.

(Art made by: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004478059403 )