C2 Ruins and Memories ( Part 2 )

|| Previously... ||

Nathalia shook her head, "You don't understand. Any time now, either today or the next two days, a nuclear power plant can go boom..."

Realizing what she was implying, Julienne's face grew increasingly solemn. She didn't realize this problem earlier and this didn't bode well for her.

"We're fucked... really fucked..."

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Silence filled the room as any of the two didn't speak, thinking and contemplating about the actions they're going to make.

"...what an oversight. I had time and I didn't even notice this earlier." Julienne sighed self deprecatingly as she apologetically looked at Nathalia.

Nathalia replied, "It's not entirely your fault, Julienne. You were too caught up in finding the cure to free me from the petrification whilst finding safe shelter, food and supplies we will need. Besides, there can't be nuclear power plants that near a city right?"

Julienne shook her head, "There indeed aren't any nuclear power plants for at least 50 miles away from New York but... now that you mentioned it, I realized that it would be harder for us to survive when the nuclear power plants go kablooey. Sooner or later, we'll run out of food supply even if we raid the whole city. We will eventually have to move out of the city. I was too short sighted."

Thinking about things in the long term, with the danger of nuclear power plants going boom in a few years or even a month from now, they should find a secured bunker. They also need to secure seeds, livestock and other supplies to bring so that they can last underground for a long time.

As Julienne thought about this, she sighed but gave Nathalia a reassuring smile.

"We can manage to go through these though... I have faith that we can conquer these difficulties as long as we're together."

Seeing her bright charming smile, Nathalia's face reddened and she spoke in a fluster, "How cringe, save these lines for when we really survive for a year or two."

Julienne just chuckled as she saw that despite her words, there's an undeniably happy smile plastered on her face.

The rest of the meal time passed with them chatting amongst themselves about the good old days, cherishing their long awaited time together after they were reunited at last.

"Did you enjoy the meal?" Julienne asked as she wiped her lips with tissue.

Nathalia chuckled, "I would've if it's not all canned goods... though your company made it better."

Julienne joined in on her and laughed as she heard her words. After that, she then stood up, "Alright love, let's go back upstairs and I'll let you meet a guy."

"Hey, don't call me that! I'm not your wife!... yet." Nathalia followed her as she whispered the last part of her words.

The two of them went back upstairs as they talked about their past memories, although not all of them were pleasant, it was a good way to catch up with each other. Talking about the time they fought each other in the black sandy beach of Manila Bay and even their unpleasant memory together in the hands of their captors.

Soon enough though they reached the floor where her room was supposed to be but this time, they entered a different room from where she woke up in.

"So... where's the guy you're saying you were gonna introduce to me?"

Nathalia asked as she looked around the room. It was a typical private office with a computer on the table.

Julienne smiled mysteriously and didn't reply to her but sat down on the chair and pressed the power on button for the computer.

Seeing her actions, Nathalia immediately realized what she meant, she was not an idiot. And for this reason, she was quite shocked.

"Are you sure other parts of the world even have electricity left? How about the internet? Wasn't it already down after over a week?"

Julienne nodded her head, "You are right that the internet literally don't exist now, or should I say it's not completely down yet. There are still some satellites with enough power and we use them to communicate, even though I know that it would go down sooner or later."

Nathalia's eyes lit up in realization as she said, "So the person or people you're introducing me to are on another part of the world. Who are they?"

"You'll see soon enough," Julienne chuckled as she opened a video call.

After a few seconds, the screen changed and it now showed the face of an old man with white hair looking at them through the screen. The old man looked on with a smile as he talked.

"It's been a while, Julienne-chan. In just three days you already found your lovely soulmate, kahahaha!"

Julienned blushed and laughed along with him as Nathalia looked at his face with apparent surprise on her face.

"Uncle Byakuya! It's you!" Nathalia shouted gleefully in surprise.

Byakuya showed confusion as he asked her, "You know me? What did Julienne tell you about me?"

"No, I mean, I do know you but I didn't learn about you from Julienne, but instead from my mom. Margarette Kousuke."

This time, it was Byakuya's turn to be shocked but before long he started laughing in joy. "So it's you! The brat she always talked about! I didn't expect fate to be like this! Hahaha!"

"I didn't expect this too, Uncle Byakuya. Who would've thought..."

Julienne stared on as she speechlessly watch them talk among the two of them. Thinking to herself how she thought how to introduce both of them to each other, it seemed like she just thought about meaningless things.

Seeing that the two of them are still talking and reminiscing about their relatives and some relatable stuff between the two of them, the corner of her eyes twitched. She wasn't anywhere near Nathalia for years and she also only recently became acquainted with Byakuya-san, so she can't really butt in their conversation.

Deciding that she had enough of their annoying closeness with each other, she decided to finally interfere and address the purpose of her call.

"Byakuya-san, I am now sure about the petrification cure."