Chapter Twenty-Four: Fourteen Miles:

What are the fourteen miles?

Noiz has had too much on her mind to think about anything else. She started to think about that kitsune. He had started to come into her waking thoughts lately and she tried to piece together way.

“Noiz-sama! Noiz-sama! Noiz-sama!” a male’s voice shouted. The kitty girl looked up to see Mosh’s face inches away from hers. The mouse boy gave her a puzzled expression on his face.

“Are you feeling okay?” he asked. Mosh tried to put his hand on her forehead, but Noiz pushed him off.

“Yes, yes,” she said. “I’m fine.”

“You looked like you were spacing out there.”

“I told you, I’m fine.”

“Alright…”

Mosh put his arms behind his head. “Is something bothering you?” His wife shook her head.

“It’s nothing,” she said. “Come on.” The mouse boy watched her walk by before following behind. Noiz kept her eyes lowered to the ground.

“Do you think we’ll find her in time?” Mosh asked.

“Don’t know,” the headmistress said.

“It’s getting pretty dark.”

“I don’t know.”

“But…”

“I said I don’t know!”

Mosh put up his hands. “Okay, okay.” Noiz quickly closed her eyes. She too was aware of the fourteen miles. The kitty girl didn’t have time to keep track of how far they crossed. In fact, she didn’t have time to check on anyone else. This whole search turned into a puddle of… something. It already went past mess. Everyone didn’t seem to care anymore. Noiz chuckled to herself.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Mosh asked.

“You know something, this is turning out to be stupid,” his wife said. The mouse boy blinked at first.

“Then why are we out here?” he asked.

“You tell me.”

Mosh made a strange face. “Well, shouldn’t we stop?”

“Do you think we can?”

“I don’t know.”

“I want to turn back around.”

“That’s up to you.”

“Okay…”

Noiz glanced over her shoulder. “Go if you want to.”

Mosh tilted his head. “What are you being so bitter for?”

“I’m not.” The kitty sighed and stopped walking. “I’ve just had so much on my mind lately.” She turned around and lowered her shoulders.

“I don’t know how to explain it,” Noiz admitted.

“You’ve been acting strange lately ever since you left the hospital,” her husband said. “I’m just really worried about you.”

“I know,” she said. The kitty girl rubbed her forehead. “It’s just some weird dream that I keep having.”

“Weird dream?”

Noiz shut her eyes. “I don’t know how to put it in words.”

“Try me.”

She peeked out of the cracks of her fingers. “Do I have to?”

Mosh shrugged his shoulders. “If you want to.” His wife dropped her hand by her side. Her eyes rolled upwards as she rocked back on her heels.

“Let’s just say it involves some hot kitsune,” she mumbled loud enough for Mosh to hear. Her husband’s face dropped.

“What?!” he asked. Noiz shook her head.

“It’s just really dumb to talk about it,” she said. “And it doesn’t really mean anything.” Mosh narrowed his eyes at her.

“Is there something you want to tell me?” he asked.

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“No!”

“Noiz-sama…”

She clenched her fists by her sides. “I said drop it! This is why I didn’t want to say anything!” The kitty headmistress turned and marched down the street. Mosh stood, blinking.

“Okay…” he said under his breath. Mosh jogged to catch up with her. Noiz walked in front of him with her fists clenched by her sides. Sure, she got that out, but that wasn’t going to be the end of that one. The kitty girl puffed up her cheeks and lowered her eyes.

They’ve all crossed at least twelve mental miles in their search for that bride. Sure, they are about to wrap up for the day, but the search still continues. Let’s just hope that the headaches, distractions, annoyances, saltiness, tiredness, and long hours were well worth it.