Moki Bi
Date: ???
The large wooden doors of the bar shut with a snappy click. They tried to walk forward but stumbled, in a cartoonish fashion, their bodies ebbed and followed back and forth with each step as they awkwardly held onto each other. They practically looked like zombies/
Moki: Stop walkin lii that you alcohowic!
Sakura: "Hey, Kalm down, grumfpy…Whoha! Ayyy, lowok at dat car"
Moki: Ohh, cool."
Right outside the bar, there was a black car; it was a rally car, all black. The car was completely matte as if it were a stealth vehicle. It had red lights underneath it and a large spoiler on the back. It must have belonged to a rich car enthusiast.
Sakura: "You're… no fun wahen you're drunk AHH"
THUD
Moki: "PFFFT! HAHA! wha fourgot how to walk?"
Sakura: "OW OW! Is that really all you're concerned about! I JUST HIT MY HEAD!"
Moki: "sheems lik tha pain soberd you"
Sakura: "sho Meen"
Moki: "or nawght"
Sakura took a few steps forward from the bar door before drunkenly tossing her body over her feet. She ended up smashing into the door of the black car.
The window of the car slowly rolled down; its interior was purely black, aside from the interior lights illuminating the driver in a blood red light. It was a man, a man in a balaclava, a hoodie, and a cap; his eyes were covered by sunglasses, but they failed to cover his Stabbing gaze. His gaze skated slowly from Moki to Sakura. His eyes were like a letter from predator to prey; they were surely sending messages, bone-chilling messages.
His hand slowly raised like a viper and slowly grasped the car's handle; his fingers glided over the handle as if they were touching a souvenir. His breathing was thick and heavy, and his eyes began to tremble and narrow.
His hand crept to the balaclava and pinched it and began to pull, but hesitated; he was unsure of something, he was, he was, he was, he was... his whole body shivered and…
CLICK
Moki's breath shot shallow; she had no air left in her lungs, and her eyes became needles because…
He had let go of the door handle, and …
MAN: " uhhh, uhhh,....oh"
The man pulled down his mask…and… and…smiled??
His voice was deep and scratchy.
Man: "Sorry, I thought I was about to sneeze. Woo, haha!"
The man practically dive rolled out the other side of the car and walked over to Sakura before kneeling at her eye level. His face was old, and he had a grey goatee.
Man: "You alright, ma'dam ?"
He extended a hand softly, but Sakura did not take it, and that would be because, well,...she fell ….asleep….
The man looked over to Moki and asked one question:
Man: "This, you're friend, ma'am?"
With her cheeks flushed red from embarrassment, she responded.
Moki: "Yeah, unfortunately."
She nodded with a bead of sweat down her cheek.
Man: "Could you wake her? I wouldn't want to touch a lady without permission."
Moki: "Uh, yeah, eh, em… SAccURA! WAKE Up!"
Sakura: "huh, oh geez loosies, no neheed to be so loud!"
She turned her head to see the man at her eye level, and she drunkenly craned her neck and narrowed her eyes to see who it was.
Sakura: "Uhhh dwoo i know yew?"
Man: "No, you just happened to fall on my car."
Sakura looked around and poked at the ground as if it were the first time she had ever seen it.
Sakura: "whwoops, I gesh I did, my bahd"
Man: "Ehh, this thing's old, don't worry. More importantly, need a hand?"
The man took his fist and unravelled it slowly, like a prince gracefully offering a hand, and Sakura…
Sakura: "Oh, thanks."
She gracefully accepted the hand like the drunken princess she was, although she did wobbily stumble. The man was incredibly gentle.
Man: "ya'll need a ride home? I'm here to pick up my daughter anyway."
Moki: "We shoo beh fwine, weh live close, come on Sakura'
Sakura, without saying a word, stumbled over to Moki and threw herself onto her shoulder.
Moki: "Damn, you're heavyyy."
Sakura: "Don't be mehan"
Clack clack clack
A woman approached the trio. Her luminous skin called to your touch, and her flowing red dress and fur shawl called to your embrace. Her presence made your labored breath so warm as to turn to steam.
Sakura: "ouahh"
Moki: "dohnt bee rude"
With Sakura's jaw dropped after looking at the woman, Moki grabbed her jaw and closed it for her softly. Both their eyes were wide with surprise.
Man: "Hey, darling, how are you? Did you enjoy your time? No guys bothered you, right?"
???: " Dad, those guys wouldn't dare, but there was a creepy guy in a hoodie, he didn't do anything though."
The unnamed beauty had a voice so beautiful that it was enough to make any man crumble. Her voice was as smooth as her olive skin, deep yet gentle. She had a voice that was truly a wonder, but more oddly, she had a French accent.
Sakura: "tha…tha..thas your daughter!?!"
Moki: "Who eLsh could it be? Your brain okhay? AND IS ROODE TO POINT!"
Moki guided Sakura's pointed finger down.
???: "Dad, I didn't know you liked them so youthful."
Man: "Hey, whoa! What!! You think so low of your old man!!??
???: "I could blame you; they are quite pretty, especially the one with the silver hair."
Moki: "uhhh thannksh"
Moki responded while she stumbled a little, nearly falling with Sakura still on her shoulder.
???"But they are way too drunk for this to be legal."
The old man's eyes widened.
Man: "oop, uhhh… What kind of monster do you take me for!?!?!"
The man clearly had no ill will; rather, he was merely kind, but his daughter was as judgmental as daughters are.
???"No matter, let's go, Dad. Before the cops come, at least"
Man: "OW, she doesn't even listen."
???"Are they coming along?"
The stunning woman looked at the other beautiful women; she was waiting for an answer.
Sakura: 'whait cohood i ghet your name pretty lady?"
???"Well, thank you, and my name is Amélie."
Sakura: "Well tank you Améele but wheel whalk"
Amélie: "If you insist, have a good night, you all, and stay safe."
She waved at the pair and stepped into the back of the black rally car. The father also entered the car and started it. Before he left, he looked at the pair once more and said
Man: "Get home safe, ladies, or I wouldn't be able to sleep at night anymore. Bye, ladies!!"
The man waved them off with his hand and a smile, and then pulled out and drove away as his black car exited and entered the illumination of the nighttime street lights repeatedly. Their interaction with the father and daughter had come to a close.
Moki: "Whasn't Shee whas a Pocket full of sunshine"
Sakura: "wheres my chompliment?"
Moki: "No, i dhont give those."
Sakura: "Lhiarr!"
With their persiflage coming to an end, they finally began to walk…although to call it walking would be a gross overstatement. As they walked down the street, they swayed like those straw man inflatables outside car dealerships. Each step causes them to sway to one side like they were about to break into some ancient dance. As they leaned on each other's shoulders —because they couldn't walk alone— they tripped over each other's feet, falling on top of each other several times. Eventually, in a transgression of grace, one of them…
THUMP
Sakura: "HAHAHA! HEHEHE!"
Of course, it would be Sakura, she keeled over in laughter after seeing a garbage truck and thinking it looked like a "catfish," and in doing so, she landed in a pile of GARBAGE…eww.
Moki: "I see you found your home."
Sakura: "HAHAHA HEY!! HAHAHA!"
STEP STEP STEP!
Zippppp
Click
???: "wait… dammit…"
Those words were spoken by a wispy voice, barely audible.
Moki & Sakura: "ah..."
Time froze, and the air grew as thin as a silk thread. The noise was mechanical, almost metal-like; it was surely that of a mechanism. Neither of them wanted to look to find out what was going on. Every breath felt like they were inhaling sand. The air was so frigid it made their skin dance.
Sakura: "..."
Moki: "..."
Neither of them uttered a word; Moki Bis's pupils turned into pins; her cold, drunken demeanor causelessly evaporated. Moki Bis's eyes looked like those of a frightened child. She was trembling, you could feel her trembling, you could see her Kness buckle and flex.
Sakura faired better; she was scared, too, but she was more shocked at the pure fear you could see in Moki Bis's eyes, the shaking of her whole body.
Sakura gained the courage to look. To the left, you could see a man… he was… taking pictures…of A plane over the skyline, or at least he tried—he had dropped the camera after one shutter cycle.
Sakura: "Hey Moki Bi!"
Moki bi: …..
Sakura: "Hey! Moki Bi! Snap out of it, i t's just a photographer."
Moki Bi: "I …I …Knew that"
Sakura: "Then why are you sho worked up?"
Moki bi was sweating, and her hands had grown pale and cold
Her blue eyes trembled for a bit.
The fear had partially sobered them both, and with a new question posed, Moki's face grew downcast, as she shunned away her face and crossed her arms, meekly rubbing the top of her shoulders as if she was frigid.
Moki bi: "just…just… dont worry abhout it"
Her bangs veiled her face; her whole body shunned Sakura. Sakura's hand reached for her. A lone cactus in the wintry desert night, deep into the horizon
Sakura: "Ah…are you su—"
Moki Bi: "Leshs just get gohin."
Moki Bi turned herself away fully, and Sakura's eyes only gazed upon her back.
Sakura: "Wait, Moki Bi…"
Moki Bi simply walked drunkenly away, but it was clear…She was trying the best she could to walk soberly… but the alcohol seeped through her hollow cracks, along with something else.
Though in reality their slurrings were still present, the words they spoke, and words they were never to say, were clear—as if they never drank, but only to each other, or at least to Sakura. The flowers of the cactus hadn't bloomed.
Sakura's face couldn't help but fall, her features bending into melancholy; perhaps she had failed somewhere. Maybe she hadn't really changed all that much from her younger years…Perhaps she…
Moki Bi: "Are you coming?"
Sakura: "...Yeah…"
The air was frigid, and they were barely dressed for it, with each gust of wind frostbitting air weaved through the opening in the sakura unzipped fur coat. She was still a little bit sweaty from the scare. Each blow of air against her skin felt like someone had hosed her down and thrown her into the snow, as the glacial breeze.
Her Skin perked with goosebumps as she shivered; she could feel her breath seep body heat from her mouth as cold air whisked by her teeth. Each breath felt like ice against her gums. Her hands were white, and they shivered along with the eternity of her body. Her eyes, the moisture began to freeze, making each blink crunchy.
Despite the cold, the two of them ambled winefully; of course, neither pierced the veil of silence. Sakura's heart had crumpled; repeatedly, she had opened her mouth merely for a feeble wisp to escape. She reached out to touch Moki Bi, but she was too far. Both their hearts rang a hollow tune. Time and time again, they'd hang out, time and time again, something would teleport Moki bi into an unreachable tundra. Sakura would tread the snow, but it piled, and piled, building into walls. Something she never would get to see separated them, and it felt… familiar.
Maybe if she just reached out… maybe if she just threw her body forward onto her feet, maybe just maybe if she tisply stopped her and grabbed her by the sleeve she could close the ravine, she could reach her across the tundra.
Unbeknownst to Moki Bi, who had yet to even turn around, Sakura reached for her. But Sakura grasped her trailing phantom at most, and even that seeped through her fingers. She tried again…air. Once more, she tried to grasp the ghost in front of her, but she just couldn't. She stopped dead in her tracks.
She stood there looking at her feet, not moving, just emotion, colors of emotion swirled within her, different unamenable emotions blended to make a banner of black and white that formed something so complex that there was no feeling to describe… just a lonely urge to reach for her…her…friend?
She began to move, drunkenly stumbling over her feet, and she paced toward Moki bi; she gave chase. With each step, the breeze blew her hair back. And in one final attempt, the world halted as she reached… and she…could finally feel her arm in her hand.
The sensation of her arm being grabbed caused her to hover mid-step. Moki Bi's eyes widened, and she turned slowly. As her gaze met Sakura's, the moment froze still, and her face flushed with concern.
It was right there in that moment that Sakura made a realization. She had only ever reacted like this once before. Since they had left the bar, Moki Bis's face, her words, and emotions had been almost perpetually bleached raw.
It felt like in this all she had to do was speak, just muster any words. It doesn't matter how she said it, just as long as the word whisked out of her mouth. She would get an answer. She stared deeply into Moki Bi's pearly blue eyes with one question in her mind. All she had to do was speak it.
Sakura paused in the gaze of her friend. She took a breath, her mouth began to open… but a hole bored into her chest, and her throat became heavy.
Sakura: "..."
She wanted to know so badly, her heart called to know her friend.
Sakura: "what…ha"
Her words were a barely audible whisper.
Sakura: "Are you…"
Her heart began to shiver as the cold breeze blew her black hair in the wind behind her.
Sakura: "I want…to know"
Moki Bi: "what?"
With her hand still grabbing Moki's arm, her head fell, and her hair hid her face.
Her voice rose.
Sakura: "Sorry, I guess I can't really walk still."
She yearned to know, her heart ached, she loved her friend, and she wanted to know her friend. Behind all of Sakura's sober and snarky comments lay something that she never had the strength to admit: the desire to connect, the desire to know. But her mouth and her mind fought; it waged war against her own desires, wanting to ask so many questions, and to answer so many more. But her brain trembled, and her throat hollowed. The tears of her yearning are the only thing that spoke, late at night when her heart ate her mind.
Moki pulled Sakura toward her and propped her on her shoulder.
Moki: We're almost to the station, i can wahk you home."
Lovingly bonded, as the Heavenly symphony of the world screams their yearning. Two women reach, wincing at the touch.
The women continued to tread through the city's empty streets, illuminated by the stars, as the purple streetlights cloaked the skyscrapers that surrounded them.
**************************************************
They reached Sakura's home, in a large skyscraper on the 65th floor, gazing over the star-scattered sky of the city. In a massive dark living room of marble and black leather, the light of the city poured in through the glass wall. A red and white spire shot through the cityscape's sky, Tokyo Tower.
Moki bi set down her dreary companion, who fell asleep quickly as her face lay spotlighted by the graceful white moonlight.
She sat herself next to her on the leather couch, which faced the glass wall.
The space around her felt open, its expanses felt cold, its expanses felt empty, a few things to rest on, but no things to lean on. The cold furniture lacked any blankets to accompany it.
The lights of the city past the pane shimmered like diamonds in the eyes; above their beauty lay the biggest gem of all, the moon. Its white face gazed down upon the earth, bathing people in its celestial light. Millions of people had died and lived under its moonlight, so many have looked to it for answers. A few even yearned so much as to touch it. Sitting there, she spoke to it, "You must have been through so much. And yet how you still glimmer." She paused momentarily, looking into its beauty. "Yet you still share your light, your gracefully ritttled face still shows its beauty and its history." After so much… she thought: you must know so much, don't you?
Can I shimmer like you do?
Is it too late to know them?
Do I have a right to grief?
Can I be forgiven?
Entranced, her gait drifted to the balcony, opening the door sent her hair dancing in the Divine light behind her. With Moki Bis Blue pupils reflecting the light of the shimmering moon like jewels above a sparkling pond. Her visage was bathed in the white moonlight of the full moon. As she peered into its celestial light, at its transcendent beauty, her hand floated up as if it were being called to its destiny.
Her hands sprawled their fingers into the sliky light. As the rays of moonlight dappled between her fingers onto her face, she asked a question:
"Can I…ever …be…like…you?
She gently grasped the moon, but only cold air wispily caressed her delicate fingers. Beyond the earth, past the heavens, lay her yearning
Her hair finally came to a rest behind her.