ZZZ:Through the Frosted Mirror

Ellen stirred awake as the first light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. The warmth pressing against her chest was familiar now—the gentle rise and fall of Miyabi's breathing, her arms wrapped tightly around Ellen's torso like a lifeline. The scent of the night still lingered in the air, a reminder of their newfound bond, of the passion and the quiet vulnerability they had shared.

A part of Ellen wanted to stay like this, to bask in the feeling of holding Miyabi close, but she knew that soon, the world outside their little bubble would wake up. And as much as she would love to lie there forever, reality was pressing in.

Carefully, she shifted, attempting to sit up, but Miyabi's grip only tightened. Ellen exhaled a quiet chuckle—she was latched onto her like a stubborn koala. Miyabi's face nuzzled into the crook of her neck, her breath warm against Ellen's skin. There was no way she was letting go willingly.

With no hesitation, Ellen simply lifted her. Cradling Miyabi in her arms, fully exposing both of them to the cold morning air. It didn't seem to bother either of them—their bodies naturally radiated warmth and resistance to it—but Ellen still wanted to be decent before Mira woke up. As much as she loved Miyabi, she wasn't about to have their young companion stumble upon them like this.

Stepping lightly, Ellen made her way toward her room. She paused just long enough to check if Mira was still asleep, peering through the slightly ajar door. The rhythmic breathing from inside confirmed it—Mira was still in deep slumber. Relieved, Ellen continued, maneuvering her way through the dimly lit apartment with practiced ease.

Once inside her room, she carefully sifted through her closet, pulling out clothes for both of them. Something simple, comfortable, easy to slip on. As much as Ellen enjoyed seeing Miyabi in her current state—peaceful, content, soft in the aftermath of everything—she knew they needed to get dressed before reality came knocking.

With clothes in hand, she made her way back to the couch, settling down with Miyabi still draped across her lap. Ellen ran her fingers gently through her white hair, coaxing her awake.

"Miyabi," she murmured. "We need to get dressed. Unless you want to be embarrassed when Mira wakes up."

A sluggish groan was her only response. Miyabi shifted slightly but made no move to leave Ellen's lap. Her golden eyes barely cracked open, and she mumbled something unintelligible before pressing herself even closer.

Ellen sighed, a fond smile tugging at her lips. "Alright, alright. I'll do it for you."

With careful movements, she dressed Miyabi, making sure to stay close and keep her from growing distressed. Ellen could tell the exhaustion still weighed on her, and she had no intention of making this any harder than it needed to be. Every brush of her fingers against Miyabi's skin made her lover hum in quiet contentment, the possessive grip on Ellen never truly loosening.

Once Miyabi was fully clothed, Ellen took a moment to admire her—disheveled but still breathtaking, her fox ears twitching slightly as she fought off sleep. Ellen brushed a few stray strands of white hair from her face before pulling on her own clothes.

She knew that this was only the beginning. Miyabi's heat was far from over, and now that they were mates, it would only intensify. Ellen could help her—she would help her—but she also knew there was a limit to what she could do. She lacked certain…equipment, after all. But for now, she could focus on making sure Miyabi was comfortable, cared for, and safe.

And as she held her close, Ellen knew one thing for certain: she wasn't going anywhere. Not now, not ever.

Ellen sat on the couch, her phone in her hands, the dim morning light casting a soft glow over the room. After everything that had happened, she finally had the time to check her messages. As soon as she unlocked her phone, a wave of guilt crashed over her.

Missed calls. Dozens of them. Countless unread messages.

Her heart sank as she scrolled through the worried texts from Ruby, Monna, and Lynn. Each one carried the weight of their concern, their fear, their confusion. They had been trying to reach her for so long, and she had ignored them—not on purpose, but because she had been drowning in everything that had happened. Her injury, her evolution, the fight for survival—it had consumed her.

But that wasn't an excuse. She had been a terrible friend.

She swallowed hard and exhaled sharply through her nose before tapping on the group chat. Her fingers hovered over the call button for a moment before she pressed it, bringing the phone up to her ear.

The call rang a few times before someone picked up.

"Hello?" A confused voice answered.

"Who is this?" Another voice chimed in.

Ellen hesitated before speaking, her voice steady but softer than usual. "It's me."

There was silence. Then, an eruption of noise on the other end.

"ELLEN?!"

"WHAT THE HELL?"

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!"

Their reactions were immediate—shock, relief, and a touch of exasperation. The guilt in her chest tightened.

"Guys, I—" Ellen started but was immediately cut off by more questions.

"Where have you been? You weren't at school! You weren't anywhere! We even went to the maid café, and you weren't there!" Monna's voice was frantic, a mix of frustration and concern.

"Do you have any idea how worried we were?" Ruby added.

"We thought something happened to you, dumbass." Lynn's voice was a little quieter, but just as serious.

Ellen sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "I know. I know. I'm sorry. I've been a terrible friend. So much has happened that I just… forgot about everything else. It wasn't intentional, I swear."

The line went silent for a moment, and then Monna spoke again, softer this time. "Are you okay?"

Ellen closed her eyes. That simple question felt heavier than it should have. Was she okay? She had changed so much, both physically and emotionally. She had lost an arm, evolved into something new, nearly lost herself in the process. But she was still here. Still standing.

"I will be," she said finally. "And I promise I'll explain everything. It's just… a long story."

"You better," Ruby muttered, though there was no real bite to her words. "Where are you now?"

"My apartment."

"We're coming over."

Ellen blinked. "Huh?"

"As soon as the government gives the all-clear and we're let out of these stupid bunkers, we're coming over," Monna declared. "We need to see you. And you owe us an explanation."

Ellen couldn't argue with that. "Yeah. Okay. I'll be here."

There was a collective sigh on the other end. "Alright. We'll see you soon," Lynn said, the tension in her voice finally easing.

"Yeah. See you soon," Ellen replied.

She hung up, staring at her phone for a long moment. Relief and nervousness swirled inside her. She was finally going to see them again. Finally going to explain everything.

She just hoped they were ready for the truth.

Ellen sat in quiet contemplation after ending the call with her friends, her mind processing the emotions that had surfaced. She knew she still had many steps to take, and the next one would be visiting Victoria Housekeeping to check in on them. But she wouldn't rush. She needed to take this one step at a time to avoid unnecessary mistakes—mistakes that could have irreversible consequences.

A soft gaze drew her out of her thoughts. Looking down, she met Miyabi's golden, slitted eyes, which studied her with quiet admiration.

"It's good to see you making amends with your people," Miyabi murmured, her voice warm and full of affection. "It only makes me love you more."

Ellen's heart fluttered at the words. Without hesitation, she leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Miyabi's forehead. The reaction was immediate—a deep, content purr rumbled from Miyabi's throat, and her tail gave a slow, pleased wag. The sight made Ellen smile, a warmth blooming in her chest that she hadn't realized she needed.

Before she could say anything, the soft patter of footsteps approached. Lifting her head, she spotted Mira walking toward her, Sharkboo held tightly in her small arms like a plushie. Ellen blinked, taking in her daughter's form. Mira had reverted back to her childlike appearance, but the traces of her transformation remained. Her features were distinctly oni-like, her small red horns standing proudly atop her head, and her deep blue, slitted eyes shining with emotion.

Ellen exhaled softly, her heart swelling at the sight. She really did change into a full-blooded oni, Ellen mused. But rather than worry, she found herself adoring it even more. It just makes my daughter even more adorable.

Mira stopped in front of her, clutching Sharkboo tightly. Her voice was small when she spoke, hesitant yet trusting. "Mama?"

Ellen stiffened slightly, her eyes widening. The word hit her like a shockwave, sending warmth surging through her entire being. Beside her, Miyabi also reacted, her ears perking up, eyes slightly widened as she processed the moment.

Mira's voice trembled just a little as she continued. "I had a nightmare… I want to be with Mama because I'm scared."

Ellen felt her heart ache and flutter at the same time. The instincts inside her roared to the surface, demanding that she protect and comfort her daughter. Without hesitation, she reached forward, pulling Mira into her arms, holding her close against her chest.

"Of course, sweetheart," Ellen whispered, gently stroking Mira's back. "You can stay with me for as long as you need."

Mira immediately melted into her embrace, letting out a soft, relieved sigh. Ellen's grip on her tightened ever so slightly, as if reassuring both Mira and herself that everything was okay.

"It's still early in the morning," Ellen said after a moment. "How about we all go back to bed for a little while? My bed's big enough for the three of us."

Mira nodded against her chest, her small hands gripping onto Ellen's shirt. Miyabi, silent but understanding, stood and followed as Ellen scooped Mira up effortlessly. Together, they made their way to Ellen's bed.

Ellen curled her massive frame around them both, her tail encircling them protectively. Mira nestled into Ellen's chest, her tiny form completely at ease, while Miyabi tucked her head beneath Ellen's chin, her warmth a steady presence against her mate's body.

"I love you both," Ellen murmured, closing her eyes as the weight of the moment settled over her.

She felt them respond in kind, their voices soft but full of sincerity. Mira's gentle breathing evened out, her tiny hands still clinging to Ellen's shirt, while Miyabi's grip on her was firm, her tail curling around Ellen's thigh in silent affection.

It was at this moment, Ellen felt truly whole.