Murakumo Birthday 3

Of all the days for Murakumo to be sick it had to be on her birthday. She'd spent the past two days in bed fighting off the flu. Murakumo couldn't train, work on her manga or play with her wolves. It would have been boring if not for her best friend Shiki who made sure to keep her company. Shiki even took it upon herself to play nurse for Murakumo and proved by a diligent and nurturing caretaker and jokingly boasted that she was "totally" catching up to Yozakura as contender for who would make the best mom.

 

Shiki entered Murakumo's room with a tray 'I got your some soup Murky. Will keep you all tough and stuff!' The soup was fresh and delightfully fragrant, not that Murakumo could enjoy it, Kumo had tissues lodged up her nostrils to combat her runny nose. Shiki giggled at how ridiculous Kumo looked. 'What are you doing with those tissues?' Shiki set down the tray and tussled Kumo's matted hair 'Guess you still have it rough.'

 

'Looks delicious.' Murakumo leaned over to taste her soup but before she could grasp the spoon Shiki was already there to feed her. Kumo hummed as the food warmed her body. 'You're good at this.' Murakumo smiled 'You've inspired me to come up with a new series. A cyberpunk medical drama where a daring, spunky and incredibly attractive young female doctor must witness first hand the socio-political issues in a world of human augmentation, tackle the concept of mind-body dualism, and balance her career and a love affair with a hunky colleague.'  

 

'Whoa, that sounds way out there. I inspired you to come up with that?' Shiki bashfully smiled to herself.

 

'You're my muse.' Murakumo nodded 'All the progress I've made is thanks to you. I'm so close to the next plateau it's just-' Murakumo left Shiki hanging.

 

'Just what?' Shiki sat up. Her eyes were wide and fixated on Kumo 'Whatever it is I can help.'

 

'I'm grateful to have a friend like you who's so eager to help.' Murakumo grinned to herself 'I wanted you to act out some scenes for me. Today if possible. I know I'm sick but I have to get this all down while the juices are still flowing.'

 

Shiki was uncertain 'Um, well sure. You just want me to read lines?'

 

Murakumo rested her chin in her hand to pretend to be introspective 'It will take more than that. Could you take the old costume pieces you have and dress up for me? There's a labcoat in my closet, Minori has toy stethoscopes and maybe you could put on some make up for me?'

 

'Uh, sure I can try that for you.' Shiki still wasn't entirely convinced but she had to help her friend. She dashed around the ninja room plucking up the items she'd need and raced back. Her chest heaved from being out of breath but her costume delighted Murakumo who immediately scribbled down ideas. 'So how's it look?' Shiki posed like a runway model.

 

'Just one change and it will be perfect.' Murakumo pleaded 'I need you to open more buttons on that blouse and show off your cleavage.'

 

'Huh?' Shiki titled her head. 'I didn't know this series had fanservice.'

 

'Even in the not-so-distant future a woman must use her feminine wiles to get ahead in a male-cyborg dominated world.' Murakumo pumped her fist.

 

'Well if it will help the book.' Shiki scrunched her lip to try and press how uncomfortable she was 'I'm only doing this because it's you.' She popped open the buttons on her blouse and her bat tats sprouted free.

 

'Here's some lines I want you to try.' Murakumo grinned and handed Shiki a sheet of paper 'In this scene I'll be the patient that's undergone augmentations but can't afford replacement parts and you'll play the protagonist who's treating me. It gets complicated when your patient, me, is revealed to be your former lover. Facing accusations from all sides you aim to fight this injustice as only a feisty young female doctor can.'

 

'Okay here goes!' Shiki cleared her throat and got into character 'I can't believe they're just going to discharge you in a state like this! If only the evil mega corporation that ruled half of the globe wasn't so corrupt you would be insured. I could have you walking around in the latest model of nano-enhanced limbs by this afternoon but instead you're going to end up out on the street and forced to walk on your hands! I won't stand for this!' Shiki ended her performance with a defiant pose.

 

Murakumo acted out a fake cough that prompted some real ones and croaked out her lines 'Doc, it's even worse; the hospital bills are so insanely costly that I'll likely lose everything I have even these mechanical organs I had implanted in my body that keep me alive.'

 

'I won't allow it!' Shiki flicked her hair 'I'm going to save you and bring down the shady powers-that-be that rule us from the shadows!'

 

'These are my last days, if only I were better to you we could have stayed together.' Murakumo wheezed 'If there was one last thing you could do for me it would be to kiss me right here and now. If I could just feel your love once more I could go in peace.' Murakumo grabbed onto Shiki's precariously buttoned blouse and tugged her friend in, her lips smacking at the ready.

 

'Whoa! Hey! Murky this isn't in the script!' Shiki protested 'Besides I don't think I can kiss a girl especially one with the flu!'

 

'Fulfil my one last wish!' Murakumo inched her lips closer to Shiki.

 

'No way!' Shiki grabbed Kumo's hands and struggled towards freedom.

 

Their bickering caused a commotion that caught the attention of their foster-sisters. Yumi and Yozakura arrived on the scene to witness Shiki's blouse about to come apart at the seams with her breasts, cupped in a black push-up bra, poked out of the unbuttoned section. 'What are you two doing?' Yozakura asked with her eyebrow raised. She rolled up her sleeves and marched over to separate the two.

 

Murakumo's handsy behavior was blamed on her fever and restlessness and so the other girls offered to take more responsibility. She might have been sick on her birthday but one way or another Murakumo was surrounded by those that she cared about on her big day and was even fit enough to leave her room to enjoy cake and open her gifts.