Beautiful Madness

Generally, Kurai didn’t care about her looks. She just threw on whatever felt comfortable at the time. Being cute meant nothing to her.

But, Beth soured her mood.

Kurai had just come home for morning from getting breakfast. She had fish and bread in her arms. The kitty was about to board the boat when she paused and tilted her head.

“What are you doing here?” she asked. The angel looked up at her.

“Oh, hello,” Beth said. “So nice to see you out and about this morning.” The demon kitty sneered.

“Why are you here?” she hissed. Beth flipped back her long blond hair.

“I came here to see you,” she said.

“Why?” Kurai asked.

“Can’t we check on you whenever we can?”

“No.” Kurai narrowed her eyes as Beth looked her up and down. “What?” The angel shrugged her shoulders.

“Why do you always look like a worn out rag doll?” she asked. Kurai glared at her.

“Huh?” she asked. Beth stood up.

“Oh, don’t you know?” she asked.

“What?” Kurai asked. The angel leaned in close to her ear.

“Akitada-kun likes pretty girls,” she whispered. The demon kitty turned to her, glaring.

“Bullshit!” she snapped. The angel smirked and shrugged.

“It’s true,” she said. “The angels wonder why you’re with him. He’s dated some cute little angels. You on the other hand…” Kurai gave her a cold look.

“What?!” she shouted.

“Just saying,” the angel said. “It wouldn’t hurt to clean up your looks.”

“My looks are fine!” the demon kitty snapped.

“Are they really?” Beth asked. The angel let a lingering notion stuck in Kurai’s head.

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Kurai stared into the mirror. She looked fine, right? The demon kitty frowned at what she saw. Short messy black hair, sloppy rocker tee, torn jeans, and dirty sandals. No make-up either. Kurai snorted and shook her head.

“What does Beth know?” she asked. “Stupid.” But, why couldn’t she look away?

The demon kitty turned when she heard footsteps. Akitada walked up the stairs. He rubbed his eyes and turned his head.

“Oh, morning, babe,” the angel mouse said. Kurai forced herself to smile.

“Good morning,” she said. Akitada tilted his head.

“What’s matter?” he asked. She shook her head. The angel mouse walked over and pulled her into his arms.

“Come on,” he said. “Talk to me.” His girlfriend glanced up at him.

“Am I cute?” she asked. Akitada looked up.

“Huh?” he asked. The kitty demon pouted at him.

“Do you think I’m cute?” she asked again.

“Of course I do!” Akitada said. “Why do you ask?” It felt good to hear that. Kurai shook her head.

“No reason,” she lied.

“You are beautiful the way you are,” Akitada said. Why did that sound more painful than helpful?

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Kurai looked at herself in the mirror. Sure, Akitada said she was cute. But, she didn’t feel like it. The demon kitty shook her head.

Ridiculous! I look great! Kurai turned around when she heard giggling. Three girls were walking to school. They looked like pop idols in their school uniforms. Their hair blew perfectly in the wind. Kurai tilted her head. Maybe these girls could help her be pretty. Kurai turned herself invisible and followed the girls behind.

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Amazing what she can learn in one day if she actually tried. So many beauty tips she learned from girls talking, girly magazines, TV ads, and women walking on the street. Armed with this new information, Kurai got to work.

First came a little shopping. By shopping, that meant breaking into different shops and swiping different items. Being able to turn invisible had its perks. Kurai felt so proud of her work. When she got home, she looked around. Akitada wasn’t home.

Perfect, Kurai thought. She disappeared into her room.

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-6:00 p.m.-

“I’m home,” Akitada said.

“Welcome home!” Kurai said from the back of the boat. The angel mouse tilted his head.

“Where are you?” he asked.

“Back here, dear!” she said. A curious came over Akitada’s face. He walked down the narrow hall.

“Kurai-chan…?” the angel mouse asked. His eyes widened in shock Kurai stood in a tight white and gold dress with bright blue tights, and red high heels. A giant pink ribbon holding up her messy curly black hair matched her big pink feather boa. And the make-up. Oh, all of that make-up. Clowns looked more harmless in their appearance compared to the way Kurai looked.

“Hello,” she said in an over-the-top chipper tone. Her boyfriend blinked.

“Kurai… -chan?” he asked. The demon kitty twirled around.

“Well,” she said. “What do you think?”

“Uh…” Akitada said. His girlfriend frowned.

“You don’t like it?” she asked. The angel mouse quickly shook his head.

“No… uh… well… uh… uh…” he said. She clenched her fists by her sides.

“Damn it!” Kurai said. “I knew this plan was shit!”

“Why are you dressed like this?” Akitada asked. His girl threw back her head and groaned.

“I wanted to be beautiful for you!” she complained. The angel mouse gave her an odd look.

“Why?” he asked.

“You liked cute girls,” Kurai said.

“Who told you that?”

“Stupid Beth!” Kurai puffed up her cheeks. “I’ve should’ve known this was a set-up!” She started to tremble.

“Baby,” Akitada said. “You didn’t have to do all of this.” Kurai’s eyes widened.

“I didn’t?” she asked. Akitada shook his head. He pulled her into his arms.

“Aw, honey,” the angel mouse said. “You are beautiful just the way you are.”

“But what about the cute girls in Heaven?” she asked.

“They can’t compare to you,” he said.

“You mean it?” Kurai asked.

“Yes,” her boyfriend said. The kitty demon finally perked up. Akitada smiled and waved his have over girlfriend’s face. A soft wind blew over her. The angel mouse whistled.

“What did you do?” Kurai asked.

“Look in the mirror,” he said. The demon turned to her mirror on her closet door. Her clothes changed to a little white blouse over a short black dress that fit her form. Her curls turned into smoother waves to her shoulders. She couldn’t tell if she wearing make-up or not. Her jaw dropped.

“Wow!” she said.

“What do think?” Akitada asked.

“I love it!” Kurai said. She turned to her boyfriend.

“Can I keep this look?” she asked. “I promise to take care of it!” The angel mouse chuckled.

“Of course,” he said. Kurai leapt forward and hugged him wildly.

“I love you so much, Akitada-kun!” she shouted. Her boyfriend smiled and hugged her back.

“I love you too,” he said back. “I love you too.”

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“Why would you do that to her, Beth?” Alice asked in Heaven. The angel innocently shrugged and shook her head.

“I was bored,” she said.

“You were bored?” the other angel asked.

“I just wanted to spice things up down there,” Beth said. She turned and walked away. Alice tilted her head as she puffed up her cheeks.