Shady

“Yeah… that’s a good question,” Pratik mused. “Dunno.”

“It is!” Pratik agreed. “… I’d offer to teach you how, but… heh.”

“…Ky, ma’am.”

“There’s swimming, though,” Pratik pointed out. “I don’t mind heat if it’s close to a coast. Can’t say I like deserts though.”

Ky looked at her for a long moment, torn. Did she eat her pain like a good little slave? Or did she tell the truth? She couldn’t do both. She ...

Pratik nodded in agreement. “Can’t say I particularly enjoy the weather up here. But it could be worse.”

“Yes’m.” She was dying is what she was doing. Her entire body felt like it was on the verge of shattering and somehow the longer she rested the worse she ...

“Sounds lovely,” Pratik answered.

“I… sorry.” Tadaaki cringed and nodded slightly. He was going to spill it all over himself if he kept trying. Ky flinched slightly but nodded. One more. Just one. She ...

“Even in the South?” Pratik asked.

Ky nodded. She could manage that… hopefully. No. She could . She had to. This wasn’t optional. She forced herself to take another tiny sip and started coughing this time. ...

“No doubt!” Pratik agreed, flipping through more of the pages. “It’s absolutely beautiful. I see why you like it.”

Ky took a sip, throat clenching as the tea burned her every inch of the way to her stomach. She let out a heavy breath as she managed it. Was ...

“Sorry,” she squeaked, looking at her fearfully. “I’m…try- I’m… sorry.”

Ky was trembling badly but was doing her best to obey. But it wasn’t going well for her. It was entirely too much coordination to make her arms and her ...