Authors notes: finally updated this story after months of being busy and putting it on hold. I hope I can update the story regularly rather than every few months. Anyway if you enjoy the chapter drop a review theya re always appreciated.

breakfast brushed teeth and showered just need a fresh set of clothes to wear. Browsing my wardrobe, I look through the wide range of shirts, jackets, parkas and suits. I didn't want to wear anything too smart as this was more of a date than a meeting. I don't want to be too casual because I may look like I don't care about my looks. I think somewhere in between, possibly something mainstream that would be a safe bet. Something in the corner of my eye catches my attention, a white hoodie with a traditional design made with different shades of greens. In the centre of the hoodie, a sans-serif typeface spelt out 'Marie'. The hoodie was limited edition and I only wear it on special occasions and well I guess this is a special occasion. I just need a good pair of shoes and trousers. For shoes, I decide to wear the Black Norimaki 750s which is both comfortable and stylish and for my trousers I choose a skin-tight trunk that goes down to my ankles. I take one last look in the mirror and nod in agreement of my choice of clothes.

My phone vibrates from a notification causing me to almost drop my phone as I hastily pull my phone out. It was a message from Asami. "Hey Arun, are we still good for today?"

Tapping away at my phone I quickly send a reply "Yeah we are still good, about to head off now".

"Okay, I will see you in a bit" Asami concluded, putting my phone back into my pocket. Just before I leave I feel nauseous as the all the emotions hit me like a truck. I've been talking to an Octoling and now I am going on a date with one, am I mad! No, it doesn't matter if she's an Octoling she has feelings just like the rest of us she just looks different from the rest of us. Taking a deep breathe I leave my flat and head to the train station.

Same station, same seat as last time and even the same Octoling as the one before. Black tentacles and the scar on her left eye with the same expressionless face. Maybe this is her way of commuting to work, whatever her work is. She quickly rotates her head towards me and I quickly look away in hopes she didn't catch me staring. However, that was not the case as I see her approaching me from the corner of my eye. She stood towering over me looking down at me as I pretend to not to notice her presence.

"What are you looking at?" She accused, I look up at her to see her folding her arms and giving me a stern look. This was not good for me at all.

"Oh, sorry I must have been daydreaming" I lied hoping she would buy it, she didn't.

"Oh yeah really? Why were you really staring at me?" She demanded slightly raising her voice but not too high to avoid attracting any attention. I try to think of a quick response to prevent the situation from escalating any further.

"Because you're pretty!" I blurted while mentally slapping myself for my dumb response. Expecting to be hit in the face instead I didn't get anything at all, no slap not even a word. She just looks at me with shock while a red tint appears on her face. Is she mad or is she blushing I hope it is the latter?

"No one has ever said that to me before" the Octoling responded in a much calmer tone. I had clearly touched her feelings because of her sudden change of emotion and expression. "I was just cannon fodder to them" She muttered looking at the floor with her fist clenched with and gritted her teeth.

"Is everything okay?" I ask politely, I was quite afraid of her, she was relatively tall for a female about the same height as me and was quite muscular as well. She could easily beat me in a fight there is no doubt about it.

"Yes..No..It doesn't matter" She stutters before quickly walking off to the end of the platform. I didn't even have the chance to say anything. Squinting my eyes, I just barely notice the tears rolling down her face. Taking a deep breath I walk over to her.

"Are you sure you are okay?" I insisted placing my hand gently on her shoulder giving her a caring look. She looked up at me before she pushed my hand off her shoulder taking a stand back and facing me.

"NO! Why do you care anyway, don't you know I killed your kind?" She snapped at me, attempting to retain her strong posture.

"Look I'm just trying to help" I reassure her putting my hands up to show I didn't want to hurt her or for her to hurt me. The train halted abruptly next to us causing me to turn away to look at it to see if it was the correct train. As I looked away she grabbed my hand and dragged me into the train unexpectedly and shoving me in the first seat we came across. She sat across from me staring right at me, I gulped in fear of the mysterious Octoling, it had only just hit me that she was a soldier from her body to the obvious fact she mentioned she had killed Inklings.

"If you want to help then just listen to me," She says firmly, I nod in response not saying a word. "My name Is Mikuru and If you are stupid and didn't realise I am a soldier who fought for the Octarians. I was given no choice forced into fighting a war I didn't want to be a part of. I remember my first mission simply defend this outpost, they said there would be no trouble. That was the case for the first couple of hours until one of those agents came and started slaughtering us." She paused for a moment touching the scar around her eye. "When he was distracted I attempted to tackle him but he was quick, he turned around in a flash and kicked me away. He quickly got on top of me before I could get up and started beating me repeatedly. Luckily for me, he got distracted for a split second enough time for me to kick him off and begin to strangle him. I was full of rage so I strangled him to death. They congratulated me for my work and began putting me on more dangerous missions. At that point, I didn't care I killed whatever inkling I saw I must have killed a dozen of them" She continued looking down at her hands. "I was a monster, not even my fellow soldiers would talk to me they were too scared. When the war ended and we were allowed citizenship here I thought things would change. Except it didn't, still lonely with no one to talk to. You are the first person I have had a conversation with since the war ended" She sighs leaning back in her seat and looking out the window. I was left speechless, unsure how to respond to such an emotional story. I feel rather lucky for not having to live through such a traumatic experience of war and loneliness. The two things that scare me the most.

Noticing her hand on the table I attempt to hold it to comfort her but she pulls it back quickly and looks at me in shock. "Sorry" I gulped, "I was just trying to comfort you," I said, she was very tense even if she was a soldier she still feared me, all the action she had seen had made her like this. Prepared to quickly retaliate if a sudden attack had occurred. She put her hands back on the table and eased up a bit.

"So, what's your name and story?" Mikuru asked firmly looking at me attentively.

"I'm Arun and I am a freelancer, clients get in contact with me, usually asking for a website to be built," I replied shifting in my seat a bit to get comfortable in this tense situation.

"Lucky" She huffed crossing her arms. An awkward silence lingered between us both of us not wanting to say a word. She was looking at me carefully and I gave her an awkward smile but that did nothing to change her stern look. A few minutes passed before she slid her phone on the table towards me. I gave her quizzical look unsure what she wanted me to do. "Well, put your number in then!" She demanded to cause me to jump in my seat a bit as I fumble to get my phone out of my pocket. I punch in my number on her phone and slide it back to her hesitantly. She takes it and puts it back in her pocket. "Thank you" She approved, a small smile appeared on her face for a second. A smile on her face? It was odd seeing such a strong veteran become calm and bliss for a small moment. I smile in response, a genuine smile not a forced smile a smile of gratitude.

The last few minutes of the trip were silent but she would glance over at me every so often, I simply tried not to stare at her not wanting to make the situation awkward. I mostly did what she did admire the view, the lush colours of nature that are rarely seen in Inkopolis. The train screeched to a stop. Mikuru and I both get up and leave the train. "Well, it was nice to talk to someone for once" She admitted. "I'll see you another time" She stated firmly as she leaves the platform with a confident stride. I sigh in relief, leaving the platform I head towards Octokit feeling nervous and stressed out, I just need to take some deep breaths. I inhale and exhale calming myself as I approach the familiar shop.

Entering the store, I see the familiar Octarian working behind the cash register. "Hello, yeah Asami is waiting for you in her office you can walk straight in" The employee smiled, I smile back and head into the office. There she was leaning on the desk on her phone, she looked gorgeous. Her clothing was basic but perfect simple purple leggings and the Callie hoodie. She looks up at me and smiles before she looks down at my own hoodie.

"I see you're a Marie fan then" She giggles.

"And I guess you are a Callie fan then" I smile back, she nods in response she gets up from the table and grabs her handbag.

"Shall we go then?" She heads for the exit with a big grin on her face, I simply nod in response still a little speechless from her looks.

She took me to a local nature reserve which was a pleasant surprise, I was expecting to browse the local shops but this is much better. Living in Inkopolis for so long makes you forget about the beauty of nature. The sound of birds chirping was very calming and relaxing, Asami was enjoying the moment she was looking up at the birds singing on the branches with a large smile on herself. "Isn't it wonderful listening to the birds sing?" She asked looking at to me.

"Yeah, it is nice to actually just listen to nature for once" I look up to see the birds flying and chirping.

"It helps me to relax and clear my thoughts, Sometimes the stress gets to you and this is my way of escaping it" She admitted as she hums a tune. She was walking quite close to me almost touching shoulders almost like she wanted to hold hands. "Ah! Here it is" Asami exclaimed as she points to a wooden bench surrounded by trees. The light shines through and onto the bench making it look almost holy. "This is where I like to relax and think" She sits down on the bench and I sit next to her.

"It's beautiful here" I praised leaning back and looking up into the sky. "I wish I had a place like this where I could relax" I admitted.

"Well, it gives you a good reason to come here often than" She added.

"I think you are a good enough reason for me to come more often" I teased, I'm not lying either I do want to see her more often she just seems so likeable.

"Ohh…" She blushes a little, I look over at her and she notices causing her to go to an even darker shade of red which caused her to giggle to try to shake it off. "You've made me all flustered now" She admitted.

"Is that a problem?" I ask.

"No, not at all" She scoots closer and snuggles up to me and even nuzzles into my neck causing me to blush, she giggles noticing the red tint on my face. We both sat in silence enjoying the harmony of the forest, all my negative emotions were gone I felt confident, not nervous and neither did I feel shy. Asami had her eyes closed still clung to me, I couldn't help but begin to stroke her tentacles they were smooth and squishy. She began to purr and decided cuddle up closer to me, it is quite a surreal moment and Octoling enjoying the company of an Inkling. I've seen videos of Octolings being shouted at to being beaten to the ground, yet here I am cuddling with one. She pulls away and gets up from the seat with a flustered look on her face.

"Phew it's quite hot today isn't it" She pulls off her hoodie, my eyes open wide and my jaw almost drops to the floor. She left little to hide, a low-cut crop top and the leggings displayed her perfect curves, she was perfect. My eyes slowly drift upwards to her chest where I blush immensely. I hadn't really noticed her assets until now and well they were quite large in all honesty. I quickly look away and calm myself down a bit hoping that she doesn't notice. "Is everything okay?" She said.

"You uh l-look amazing" I admitted, I couldn't help but state my opinion to her she just had to know.

"T-thank you" She blushes. "You look really handsome" She complimented.

"Thank you, I really appreciate it" I give her a thumbs up causing her to smile with joy.

"Shall we go to my place, I have a meal prepared" She insisted.

"Yeah, that sounds like a great idea!" I praise as she leads me outside of the nature reserve.

"Are you into turf war much?" Asami asks as we walk along the cracked concrete path.

"Not too much, my friend always gets me out to play every so often" I shrug, turf war was never really my thing. I was always a bit of a nerd and would stick to doing programming and mathematics. I do enjoy turf wars just I find it a bit repetitive after a while.

"I have yet to play a turf war match, they never had them in Octo valley" She sighs.

"Well, maybe you can come down to Inkopolis to play a few matches to see what it is like?" I suggested.

"That would be amazing" She beamed. "But… I don't think other Inklings will want to play with an Octoling" She sulked.

"I will make sure they will want to play" I insisted as I put my hand on her shoulder.

"Aww thanks" She smiled before she suddenly stopped in her place.

"What is it Asami?" I asked before I looked forward to seeing a group of male Octolings all wearing studded black leather jackets blocking our path. My stroke of good luck had to come to a sudden end, these Octolings sure as hell do not look friendly not one of them were smiling.

"Well, who's your friend Asami, Your Inkling friend" Growled the Octoling in the centre of the group. He was clenching his fist and grinding his teeth. He had tentacles in dreadlocks combed back he had a long trench coat while the others were just wearing studded jackets.

"H-he's just a b-business partner" Asami stuttered.

"You know what we think of Inklings" He hissed as he directs his attention to me looking me over. All the hope I had was decreasing rapidly these guys don't look like they want me to leave unscathed. "I just want to beat the shit out of him, you fucking Inklings think you're better than us!" The Octoling fumed with anger. Maybe the idea of Octolings and Inklings getting along is just a dream.