~Chapter Five : Pain~
~Start~

**********

~Shizuka Haruki~

"Ouch..." I whined as tiny tears began drop from my cheeks. I rubbed the large bruise in my arm, in hopes of easing the pain from it.

I sniffed as I try my best not to cry out loud or else SHE will come for me again. I heard a tiny squeak from the window and looked to see three white mice tilting their heads at me.

I wiped my tears and smiled slightly at the little creatures. "Oh, hello." I said to them. "Nice to see you again."

I saw them look at my bruise and I smiled at them once again. "Ah, are you worried? Don't worry, it's nothing." I said to them. "I had worst injuries than this, remember?"

They squeaked at me and I just laughed.

I am Shizuka Haruki and I am a simple cat guy. Ten years of age. Even though for normal people, I look like a total weirdo talking to these animals, I can actually understand them.

I don't know if we, cat people, can normally do this, considering I haven't met anyone who is the same species as I am. But anyway, maybe it's a common thing? We're part animals after all. Common or not, I enjoy talking to them, despite the fact that they don't speak any languages we've known today. I consider them as my true friends.

But as I talk to my friends, the pain came back and I gripped my bruised arm in pain. Where did it came from, you ask? Well...

Let's just say my "owner" isn't my favorite person in the world.

Yes, she does provides me with shelter, food and a bit of education but other than that, nothing else...Well, there is one thing that she gives me almost every single day...

Pain.

I hated it. Even the plain word itself, I hate it very, very much. Yet...My owner...No, that girl isn't my owner, I never had any owner, she never gave me any collar as a symbol of her being my owner...

Anyway, the girl's name is Hayakawa Yuki, she is a 15 years old girl and that girl is...That girl is a sadist. Whenever she gets bored, she always comes to me and cause me pain everytime. It can be physical pain or emotional pain, it doesn't matter, I hate them both.

And sometimes, whenever she gets bored of me, she hurts and torture other living things like those tiny creatures I call my friends. She does this all infront of me. I can never forget those screams that those poor creatures let out...

What's even more terrifying is that she does every of those sadistic torture of hers with a smile...And with those explanation, I can finally conclude that...

I hate her and at the same time...I'm scared of her.

Ever since I was placed here half a year ago, all I felt from her was pain and pain alone. Endless days with her hurting me in many ways, draining the last bit of confidence I have left for myself, and losing fate on everything else. Scars, wounds, and injuries were sprayed everywhere around my body.

If I would give a clear definition of hell then, I would imagine it would be like this. I'm suprised I can still stand up until this day.

I always wanted to escape this hell for a long time but I...I just don't have the courage to do so. It's all gone. She took it all away from me.

It's sad, painful, scary, and lonely here. But atleast, I'm still alive. I never wished to die anyways.

**********

"Hey! Haruki, wake up!" I heard the terrifying familiar voice and quickly sat up, frightened.

"Y-Yes...?" I stuttered.

Yuki-san smiled sadistically at me. "You know, I found something gross in my room!" She asked.

"Um..." I looked at the window and realize the sun is setting. I, then, looked back at her and hesitantly said. "W-What could it...be...?"

Yuki-san smiled but that smile fade away and was replaced by an angry expression. She then pulled something from behind her and I widened my eyes in horror to see one of the little white mouse I was talking to earlier in her fist.

"A-Ah..." I exclaimed with mixed emotions.

"What is this!? A mouse in my house, more specifically in MY bedroom!?" Yuki-san yelled, making me flinched. "How can there be a mouse in my house when I have freaking cat in my house as well!?"

She then raised her feet and kicked me down. I fell on the floor but as I try to get up she stepped on my head so I can't. "Are you not doing your job properly!? Do I have to do everything here by myself!?" She said as she stomped on my head, hard. "You're useless, you know that!? You're a cat and you can't even get a single mouse!? What the hell is that!? Are screwing with me!?"

Yuki-san continue to throw insults at me all the while kicking me everytime. It hurts but I need to endure it. However, my eyes began to let out tears and, of course, it didn't escape her eyes.

She got her foor off my head and crouched on the floor. She then grabbed me by my hair and pulled me up.

"Aw, is little Haruki crying, again?" Yuki-san mocked me, she then roughly dropped my head on the floor after a few seconds.

"Alright, then, I'll guess I'll be gentle with you." Yuki-san said and I sat up, a little dizzy.

I, then, widened my eyes in suprise as Yuki-san handed me the poor little mouse in my face. "Don't let it get away." She said as she placed it on my hands. Me, being too terrified, held the mouse in my hands tightly. She then, smirked and got a knife behind her. "Now..."

"Kill it."

"Eh..." Was the only thing that came out of my mouth.

"Whaat?" She raised her eyebrow. "Don't tell me, you can't?"

She then began to pinch my cat ear roughly. "You're a cat, you know that, right? I don't need to remind you that, right?" She said as she pinched my cat ear hard.

I flinched in my pain and nodded. Thankfully, she let go of them as soon as I nodded. "Then, mouse is a cat's greatest enemy so you can do this, right?" She said. "Plus, I've been so nice to you that I actually remembered that you are part human."

"I was planning to let you eat the mouse but that would be gross now, wouldn't it?" She said. "So, I'm giving you this knife to make your life easier."

My lips quivered at her thoughts and my hands trembled in fear. However, I made sure to keep the mouse in my hand so that it won't escape. I know that if it did, I'll receive some serious beating from Yuki-san.

I looked at the mouse and to Yuki-san before going back to the mouse. I hold it in one of my hands and raised the knife, to prepare. I gulped and my hands trembled.

A few seconds later, the knife was still raised in the air. Yuki-san was getting impatient little by little. Finally, I breath out and let go of the knife.

"I-I'm sorry...Yuki-san..." I stuttered out. "I...I couldn't possibly..."

"Hah?" She let out and massaged the bridge of her nose. She let out an exasperated sigh.

And before I knew it, I felt a stinging pain on my side. I tumbled to the ground and realised that Yuki-san had kicked me on the side. I slowly looked up at her and widened my eyes as in her hands was the mouse.

"As I figured, you are really useless!" She yelled at me, making me flinch. "Let me show you how it's done."

I widened my eyes in horror as she threw the mouse on the hard on the ground, causing it to give a squeak. She raised her hands that holds the knife and...

**********

I sat on the ground, eyes widened, horrified in what I just saw. Yuki-san dropped the now dead mouse on the ground and smirked at me.

"What's with that face?" She asked as she let out a giggle. "Haha! So funny! You look so stupid!"

She began clutch her stomach as that giggle slowly turn into a laugh. I bit my lip and kept the tears in my eyes.

She settled her laughter down and looked at me with a smirk. "Well, that satisfied my boredom." She said. "It's not as entertaining as the other games we've played but atleast I got entertained even just for a little."

She turned around and headed for the door. "Oh, by the way, Haruki." She muttered and glared at me behind her shoulders. "Make freaking sure you do your job from now on, alright?"

I flinched before I nodded. I heard the door shut loudly. I hugged my knees close to my chest and buried my face in my knees and sobbed.

My cat ears then heard a squeak by the window. I looked up with tears in my eyes and widened my eyes in guilt as I saw a bunch of mice in the window.

I bit my lips and buried myself back on my knees. "I'm sorry...I-I couldn't save your friend..." I apologized. "I-I'm scared...I don't know what to do..."

I said those words as tears fell from my face. I then heard another and looked up again. I looked at them in confusion as they began to tap on the window of the class. "W-What is it?" I asked as I went closer to them.

"'Escape'? What!? No!" I yelled and instantly covered my mouth. As I felt like no one heard me I went back to look at the creatures before me. "I-I'm gonna get in trouble if Yuki-san found me..."

"I'm weak and I can't fight back so..." I trailed off. The mice began to sqeak some more. "'Then, run away or else you'll suffer for the rest of your life'? Well..."

I thought about what they said and looked down. "But..." I said but I stopped myself and took a deep breath. "Now that I think about it, I'm not the only one who gets hurt in this household..."

"You guys gets hurt too..." I said as I gently pat one of the mouse's tiny head. I smiled slightly. "So...For you guys, I think..."

"I'll do it."

**********

I panted as I let birds guard my way. The birds just suddenly appeared to me when I escaped the house and said they will help me find a way to get far away from the place I was in.

Also, one of the reasons why I always hesitate on escaping. It's because I have no sense of direction. Yuki-san's house is located in the middle of the house and escaping is a risky for me. I can still see in the dark though.

I run so much that I can feel scratches forming in my body because of some branches in the way. I'm not wearing any shoes so it's a bit hard to run.

I then stopped as I can't feel my legs anymore. "W-Wait...Guys...I'll rest for a moment...I really can't... anymore..." I panted.

Thankfully, they let me. I leaned into a tree and rested. However, just before I can fully rest, a bird flying at full speed flew in my direction. "Wah, are you alright?" I said to it as it calmed down as it seemed so panicked.

It began to chirp out the information and I widened my eyes. "Yuki-san...Found out that I... escpaed...?" I repeated, scared.

I quickly turn to my heels and began running again, out of fear. I don't know where I was going but I didn't care, I need to get away!

As I run, three birds blocked me from the way I'm going, causing me to stop. "W-What is it!? I-I need to hurry! Y-Y-Yuki-san will find me!" I stuttered and I smiled at them. "Don't worry..I will make you lives better from now on, I promise!"

The bird then began to chirp again and I listened. "Eh? You found a way for me to escape?" I asked. "There's a road nearby and a car is headed towards that road?"

I widened my eyes as hope began to form in me. "R-Really!? Where!?" I asked.

The birds began to fly away and I followed them. Sooon enough, we stumble upon a road and I saw a bright circle on the distance. A smile broke out my face. "There really is...!"

I looked at the birds that help and pet each of them in the head. "Thank you so much, you guys...!" I said to them.

I stand on the road and waited for the car, all the while getting nervous because I have no idea where Yuki-san might be.

As the car got nearer, I began to shyly but desperately signalled for it to stop. Fortunately, it did.

The door opened and there, came out a woman, with a concerned look. I walk towards her, shyly and looked down. "Um..."

The woman then kneeled to my height and slightly fixed my hair. "You're covered in wounds...What happened to you?" She said.

I looked up at her and blushed in embarassment. "I...Got myself in a bad situation..." I said as I tried to be polite as possible. "I-If you don't mind...C-Can you please take me far away from here...?"

"I-I don't care where I'm gonna go...B-But I..." I stuttered. "...I really want to get out of here...!"

I bowed infront of her. "Please...!" I plead.

I felt someone pat my head gently. I looked as I was unfamiliar with the kind action. The woman smiled kindly at me. "It's alright...We'll take you far away from but..." She said. "In return, you need to tell us what happened to you, okay?"

I smiled at her. "Okay!"

She stood up. "That's good. Well, can you get in the car by yourself?" She asked.

I nodded as I went to the entrance of te car, excited. As I opened it, I widened my eyes as I saw four pairs of eyes staring at me. Green ones, blue ones, red ones and pink ones. They were beautiful but the thing that caught my attention the most was there ears and tail.

They're like me...Cat people! It's my first time seeing someone that's like me!

"Are you gonna get in the car?" The kind woman asked as she already got inside.

I blushed in embarassment. "Y-Yes! I'm sorry!" I said as I went inside the car.

I closed the door behind me and the car started moving. I awkwardly looked at the other cat boys in the car. They were all staring at me. I looked down as I do not have any courage to talk to any of them.

**********

~Tsukino Natsuki~

Another has been added to the car. He has red colored hair with glowing purple eyes. He was...full of scratches, bruises, and wounds. I feel bad for him. I know that I'm injured too and all but it was an accident but his injuries looks like it was inflicted on him on purpose.

Before I could talk to him and ask how he's doing but he looked down. Immediatly something inside my head was telling me that he needs space for now. So, I tried to stay away from him for now.

But I really want to know what happened to him so bad...

**********
~End~
**********
A/N :

This is one of the chapter that actua- oh, sorry. I forgot to say hello. （−＿−；）

•••

Why hello there~! Candy's back with a new chapter! (((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o))) Anyway, as for what I'm saying, this is one of the chapter that actually hurted physically. It was so painful to write as it involves animals. ('Д' )

As you guys probably guessed I am a major animal lover. Everything about and every type of animals I adore so much. Therefore, as for that mouse scene...Took me a while to finally write it without crying my heart out. (T_T)

Anyways, I really want to update as many chapters because first of all, I'm really getting into the good side of the story and second, semestral break is here!!! |(￣3￣)|

The five cat boys have been introduced and you know who to be introduced next~! Thank you for being with me even though I update really slow! (((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o)))

**********

**Please Wait Patiently For The Next Chapter, Nya~**