~Chapter Three : Cruelty~
~Start~
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~Tachibana Chikage~

"Chikage? Can you help me with this, please?" My master said as she struggled on the box she's holding.

"Of course, Master~!" I happily said as I got the box from. It's pretty heavy, no wonder she was having a hard time holding the box. "Where do you want me to put it?"

"Ah, you can put in my room." She said as she continue cleaning the house.

"Okay~" I said, cheerfully as I went upstairs in her room.

I'm Tachibana Chikage, ten years of age, my lovely Master is named Hanazono Rikka. She's very nice and she's about twenty years old.

I love her and she's just like a mother, well MY mother to be exact. She found me abandoned when I was just a five years old and Master took care of me ever since. I'm very thankful of her, maybe if she didn't took care of me, I would have died by now.

Master isn't really that rich but she's not poor either. She's just a nice lady and acts like my mother. Today, we were cleaning the house as it was Master's free time today.

Master needs to work hard everyday in order for me and her to survive. We live in an awesome apartment with a second floor! It's almost like a real house of ours! But I heard the price of this apartment is pretty high, I don't know how much though. I always wanted to help Master with her work but she says I'm too young to work and I should just leave all the work to her. So, the least I can do now is help her do house chores.

I went downstairs and continue to help Master do the house chores.

"Chikage, thanks for helping me out." My Master thanked me.

I smiled widely. "Everything for Master!" I said.

She giggled at me and pet my head, which I melt into. "I know, for a reward, I'll bake you a cake!" She said.

My eyes sparkled. "Really!? I love cakes!" I cheered and tackled Master to the ground, hugging her tightly. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Master smiled at me and kept petting my head. "Everything for Chikage."

**********

As promised, Master baked me a cake. A chocolate cake, my favorite! Especially if the one who baked it is my Master! Master is a really great baker, she can bake every sweets perfectly and delicious!

I ate the a slice of the cake like a pig while my Master stares at me as she smiled. "Hey, you might choke, slow down." She said and got a tissue. "And you got chocolate all over your mouth, Chikage."

I let her wiped my chocolate covered mouth and smiled widely at her. "Oops, sorry, Master!" I apologized.

She smiled at me. "You know, Chikage...You don't really need to call me Master..." She said, as she gave me a strong mom pose. "You can call me something like "Mom" or "Mommy"! I'm fine with that!"

"I can't do that, Master! We, cat people, aren't allowed to call our Masters by any other names other than Master." I explained to her as I plopped another piece of chocolate cake inside my mouth.

"Eh? Is that so?" Master said as she sighed. "Too bad. I would want a son like Chikage, you know?"

I giggled at her and about to reply but suddenly, we heard the door bell rung. Master got up from the chair and walked towards the door.

I secretly followed her to look at who it is. I looked and saw an old lady at the door. Oh, it's the landlady.

"Excuse me, Ms. Hanazono but your rent is due today. You need to pay the bills." The landlady said, as politely as possible.

"Oh, uh..." My Master stuttered and scratched the back of her head. "I'm sorry landlady but um, I haven't been payed in work yet so...Can I pay next week?"

The landlady stared at Master and sighed. "Alright, but this is the last time, ms. Hanazono. You've been extending for the past three months now." She said as she walked away. "Well, Ms. Hanazono, nice day to you, goodbye."

"Ah, yes, nice day to you too..." My Master waved at her and closed the door. She then sighed.

I came out of my hiding spot and approached Master with a concern face. "Master? Is everything okay?" I asked, worried.

She smiled at me and pat my head once again. "Don't worry about it, Chikage." She said, smiling. "It's my problem so you don't need to worry, okay?"

I hesitantly nodded. "Okay..." I said.

"Good boy, now, let's finish the cake." She said as she dragged me to the kitchen.

I'm so worried about Master. She's always like this. I'm sick of hearing her say "It's my problem" and "You don't need to worry". The more she says that I shouldn't worry, the more I worry for her!

**********

Night soon came and Master and I have already gone to bed. Master and I sleeps in different rooms but this time, I want to sleep next to her because I'm so worried.

I happily jumped on her bed and began to roll around. "Hey, Chikage, don't do that. You're going to mess up the bed." Master scolded.

I got up and smiled apologetically at her. "Sorry, Master~!" I apologized.

Master smiled and sat next to me. She began to pat my head. "You know, Chikage..." She said as I listened. "You're such a good boy, I want you to keep being like this, alright?"

I smiled, cheerfully at her. "Alright!" I said.

She smiled at me and we proceeded to rest our bodies for the day.

**********

I opened my eyes as I heard something breaking from downstairs. It's about nine in the night, I guess?I sat up and looked at Master, she was still sleeping.

I shooked her slightly and she woked up. "Hm...? What is it, Chikage?" She asked.

"I-I heard something from downstairs..." I said.

"Eh? Maybe it's your imagination or maybe it's just a dream?" She asked me.

"No! It's true! I heard something from downst-" I was cutted off when we heard another loud crash. "See? There it is again!"

Master looks like she heard it too. "I'll go take a look." She said as she got up from the bed and to the door.

"I'll go with you, Master!" I said as I ran to her side.

We both took a peek downstairs and we were suprised to find unfamiliar faces of people. There were three guys roaming around our apartment.

"Master...Who are they...?" I asked. "Why...Why are they messing up our stuff...?"

Master bit her bottom lip and pat me on my head. "Don't worry..." She said and placed her hands on my shoulder. "I want you to go and get my phone in my bag and contact the police. Tell them that there are robbers in our apartment and tell them our address You do remember the number right?"

I nodded. "Yes, I remember." I said.

"Good. Now go." She said.

"But Master, how about you...?" I asked.

"I'll have a talk with them..." She said. "I'll be fine. Now go, Chikage."

I hesitantly nodded and she smiled at me. I run back towards her room and searched for her bag. After I found it, I instantly opened it and contacted the police.

"Hello?" A woman answered.

"Please help! T-There are robbers in our apartment!" I said, almost stuttering.

"Alright, tell me your address." She asked and I told her the address.

"I just sended a couple of policemen, it'll be fine." She said. "So, now, how many are there?"

"There's three of them, if I saw correctly." I answered.

"Alright, roger that." She said.

I sighed in relief but then, I heard a crash from downstairs and suddenly, Master's voice. "Master!" I yelled. I accidentally drop the phone and ran downstairs.

When I was in the middle of climbing down the stairs, I widened my eyes to see two guys holding my Master down to the ground. Another one was holding something in his hand.

I widened my eyes as I realised it was a gun. "Master!" I yelled and run towards the guy holding the gun and tackled him to the ground. "Leave my Master alone!"

"Tch! You have a cat person!? Annoying!" He yelled and kicked me away from him. I hit my back into a wall hard and the guy stood up, annoyed.

I tried getting up as well, but the impact in my back really hurts. Not to mention the kick that guy gave me from earlier. "Annoying cat!" He said as he pointed the gun at me.

I widened my eyes as I saw his finger touched the trigger. "CHIKAGE!" My Master yelled as she struggled out of the men's grasp.

But I couldn't focus on anything, time was growing slower and slower by seconds. Even though he's not yet pulling the trigger, I can see myself dying right now. Once he pulls that trigger, I'll be dead...

I closed my eyes and waited for the gun to activate. After a few seconds that felt like hours, I finally heard the loud sound of the gun.

**********

I opened my eyes and looked at my hand. "Eh...?" I exclaimed. Blood? On my hands? But...But it didn't hurt! W-What's going on!?

I looked infront of me and widened my eyes as I realised what happened. Master...Master is laying down on the ground, with a small pool of blood beneath her.

"Master!" I panickly scurried towards her and turned her whole body. I let her lay on the her back and I saw her face was full of pain. I looked down at her stomach and saw that there's a huge circle of blood in the middle.

"Ggh..." Master exclaimed as blood came out of her mouth.

"Master! Hand in there!" I told her as I apply pressure on her gun shot wound.

"Idiots! W-Why did you let go of her!?" One robbers yelled at his companion.

"S-She struggled so much and her head hit us both!" One pathetically excused.

"You useless!" The first guy said.

"Boss, let's go! We just straight up murder someone! Let's get out of here!" The last one said. "This isn't a part of the plan!"

"Let's go! Run!" The leader said.

...And soon they left us. They left us as soon as they destroyed something and hurt someone...Angry tears formed in my eyes as I glared at where they escape and gritted my teeth.

Then, I turned back to Master as soon as I heard her cough. "Master! Don't worry! The police will be here!" I comforted her. "I contacted them!"

"Y-You did...? T-That's nice...I'm p-proud..." She said as she smiled weakly at me.

Suddenly, I heard the door opened and saw the landlady coming in. "W-What happened he- Hanazono-san!" She yelled. "I heard a gun shot and saw three men escaping the apartment!"

"There's no time! Please contact an ambulance right now!" I yelled. "Master...Master is in terrible shape right now!"

"Alright." She said as she left the apartment.

"Master! Please hold on for a few minutes!" I shouted. "You will be fine!"

"Chikage..." She called.

"W-What is it, Master?" I exclaimed, tears were falling down from my eyes.

She then weakly reached out to me and placed her fingers on the collar on my neck. With the tiny bit of strength she had, she pulled the collar out of my neck until it snapped.

"Eh...? Master...?" I exclaimed, shocked.

She smiled at me. "I'm...Setting you free..." She said, struggling to keep her eyes open. "I...Really enjoyed my time with you...You were such a good boy...Adorable and so lovable...But you know...?"

I widened my eyes as tears began forming in Master's eyes as well as she reached out her hand once again, but to gently caressed my face. "...Master...Is a bit tired now..." She said, the light in her eyes was slowly fading. "...I...I think...I feel like I need a long...Long...Sleep..."

"Master?! Don't sleep! The ambulance will be here soon! Don't sleep...!" I desperately called out to her, trying to keep her awake.  "Please... Don't close your eyes...!"

She looked at me and gave me smile. But little did I know, this was the last smile I'll ever see her make. "...Goodnight...Chikage..." After she finished saying those words, her eyes finally closed for good and the warm hands on my cheek fell.

I widened my eyes and tried to comprehend what's happening. "Master...?" I called and shook her. "Master...! Master!"

Tears won't stop flowing from my eyes as I just realised what happened. I screamed louder in hopes she is just actually sleeping but she's still lying lifelessly in the ground. "M-Master..." I called one last  time before finally giving up.

Master was gone...I can't accept it...How can I...? I hugged Master and cried beside her. "Master..." I kept on saying.

"...Mommy..."

**********

"Chikage-kun, don't worry about the bill of your apartment...I'll let it slide for now..." The landlady said, apologetically. "I'm really sorry."

I nodded at her, emotionless. We were at the hospital. Right after Master's life energy has been drained, the police and the ambulance came.

The took Master in the hospital with me but as I figured...Master was already gone. I wonder, what would I do now?

"Landlady..." I called.

She turned to me. "Yes, Chikage-kun?" She said.

"I won't be living in the apartment anymore." I said, walking away.

"Eh? But where would you stay?" She asked.

"...A friend's house." I lied. I have no friends.

"Really...Okay then, how about the furniture?" She asked.

"I'll leave it." I said as I walked away from. "Goodbye."

**********

Looking around, I couldn't find myself in a familiar place. But I couldn't care less. I have no idea what will happen to me but I don't care.

Now that Master's gone, what will happen to my life? I need Master by my side, Master is my only hope...

If only she didn't save me...If only she didn't take that bullet...If only I was the one who died instead of her...If only...

Now, I understand the meaning of cruel. The world is...the definition of cruel, right? I didn't want to say that because Master never really believe that that's the case.

But, I don't know anymore...The world is cruel! How can it take someone so important to me in just over a few minutes!? The cruelty of this world is just too much!

As I walked and distracted by my own thoughts, I failed to hear the sound of a car heading towards me in a fast pace. I widened my eyes but then, I realised, I deserved this.

Master died because of me...I let my Master die, she has so many dreams to achieved...So, I guess, this pretty much my punishment, huh?

I assume the car won't stop as fast as they want to, because it'll be too late to notice me. My ears, tail and hair are colored with the same color as the darkness, which is why I it's hard to notice me in the dark. I closed my eyes and waited for the car to crash into me.

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~Hiiragi Fuyuko~

As Akito and I were chatting, we looked up infront of the car and suddenly we saw a figure in the dark. I guess the normal people inside the car can't see the figure. But me and Akito can see it due to our ability to see in the dark.

"Stop the car!" We both exclaimed.

The guy driving quickly stepped on the brake as he realised there was someone infront of the car. We looked carefully and saw...Another cat person, looking suprised.

The woman inside the car, exitted the car and went towards the suprised cat person. "Are you okay!? Are you hurt!?" Me and Akito heard she says.

~Tachibana Chikage~

Eh? Why...Why did they stop? How can they notice me? I looked at the car and saw two kids peeking, they look as the same age as I do. Oh, wait, they're not normal kids...They're cat people, like me, huh? That would explain why...

My heart was beating so fast it hurts. I guess my heart was not ready for that, huh? I looked at the woman who was looking concern and I can't help but feel dizzy.

My legs gave up but luckily, the woman caught. "Whoa!" She says and placed her hand in my forehead. "It seems that you have a fever. But it's not that bad."

"Hm..." I exclaimed as I got up.

"Do you want us to take you to the hospital or the police? You look like your lost." She asked and looked at my neck. "And...It seems that you're ownerless

"...No." I said. "I don't want to go to the police or hospital."

"Then, where do you want to go?" She asked.

"Nowhere." I said. "Just leave me."

"Hm..." She said. "No, you have a fever. It can go worst if you're not treated right."

I looked down as I figured that she's right. Then, she smiled as I looked at her. "If you have no place to go, how about staying with us, for awhile?" She suggested. "Atleast, until your fever's gone."

I looked down and shrugged. "Alright...I guess?" I answered.

She smiled and guided me to the car. She opened it for me and I instantly saw the two cat boys I saw earlier, looking at me with curious eyes.

I sat down next to one of them and they kept staring at me. "...What?" I asked.

"Are you...Ownerless too?" The orange colored cat guy asked me. "You don't have a collar."

"I guess you can say that..." I said as I looked at the window.

I looked at the window as the vehicle drove. I mentally sighed and leaned on in the window waiting for something to happen.

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~End~
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A/N :

Oh my gosh, I just realised that I published this chapter two days after Mother's day...I feel so bad ；＿；

Anyway, speaking of Mother's day, I hope you all had a fun day with your Mothers and please love your mother even more than you do right now! o(｀ω' )o

Two more cat boys to go, and we'll start the fun, everyone~!

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