Continuation of Kasai Hachirobei's POV:
I eyed over the alley Koto was hiding in and gave it an uncertain look before I glanced around for anyone that would pass me. I sniffed the air- trying to lock onto the familiar scent I've spent my whole life eating. I licked my lips as I caught the familiar scent leading to a man and lady. There's two of them! A couple. Goodie~ Then Koto won't have to hunt for someone if I do this right. I'll play a poor orphan... I started up a few fake tears and walked up to them- giving a longing look. "Mommy? Daddy?" I asked softly and reached for their hands. The woman looked down at me quickly then gasped before she snatched me up and held me in her arms.
"Oh, you poor thing," she whispered and brushed my hair out of my face then looked into my eyes worriedly. "Are you lost?"
"You can't just pick random children up off the streets," the man said then shook his head but stopped as soon as she gave him a pleading look. I looked into her eyes and whipped at my tears.
"I- I lost my mommy," I told her as I eyed her over. "You smell like her.... but I don't recognize you." She frowned then rubbed my cheek.
"What does she look like darling?" She asked and started to look around the street for her. "We can find her."
"She has black hair," I told her. "Pretty green eyes... She looks like me and she's real tall! My daddy too... But I don't know where he went..." I eyed everywhere over then. "I miss her..."
"Where did you see them last?" She asked and ran her fingers through my hair as she cradled me to her then.
"Sweetie, you can't get involved like that," the man murmured and went to grab her hand, but she lightly smacked his.
"Over there," I mumbled and pointed to the alley. "They told me to wait for them there... but it's been awhile." She nodded then moved towards the alley slowly.
"How long has it been? Are you hungry? I can get you something to eat from a street vendor."
"Since last night," I mumbled and faked a shiver. "It was cold out."
"Oh! You poor..." She paused then before she looked back at the man. "We should take him home with us. Something obviously happened to his parents! He needs someone! He's so young. Please? We can't have our own kids. We could adopt him!" She squished me to her then and kissed my forehead as she watched the man as he frowned and looked me over.
"Fine," he sighed out. "We'll take him home and get him cleaned up. If he becomes a problem, we'll take him to the orphanage." I eyed them over and gave her a loving look before I buried my face into her neck and smelled her.
"Mommy," I mumbled. She giggled and kissed the top of my head as she took me back to the man.
"What's your name?" She asked sweetly and rubbed my back. "I must know what I'm going to call you~"
"Kasai," I told her softly.
"Kasai," she murmured, trying it out before she smelled me. "We'll get you clean and then get you into some suiting clothes for you and buy you lots of toys to play with~" The man chuckled and pulled her close by her waist then gave her a small kiss as he lead her over to a carriage and helped us, giving instructions to the man who had the reins. I giggled a little as I watched them. I'm not sure when I should strike.... maybe when we get to their home... I could get them separately there. She sat down on one side with me then rubbed my head as her husband got in and shut the door firmly behind him. "You're going to love staying with us. We'll make sure that you never get cold and that you get plenty of schooling. You smell like a wizard just like us," she whispered in my ear. "We'll send you to wizarding school~ You'll learn so many new spells and how to control your magic!" I nodded to her before I looked at him and gave him a huge smile. I want him to like me too. I crawled into his lap quickly and wrapped my arms around him. He stiffened and looked down at me before he rubbed my head with an uneasy look then pulled back his hand, looking at it and relaxed.
"Well, you're not completely dirty," he whispered and sighed. "We'll have to teach you to be a gentleman too. We can't have an adopted son of mine being a scoundrel."
"Okay daddy," I whispered to him and gave his cheek a kiss. He blinked a few times before he smiled and patted my head.
"I guess you're alright," he whispered to me. His wife giggled and watched us excitedly as she fidgeted with her hands like she was hoping he would really warm up to me.
"He can have the room next to ours," she told him quickly. "We'll set it up in a few days to be how he wants it, but it's ready to have someone in it now~" I nodded as I watched her then turned my attention back to him and giggled. He smiled then rubbed my cheek.
"Alright, as long as Kasai is okay with it," he said and then wrapped his arms around me. He rubbed my back gently and smirked.
"Daddy," I whispered to him and kissed his cheek. He purred in my ear then and lightly kissed my cheek.
"That's right. It's daddy," he murmured to me. I nodded to him and gripped his shirt and buried my head into his chest. He started to rock me a little, holding me to him tightly as he chuckled. "Daddy's little boy."
"No, he's a mommy's boy too," she said and giggled. I felt my head start to grow dizzy as my eyes grew heavy. I let out a small huff and tried to fight the new urge to sleep in his arms. He started to rock me some more as he saw it was working and rubbed my back to help.
"You should sing for him, mommy," he told her, making her giggle as she came over and sat by us. I heard her start to sing softly to me, her voice sounding like a pretty little songbird. I rubbed my eyes as I heard her before I felt myself drift off to sleep...
I woke up in a soft bed with clean smelling sheets and a faint hint of lavender in my surroundings, adding to the serenity of the moment. I could hear owls hooting outside lowly with the song of crickets chirping as a background for it. "There... that'll keep him warm," I heard a woman whisper before there was a faint chuckle from a male. The sound of crackling fire reached my ears, sending a peaceful feeling through my body as heat started to fill the room. Oh- no! There are owls hooting? That means it's already nighttime. I heard light footsteps coming over to where I was before I felt hands gently pulling the covers around my body more firmly. Feminine hands rubbed my cheek as I felt a kiss on the other side. "My little love," she mumbled. "I'm so happy you found us...." I opened my eyes slowly as I looked up at her and glanced around. She looked down at me then giggled, kissing my forehead. "Kasai~ you're awake. Are you hungry? We made dinner, but you were still asleep when it was finished."
The room was well furnished, the walls a pretty white with dark brown wooden panels going a fourth of the way up. The floor was a nice pretty reddish color for a wooden floor, and on the other side of the room from the bed was a stone fireplace with a metal fence part in front of it to keep people from reaching into the flames on accident. A door was on the wall adjacent to the wall that the headboard of my large bed was against, leading out into the hall. A white couch and matching armchair were by the fireplace with a low coffee table in front of the couch, a few books on it. A bookshelf occupied one part of the wall with the fireplace, giving plenty to those who stayed in here to read. My bed had three feather pillows on it and two smaller cotton filled pillows, and my sheets were a pretty ivory color, the blanket fluffy. A quilt laid at the foot of it waiting for me to use it. WHOA! Look at the size of this bed! Are they rich!? I eyed her over and blushed.
"Uh-huh, I am hungry," I told her. I nodded as I looked around for her husband. He was looking out a window as he adjusted the vest, he was wearing over his button up shirt. She purred to me then pulled the covers back gently, revealing the pretty blue silk pajamas I was wearing. I could smell they had bathed me in a vanilla scent~ She scooped me up into her arms and held me close against her chest as she kissed my cheek with a sweet smile. I blushed and buried my face against her. They bathed me and dressed me!? Creepy! I looked out at him then. I need to separate them to kill them- unless Koto comes to give me backup. He looked towards us as she carried me towards the doors with a small hum under her breath then followed us.
"We'll have to have him wash his face once he's done eating," he told her then put his hand on her shoulder as he led her down the hall. "We don't want him to learn to be dirty." I blushed as I looked at him. He's very.... worried about keeping me clean. He looked at me then kissed my forehead. "Kasai... do you know how old you are?" He asked me curiously.
"Twelve," I told him and gave a huge smile. He nodded then and rubbed my head as we walked into a dining room with a small chandelier over a pretty oak wood table. She sat me down in a cushioned chair near the head of the table then glanced over her shoulder as her husband disappeared into the kitchen then came back with a plate of food. He smirked at me then sat it down in front of me, handing me a fork and put a napkin in my lap.
"There~ It's stew with carrots and beef," he told me then rubbed my shoulders. "There's potatoes too~ and there's a roll of bread for you to eat with it. For drink," he purred and sat down a glass of milk by my plate, "there's some milk for you that way you can grow strong healthy bones that aren't brittle. When you finish your dinner, you can have dessert- cookies." The woman giggled and sat beside me in a chair, watching me with a loving look as she leaned her head against her propped-up hand.
"Kasai~ I want to learn everything about you," she whispered then looked towards the man as he pulled out a small vial and mixed its contents into my milk, making it turn a pretty purple as he moved his fingers in a circle in the air, watching as it stirred in. "Oh, you're giving him that?" She asked curiously and sat up a little.
"Of course, if he's going to start magic school soon, he should have something in his dinners to boost his learning and abilities," he said and chuckled. I looked at the milk curiously. What's in that? I looked at him then, uncertain about drinking it. He picked it up and took a sip to show me it was fine then offered it to me. "It's just going to make your magic stronger for a day," he told me and laughed. I giggled a little and took the glass from him before I took a sip from it and sat it down. I grabbed the plate and started to eat the meat in it. He watched me curiously then moved to sit down on the other side of me. I got a distinct taste of human mixed with the other meat- probably beef like they said it was. I looked at him quickly and gave him an innocent look as I continued to eat the meat. They're feeding me human? I can't wait to show them my true diet.... He smiled at me then got to his feet before he went over to her and helped her up then pulled her into his arms, giving her a small kiss. "Go make sure the windows are all closed, will you?" He asked and let her go. She giggled and ran off quickly to do as she was told, shutting the door to the dining room behind her. I started to kick my feet under the table as I swallowed the meat. This is pretty good.... I should eat human more often. He looked towards me then went into the kitchen before he came back out with a small plate of cookies and sat it down next to my plate and smirked. "Kasai, what kind of toys do you like? We could get you dolls... stuffed animals... blocks...."
"Stuffed animals," I told him and giggled. "Boats!" I gasped at the thought. He nodded then sat down beside me.
"What else? Boats and stuffed animals? What about clothes? I need to know so I can take care of you."
"I want to be comfortable," I told him. "Comfy clothes." He nodded and then tapped the table.
"Sweets?"
"Fruits," I told him softly and finished the meat in the plate. He watched me then nodded.
"Pets?" He smirked then. "We have a cat."
"I love kitties," I told him and giggled.
"He's around here somewhere," he said and rubbed his chin. "He's a tiger cub."
"Whoa!" I widened my eyes and glanced around. "Do you have any more pets?" I asked curiously. "Like dragons? I want a dragon."
"N-no... the dragons are gone," he told me and frowned. "They disappeared.... No one knows exactly where they went, Kasai. The black market doesn't have any eggs anymore because of it."
"O-oh, but we could just go look for them..." Maybe I should! I'll find them and get one.
"They're trying to find them right now," he said and sighed. "We need dragons- us wizards.... They're perfection, Kasai. They're the best creation we ever made, and they're so much wiser than us sometimes. They can teach you so much, and they live so long.... Plus you can make them your magical pet to help you cast spells.... They're right up there with unicorns, but dragons are so much better. They ran out of our sights though because of the humans that were trying to kill them. Nasty humans...."
"I want a dragon," I mumbled softly and giggled. "I want a wise old dragon... There must be one somewhere! We just have to find one still around here." He shook his head then and rubbed his forehead.
"Rumor has it in the wizarding community that they ran off to the dragon realm, but no one knows how to get there. Every single one of them are hiding from us...." I frowned and kicked my legs a little. I want a dragon... Just because they're hard to find. He watched me then rubbed my head. "Maybe you'll find them for us, hmm?" He asked with a soft purr. "You'll be a mighty powerful wizard if you can get one.... Just being in their presence~" He gave a soft moan at the thought. "They're like gods~! Their magic just calls out to you. It's so hard to resist them...." I giggled and eyed him over. Wow.... I WANT A DRAGON! I giggled and gasped a little.
"I want one," I told him again.
"I want one too," he said and chuckled. "There's so many- here, let me just show you." He waved his hand and a book appeared on the table in front of him. He opened it quickly and started to show me various sketches of different kinds of dragons, ranging from all kinds of colors and sizes and shapes. There were hundreds of pages with information on them and lots more of the sketches with sketches of their eggs. I giggled and climbed into his lap as I leaned over the book to look through them. He laughed and kissed my temple as he showed me the different types, pointing a few of them out to me as he flipped through them. "This one is a night dragon~ They're dangerous but beautiful," he told me as he pointed to a gorgeous black dragon then flipped the page and showed me a golden colored dragon. "This one is a sun dragon. They can make coins out of nowhere, and they don't care about gold and treasures like other dragons. They worship the sun and love the feel of the heat on their skin from it. If you want a dragon that can heal and make you rich and won't get possessive over treasure, then you want this one," he whispered. "The most powerful of the powerful can take human forms as well~ All dragons go through a mating season too because they're so possessive over their treasure that they don't want to allow other dragons into it sometimes... and it's just a biological urge for them to get a mate during that time to produce hatchlings. Not all dragons absolutely need a mating season, but some do," he whispered. "They're so beautiful, and when they go into heat, they spread their scent everywhere in their surroundings and their nests and they crave attention."
"I bet it's scary to be around them during their mating season... You don't know if you'll get snatched up or not- L-look! It says here that they're in their mating season right now." He rubbed my head then.
"Yeah, they are, aren't they?" He hummed out. "Wish we knew where they were. I'd personally steal an egg out of their nests."
"But you have me to raise," I told him and giggled.
"I'd raise you both~" He purred out. "Wouldn't it be cool to have a pet dragon to follow you around that's a little younger than you?" He smirked then. "Too bad no one can find the entrances to the dragon realm."
"I bet someone out there knows," I told him softly. I turned in his lap then. We're alone.... I should kill him now.... but I don't know if I want to anymore. He rubbed my cheek and purred.
"Maybe... but they're protecting them if they are," he whispered. "I'm sure there was a dragon who spilled the beans to someone. They were pets for a very long time. One must've surely have told their master."
"I bet it's dangerous wherever they are for us... because they're all wild now." He nodded.
"They are wild by now. It was hard keeping them tame here," he muttered. "I knew one. She was a pretty night dragon... but if she was left alone for a month, she'd be wary of someone when they would come to see her in her treasure hoard. She wasn't mine, but a friends. They don't share their treasure, Kasai. If you get them as an egg, you might be able to make it to where they won't care so much, but they will always chase the gold coins- unless you get a sun dragon." I nodded as I watched him before I sighed and leaned into his chest and closed my eyes. He rubbed my head and laughed as he kissed the top of my head. "You're such a sweet boy," he murmured. "You're my sweet boy." I nodded before I rubbed my fingers across his shirt and giggled. I want to live here... This is a nice place! I want this family. He wrapped his arms around me and smelled my hair before he chuckled. "Are you done eating? You barely touched your supper."
"I ate the meat," I told him innocently.
"What about your veggies... and your milk?" He asked and then rubbed between my shoulder blades, sending a great feeling through my body as it relaxed me.
"I'm full," I told him and gripped his shirt before I rubbed my head against him before leaning into his neck and smelled him. He purred at me then picked me up.
"Let's go wash your face then," he told me and got to his feet, starting to carry me off.
"Why?" I asked him softly and tilted my head.
"That way you get in the habit of it now before you start the transformation of a boy into a man," he told me. "You'll need to wash your face a lot more then... and it's only gentlemanly to wash your face after you eat to get any of the food off you. You should always want to be clean." I nodded and giggled.
"Okay," I whispered to him before I looked around. I wonder if Koto followed us here. Where are we? How far am I from home and town? He purred and kissed my cheek as he carried me into a bathroom and sat me down on the counter, turning on the sink as he checked the water temperature then pulled me close and started to rinse my face off with it. When he finished, he grabbed a cloth and patted my face dry then kissed my cheek.
"That's my boy~" I purred to him and giggled before I nodded.
"Uh-huh," I nodded quickly before giving him a huge smile. I kicked my legs a little before looking at my fingers to make sure my stitches were still there. They did dress me and bathe me after all... They were still there and proudly showing. They must not have cared.... He caught me looking at them then patted my head.
"I thought you'd like us to leave that intact," he told me then pulled me into his arms again, starting to carry me as he took me out of the bathroom. "It looked important to you."
"I'm a patchwork wizard," I told him in a cute tone.
"How adorable~ A patchwork wizard," he said then chuckled. "I've heard of those.... We'll make sure to put you in a class for that." I nodded to him and blushed before I looked down. I can't go to school... I looked up at him before I blushed. I've got to kill and eat him before this goes too far! I already like him too much. "You'll need a class to teach you to read our language our spell books are written in if you can't already," he said thoughtfully as we entered my room and he took me over to the bed and laid me down. "Do you want an art class? What about music?" I looked the bed over in admiration before I curled up.
"Art," I told him softly. He nodded and then tucked me in.
"I'll fill out your enrollment papers tomorrow," he whispered and leaned in, giving me a kiss on my forehead. "And the adoption papers to make it official." I giggled and nodded at him before I grabbed his hand.
"Sleep with me?" I asked softly. He tensed then nodded hesitantly before he got into the bed with me and pulled me into his arms.
"Sure, I'll stay till you fall asleep," he whispered and kissed my cheek. I gasped a little before I curled up to him and buried my face into his chest. I rubbed my head against him. This is nice... but I can't let this carry on... He's dinner! Maybe I should kill him and her in their sleep... I closed my eyes quickly to fake fall asleep. He purred lightly in my ear as he rubbed my back slowly to help sooth me and kissed my forehead gently. "I'm so glad I finally have a son," he murmured under his breath. I felt myself starting to drift against him, but I fought it- trying to stay awake. He gently kissed my temple and sighed. "It's made Mary so happy...." I listened to him and slowed my breathing. He gave my cheek another kiss then slowly started to move out of bed before he adjusted the covers around me and got to his feet, going to the door to leave. I listened to him and waited for him to leave before I sat up quickly and rubbed my eyes. I could hear him walking down the hall before the woman giggled like she had spotted him. I heard a low playful growl from the man before their door shut quickly. I listened to the hall before I ran up to the door and opened it slowly. I stepped out into the hall and glanced around. I saw their door a little way down from mine, but there was a cute little tiger cub sitting outside it. He was scratching at the door as his tail flicked back and forth and he let out a yowl. I giggled as I saw him and gasped. TIGER CUB! I giggled and watched him.
"Here kitty," I whispered out to him, trying not to be loud. The cub looked towards me, his golden eyes focusing in on me before he lowered himself to the ground and yowled at me, slowly coming my way as he prowled. I giggled and got to my knees as I reached out for him. TIGER CUB! He stopped right in front of me and leaned forward a bit, sniffing me before he pounced at my knees and growled lightly as he flicked his tail playfully. I giggled and rubbed his head to mess with him. He sneezed and looked at my hand before he grabbed it with his big front paws and sniffed it. I giggled and pulled away before I started to walk off down the hall, smelling for Koto. Maybe I should check outside... The tiger cub slowly followed me, pouncing at my feet as he growled playfully. I couldn't smell Koto anywhere inside. If he's here, he's probably out there. I found a door leading outside and opened it- glancing around for him. I heard a snarl before I was snatched out and thrown against the wall outside roughly before I felt someone bite down into my shoulder. I whined and tensed up. K-koto?
"Koto?" I asked softly and whimpered. He pulled out a chunk and moaned as he chewed on it then looked down at me before he smacked me sharply across the cheek.
"What the hell do you think you're doing here with a new family?" He snarled. I rubbed my cheek before sniffling.
"Hunting," I told him softly. He glared down at me then.
"I waited in that alley for you to bring these suckers in there, but instead you get in their carriage," he hissed. "That's the last time I'm taking you if you're not going to stick to the plan!" I nodded before glancing down at the ground and rubbed at my sore wound.
"Yes sir," I whispered to him.
"Get in there and kill them," he hissed sharply then shoved me towards the door. "That's enough of this nonsense." I nodded before I blushed and started back to their bedroom with a slight tremble. I glanced back at Koto and whined. I don't know if I can kill them... but I will since he's so mad... I reached their room and opened the door slowly. He was right on my trail and glared down at me and shoved me forward. I heard a slight yelp before I saw the woman quickly hold up her dress that was unbuttoned in the back. The man quickly stepped in front of her and frowned.
"Hey, Kasai- Who's that behind... you," he trailed off and looked at Koto's pissed expression then frowned towards me. "Kasai?"
"Oh, don't Kasai him like you know him," Koto hissed and shoved me aside, starting for the man then snatched him by his throat. The man grunted and gripped Koto's hand as he winced, the woman letting out a cry behind him as she looked at them worriedly. I watched Koto before I walked up to her and blushed.
"I'm sorry," I told her quickly. I watched Koto before I bit down into her neck before she could react and ripped out a chunk like he done to me and started to chew on it before I swallowed it. She cried out then looked at me in horror.
"Ka-Kasai!" She said then pushed my face away from her and gripped her wound. "W-what are you doing?!"
"He's going to eat you~" Koto said and smirked, watching the horror on her face. "Hmph, he knows whose family he belongs to." I nodded in agreement and looked at her before I tackled her and bit back down into her neck and let out a hungry growl. She shrieked and started to fight me, trying to push me off, but the adrenaline flowing through my veins was too much for her. I could hear the man screaming in pain behind me like Koto had started to feast on him too, a dark chuckle escaping my brother. I eyed her over before I bit down into her jugular and tore it out- spitting it down beside us. She gagged and looked up at me with wide eyes as her blood flowed out of her neck and she spat some up, getting it on her chin. Her eyes started to dim before her eyes finally lost its light after a few minutes, her head falling to the side. I watched her and frowned as I eyed her over... better dead than alive and living through what I'm going to take from her... I heard the man's cries cut short suddenly before there was a thud followed by a laugh then the smell of blood and the sound of organs squishing around. I shivered a little and looked at them.
"There," I whispered to Koto. He looked over at me as he chomped into the man's heart then smirked.
"Eat up... or go find their money. Waste not, want not."
"A-aren't we going to save their meat?" I asked him softly and eyed him over before I stood up. "Koto," I whined out.
"We'll save what we don't eat," he told me and eyed me over. "Don't whine at me like that. Go take what you want from the house, got it? Make sure to find their money too, but you can keep whatever you find that you want."
"Why don't we move in here?" I asked and giggled. "It's huge!" He gave it a thought then smirked.
"Well... it is close to town, closer than where we live," he whispered. "Alright, but we have to clean up the evidence that we ate them." I nodded and giggled before I walked up and wrapped my arms around him, giving him a hug. He tensed then looked at me before he patted my head then lightly pushed me off him. "Go get some rooms ready for Saki and Haru. I'll take this one as head of the household."
"Okay," I whispered to him and gave him a cute smile before I walked out into the hall. I'll put Haru across from me and Saki waaaaay away from our rooms. That's what she gets for being cruel to me earlier. I felt something pounce on my feet then before there was a small baby roar at my feet. I looked down and picked up the tiger and kissed the top of his head.
"I'm your master," I whispered to him. He looked up at me then put his paws on the front of my shirt and sniffed at my jaw before he licked the blood up off me. I wrinkled up my nose and moved away from his tongue. "Don't do that," I told him. He growled at me then leaned his head against my shirt before he sucked at it lightly. I placed him back down on the ground and started for the room across from mine so I could get it ready for Haru. Why should I even bother setting up a room for Saki? She can go live with that man I saw her flirting with. Good riddance. The tiger followed at my feet, staying right behind my heels as he growled again and pawed at me. I laughed and kept walking, avoiding his paws. He tried to pounce at me again after a few seconds and gave another baby roar before he ran past me when he couldn't catch me and started to prowl towards the front of my feet. I laughed as I stepped over him and into the room across from mine. I glanced around to see what shape it was in... Maybe I could use my magic to fix it, so I won't have to put any effort into it. It looked very similar to mine except the color scheme was different- the walls and sheets being a pale beautiful blue. The tiger ran towards the bed then went under it, peaking his little head out from under it to watch me as one of his ears flicked. I eyed it over before shrugging. This will do... We'll have to bring our things from home here though to make it more ours... At least we get bigger bedrooms and beds now! The tiger disappeared under the bed before he came back out with a bone and dragged it proudly as he went to the rug on the floor and laid down with it, gnawing on it.
"This isn't your room, right?" I asked him and frowned. Why is there a bone under there? I got down on my knees and looked under the bed. It was mostly clean under there except for a few balls with bells inside it and catnip toys. He must store his toys under there to hide them from that man and woman. He looked at me and gave a small growl as he chewed on his bone and got it to crack. I looked at him before I frowned. "Sneaky," I teased him before I swatted the toys out from under the bed and took them into the hall before I done the same with his bone. He looked towards the bone and licked his lips, getting to his feet and went after the bone quickly but stopped at the door, looking at the bone as it got tossed. He lowered his head and looked at all his toys then flicked his tail. I laughed and rubbed his head.
"What?" I asked him. He flicked his tail again as he looked up at me then stood up on his hind legs, batting at my hand playfully as he struggled to balance himself. I picked him up and carried him back to Koto.
"Koto~!" I called out.
"What!" He called out; his mouth muffled like he had a mouthful of meat. The tiger balled up in my arms and flicked his tail as he snuggled against my chest with a warm growl to me.
"When are we going to go home to pack to come back here?" I asked him. "Stop stuffing your face and save them." He looked towards me as I came in and rolled his eyes as he took another bite of the heart.
"I will save some," he said and then froze, looking at the tiger in my grip. "What is that? Throw that outside, Kasai. We don't need an extra mouth to feed. I don't know how you found that, but no."
"What? You're not telling me no," I told him and rubbed the tiger's head. "He's staying. He was living here when I got here. So, he's staying here with us. He's really fun."
"It's a cat," he said and frowned. "Throw it out or I'll sell him in the market."
"What!" I gasped and frowned at him. "But... he's adorable," I told him. "We're keeping him." He eyed me over then took another bite of the heart.
"If he tears up one thing... he'll wind up in your dinner," he warned me then waved me off. "You're responsible for him, got it?"
"F-fine," I grumbled to him and lowered my head. "He'll behave." He watched me then purred.
"Fine... you can keep him and take care of him. I won't cook him unless he does something awful, okay? You can have him... but you're sharing with Haru. We'll get our stuff tomorrow morning and move it in. Saki is home with Haru by now." I nodded and rubbed the tiger's head. Haru will love having him... I'll let him sleep with this little guy just to make it up to him for kicking him out of my bed. "Take the woman and get her put into pieces we can store," he told me then eyed over the tiger in my arms before he went back to feasting on the man with a hungry look. I felt the tiger stir in my arms before he turned around and faced my shirt, bringing his tail close to me as he curled up tightly to me. I kissed him on the head before I placed him out in the hall and walked up to the woman. I eyed her over before I squeezed my eyes shut tight before opening them back up. I grabbed her arms and started to drag her to the kitchen so I could find a knife to help cut her up. This is going to be a long night...
I whipped my sweat off my forehead and eyed over the bones burning in the fireplace. I got everything eatable off her before I burned her. I could hear the birds chirping as sunlight crept in through the curtains. I shivered lightly as I watched the fire before I took off my pajamas and tossed them in with her. There... now I need to clean up the remaining blood everywhere and that's the end of the evidence besides the meat I stored in the pantry. I grabbed the bucket and sponge by my feet before I walked over to the beginning in the kitchen where the blood was and started to clean it up. This is going to take all morning... We might not get home until lunchtime. I frowned and started to scrub at the blood- trying to get it up before it could stain. I heard Koto walk in slowly before he put a pile of meat in the refrigerator then looked down at the blood I was cleaning up before he tsked. "Why didn't you do that in the tub," he groaned out then knelt and started to help me with a tired look. I heard the tiger's pitter-pattering feet as he came in and sniffed at the bloody floor then licked at it, hunkering down with a starved look. I eyed him over before I went to the fridge and got out some meat that looked like it was beef and tossed it to him. I went back to cleaning then with Koto.
"I didn't know better," I told Koto.
"Fine, but from now on, do it in a tub," he told me and groaned. "That or outside." The tiger started to eat eagerly, tearing into it with his sharp teeth with a growl. "You named that fur ball yet?"
"No," I mumbled. "Do you got a name for him?" I asked and then eyed Koto over. "You can go take a nap and I'll wake you up when I finish cleaning up," I told him.
"There's Huang which means fortunate because I didn't make you throw him out," he said and chuckled darkly. "There's Lei which means thunderous.... Shun which is good-natured.... Xiang which is good-luck...."
"I like Xiang," I told him and started to slowly make my way out of the kitchen with cleaning and followed my trail of blood down the hall from when I dragged her.
"Xiang it is," he purred out then got to his feet, walking off. "Take a nap when you're done, got it?"
"Yes sir," I told him. "After a bath."
"Good boy... take Xiang with you into bed or something. I don't want him tearing up a couch."
"Yes sir." I eyed him over and gave a soft smile before I went back to the floor- working hard to get it clean. When I got it all the way cleaned up, I went back to the kitchen to look for Xiang. He was up on a counter peeking out a window as he watched a bird and flicked his tail behind him. He glanced at me as he heard me coming then looked back out the window with a growl. I took him quickly and carried him up to my room and into the room before I placed him down on the bed. I walked over to the attached room and glanced inside it. I smiled as I saw a huge bathtub and walked into it. I started myself up a bath so I could get clean then take myself a nap.
~~~
Haru giggled as he investigated his room and rushed into it, pouncing on his bed with a squeal. "OH MY GOSH! IT'S SO HUGE! I love it! I love it!" Xiang looked into the room and lowered his head as he watched Haru and flicked his tail. "Hachi! Hachi! This is so amaziiiiing!"
"I know right?" I asked him and giggled. I looked down at Xiang. "Xiang is going to bunk with you and sleep with you every night."
"I GET THE TIGER?!" He asked and looked at me with wide eyes. "OH MY GOSH, OH MY GOSH, OH MY GOSH~" He got out of bed quickly and ran for the tiger, the tiger giving a small yowl as it went behind me quickly.
"Mhmmm, this will make it up to you for when I kicked you out of my bed," I told him. "So please don't be upset anymore." He widened his eyes and stopped dead in his tracks as he looked at me.
"W-wait... you gave him to me to sleep with... because you kicked me out of your bed?" He asked me softly, the excitement dying quickly.
"He's your new sleeping buddy," I told him.
"Oh...." He murmured. "I didn't realize... that he was a replacement...."
"You know I stopped letting you in my bed," I told him.
"But why?" He asked and picked up Xiang, starting to rub the tiger's head.
"Haru," I said softly and shook my head. He frowned at me then kissed Xiang's head, earning a sweet growl from him.
"F-fine," he mumbled and squeezed the tiger a little in his arms. "I love you, Hachi... my sweet twin...."
"I love you too," I purred to him. He giggled as he heard me then walked up and kissed my cheek.
"As long as you don't ignore me~" He said sweetly and lightened up quickly.
"Never," I promised him and grabbed his hand. "You're my twin." He giggled and put Xiang down before he hugged me and kissed my jaw.
"I'm sorry I got so upset~" He purred out to me then pulled back to look me in the eyes as his one eye focused on me. He had a real black eyepatch now- probably from Saki or Koto- to cover the missing one. I eyed him over and looked away quickly... Poor Haru I did that to him, and he doesn't know I did. He kissed my cheek then and giggled. "Hey~ what's the matter?" He asked sweetly then pulled me close. "You look like you ate something bad."
"Yeah... that's because I did," I told him. I ate him... I eyed him over and moaned at the memories of how good he tasted. He frowned then and looked at me worriedly.
"Do you need some water? I'll go get you some! You should sit down if you're feeling sick," he told me and pulled me over to a couch in his room and sat me down on it. "Hachi... I'll get you a can to use if you need to puke." I grabbed him and pulled Haru into my lap. He looked at me then gently kissed my cheek then rubbed my chest worriedly as he examined me then felt my forehead for a fever. I slowly pushed his back onto the couch and got on top of him as I eyed him over in hunger. He tasted amazing.... He looked up at me innocently then giggled. "Hachi~ what are you doing?" I pushed my finger against his lips.
"Haru" I trailed off and looked him over before I placed my hand over his lips and held it firmly there before I pushed him into exposing his throat to me and I bit down hard into it. I gave him a predatory growl then. He shrieked through my hand and started to thrash at me, pushing at my chest as I felt a tear hit my hand quickly. I could hear him screaming my name pleadingly, barely getting it clear enough for me to hear. I held my hand over him firmly to keep his screams quiet as I tore out a chunk from his throat and started to eat it as I watched him- feeling a little bit of me slip away into darkness as I stared at him blankly. He cried out and squeezed his eye shut as he flinched then spat up blood against my hand, his breaths starting to come in more ragged as he struggled to breathe. I watched him and shook my head a little before I started to eat at him- keeping his mouth covered so he wouldn't distract me and make me feel worse about what I was doing to him. He shrieked and started to kick at me again before he hit the side of my head hard and cried out. I heard Xiang growling as he ran out of the room quickly. I kissed Haru on his cheek before I grabbed one of the pillows on the couch and shoved it against his face quickly to replace my hand and held it down over his face. He screamed and tried to shove it off, his body starting to tremble like he was afraid of it.
"BUBBA!" I held it down harder then- placing more of my weight onto it. His struggles grew weaker after a few moments before his hands fell and his body started to go limp under me. His cries faded before I saw the struggle leave completely, laying under me limply. I pulled the pillow off of him and looked down at his body and felt for his heartbeat. I didn't find anything, no pulse, nothing. He suffocated.... I gasped a little before I opened his remaining eye and grabbed it quickly before I swallowed it- moaning at the taste. I eyed him over before I started to feast on the remaining parts of him. I don't want to leave any for Koto of Saki... He's all mine.
"Kasai! Your tiger ran in here!" I heard Koto shout after a few minutes before there was a thud. "Damn it all!" I felt a cold chill run up my spine suddenly before I felt a soft pressure on my cheek like a kiss. I pulled away from Haru's corpse and looked around. I saw a shadow shift in the room before there was a ball of light that raced towards the door and disappeared. I glanced around before I frowned and went back to finishing off his corpse- what I liked to eat anyways. I looked at the flickering fire and grabbed the remains before I threw it in the fire and watched it burning. I heard the bed shift behind me before there was a small giggle, a chill going through me at the sound before I heard Koto coming down the hall towards the room. "Kasai!" I eyed over the door before I looked behind me and at the bed. I spotted a small little form in it, resting in the covers, but my eyes just couldn't focus on it. I eyed it over before I rubbed my eyes and looked back at the door.
"What?" I asked as I went to it and into the hall to look for Koto. He stopped in front of me and shoved Xiang into my arms then rolled his eyes as he walked past me.
"Keep the fur ball out of my room," he growled out. I dropped Xiang quickly- as if he didn't even get in my arms and I walked across the hall and into my room.
"He does what he wants," I said over my shoulder.
"Brat," Koto muttered as Xiang flicked his tail and tried to roar at us. He ran into Haru's old room and went under the bed quickly in there. I stopped in the doorway as I looked at Koto.
"No," I told him and frowned. "Don't call me a brat." I started for him then and grabbed his wrist before I bit down into his hand hard to teach him a lesson. He screamed then smacked me hard across the cheek before I felt a force throw me against a wall.
"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?" He snarled and glared me down as he held his bleeding hand. "I am the head of this household! You're getting too big for your britches, Kasai! Don't make me teach you a lesson! I'll make it to where you can't walk for a month!"
"Don't threaten me!" I yelled at him. "I'm not afraid of you." I glared him down and stood up from the wall. He tsked then.
"What was that?" He hissed then started for me. He snatched the front of my shirt then before he smirked devilishly. "Do I need to put you in a prison for a while?" I frowned and glared him down before I grabbed his shirt and then grabbed his hand before I ripped it away from me. He tsked and smacked me again. "You're acting like you've gone off your rocker and ate some confidence pills." I eyed over his hand before I eyed him over and shook my head slowly.
"You should not have done that," I whispered and shoved him back quickly- watching as a force knocked him down to the ground. I walked towards him then before I sat down on his stomach and placed my hands on his shoulders. He widened his eyes then snarled at me before I felt something squeezing at my heart slowly, a pressure.... I groaned and fell over onto him and grabbed at my chest in pain. He shoved me off, and the pressure stopped as soon as I was off him. He grabbed the collar of my shirt then threw me into my room, slamming the door shut.
"SAKI! KASAI'S GONE MAD!" I looked at the door and eyed it over before I crawled for it and got back to my feet. I opened it back up and looked for him quickly.
"Koto," I called out. He looked down at me then hissed.
"What? Are you apologizing? Did it take me throwing you into your room?"
"No," I hissed out to him and eyed him over. "I've got nothing to say to you anymore," I grumbled before I shut the door in his face and started for my bathroom so I could take a nice bath.
"YOU'RE GROUNDED, GOT THAT? GROUNDED!"
"No thanks!" I told him and frowned. He can't ground me! I cut the water on in the tub then and eyed it over before I leaned in and plugged up the tub then got in and laid back- waiting for the water to start filling up as I looked up at the ceiling. I tilted my head to look at the side of the tub then as I felt my eyes water a little. What have I done? I looked back up at the ceiling as I heard footsteps- the heavy feet of my father. A dark shadow leaned over the tub suddenly and I felt a weight get shoved down onto my chest as the water seemed to fill up in the tub faster around me. I panicked and started to squirm to get free from the grip, but I couldn't budge out from under the weight. I felt panic rise in me as the water grew up to my face. I started to scream then as it filled up to my mouth. I started to cough as my lungs burned by the water filling up in them. Oh no! I'm drowning! I suddenly felt the weight get thrown off me before I saw the ball of light again take a human looking shape- a little boy. It knocked down the shadow quickly, making it fall over. I groaned and felt my body growing weak and darkness growing around me. I could hear the faint sounds of a fight right outside of the tub. Koto... Saki? I heard a familiar cry before there was another thud and hurried little footsteps towards the other side of the bathroom. I shut my eyes slowly as I listened to the sounds going on.
"Leave him alone!" I heard Haru's voice shout faintly.
"Never," I heard my father's familiar voice yell at him. "He's going to die and join us soon and then we'll be together again... and I'll make sure he gets what's coming to him." I felt my body suddenly float in the water as it filled in the tub. I could feel bubbles falling out of my mouth then as things faded more around me. Why is death so slow? I felt my body suddenly get yanked out of the tub.
"NO! He's not going to die! Bubba isn't yours to play with," Haru's voice said defiantly. "I won't let you!"
"What are you doing!" I heard his voice yelling. "Put him back! He killed us! Let him drown." I felt my body suddenly get shoved down into the water. "Go away! The only thing that can save him now is death! Or someone alive! It's too late anyways. You can't give him the proper mouth to mouth procedure to wake him up from his death slumber. It's over."
"Grrrr! Daddy! Leave him alone!" I heard a thud then before I was yanked out again then felt a force on my chest, making me spit up water. I groaned and opened my eyes weakly.
"Why have you done that?" I heard his voice say again in anger.
"Because I don't want him dead," Haru said then giggled. "He's my bubba~"
"Evil spawn of Satan!" I heard him spit out. "I had him close to death! Get out of here."
"Nuh-uh, you'll kill him," he said before I heard another thud then a giggle. "Play catch with me daddy? You never play with me."
"Go hide and I'll find you later," I heard him tell him.
"No, you won't," Haru mumbled. "Play tag with me instead."
"No." I groaned and rubbed at my head before I curled up into a ball.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" I yelled out at them. I heard some footsteps before they disappeared.
"Come on daddy," I heard faintly before it got silent. I trembled a little before I got up and slowly started for the door and walked out before I started out into the hall and grabbed at my head before I looked for Koto. I saw him further down the hall, talking to Saki quietly as she held his bitten hand and examined it. I eyed them over before I walked up and grabbed Koto's other hand and gave it a squeeze. He looked down at me sharply then frowned.
"What?" He growled out. Saki looked down at me then widened her eyes.
"K-Kasai... you look like... like you've been drowned...."
"F-father," I whispered to her and shivered.
"Father? He's dead," she told me and frowned, kneeling down in front of me. I saw Koto roll his eyes at me.
"It's just a plead for attention," he told her. "It's because I grounded him."
"No, he really did try to drown me!" I told her. She widened her eyes then.
"K-Kasai, there's no way he could have," she whispered. "He couldn't have drowned you. He's dead. He's gone for good. We talked about him in the carriage yesterday, remember? You told me yourself you killed him.... Maybe you're just feeling guilty."
"No. He's haunting me!" I told her and shivered. Oh no... I left the water running in the tub... I ran off then to go get it turned off. Once I got back in the tub, I shut it off then ran back to them so I wouldn't have to be alone that long. Koto and Saki were giving each other weird looks by the time I came back before Koto cleared his throat.
"Say... Kasai... would you like it if I sent you somewhere... safe?" Koto asked and looked at me nervously. Saki smacked his arm quickly then, giving him a mean look.
"From what?" I asked him softly.
"These visions of father you are seeing.... We can send you to people who can take care of you...." He told me then knelt and grabbed my shoulders. "When you're cured, they'll send you back to us."
"Cured?" I asked softly. I frowned then. "What are you saying?"
"I mean when you don't see him any-"
"He means that he's going to send you to a doctor that will help you not see these visions anymore and will send you back home when you don't see father anymore," Saki told me quickly, interrupting him.
"You mean.... If I go, I'll come back not seeing him anymore..." I trailed off then before I nodded. I don't want to see him anymore. Koto nodded to me.
"Yes, but you might be there for a few years," he explained then tapped my nose. "I'll make arrangements for you to be sent to the best doctors nearby."
"Years?" I asked him and backed up then. "That's a long time, Koto..."
"Oh hush, I can cast a spell and make you immortal, so you don't age if that's what you're worried about," he told me and tsked, yanking me back to him. I whined then to him and shook my head.
"I don't want to be immortal! I don't want to be away from you either for so long... I won't get to eat your dinners."
"Saki and I will come visit you monthly," he promised and then looked at Saki who nodded quickly.
"Sweetie... they'll keep father away from you," she whispered and gave me an apologetic look. "They'll make sure he never bothers you again."
"B-but- monthly?" I asked them softly and shook my head then started to back away from them. "No."
"You're going and that's final, Kasai," Koto hissed. "I'm not going to have you trying to kill yourself claiming you see father! I'd rather send you to the doctors for a year or two."
"Koto, don't be so harsh about it," Saki mumbled and watched me. "He's just scared. I'll pack his things." She walked into my room then to start. I widened my eyes as I watched her.
"W-wait! No!" I yelled and shook my head. "I don't want to go."
"We'll visit weekly for the first few months," Koto said and sighed, getting to his feet before he looked me over and muttered something under his breath. I suddenly felt my wrists get enveloped in chains, making it hard for me to move from the weight. "There... now I don't have to worry about you running away while we pack for you."
"K-Koto!" I cried out and eyed over the chains. "I don't want to go! Don't throw me away!" I begged him. "I'll be good." He shook his head and walked past me.
"It's not throwing you away. It's getting you the help you need, Kasai. I'll take you back as soon as they say you've stopped seeing father for a few months."
"A-a few months?" I whined out. "W-What if... I'm not going to eat healthy there," I whined out and then started to cry. "Koto," I begged. "I didn't mean to bite your hand."
"This isn't about my hand. If it was about my hand, I'd simply lock you in a basement if I wanted to put you somewhere," he scoffed as he went into my room. "If they mistreat you, I'll find you a new place to help you. No biggie."
"B-but," I whispered softly. "I don't want to leave...." I shook my head and struggled against the chains. "Please don't put me somewhere else."
"Kasai, stop whining," I heard him growl out in my room before he gave Saki instructions. "As soon as you're cured, I'll bring you back here, understand? If it's so horrible wherever I send you, then I'll eventually just bring you back here and hire a doctor to stay with you." I sniffled and shook my head. I'm not going to let them keep me there! I'll come home! I'll run back here!
After a few minutes, Saki and Koto walked out with a few of my suitcases then took them towards the front of the house before Koto returned for me and picked me up, throwing me over his shoulder. "Come on, let's get going. I know of this place in Russia that will be really good for you. I hear it's a gorgeous view and the doctors are really skilled in what they do." I could hear Xiang calling for me further down the hall, his little pawsteps coming after us quickly like he spotted us. I eyed over Xiang and frowned.
"What about Xiang? Who will take care of him while I'm gone?" I asked softly.
"Saki will," he promised me. "He'll still be here waiting for you. I won't throw him out. I swear." I whined and hung my head low. B-but I don't want to leave home! The last time I did leave Koto wasn't a good time and neither was the time before that!
"K-koto," I whispered softly in one last begging plead. How far is Russia?