| ジー | Quiet & motionless
The clock strikes 22:00 in Omagi Ward, the neighbourhood tucked snuggly into bed & the streets filled with the calm air of night as the black clouds hover over the area causing an eerie pitch-black ceiling
| バタン | Window opening
A window on the 2nd floor of one of those silent houses sharply flings open causing the curtains to flap around like a flag, calmly waving in the wind until a large gust causes them to fly along with a significant generation of air. Pouncing out of the window like a Cheetah is a fit young girl in pink checkered hoodie & dark grey tights, the pink Catgirl is characterised by her cat ears & tail glides through the air with bent legs & arms stretched out in a delta arrow. With one loud thud both her feet hit the ground of the backyard causing her to lose her frame & rolled a body's length ahead, swiftly tucking her limbs in as she did so before reaching the fence where she regained the strength to act by digging her smooth legs into the soft dirt to slow her advance lest she strikes the hard wooden fence
She loses velocity & ends her trajectory like a crouching Tiger with her right knee entrenched into the bouncy soil, Neko has successfully left the house of Monsters with her cat form fully exposed. "It's nyot too late to turn byack" she ponders as she turns her head until the house's rare becomes visible. The smooth brick façade of the building's exterior is cloaked in the shadows of surrounding homes & the black clouds blocking the moonlight above, the single rectangular window on the top half left wide open with the curtains gently flowing out
Neko: "Yah"
She quietly lets out a sigh of frustration as she sees the gaping window awkwardly contrasting the closed ones on the first floor, "the others could suspect I'm out by seeing that" she realizes but with no time to correct such a blunder Neko straightens her legs & softly gaits towards the fence. However, once she reaches the wooden wall blocking her view ahead its height becomes more pronounced as she tilts her head up until the top is within view. "That's like a meter taller than me" she concludes while giving a look of determination & begins to tense her claws, "but it doesn't seem as tall as it was the first time I did this" this thought harkening back to a few years ago when she first moved to the house, exploring the environment is part of a cat's instinct. Something she shares with her distant cousins on all fours
| ワサワサ | Grass rustling in the wind
Following the soft sound of rustling grass is a brisk breeze feeling up her tights & causing her to twitch due to the discomfort, she tenses her frame & puts her lips together before calculating her assault over the fence. Finding her moment, Neko lunges up suddenly straightening her smooth legs like strings to lift off the grass however the squishy surface limits her ability to reach the top without the aid of something to grapple onto. She pushes both arms up & uses her hook-like claws to grab the top of the fence, her bare hands grope the sharp splinters along its coarse texture pinching her palm. "Nyahh!" Tensing her lips to conceal the pain it causes, as she grips even harder to securely pull herself up the splinters dig into her skin even more making her eyes squint intensely but despite this, she holds on firmly & contracts her arms. She uses much of her strength to fold her arms to reach the top, even calling for the aid of her legs which start ferociously sprinting up the vertical planks allowing her to ascend faster. In no time she pops above the fence before her upper body follows, as more strength is applied in her arms she begins to push down on the fence once her shoulder escalates the fence line & she keeps pushing along with the fierce kicks from her long legs. Once her right knee passes the fence line she gives one last push allowing her foot to reach the top & like an Olympic gymnast pounces forward stretching her limbs out to land on all fours onto the grass of the neighbour's yard
Safely secured on her hands & feet into the bouncy grass Neko peers her head forward, examining her surroundings with those pink binoculars for eyes. The lack of daylight causes no trouble for her feline eyes as she scans the objects tucked in the darkness, a faint glow shines from her eyes as she perceives the structures of objects such as a raised bed adorned with sprouting blossoms & a pair of deck chairs
| ~ト | Whoosh
One distinctive feature of this garden is the miniature stream flowing from the back of the yard on her left to her right where the patio begins, this running water making slight rushing noises as it rolls along like a snake. Accompanying this stream are rows of tiny round stones, Neko can pick these up on her feline night vision. Opposite her is the next fence she must hurdle, with the flat wood panels facing her in sight her head sporadically shifts left & right to flanks before charging ahead like a Cheetah. Propelling herself forward with her slender legs she effortlessly leaps over the stream before reaching the fence in no time, "this fence is much shorter than the previous one" she confirms through one swift glance as she pounces. It's so short she's able to stride her right foot onto the top & outstretch her left one to climb to a higher altitude, this height momentarily exposing the skyline of this quaint Omagi neighbourhood while also putting her into the frame as her ears stick up & tail waves through the air before pitching up as she descends to meet another patch of grass with all four limbs stretched out to secure her landing. After safely terminating her descent she immediately springs off the grass & charges forward until reaching the very next fence, she suddenly bounces using her mighty legs & crawls up this fence like a cat tree. Once that fence was scaled Neko entered a desolate street blanketed by faint light from the overhead lamps illuminating the perpendicular road calving two opposing paths for her. "Finally the street" she affirms with sudden resolve as she stands in her cat form at the foot of the most dangerous leg of her journey, the busy commuting street but luckily for her at this time no cars or pedestrians are in sight. She takes her phone out of her right jacket pocket & turns it on with the tap of the side button
Neko: "Hsst"
Once she directs the screen to her face the extreme brightness catches her off guard, causing her to loudly hiss with her eyes shut & fangs exposed before directing it away. Even attempts to shield her face with her other hand but just before she sets off a tiny pink object contrasting the dark grey surface enters the corner of her view, she directs her head left & then down to that area. As she focuses on it with her Feline eyes this item becomes much clearer, "My present!" once she sees that this object is the pink sash keychain that Klaus had gifted during their last encounter her heart rate sped up. She bends her knees to lower herself & grab the key chain, rapidly snatching it off the ground like it's a small piece of food before pulling it closer. "How could this have fallen off my key chains?" She asks herself, curiously eyeing every inch of it from top to bottom when she instantly finds a fault. The flimsy chain meant to hold this precious heirloom to the key ring snapped off, "How? I'm always gentle with this!" Her mind enters a slight frenzy as she questions how the chain could have broken however, her state of mind becomes soar as she twitches the broken chain with her right index finger
Neko: "That Kyurausu"
She bitterly pins the blame on the one closest to her heart, "how could he buy me something so cheap?" Struggling to fathom that he would be so stingy for the girl he seemingly has feelings for she sets off to the left while a huff with the key chain sheltered in her palm. However, in her rushed pursuit she begins to uncup her hand to reveal the pink leather sash comfortably resting in her smooth delicate grip, she begins to stare gaze fondly at the gold-lined cat face silhouette etched into the leather, with her finger she caresses the metallic outline
Neko: "_"
The more time she focuses on the sash while marching the more her mood shifts to grief as she directs it into the light from a distant streetlamp, continuing her pace she begins to rationalize her thoughts. "I'm doing all this to build a fyuture with him" this conclusion is met swiftly as a wave of determination floods her mind & saturates her desires. Her brisk pace becomes a power walk before gradually increasing into a sprint as the charge of perseverance ignites her soul & calls her to action, propelling her to push on for the unknown better in the form of a Human life with Klaus
--
| ベーム ベーム ベーム | Phone vibrating
As she travels between clear streets & barren grassy pastures, Neko feels a faint fluttering sensation coming from the rectangular device in the right pocket of her hoodie. Her arm follows the gradual tremors down until she reaches the zipper, with her finger & thumb she pulls the zipper down to release the phone before pulling it out to discover, the time is already 10:30. "Oh fish! I'm seriously lyate! I should've been there by neow" realizing how much time has slipped through her claws she begins to panic, her limbs rattle like tree branches in the wind & her eyelids expand exposing the glow from her vertical slit pupils. She clicks into her phone to find the location of their meeting, "I have to be close, or else I can't make it tonight" once the map opens she sees that
Neko: "It's right around the cyorner"
She whispers under her breath with a momentary burst of glee at the sight of the location being only a brief stride away according to the map on her device, the blue line between the icon representing her & the orange arrow directed at her destination takes a single turn left then a right before reaching the place they arranged to meet. This assured outcome gives her the energy to continue marching with high stakes, her legs picking up off the ground as she presses on the phone in hand but every step, she takes closer to that point brings with it a churning sensation in her stomach. This sensation gradually slows her progress & briefly takes her mind out of her body, "you are meeting strangers in the middle of the night, Neko" this new wave of anxiety flows through her veins however her pursuit continues despite how frozen in doubt her arms get or sporadic jitters in her fingers. She carries this feeling along the empty sidewalks like a heavy luggage bag hindering her advance, "snyap out of it!" She lightly slaps her pink cheek with her left hand in hopes of crushing this doubt as her destination looms ahead. Creeping closer & closer to this naïve feline who's forced to swallow her mistrust to push ahead with a stern façade. Inclining her back & tensing her shoulders, her tail drifts out as her ears open. This pursuit takes her to the edge of the street, where the urban houses meet the rural grasslands. "It's right here" she confirmed with a short glance at her left & right, at the end of this street is an opening to a path running along the verge of these buildings. Hidden behind a tall stone wall
Neko: "Won't attyempt to mount that tyonight"
She cheekily remarks to herself in a soft silent voice attempting to use this light-hearted assertion to tip the scale against the heavy dose of dread that weighs her soul down like an anchor & almost forces her legs to a stand-still. Though this gives her a brief grin however it is not enough to combat the seeds of doubt planted into her mind as she approaches the end of this path before turning left. With every step her heartbeat inclines & her breath becomes sharper, her frizzy tail starts to descend as this crucial hurdle in her journey is about to be crossed
Neko: *Taking a deep breath*
For the briefest moment, she pauses her advance to allow air to fill her lungs expanding her chest before gradually rushing out & flowing back into the atmosphere. This coupled with the easing of her shoulders releases much of the angst dwelling in her soul before she can face these strangers at long last. With each step, the corridor-like opening gently unravels itself like a tapestry of dark greys on the stone wall to her left & the Juniper greens of foliage to the right. However, in between those the pathway seems clear apart from two obstructions in the distance taking the shape of a large person sitting on the ground & a second skinnier one standing beside them hunched over a luminescent item. "There's nyo dyoubt, these two must be the dyudes waiting fyor me" her mind mutters as her view becomes unhindered by the dark, this sight causes her ears to perch up & tail to expand like her fur has brushed the side of a balloon
Taku: "So you finally decide to shyow up"
A loud condescending voice comes to Neko from the mouth of one of these blokes, she perches her ears up & senses familiarity in his mannerisms. "This is definitely a Kyatboy" she's able to reach this conclusion by glancing at him from afar, seeing the cat features highlighted on his outline. The same is said for the chubbier one sitting like a silent monk, now that she's close enough she can see he's also a cat boy with his twitching pointy ears & fluffy tail caressing the ground but with one unusual feature being a large single eye shut right above his massive nose. "Nyah, he's a Cyclyopes Kyatman. Haven't seen that variant before" she comments in her head as the distance between them shortens & their glowing pearls darken, the closer she gets the more pronounced their features become. The one who called straightens up from his hunched position before approaching her with a piercing glare from his pink eyes, the shades of dark greys & red of his clothes unravel in front of her. He gently slithers nearer like a snake hunting for prey, showing off a single sharpened fang to the right side of his mouth
Slimy Cat: "Nyaplus23?"
The tension was broken once this Catboy nasally uttered this familiar name in a questioning tone, a frigid sensation creeps up Neko's spine when she heard her Jinx username spoken out loud & by such an unsavoury sort. She flares her nostrils & tenses her cheeks once the scent of concentrated perfume hits her like a big gust of wind, this invisible cloud of intense aromas accompanying his advance as he gradually steps closer, revealing his skinny physique through the plain white t-shirt under his ornate leather jacket. The light from his phone vanishes as he places it into the pocket of his jeans before resting his hands in his jacket, spreading the jacket out revealing a sinister crimson tartan motif not dissimilar to the pink checkered pattern on Neko's coat running along the. As he slithers her way freezes with bated breath & takes one large gulp to quench the discomfort in her system before finally responding to him
Neko: "Hya & you are?"
Letting out a stilled response while narrowly adjusting her head to examine her surroundings, she calmly checks both her flanks before taking a peep at the one sitting a stone's throw behind the sleazy Catboy approaching
Slimy Cat: "It's Taku_Ro17, we spoke on Jinx"
He asserts with his petulant voice, ending his trail no less than 2 meters away from Neko to state his Jinx username. Now his image is fully visible in the light coming from a stray lamp above their heads & his glowing Orchid purple eyes subside
Taku: "Don't you recyognise the jyacket?"
He adds as he pulls the canvas of his leather jacket out & raises his chin, suggestively posing like a model while treating her eyes like they are the cameras. Presenting to Neko his smooth grey shirt & fanning his fierce cologne fragrances into her face, "Nyew pervert!" the site of Taku exposing his outfit leads to Neko's conclusion that him being a deviate, struggling to hide this suspicion she holds her tail low contrasting his grey tail sticking up high. The rugged leather surface, the two ornate oculus buttons on the collar & jagged brass zipper of his jacket spread out like the mouth of a leviathan about to gulp her down. Neko looks on in dismay & discomfort as she takes a single step back & she grips herself & bag close by
Neko: "Nya…of kyourse"
Responding, bowing her head slightly & hiding much of her face behind her pink hair, the slight hesitation in her voice is joined by a timid frame as she creates a wide gap between her & Taku. As she does this she keeps her fists down & tightly clenches them while scanning this Catboy's lower body, tracing every detail with extreme precision in her search for anything that could be used as a weapon. "I didn't fully think this through" she concludes as she examines the two round bulges from each of his pockets, "he kyan't hyave two of them syo…the could be rocks" she reaches this judgment after viewing the roundness of his bulging pockets. "Or they kyould be pyom pyoms, he doesn't give that impression to me though he is a kyat"
Taku: "Thanks to you there's nyo time for welcomes"
He immediately zips his jacket up while giving her a condescending statement
Taku: "Kyan we see your kyommitment to our deal?"
He gradually takes out his right hand, exposing his slender palm to her as he inquires. With her guard as high as can be, Neko promptly glances at his Human hand & his four fingers queerly twitching like squirming tentacles with long razor-sharp pincers on each end. She looks up from his outstretched hand & skinny wrist to see his purple eyes glaring back at her like menacing pearls fixed into his sockets as he stares straight at only her. "I wish he would stop that" discomfort plagues her mind & her body remains stiff as she peers gawkily back in response. "What kyommitment is he asking for? I had to kyome all the way here!" She's left in a state of agitation while ferociously pondering what he's after with his lanky arm snaking into her personal space. "He wants the money neow" aiding her to this conclusion is the letter Y (\ for Yen) flashing in each of his eyes, she pulls her bag closer to her waist with her firm grip to keep it far from Taku's greedy paws. However, seeing him press forward she has no choice but to comply. "I'll only pull \12,000 out just to shyow them" she affirms as her right hand gently unzips the bag before going through it, once her fist is in she begins to rummage. Her fingers snake through the stacks of banknotes only separated by her phone which actively weighs her bag down somewhat, house keys & her special pink sash. As she fumbles along the notes slip through her fingers like thin slime, Taku watches her like a predator waiting to pounce, with his eerie purple eyes staring this young Feline up & down increasing her dread. This causes her to rummage even harder until she manages to grip an ample amount, she takes her gaze toward her bag & pulls her wrist somewhat out. Keeping her eyes on Taku she's unable to see what she's grabbed however the thickness of this stack suggests one thing "this is way too much to shyow him". Nevertheless, with that menace ahead nearing she knew she had no other choice but to comply & present what she'd grabbed. Gradually sliding it out of her bag, Neko utalizes her feline vision to capture a glimpse of the note's features. The first one in her periphery is adorned with ornate patterns & a large depiction of an elder gentleman wearing a historic robe, beside this detailed sketch of Fukuzawa Yukichi is a large 10,000 in the numeral form printed on the note. Shifting this note to examine the next another 10,000 appears, "Nya? \20,000?" she questions her vision with this notion. She uses her thumb to drag this note to the side only to see something more precious to her than the money, her Pink sash. "How did that get there?!" In a state of shock she attempts to shimmy the sash out of the stack before swiftly whipping the bills out for all to see, taking it from her bag & into her line of sight as she holds it close to her head. But suddenly a flash of light hits her left eye causing her to shut it momentarily, after reorientating the stack she opens her left eye to see what could have flashed her only to see the metallic swirls in the surface of the sash completely visible amongst the two banknotes she had out. Seeing this outcome, she throws her hand back into the back & drops it inside before grabbing a thin sheet with the texture of money which she reinforces her grip & presents a renewed stack to the Gangsters
Neko: *Takes a long deep breath*
With her vertical slit pupils, she narrows in on Taku's subtle actions, catching his eyes following the money like it was a strip of Juru Pops cat treats. In addition to Taku's minuscule activity, Neko also picks up on a slight flutter of the other cat's ears & his blinking eyes as he takes his focus toward the bundle of bills waving in the small breeze like little flags, he takes a deep breath extending his large chest out while examining the notes from where he sits. Neko briefly tilts her head to him expecting a purr or something, yet he stays silent as he watches. Seeing no threat from him she turns her eyes back to Taku however as she does so, behind his right shoulder a dark expanse begins to gently creep closer. Taking her attention this shadow grows larger & taller until it stands above the line of Taku's head causing Neko to raise her gaze, seeing that the top of this entity widens with a large lump protruding up adorned with two pointy tips at the top giving its head the silhouette of a feline as well
Neko: "…"
Seeing this shadow creeping closer Neko takes a large gulp, as this shadow glides nearer she gently lifts her heels while her tail drops straight down & dangles between her legs. During this ordeal, Taku displays no reaction to what edges behind him, his attention remains on the cash & his acute nails cut through the air like elongated claws to effectively snatch the money from her tight grip. Sensing this to be her most immediate threat she turns to him, watching with renewed determination while assuring that her ears are directed at that shadow & the fat cat-like radars
Neko: "But trust must gyo both ways"
She asserts as she swipes the money away from the path of Taku's claws, with this newfound sense of courage with a stern statement expressing her boundary on their approach to this transaction, even forming a serious frown as her pink eyebrows drop contrasting Taku's grey ones shooting straight up & his jaw drops in response to her sudden behaviour. Now he's left puzzled while his arm dangles in between before steadily retreating back to his side
Sumo cat: "Tsk"
Her demeanour even affects the silent crook earnestly sitting on the solid ground, this is met with a slight twitch of one of his ears. Briefly noticing this, Neko's right ear jerks further right once it picks up that short sound wave causing her eyes to follow. "Syo he is listening" making a mental note as well as taking a quick snapshot of him in his sitting position, despite his animated cat ears his entire frame has not budged, not even a centimeter. After, she turns her attention to the hefty shadow spawn to the left behind Taku as it enters the light with its beady brown glowing eyes dampened. At this distance from the overhead lamp Neko could fully make out his features, his wide shoulders & muscular engulfed by a pitch-black t-shirt blending in with the unlit backdrop. The hairs on Neko's body & tail stick up like the needles of a cactus as he comes nearer
Neko: "My name is Ne…Ne"
Even with this burst of courage, she still fumbles in her introduction as one crucial thought accompanies this statement. "I kyan nyot use my real name when talking to creeps like these" however this thought occurred mid-sentence, causing her to salvage her manner & give them something genuine without exposing too much. "Ne ne, I kyan work with that"
Neko: "Nene"
With one toe in the deep end Nene feels compelled to continue, she pitches her chest up & stretches her shoulders out as she begins to dominate her space. With one deep breath, she commences her elaboration
Neko: "I work at a Hyuman restaurant syo a longer-lasting Potion will be useful"
To show her willingness to proceed & to guarantee her side of the deal she drops them some context for why she's going so far as to request a risky experimental Potion from an informal source
Taku: "Neow's nyot the time, we didn't ask for your life story"
But he snaps back with condescension while shrugging his shoulders as he disregards her reasoning for being here
Leader cat: "Hold on, she has a point"
However, from behind him, a calm domineering voice speaks out to him coupled with a large mighty hand gently grappling his shoulder. The palm mildly squeezes down to deflate the stress from his body as if Taku were a balloon
Taku: "But…"
He frantically turns to face his superior so he can combat his notion, however as soon as his purple eyes meet the gingerbread brown eyes of his boss
Leader cat: "Let's not be hasty, she's not overly late"
Taku's boss towering above like a skyscraper peering down with a warm expression as he explains himself, giving reasonable commentary to his observation. Once he concludes his large left hand on Taku's right shoulder steadily migrates up his smooth slender neck until it's able to cup his lower cheek & restrain him, following this action he bends down somewhat just to reach Taku's cat ear which sticks up on the top of his head & nuzzled within his grey hair as each strand pokes out
Leader cat: "Come on, let's comply a little. Besides, she's a naïve idiot. No threat"
His sharp husky voice carries its way through Taku's ear like a pleasant stream of water after reaching in with his lips, this sensation flows rapidly between Taku's nerves giving him goosebumps & causing him to breathe deeper. He directs his eyes to his boss's muscular physique whilst considering his rhetoric
Taku: "Alright, I'll comply. Uroi-sama"
He gave a soft soothing response while hastily nodding before turning back to Nene with an opposing expression of disdain, furrowing his brows & raising his bottom lip at her. The one he addresses as Uroi-sama is the large eloquent catman stepping in to take the space between his comrade in crime & the Catgirl seeking the Potion
Her attention stays on this tall muscular man physically replacing Taku as his broad frame conceals the lanky leather jacket wearing Taku
Uroi-sama: "Syo Nene, cute name by the way. Do you have a younger sister by any chance?"
He clocks onto this small bit of trivia, "Ne" as a noun is often used as an informal title for older sister. Neko's eyebrows shoot up as soon as she's made aware of this fact, "oh nyo" she mutters in her head as this realization strikes her thoughts like a bolt of lightning along with subtle jitters in her fingertips, this persists until her memory picks up two of the words from Uroi's question. "Little sister", as her mind's fist grasps these words a transmission of three unlikely characters floods her thoughts to save her mood. The ancient star in her petite form with hair of gold, the lively Parakeet coated in her illustrious green feathers & finally a sweet high school-aged girl wearing a Cobalt blue sailor uniform matching her large cerulean eyes. Standing in the corner of Neko's mind, this girl joyfully weaving her delightful Dove grey hair into long braids growing to her upper waist. The cheerful memory of this girl gives Neko the extra courage she needs to trek through this arduous crusade, "these are my sisters" she affirms to herself. Taking this strong stance ahead of the Feline Gangsters she faces icons of those three girls dancing on either side of her, spreading warm light onto this dark footpath leading to those menaces
Neko: "Indeed I do"
She announces in a deeper voice cascading her tenacity onto the gangsters with a fiery smile displaying her long-felt desire to escape this rut, her sudden change in spirit bloomed like a pink Sakura tree & radiated light to the three cats. The one closest to her, Uroi grins as he pivots to his left & presents Taku with his mighty right arm
Uroi: "You've already met Taku here, through Jinx?
Tilting his head to the right somewhat as he formally introduces his comrade with an open palm
Neko: "Hya"
She sternly acknowledges this with a brief nod & swift glance at Taku's purple eyes
Neko: "Nice to finally meet you in person, Tyaku"
She politely greets him with a larger grin as she rapidly shuts her eyes & tilts her head left in his direction
Taku: "It's Taku"
He begrudgingly responds, irrotated by Neko's incorrect pronunciation he crosses his thin arms & turns away in a state of brooding like a pouting goth girl. After seeing such a reaction Neko straightens her head before inclining to set her sights back on Uroi who angles his frame to his left & extends his equally muscular left arm to the larger Catman who even now lingers on the ground in his cross-legged sitting position, nothing from their conversation evokes any intrigue to him besides passive peeps of his single bitty yet piercing blue eye
Uroi: "To my right is Danto, half Cyclops Catman & former Sumo wrestler"
To Neko's surprise, this Danto is not the bloke in charge, to a lesser surprise this one-eyed chunky cat was a Sumo wrestler. Registering this, Neko takes a few sudden glances at his build to gage his strength. Danto looks right to face Uroi, this gives Neko a short yet crucial moment to witness his neck & upper chest. His massive round cheeks curve alongside his head revealing his soft vulnerable neck, though covered by the closed zipper of his navy-blue tracksuit sweater the bulges of his ginormous pecks stretch the material of the tracksuit. "His vulnerable places are concealed by all that fat" this discovery frightens Neko & fills her soul with uncertainty which grows with every second Danto peers at her
Neko: "Hello there"
Nevertheless, she makes the effort to act formally to these informal thugs only to get a meager nod from him. "Dyoes that one even speak?" Too afraid to speak out she questions his mannerisms in her head & hopes to move on with this affair with a minuscule pouting face
Uroi: "& lastly, I'm Uroi. The myastermind of this operation"
As if he answered the cries of her mind, Uroi ends the introductions by drawing attention to himself. He widens his chest & spreads his arms to fully take up as much space as possible, dominating the area he stands in. seeing this, Neko marginally quivers her eyebrows as the extreme level of his arrogance brushes past her like a little wave to a shipping vessel
Taku: "Uroi-sama is highly intelligent & as you can see, incredibly muscular so think again if you're planning any deception"
Taku chimes in from behind with a highly generous set of praises before stirring his statements into a thinly veiled threat towards Neko, should she ever cross their line. However, this indiscreet attempt to intimidate brings no effect on her as she stands defiantly with clenched fists & a complete absence of movement outside of a strong gulp as she meets Taku's eyes with her resilient glare
Uroi: "Taku there's no need to threaten anyone right now"
The intensity of the situation is ultimately extinguished by Uroi who turns his head to Taku & shoots down his threat with smooth rational
Taku: "I apologise for that"
He humbles himself by lowering his head to his superior & uncharacteristically apologises politely, in response Uroi gently nods his head before turning back to Neko
Uroi: "Anyway back to business"
He remarks, taking his right hand up to his eye level before proceeding to calmly rub his thumb & fingers together. Neko's eyes turn to this action, her stern persona turns to one of doubt as she puts her smooth hand back into her bag. Once again her fingers grasp the stack of cash she previously showed but her next move is delayed by an intrusive thought, "I will be in a World of pain if Hyaru-san finds out" this consideration spreads like a blizzard in her heart & causes much hesitation in her motion
Uroi: *Rubbing his fingers*
Yet he continues to rub his fingers, implying he wants to see Yens before he can show the longer-lasting Potion. Seeing that the three gangsters are facing her Neko's rate of breathing increases as she gradually raises her arm out of her bag, the blizzard in her heart intensifies with every centimeter it moves. "I wish there was a better way" she pleads
Uroi: *Rubbing his fingers*
Neko: "_"
"Wait?" the raging storm pauses leaving only a gently breeze engulfing her soul
"I'm sure ve…can see eachother again soon"
"What did I just hear?" she responds to the voice in her head. The deep familiar tone, the distinct European accent. Without a doubt, this is the voice of the man who holds her heart once again reminding her why she did this in the first place & giving her the courage to fully lift the money out of her bag to display to the gangsters. The cash waving in the air & reflecting the mellow light from above, Uroi ceases his finger rubbing once the figures on the banknotes catch his eyes. The sight of Fukuzawa Yukichi on that large note causes Uroi's cheeks to rise & the edges of his lips to ascend to form a slight joyous grin
--
Masking Potion is the great concealer of the World of Monsters, A rhubarb-purple coloured fluid that allows Beasts & Mamonos to coexist with the Humans in complete harmony as their monstrous physical qualities are shrouded in a veneer of the modern Homo Sapiens' appearance. Though highly useful the Potion only works in altering their looks, other features below the skin remain prominent such as the user's Monstrous behaviour which must actively be suppressed
Secured between Uroi's strong fingers is a tiny glass vial of this stuff but unlike the normal rhubarb-purple fluid, this one shines a bright pear-green colour into Neko's eyes. As it illuminates from the darkness she stares intently, Uroi's finger & thumb slightly rotate the vial causing the liquid inside to gently slash about like a tiny green tidal wave before he extends his bent arm out a little to present this item
Uroi: "This is a syample of the experimental stuff"
He proudly proclaims with a moderate smile just large enough to flash his silvery fangs & magnetic brown eyes staring at her
Uroi: "Said to last 2 full days"
He adds while mildly twisting his fingers again rotating the vial towards Neko who stands on the other end of this offering with her ears pointed up & widened pink eyes directed at this mysterious green fluid
Uroi: "That will be \66,000 just to try the sample"
He says, calmly pulling the vial closer to his person as if keeping something valuable away from a prying pick pocketer & clenching his big fists to hide its glow from Neko's intrusive gaze. However, the cat in question gives the opposite reaction upon hearing the price of this mere sample, her brows cross as her vertical slit pupils constrict to their smallest size contrasting her jaws which expend agape enough to expose her razor-sharp fangs
Neko: "Nyani?"
She lets out a still roar to question the validity of such a price, while doing so she steps back by half a meter to create distance between them before asking again
Neko: "Heow much?"
As she asks she continues to watch them shrink ever so slightly in her periphery while a stream of overwhelming thoughts passes through her mind like a rapid tidal wave jettisoning bucket load after bucket load of uncertainty & peril onto her already troubled mind, "Hyave I gyone too far?"
Taku: "Nyeh?! You thought we'd give something syo precious for free?"
Taku interrupts her thought with his scratchy high-pitch voice tone & his condescending mannerisms causing her to slightly edge her head to him as he stalks her like a lynx with his arms rising & gliding towards her as if he's ready to pounce
Neko: "Nyo but…"
Uroi: "Taku is kyorrect, the properties of this puny vile kyontain ingredients to suppress our myonstrous features for 48hrs. if nyot more than that"
Uroi immediately cuts her off to defend his deputy's remark with a rational argument to dismiss whatever case she attempted to bring up, just like Taku he steps a little closer however approaching with a domineering frame as he stretches his shoulders out & hands balled into fists including his right hand securely containing the vial
Danto: *Grunts*
Letting out a burly grunt is Danto, the chunky Cyclops Catman perched on the ground moving his arms to his sides & pushing down on the path as he lifts his rear end off the ground to stand. He bends his back as if bowing to Neko while his legs do the opposite & straighten, in doing so he gradually rises higher until his back becomes erect so he can face Neko with his large single eye as he creeps towards her to close the gap between her & the Gangsters along with the other two who step skimpily close
Neko: "I don't hyave that much on me"
Tightly grasping her bag, she announces her lack of the appropriate amount with an alarmed expression as her head shakes like a bobblehead. Perceiving this response Uroi takes a step closer & crosses his mighty arms in a demeanour radiating frustration
Uroi: "If you can't pay the full price then we'll take that pink thing as a deposit…don't think we did not see you shove it back into your bag"
He ferociously combats her statement with this proposition while adding that they know of its existence through her incompetency, his choice to introduce the sash as a deposit makes Neko's warm blood boil. Her slit pupils get even narrower as the fibers in her fur stick out like the spikes of a cactus, she balls her empty fists & pivots her left leg back displaying a guarded stance
Neko: "Hyold on! You kyan't have that"
She wails as she maximises the distance between them & her bag by tilting her body so that the bag on her left side is the furthest object away from them while her dominant right arm is tensed with her right shoulder situated in the direction of Danto. Her whole tail curves as her pink fur expands, contrasting her right leg which straightens allowing her to increase the gap between them some more
Uroi: "Well you should have come with the kyorrect amount, didn't Taku say?"
He sticks his head out slightly to expose her lack of knowledge on the price before leaning towards Taku to his right as concludes his statement with a question about his partner, prompting him to speak with a little nudge of the shoulder to which Taku silently clears his throat before speaking
Taku: "I never leave out crucial information like that"
He immediately answers Uroi like an accused man defending himself in front of a jury of Tigers, hastily straightening his back & dropping his arms
Neko: "He's lying!"
Her eyebrows cross as she screams her lungs out & revealing her smooth white fangs in the process, the three Gangsters shut their pointy cat ears as her yell echoes through the dark pathway
Uroi: "Take it easy Nene-chan, there's no need to shout"
He combatively replies as he frees his ears from his hefty palms & directs them to Neko. His whole-body pivots towards her. With his hands resting on his waist he edges closer, his demeanour grows bleaker with a face of sheer disappointment shown by his furrowed brows & tensed jawline
Neko: "But he's clearly lying"
She continues to defend her case only this time loud whisper. While mounting this opposition she stares pleadingly at Taku as if begging for him to tell the truth to save her life, with her large pink eyes & subtle red checks creating the ultimate cuteness display to melt the heart of any Catboy. However, Taku stands unaware of this attempt at pleading as he keeps his small sinister purple eyes buried in the light of his phone as he types away like an unsocial teenager. Filling Neko with dread & concern, she angles her cat ears to him. Anticipating his next move
Taku: "You knyow you need to kyomply with us Nyaplus23, wouldn't want this Oshi_Rannya finding out who you really are"
The slimy Catboy interjects in a sterner-than-usual demeanour with a deeper voice he forged to sound more menacing as he reveals a new piece of information that could bring doom to Neko's private life, the Jinx username of her close friend. Taku's sharp slender finger scrolls through her followers list until it reaches the name dearest to her heart
Taku: "Or Klau4"
He turns his head up from his screen to face her as he slides Klaus' username into his declaration, slowing his speech & leans in while making this known. Introducing the possibility of even Neko's love finding out as if threatening to leak this information like a whistle-blower of Neko's life.
Taku: "Or even your workplace, what if they find out a real-life kyatgirl was hyandling their food?"
The thumb of his right hand traces the side of his rectangular smartphone until it reaches the button, as soon as he applies minimal pressure to it the bright glow suddenly shuts off coating his face in darkness like before with only his purple eyes beaming as the light from above shines onto his malevolent grin
Taku: "How unsanitary"
He adds as his lips can't help but extend causing his cheeks to rise, giving him the appearance of an ominous clown serving as jester to the dreadful dictator standing to his left. That pair of purple eyes combined with Uroi's browns & Danto's single blue make for an unnerving experience for Neko who attempts to keep her distance from these three as they inch closer, closer, closer until she hands something over. "I must give them what they want or they'll take it from me" her entire body tenses until it becomes as hard as marble. "Or they'll do worse" with that conclusion she slides her right hand into her handbag & latches onto any banknote her claws can reach
| ドキドキ | Heartbeat
Her heartbeat increases in both speed as well as sound causing waves of vibration through her chest & her blood cells to race like sports cars, this occurs while her fingers snake along in her bag trying to locate any stray note
Uroi: "Well?"
Patiently Uroi affirms his presence as Neko takes all her time to locate as much money as she needs to please them & to save her sash from being nabbed as well. But at long last, she feels an ample sum in her palm, the flat silky texture of the bills stroking her skin & at this moment she feels ready to present these Gangsters with something. She hastily lifts her arm to gift them the money, taking every note out & extending her arm into their reach zone when abruptly. The cash is unceremoniously snatched from her grasp by that lanky thief in the leather jacket, with Neko's hand empty she immediately pulls her arm back in & faces him baring a look of astonishment. Taku on the other hand directs his head down as he counts the collection of purple & brown notes as if they were pages of an engaging book all the while adorning the gleeful grin of a successful gambler before handing the wot to Uroi
Taku: "\35,000 Uroi-sama"
He confirms, handing the full stack to Uroi's hefty hand & staring up at his malevolent master
Uroi: "We'll accept this…along with the sash"
With every note in his grasp, he gives Taku a brisk nod before approving this part of the transaction only for his face to turn sour as he gives her the order to hand over the other thing. To this, her head shakes & her body jitters like the tail of a rattlesnake, as she maintains eye contact with the three of them her left hand seemingly unbeknownst to her slips into the bag & reaches for the sash. Her pink pearls even light up & widen in shock as the tips of her fingers caress the thin metal loops in the shape of a cat's face, without a doubt that's Klaus' gift to her & she isn't as willing to hand it over. Nevertheless, her hand wraps around it before pulling out of that lagoon. The lamp from above exposes the pink sash as it enters the periphery of the Gangsters, the light from said lamp bounces off the metallic cat's face signalling all to its location. She takes it out further so it enters her view now that it's in front of her blocking out the Catmen she's able to examine for perhaps the last time. With its rectangular shape, pink leather surface & Kawaii cat insignia in gold tint matching the colour of the keychain section to its left Neko takes one longing sigh. "I don't want to give this away" thinking as a tear emerges from her left eye, "I kyan't. I kyan't. I kyan't"
Neko: "I kyan't"
She mumbles as she pulls it closer & ever so slightly shuts her eyes, as she does so a sudden breeze hits her skin followed by a feeling of emptiness in that very hand leaving nothing but a vacuum. Her eyelids spring open to see her hand is blank & in the distance, Taku comes into focus holding something shining like a pink jewel
Taku: "A beautiful piece nye"
He conveys with a hideous smile as he holds the sash into the light
Neko: "Hyah!?"
The sight of that foul feline casually grasping such a precious item induces rage in Neko, she shouts out in reaction to his theft & lunges ahead with her ears swept back. She charges toward him with her claws out, ready to spill blood however her pursuit is stopped by Danto who swoops in & blocks her path with his bulky size. She ceases once his piercing blue eye spots her like a lethal targeting system
Danto: *Grunts*
He raises his upper lip & snarls at her. Behind him, Taku hands the sash over to Uroi who speaks authoritatively
Uroi: "Excellent, with this money & your beloved sash you can try the sample"
He chuckles as he places the sash in one of his pockets, in exchange he draws out the vial of green liquid before he pats Danto's shoulder. In response, the chubby cat steps away allowing Uroi to come forward
Uroi: "Don't take too much at once dyarling"
Grinning as he says this, Uroi raises his left arm slightly before tossing the vial to Neko who effortlessly snatches it from the air at great speed like it was prey & cups it in her hand. With the longer-lasting Potion in her grasp, she's able to examine it closer. This small cylindrical glass flask contains the green fuel for her journey, she twists her fingers gently to reveal a distinct notation taped to the glass:
Property of Grand Magical Assembly's research department
Experimental formula no.11
No.348673
As her eyes linger on this text the ferocious anxiety in her mind gradually subsides, the detail in the text as well as the professional manner in which the note was taped to the vial conveys its legitimacy in Neko's perception
Uroi: "Be sure to message us before you meet for the rest"
He gives one final message before turning his back to Neko however instead of commencing his exit he tilts his head slightly to the right & continues
Uroi: "You may still look…Hyuman"
Adding that statement the leader of the Feline Gangsters turns his head forward & nonchalantly waltzes off into the darkness, he's instantly followed by Danto who gives a quick grunt & a nod of his fat head before turning away just as fast as his acknowledgement of her presence
Taku: "Til next time, Nyaplus"
The last Gangster is Taku, casually bidding his goodbye to Neko as he swings around to catch up with the others. Just as she stands still the three leaving her become no more than silhouettes as they get further away, with darkness engulfing them she keeps her night vision on them. Being able to see their frames in the blackness until they scale the stone wall at the end by pouncing like gymnasts, finally leaving her periphery after leaping that wall & going on their way with her money. However, more importantly the sash is no longer in her possession. With this realization the lone Catgirl frantically checks her bag & coat pockets, rummaging through her stuff like she's searching for a wallet or phone. But with those items still present she knows the one most precious to her heart isn't with her & above that, she's fully aware why that is
Neko: "_"
She looks on in pure dread while tightly clutching the thing she traded her heartfelt gift for, the vial of the experimental Potion is all she has in her person to show for this experience & as the night gradually becomes early morning the time for mulling it over must end. At that moment, all she could do was rush back to the house with what should be seen as a victory in her quest for getting closer to Klaus. Despite being a mere collateral loss in the grand scheme of things, to Neko it's as if she lost her heart