My Darling Feline (Bill X Fem! Reader)

Chapter Sixteen: Catnapped II

Bill's POV:

"Legoshi, you think or you know?" I asked, eyes locked on his.

The wolf hesitated, voice shaky. "Look, I can track her scent... see where it leads."

I grinned and gave his back a friendly pat, he stumbled a bit, awkward as always. "Well then, let's get that sniffer of yours working!"

I pulled Y/n's shoe and phone from my pocket, holding them out. "Here, this should help."

Legoshi took them carefully, nose twitching. "This will work," he said. He sniffed deeply, then looked up, determined. "I've got her scent. Let's go."

•••

Legoshi lead me all around town, far outside the safety of Cherryton's campus. It wasn't long before we found ourselves in the blackmarket.

"Shit," Legoshi muttered, turning to face me. "I can't pick up her scent anymore. It's getting drowned out by all these other animals."

I clenched my jaw, grabbing his collar, my voice sharp. "What do you mean you can't find it? You better find it, Legoshi. I can't lose her now."

We darted through the crowd, asking anyone who wouldn't bolt or throw us nervous glances.

"Hey, you," I called out to a lone fox. He swallowed hard, eyes darting around as he tried to run.

I caught his arm before he could disappear. "I need to find the Shishi-Gumi. I'll pay you 12,000 yen if you just give me a clue."

The fox gulped, voice shaky. "There's a lake... it borders their hideout. That's all I can say."

I scowled but pulled out the cash, watching him sprint off with my money.

I turned back to Legoshi, relaying to him what the fox had said.

"A lake... huh? I don't know, Bill, but I think I know someone who can help—a panda named Gohjin lives around here."

Tears stung my eyes, dark thoughts crashing through me. Y/n hurt, violated, lost.

Legoshi placed a steady hand on my shoulder. "Come on. Follow me. He'll help us find her."

I stuck close to Legoshi, weaving through the mass of people like ghosts against the current. Stalls blurred past us, animals laughed and barked and lived.

The crowds thinned, giving way to a narrow alley that reeked of rust and rain. At the end of it stood a run-down building, worn wooden panels warped by time, glowing faintly from the windows like tired eyes refusing to sleep. It didn't scream hope, but at this point, I'd take anything.

"Before we go in," Legoshi said, slowing down and turning to me, "you should know... Gohjin's a doctor. He works the Black Market circuit. Treats animals who've gone savage. He's got a weird way of doing things... kind of intense, kind of scary, but he's helped me before. And I trust he'll help us now."

I nodded, heart pounding. Before he could step forward, I grabbed his arm. My grip was tight and more desperate than I meant it to be.

"Thank you, Legoshi. I mean it. I'm sorry for everything that's happened. If we get Y/n back... I swear I'll be better. For real this time."

My voice cracked on the last word, and tears escaped before I could stop them. Legoshi gave me a soft, reassuring smile and nodded.

Then, he knocked.

The door creaked open, and a mountain of black and white fur filled the frame. A cigarette dangled from the panda's mouth, the cherry burning low and slow. His eyes were tired, calculating, and vaguely amused.