Heart beat racing. Paws slamming against hard concrete. Again they are chasing him. They don't give up. And now they have more.
Loud barking erupts from the throats of the filthy beasts behind him. They are hunting dogs. Or dogs who wish they were. Either way they are a danger. They don't just want to chase, they want to kill.
They are fast and the only way to get away is to get out of their reach. However, the humans have armed themselves better this time. They throw rocks and swing bats whenever he tries to climb walls or trees.
These humans are relentless. Even after they had taken his life just two months prior they still hunt him. Humans don't like what they can't understand.
A sharp pain shoots through Seijurou's back. One of the humans finally landed a hit. The rock only causes him to slow slightly, but that's all the dogs needed.
The dogs dive at him, sinking their teeth into the small cat's flesh. Seijurou cries out, turning to scratch at the dog's face but he does not release him. The dog picks up the smaller animal and shakes him. Seijurou tries to dig his claws into the dog's snout and succeeds in making the beast yelp and release him.
The dog tosses Seijurou onto the concrete and whimpers, trying to lick at his bleeding shout. Seijurou hits the ground hard and tries to stand quickly. But he can't run. The bite mark on his hip is bleeding badly and his left leg isn't useable any more. Seijurou curses as he hobbles away, only to be followed by the other dog. This one is smaller and Seijurou is able to brace himself before it attacks.
Seijurou jumps away from the beast's first attempt and lunges at it. Seijurou sinks his claws in deep, hitting his mark perfectly. He hisses loudly as he claws out the smaller dog's eyes. The dog howls in pain and his owner runs to his aid.
Unluckily for Seijurou, his owner was the one carrying the bat. Seijurou's entire body hurts as he's sent flying.
At least his master's son wasn't here to see this, Seijurou thinks before he loses consciousness.
-
Kuroko wakes feeling like he had just been hit by a truck. His entire body hurts and he's breathing hard. He sits up shakily, trying to catch his breath. The pain begins to subside but the fear remains with him. He hugs himself as he tries to push away the dream.
Kuroko pushes the covers off of him and stands from his bed. He shakily walks to the door and pulls it open. Sei is sleeping on the couch, as usual, without a blanket. Kuroko had offered him one but he refused, saying he was more comfortable without one.
Kuroko walks over to him quickly. He ungracefully bumps into the coffee table as he tries to kneel down next to the sleeping familiar and wakes Sei. Sei blinks at him sleepily but sits up quickly when he sees the look in Kuroko's eyes.
"Tetsuya? What's wrong? Did you have another dream?"
Kuroko nods, he reaches out to Sei with his shaky hands. "The dogs..." He says with a hoarse whisper.
Sei looks down at the boy before him sadly. He reaches out and tugs on Kuroko's arm, coaxing him to sit up on the couch next to him. Kuroko does, hugging his arms around himself as Sei wraps his arms around the younger boy. Kuroko rests his head against the familiar's shoulder and Sei rests his head on top of his.
"I'm sorry." Sei whispers into Kuroko's hair.
Kuroko doesn't reply for a long time. The two of them sit on the couch together in silence. The room is still dark and neither boy knows what time it is. Kuroko eventually stops shaking and relaxes into Sei's arms.
"The worst part isn't the dreams..." Kuroko says quietly as he listens to the steady beating of Sei's heart. "It's when I wake up. When I can still feel all the pain and my own mind takes over again. When I'm me and I can feel everything... It's terrifying..."
Kuroko pauses again and Seijurou hugs Kuroko tighter, muttering another apology into his hair. Kuroko tilts his head to look up at Sei in the dark. He can just barely make out his features from the light of the streetlamp outside.
"You're never afraid. Even when you know you're about to die... How can you be so calm?"
Seijurou breathes out from his nose, loosening his arms and looking down at Kuroko.
"I've died many times before, and I knew I would come back to life soon enough."
"But it still hurts. Every time. Dying hurts." Kuroko says, sitting up to face Sei.
"Yes." Seijurou smiles sadly. "Though none of them can compare to the pain I felt watching you die. I would give many, many more lives to never see that happen again."
Seijurou reaches out to brush the hair away from Kuroko's eyes as the younger boy stares at him. He smiles at Kuroko's bed head and brushes his fingers over the side of his face in a soothing motion. Sei cups his cheek and strokes his thumb over the corner of Kuroko's mouth softly before speaking.
"Watching the one you love die is truly a painworse than death."
YOU ARE READING
Nine Lives
Fanfiction"Kuroko knew his mother practiced witchcraft. It was a fact that he never doubted. But for her to leave behind a familiar to take care of him. It was nearly inconceivable. Just as inconceivable as Kuroko being dead for two days." After an accident t...
