Love's Not Void

Chapter 7:

Out of instinct, she jumped behind Rai.

"Rai?"

Sounds like Konoe...Konoe? Bae? Is that you?

Peering from behind Rai, she saw the familiar male cat.

"Konoe!" She leapt forth, wrapping her arms around him tightly and swaying back and forth. "Save me from the meany Rai!"

Asato looked back and forth from her, and Rai.

"What did you say this time," Konoe spoke blandly.

"Tch, stupid cat. I didn't say anything."

Sobbing into Konoe's shirt, she pointed at the white haired cat without looking.

"He said he didn't need me and that he'd prefer to die alone!"

"You said that to a female," Asato asked, "And made her cry, no less."

"She's the one who started it..."

"Then I'm finishing it," Konoe stated. Pulling her back by the shoulders, he looked at Kimberly's face.

His expression dropped instantaneously.

"I'm sorry that I...um...clung onto you." She took a step back and smiled like a fool.

"You...you have no ears..." Asato pointed out.

Oh crap, not this again.

"I'm a Two Canes...we don't have cat ears, or tails."

"Do all of you look this way," Konoe interrogated.

"Only the good looking ones. Nah, I'm kidding. We're like you guys; different faces, different genders, different personalities, etcetera. We just don't have claws, or any real cat-defining trait... The only thing close to that are our canines." She briefly looked at their puzzled faces. "Teeth."

As moments of silence passed, Konoe decided to speak up.

"So how do you know Rai? And how do you know my name?"

Taking a deep breath in, she placed a hand to her forehead.

This is gonna take a while.

~

She basically told them her life's story, apart from Firi, the videogame this place is based off of, and this morning when she had a throbbing headache. She even showed the two how to use her headphones and phone.

The music on her list was a little too...loud for their liking. So she showed them softer tunes, and some instrumentals.

In the end of it all, she had almost forgotten that she and Rai were on bad terms, for now. But it wasn't over. It wasn't going to be over until that sour-puss apologizes.

He knew that too. He just refused to say sorry.

"You said you gave them a piece of your hair," Rai suddenly spoke.

"I knew what would probably happen, but given the conditions, I couldn't refuse."

"You said they talked about sacrifices too," Konoe said. He glanced at Asato, whom didn't look very happy. "What does that mean for her?"

"They're going to try and offer her to the devils. Although they have a strand of her hair, they need to...consume her, if the deal has already been struck."

"Can we get to them before they make the deal," Rai asked.

Asato gave a small smile.

"We can try, though if we're too late, it would be a fool's errand."

"Tch," the cat turned towards Kitty. "You should stay here. They may be planning on your arrival."

Crossing her arms, she gave him a cold stare-down.

"And what if they expect you to leave me behind?"

Everyone looked at Rai, waiting for an answer.

"Very well, come with us. But if you can't keep up, I'd be best if you stay here."

Reaching into her pocket, she gave a nod. As everyone walked east, she placed her headphones over her ears, and played one of her favorite songs.

~

An hour into their walk, a wave of uneasiness came over Kimberly. It was a familiar feeling, but she couldn't think of where she felt it before.

Glancing around, she paused in her tracts.

Apparently, that caught the attention of Konoe. He was the closest in proximity to her, as she tried to stay near him. She felt like he was the only other person she can actually relate to.

"What's wrong?"

"Don't you feel it?"

When the words left her mouth, the two other cats stopped walking.

"Feel what?"

...

"Firi?"

A figure appeared behind the group, a chuckle leaving his mouth.

"I'm here!"

All cats turned towards him, a growl leaving most of their throats.

"Hey, no need for that," Kimberly said. She got in the middle of the group and Firi. She turned towards her friend, and smiled kindly at him. "How's it hanging, Bro?"

He gave a small groan. "So boring," he complained, "Waiting is the hardest part."

"Just hang in there. I have a feeling that something interesting is gonna come in Gangnam Style."

I don't think anybody got the joke.

"You know, it's gonna come in with...finesse." She made a spirit-fingers gesture, which made her blonde friend roar with laughter.

"Ha...I haven't laughed like that in ages."

"You two know each other?" Konoe looked at Kimberly with a disapproving gaze.

In return, she looked at Rai.

"You know that friend that I told you about? The one that you kinda, maybe, sort of sensed?"

"Please, enlighten me that you weren't talking about him."

Shrugging, she sighed.

"Sorry, not sorry, I was."

Firi turned his attention to the tense crowd of cats.

"Relax, my old friends. I'm on your side."

"How are you still alive," Konoe hissed.

"Well Konoe, thanks to your beautiful words, I was saved just in time."

With this vague answer, he gave everyone a smile.

"Bring any news," Kitty questioned.

"Nope! I just dropped in to say hello. I have nothing better to do." He took a hold of her hand and placed a kiss on her knuckles.

Many more growls erupted.

Smiling sweetly, she ruffled his hair. "Get out of here, before they kill you. You're no good dead."

He waved quickly, before jumping and vanishing into thin air.

"Of all people..." Konoe unclenched his fists, and shook his head. "It doesn't matter. Let's move." 

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Can you smell it? *sniffs*

Jealousy~! It could be strong distrust as well, but... ;) think whatever you want to think. You dirty, dirty kitties...

<3 Cat