Trashcan.

Prologue

Footsteps padded through the streets as a girl donning a torn t-shirt and shorts that reached just above her lower thigh, obviously too small for her. A bag clutched in her hands, a smile on her face. That lady was nice, they're so rare. Treated her to a meal, she even gave her money! She didn't even beg...not like she did it anyway. The child didn't believe in begging, thought it was wrong to guilt someone into giving you something.

Her (h/c) hair was knotted and messy, and (e/c) eyes sparkled happily as her tanned (s/t) skin shone in the sunlight. Though, this happiness wouldn't last long. She was soon stopped by a man much much taller than her. With strange buckteeth and a crooked smile, this intimidated the girl.

"Hi, little girl." he cooed, "what do you got there?"

"M-money, sir."

"How did you get that money?" he asked, seemingly interested. "W-well...uhm...this woman gave me money, told me to buy clothes for myself."

"Where's your parents?" he grinned wider.

"That's personal, sir!" he seemed to frown as she raised her voice, tucking her money in her pocket before trying to make a run for it, "I gotta go!"

"Oh, no you don't!" She screamed as the man reached out only to grab her hair and yank her back, bringing her to the concrete floor, "why don't you stay?"

"A-ahh...s-sir..!?" this man then raised his foot only to kick her side, kicking her into an alley, with such force her last and only meal followed suit with her as she hit the ground. Tears pricked her eyes as this man continued to beat her, taking her money after she was bruised black and blue all over. Her frail body shook as she sobbed quietly.

The man made off with her money, as she passed out. She didn't miss the cat that came forward to seemingly check on her, though.

---

She woke up to a weight on her chest, and it was warm. The child clutched the thing that warmed her up as she opened her eyes, only to discover it was a cat. This had was what she knew of as a tuxedo cat! She smiled, "hi kitty!" she giggled.

The cat looked to her with emerald eyes only to lick her arm, and lay it's head back on her chest. She sat up but then hugged the cat tightly as pain ruptured from her side. The cat seemed to purr softly into the child's chest. As if to soothe her.

When the pain died down, the small (h/c) haired girl rested against a wall, looking to the mess she made before and while she was knocked unconscious. She wiped her mouth before wiping it on her tiny, ragged clothes and clutching the cat a little tighter. She then felt tears prick at her (e/c) orbs and they struggled to fall. "K-kitty...?" she seemed surprised as to why the cat stayed.

The cat looked up with it's emerald eyes and gave her a lick on the cheek. She giggled at it's rough tongue, how it tickled her skin. Was it an attempt to wipe her tears away? Maybe. The child didn't know.

She slowly passed out again as she clutched this cat who seemed to want to do nothing but stay with her.