Homeward Bound

Chapter 3: Limitations

Kuro glared at the sandy blond man staring down at him as Taka curled into a small ball behind him, looking anywhere but. The man just stared at them, amused, with a glint in his black eyes that Kuro couldn’t identify, but it made his fur stand on end.

“They were right, blood red eyes is a very uncommon trait for cats and that strange tail makes you look more exotic” he muttered with a grin as he pulled out a camera and took a quick picture.

Kuro yowled at the sudden flash and shut his eyes. Once his eyes adjusted he opened them, they sting, but still glared holes at the back of the man’s head who was already starting to upload the image in a balky computer. He could hear Taka's low sigh of relief at the increased distance between them an the man, like she was holding her breath the whole time. he turned to her as she uncurled.

“This is the fastest that man has put someone up for sale…” she said quietly then shuddered, “usually they’d be conditioned first”

The older cat nodded knowing what she meant by the way she acted and spoke. In his long life he knew that encounters like this almost always had pain and extreme discipline. This kid looked like she endured both for a long time.

“I’ve been with Mahiru for way too long if I’m starting to care for others outside my family” at the thought of his Eve he frowned, “I can’t stay here, Mahiru’s life will be on danger.”

His thoughts were cut off at the sound of footsteps closing in and Taka going back to her hiding place behind him. The feeling of eyes on him made a growl want to form in his throat. Kuro met the man’s stare with a defiant scowl that said, ‘I won’t play along with your game’. This has just made the man grin more.

“I’ve never seen the bidding go up so fast for an animal, you must be special” he said as he returned the scowl with a glare that demanded submission. Kuro hissed in reply and Taka pressed herself closer to him. The man inched closer, gloved hands ready to open the cage and reach in.

“Looks like I have to break you before you go to your new owner”

One gloved hand swung open the cage door while the other went to grab the black cat quickly. The act wasn’t fast enough. Kuro bit down on the thick glove, the sharp fangs digging into flesh. Unfortunately with it also came with blood.

A sudden wave of dizziness and nausea came over the Servamp, making him too unfocused to notice the other hand grab him painfully by the scruff and being lifted. He heard a mumble of ‘claws' and ‘American shipment' but the mental exhaustion wouldn’t allow him to pay attention and can almost hear his inner demon laughing at how pathetic he was being.

Soon he felt ice cold metal nip at his paws as well as a tight collar was placed around his neck. Something akin to dread dawned him when he finally noticed that something important to him is not with him.

“My bell…”

Red eyes scanned the room for any sign of it, but couldn’t locate it, eventually they set on the man sorting through various objects on a table a bit away from the one he’s on. Kuro’s eyes widened when he saw the man walk back with some tools. The vampire cat knew what they were but what they would be used for made anxiety rise. He tried to tug at the leases which kept him tethered to the middle.

“Well kitty let’s begin shall we?” the man said, testing a pair of pliers. The metal claws clacking with promise and smeared, crusty blood.

~*~

The limousine ride was fairly quiet with the occasional background noise of other cars driving by. Dodo was driving to the destination he provided while Misono and Lily were going over the information on the laptop and Mahiru was absently looking out the tinted windows.