Homeward Bound

Chapter 4: The Call

Red orbs searched desperately, his mind raced to find any means of escape. He doesn’t know whether to curse his luck or some higher force that finds this sick game entertaining. Kuro suppressed a growl that tried to creep up on his throat. He can’t let others down now when he’s this close! Mahiru, his siblings and Taka are counting on him, which is more than the Servamp thinks he deserves.

“Kuro! He’s coming closer!” the kid whimpered and trembling in his grip. “…please…”

The pounding of foot steps were in rhythm with his beating heart that drummed painfully. So close to tuning the corner of the hall way and snatching their freedom. Again Kuro grew desperate and searched for a way out or somewhere to hid, but there’s nearly nothing in the run down living room; doors were closed, there’s nothing but a couch that provides little cover, a bulky TV, and an old lamp near a locked window. Wait he lamp! Yes he could use that, shaking small legs started to move again, finding the force to gain momentum and ram into the lamp. It tilted backwards and crashed through the window.

“You little shit your going to pay!” a yell was heard behind him, their captor must of already turned the corner.

Without a moment’s wait Kuro climbed the lamp and jumped out to the shards on the pavement. It hurt, blood painted the pavement, but he had to move fast. Ignore the pain in his paws he take advantage of the increased distance between them and the man. He ran, the remaining leash on him flapping behind him as he carried Taka away from there.

Away from the man and find Mahiru.

~*~

Ten minutes later

“D-damn bastard! He got away!” Misono spat, inspecting the bloodied broken glass outside Hanzo’s warn down flat with his Servamp.

“On the bright side Nii-san must of gotten away… I’m sure of it” the second youngest Servamp tried, smiling halfheartedly. He wanted to not show his inner rage in from of the young Eves, but he couldn’t keep the hands he has hidden behind his back from shaking in malice, his need to spill blood of the ones threatening to break his family apart. The image of his brothers blood and fur decorated on the cold metal table was too much. Luckily Misono felt his inner turmoil and dragged him out of the house and to the shade where the trail is.

“With what I’ve seen and with logic, I believe that this Hanzo bastard doesn’t know with what he’s dealing with. Seriously if he was involved with C3 then why put Sleepy Ash in an auction like any other animal.” The Eve explained, hopping to ease some stress.

“Yeah that is true…” Lily sighed, “but I wouldn’t put it past C3’s American Branch  to somehow involve themselves sooner or later, they would do anything in their power to get what they want.” He stared at the blood trail for a bit longer before turning worried red eyes to the door to the house. “Misono?”

“yeah I know,” sighing exasperatedly, “I’ll go get him”

~*~

Mahiru was leaning heavily on the basement wall. Teeth gritted as he stared at the turned over table painted in Kuro’s blood and fur. His hand tightened around the collar in his grasp, emitting a small jingle at the slightest movement. Kuro was here, he was in pain and alone with a man that only cares about using him for his own greed. Kuro was here and he, his Eve, can’t feel the slightest tinge of where his Servamp is or how he’s doing right now like he used to.

“If I listened to Kuro this wouldn't of happened. I should of noticed something was wrong, I should've payed more attention to Kuro and made him drink blood even if we’re not in a fight… I… I… I shouldn’t been a better Eve,” he rambled to himself. The bell in his grip chimed more in protest of the shaking, almost like it was berating him for being hard on himself, like Kuro would have. He focused instead on the bell in his hand, thinking about what the lazy vampire would say.

“Being so worked up is exhausting… relax and be soothed by my cuteness”

He chuckled at that, “yeah Kuro would say something like that”. Somehow being soothed by the mental image of Kuro’s cat form rolling around, trying to cheer him up. Right, Kuro wouldn't blame him. If anything he would be irritated that Mahiru is still not over it. He should focus on finding him and bringing him home instead of brooding over it.

“But where should I start?” Mahiru frowned, eyes still on the bell.

Ever since Kuro’s contract item was taken from him, the Eve felt little to no connection to his Servamp afterward. Usually he would know where Kuro is the moment their apart through their bond, but now there’s a hollow feeling in his chest. Is it the contract item that keeps them connected? Mahiru knew that if it was destroyed then the Servamp would go with it, but for a Servamp to lose the item…

“Oi Shirota! If you want to look for your Servamp you should get moving now.” His friend called out, beckoning him to the door. “Dodo is informing the police as we speak so hurry up before they get here.”

“Alright I’m coming!”

~*~

He had to keep moving, he had to get away, get to Mahiru, to his siblings. His paws ached from weariness and glass still sticking to the slowly healing flesh, but he can’t stop, they lost the man after many twist and turns through the alleyways, he might still be looking for them. Luckily he stopped leaving blood trails a while ago. If he just concentrated on moving and placing the pain to the furthest part of his mind he might make it.

“think about the ramen… once I get home I’ll have a bowl or five… ramen,  Mahiru… cola……ultimate pillow…”

“…Mahiru…”

“K-Kuro?...”

His concentration broke.

The ground disappeared beneath Kuro as he suddenly came tumbling down with Taka falling out of his grip. The world blurred, it was hard to move. He isn’t healing like he used to.

“Kuro?! Kuro?! Are you ok?!... Please say something!” she was frantically pawing the older cats shoulder, trying to get a response.

Blue, green orbs roamed over Kuro’s dazed form worriedly. Stared into the clouded half lidded eyes for any response. Taka felt her throat constrict, she doesn’t know what to do, she was scared, not only for herself but for Kuro too. After all he didn’t have to help her or carry while running, any other cat would of abandoned her to her fate so they can save themselves, but Kuro didn’t. She can’t leave him like this if he didn’t leave her, she has to watch out for him too.

“Kuro- what are you?”

Taka gasped when the black cat shakily rose, his glazed unseeing eyes staring ahead. He didn’t answer. Just stumbling forward muttering a name. She caught a hint of urgency in his voice, she found her maw clamped down on the remaining leash, herding him to a cardboard box in the side of the alley. Kuro didn’t put up any resistance as he was lead to the small shelter.

It would have been easier if the ground stopped shaking under his paws. The conscious part of Kuro knew that he’s becoming delirious from blood loss. He didn’t even knew that was possible. Its like his strength, stamina, and regeneration ability were decreased exponentially since he woke up in that basement. He didn’t even resister that he was lying down on papery surroundings until he felt a crinkly, noisy blanket being dropped over him.

“Your too exhausted to walk now. Kuro please sleep for a while.”

He wanted to argue against Taka, yet he couldn't speak or keep his eyes open. Crimson eyes wouldn't stop dropping closed and his small body was beginning to lax. The one time he wanted to stay awake he couldn’t even do that. He felt a warm body cuddle up to him under the blanket.

“I-I don’t think that he would find us under this newspaper… we’ll be safe for now, s-so lets rest for now…” Taka sounded like she was trying more to convince herself than Kuro, but he couldn't help the small smile on his lips at the kids show at forced bravery.

“…Alright Taka…” Kuro murmured before succumbing to darkness.

~*~

“Damn! I lost them!” Hanzo spouted curses with each step he took. Leaving another fruitless alleyway.

Since the black one stopped leaving bloody paw prints a while ago they became harder to track, one cold trail after the other there was no sign of them. It made the black market dealer wonder how that cat can run so fast while carrying a kitten half it’s size. Especially with the possibility of blood loss rolling in. The fact that it somehow regrew it’s claws after he went through the trouble of declawing it. Maybe the darn cat it more trouble than it’s worth and he’s putting too much effort on looking for a corpse by now.

“Double damn! That little shit will cost me a lot of money if it goes and dies on me!” he sighed. Mauling it over in his mind Hanzo thought on how he could still get the money without having the merchandise. Then an idea came to mind, his face scrounged into a smirk. “well I can just find some random black cat on the street and sell that saying it’s the red eyed on. I get paid, highest bidder gets their cat while I change my name and move to Fiji before the suckers know the difference.”

With that he started to walk home, chuckling to himself, “Ha, it’s foolproof!”

His mini bout of virtuosity was harshly interrupted by a tacky ringtone. Hanzo groaned knowing that it was his, he checked to see that it was an unknown number. His stomach dropped, dreading that it would be one of his ex wives or girlfriends coming back to haunt him for taking their money.

“Yallo…” he answered wearily.

“Hello Shun Hanzo, it’s a pleasure to talk to the man who’s in possession of something very valuable.” The voice sounded baritone and had an accent that indicates the one on the other line isn’t Japanese.

“And to whom do I hold the honor of speaking to?” the black market merchant asked evenly. Working as long as he has in the underground he knows a dangerous client when he hears one and said each word with caution.

“Names aren’t important, what you should know is that I’m one of the top bidders. Now about that particular black cat-“

“you could of waited for the bidding to end and if you’re the top bidder by then you get your cat.” He stroked his goatee nervously. “Just know to send your money-“

“If you can guarantee you can hold your end of the bargain, which I have my doubts.” The man interrupted with a calm threat,  “I’ve had informants investigation you and found that you lie and cheat on any way possible to get the money you need to support your run down life. You see I don’t like to be messed with and what I want is your guarantee that in two hours that red eyed cat will be in my possession”

Hanzo felt a shiver run down his spin. This man was deadly, very deadly, but even so. “How much?”

“I’ll triple the pay of the highest betting”

If possible his eyes bulged out of his sockets from the offer. Forget a vacation in Fiji! With that much money the dealer is set for life on the tropical island! “You got it! In two hours the cat is yours!” he cheered at the amount of money he’ll have. “Just pray that the little money maker hasn’t croaked before I get to it!”

“Oh! And one more thing…”

“And that is~”

“The owner of the cat if possible…” there was a pause before the man continued. A sadistic grin could almost be heard in his next words.

“Kill him”