Beastars: A Steep Fall From Light

Chapter 2: Masks Have Their Own Secrets

Yuta woke up in his quarters of the house. He had lived here as long as he had worked for the family who paid his wages. He stood and walked over to the armoire, taking out his uniform and dressing up. The sheep neatened up the wool on his head and straightened his clothes before walking out into the early morning of the house. As the butler, he was always the first up and last to bed. Especially today. His boss was headed out early and needed his morning breakfast earlier than planned. It had been prepared the night before and only needed to be brought up to him in his office.

The butler took a tray and laid the food on it. He then took the pot of freshly brewed tea and placed it next to the food. Yuta picked up the tray and carried it out of the kitchen and into the silent halls of the mansion. He walked up the stairs past the massive portrait of his old master, Ogma, who had died in a car accident a few years past. Next to him in the picture was his adopted son, who had taken his place after his death and spurred the company towards massive growth. Which of course meant, Yuta and the rest of the staff got paid a bit more.

Yuta took a left at the top of the stairs and entered the door that was on his left almost immediately. The doorknob froze in it's locked position. He took his key and knocked on the door.

"Sir?" he called.

"Come in," the voice answered.

Yuta unlocked the door and opened it, entering and closing the door behind him. He looked to see his boss sitting shirtless at his desk. He had his coat, shirt and tie hung over the back of the chair. He was at least in pants as he threaded a needle and thread through one of three large gashes across his chest. Yuta almost dropped the tray, but he had become accustomed to seeing him injured like this.

"Sir you really shouldn't stitch your own wounds," Yuta said. "Allow me."

"No," Louis said, concentrating on the needle and thread. "Please leave me to do this myself."

"And risk you getting an infection? I don't think so."

The old sheep put down the tray he was carrying and took hold of the needle and thread.

"I said-"

"I know what you said," the butler interrupted. "Doesn't mean I have to listen."

The sheep pierced one side of the wound with the needle, running the thread through the claw mark and bringing the needle out the other side. The three claw marks ran all the way across his boss' chest. They ran deep as well. Yuta thought if they ran any deeper, he would be seeing Louis' ribs.

"One of these days you may need a real doctor," he said, as he made another loop to seal the wound. "Did you get mauled by a tiger?"

"Polar bear," Louis corrected through gritted teeth. "Part of those drug dealers in The Drusk. Wasn't as fast as I thought I was."

"I assume you'll need the uniform mended as well?"

"If you don't mind."

Yuta finished the stitching and moved to the next gash.

"If the criminals you're taking on are going to get more and more dangerous, I suggest widening your circle of confidants. To more than just you and me."

"I can handle them, Yuta."

"Like you handled this one?" the butler asked, pausing in his handy work to address the deer's injuries.

Louis sighed before rolling his eyes and looking off to the side. He picked up the cup of tea and carefully sipped the hot liquid, Yuta noticing the bruises around his throat. Good thing his suit had a collar.