Okay...dunno where this came from...but it's here...so don't hate it? Or something like that. Me no own, you no sue.

Misto looked sadly at the ground, ignoring the faint sound of music coming from somewhere in the Yard. He didn't really know what the Tribe was celebrating, but he knew he didn't want to be a part of it. Not when he was in so much pain. The short tuxedo racked his brain, trying to figure out when this decent into the Basements had started, but he came up empty. All he knew was that sometime between the Jellicle Ball last year, and this years Ball, he had fallen for a most unreachable Jellicle. And it hurt.

He had seen her with him. And in that instant, he knew that he had lost. She had been sitting so close to him, almost on top of him. The looks she had been giving him...there had to be something there. He had known, right from the first moment he had realized his feelings, that anything between them was impossible, but there had still been a spark of hope...that had been destroyed now. Any chance, even slim as it had been, that they could have been together was crushed as firmly as the law in Macavity's grasp.

As if Misto's thoughts had summoned the Napoleon of Crime, there was a shattering of glass and the ginger fiend stood in the clearing Misto had been about to enter. Misto froze, hoping that his black coat would allow him to blend into the shadows of the pile he stood next to. He held his breath, calling himself all kinds of idiot. He had known that Macavity would be furious with his rescue of Old Deuteronomy at the Ball, yet he had still gone and walked alone, in the dark, away from the Tribe. As the Hidden Paw looked straight at him and smiled nastily, Misto's eyes slowly closed and a tear slid down his face. He never saw the henchcat who knocked him out.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

When Misto finally awoke, he was chained to a wall, his arms over his head and covered with iron (the only thing that could stop him using his magic). He looked around, not needing to to know where he was. His heart sank. It was likely he would die there, without ever getting to say goodbye to anyone...or even his love...A few more tears slid down his face.

"Well, well, well. It seems the great Magical Mr. Mistoffelees is not as brave as he would appear." Misto didn't bother to look up at Macavity.

"I do not cry from fear, Macavity. I cry because I know what will most likely happen to me, and I just wish I could have said good-bye." Macavity chuckled cruelly.

"So you've given up. I wonder...could it be because you've lost her to him? Oh, don't look surprised my dear magician. I've known about the crush you've had on Bombalurina for a long, long time. How it must hurt, never being able to tell her. To see her always pass over you and fawn over the Rum Tum Tugger. To see her tonight, unable to look away from him. How painful it must be fore you, to know you've lost her forever. Am I right?" Misto smiled sadly.

"No." Macavity frowned, then shrugged.

"Well, it matters not. You will be in enough pain to suit me soon enough." He stepped forward, unsheathing his claws. "Now, what should I do first to make you scream, hmm?"

Tugger looked round the clearing, still not seeing the one person he most wanted there that night. He ignored Bomba's blathering beside him, and how she would occasionally brush against him, trying to get him to keep his mind on her. He blinked in surprise as she pulled away, and looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"What is with you, Tugger? Do you not hear me talking?"

"No. Sorry, Bomba, but I've kinda got something a bit more important on my mind."

"Like what? This secret 'love' you've mentioned? Please," She scoffed. "I know you Tugger. You flirt, you tease, you don't fall in love." Tugger frowned, pulling away from her and standing up.

"For your information, Bombalurina, I can fall in love. I can and I have. Why do you think I've never done anything more then flirt? It's because my heart was stolen years ago, by someone I know I could never have." Bomba rolled her eyes.

"Like that's going to make me believe you. You're the Rum Tum Tugger, who couldn't you have?" Tugger closed his eyes, dropping back down and staring sadly at a bonfire someone had started in the middle of the clearing.

"Him, apparently." He said quietly.

"Him?"

"Oh, come off it, Bomba!" he sighed in exasperation, staring at her irritatedly. "You know I'm bi, why is it so surprising?"

"Because you never flirt with any of the toms!"

"Because they're all either straight or not interested. I'd rather not waste my time when I'm only going to get insulted for my efforts, thank you very much."

Bombalurina opened her mouth to say something, but was cut off by a scream from Demeter, who was had shot to her feet and was staring out of the clearing with horror. Coricopat and Tantomile were also standing, and had the same expressions. Munkustrap quickly moved many of the Tribe behind him, to the opposite side of the fire and as far away from whatever it was as possible. Tugger moved till he was standing behind his cousin, both toms ready to defend their Tribe. Slowly, the figure entered the clearing, coming right up to the bonfire. Demeter whimpered and started to head toward the figure, only to be held back by Bombalurina. Admetus and Plato restrained the Mystic twins, who looked terrified and ready to go kill someone at the same time.

A few steps away, the figure stopped and both Munku and Tugger became less defensive. Though the figure was covered in black fur, they could still make out some blood, especially on a upside down triangle of white on his chest. He held his left arm close to his side with his right hand and his head hung down, as if he didn't need to look where he was going. He limped, breath ragged. There was something familiar about the tom, and a spark of dread began to fill Tugger's chest. The Jellicle seemed awfully familiar...

Slowly, whoever it was raised their head. As more and more of the face was revealed, the dread in Tugger's chest grew. Finally, his heart almost stopped as the Tribe gasped in horror and fury. Mistoffelees' eyes looked torturedly at them from his bloody face. His mouth opened and one word hung in the now silent clearing.

"Macavity..." he whispered, then his eyes rolled up into his head and he collapsed. The moment, he started to move, Tugger lunged forward, catching the tuxedo magician and cradling him to his chest.

"C'mon, Misto, don't die on me now! Please, wake up. You can't die, you can't Misto! Please, I'm begging you, open your eyes, please Misto! Don't die, I can't let you die, I won't be able to bear it, c'mon Misto, please!" He barely knew what he was saying anymore. All he knew was the only cat to have ever held his heart so completely was bleeding to death in his arms. A pair of paws with stripes and spots started to gently pull the limp form of the tux from him, and only his cousin's paw on his shoulder restrained him from doing anything. He tried to follow, but again Munkustrap held him back.

"Don't Tug. They'll need to move quickly to save him, and you would just get in the way. I'll go make sure they know to inform you first when his condition changes, all right?" Tugger didn't answer, staring after Jenny, Jelly and Misto. Munkustrap sighed, beckoning for Alonzo.

"Take Tugger to his den and make sure he doesn't leave." Alonzo blinked.

"Why? He won't go to the Healer's Den-"

"But he could try to go after Macavity, to get revenge for what happened to Misto. I don't want that happening. Make sure he goes nowhere. Get as much help as you think you'll need. I need to talk with Father. I'll send someone to tell you what we decide." Alonzo nodded, gently grabbing Tugger's arm and starting to guide him off. However, the moment he touched Tugger, the manned tom spun and leapt away, running from the clearing with a murderous look in his eyes. Both Munkustrap and Alonzo shouted in alarm and ran off after him.