Heracles sighed as he slowly walked along the sidewalk, his hands in his pockets. He had lost his home, his family, his fiancee, everything, in a single day. At least I'm still alive. He sighed again at his poor attempt at trying to cheer himself up. The only thing he had left was a few euros. He noticed a convenience store. His stomach reminding him that he had not eaten all day. Maybe I can get some very late breakfast he thought as he glanced at the setting sun. He was about to walk in when he heard a meow. He looked to see a cat walk out from the alley beside him. The cat was pure black with dark brown eyes. Heracles stared at his tail, for he could see the cat was a he, as part of the tail was split halfway, not as if it was cut, but as if it had naturally split. He bent down and stretched out a hand.
"Come here little guy." The cat stared at for a few seconds before hesitantly walking over and sniffing his hand. Heracles moved his hand to pet him, but he darted away back into the alley. He slowly peeked out. Heracles chuckled.
"Distrustful, aren't you?" Heracles thought for a few minutes before walking into the convenience store. He walked out a few minutes later, a small can of tunai in his hands. He opened the can and bent down, leaving it on the ground. The cat, who had still been peeking from the alley, slowly walked over, eyeing Heracles as he stepped closer to the food. When he reached the can, he sat and took small bites of the tuna. Heracles smiled.
"You like it?" The cat looked up at him, staring at him for a minute before returning to the food. When he was done, he bowed his head, as if saying thank you before walking off into the alley, leaving Heracles alone again. He sighed before getting up. As he turned around, a man suddenly walked up to him and stabbed him.
"This is what you get for destroying the company, bastard." As no one else was around, the man simply ran away with no trouble. Heracles gripped his stomach, gasping at the pain. I can't die here, I haven't apologized to Uncle yet, he thought desperately before starting to walk. He kept walking, with no particular destination, as he had no place to go and nothing else to do. He stopped to find himself in a pavilion. On one side of him was a giant stand of bleachers of gray stone. On his other side was a raised platform that stood as a laid down on a bench, slowly closing his eyes. Maybe I can die peacefully if I'm asleep, he thought as he slowly relaxed into the cold stone.
He wasn't sure what had awoken him, but he opened his eyes to find a strange sight. On the stage stood a man. The moon stood behind him, illuminating his features. He had silky black hair, darker than night, contrasting with his skin that was as pale as moonlight. He was wearing a black kimono with silver roses intertwined with blood-red carnations. From behind him, a long, split tail switched back and forth. On the top of his head, two ears similar to a feline's twitched in his direction before the rest of the man turned toward him. He looked at him as if he were looking into his soul and judging its contents. He then seemed to ponder something before speaking.
"I can give my help, if you wish to have it." Heracles nodded, a little awestruck by the beauty in front of him. The man walked closer until he was next to the bench, looking down at him.
"My help comes with a price. Are you certain you wish for my help?" Heracles smiled a tired smile.
"I've lost everything today. What more could a beautiful creature as yourself do that hasn't already been done to me?" He almost thought he saw the man blush before he laid his hands on Heracles's chest. A soft white light suddenly began to glow around the man's hands, spreading to Heracles's entire body. He instantly no longer felt the wound in his side. So tired, he thought before closing his eyes.