Part of this 'new' first chapter used to be 'Family Problems' a standalone designed to shed more light on Mark's happenings during the events of Mike's story. However - with 'Alien Problems' now in full swing I think it's time to update the continuity a little bit. With this chapter placed here, the story as a whole should serve to make a little more sense now. I know it might seem confusing, but please bare with it.

For those of you who are new to the story - I hope you enjoy the read!

Alien Problems (Rewind)

The rain just wouldn't let up. Perhaps it was an omen - or perhaps a prelude of fate. The grains of sand spilled through the hourglass and the clock ticked onward.

'Damn it all! Have I reached my end at last?'

"I cannot best you - no matter how hard I try. Indeed, you drive me to the brink of madness, Celeste."

Mark collapsed on hand and knee, gasping for breath as his enemy, took bare footed steps across the wet, sandy ground.

"Markus Kane," she smiled, flipping yet another hand through the wet strands of her snowy white hair, "Your friends are still alive... for the moment at least. Your comrade Mike put up a most valiant fight... so much so that I find myself enamoured with him."

Kane's entire body throbbed the weight of the heartbeat ringing in his ears. Regardless, he stood again. A low growl slipped free - fists clenching tight as his limbs shuddered with sharpened rage, "What about Momo? You said she would remain unharmed. Do not say you intend to stab me in the back?"

"She is also alive, and if you wish for her to stay that way," the extra-terrestrial vixen stopped just short of her pray, eying him with her powerful orange orbs in the moon's light, "Then you had better comply with my demands..."

"What do you want?"

As Mark fought steadied his legs, the entire world continued to teeter on the edge a violent vortex.

'Let me out, Markus. Your sanity hangs by a thread and yet you still resist me. Once I have control I'll pluck the heart from this bitch. I'll make her watch in her final moments before I crush her lifeblood beneath my boot. I'll destroy her.'

"It would appear that you are fast running out of time, Mister Kane." Celeste folded her arms, waggling her finger.

"If we do not remove it from your body by sunrise... the being will complete its meld with your brain and nervous system... and you will cease to exist as a single entity. I could use my surgical equipment to purge it from your bloodstream. Before I do, however, I require one last thing from you..."

"You want to fight me," Mark declared aloud. Of course, she did - she'd hunted him like a cat on the trail of a mouse. "Save me the foolish prattle... and let us be on with it."

Power - it coursed through the man's veins, filling his core with force most intense. His heartbeat thumped, and as the blood pulsed through every fibre of his mortal form, his eyes shone red as blood, "I'll make you pay for what you've done..."

The alien lady took a step back, lips curved into a smirk, "It would seem you are forcefully bending the strength of the creature to your whim - a near impossibility for a human. However... I have learned to expect nothing less from you..."

"This thing is," Mark coughed chunks of red as his senses surged in overdrive, "...destroying me. But I'll not back down. I'll never admit defeat... my most lethal adversary."

"Come," he beckoned her forth with a wave of the hand, standing tall in stance, "Let us finish this..."

"Very good," Celeste chuckled, her curvy form slinking in preparation for the dance of combat, "I have been looking forward to this... never before has a target given me the thrill of such chase..."

Time was almost up. Mark exhaled deeply, and in the final moments, allowed his mind to drift back to the very beginning.

"This is it... the final battle..."

Four weeks earlier

Some things never changed. The world always seemed to stay the same no matter how he tried, but then again, facing the truth never felt very appealing. Money made things easy, but having wealth was never enough to solve every problem. Markus Kane, twenty-four years of age, and for all intents and purposes, seemingly in control of every aspect of his life.

With a small shake of the head, Markus looked away from his muscular reflection in the mirror. As always, his self-defence regimen at the gym was going well. "Another day in the endless spiral of one's existence. Momo, are you here?"

A bell softly jangled as if moving on que to those words. It was followed by the gentle sound of pattering feet across the darkened carpet. "Welcome home, master! I hope you had a great day."

Markus spun on his feet to greet the smiling cat-like lady. Honestly, trying to define Momo was a task that he found to be somewhat difficult. Just how exactly could he define Momo, exactly? Regardless of the confusion, however, he still found her to be a most attractive creature. Her daytime kimono made her look so cute in his opinion.

"Today has been enjoyable, thank you." Mark turned back to examine his finer features in the reflection of the mirror for a second time. His deep blue eyes were more than a little droopy from an apparent lack of sleep, while his rugged and manly features remained in compliment to his slickly gelled brown hair.

It had been a long day, but regardless, there was still one more thing to do. "Momo," Markus spoke kindly as he turned to his lady friend.

Momo felt her heart flutter. Her ears twitched expectantly at the mention of her name, and she gave a cheerful smile. "Yes, meow? Can Momo help you with something?"

Markus reached for a cigarette from the pocket of his pants before giving a small smile to her cheerfulness. No matter the time of day, Momo always seemed to wander around the apartment happily. "You see," he began followed by a sleepy little yawn; "The band I manage will be playing this weekend. I was going to ask you if would like to come with me. They need all the moral support they can get."

Finished, he reached across to the lighter that sat upon his favorite armchair and casually lit up a smoke.

For the slightest moment, Momo felt a little blip of confusion. "You use such big words, master… but of course!" she finished with a beaming smile. "Momo would love to spend more time with you!"

"I'm glad," Markus continued after taking a little drag of nicotine into his lungs. After a sharp exhale he patted Momo upon the head in a gentle fashion. "I find myself more at ease when I have you beside me. I can't explain it, but having you with me brings me a sense of… contentedness."

"Master!" Momo felt her levels of annoyance rising. She pouted, being blissfully aware of her adorable showing of frustration. "You're using big words again! Momo doesn't understand…."

Mark chuckled warmly as be pattered the Neko a second time. Having her around, it made him feel like an older brother. "It just means I feel happy when you're here to keep me company."

"Meow!" Momo gave a happy squeal and threw her arms around her master in a playfully sweet showing of affection. "Thank you! Thank you thank you! Momo feels the same way when you come home from work."

"I'm glad." Mark made his way across the tidy little expanse of the living room. Everything was cleaned, dusted, and in its place without fail. Not a chair was out of place, not a single piece of furniture out of line. With an exhausted sigh, the gentleman of muscular build slumped against one of the kitchenette chairs.

With a satisfied sigh he moved to put out his cigarette in the chunky onyx ashtray that sat upon the polished kitchen counter. His thoughts kept on wandering back to the band today, "Their new song is certainly something."

Band practice, a time in which his friends threw all of the energy they had into their passionate art of making music. Mark didn't just manage the trio because they needed somebody to keep track of the money. No, it was far more than that. He managed the band out of friendship.

"Neil and Steve with their exceptional skills as guitarists, and Mike with his sharp voice... The ladies love them... and more people around Glenberry want them to play…. Just the thought of them becoming successful makes me very happy for them."

The sound of Momo scampering across the carpet snapped Markus away from his musings. Turning to face his kitty roommate, he gave a faint smile before leaning forward in his chair. "I do envy you Momo. You're always so happy. I have to admit… I've done well for myself since I graduated, but I sometimes feel as though I'm running away from my true feelings."

The difference in tone the master displayed was cause enough for Momo to tilt her head to the side. More than anything she hated to see Master Mark sad.

"….Cheer up, silly!" She gave the warmest of grins and energetically slinked her way toward Markus. Finally closing in upon him, she threw her slender arms around his middle in an affectionate embrace. "You saved my life. I think you're a very special guy, because you're well… you're you! You could have let Momo go cold and hungry, but instead, you brought me home! You bought me fishies and that made me so happy."

The feeling of such closeness made Mark feel a flicker of warmth within his usually distant heart. "If I told you the truth about myself, I worry that you would see me differently, Momo."

"Of course not, Meow!" Momo snuggled her head softly against the black fabric of Mark's shirt. Nestling so close to him like this, it was comforting. Feeling content with her place at his side like this, she purred softly in a most abundantly feline manner. "I could never hate you after all you've done for me. I would be a sad kitty if you hadn't found me!"

The recognition for such a small act of kindness gave birth to a tiny ember of compassion. Markus could feel it burning in the core of his being as he looked upon Momo's smiling face. "Okay… then I'll be honest with you. Momo… would you think I'm a bad person if I told you that I'm jealous of my friends?"

"But you have nothing to be jealous about, master." Hearing such a thing from her savior felt more than a little confusing. Momo pulled back from the embrace she shared. Playfully, she pressed her finger upon Mark's nose for a second. "You have this nice apartment. You manage a band that makes really cool music, and you even have your fun job at the game store! Plus, you have Momo! You should feel proud!"

Mark sighed and shook his head a little. "My family are constantly hung up on the concepts of honor and tradition. My mother and father... they expect so much of me, and you know what makes it worse? I constantly try to distance myself from all of that. All I wanted was the freedom to choose my own life."

It was the truth of his feelings. For the longest time Markus had felt as though his life was been decided for him. "I remember the look on dad's face when I told him I was going to attend a regular community college and study business instead of training to become a doctor like he did…. He was ashamed and angry beyond words."

"But that doesn't mean you should feel jealous of your friends, master." Momo waggled her finger with a downturned expression. "Even if your daddy isn't happy with you, Momo still cares about you…."

Those words held the searing intensity of a blade straight to the heart. Markus slowly felt his usually hardened shell beginning to crack under the weight of all that he felt. "My friends are musicians… and then there's Kyanna. She has a wonderful son and lots of friends. Meanwhile, I'm running from the expectations of my family… never quite escaping the shadow they cast. My father barely spoke a word to me at our last family dinner."

As everything usually was, the dinner was a formal affair. Just thinking back to it made his skin crawl a little. Having to sit down for a meal in a full suit and tie. The hardest part was having to talk about recent happenings with father.

Mark's expression was twisting with anger, his fists clenching, "He told me I shouldn't be managing a band. He called my friends deadbeats. You know what's worse? He had the nerve to say I'd WASTED my education and that I should go to medical school while I have the chance! Who the hell does that two-faced old cretin think he is?!"

"STOP IT! MEOW!" Momo hissed violently, her tail standing bolt upright as she did so. With an angry backhand swipe of the paw, she struck out. In her heart she could not bare hearing master talk about himself like this.

Markus placed a hand of his own upon the stinging handprint that warmed the left side of his face. "You hit me…. Momo…. Why did yo-"

A tiny little sob wretched free from Momo's delicate lips as she threw her arms around her blue-eyed prince. Her own eyes felt damp, and slowly but surely, little tears of crystal leaked down the side of her pale cheeks. "Because Momo loves you, master! My place is here with you now! Hearing you talk so meanly about yourself makes me feel all horrible inside..."

Markus could only bring himself to close his eyes in defeat as he held the slender Neko in his strong and protective embrace. Love was certainly an emotion he had not felt since leaving home and starting to make his own story in the world. Then again, even that was something very bittersweet. His parents and especially his grandparents didn't really treat him the same since he studied his business diploma. Ever since graduation they had become much more distant.

"I'm sorry, Momo…. I shouldn't have lost my cool like that. It's just… I get so frustrated. Do you really mean it though? You're not just trying to cheer me up, are you?"

"Of course not," Momo chimed softly as she gently rubbed her head against Markus' chest while purring in like a kitten. "You always treat me so nicely. You get me food when I'm hungry, you keep me company every night when you come home, and you even let me sleep in your nice warm bed while you sleep on the couch! Momo couldn't ask for anymore from you, master! I want to stay here with you more than anything in the world."

Such compliments helped Mark feel a little more upbeat in his time of need. It was the warmth his heart needed when it was in danger of becoming cold. Smiling at last, he softly petted Momo behind the ears.

She mewed softly in response. Pets, she loved being petted like this. Momo's ears twitched softly in response to such affection. "Master… Momo was wondering something. Would kissing me make you feel any better?"

The sudden acceleration Mark felt in his heartbeat was about one of the only responses his body could muster in. The organ in his chest thumped loudly. Not to mention his cheeks felt as though they were heating slightly. It was not just because of the slap either. Since her arrival at his home Markus had seen Momo in more of a sisterly light most of the time. His body stiffened, and for the moment, he chose to release Momo from their shared embrace.

"I don't want anything to ruin the friendship we have," he began quietly. A situation such as this was something that Mark was not well versed in. "It wouldn't be right if we did and then… things became difficult."

"Don't be shy, master." Momo let out a soft little chuckle and softly sat herself upon the kitchen counter. "Momo just wants to show you how much she cares. I hate seeing you look so sad..."

It was impossible to resist such a gentle assault on the emotions from such a loving assailant. Mark knew it all too well. There had been times when his lonely heart had felt faint flickers of desire for the energetic neko girl that he had let into his life. "Perhaps I should just embrace how I feel after all..."

"Mew?" Momo tilted her head, "Did you say something, master?"

However, the gentleman quickly raised his hands in defence, "No, No. I didn't say anything at all..."

"Ohhh... okay," The cat girl giggled playfully and leaned a little closer to gaze into Mark's deep oceanic eyes, "Cats have very good hearing... I hope you know that..."

A sudden and sharp thump of the heart caused Markus to sigh. "You heard me, didn't you?"

"Of course I did!" Momo beamed with energy. "You don't need to be scared! Momo would never hurt you, mas-"

"Just call me Mark, okay? You need not be so formal. I had enough of that at home... having to call my father 'Sir' and all.'" Home life was so strict and it was something he detested. The first world problems of the upper-middle class the the things he hoped to leave behind when he moved to Glenberry with his friends from the band.

"Okay... Mark," Momo mewed sheepishly as if she was saying a naughty word. "Would you like to kiss Momo?" she repeated her question again, this time in a slightly more shy tone of voice. Her cheeks were turning scarlett. "Momo... has wanted to kiss you for a while now..."

Markus looked onward as the lady feline nervously hid her face away. Her confession made him feel more at ease. In fact, hearing that she felt the same way, it was enough to relax his original fears.

"Alright." Finally conceding, Mark softly took Momo into his embrace. Bringing his hands upon her shoulders, he smiled softly and leaned in. "Close your eyes, please…. I've not kissed a lot of women. I don't want this to be a bad experience for you…."

Momo squealed softly in hapiness. "Momo couldn't possibly feel bad about this... especially since it's you kissing me, Mark..."

Eyes shut, she leaned ever closer to her master. She trusted him to be kind and gentle. Her long tail slowly swished from side to side as she waited patiently. "Meow."

With each moment that slid by the duo found themselves edging ever closer, centimetre by centimetre. Finally, their lips met in the middle with a moist touch and locked together as if connected by a force of magic. The room fell silent, save for the intimate sound of lips slowly smacking together in a loving melee of romance. Lost in the moment, Markus felt his grip upon Momo's shoulders tighten the slightest bit more. Meanwhile, the cat girl mewed happily in response to such tenderness.

Time stood still for the entirety of the exchange, or it seemed to for the pair as they remained locked in such heartfelt moment. Slowly but surely, Markus and Momo inched apart, and gazed lovingly into each other's eyes.

The kitty smiled first as her little heart fluttered within the confines of her chest. "….That was my first time kissing somebody," came her shy admission with a crimson blush. "I love you so much!"

The feeling of fulfilment Markus felt from a single gesture of love was a sensation most unfamiliar to his romantically dulled senses. However, there was no denying that at this moment in time, he felt extremely special indeed. "I love you also, Momo."

To be continued...

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this, and I do hope you enjoyed it. As always, your feedback is both appreciated and very much welcome. There's also a new poll up on my profile. Please feel free to swing by and cast your vote. Let me know what you would most like to see from me in the future!

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