Beep Beep. Beep Beep. Be-
My hand slammed down on the alarm clock before it could beep again. I quickly pushed the duvet and pulled myself to my feet, not giving myself any chance of falling back to sleep and being late for work. I rubbed my head, and headed towards my chest of draws, planning on getting changed. As I jacked open one of the draws, my mind went back to the dream. Something about a neko L.
"If only" I muttered to myself, reaching in and pulling out the first work shirt I saw. I tried to think what might happen today, would I get a strange customer, or find a pound or maybe, just maybe get a pay rise. Well I had been working well. I always do. I focus on my work and don't let my mind wonder. To be honest, I don't have much else to think about. Only my work, what I would do-

"Meow"

I froze. The noise had stopped my train of thought in an instant. It had come from behind me, from the direction of the bed. I turned round very slowly, eyes wide. There, on the bed, was a small, black haired neko, its head tilted to the side, staring at me with large black hawk like eyes. A neko L. Sitting on my bed. I unleashed a terrified scream and stumbled, hitting the chest and draws and falling to the fall. The neko jumped back in fright and fell off the bed, landing on the floor with a soft thud. A moment later I saw his little head poke up, staring at me from across the bed. His eyes were wider than mine now, mixed with fear and confusion. I continued staring at him, my mind whirling. Slowly, I remember the 'dream' I had last night. Only it wasn't a dream. It was real. I had really found a neko L sitting outside in the rain, taken him home, and he had slept in my bed.

I took a deep breath "Sorry L." I spoke calmly to the neko, even though my mind was still muddled. I stood up, using the chest of draws as support. "You just scared me…" I gave him a weak smile, then slowly crossed the room, scooping him up gently into my arms. He snuggled into me, and I felt his tiny hands clinging to my night shirt. I took another deep breath and stroked L's head "Oh L….what am I going to do?" I whispered softly.

I quickly got dressed and carried L downstairs and into the living room. When I sat down on the sofa, L hopped off my lap and onto the cushions next to me. He rolled over a few times, and then started rubbing his face against the cushions, purring quietly. I sat forward, chewing my thumb as I considered my options. If I just told anyone, they would just think I was crazy. No I would have to show them L, make them believe me. But even then, what could they do? None of my friends could do anything more than I could. I would have to find someone who knew what they were doing. But…

I would have to take L to the police station. They would have to help me, find someone who could take care of him. "Come on L" I turned to him and stood up "I need to get you ready to go"

I dressed L in the clothes he had been wearing when I had found him. I had put them in the dryer before going to bed last night, so now they were dry, if a little crinkled. It was raining still, and after I was dressed I put on my largest coat, so it was big enough for both me and L. All the time I was think about what would happen to the little neko
Would he be put up for adoption? No he's a unique species he would be taken in and…..studied.
I froze halfway through putting my coat on, my eyes wide.
They would take him to some kind of lab, and run tests on him.
I suddenly was flooded with mental images of the little neko, being held down while men in white coats and white gloves inject him with chemicals. I imagined L struggling and yelping loudly, tears forming in his eyes. Another image was of him being kept in a cage, while the same men poke him with an electric probe, and L only being able to cry and curl up into a ball. People hitting the neko, cutting him, burn-

I jumped as I felt something brush my leg. Glancing down, I saw that L was rubbing himself against my leg, purring quietly. He looked up at me; head tilted to one side, and uttered a tiny meow. I crouched down and stroked his head, thinking hard. I couldn't anyone hurt such a wonderful creature. L rolled over on to his back, batting at my hand. I smiled and tickled his exposed stomach. L grabbed my hand and nipped my hand playfully, his eyes wide in excitement. I giggled and stroked L's head with my other hand, which forced L to have to choose which hand to attack. He gave up in the end, and just sat up, staring at me with a small smile, his tail flicking behind him. I signed and sat down on the floor, thinking about what I should do. L crawled forward, into my lap meowing softly to try and gain my full attraction again.

I shook my head, and pulled off my coat, throwing it aside. I then warped my arms around the neko, holding him close. He squeaked in surprise, his little hands clinging to my shirt.

"Don't worry L, I'll take care of you." I whispered, closing my eyes slowly "I won't let anything happen to you.