Chapter 3
Shion finally broke the hug. "What are you doing here?"
Nezumi grew serious; Shion was a friend, nothing more. Besides, he only helped him once, why did he care of the spoiled brat?
Shion felt the air change. "I know you are not here for me. So, what?"
"The robe of the rat. I want it." Nezumi said.
"That's in the storage room."
"Where is that?" Nezumi asked.
Shion put a finger to his lips and motioned for Nezumi to follow him. They snuck along the wooden porch and Shion stopped at a door and slid the door open. It was messy in their but Nezumi watched as Shion entered.
It was a little bit, but Shion eventually came out with a golden box with a carving of a rat on it. Shion smiled and gave it to Nezumi.
Nezumi looked at Shion and carefully opened it. Inside was a beautiful silk robe like Shion's, but the rat's robe was colored assortments of purples, blues, and grays.
"You should try it on." Shion suggested.
"No." Nezumi said, closing the box.
"It's yours, why not?" Shion asked.
"I don't want to ruin it." Nezumi and softly.
"Where have you been?" Aki asked and stepped into the storage room.
Shion peeked out from around Nezumi and Aki laughed.
"Making out with the maids huh?"
The whole group was behind him now,
Shiko squinted at Shion, he needed glasses, but no one in the west district could afford such luxuries. "Is that a ceremonial robe she is wearing?"
Shion backed up, trapped by boxes.
Aki approached and saw the golden pin of the snake in Shion's hair, "Wait, this is the snake boy." Aki said and looked Shion over. Aki was about at tall as Nezumi, maybe taller, but he still towered over Shion.
Shion got closer to Nezumi, scared.
"Come here." Aki grabbed Shion and pulled him to his body, he was able to see the gold pin up close. "Is that pure gold?"
"Let me go."
Nezumi was getting upset seeing Aki hold Shion like that. "Hey, let him go."
"Why should I? I saw we take him, he may fetch a pretty little ransom." Aki laughed, "And I have been experimenting a little lately, those girls and boys from Rikiga's are just no longer working for me. I wonder how a Snake would feel. I need a good boning partner."
Shion pushed away and slapped Aki across the face.
Everyone in Aki's gang awed at Shion's bravery.
Aki got and evil look in his eye and punch Shion.
The small teen fell.
"You bastard!" Nezumi yelled and Dake grabbed him. He struggled, glaring at Aki.
Aki looked at Shion and kicked Shion in the gut.
Shion clutched his stomach.
Nezumi screamed, he needed to help.
Aki punched Shion one more time and it knocked him out, Shion turned into the beautiful white snake Nezumi remembered. Aki threw Shion and the robes and pin into his bag, kidnapping Shion. "Dake, tie Nezumi up. If he is going to fraternize with the enemy, he is going to be punished."
"Screw you." Nezumi growled.
"Hopefully I will screw the one in the bag all night long. I bet he is a screamer." He said.
Dake tied Nezumi up nice and tight.
"Good night." They all said and closed the door, leaving Nezumi trapped inside with it locked.
Nezumi quickly shifted into a rat and climbed out of his clothes. He hated how he was going to be nude after this. He ran to the door and tried the door after turning human. It was locked. He tried the window, but it was nailed shut. He looked around. He turned back into a rat and walked into a closet, finding a mouse hole. He squeezed through and ran out of the storage. He scurried to the wall and looked for an exit, finding the crack he went through eight years ago. It was no where near big enough to fit through. He looked around and ran back to Shion's room. He hid for a second, diving under the porch as a woman stepped out with brown hair, she wore a blue dress with a golden hair pin with a snake in it, Wait… a snake? Nezumi watched her as the woman looked around.
"Shion?" She called. "Where are you Shion?"
Nezumi ran past her into Shion's room. He turned human and grabbed a butter knife Shion had on a plate from eating some toast earlier or something. Nezumi grabbed her; thankful it was New Year the only time of Year the curse did not work. He pulled her into Shion's room covering her mouth as he held the knife to her throat. "I am not here to hurt you. I am here to help. My name is Nezumi. Your son was kidnapped earlier and I am on a mission to get him back, but the problem is that I can't get over the wall. I need your help. I am the rat of the zodiac, and I got mixed up with the wrong people, I will return your son if it is the last thing I do."
The woman was still.
"No screaming. Or I will slit your throat."
"Understood." She said softly.
Nezumi let her go. He covered himself with Shion's sweater.
"Where are your clothes?"
"In the storage room."
"Wait here." She said and Nezumi peeked and watched her fetch his clothes.
Nezumi dressed when Karen gave him his clothes. "Thanks."
"Can you save my son?"
"Yes."
"Then I can get you out. Follow me and wear this over your clothes." She gave Nezumi a pink robe and she untied his hair. With that, he looked very feminine.
"You look just like a maid now." Karen explained and held Nezumi out through the front door.
Karen led Nezumi past the zodiacs and through the crowds.
Nezumi took off the robe and gave it back to her. "I will return with Shion."
"I know you will. You are his mate aren't you?" Karen smiled.
Nezumi looked at her shocked.
Karen smiled. "Woman's intuition." She kissed Nezumi's cheek. "I trust you."
Nezumi touched his cheek.
"Now go. My son needs you."
Nezumi nodded and disappeared into the crowd.