Okaa-san hurried about, shouting orders at the brothel girls and fussing over me. It was like the theatre all over again. This however, was much worse.

Today I was to be claimed.

The red kimono I was forced into was tight around my body, and actually made me feel like just another whore in a brothel. My face was not hid under a mask of white powder because Okaa-san said it would be a waste. I didn't need to impress anyone with my looks; only my body.

I stayed squirmed a bit as the brothel girls tried to brush my ears and tail. It was uncomfortable sure, but in reality I just wanted to stall before I had to face the man who was to take my virginity. The two girls who were trying to comb me, shot me dirty looks full of envy. None of them had been bought even though they had danced alongside me.

I had no sympathy for them. They were just like Okaa-san, only thinking about themselves.

Speaking of the devil, she rushed into the room, positively glowing with greed. Shooing the girls out, she took the comb and ran a few rough brushes through my hair before she too, rushed out with me in tow. Down the corridor, through the crowded hallway, and up a flight of stairs, she practically dragged me until we arrived at what I knew to be the exclusive room.

Only high-paying important customers were allowed to be in that luxurious room.

She kneeled quickly, like a good hostess. Shooting me a glare when I didn't follow her example, she dragged me down with her, and gently tapped the paper door.

"Everything is ready." She announced quietly.

I didn't quite hear what the man said, but I didn't get a chance to ponder about it as Okaa-san opened the door, and suddenly shoved me into the room. The doors were closed with a snap, and my ear twitched as I heard a distinct click, alerting me of a lock.

Keeping my head down, I shuffled over to the side of the bed and kneeled. The bed was scattered with rose petals the same color of red as the kimono I wore. The room smelled of cheap perfume and fake flowers. A furtive glance around the room confirmed my suspicions. Candles were lit and littered all over the floor, succeeding in giving me a headache.

It felt like hours before the man finally moved from his position at the window. He walked steadily toward the opposite side of the bed, and kneeled as well. I fidgeted and pulled at the sleeves of my yukata, the color making me want to puke. The room's stench wasn't helping either.

"You are so beautiful." The man finally spoke, his voice cracking.

It was then that I finally decided to look upon the face of my buyer. And the sight disgusted me more than my yukata or the horrid candles ever could.

The man who sat across from me was disgusting. With his large bulging stomach, wild beard, and yellowed teeth, he was not at all my ideal choice. But that's just it. I didn't have one.

The man caught my staring and shot me a lusty smirk, stupidly thinking I was ogling him out of desire. It took all my will power not to outright hiss at the repulsing human trash in front of me, so I settled for a sneer. He seemed to take that as a challenge because he raised a brow in amusement.

With a large, greasy hand, he motioned toward the bed. Stubbornly, I looked away. He chuckled a bit, and settled on the plush mattress. Turning to me, he patted the space beside him to which I scoffed at. Now that he wasn't getting what he wanted, the man seemed less entertained and more annoyed.

"Get into bed." He ordered.

A small growl rose in my chest and echoed out of my throat. My tail puffed up in anger and my ears flicked back. I was taking no orders from this filthy man!

He scowled at my rebellion and made a grab for me. Dodging it easily, I ascended to all fours, hissing wildly. Okaa-san and her punishment be damned, I was not going to be fucked by this stranger like a toy!

The man let out a growl of his own, and this time, fully lunged for me. I leapt away, adrenaline pumping through veins, making my heart pound in my ears. I ran at the door and pulled with all my might, but the same CLICK I had heard from before reminded me that the doors were locked. I growled at my stupidity, but I wasn't able to reprimand myself fully because a hand wrapped around my ankle.

With a harsh tug, my back slammed against the hard wood floor, and I was promptly dragged toward the bed. I struggled fiercely, ignoring the sting in back of my head. Hissing, spiting, kicking, biting, and scratching at the man on top of me, but to no avail.

He began tearing at my yukata, ripping off pieces of the red fabric. As much I hated the damn thing, I needed it as some sort of barrier from the man's peering eyes. Pushing at his shoulders feebly, my vision become blurry. With a start I realized I was crying, and I was no longer hissing, more like yowling. The man noticed, and tried to calm me down.

"Shh Neko, don't worry. I am a land owner, I am wealthy. You can leave this dirty place and come live with me."

His words only made it that much worse. I felt more than saw his hand slide up my leg and under my robes. In my panic, I swiped at the others face, despite my blurry vision. I succeeded and he drew away from me with a yell, retracting his hand to cup at his eye.

My victory was short lived however, and he came at me with reignited fury. Grabbing hold of my shoulders, he lifted me up, and slammed me back down. My head reeled as it made contact with the unforgiving floor, and my already bleary eyesight deteriorated as my brain tried to hurriedly recover from the blow.

I dimly noted that something slick and wet was sliding down my neck. But I couldn't dwell on it as my legs were hoisted up by one hand, while the other headed for my backside.

"No! Don't! I screamed, and recoiled in disgust when I realized it was his tongue sliding against my neck.

He grunted in annoyance and shoved his fingers in my mouth in an attempt to keep me quiet. I instinctively gagged, not only in reflex but in abhorrence. How dare this filthy pig do this?

So I snapped my jaws and sunk my canines into those repulsive chunks of fat as deep as they would go. The fool ripped his hand away, but my fangs were deeply lodged in. Pulling on his hand again, only to shout in pain, he lifted a fist and smashed it into the my cheek. I force snapped my head to the side and successfully made me release his hand.

A metallic tasted invaded my mouth and I yowled at the horrible pain in my cheek. Faster than I could react, both the man's hands shot out and gripped my neck. I squirmed pathetically under him, clawing at his hands to no avail.

My lungs burned with the need for air and more hot tears made their way down my face. I felt idiotic for crying, but I was scared. I didn't want to die!

Just as black started to creep into my vision, the mans hands loosened, and I was able to take in a deep breathe, my head spinning with the lack of oxygen. I coughed violently before I suddenly realized that the locked doors had been brought down.

I let another violent cough tear its way out of my throat, ignoring the dull pain it brought, and I snapped my head up to the cause of the noise. Stepping on the demolished doors, he staggered in.

Those blue eyes I had fantasized over for so long focused on me, my bloody hair, my torn clothing, and my teary eyes. Then, they narrowed dangerously at the man hovering over me, who was the cause of it all.

Unbridled fury lit up in those eyes, making them glow like a blue fire, ready to consume anything and everything in its path. In a few strong strides, Alfred stood over us both, his face dark. He pulled a fist back, and smashed it across my tormentor's sickening face.

The man practically flew across the room and landed in an unconscious heap, knocking over many candles. The fire automatically caught and began spreading like an infestation across the floorboards.

Alfred however, didn't seem the least bit fazed as bent down towards me. Helping me up, I tried to stand on wobbly legs only to fall back down. The blow to my head and loss of blood had left me disoriented. Wasting no time, Alfred scooped me up in those strong arms, cradling me as if I was the most precious thing in the world. The concern and love swimming in that fiery blue of his eyes showed that he truly believed it too.

I wrapped my skinny arms around his neck and smothered his face with mine, nuzzling the bastard as hard as I could. He gripped me tighter, rubbing his face against mine just as hard. But a shriek brought us out of our love fest. Looking up, I saw Okaa-san and her mangy brutes by the entryway.

Okaa-san's face was LIVID as she saw the damage. Her small, fat frame shook with rage as she made eye contact with me. With another high-pitched shriek she pointed at us.

"GET THEM!" She ordered.

The two brutes were quick to obey, and steadily approached us, taking in Alfred's rather large build. Alfred scowled at them and backed up as far as he could go without the growing fire engulfing us. With horror, I realized we were cornered, but Alfred had other plans.

Whipping around to his right, he ran full speed at the window my buyer had been staring at before. With new terror, I realized he was actually going to JUMP out of a second-story window. I screamed as he jumped on the windowsill and launched himself from there, him laughing like a maniac.

Luckily, we landed on the ledges of the building, and from there jumped to the ground. I clung tightly to Alfred, my little heart pumping a mile a minute. My blue-eyed savior took a moment to catch his breath before once again taking off down the crowded road. I took a moment to look back at the brothel and was glad to see the it was now engulfed in flames.

Once we were far away enough to be sure that we had lost our pursuers, (if we had any) Alfred gently set me down. Stumbling a bit as I tried to regain my balance, I quickly latched onto Alfred once again.

Reaching up on my tippy-toes, I peppered his face with kisses and hugged him hard enough to hurt. On any other occasion, I would have never been so openly affectionate, but I didn't care.

We had just escaped. He saved me from the brothel. He set it on FIRE! But that wasn't nearly as important as the fact that he was here! He was here with me. He was real. He was back. And I just had to cling onto him and begin sobbing like a child because I had just been so scared and alone this whole time. Scared that I had gotten attached. Scared that I was going to be abandoned again. Scared that I'd never get a chance to be this intimate.

And god, I missed him so much.

He grinned and held me, allowing me to shower him with kisses and hugs and tears. I must've looked incredibly childish. My ears flattened against my skull in submission, sobbing into his chest, pressing rushed kisses everywhere I could. But I couldn't bring myself to care because I felt like he would disappear from my life again if I let him go.

Many kisses and tears later, Alfred slipped his large jacket over my shoulders, growling slightly when he saw the many bruises from my buyer's manhandling earlier. Besides that, he said nothing as he zipped the jacket up.

Heat rushed to my cheeks as I realized my lack of clothing, remembering it had been horribly torn up. Grateful that the jacket was at least long enough to cover the important parts, I went to grab Alfred's hand.

I hesitated however, and drew my arm back self-consciously. But I had been caught, and Alfred turned around with that same beaming smile he had when I first talked to him. He bent down with his back towards me and motioned me to get on. I raised an eyebrow in question.

"I-I can walk." I stammered, my voice a bit hoarse due to my yelling and hissing from before.

"I know, but it'll be painful without shoes."

Looking down, I was made aware that I was without footwear, only socks. I grumbled lightly as my cheeks flushed red again, and clamored on top of my savior. Hugging his neck, I began to feel a bit woozy. Slouching a bit on his back, my eyes started to slip close of their own accord.

"I missed you Alfred."

"I missed ya too Arthur."

And with that, the whole world spun, and turned black.

What is this?

I updated?

WHat?

-Empress