[A/N: This was a fairly fun chapter to work on. It's been a while since I've seen the movie, but I already knew where most of the action would take place and which characters would appear so it wasn't a big deal to not watch the movie this time. Enjoy the chapter.]

As he continued to walk through the dark tunnel Erik saw a speck of light on the other end. "I wonder where I'm going to end up this time?"

You're going to end up in Jazzy Alleys and if I were you I'd change forms if I were you?

Why? And into what?

A cat and because you'll blend in better like that. All though with pooch it might be a bit difficult you should probably leave her behind.

I'm not leaving Chiyo behind. Erik wasn't sure if Chiyo could understand him, but felt her nose brush up against his hand in thanks. Anyway you said into a cat….I could probably do that. Shouldn't be too difficult. It took a lot of focus and concentration, but seemed to work because when Erik left the tunnel he was quite a bit shorter and was walking on four legs.

It was raining and he caught sight of himself in a puddle and saw a black cat staring back at him. Well isn't this interesting…are you still there? He heard no answer and looked back to see that the girl had disappeared. "Chiyo, are you still there?"

"I'm here."

Erik jumped a bit startled at the unexpected voice. He looked up to see Chiyo sniffing at him. "Are you talking to me?"

"It seems that way."

"And you can understand me?"

"I've always understood you. I just couldn't answer you." Chiyo leaned down and put her snout close to Erik. "You're so short now. Would you like a lift?"

"That'd be nice." Erik expected to see Chiyo lower herself, but instead felt her teeth on the scruff of his neck as he was lifted off the ground. "This isn't what I expected." He began to squirm in Chiyo's grip. "Let me down or put me on your back Chiyo."

There was a muffled reply and instead of doing as Erik requested Chiyo continued walking with him in her mouth.

Soon they came across an underpass with train tracks above them. Chiyo's pace wasn't slowed by the mud, but after a few more minutes she stopped and set Erik down. "Do you have any idea where the heart of this world would be?"

"I don't know, but it doesn't look like there's much of anything in this world." Erik started to walk back in front of Chiyo with his tail in the air when he heard snarling coming from in front of him. "Do you hear that?"

"I hear it. Better let me get in front." Chiyo got in front of Erik without waiting for an answer and began to walk towards the sound. "You stay here. Could be dangerous."

Erik sat down and waited a few seconds before he heard more snarling followed by a sharp bark. "Chiyo? Chiyo, are you ok?" Not waiting for an answer he got up and trotted over to sound. He saw two other big dogs circling around Chiyo who had her ears back and hackles up. Erik ran up to one of the dogs and hissed scratching it in the muzzle.

The dog rounded on him and snapped; drool hanging from its yellowish fangs.

This startled Erik who took off into an alley with the dog in close pursuit. Why a cat? Why couldn't I have just stayed human?

Because you'd stick out like a sore thumb.

Why aren't you helping me?

Because I don't want to interfere.

Being unaccustomed to running on four legs Erik tripped and was sent tumbling head over tail into the back wall of the ally. Once he was able to get back on his feet he found that he was corner and hissed again at the snarling dog who continued to advance. Erik heard a pained yelp from where he'd come from. "Chiyo tell me you're all righ."

"There's no one who can save you, kitty."

That's right animals can talk in this world. It's not just me and Chiyo. "Well, I'll have you know that I'm not a cat."

"Not a cat? You look like one to me. I'm sure you taste like cat too."

Is this really how I'm going to die? Getting eaten by some slobbering hairy dope of a dog? Erik was trying to change back, but found himself out of power. Instead his ears were laying flat against his head and hissed again.

The dog didn't heed the warning and lunged forward biting Erik on the front leg. This earned him a swift clawed slap across the muzzle. He went to take another bite when Chiyo jumped out and bit him on the back of the neck sending the other dog to the ground.

Erik began licking at his wound as he watched the scuffle continue. His tail was twitching in anticipation as he watched Chiyo knock the other dog down and get on top of him. However, he was a bit surprised to see her bit at his throat again. "Ok Chiyo….that's enough…." He didn't see her stop and limped over to her. "Chiyo, I said that's enough."

Chiyo looked up from the dog and gave it one last threatening growl before trotting back over to Erik. "Are you ok? Looks like he took a chunk out of you."

"I'm fine." Erik saw a concerned look on her face and to prove himself right he started hobbling off. "I'll be fine its just a scratch."

As they walked out of the alley Erik didn't see the shadow looming over him, but heard a woman's voice.

"Oh you poor dear." The speaker was a middle aged woman wearing a long dark pink dress with a lighter pink ascot. She leaned down and picked Erik up much to his displeasure.

"What are you doing? Put me down this instant woman." However, this came out a series of meows to the woman.

"Well, aren't you the talkative one. You know I have someone at home who could be your best friend." She smiled at Erik who continued to scowl at her. "Well, my name is Adelaide Bonfamille and I'll call you….Noir." Adelaide started to walk away when she heard growling behind her and looked back to see Chiyo baring her teeth at her. "Oh, I'm sorry." She turned back to Erik. "Is she your friend?"

"Yes, and if you take me away from her she's going to get very angry with you."

Adelaide looked down at Chiyo and smiled at her. "Normally I don't take dogs in, but if she's your friend I suppose she can come too." She heard another chorus of meows and cradled Erik to her chest. "Now, why don't we go home and I can tend to your leg."

When they arrived at the mansion where Adelaide lived there was a man who greeted her at the door all though when he looked at Erik and Chiyo his face turned hard.

"Oh, good you're still here Edgar. Could you fetch me some bandages. This little one hurt his leg somehow."

Erik peeked out at Edgar from between Adelaide's arms and hissed at him.

"Isn't he sweet?"

"Charming…." Edgar gave them one last hateful look before disappearing into another room.

"Oh, and get Duchess for me too. I want her to meet Noir and…..what should I call you?" Adelaide looked down at Chiyo and patted her fondly on the head. "You have very pretty eyes. Unusual I've never seen gold eyes on a dog before, but very pretty anyway. I know I'll call you Yeux lumineux."

Edgar reappeared holding a roll of bandages and a fluffy white kitten wearing a gold collar. "Bandages and Duchess as requested, Madam."

"Thank you Edgar. You may go home now if you like." Adelaide unrolled the bandages and began dabbing at the slight amount of blood on Erik's leg and was surprised when she didn't hear any pained sounds. "It doesn't look like you have a collar? Have you always been a stray?"

"I'm not a cat I'm a person."

"You don't say?"

Erik blinked. "Can you understand me?"

"I'm sure the life of a stray must be difficult, but you have a home now."

"Apparently not." Erik looked over at Duchess who was smiling at him. "What?"

"Oh, nothing I just wanted to say hi."

"Hi." He turned his attention back to Adelaide who had just finished wrapping his leg. Erik tested out his leg by putting a little bit of weight on it and began walking around when he noticed that Duchess was still staring at him. "What?"

Duchess smiled and brought her tail up over her face. "Nothing….I just like looking at you."

"You're weird."

Adelaide smiled fondly at the both of them. "Well, I'll leave the two of you to get acquainted. Noir, you be good to Duchess now."

Duchess watched Adelaide leave the room before looking back at Erik. "Noir? So that's your name. Well Noir I'm Duchess."

"Yeah I already heard and my name's not Noir its Erik." He pointed a paw down at Chiyo. "And that's Chiyo not whatever she called her."

Duchess frowned. "I think Bright Eyes is a lovely name for her."

Erik began rubbing his temples with his paws. "Yes, I'm aware that her eyes are bright, but they aren't her namesake. Chiyo back me up will you?"

"It's true. That's not my name."

Duchess bristled slightly when she heard Chiyo speak. "Well, its your name now since you belong to the Mistress."

Erik jumped off the table he'd been on to the floor. "Yeah, we'll see about that." He lifted up a corner of the rug to peak under it. "Nope, not there."

Hoping down to join Erik, Duchess lifted the same corner up and looked under it. "What are you looking for?"

Ignoring Duchess, Erik ran towards the door and pushed it open with Chiyo following close behind. "I'm just looking for something." He turned around to face her. "Why don't you go drink some milk or do whatever it is that cats do." Going through the door Erik nearly bumped into Adelaide.

"How did you get the door open, Noir?"

"How do you think lady I pushed it open."

Adelaide picked him up and walked over to a basket where she sat him down. "Now, isn't that more comfortable?"

"No. You're in my way, lady."

Adelaide patted Erik on the head before turning and heading towards the bedroom. "I'm off to bed now. Come on Duchess."

Instead of going with Adelaide, Duchess walked over to the basket that Erik was in and crawled into it next to him.

Erik and Chiyo exchanged confused looks as Chiyo lay down beside the basket.

"Well, if you want to sleep with Noir tonight I suppose that's all right too. Good night I'll see you three in the morning."

Waiting until Adelaide had gone to bed Erik hopped out of the basket and walked over to another door and pushed it open. He heard the soft sound of padding feet behind him and looked back to see not only Chiyo, but Duchess too. "Duchess, what are you doing?"

Duchess smiled back at him. "You used my name."

"Yeah, what about it? I was trying to get your attention." He ignored anything else Duchess had to say and walked up the stairs. "Is her bedroom up here?"

"Yes, I sleep with the Mistress most of the time, but I thought I'd keep you company tonight, Noir."

"How many times do I have to tell you my name's not Noir its Erik." This came out as more of a snap then a comment.

Duchess recoiled at Erik's sharp tone. "I can help you look for whatever it is that you're looking for."

"I have all the help I need." He pointed a paw down at Chiyo. "She's all the help I need. Now, go away." Erik turned his back and went up the stairs. As he continued up the stairs Erik could still hear the padding of feet behind him and expected to see Chiyo only and felt a little irritated when he saw that Duchess was still there. "Honestly, are you going to follow me all night?"

"I just want to help."

"I told you I don't need your help." Erik waited until he saw Chiyo come up beside him. He looked back at Duchess again and scowled. "Go away I don't need your help."

Finally, looking down cast Duchess let her ears and tail droop before heading back down the stairs. "All right if you really don't need my help I'll go."

"Good." Erik turned around again not watching Duchess go down the stairs and walked up to the top of the stairs before going down a hall. He pushed a door open and heard gentle snores and quickly walked away. Must be her Mistress's room. Better not risk going in there.

As he searched the rest of the upstairs Erik was unable to find anything that would have looked like it had the heart of the world. Maybe it's not even in this house, but I really don't want to go back out there and get attacked again. Silently, he padded back down the stairs where he found Duchess sitting on the bench at a piano. "Don't tell me you play the piano."

Duchess turned around when she heard Erik's voice and smiled back at him. "Of course I play the piano and I can sing too. Would you like to hear?"

"No, not really." He hopped up on the bench next to her and stuck his head in the lid.

"You really shouldn't do that."

"Why not? I think I may have found what I'm looking for." Erik crawled into the top of the piano and began walking over the cords to a large crystalline red heart. "Found it."

Duchess stuck her head after Erik. "What'd you find? There's nothing in there."

"Oh yes there is." Erik continued to walk over the cords getting closer to the heart.

Chiyo put her front paws on the bench and craned her neck to try and look inside the piano. "Did you find it, Master?"

"Yes, I found it." He hopped out of the piano and went past Duchess. "Well I found what I came here for so I guess this is goodbye." Erik jumped off the bench and started walking towards the front door when he heard Duchess coming after him. "What is it?"

Duchess looked a little disappointed that he was leaving. "When will you be back?"

"Probably never." He nudged the door open and let Chiyo go out first.

"Never ever?"

Erik hesitated at the door. "Well, maybe not never ever….."

"So you will come back?"

"I'm not making any promises, but I won't say never ever." He started to walk out of the house when he felt Duchess throw her arms around his neck. "What are you doing?"

"It's lonely here when you're the only cat. I'd really like it if you came back."

Erik sighed heavily when he didn't feel Duchess let go of him. "Fine, I'll come back if I get the chance." He breathed a sigh of relief when she felt him let go. "All right…..I'm leaving now….bye."