TIME TO GIVE THIS UP TOO

Iason scanned the area for Riki, but instead he noticed Katze leaning against the ornamented wooden railing on the veranda, which was incased in glass to be enjoyed even when the heavy monsoon was washing over the area. Katze looked very dejected and as he noticed that Iason was watching him, the redhead stepped outside and moved towards the cliffs.
He followed.

Katze sat on a cliff near the roaring sea. The air was warm, but the winds were strong and the night would turn out to be stormy.
"What are you doing out here," Iason walked up to the black silhouette at the edge of the cliff. Katze's feet were already wet with the countless salty drops that were thrown into the air as the water hit against land. Since no answer came from the redhead, Iason put a hand on Katze's shoulder and repeated the question. In return he received a shrug while the Furniture took a cigarette out of his pocket and placed it between his lips to light it. Iason watched as the tiny flame of the lighter swiftly illuminated the lovely features of the young man and he realized something. Katze could no longer be called a boy, for those days were long gone. He was still very handsome, but not in a boyish kind of way. All that he has suffered through has left an obvious mark of maturity in his presence that shined through his lean façade.

"Something has been eating you since you returned," Iason said and removed his hands. "Can't you share that with me?"

"No I can't," Katze replied shortly; then after a short break he added; "I can't and I never could talk to you."

Though the words were stingy and provocative, Iason tried to look past them.

"Why don't you give it a try?"

"Honestly?"

Katze cast a look at the Lord sitting down next to him and staring out into the vast blackness beneath them.

"Yes, honestly," Iason said.

In that split second Katze twisted his torso and slapped the Master across the face as hard as he could. Iason's anger flared, ready to strike back, but as he saw the sadness in the lines of the troubled face, he was stripped off his fuming emotions.

"This!" Katze began with a scream. "This is how I felt the day you left me! You threw me away like a used toy, then you pulled me back to float on by your side to do all the dirty work…and as a prostitute I did everything you asked for."

He wiped his eyes from tears and continued. "And then when you died…nothing mattered anymore. All the money you paid me…nothing."

Katze let out short exhale of laughter and took the cigarette to his mouth again. His hands were trembling. Iason remained silent and waited him out.

"Then…then you turned out to be alive and I immediately fell back into that 'good-to-have-Furniture'-position, whereas you offer something else to Riki and even Raoul…"

Iason was caught a bit off guard and couldn't find words, but Katze was in no mood to listen. He continued with his monologue.

"The only person who has ever taken the time to listen to me was Lady Eann. She even made me feel like a man…the kind of man you never wanted to see in me."

"That woman is a rapist," Iason exclaimed frowning, then muttered; "but a talented one."

"Yeah well, she made me come more then once," Katze announced and sucked the final breath out of the cigarette. "That's a lot more then you ever accomplished."

Iason cocked his head in disbelief stating; "Then she is definitely damn talented."

Katze noticed the condescending tone but chose to let slip off his mind along with the grayish smoke that left his lungs. He threw the cigarette bud off the cliff and turned to leave when Iason called him back.

"Don't you want to hear my version?"

"No," Katze said firmly. "I don't want to listen to your manipulative words anymore. You are just as bad as Raoul."

Iason stood up and growled angrily.

"Not many Blondie would tolerate such impertinence…and for slapping me, I could have your arms cut off!"

Then do it!" Katze roared and turned in a huff. He grabbed Iason by the collar and challenged him in a threatening manner. "Then do it you bastard! You took my life, you took my manhood and you even took my soul, so what difference does a pair of arms make? Take them," he cried. "Take them!"

But all he received in response was a soft kiss; gentle like a breeze and ever so sweet as lips merged to hide the sliding tongues.

"No," Katze pulled away and wiped his mouth. "Don't play with me. It was a long time ago when I was your toy."

"Then leave, damn you," Iason let his frustration show.

"I wish I could," Katze whimpered. "By the Gods I wish I could, but it's hard. Don't you ever wonder why Riki returned to you while I took Guy to Nïk?"

Iason's eye grew big as he took the Furniture into focus.

"What do you mean?"

Katze sighed dismally and opened up; "I had met with Riki when you asked me to lure him back into your claws and destroy his gang. I had a little chat with him and showed him the Furniture's tag. I told him already then that once the ring was on, not even its removal grants you freedom. Not if you have had a taste of Iason Mink. Total opposites that pull together."

He took a step closer to Iason.

"I never wanted any of you to get hurt, but when I saw that there was no way out, I handed Riki the Black Moon, not so much as to be merciful on him…but rather because I still…I still…"

He was running short of breath. It was agonizing to see the pain radiating through him, but Iason wanted Katze to finish.

"I still had feelings for you. I've always remained by your side although it was the most painful time of my life…but it was the only way for me to be close to you…and I am still here now, but I can't take this anymore. Both you and Raoul are just playing with me. I have spoken to him and he doesn't even see me. Please, just set me free!"

"And if I don't want to?" Iason asked.

Katze shook his head in disbelief.

"What possible reasons do you have to treat me so bad? To place me in your home and force me to listen day in and day out as you screw your Riki or someone else, while leaving me with cheap fantasy and a hunger I can't even still? Why would you do that to me? What have I ever done to you for you to treat me that way?!"

Iason looked through Katze with a frozen gaze; "I didn't know you felt that way," he mumbled. The storm was increasing now, tearing his long blond hair.

"No, you didn't…because you never cared!"

The Blondie nodded; Katze was right. A lot has happened in the past years. Amoi and Jupiter had fallen and risen out of the ashes, just like Iason and Riki before them. New ideas were replacing old ones and a new life was dawning. But the past – unfinished business – was casting chilly shadows over the morning Sun of their future.

"Look," Katze continued when he calmed a little and backed away from Iason. "My plane is leaving in a three hours."

"What?" Iason gaped shaking his head. "Why?"

"I didn't want you or Raoul to know, but I had made up my mind days ago. I've seen the way you both look at your Pets and I see that there is no place for me in your lives. I realized that it was a mistake of me to come back, but I just wanted to be here on Raoul's big evening. It has been an honor to work for him. He has been really great these past months…so…kind."

The Blondie narrowed his gaze to catch that slight flicker of passion in Katze.

"You are in love aren't you, Katze," Iason asked and reached to touch the face of the young man, but Katze avoided it. "You are in love with Raoul…"

"It's not a big secret. Naoki knows about it and even Riki," Katze cut in coldly. "But what does it matter now? I just wanted to say that this was our last meeting…just don't tell Raoul about it. I can't face him."

Katze could not reveal the reason as to why he was reluctant to face Raoul, but Iason knew by experience that the redhead never engaged in something he emotionally could not pull through. The Lord was most certain that Raoul would make Katze falter and make his decision difficult.

"So I wont see you again?" Iason asked carefully.

Katze shook his head and reached inside his pocket for another cigarette. He took the packet out and looked at it. With a determined throw, the small pack flew over the edge of the cliff; swallowed by the sea.

"Time to give this up too," the redhead sighed and started walking towards the chateau.