Hellooo!

*Cricket chirps*

¬¬ gosh...

Yeah, I know. This is getting really boring. I'll put down this fic if I don't get enough reviews... Maybe Wednesday or Thursday. Dunno, I'm losing by several reviews and I rather leave the competition now than do her homework for a month. I don't know yet u.ú

And for that kinder surprise dude, just what the hell did you try to say? o.ô I didn't understand half the review, but thanks anyway.

And for Darkswansong, Neko is Cat, and Chan is little, so when I say Neko-Chan, what I say is Little Cat or Kitty. Yeah, I've considered making her a new character, but since the story is rotating around her it would lose the people interest. Thanks for your review!

And for everyone else, I guess this is gonna be one of my last chapters unless that miraculously I'll get at least 20 reviews u.ú .... I guess I'm a real weirdo now. Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: I love Escaflowne so much that I shot Van in the back. Hold on a sec... That was John Lennon... darn...

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CHAP 5: Tsukiakari

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The guards thought that they would have to drag the cat-girl all the way to their Master's Chambers; but she walked willingly, head high, just as if she were a courtesan lady with tons of land and money, careless.

The youngest guard of all, with about 17 or 18 years took a good look at the creature, expecting her to change into a beautiful princess and condemn them all to death for scaring her. She had courage, which was very uncommon in these days.

He remembered that night; they had brought the cat girl from Hanya once they treated her wounds. The masters couldn't afford staying there very long, and they couldn't leave the poor cat girl there in that city without even a thanking word to her. The next day at the mansion everybody was worried for the Masters, when a messenger came requesting a carriage for the Masters.

Everybody was amazed when they carried that murky cat with them. Everybody thought it was just another servant, but the treatment they requested for her told much more than it looked.

They finally reached the Masters' chambers the cat girl didn't show any signs of fear. She looked like royalty but her outside told a totally different story.

"Sir Zenji, we have fetched the one called for." Said an older guard, making our young guard to stand attention once again when Sir Zenji and Lady Alia came out the chambers. Lady smiled when she saw the Neko-Chan; those worry traces leaving her beautiful face once she saw the pesky creature's one.

"You shall leave now, thanks for helping gentlemen." Said Zenji as he took a caring look at the now standing creature. He knew for a fact that under the bad treatment it was a beautiful creature waiting to wake.

"Come with us young maid, your services are not needed anymore" The young guard approached for Shasa, she was aware of her condition but she backed towards the young cat anyways.

The guard was ready to pull the young maid with them, why were women so stubborn? That's what made them hard to defend. In less time than it took a thunder to hit the ground, the cat girl was in front of the maid, and just as amazing as before, the cat girl's temperament changed aggressively, hissing and showing her fangs, ready to strike in any minute.

The guard retracted his arm and backed toward the other guard who were shocked at the cat's lack of respect. The young guard took a deep look at her eyes; she never pulled her eyes from his. It seemed that she could predict every movement, just as the cats do. But her eyes weren't blood thirsty, mad, angry or evil. They were protective. Just like a mother's eyes, ready for anything.

This cat girl was special. Very special. He felt a bond with her. Was it magic? He could not tell. She could know more about his life than him just by taking a good look at him, like if she could read her mind.

"Please," called Shasa. "Let me stay with her. She's not familiar with her surroundings yet." She felt tears swelling in her eyes. She felt humble against her Masters. The punishment would be severe.

"Do not worry, young one. You shall be dismissed from your chores and help us with our new friend." Said Alia. While Zenji nodded approvingly.

"Thank you, Sir and Lady" Shasa bowed and took the cat girls hand. The Neko Chan took her serene expression again and straightened up again, never leaving her sight off the young guard.

The young guard stared at the cat girl. There was surely more than a cat girl story in her, her hands told her off.

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"Take sit, please." Said Alia smiling at both the girls. She noticed that the cat girl must be around 15 or 16 years old. She looked very young indeed. For and inexpert eyes she would look like 12 or 13, but she could tell the truth.

"Thank you, My Lady." Said Shasa as she bowed. She would rather stay standing, but she was scared of disobeying an order. She summoned the Neko Chan to her, she wouldn't move. She stood next to the door ready to run. Shasa looked worried, but she decided staying with her friend, if she left her alone she would lose her trustiness. "I'm sorry My Lady, but I'll stay with her."

"Is there something wrong, young one?" Said Zenji to the cat girl. He hadn't heard her say a word. She didn't scream when she fell with Alia. Was she a mute? She kept staring at him. She focused on his eyes, like reading his past, present and future... Her pose demonstrating that she wasn't scared of him, and she wouldn't bow for anything. No. She wasn't a mute. She could talk perfectly well. But she didn't want to...

"If a must take part, Sir. She's not ready yet to fulfill thou wishes." Shasa said scared, her voice faltering towards the end. She hadn't expected to come by on this in the morning.

Zenji looked at Alia and they knew what to do. "We must thank you for saving my sister's life. Her curiosity took the best of her and we meant no harm to thee. You are welcome in this mansion all the time you wish to stay and be treated properly. Please accept our apologies also for the bad welcoming and accept our offer." Zenji smiled at both the girls.

The Neko-Chan stared intently at his eyes. Looking for a strand of evil. His soul was clean. She could see guiltiness, but she couldn't help that. Zenji and Alia awaited for an answer from her. There was no doubt of that. She needed to eat and rest a little while. She had to go soon. Far away from all this.

It seemed an eternity until the Neko-Chan nodded ever so slowly. Without giving a word of praise. She didn't care. If they kicked her out of their mansion for ingratitude it would be always the same for her. She saw them smile happily, both siblings showed more gratitude than she could ever show in her whole life.

"Our young maid shall respond to your necessities, if you wish something, you mustn't hesitate to ask either of us." Zenji said happily. They weren't rancorous or selfish. Fortune shall smile upon in their lives, the Neko thought.

The cat girl nodded and looked at Shasa for her approbation. She nodded to the cat girl. Words were not needed, she would help her anyways obligation or not.

"Young one," Said Alia to Shasa. "Your chores shall be passed to another maid and you will be the assistant of the cat-girl now on. Make sure she gets a clean up and give feel free to take as many gowns as you wish from my wardrobe for our guest. Take also some for you since now you are her assistant, show her around the mansion, but you must be present for dinner at the habitual hour"

"Yes, My Lady. I shall do as you bid." Shasa was happy; she could spend more time with this puzzle of hers now.

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With each soap stroke, her glistening white fur was more evident. Her dirty face was cleaned up along with the rest of the body, green forest eyes contrasting against it. She was a pure white cat girl. Not a streak or spot of any kind in her whole body. Once dried up, her fur felt softer than the most expensive silk. Why was such a beautiful creature alone and hurt in such a place like the plains? Was she one of those run away slaves that she heard of about? If she was, Why was she a slave?

"Let's give a little brush down to you hair and fur, ok?" Shasa ran the brush in her auburn hair, disentangling it and straightening it. It was a beautiful hair. All tangled up it was shoulder length, but disentangled it was around waist length.

She was more than worth to be a courtesan lady. More than that! But if she knew her past, would she think the same?

She had chosen a simple but yet beautiful dress; it was a deep green dress, with a golden rimming and details. Lady Alia hadn't worn it because she couldn't fit on it. But it fit perfectly on the Neko-Chan. She was charming in it. She couldn't really recognize her now except for those green eyes. This puzzle was getting harder in time to time. But as hard as it seemed, she wasn't going to give up.

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Zenji was amazed as he saw the Neko-Chan walking down the steps with Shasa following behind her with a simple purple gown. The cat-girl was a beautiful creature indeed! The change was clearly visible, her figure was accented with the simple dress and her hair glistened elegantly. But the only thing he wanted was the cat girl to talk. Why wouldn't she talk? It was eating him inside.

"Welcome, take sit and enjoy!" Alia invited both of them friendly. Alia expected the poor soul to eat ravenously, but she ate calmly and never lowering her head, her modals were those of high ranked people, not slave ones as they first thought her to be. Everytime they talk to her she looked at them, but she didn't respond to anything they said.

When everybody finished eating, they bid the girls to stay to talk. They moved to a huge living room, beautiful carved furniture was everywhere, and enormous windows showed the night landscape, while the full moon bathed the high mountains.

Zenji couldn't stop admiring the Neko-Chan. He couldn't believe the transformation yet. A beautiful and mysterious creature as she mixed with the moonlight. He saw her features in a mixture of thoughts and amazement. His train of thoughts was stopped by Alia's next comment.

"We shall give her a name since she doesn't seem to have one." She said ever so happily. She said so many names; the Neko was paying no heed on her words, but Shasa talked shyly as Alia gave the numerous names. But Zenji knew that there was just one name for the pure white girl...

"Tsukiakari! She shall be Tsukiakari!" Said Zenji smiling. Just perfect! Such a name was fit for such a pretty one. He saw the Neko look at him curiously. She knew what it meant! Then there was more than just a simple and tragic story behind her.

"I must ask, brother, what is the meaning of that? " Alia and Shasa looked at Zenji wondering the different meanings of the word.

Zenji looked at the cat girl deeply. His words coming from his mouth as the cat girl looked back at him. He was getting his way into her now.

"It is the Atlantean word for.... Moonlight"