Note: Wow, I really went overboard with the ending of the previous chapter, didn't I? Apart from that, I managed to post it on a Saturday instead of releasing it days earlier. Anyway, let's move on from that. Before we move on, I want to say something to two reviewers.
Big Bossk Man 92: I highly doubt that Katt's going to get Hill's death off of her mind. It's not particularly fun to see someone die in the ring, especially if it's your opponent and you didn't mean to kill him. The event will probably haunt Katt until the day she dies.
You know why Falco's so down, eh? You've caught on it faster than anyone else has. I hope that you enjoy the rest of the story.
Ron: Actually, Katt was having a good week, up until Hill died in the ring. Last chapter's ending was a little much, wasn't it?
Now that I've done that, it's time for chapter nine.
Chapter 9: Guilt and Regret
The citizens of Corneria were gathered at the funeral home in Corneria City. Alongside them were a few soldiers from the CDF and the members of the Corneria City Women's Boxing Gym. There were even a few retired boxers in attendance, having decided to do a favor to a friend. Everyone was dressed in black, with a few wearing a dress or jacket. Up in front of them was the funeral director, who happened to be a Bloodhound. Standing near him was General Pepper, who watched over everyone in attendance.
Sitting near the wall was an open casket. Inside said casket was Michael Hill. The zebra was dressed in a fancy black suit and tie, which was the last suit he would wear. There were flowers around the equine, planted by his fans, family, and friends. Sitting by his feet were his boxing gloves, which were brought in by the Cornerian Boxing Association. With certain items around him, Hill looked like he was sleeping in a flowerbed while holding his gloves.
When everyone was seated, the Funeral Director tapped on his microphone. This got everyone's attention, outside of a few who were already looking forward.
"Citizens of Corneria," the Director spoke, "we have gathered here today to mourn the loss of an athlete. This athlete was a retired boxer who came back for a single match, but unfortunately died in the ring. His name was Michael Hill."
Sitting in one of the back pews was Katt, who came out of guilt for Hill's death. The pink cat was dressed in a black dress and black shoes, complete with a pretty black hat. She looked around, seeing people crying and watching the funeral procession. The feline felt bad, knowing that most of the crowd would jeer and yell at her for what went down. She was in incognito, but she felt that it would end soon. After all, people would be called up to speak about the deceased boxer at any minute.
"Hill, who went by nicknames such as the Striped Champion, wasn't just a boxer," the Director continued, "he was also a husband, father, grandfather, and charity worker. Every so often, he would donate some of his winnings to certain charities in the Lylat System. He was a respected member of the community and, while he was known for having a bit of a temper, he used up his energy in the ring. Hill was also a very social person, with those who knew the Striped Champion describing him as friendly and quite talkative."
Looking up at the Director, Katt saw him wipe a tear from his eye. From that alone, the pink cat figured that Hill knew the Bloodhound. Whatever relation they had, the feline didn't know, but the zebra's death had an impact on him. She felt like crying herself, knowing that she was the one responsible for it. Not only did she feel guilt for killing a respected man, but she felt sad, as she was hoping to become friends with him after the match. No one would want to be around Katt now, and she knew that she had herself to blame for it.
"In order to hear a testimony from someone who knew Hill, I would like to welcome our guest of honor, General Pepper." The Director said.
Stepping aside, the Director let General Pepper speak up.
"I knew Michael Hill when he was still in the boxing league." Pepper said. "Whenever we spoke, I tried to convince him to join the CDF, only to be rebuffed. While the Striped Champion would've made a wonderful soldier, I could see that he was happy being a boxer. However, that didn't stop us from keeping in contact with each other, as we would write or call when we had nothing better to do. Now that he's dead, I have to ask myself this: How would things be if they played out differently?"
Everyone sat in silence as the General went on with his speech, going on about how Hill's life could've been different and why he felt tempted to attend the funeral. Despite the zebra's life choices, Pepper gave condolences to his family. He even acknowledged how much the equine meant to his friends and fans, telling them that he would live on in their memory. After that, the hound let a few others come up and say something about the Striped Champion. Each of them acknowledged what impact he had on their lives and how they would miss him. Once they got done, Pepper came back up and said that Hill would've been happy to hear what they said.
After the testimonies from General Pepper and the individuals who were called up, Katt expected for Hill's casket to be carried outside where it could be put in the ground. However, Pepper didn't step away from the Director. Rather, he looked at the crowd, as if looking for someone. The hound's eyes were facing the pews where Katt was at. Knowing who his eyes were focused on, the pink cat dreaded having to go up there. It didn't take telepathy to detect the thoughts of mourners and friends, especially when she was the reason behind Hill's death.
"Before Hill's casket is taken outside to be buried," Pepper spoke, "I'd like to call for a testimony from a very special person! This person is the last opponent Hill faced before his untimely death! Katt Monroe, if you're currently at this funeral, please come up and say something!"
Knowing that she had no other choice, Katt stood up and walked over to General Pepper. While doing so, her telepathy picked up thoughts from those in attendance. By looking through each mind, the pink cat heard voices accusing her of murder. Some said that it was accidental, while others claimed that the feline planned to kill her opponent. Those that didn't accuse her of murder either complimented her skills, questioned as to who she was, or assumed that she wouldn't be at the funeral. All of them gave her an unwelcome feeling, one that she felt that she deserved.
Once she came up to the General, Katt turned around and faced the crowd. Everyone looked at her in scorn, disdain, confusion, and astonishment. Those were expressions that the pink cat didn't want to see, regardless of the reason why. The feline struggled to speak, knowing that nothing she said would change anything. Pepper put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her. Despite it not working for her, Katt felt that it was enough to get her to speak up.
"When I first met Hill, he was yelling at someone in a coffee shop." She spoke. "I didn't think much of him at the time, other than the fact that he seemed like a jerk. Retired champion or not, there was no reason for him to get so angry!"
Everyone continued to look at Katt with the expressions they had before. It seemed like she would need to add more to her testimony.
"But," Katt continued, "I saw him again. While I was heading to the match I had with Claudia King, I bumped into him. While he initially angry, he calmed down when I explained why I ran into him. He even encouraged me to go to the match, which I did. Before I even entered the building, I saw a flower pot fall down. While I don't think it would've hurt him, I saw the Striped Champion shatter it into pieces with a single punch! I wish that I was making that up, but I'm not!"
A few people let out giggles, having been humored by the fact that Hill punched a flower pot hard enough to shatter it.
"On Sunday, however, I saw him again." The pink cat said. "Due to the damage I had done to Claudia King's face, no one wanted to fight me. Not wanting to be seen as feared, I wound up challenging Hill to a match. For days, we had done our own training exercises. When it was time for the match, I saw how Hill had trained. He went to a doctor to help him lose enough weight in order to be on my level!"
In the crowd, a dozen of people in attendance looked shocked. They looked at each other and whispered something. Paying them no mind, Katt continued on with her speech.
"When the match began, I didn't intend on winning." She said. "I just wanted to see if my opponent was the real deal. Sure enough, I quickly learned why Hill was a champion, retired or not. Despite that, I gave it my all, getting several hits on him! While I lost, I hit the Striped Champion in the forehead. As I did that, I found myself being knocked down by an attack of his own."
Looking down and shaking her head, Katt knew that she was coming towards the part that she hated. As much as it pained her, the pink cat knew that she couldn't keep it in for much longer. Straightening herself out, she continued on.
"Once I got up, I was ready to shake hands with Hill." Katt stated. "But, shortly after I shook his hand, I saw the Striped Champion collapse in front of me! A paramedic was called, but I already had a gut feeling that he was gone! When the match was over, I was hoping to become his friend, considering how we respected each other's skills, but he died! He died from my punch, and now I can't forgive myself for challenging him! Now that I've heard his loved ones give testimonies about him, I only have this to say to Hill's family and friends: I'm sorry, everyone! I didn't mean to kill him! I can't forgive myself, but I hope that you can forgive me!"
After finishing up her testimony, Katt went back to her seat. The pink cat let out a sniffle, wiping a tear from her eye. She didn't stay for the post-funeral feast, knowing that she wasn't welcome in the same room as Hill's family. Instead, the feline walked to the Cat's Paw, wanting to go home. Before she could leave, she saw General Pepper standing near. The hound noticed her, which wasn't hard for him, given how there was still light outside.
"Katt ..." Pepper spoke.
"Are you here to yell at me for killing someone that you knew?" Katt asked.
"No, I just wanted to talk to you before you left." The General said.
"Talk to me about what?" The pink cat asked.
"Hill's death wasn't your fault." The hound said.
"Not my fault?" The feline snapped. "I challenged a retired boxer to a fight and hit him so hard that he died! Everything IS my fault! How can you even say that killing a respected athlete wasn't my fault?!"
"You didn't do it on purpose, right?" The canine said. "People have died in the ring before, Monroe, and Hill probably agreed to the match because he wanted to see your potential! Sure, attending funerals aren't fun, especially when you caused the death of the person being mourned, but this is a stepping stone for you! Hill's family might not be pleased to see you at the moment, but in given time, they might forgive you. Who knows? His family might even be cheering you on when you enter the ring again!"
Katt only nodded her head, not having anything to say. She climbed into her ship and flew home, intent on spending the rest of the night there. The moment she arrived at her house, the pink cat had dinner and drank a glass of wine. The feline wanted to get intoxicated, but the wine she had didn't do anything. She shrugged it off, going to get a shower. When that was out of the way, she only got dressed in her undergarments, as she felt that her pajamas didn't fit on her anymore.
Climbing into her bed, Katt tried to get some rest. However, it had proven to be difficult. Every time she tried to sleep, the pink cat jolted awake. The feline could not get what happened to Hill off of her mind, the memories turning into nightmares. She tried to keep them from disrupting her sleep, but she couldn't. Katt felt tears rolling down her face as she slept, letting out quiet sobs in the darkness around her.
For the rest of the week, Katt barely left her house. Whenever she did, she went incognito, wearing enough clothes to mask her appearance. The pink cat only went for groceries, knowing that she needed food for the next week. Other than that, the feline would practice on her punching bag. However, every time she would try a jab, something prevented her from doing so. Katt didn't know what was preventing her, but her instinct did.
On Sunday, Katt was practicing on her punching bag again. The pink cat had eaten breakfast an hour ago, so she was hoping to practice until it was time for lunch. Her practice was not going well, as the only moves she could pull off were uppercuts and hooks. Every time she tried to pull off a jab, the feline drew her hand back. She kept trying, but couldn't even hit the punching bag with the maneuver. Her arms dangled as she looked at the ground.
Looking up again, Katt proceeded to throw a jab at her punching bag. However, she froze before her attack could even hit. The pink cat knew why she couldn't do a jab: It was the strike she used on Hill. Before the feline was knocked down by the zebra, she did a jab that hit him on his forehead. She didn't know how hard she hit until the equine collapsed on the floor of the ring. It wasn't a simple attack, it was a killing blow.
Before she could continue practicing, Katt heard someone knocking on her door. Wanting to take her mind off of what happened, the pink cat decided to go and open it. She didn't use her telepathy, wanting to let her visitor be a surprise. The person in question stopped knocking, as if they had gotten tried of waiting for the feline to respond. Not wanting to worry anyone, Katt decided to say something.
"The door's open!" She spoke.
Katt saw her door open up, meaning that the person heard her. Standing in the doorway was Krystal, who was wearing casual clothing instead of her uniform. In addition to that, the cobalt vixen had her staff on her back, apparently using it for defense purposes. The fact that she was even here made Katt somewhat nervous.
"Hey, Katt!" Krystal greeted.
"What are you doing here?" Katt asked.
"I'm just checking on you, seeing how you were doing." The cobalt vixen said.
"I'm not doing well, to be honest." The pink cat said, knowing that she couldn't lie to a telepath. "Want to come in?"
Nodding her head, Krystal gave Katt her answer. After that, the cobalt vixen was let in by the pink cat. Once she was in, the vulpine took a seat on the couch. From there, she rubbed her legs, giving them a small massage. Katt sat down next to her, letting out a sigh.
"Well," Katt spoke, "I'm banned from the gym for the rest of the week."
"Sorry to hear about that." Krystal said.
"If you want to tell everyone that I have been cheating by using telepathy that I got from drugging myself with your blood, you can." The pink cat said.
"I was tempted to, but Fox and the others prevented me from doing so." The cobalt vixen said. "We figured that you killing your opponent and getting banned was enough of a punishment."
Katt looked down for a moment and closed her eyes. She let out another sigh, this one full of sadness. Krystal tried to put her hand on the pink cat's shoulder, but she moved away. The feline wiped some tears from her eyes, not wanting to cry in front of her friend. She brought her head back up, turning to Krystal.
"We've taken lives in the past, dispatching our foes with little effort." Katt spoke. "Throughout each mission, we didn't need to feel concern about each of the bastards we put six-feet-under. Now that I killed someone who wasn't like anyone we've dealt with before, I got to see the repercussions of the fight. By attending Hill's funeral, I wound up having to face dirty looks from his family and friends! Why does everything feel so different now?!"
"That's because Hill was a respected man around the Lylat System, being an athlete and a family man." Krystal said. "Unlike the enemy soldiers, brutes, and monsters we have faced in the past, Michael Hill had mourners and friends to bid him farewell at his funeral."
"You don't think anyone mourned the deaths of our enemies?" The pink cat asked.
"I'm sure there were mourners, but I can't promise that we'll ever meet them." The cobalt vixen said. "Our sympathies may lie with them, unless they were every bit as misguided, manipulated, or evil as their loved ones."
"That's hardly comforting, Krystal." The feline said.
"I know," the vulpine said, "but I didn't come here to comfort you."
"Why did you come, then?"
Krystal reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. After that, she handed it to Katt. The pink cat unfolded the paper and began to look at it. She gasped, having only gotten a few lines down on it.
"Where did you get this?!" Katt asked.
"General Pepper had the paramedics who tended to Hill give that report to him." Krystal said. "After that, he called on the team to deliver the report to you. Peppy wanted to do it, but Fox and Falco insisted on it. In order to make a decision, we played a little game."
"And you lost?" The pink cat asked.
"Well, you know how boys can be." The cobalt vixen said. "I didn't want to upset anyone, so I threw it. After all, I like being the team's mailwoman!"
"Krystal, hon, how is this supposed to prove that I didn't kill someone in the ring?" The feline asked.
"Because your punch wasn't the cause of Hill's death." The vulpine said. "While it didn't help in the very least, Hill died from a hemorrhage caused by the weight loss that he went through. The stress proved to be too much for him to handle."
Standing up, Katt looked at her hands. The news she had gotten changed her perspective on the tragedy. While the pink cat's punch wasn't the cause of Hill's death, she still knew that she couldn't hit people in the forehead. Even if her next opponent didn't have an ailment that would cause them to hemorrhage, the feline felt that she needed to be more careful in the match. She turned back to Krystal, who was still sitting on the couch.
"The next time I fight," Katt spoke, "do you think that it would be more safe for me to punch my opponent in the gut instead of in the head?"
"If you're afraid of causing someone else to hemorrhage, it is." Krystal said.
"You aren't using your telepathy to scan my mind, right?" The pink cat asked.
"Of course not!" The cobalt vixen said. "But, let me warn you about this: Your telepathy will eventually fade away. You weren't born with psychic powers, considering how you got it from a sample of my blood. When the telepathy that you have gained disappears, you're going to have to be careful!"
"I will, hon." The feline said. "Now, can you leave me be? I need to go back to practicing."
Krystal nodded her head, getting off the couch. The cobalt vixen then walked to the door, intent on leaving.
"Tell Falco that I said hi!" Katt shouted.
"I will!" Krystal said.
Once Krystal was out of her house, Katt went back to practicing on her punching bag. With the reports on Hill's body on her mind, the pink cat practiced her new strategy. When it was time for lunch, she took a break to eat. After that, the feline went back to practicing, briefly stopping to eat dinner. When night rolled around, she got in the shower and got dressed for bed. Climbing into bed, Katt fell asleep, her mind somewhat relieved.
A few nights later, Katt was just laying in bed, trying to get some sleep. Her telepathy was ringing, trying to signal her that something was wrong. The pink cat tried to ignore it, but it wouldn't stop. Grumbling, the feline reluctantly opened her eyes. Her room was dark, but she could make out a silhouette near her. Whoever this person was, something told Katt the they were trouble.
The silhouette jumped onto Katt, with a hand being placed on her mouth. She struggled against the mysterious person, trying to throw them off of her. S the pink cat punched them in the side, hard enough for them to be thrown off of her. Once her attacker was off, the feline turned on her light. By doing that, she was able to make out what the intruder looked like. He was a boxer with hazel eyes that were full of malice.
Taking out a knife, the boxer lunged towards Katt. Having little time to react, she moved before she could get stabbed. After that, the pink cat delivered a jab to the canine's abdomen, causing him to groan in pain. This didn't stop him from picking up his knife. While he was distracted, Katt ran out of her room. Going downstairs, she grabbed her home phone and dialed the number for the CCPD.
"Hello," a woman's voice spoke, "this is the Corneria City Police Department. Is there an emergency?"
"Yes," Katt spoke, "there's an intruder at my house, and he's trying to stab me! This is Katt Monroe, in case you're wondering who I am!"
"No problem, Miss Monroe." The voice responded. "We'll be there at any minute."
Relieved, Katt let out a sigh. However, knowing that the intruder wouldn't go away, the pink cat knew that she had to defend herself from him. From upstairs, she could hear the boxer coming down. In order to brace herself, the feline hid behind her couch. From there, she would be able to surprise the canine and knock him out. Once she saw him at the bottom of the staircase, Katt hoped that he didn't see her.
"Hey!" The Intruder spoke. "Where are you at? C'mon, I just want to talk to you!"
Katt didn't say anything, not falling for his words.
"Oh, hiding, are we?" The boxer chuckled. "Well, then I guess that I'll just look for you!"
Upon hearing that, Katt remained silent. Her telepathy could scan the Intruder's mind, picking up the depraved thoughts he had. By reading his mind, the pink cat learned that the boxer was planning to stab her to death and do whatever he pleased to her body. Angered and disgusted, the feline tightened her fists, intent on caving in the canine's face. He was already looking throughout the house, so it was only a matter of time before he approached the couch. Once he did, he would be in for a nasty surprise.
Walking up to the couch, the Intruder smiled. Before he could even touch it, the boxer felt his hand get punched by Katt. He let out a yelp of pain, clutching his hand. From what Katt could tell, there was blood coming out of the canine's hand. Whether his hand was broken or maimed, the pink cat knew that she managed to wound him enough to prevent him from using one of his limbs. He growled, turning back to the feline.
"You bitch!" The Intruder snarled. "You broke my hand!"
"You broke into my house and tried to kill me, so we're even!" Katt stated.
"And now I want to make you suffer longer!" The boxer said.
"How did you even get into my house anyway?" The pink cat asked.
"To put it bluntly, I have a skeleton key." The canine said.
"Well, get ready to lose it!" The feline said. "Because, when the police get here, you're done!"
The Intruder spat to the side, picking up his knife again. He ran towards Katt, intent on stabbing her. The pink cat moved out of the way, only for the blade to graze her arm. In response, the feline delivered an uppercut to the boxer. Once he was hit, the canine screamed in pain and stumbled back. Dropping his knife, he instead ran towards his intended victim. Katt tried to push him off of her, but his hands were wrapped around her throat.
Now that she was being choked, Katt tried to knock out the Intruder by punching him. For every hit that he took, the boxer groaned in pain. He even bled from the punches he received, getting hit in the nose and the mouth. However, this didn't stop the canine from violently strangling Katt. The pink cat tried in vain to push him off, but he had a tight grip on her neck. It seemed that this would be her final night.
"Freeze!" Someone shouted.
All of a sudden, the Intruder let go of Katt's throat. Knowing who the voice belonged to, the pink cat smiled. From outside the doorway, Officer Black stood with his stun gun in his hands. Next to him were a few of his fellow officers. They walked in, helping Katt off the floor.
"Is that the person who broke into your house, ma'am?" One of the officers, a Dalmatian, asked.
"Yes," Katt stated, "and he was going to kill me and have his way with my dead body!"
The Intruder didn't say anything as Officer Black cuffed him, placing his arms behind his back.
"Congratulations, punk, you're under arrest for breaking in, attempted murder, and plans of necrophilia!" Officer Black spoke.
Moments after the Intruder was loaded into a cruiser, Katt sat down on her couch, deciding to cool down before she went back to bed. Officer Black was still at her house, watching as some of his fellow officers sped away. The pink cat let out a sigh, feeling lucky to be alive. If the cops hadn't come, she would be dead, and her corpse would be messed with. Even if the feline fought, she knew that it wouldn't be enough. The fact that her attacker was still up after taking so many punches rattled her mind.
"So, Katt, how are you?" Officer Black asked.
"Aside from what happened during my last match and tonight, I'm doing okay." Katt stated.
Charles Mauricio came into the house. This surprised Katt, as she felt her telepathy sense him leaving. The gorilla was wiping his hands with a towel, having gotten them wet for an unknown reason. The fact that he was a cop was still something that Katt found incredible. It seemed like almost yesterday that he was hiding his desire to be a police officer from his father, who was a mob boss. The pink cat couldn't blame Charles, given what his father, Giorno, was known for.
"Alright," Charles spoke, "the boys are taking him to a cell for the night. He'll be put on trial next week!"
"Good, let's just hope that someone watches over him and keeps him from escaping." Officer Black said.
Officer Black and Charles began to walk out of the house, having completed their duty. Katt was relieved, knowing that she could head back to bed soon. However, she didn't go unnoticed by Charles. The gorilla turned his head towards her, giving an accusing look. Once she saw it, Katt was practically frozen in place.
"Oh, by the way, thanks for killing Michael Hill!" Charles spoke out of sarcasm.
"Charles, I didn't mean to!" Katt stated.
"You have any idea how many times I asked for his autograph?!" The gorilla spoke. "Now that he's dead, I won't get it!"
"Stand down, Mauricio, it wasn't her fault that he died!" Officer Black said.
"But she punched him in the forehead and caused a hemorrhage!" The primate said.
"Actually, the hemorrhage was caused because Hill was a jackass and thought it was a good idea to have his weight slimmed down before a match!" The mule said. "That, combined with the stress from the fight, is the real cause of the hemorrhage!"
"Then, is Katt innocent?"
"She didn't help in the very least, but yes." The equine said. "Head back to the station, I'll meet you there!"
Charles walked out of Katt's house, leaving Officer Black alone with her. The mule watched as the gorilla took off in a cruiser, riding away. Once that was out of the way, Katt found herself speaking to the officer in front of her.
"So, how are you doing?" Katt asked.
"Well, I haven't been doing much as of late." Officer Black. "Just yesterday, we foiled a bank robbery that happened on the edge of the city."
"I see." The pink cat said. "Well, I'm not allowed to go to the gym until next week."
"I take it that Hill's death caused you to get banned?" The mule asked.
"Yeah, but I feel like learning that Hill died from a hemorrhage would stop everyone from accusing me of killing him." The feline said. "If that doesn't work, then I could tell them that I used my fists for self-defense. I just want to be forgiven!"
"You'll be forgiven in time." The equine said. "If not, then you'll have to live with the scorn from those around you. Have a good night, Katt!"
"You too!" She said.
After that, Officer Black walked out, closing the door behind him. Once he was gone, Katt locked the door. She even looked around her house, checking to see if she locked everything else. Knowing that everything has its lock on, the pink cat went back to bed. As the feline slept, her telepathy scanned for anything else that would disturb her. Luckily, nothing bad came up, meaning that all was well.
While sleeping, Katt thought about what she would say to everyone at the gym. A majority of the people there knew that she was an ally of Star Fox and the CDF, but those who didn't had never interacted with her. The pink cat knew that they wouldn't want to speak with her now, given what happened during the last match she was in. However, the feline was eager to tell everyone that she fought in self-defense. She only hoped that people would forgive her as days went by. In addition, Katt wondered how everyone was doing.
After all, she did miss them when she wasn't doing stuff.
Note: Okay, the chapter kinda got creepy near the end. I suppose I should've went with something less crazy. Anyway, it turns out that Katt wasn't 100% responsible for Hill's death, even if she did punch him in the temple. It would be a surprise to see how everyone reacts when the true cause of Hill's death comes out. Until next time, guys, this is Newcomer24, signing off. Peace!
