Chapter 53 - Descending Each Level

Louis went down to the cells, finding one that seemed unoccupied and setting his outfit on the bed. He removed his shoes and pants, exchanging them for the black pants that were part of his outfit, along with the belt.

Next, he removed his shirt and exchanged it for the black vest that Hachi made. The top of the vest was a little like a turtleneck, which he found interesting. Both the vest and the pants fit surprisingly well.

There were two articles of clothing left, which made Louis blink. He grabbed them and realized they were long sleeves, which he pulled on both of his arms, finding that the bottom of the sleeves had 5 holes for him to put his fingers in.

Luckily, there was a mirror in the cell that he used to look at the whole outfit and found he actually quite enjoyed the design. He wondered what Legosi would think if he saw it.

The deer grabbed his satchel once more and then made his way out of his cell with the intent to find the mute Elk and thank them, but noise startled him as he walked by a cell and lo and behold, Hachi was sitting with their legs crossed on the bed, looking at him.

Louis stepped forward. "I'm guessing you knew I would come here to change?"

They nodded.

"May I come in?"

They shook their head.

Louis sighed. "Well, I just wanted to say thank you for the outfit. It looks very nice and I can tell you worked hard on it."

Hachi nodded, making a heart with their hands.

Louis smiled a bit. "I'm going to explore the tower and talk to the others."

Hachi nodded, closing their eyes and thinking about who knows what.

Before he left, Louis spotted a Katana with an ornate hilt leaned up against the wall. "So you use a katana as your weapon?"

Eyes open again, Hachi looked toward the blade sadly, and nodded.

Louis noticed this, but didn't push. "Are you good with it?"

Another nod.

"Maybe you can show me sometime?"

A shrug.

"I hope we can be friends."

Hachi shrugged again, then closed their eyes.

Louis exhaled, looking at the blade once more before going to the stairwell at the end of the room and descending.

He heard a clinking sound, followed by rolling, which led him into a room where Roku and Ni were, a large table in between them which had an assortment of colorful balls on them.

The goat turned his head immediately. "It's Shi."

The horse looked up too, clicking his tongue. "Weird. He almost looks like one of us with Hachi's clothes. Dunno why they even bothered."

Louis shook his head. "I'm a part of this team just like the rest of you. I get an outfit as well."

"You didn't sound like a member of the team the other day!" Roku fired.

Ni lined up his cue with the cue ball and took his turn, pocketing 2 striped balls at once, moving to take another turn. He pocketed no balls. "You're only part of this team because you're forced to be. You're not a true member, like us."

Louis came forward more, sitting on a couch nearby. "I'm still a part of the team, nonetheless. It would be better for everybody if we just...put that behind us."

Ni, having not told anyone he and Go personally threatened Louis, decided not to bring it up. "You were a complete brat to our leader. That action doesn't go unnoticed."

"And you think it wasn't logical that I acted that way after he threatened my husband and made me come here? You would have done the same."

"Only because I'm distracted now!" the horse groaned. He turned to Louis. "I don't know how you're one of the original Branded. I bet you hold no pride whatsoever for the mark."

"Not really. Being sold as livestock isn't something I am particularly proud of."

Ni rolled his eyes. "I'm more of an original Branded than you are. Even though my mark may be fake, I am very loyal to Ichi and our cause."

Roku sank a solid ball with a 'ha!' and regarded Louis again. "You need to start seeing that mark as a badge of honor here, otherwise you're going to live life as the victim forever."

"Well, 4 is the most unlucky number there is and I'm always a victim of my circumstances, so I think I'll be a victim forever if I didn't have this 4, I wouldn't be here."

Ni watched Roku fail to sink another ball. "Maybe you should be more like Hachi and stay quiet. I can help with that, if you want."

Louis leaned back, rubbing his knees. "Well, I needed to find Roku anyway."

The horse sighed. "Why?"

"My first mission is recon with you. Ichi said something about a store where they sell carnivore parts?"

Roku scoffed and rubbed his eyes. "Ichi, why do you do this to me." He glowered at the deer. "So, I guess it's your practice run mission, huh? Recon's easy so it'd be hard for even you to fuck it up. I guess that's what Ichi's thinking."

He turned back toward the game, bouncing the cue ball off one of the sides. "Yes. Ever hear of 'hyberdrugs'? It's what they call parts of carnivores sold as drugs. Carnivores and herbivores buy them. Of course, we have ample evidence to suggest that they're also selling kids in the basement there. I figure even that has to strike a nerve in you, considering your past."

"Mm. Selling kids no matter the species is wrong. Also, I don't know why you're talking like you've seen me fuck up before. I haven't even gone on the field yet."

"Well, you'll just have to prove to me tomorrow then, huh?"

"And I'll do my best and listen to everything you say. I apologize for making a bad first impression. Really."

Roku scrutinized him. "Really. Are you gonna stop constantly bringing up how you're a carni-loving queer, too?"

"Do you have something against queers?"

Roku slammed his hand down on the billiard table. "I do when they keep rubbing it in my face! Keep it to yourselves!"

Ni blinked. Thank goodness Ichi never talked about it. Of course, he assumed that he was the closest to the deer with the tangled antlers. He had even had some fun nights where Ichi dropped his leadership facade and let loose. He felt lucky that no one else got to see that side of him. His mind wandered to the most recent time Ichi had let go...

Louis shrugged. "I mean, it's a huge part of my life."

"Yeah? Well here your personal life doesn't mean shit," Roku huffed.

The goat continued their game. "We don't really talk about our lives before, but since you're the only one that doesn't live here, it extends to you not talking about your life out there."

Louis crossed his arms. Good. That will make it much easier to feed info to Melon. "Fine. I won't."

"Great. Now, is there anything else, or will you leave us alone, now?" Roku asked, clearly tired.

"Uh...I guess I'll leave you alone, now." He stood up. "Have fun with your game."

The two herbivores said nothing as Louis walked away, the clacking of the balls filling the hallway as he left.

He explored a few more of the floors, finding multiple bathrooms, which were mostly dirty and rundown and clearly unused areas. It was a big tower after all. There were multiple places to train and in one, he found Kyuu and San.

Louis walked in just as Kyuu was sending a strong kick to a dummy's abdomen.

"Oh, hey, Shi!" San waved at him, taking a break from a makeshift speed bag.

Louis waved. "Hey. Good to see you. I guess you're doing some training, huh?"

"You know it! Wanna join?"

"Should I? Maybe in a bit. I still need to explore the rest of the tower, first. Not looking forward to Go at the bottom..."

Kyuu, surprisingly, stopped her training and chuckled at that. "Yeah."

San spoke again. "Hachi made you a nice outfit!"

"Yeah. It looks alright," the rabbit added.

Louis rubbed his exposed shoulder. "Thank you. I actually really like it."

"Hachi actually gave me something similar, only minus the long gloves." San turned to Kyuu. "Is that what you'd call those? Long gloves?"

The rabbit turned to him, thinking. "...Arm...stockings?"

"Sleeves?" Louis added.

"Detached sleeves," San seemed to agree on this. "Did Ichi talk about your Chimera today?"

"Not at all. He showed me...my parents." The deer shook his head. "Anyway. We can talk more when I return from exploring the rest of the tower. Will you wait for me?"

The deer shook his head. "Anyway. We can talk more when I return from exploring the rest of the tower. Will you wait for me?"

"Of course! Are you feeling better, by the way?"

"Better how?"

San shrugged. "How did finding out about your parents make you feel?"

"...Hopeful. But Ichi reminded me that a lot can happen in 19 years, so...I'm not sure."

"You want to meet them?"

"They're in America. Forget about it. I have to do this now."

"Alright, well, see you."

He nodded and went off, descending lower.

Eventually, he found the kitchen, some whistling coming from inside. The deer walked and saw a familiar sparrow there, even though she wasn't cooking anything. "Hey, Juu."

She yelped and closed the book he was reading. "Yah! Shi! Don't scare me like that!"

Louis rubbed his neck. "I apologize."

"I noticed you covered your windows. You know that makes it harder to do my job, right?"

"I guess so, but we just wanted some privacy."

"You told the wolf about us, didn't you?"

Louis shook his head. "No! No, I didn't."

"Of course you did! It only makes sense. But don't worry, I'm not going to tell anyone."

Louis blinked. "Why not?"

"Because! It's a chance to get some extra money! Duh! 5000 yen every week and I'll keep my mouth shut."

The cervid frowned. "Blackmail?"

"Sort of! Kinda! Don't worry, the money won't go to waste on silly clothes or anything like that."

Louis blinked. "Oh?"

"I'm a smart girl! I'd spend it on ingredients and such so we can eat homemade dinners here!"

"Are you the chef?"

"Sorta! Kinda! Not really! Hachi knows more about cooking than I do, but they have been teaching me and...I sort of feel at home in here. I also enjoy the lighting from the windows here."

Louis looked around. "The lighting is nice. Funny, I actually make all the meals for me and my husband at home."

Juu made a sound. "Well...that's actually what got me interested in cooking..."

The buck's eyes widened a bit. "Oh?"

"You always spend a lot of time and put care into what you make. It's nice. Hachi is always alone here working and I thought helping them might be nice, but it's kinda tough when they don't really speak, you know?"

"That makes sense. Ichi says they refuse to even write. Quite the intriguing character..."

Juu hopped off the chair and walked around him. "Wow! Hachi made your outfit very nicely. Wasn't a very good first impression you made on your commencement, you know."

"And yet, you don't seem pissed off at me for it."

"It's different for me. I've been following your life for a while and I guess I've grown...attached to you, in a way?"

Louis had a thought. "By the way...Do you watch us...copulate?"

Juu shook her head, quickly. "Absolutely not. As soon as you and Legosi get handsy, I check out. I don't care what Ichi says, I refuse to watch everything."

"Do you ever feel bad for basically stalking us?"

"Well, it's my job, so no. Plus, it's not like I'm attacking you or anything. Just watching."

Louis made a face. "Okay, but doesn't it ever get boring?"

"Well, I'm in constant contact with Ichi when I'm watching you. If you and the wolf go to sleep or lay down to cuddle, he calls me back."

"And I'm guessing you're the scouter because you...can fly?"

"That and I can write really fast. I have to take notes, after all."

Louis made another face. "Ichi wouldn't be mad that you're telling me all this stuff?"

"Maybe! Probably! Most likely! Who knows!"

The taller herbivore's ear twitched. "...Thank you. For not telling him Legosi knows."

"Don't forget the payment, though!"

"Is there a specific day?"

"At least once a week. And I get the right to ask you on any day of the week if I need it."

Louis chuckled. "I could also help you learn how to cook along with Hachi. And I can actually talk."

Juu made a squeak noise. "Ichi would hate that."

"Eh...He told me to get to know you and I figure having only positive relationships here is smarter than not."

The sparrow nodded. "Okay, that's true, I guess. Do we have a deal?" She stuck out her hand.

Louis shook it. "Deal. I do have a question, though."

"Yeah?"

"Do you...need a stool when you work in the kitchen? I mean, seeing as Hachi is a good deal taller than you."

"Yeah! I do! But that's fine! It's worth it!"

"You're the youngest member here, aren't you?"

"Yep! But I can still fight really well! I have killer aim with my venom darts."

Louis blinked. "You use venom darts?"

"I won't, I won't. One last question. Do you and Ichi have plans to put microphones in our home?"

"Not unless you provoke us. I should probably shut my mouth now. So...you really will help me learn how to cook more?"

"Yes. You could even come inside sometime when Legosi isn't there."

"Mm...I don't know about that."

Louis shrugged. "It's whatever you want. I'm going to go find Go so I can train with San and Kyuu."

Juu went back to her chair and picked up her book, which was revealed to be an easy meal cookbook.

Seeing this made Louis smile, and he exited, going to the bottom level and making his way to the door, where Go was still stationed, looking at his claws.

Louis walked up and the red panda jumped into action, blocking the door. "If you are thinking about leaving, Ichi hasn't sanctioned it!" He had a walkie-talkie clipped to his side.

"I'm not leaving. I'm here to talk to you."

Go moved his hands up to rub his face, then jumped again. "Woah! Whoops! Yeah, that was close." His face went back to scowling. "I have nothing to say to you, suicide boy."

Louis huffed, rolling his eyes. "What's your problem with me? It's going to be different. I'm going to cooperate. Your threat worked."

"Good! And my problem is you're a self-centered brat who thinks he's all that. So annoying."

"I was just upset with Ichi. You can understand why. I don't want to lose someone I love."

Go squinted. "You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"

"No, I don't. I don't even know kind of what it's like and I'm not going to pretend that I do. You're grieving, and I understand that, but there's one big thing you need to know. I'm not Legosi! Even if he did eat meat, I'm not a carnivore. I'm an animal with my own feelings and traits. I don't want to be here and have you hating me the whole time."

"How can't I when you're so insensitive? Prancing around the place, talking all this bullshit about your wolf. No one cares, Shi."

"I get that," Louis sighed. "But...I'm not ashamed of who I am. It's a part of me and I don't want to hide it."

Go swallowed at this. Ashamed... He clinked the tips of the claws together. "Well, too bad. You have to be here. Don't talk about your life on the outside. You're lucky you even have it."

"I know, and I'll shut my mouth about it. I'm sorry we got off on a bad foot, but I'm willing to put in the work to fix it."

Go rolled his eyes. "You don't need to. In fact, it would be better if you didn't."

Louis laughed. "No, no, don't worry. I'll get you to like me and we'll be fine and I'm sure we'll get paired up on missions together and having a good relationship would improve our teamwork."

"What are you, gay? Get outta here."

Louis sighed. "I'll figure you out, even if it takes a while."

"Don't think you will!" Go snapped. "Don't even try! Just leave me alone, Shi! Get out of here!" No one can figure me out...I don't even understand myself yet...Ugh, fuck you, Shi.

The buck turned. "See you around."

Go waved his arms around wildly, scratching the door frame by accident, causing a loud noise to fill their ears and Louis turned again, blinking and looking at the new mark.

Go covered it. "Leave me alone! Get out of here, dude!"

And then Louis was gone, returning to train with San and Kyuu.