Chapter 10: The Cat Man

I have no idea for White Day. NO IDEA!

Thank you for keeping up with this story until now.. I hope I can make more surprises in the future. And welcome to the new readers!

Disclaimer: I don't own HNKNA or any characters in it, they belong to Quinrose. I only own my characters and this story.

Blue and green were the color she saw. It was like the time when she first met Nightmare in her dream. Does that mean she's dreaming right now?

"Remy?" she heard Nightmare called behind her.

She turned back and saw Nightmare looking at her with narrowed eyes. She smiled brightly at him.

"Nightmare!" she yelled at him happily.

Nightmare dashed at her like a comet and opened his arms. She reacted and opened her arms too, happily embracing him. He hugged her tight and buried his face on her hair, trying to get as many of her as he could. He felt like she had been gone for ages and they finally meet again. It felt strange to him, this feeling inside him. What he felt right now was something he had never felt before. It was like... He had lost something so precious to him, and he finally found it again. He didn't know what this is, but he felt very... Content... That he can finally reached her, even though it's only a dream.

Remy smiled happily while hugging him. She didn't mind him hugging her so tight. He must've missed her so much and worried about her. She missed him too, and she's happy that they could meet again. He's the first person she knew in Wonderland and had been so kind to her and welcomed her at his house. But she felt sorry that she made him worry like this. She wanted to cry because she felt it's her fault, but she cried a lot lately and she's embarrassed to cry again. She didn't want to be a crybaby, she wanted to be like her sister who's so strong and never easily cries. So she gulped down the lump in her throat and smiled sadly.

"I'm sorry Nightmare." Remy said.

"It's alright." Nightmare whispered softly, his voice trembled just for a little bit in the end.

She felt his something brushed behind her left ear and tensed at its coldness. What was that?

"Nightmare?" she called, she glanced at him but she could only see his hair.

"I miss you." He whispered. Still didn't intend to let her go.

She smiled, "Me too. And Gway too!"

He still wanted to hug her, so he hugged her still and rubbed her back. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.

Still smiling, she nodded. "I'm resting now."

"Good." He smiled. "Where are you now?"

"In the infirmary. I think... At the amusement park!"

Nightmare frowned. That's so far. How could she get that far in only a few time changes?

"Oh Nightmare! I met a doctor! And a man with red hair and a braid, and a faceless lady! I was surprised!" she laughed.

His smile grew. Her laugh was like chime in his ears. Sweeping away his questions for a while, he tried to enjoy his short time with her.

He finally let her go after a few more moments and looked at her. "Did you have fun?" he asked.

She shook her head, "Not really. I fainted when I saw eyeless lady, and my head hurts a lot when I met red haired man. Even though they were nice to me." Then she frowned when he looked at his face. There's a tear sliding down his right cheek. But she didn't ask him anything.

Nightmare frowned again. "You fainted?"

She nodded, "But I'm okay now! The doctor gave me pain killers and tuna sandwich!" she smiled brightly.

That didn't soothe his worry, but at least he knew she's in another role holder's territory and not somewhere else unknown. They could go and pick her up.

He bit the inside of his cheek as he felt the dream closing in. That was too fast. But this time he felt as if something was trying to push him away. She's not waking up, but she's going deeper into her sleep. Is this the reason why he couldn't get into her dream? He decided to save that for later. He won't be able to hold it much longer.

"I will come and pick you up." He gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"Alright. I will wait for you." She smiled cheerfully. She's happy that she could finally meet Nightmare again and excited that he would come to pick her up.

"Until then, Remy." He said, then everything starting to fade.

She frowned. "Nightmare?" she called out to him.

"See you soon Remy." She heard his voice faintly as she succumbed deeper into her sleep.

Boris slammed the infirmary's front door with a bang.

Patrick jolted in his seat.

"Bory! Don't slam my door!" he yelled.

Boris ignored him and sniffed the air. And then he walked to the door on the left side of the infirmary and tried to open it, but he found it locked. The cat turned to Patrick. "Why did you lock it?"

"To stop the likes of you." Patrick stood and walked over to him. He put his hands on either side of his hips, "Apologize!" he yelled again.

Boris sheepishly smiled, "Sorry... She's here isn't she? That girl with pink eyes and bandaged head."

Patrick crossed his arms. "And what if she is? She's resting right now and I can't let anyone in."

"Did she ask you to do that?" Boris raised one of his eyebrows.

"No. I asked myself to do that." Patrick walked back to his desk and pulled out his drawer. "What business do you have with her, Bory?"

He walked up to him. "Alice scolded me for jumping at Pierce. I didn't know he was carrying the girl."

Patrick glanced at him briefly before rummaging his drawer, "I thought you like getting scolded by her?"

"Well yeah... If she wasn't pulling my ear." Boris huffed and touched his left ear, remembering the force Alice used to that ear and shuddered.

Patrick chuckled. "And you said you're aware of your surroundings."

"Hey, drop it." Boris shot annoying look at the ape.

Patrick pulled out his wallet and closed his drawer. "If you insist on seeing her, watch her for me. I need to go buy some things." He walked to the door Boris was trying to open earlier.

Boris smiled. "Thanks Pat."

Patrick produced a key from somewhere and unlocked the door before putting the key into his trousers pocket. "Just be quiet. I don't want her to wake up. I'll be back soon."

Boris gave a thumb up. "Got it." He entered the room as Patrick went out.

He closed the door gently and walked to her bed. He hopped onto the other bed soundlessly and watched her intently.

'This is the girl I saw at the tower.' He thought after a few glances.

He couldn't see her eyes right now, but he did notice the bandage. And he instantly knew she was the girl, partly because she smelled like the mouse. He's fought his inner feeling to jump on her and eat her up. Alice wouldn't like that, so he sat on the bed watching her calmly. She only smelled like him, she's not like him. She has no mouse ears either so she can't be a mouse.

But who is she though? He had never seen her before. Her features could belong to anyone. Black hair, rather chubby cheeks, a cute small nose, and plump lips. His lips twitched up a little as he saw her smiled in her sleep. Well she's pretty cute. No wonder Alice was so mad at him earlier. A cute little girl was injured and he almost jumped at her. He had to thank Alice later for stopping him at the Clover Tower.

He looked at the sleeping little girl and noticed something black beside her. He glanced at that black thing, it was a hat. He took it and sniffed at it. He instantly scrunched up his face. Ughh it reeks that mouse. So this is what he smelled earlier. He needed to get rid of it.

He leapt from the bed and walked to the door. He opened the front door and threw it carelessly into the air before closing the door again. He didn't care where it land, just far away enough would be acceptable at the moment. He retreated back into her room. Now with it gone, he would do better at watching her. He returned to his position on the bed and sniffed the air, it was reduced a little bit, but she still reeked his scent. She did smell like that mouse. He sighed. But he'll try to bear with it and waited her to wake up.

She was so quiet. He didn't know how long it was for her to wake up, but he patiently wait.

She eventually woke up. And his yellow eyes watched her intently at her stirring form.

Remy stirred to her right side and opened her eyes slowly. She's still at the infirmary. She reached up and rubbed her eyes. Why are dreams so short? She wanted to see Nightmare more. She hoped he would come pick her up soon. She missed her pirate friend.

She sat up and saw someone sat on the other bed. She turned her head to the person and saw a man looking at her intently. She studied his appearance and felt that she had seen him before. Black clothing, purple red hair and long scarf...furry, purple red scarf..with shiny decorations, marking under his eye and on his stomach. Why did he look familiar? She also noticed he had eyes, cat ears on his head and a tail. So he's not a faceless like the lady before. He had eyes. A slit yellow eyes, like a cat. He had cat ears too, he must be a cat man. They stared for a few moments before he broke the silence.

"Hey." He said cheerfully with a smile.

"H-Hello..." she replied.

"You okay?" he asked.

She touched her head and closed her eyes for a few moments before nodding her head. "Better." She gave him a small smile.

"Sorry for jumping at you." He smiled apologetically.

She tilted her head. "Jump at me?"

"At the Clover Tower."

She blinked her eyes, confused. "Sorry. Wemy don't understand. Clover Tower?"

He paused for a second. "You don't remember? The mouse was carrying you and ran." How could she not know Clover Tower? She had been there.

Remy thought for a while and everything clicked. He was the man that visited Nightmare's house. She saw him from the window. He's a cat man? Was this the cat Pierce talked about? So he ran away from this cat man? And tower? Was it Nightmare's house? She didn't know Nightmare lives in a tower. She didn't even open her eyes to look when Pierce took her away. She was too busy feeling the pain that time, so she ignored everything and forgot about it.

"Piws ran away from you?" she asked.

"Yeah. I jumped at him on instinct. But I didn't know he was carrying you." The cat man answered.

She frowned a little, "Piws so scared. Don't do that again pwease."

He smiled sheepishly, "Sorry.. I can't promise you that."

"Why?" she asked.

"I get hungry when I see that mouse." He answered.

She paused. She suddenly remembered the cartoon she watched every morning. It was about a cat that always chases a mouse. This made her wonder.

"Cats always chase mouse?" she asked curiously.

He smiled and nodded, "Yup."

She looked at her feet for a few seconds before turning at him again. "But pwease twy."

He frowned a bit, "What?"

"Twy." She repeated.

"Mm. I didn't get that. Did you say 'try'?" he tilted his head.

"Yes." She nodded, smiling.

He smiled awkwardly and scratched his head. He chuckled. "Okay... But it's not a promise."

She smiled brightly. "Okay!"

"Hey."

"Hmm?" she looked at him.

"When you said Piws, did you mean Pierce? The mouse who carried you?" he asked.

She nodded. "Yes."

"You're a lisp?" he raised his eyebrows.

She blinked and giggled. Someone finally get it. "Yes."

He laughed softly. "You don't look sad being one."

She smiled smugly. "I don't."

"Really? Isn't it annoying?" he smiled.

She laughed, "It's very annoying. But Wemy okay with it."

He smiled again. She's so funny and cute. He liked how her eyes shone when she talked and her laughter sounded like cute little bells in his ears. His ears flickered and his tail swayed. He liked it. He wanted to see that light and hear that laugh again.

He moved to her bed to get closer and sat across from her, by her feet.

"Is your name Wemy?" he asked.

She shook her head. "No."

An idea popped in his head. "Let's play a game then."

Remy smiled. She likes games. "What game?"

"I'll guess your name. And you guess my name. Three strikes and you get a pinch on the face. How about it?" he smiled widely.

Remy smiled brightly. "Okay!"

"I'll go first. Mmm." He stared at her with a hand on his chin.

She waited for him to guess.

"Lemy."

She smiled. That's what Pierce called her. "Nope."

He raised his eyebrows. "Wrong? Okay. Your turn." He smiled.

"No clue?" she tilted her head.

"Oh yeah you gave me a hint earlier. Let's see.." he thought for a while.

"No hard hints pwease.. My head hurts if I think too hard." She said.

He blinked but smiled. "Okay. Mm... The opposite of exciting and... Hot." He smirked. He didn't like the hint, but he let it slide. If you guys know what I mean.

She blinked. "Hmm.." she thought for a while. The opposite of exciting is boring, and the opposite of hot is cold. Boring.. Cold..

She looked at him, "Bowco?"

He grinned. "Strike one."

"Aww..."

"My turn. Mmm." He could feel it on the tip of his fingers, but he decided to go wrong this time. "Nemy."

She grinned. "Nope! Strike two!"

"Naww~" he smiled.

She giggled. "Me next! Mmm..." she narrowed her eyes a bit. "Boweeze?"

"What's that? Z?"

She nodded.

"Noppe." He stressed the 'p'. "Strike two for you. One more and I get to pinch you." He grinned.

She giggled. This is fun! She likes it!

"Alright. My last turn." Boris straightened up in his seat. He smiled. "Remy."

She gasped. He got it right!

"Did I guess right?"

She smiled widely. "Yes!"

"Yahoo!" he pumped his fists to the air. "Now your turn, Remy. Careful, this is the last turn." He smiled at her.

She bit her lip. What next? She didn't get anything else from those words. Borco out, Boreeze also out. What next? She hummed unconsciously.

He grinned. "Give up?"

She shook her head. She tried to think harder, but then she felt a very faint pulse on her head. She sighed inwardly. Well it's just a game right?

"Borice?" she tilted her head.

He kept silent for a while. He wanted to make her curious. After that, he made a slashing pose with his hands. "Sssttrike three. You're out."

"Aww..." she smiled sadly.

He laughed softly. "It's Boris."

She looked at him and smile. "Bowis." She repeated after him.

He nodded. Then he pinched both of her cheeks softly. She laughed lightly.

"Nice to meet you Remy." Boris said.

"Nice to meet you too Bowis!" she exclaimed.

"So~ What were you doing with that mouse?" he casually asked.

"Piws?" She answered.

"Uh huh. At the Clover Tower."

"Clover Tower, you mean Nightmare's house?" she tilted her head.

He blinked. She really doesn't know about Clover Tower? Where did she live? In a cave?

"Uh.. Yeah... Weren't you there for the assembly?"

"No. Nightmare said it's boring. He told me to stay in my room."

He frowned. "Mustn't all of us in this land attend the Assembly? It's in the rules."

She looked at him with confused face. "What rule?"

"The...game?"

"What game?"

Boris's frown deepens. He can't believe this girl. She's so clueless. How could she still be a role holder if she can't remember the rules?

"Can I touch your ears Bowis?" Remy asked, pointing at his ears. She couldn't help it, she's so curious seeing his ears twitched. They're so cute!

He blinked. "Uh... Sure." He got on all fours and leaned closer.

She raised her hands and touched his ears. She ran her hands through his fur and the pink side of his ears. Uwaa~ They're so cute~ She grinned happily and rubbed it softly.

Boris tensed and bit his lips. "D-Don't rub it..." he whispered softly.

"But it's so cute Bowis!" she smiled and continued her rubbing. "Uwwaa~"

"Mmmhh~..." Boris closed his eyes and tried to stifle his moans. It felt good. No. No no! He can't be feeling good! He tried to keep his composure and fight the feeling away. "R-R-Remy..."

Remy didn't hear him. She also didn't notice Boris was muffling his moans and instead happily rubbing her hand on his soft fur. Her thumbs swirling the inside part of his ears in a circle motion, right at the soft cartilage. She liked the feeling of the pink soft skin on her thumbs.

'Oh sweet catnip that felt so good..' he gritted his teeth and purred. He had never felt this before. It's so good he didn't want it to stop. "Rremy..." he called again.

But she wasn't listening. She's feeling so happy right now and lost in her own lala land.

Damn it! No! He's a big, strong predator, he can't show his weakness! Not in front of a little girl!

He tried fighting it again. But it's no use, it's getting into him. "Rrrrhhhemyy... Stttohp.." Dang! He sounded so lewd!

Remy looked at him and noticed his behavior changed. She stopped rubbing and Boris collapsed on her legs. She looked at him wide eyed. He was breathing heavily. What's wrong with him? Did she do something wrong?

"B-Bowis? You okay?" she asked worriedly.

He sucked in his breath and after a few moments he mumbled, "Hahh... Hh..hine..."

She blinked several times. Hine? Did he mean fine? If he's fine then why did he act like this? Did she hurt him?

"Wemy hurt you?" she asked, her voice cracked a little.

He widened his eyes. "No!" he looked up at her, "No.. No you didn't.."

Her face still wore that worried expression and waited for his response.

He caught his breath and exhaled. "You didn't hurt me Remy..."

"Th-Then why you..."

He breathed in normal. "It's..." he sighed and sat up. "It felt weird."

She looked carefully at him, "Get pet?"

He glanced at her. She didn't pet him, she rubbed his ears. But it's pretty much the same. He nodded.

"Bowis... Don't like get pet?" she asked.

"No it's..." he glanced away. "I've never been petted before. No one ever petted me in the head, not even my ears. I scratched them away before they can touch me."

"But you didn't scratch me.." she said.

"Because you asked my permission."

She only stared at him.

And then he continued, "I thought you were only touching though."

She grimaced, "Sorry..."

"Hey~ It's okay. I don't hate it!" He smiled brightly.

She thought for a while. And then tilted her head again. "How does it feel?"

He stared at her. "What?"

"Get pet?"

"Mmm... I rather like it." 'I LOVE IT!' he thought.

She blinked her eyes twice and looked at him timidly. "Do you like?"

"Hm?" he raised his eyebrows.

"Do you like... Get pet?" she asked again.

He blinked at this. He didn't answer it immediately and just looked at her.

When he didn't answer, she continued talking. "I'll pet you if you want to. I'll rub your ears. It's fluffy and Wemy likes it." She smiled nervously. Faint pink tainted her cheeks.

Boris raised his eyebrows. He's a big cat and he shouldn't be accepting that. He has pride. He didn't want to show his weakness to just anybody. But he had a feeling she's not just anybody. He could still feel her little fingers on his ears. It felt so good when she rubbed him. He wanted to stay no and regained his pride. But if she offered him something so good while looking so cute like that, how can he resist? It's okay if it's just her right? As long as she kept it to herself and he didn't make it look like his weakness.

"Alright. Please pet me?" he smiled widely at her.

She smiled brightly and bobbed her head. "Okay!" she positioned her feet and patted her thighs. "Come'ere!"

He crawled to her and put his chin on her skirt. She put her hands on his head and started petting him. He purred at the sensation.

"Is it good?" she asked.

"Mmmhm~ Good~" he answered, smiling widely while still closing his eyes.

She smiled and worked her hands to his ears. She rubbed his ears like before and he meowed softly, his tail swaying around. She giggled.

'He's so cute!' she thought.

He reached his arms out and hugged her waist. He pulled himself closer to her and buried his face into her stomach, happily purring away. She giggled again.

"It tickles Bowis." She said between giggles.

"Ish sho ghood Memy~ Please mub morrre~" his voice muffled a bit as he slowly nuzzled his head against her stomach.

She laughed. "Okay okay." She fulfilled his request. "Ask Wemy anytime for pet okay?"

"Absholutely~"

She laughed again.

He sighed happily. Her bells-like laughter filled his ears like melody. The rhythmic sound he heard joined her laughter like the harmony. And this delightful sensation he felt soaring through his body.

'Ahh.. This is pure bliss...' he thought.

Remy happily watched him. She didn't have a pet and she only pet animals once when she was at the zoo. Her mother didn't want any pet inside the house. So she never felt what having pets like. But she liked petting Boris. He's so different from an animal even though he looked like one. He can think, he can speak, and he can feel. He's a person, he's not an animal. He just has animal ears, that's all.

'Is Pierce like Boris?' she thought. She felt a pulse in her head. She's thinking too hard again.

She sighed. Then she looked to her side and blinked. Where's Pierce's hat?

She wandered her eyes down, to the other bed, to the cabinets, everywhere in the room but she couldn't find that black hat anywhere. Then she remembered what Patrick said.

"Aaaaaanything can happen in Wonderland."

She blinked. Did Pierce's hat grew feet and ran off?

She imagined that black hat suddenly grew tiny feet with big white shoes and a brown tail similar to Pierce's, then jumped down from the bed and ran away to the door. She blinked several times. What.

She shook her head immediately and looked at Boris. "Bowis?"

The cat was still happily purring, enjoying the pleasure she's giving. But he responded. "Mmm."

"You see running hat?" she asked.

"Ahhh~ No~"

She paused and chose her words, "Do you see a black hat?" she scratched behind his ears.

"Ah! Ah! Yesh!"

Her face cheered a bit, "Where is it?"

"I throw it away!" he happily answered.

"EHH?"

Boris jolted at the sudden volume. He blinked a few times and sat up. "Wh-What is it Remy?"

"You twow it away?!" shock painted her face.

"What?" he blinked, looking flustered.

"Piws hat...?"

"Oh." He said calmly, then he smiled. "Yeah."

She looked horrified. "Why?!"

"It's smelled the mouse."

"But it's Piws hat!"

"That's why I throw it away."

"You can't do that!"

"Why?"

"It's Piws hat!"

"I told you that's why I throw it away."

"But you can't—Ahh!" she put her hands on her face exasperatedly. "Bwing it back!" she yelled at him.

Boris frowned. "No."

"Bwing it back, Bowis! It's Piws!" she looked at him desperately.

"But Remy... The petting."

"No pet again!"

His eyes widened. "What?! No! Pet me again!"

"No pet if hat don't go back!" she looked at him furiously.

He gasped. "You can't do that!"

"Why?!" she furrowed her eyebrows deeper.

"Because I like your petting!" he yelled.

"That's why I won't pet you!" she yelled back.

"Why?!"

"You twow Piws hat!"

"Why did you care about that stupid hat more than petting me?!"

"It's Piws hat! He let me bowwow I have to give it back! Now BWING IT BACK!" she screamed.

"WHOAY WHOAY WHOAAAAAYYYY!" Patrick appeared between the two of them in a flash.

He can't believe it! He just left for a few minutes and there's a riot already! The doctor ape looked at the two of them with disbelief. The two looked at each other with flaming faces.

"What the hell happened in here?!" he asked the two of them.

Remy's eyes glistened with tears, "Piws hat... Bowis twow it away..." her voice cracked.

Patrick blinked and let his brain translated her language for him. Once he got it, he glanced beside her pillow to look for the hat, which he noticed was missing. Then he turned to Boris. "You throw away the hat?"

"It's just a hat! No big deal!"

"IT'S PIWS!" she screamed.

"SO WHAT?!" Boris yelled back.

"WHOAAAAYYYY!" Patrick yelled loudly and flailed his arms between them.

Remy hiccupped and looked down. It's Pierce's hat, he lent her his hat so that she could hide and now it's gone. How was she supposed to thank Pierce now? She reached to her head as she felt the pain bubbling up and cried softly.

Patrick saw this and pulled her hands away, "Hurt again?" he asked worriedly.

At her small nod, Boris's anger immediately gone. He forgot she's still recovering. His furious face left his face and replaced with concern.

"R-Remy..." he called her. He instantly reached out to her, but his hand was stopped by Patrick.

Boris looked at Patrick as the monkey stood straight and turned to him. He narrowed his eyes to the Cheshire cat. "You." The ape doctor said, venom spurting in it.

Boris cringed.

A moment later, he was already out of the infirmary.

Boris turned back, "Wait Pat—", then the front door slammed into his face. "ACK!"

"STAY OUT!" Patrick yelled behind the door.

Boris banged at the door. "Hey let me in!" he fumbled the doorknob before start banging again. "Monkey!"

"I'm not a monkey!"

"Let me in! Remy I'm sorry please don't be mad at me!"

"You made her cry! Go away!"

Boris started kicking the door. "Let me in! Remy please!"

"This is my infirmary! Go away!" yelled Patrick.

The small commotion made some people glanced at the infirmary. But Boris didn't care. He kicked and banged against the infirmary door.

"LET ME IN PATRICK!"

BANG BANG

"PATRICK!"

BANG

"Bring the hat and I'll let you in!"

"But I don't know where it landed!"

BANG BANG

"Stop banging my door!"

"How am I supposed to bring it if I don't know where it is?!"

BANG

"THEN GO FIND IT STUPID!"

"AAAAAAAARRRGGHHHH" Boris kicked at the door once again and ran off furiously.

Patrick waited for a few longer before he released the door and sighed. "Stupid pussy."

"Doctor?" he heard the little girl called. He almost forgot about her. He ran to her room.

"Wemy! You okay?!" he asked worriedly as he came by her side.

"Hurts..." she whispered.

Patrick bit his bottom lip. He can't give her anymore pain killers. Then he sat beside her.

"Sorry Femy, no more pain killers. I'll rub your head a'ight? Here here..." he pulled her to lean on him and rubbed her head.

She sniffled softly and leaned on him. She felt his fingers rubbed her head gently and closed her eyes. "Piws hat.."

"I'll make sure he came back with Pierce's hat. Okay? Now I want you to relax..." he soothed.

"But Piws..." she hiccupped.

"Shh shh sshh~ You have to relax Memy. Or the pain won't go away." He looked at her sadly.

She pouted and hid her face to his white coat. She tried to calm down.

"Shh shh shh~" he said softly, gently rubbing her back too. "Don't worry. He'll bring it back. Just see."

She nodded and tried to relax.