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Ninth Life

11. The Truth Hurts and Lies Worse

By ©ancercute

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••Mimi••

Sora entered the door- which I held open- with a down face and a pity-looking frown.

"Sora! What happened?" I asked when I closed the door behind and reached out to hug her. She rested her head on my shoulders and just stood still, numb from whatever pain she must have been suffering.

"What's wrong sis?" I tried so soothe her by patting her back softly. "Here, c'mon. Let's go to my room."

We headed upstairs and locked ourselves inside my bedroom and we sat on my bed hugging pillows. I looked at her and waited for her to tell me something. The poor girl looked so sad and worried. Scared even. She was beginning to spill tears.

"Sor, tell me what's wrong," I said softly.

"Tai's avoiding me. Really staying away from me." Her voiced cracked. "We don't stay in the same table anymore at lunch. He looks away when I look at him. He hurries to leave when I catch up with him. He doesn't call me, texts me, or anything. He's completely different. I don't know what's wrong with him!" She buried her face in the pillow and cried.

I couldn't believe it. How could Tai do something like that? Avoiding Sora without any explanation. It was so cruel. My eyebrows knitted in confusion.

"Why? Didn't he tell you? How long has he been ignoring you?"

"Since last Friday and until now. He doesn't give me any damn explanation why he's acting like an ass. I hate it."

"Maybe you should give him some time. Maybe he's having difficult problems to deal with."

"Then why won't he tell me?"

"Maybe it's too personal," I tried my best to cheer her up, but apparently, it wasn't working. She bowed her head again, fiddling with pillowcase.

"He doesn't even say he's sorry. He's making me clueless! He doesn't give me even just one idea. I swear I didn't do anything wrong with him."

This time, I didn't know what to say. There was nothing I can do about it. I sighed, and for a moment, there was silence. I felt so cruel. All the while I so happy being on cloud nine with Yamato that I didn't care anymore with anything else. But my closest friend was having trouble and being miserable and I wasn't even there to comfort her earlier. I felt so selfish and cruel. She's been my first friend since I came here and I felt too much attached to Matt that I somehow forgot about them.

Then, I noticed something on her ankle.

"What's that?" I asked pointing on her feet.

"A dog bit me on my way home last night."

I involuntarily flinched. Last night? I saw the familiar dog that night, but I didn't even know if it was the same dog that bit Sora. I hope it didn't hurt her.

"Does it swell?"

"It hurts sometimes. But not most of the time. Don't worry. It's nothing. It's the least of my problems right now," her voice lowered.

"Oh."

"You're lucky with Matt," she commented. Now I really felt so bad.

"Hey Sor. Don't worry about it. I'm sure he'll come around," I brushed a strand of her hair from her face. "Give him some more time. Show him you're willing to wait to whatever he's handling right now. Show him you still care and you support him. I know it hurts, but just give him some space for a while."

Her face suddenly lit up, and now I felt like I really did able to help her.

"Sure? You think he'll come around?"

"Promise. It'll work out soon. I'm sure of that," I smiled. They're too sweet to just end their relationship.

"Thanks Meems."

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••Yamato••

"Hey man. What's up?" I asked entering through Tai's living room door. I found him sulking on the sofa- his expression troubled, hands covering his face and utterly exasperated. His wild brown hair was uncombed. His shirt was crumpled and he looked like an ancient grandfather carrying the weight of the world.

"Dude. What's wrong with you?" I came to sit by his side and patted his thigh. "You're messed up."

He heaved a loud sigh. "Matt, I'm screwed. I'm a loser Matt!"

"What are you talking about? At least tell me something with sense."

"Man, I'm an animal. I'm a pest. I don't hang out with Sora lately," he lowered his head down. "I've been avoiding her like a coward."

My eyebrows knitted, and I leaned my back to the couch staring at the ceiling. "Why?"

"Because I'm a stupid animal," he spat.

"Oh c'mon Tai. Tell me the reason already."

"That's it." I sat up straight and watched him with curious eyes.

"Be serious Tai. Why are you still avoiding Sora? Don't give me your lame dramatic excuses. Tell me the truth."

It took a long moment of silence before he could answer. He just stared at me and again, heaved a sigh. Then he looked away and gazed through the window.

"Man I don't know if I'm crazy. I really need a psychiatrist. I don't know if I'm losing it or my head isn't working right. God I must be a psycho," he kept telling himself.

"Tai, if you're not gonna take this seriously, I'll leave."

He suddenly shot me a glare and soon his expression became worrisome. "Dude, don't go." I waited for him to tell me something.

"I know this is unbelievable, but listen to me. I'm not sure if I'm still sane, but you need to know." Pause. There was this moment of quietness before he began to speak again. "Matt! I'm an animal, man! A stinkin' brutal animal. I don't know how it happened but I just suddenly turned into a dog. A barking, howling, four-pawed dog!" he exclaimed.

I was astounded. "What?!"

"A freakin' dog!"

"What are you talking about Tai? Did you hit your head?"

"I told you it's hard to believe. But it's true."

"You're not fooling around are you Tai? Seriously, this is not funny."

"I'm not fooling around. This dog-transforming thing- whatever this is- is making my life worse than hell!"

"How?" Damn. Did he just suddenly become a shapeshifter? Like me? What the hell happened?

"Huh?"

"How? How did it happen?" I asked.

"I don't know man. It's all confusing, exhausting and mindblowing that it makes me feel like chicken shit."

"Just tell me everything. Don't spare a detail," I demanded him in a serious tone.

"Ok. Last Thursday, after soccer practice, I dropped Sora and then went home. I was tired, really tired and then my body started to ache. It hurt all over the place and I felt like I was burning. Then when I got out of the car, I thought my body was deforming and I might explode. My whole body ached extremely and the next thing I knew, I was standing in four feet and I saw in the reflection of my car that I became a damned dog. No, a freakin' wolf. Man it was crazy."

How? I only thought a human could only become one of us if it's in his genes or he is seriously bitten. How the hell could that happen to Tai?

"Can you show it to me?" I asked.

"What're you talking about? I can't just turn into a dog by command."

"You can't?"

"I don't even have the faintest stinkin' idea how it happened. Let alone how to intentionally transform into one."

I ran my hand into my hair in confusion and frustration. What? Is the world suddenly turning into woof-woof land?

We sat in silence for a while, staring at nothing but space, both of us completely clueless on what to say. Of course Tai might think I was thinking of how insane he was, but I was more shocked into the unknown process of how he suddenly turned into a hairy, four-pawed creature. I knew how it happened to me. My parents were werewolves, but were killed during that war between werecats and our kind a couple of years ago. I knew some werewolves, but not in here, and that was what makes it so puzzling. How had Tai become one?

"Tai? How do you think this happened to you?"

"I'll be damned if I knew Matt. Or maybe God has punished me, or I must be mutating," he said sarcastically. "Sorry man. I've been watching too much X-men lately."

"Did a dog or wolf bite you?"

"No. Not that I remember any."

With another sigh again, I stood up and unbuttoned my shirt.

"Hey dude? What are doing stripping off in my house?" Tai asked in surprise.

"Turn around," I told him.

"What? Oh c'mon Matt. Seriously."

"Just turn around," I repeated, now unbuttoning my jeans. Tai turned his back, then I began shifting. I was taking a risk, letting him show what he had just encountered with himself. It's going to be now or never.

After a while, I went to him, bit his jeans by the ankle and pulled it. Tai looked down and almost stumbled back at the sight of my wolf form. He looked bewildered, staring at me like I was some fascinating new creature. He studied the spot where I was standing before and looked at my pile of clothes lying on the floor. Then he fell his gaze to me again.

I think that he had trouble speaking because it was a whole minute before he spoke.

"Matt? You? Is that.. Are you?" he couldn't find the words to say. He was shocked beyond any definition.

I nodded my head in comprehension.

"Oh god. I think I'm sick," he dramatically put his hand on his forehead. "Dude? You turned into a freakin' dog! How the hell did you do that? What is this? Some kind of Halloween gig?"

He moved closer to me and looked carefully. He touched my ear, examined my paw, pulled open and looked inside my mouth. He might be making sure if what he's seeing is real.

"Okay. I believe you. Just turn into a person already. I might become a ridiculous fool talking to some animal."

I took my clothes and went behind the door, and Tai turned around giving me privacy. I began to shift back in my human form and wore my clothes.

"Sorry dude but I don't have the slightest idea on how you turned into one." My voice must have startled him as he whirled back and faced me.

"Matt. It's hard to take in on a day. Punch me and I hope I wake up from this dream."

"You're not dreaming. I became one because I have it my genes. I don't how about you.."

"Maybe I have it in my genes too?" he suggested.

"Maybe. But we're not sure. But that's it though. Can you shift?"

"What? Is that what it's called? Shift?" he asked and I nodded. I noticed the clock on the wall as it read 11:45. Shit.

"I don't think so," he replied.

"Ok never mind. We'll talk about this tomorrow. I gotta go. It's getting late."

"Sure. You have your car right?"

"Can I leave it here? I'll run back home. It's been a long while since I've shifted."

"Go ahead. Later Matt," Tai walked upstairs in his room, leaving me behind. I walked up the front door and held the knob. But before I opened it, I decided to shift inside before anyone could see me.

••Mimi••

I was on the rooftop of Tai's neighbor, looking down the dark streets. The night was peacefully quiet. I was in my feline form, because it's been too long that I've shifted. Since I saw the two cats outside my Physics class, I was determined to shift and feel the rush of adrenaline in my veins. I missed running in four paws, the feel of my muscles, the sense of heights overpowering me.

Since my curiosity got the better of me, I went here to Tai's, to watch and study him from what everything Sora told me. And I don't think I'll get killed out of curiosity.

I looked inside his house from the rooftop. It really isn't difficult considering our sense of sight. And I was surprised to see Matt through the window. Maybe he also talked about it with Tai. I watched him pull off his shirt exposing his tanned abs. He really had a hot body that I didn't refrain from purring. After that, he began to unbutton his pants. What the hell was he doing?! Is he stupid?

Luckily, the wall was concrete so I didn't see anything below his waist. I didn't take my eyes away from him. And in just a second, he disappeared. I stretched my neck to look but I didn't see anything. What happened to him?

I waited for him to come out. And to my surprise, the door creaked a small opening revealing a light brown yellowish Siberian husky. My heart stopped, eyes wide open in shock. It was that same dog again that I encountered in my early days here, and the one that kept saving me. No, I was definitely not hallucinating nor am I high. But here I was, looking down at the creature that it sent me various emotions running through my whole body. Unquestionably, cats have a great coordination in balance but I felt my legs- my four legs- quiver.

The wolf had sniffed the air, and it sharply turned its neck up to see me in jolt. It was also surprised, and I can see into its blue eyes the countless of emotions it was feeling. Anxiousness dominated. As I looked deeply into its eyes, it stared at me the way Yamato did. And I knew that precise moment why he suddenly disappeared and the wolf had his clothes tied on its hind legs.

Realization washed through me like freezing cold water on an early Monday morning. My eyes widened, legs wobbles, chest pounded and my head throbbed in confusion.

Matt is a goddamned werewolf!

And I was stupidly in love with him to realize the truth and look past through him. I was per-occupied by the happiness his presence gave me that I wasn't been able to read and take a look at the signs. It was there all along but I was too blind to see it! I was blinded by the damned love he gave me. Everything flashbacked through me now, in front of my face.

The first time we met, he stopped in his tracks and smelled me. Everytime the air blew, he could smell me again. He said my scent was different. Another time, he heard me vomit in my bathroom when I was almost wasted even though he was outside my house.

Of course, wolves have sensitive nose and ears!

I was so overwhelmed at all the happenings that I could almost feel tears bursting out my eyes. But of course, cats can't cry. But I felt like my eyes blur. Without thinking, I ran away. I ran as fast as I can, jumping from roof to roof, hurrying to go home. I felt so betrayed, lied to, and hurt. I could not believe this. The one person I loved so much was the same creature I hated, and he didn't tell me. He all kept it to himself, lied behind my back. My paws became weak, but I continued running away. From him.

I heard a howl from behind and knew that it was the wolf or Matt running behind me on the street. I didn't want to go down or anywhere near him. I stayed at the top of the roofs scurrying, where no wolves could ever reach me. He kept on barking at me, making me stop. But I wouldn't.

When I reached my house, I came down and went through the front door. I hurriedly shifted- turning into human again- and put on the clothes I left in the living room. I was about to go upstairs when I heard the wolf get inside too. It looked at me and I ran upstairs to my room, but it followed.

I locked the door behind me and I sat against it, burying my face in my hands, crying like an idiot. I cried for the reason I didn't knew, and between my sobs, I could hear him shift.

"Mimi, please. Open the door," he said through the door in worry. "Please." I didn't answer.

"I'm sorry Meems. I know how much you hate me, but I still love you. I don't give a damn to what creature you become but it's always been you Meems. Always," he persuaded, and hot wet tears continued running down my face. I noticed the picture of the wolf on the wall and thought that how much pain he had gone through looking at it all the while he was here in my room. My heart squeezed in pain, and I tried to hold myself together.

"Mimi I'm sorry if I didn't tell you earlier. I didn't know how to and I'm afraid of letting you go. It doesn't matter to me what you are."

I struggled to stand up, even though I felt an agonizing stab on my chest. Even if my legs couldn't support the whole of me. With all my courage, I opened the door. And I saw in his face the clear torture in him. How his eyes didn't look so bright anymore.

"But it matters to me Matt! It matters!" I shouted. "Do you know how it feels Matt?! I feel betrayed, like I'm being used! I'm being lied to!"

"I didn't lie Mimi," he persuaded. "And I didn't use you. I love you."

"Fine! You didn't lie, but you didn't tell me the truth. You hid it behind my back and I feel so stupid and pathetic not realizing any of it!" I accused poking his bare chest with my finger. And I couldn't help but want to stay close with him, wrapped up on his chest.

"Please Mimi. I don't want to argue with you," he said with care and exasperation, holding my shoulders and trying to pull me to him.

"Don't!" I pulled away. "Just don't." Endless tears pooled down again. "You saved me the night before right? When I was attacked?" I asked in a low, steady voice, looking down.

"Yes. I did."

"Thanks.. for looking out for me," then I lifted my head and faced him. "But I won't need it. I can take care of myself. Don't bother watching out for me anymore." I turned and held the doorknob, but he grabbed my wrist and whirled me around.

"Mimi wait. What are you saying? I can't worry about you anymore? I have a right to," he argued.

"No." I said in finality. "You don't. I'm not allowing you to."

He shook his head in disapproval. "You're not saying we're through Meems. We can't. That wouldn't be possible."

"But we are now, Matt. We're over. So you can go now." I turned my back to him once again, but he grabbed me once more. More forecefully this time that I was slammed onto his chest. But before I could shout or complain at him, he crushed his mouth into mine, kissing me wildly and violently in a rough manner- the kind of kiss that tells us it won't happen again. It was hard and eager, like he was savoring every moment of it. And surprisingly, I kissed back to. We kissed each other hungrily, pushing our lips onto each other's as I wrapped my arms around his neck and his on my waist.

Let me hold you for the last time

It's the last chance to feel again

I want this so much. Badly, so much. Our kiss was intense and fierce. Our tongues slid to other's mouths. He moved down to my neck, kissing it. Then he moved back to my lips. I didn't dare stop. But the point came where we needed air came, both of us broke the kiss and gasped. We could her each other's breathing and my lungs felt like bursting. No one spoke firsts spoke as I watched him. He was looking down at his side. Running his hand through his hair, he kissed my lips for the last time. Gently and lovingly.

He trailed his lips on my jaw and whispered, "I love you." Then, he pulled away as I opened my eyes. He was on his back, walking down the stairs, leaving. Now, I felt naked. He was nowhere to protect me, nowhere to cover me. Because I pushed him away.

I felt so helpless that I sat on the floor, leaning on my door and bit my lip as I cried once more. Just between my sobs, I heard a wolf howl in grief outside.

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-a/n-

I am very sorry for the late update. I've been very busy. But I hope you liked chapter nine! Oh, and my Intimacy, I'm still working on it. Sorry for making you wait.