Chapter 4:

A Sort of Bad Day

Chance and Jake started to see each other more then they ever had. The usual spot became their sanctuary and at lunch their little meetings to be together was a short while. They don't have any classes together, but it was obvious to everyone at school that they were going out. A lot of their peers were not surprised and really expected it would happen, but the few that were wanted them out the school. And because of that-

Jake started to walk to the usual spot earlier today. His excitement to hold the big tabby in his arms again was clearly showing. His walk, turned into a quick stride and then to a jog. Finally he went to a full sprint. His mind was somewhere else and wasn't paying attention to his surroundings. As he turned the corner, he bumped into a tom and fell on his rear.

"Watch it fag!" The tom blurted out. Jake quickly regained his focus and looked at the kat in front of him. He was Jake's height, all black fur except for the gray x on his face, piercings on his right ear and lip. His clothing contained of a grey t-shirt with splotches of light blue, green, yellow, and black with a red rhino on the shirt, a plushy black with purple crosshatches sweater, baggy dark blue jeans, and black and grey basketball shoes.

"What's wrong," The tom teased. "Never seen a straight tom before?" The tom and his group of friends laughed with him. Jake looked away and glared towards the ground. He tried to stand, but he was knocked back down by the tom's kick to the face. Jake placed a paw to his face and pulled back to see that he was bleeding; really badly.

"Look, it's getting up again." Jake ears fell flatter when being called 'it'. He knew who this group of delinquents is. They're want-to-be gang thugs that go to his school. The tom that kicked him was in one of his class and was clearly not a friendly. He tried to kick him again, but Jake grabbed his foot and stopped the assault. The tom was pissed for being interrupted and pulled back his foot to try again. Jake quickly moved out of the way and lunged for the tom.

As things went from bad to worse with Jake, Chance waited at the usual spot. Jake always came at exactly 4:50. The tabby started to feel that something bad has happened but he then felt silly for Jake being one minute late. He waited a little longer until he realized that Jake had not arrived for more than ten minutes now. His fear of something bad happening to Jake came back, only stronger.

Chance quickly got up, leaving his stuff behind, and run up the steps leading back to the streets. He used the trail he used to go to school to look for Jake. He would have run faster if it wasn't for the stupid sling he had to wear for the past several weeks. On the turn of a corner, he saw the already gathered crowd. Most of the kats were teenagers cheering and yelling on what he guessed had to be a full blown fight. Thinking that Jake wasn't a part of it, he had to check to make sure.

One tom, rearing a purple bandana around his neck turned and saw the tabby approaching. He yells that Chance was here and some of the kats ran off, while others stayed to see what would happen. Chance's eyes widened when he saw Jake covered in blood and on his knees grabbing on to his stomach. The other was covered in blood too and held out a pocket knife. He staggered back and dropped his weapon.

"Sh-shit…what did I do?" The tom panicked and turned to his friends, but they all stepped back and looked at him with fear. Jake tried to crawl his way to the tom how attacked him, but fell face flat to the ground. The group ran away as the tabby quickly went for the lean tom.

"JAKE…!" Chance yelled holding on to him close. Sirens filled the air. He pulled Jake closer; fighting back to hold his tears and wishing for Jake to hang on. The tabby nuzzled his face to Jake's neck. He heard him whisper and Jake's body went limp. Chance began to rock back and forth as the sirens got louder.

The tom walked out the book store as he was reading his new set of manga. A new volume came out today and just had to buy it to continue the series. He even got three new mangas for when he finished vol. 9 in about an hour. Brent didn't suspect his peace would be interrupted by a freaked out tom that pushed him out of the way. He hit the brick wall hard and dropped his book. The calico tom glared at the tom running away then retrieved his book. He stopped half way when he noticed the red print and splashes of red trails on his shirt.

"What the hell…?"

"Stop right there!" An Enforcer pointed his weapon at Brent. "You're under arrest!"

"What are you doing you fool?" A large brown intimidating tom barked at the Enforcer. He was muscular and tall, his voice deep and powerful, yet, Brent felt smitten. Brent eyed him hard into the Enforcer's brown eyes.

"But Commander Feral, he matches the description."

"The tabby said he was covered in blood and had a black sweater." Feral hovered over the Enforcer. "You may be my second in command, but you need to pay closer attention lieutenant. Now go on and look for-"

"The tabby, you mean Chance?" Brent eyed Feral with worry now. Steele cocked his head and glared at Brent.

"How did you know who Commander Feral was talking about?"

"He's a friend of mine." The tom tried to not yell at the orange tom. Brent knew he isn't really his friend, but liked to think it anyways to make himself feel less alone. "What happened? I want to know."

"We can't tell you." Steele scoffed and put away his gun. "A better question would be how did you get blood on your shirt?"

"A tom, about my age, ran that direction," Brent pointed behind him without leaving his glare off Steele. "He wore a black sweater, and for the blood, I say it's clearly all over him. He pushed me in a panic hurry, so he has to be the tom you're looking for."

"Thanks for the information. Let's go Steele." Feral ordered and the orange tom shadowed him. The Enforcers left to the direction he pointed out, but kept wondering what could have happened. He knew it was terrible since it did involve the Enforcers.

Brent couldn't help but feel that this was their price to balance out their happiness. The tom believed in karma and very well did his best to balance out his choices so life wouldn't do it for him. He was careless when he lusted for Jake and was very well yelled by him as punishment. But, Chance and Jake have been happy for some weeks and Brent felt scared for them.

Chance paced back and forth in the waiting area hoping to get some answers of Jake's condition. When he finally got a good look of Jake's wound a while ago, he gaped at the long gash as if the tom tried to slice him open. What ever knife he used, it's clear to say it was sharp. Anger, worry, desolate, bargaining, hope; these were all that the tabby felt at once. His mind was snapped back into reality when Katie yelled out to him.

"Chance, are you even listening to me!" She arrived just as soon as the paramedics picked him up. She followed the ambulance, which gratefully allowed Chance to ride along, to comfort the worried tabby but her effort to try was being ignored. Remorse showed on his face and finally sat down.

"Sorry, I just have a lot in my mind."

Katie sighed, placed her elbows on her knees and leaned her chin on her paws. "I understand that you're scared, but worrying about it won't make you feel any better. You have to stay optimistic. Otherwise, you're going to end up hurting yourself."

"When did you become a psychologist?" Chance huffed, but he knew the question he asked was pointless. Katie graduated her junior year and is now studying to be a psychologist. The only place that took her for her studies was Pumadyne. Strangely, her patients/subjects are going through some kind of experiment that dealt with the kat mind. The techniques she used with them, she used on Chance.

"I'm just trying to make you feel better." Katie put some authority in her tone. The tabby glared at her for raising her voice at him.

"Don't, just stop. This was supposed to be a special day for me and Jake. I held on to Jake as he was bleeding out. The words he whispered to me finally made me shed a tear and he died in my arms." The tabby placed his paws on the crown of his forehead. "Luckily the paramedics arrived and were able to bring him back; he died again in the ambulance and brought him back a second time. I couldn't do anything but watch. What if Jake dies again and…" He closed his eyes tight shut. The thought of loosing Jake now scared him the most. "I don't think there's an inch of miracle on this world that would make him survive a third death." Chance sensed Katie in front of him. He looked up and was immediately slapped across his face.

"Don't ever think like that. Jake's strong and you know that. He is going through an obstacle and we need to support him; you need to support him. You already proved you love him, now show it; show it and hold on to hope." Katie's face was stern, but her eyes were edged with tears. "You can't let what you worked hard to prove slip away."

"She's right." Chance's ears perked up. The voice was weak, but he recognized it well.

"Jason…?"

"…And me." Brent said while still reading the last page of his manga. Everyone gave a look at each other and waited for someone to speak. Chance kept a long stare at Jason, whose eyes were tired and based with a noticeable dark patch under his fur. Even lower from Jason's eyes were the bandages for his nose that wrapped almost half his face and covered one eye. The cast he bore had some distance from his chest area so it wouldn't bump him in the ribs. The way he looked now made the tabby feel sorry for him.

"Hey Katie," Brent took her paw and began to lead her away. "I need to speak with you. Privately." The she-kat nodded. Brent gave Chance a wink before taking her away. Something made the tabby feel like this was planned out the second he and Jason walked in. When both were gone, Jason struggled to speak.

"What do you want?" Chance said, but couldn't help the small gruff tone. Jason's shoulders feel to depression and sighed.

"I heard what happened to Jake." Jason said hoarsely

"So you came to see him. Why…?"

"To apologize…"

"Well it's too late to apologize to Jake."

"I want to apologize to you too." Chance kept a soft glare on him as Jason looked towards the ground. Jason's breathing pattern differed from short to long and back to short; some facial features showing pain behind his bandages. Chance guessed it had to be his ribs and something else.

"Why apologize to me? You attacked and I responded with self-defense. I don't care if you apologize, you chose to fight me and this is how you ended up. I say learn to live with it and move on."

"I didn't want to fight you." Jason's tone was barely audible.

"Then why did-"

"I was jealous. I was afraid to loose Jake, so I panicked and punched you. I realized what I did was wrong, but I couldn't stop. I began to feel the need to break you. I wanted to see you suffer. Then Jake came and knocked me off with one single tackle. Jake screamed and continued to attack me, almost killing me. If it wasn't for Katie and Brent showing up, I would have."

Chance stood silent for a long time. After that day, he has promised himself to get back at him, but after hearing what he had to say, it changed everything. He felt relieved that he didn't have to do something he would have regretted. Chance looked at Jason again. Seeing his eyes reflect off sadness which meant he was serious.

"Alright."

"Huh…?" Jason gasped out.

Chance stood up and walked towards the tom. He placed his only free arm out, "I accept." Jason stared at the tabby's paw then looked away.

"I haven't apologized yet."

"Your eyes showed me you were telling me the truth." Jason weakly smiled and took the tabby's paw. Chance was shocked that the tom pulled him in for hug instead. Hearing Jason wince, he pulled back to give him some space. Jason left soon after.

Two hours of waiting and no news from the doctors. Chance still waited. Nothing made him leave. Brent read one of his mangas out loud to help the tabby take his mind off things. At first, Chance didn't pay attention, until it got to the part of the boy named Chrono getting furious at a demon.

The boy screamed saying that the demon has killed someone precious to him. The nuns and priest held their fire as Sister Kate began to order for preparations on something called the Gospel. Father Remington told her that they should wait until Chrono moved out of the way, but Sister Kate refused. She said if Chrono breaks the seal he is under, he will kill the demon and also Rosette.

"Wait, why would Chrono kill Rosette?" Chance asked.

"I don't know; if you let me keep reading, maybe, we will find out." Brent said a little peeved.

Sister Kate said that Chrono looked innocent on the outside, but inside, he is a powerful demon waiting to come out. Chrono continued to fill with power and almost had the seal broken, until Rosette stops him. Rosette cried for him to stop and that she was alright. Chrono's eyes returned to their normal auburn color. All the priests and nuns fired with Sacred Spirits. The demon caught fire and was vanquished. Sister Kate looked at the nun, Rosette, and the demon, Chrono, at how close they are.

"That's a load of crap." Chance burst and stormed off. His mind continued the image of what Brent just read. He shook his head thinking that is clearly not possible; a demon and a nun in love, bullshit. Then he stopped. In reality, that would never happen. Just like how he thought his love for Jake would never happen, but it did. Sure, there are kats in their school that don't like their union, but that didn't stop them from hiding their love from everyone. So what if a dumb story made him see a similarity, Chance knew he was close to Jake; just like he knew how close Chrono was to Rosette.

"Are you Chance Furlong?"

The tabby turned around to face a doctor. He was wearing surgical clothing. That made the tabby tense up at his presence. Chance nodded and was given a sigh. He didn't know if it was out of relief or of bad news.

"I was told by your friend to let you see him. He's in room 124." The doctor was left alone. Chance didn't think twice about going to see Jake. Once he was told what room he was in, he made a run for it. The closer he got to the room, it made his heart speed up. In his mind, he counted off each door he passed as they pass by.

"124." Chance stopped in front of it. Underneath the number was Jake's name written in blue pen. Under that was another kat's name in black sharpee. He felt sad that he couldn't express his full emotions now since there will be someone with them. Chance opened the door and heard the other kat's voice.

"You're so young. Why would you put your life on the line like that?" The voice was old and raspy, yet carried a strong tone of experience. There wasn't a reply, only small squeaking sounds. "Love?" The kat laughed wholeheartedly. This was strange. Chance walked in all the way and saw the old kat and Jake, who was holding a white board and a marker.

"Chance…you came?" Jake said weakly. He was sitting up, due to the hospital bed, and his bandages covered his abdomen. Some areas of the cut sight still bleed through a bit though. "This is Reginald Lynxon. He fought in the Megakat War at the age of sixteen."

"Nice to meet you." Reginald said before bursting into a cough. Chance rushed to him but the old tom placed a paw to keep his distance.

"Don't worry Chance," Jake said to the worried tabby. "He's strong. So…don't get worked up." Chance saw Jake's expression change to sadness as soon he was finished. The tabby walked up to Jake's side and held on to his paw. Slowly, he leaned in to kiss the lean tom, being careful not to hurt Jake and ignoring the presence of the other.

"Oh, so you're the one Jake fights for." Chance's ears perked up and looked at him. The old tom didn't look disgusted or even angry. He understood their feelings. Why?

"Yeah, I guess."

"He can't hear you." Jake passed the white board and marker. "He's deaf because of the war. It's really messed up, but, the enemy captured him for being a spy and stabbed him through the ear to prevent him from hearing more if he survived." Chance's ears flatten and wrote his response.

"I must say, you two look great together." The eyes of the old tom seemed docile. He goes back to lying down and stared out the window. "I'm glad I was able to see such strong love from you two." The tone he used made the tabby worry and turned to Jake. He looked as if he wanted to cry. Chance finally understood why.

"You see, I don't have anyone left anymore in my life. My own children have disowned me and my wife died from cancer a few months back and now, it's my turn." He turns to see Chance writing with great hast.

"Aren't you even scared of what's to come?"

"Scared; I was until Jake here told me what he was fighting for; nearly dying. If he did, he would have proved his love for you and his death wouldn't have been in vain. If I hadn't been told of his story, I would have died without knowing what true love looks like. I, myself, have forgotten it."

True love; was that really what made Jake fight to survive? So he could see Chance again? No, so he could be with Chance again. He didn't fight alone. Chance took Katie's advice and hoped for Jake to survive. Ever since he got slapped, not once had he doubted Jake would not die. Chance wrote on the board again and shows the old tom. The tom smiled and closed his eyes. He breathed in and then out, very slowly. A minute later, the sound went flat.

Jake shut his eyes hard to hold back his tears. Chance just held on to his paw and placed the board on Jake's lap. A doctor came in to see what had happened and learned that that the old tom had passed away. Reginald Lynxon: a Megakat War veteran, a husband, a father, and a tom they won't ever forget.

Jake opened his eyes to see that Chance had increased his grip on his paw. For someone he just met, he was taking it really hard. Then his eyes fall back to the board. This is what made the tabby cry and made Mr. Lynxon move on peacefully. It read: "I promise to make Jake happy. So we, and everyone else, won't ever forget."

"Chance…" The tabby looked up, wiping away his tears. "…I know I have said it before and I will say it again, happy birthday." Jake said before succumbing to cry again. Chance smiled weakly. This time, he could finally get in a response.

"Thanks," Chance went to embrace Jake softly. His fear of loosing him was gone. The tabby kissed him one more time. "I love you."

This was just a filler. Review if you want. Reason being, the next chapter will explain why.