After changing into some more common clothing, that looked like walking vestments, both Akira and I headed to the mansion exit, through the frontal gate; we would be walking, seeing that any of my cars would draw way too much attention from the local passer by s, even not being the poorest part of the town, it wasn t the richest as well mid class people if more appropriate with that in mind we headed towards the street, after a few blocks, most people wouldn t even notice me without my noble wear, Akira was confused as to why this sudden change of pace, for that she asked me:

-Dear why we going by foot? looking at me.
-Because I do not wish to attract unwanted attention to where we are going it is a particularly long walk, if you get tired, warn me and I shall carry you, ok?
-Oh no! replied Akira shaking her head in a no pattern I don t worry, I used to go with mommy to long walks, I just found it a different experience with my dear, seeing we never walked together through the city!
-No problems then! What about we have a little fun while we walk? Like window-shopping along the way?
-Of course! That would be really good! replied Akira, with an energetic look on her.

Akira was more and more enchanted and mesmerized by each shop we crossed paths with staring intently to the products there exposed. I asked her not to call me by the family name while we were at the street, although she naturally didn t do that anyway; just to make sure we could pose as normal people, doing shopping what was very hard considering that the little nekomimi calling me dear all the time what would bring me joy to this scarred heart.

I used all that time we had crossing the city to reflex on what was going on Yumi could be a free spirit, without the shackles of a extreme rigid conduct like mine, for instance, however she was always notorious for the respect she had for me and Nina something wasn t right in this unusual behavior of hers never she would disrespect any member of that house, specially me even less likely to stain the memory of my late personal caretaker which she would treat as if she was her own grandmother what would have happened to my blonde friend? I was lost in those thoughts when I turned to ask Akira something and noticed SHE HAD DISAPEARED!

I looked around and couldn t find her anywhere! What had happened? Where was my nekomimi? Akira? I was almost on the verge of running to try to locate her when I noticed some gathering about two blocks away. I instinctively ran to the place they were and what do I find? Akira surrounded by people! For an instant I thought they could be molesters, however I noticed they just observed her, some high school girls would pet her head saying: Oh so pretty! This nekomimi is just so cute! Ohh that is such a pity! So pretty and small and already a slave, it is a shame my personal caretaker never was the center of so much attention, so she had a mix of shyness, confusion and happiness from being so much praised, then I excused myself and took her by the pw and said: Let s go Akira-chan which was just replied with an energetic nod.

The rest to the stroll went without a problem, just promising to buy some stuff for her when we came back on another occasion; it was past three in the afternoon when we arrived at the destination, we took almost two more hours than planned but I wanted to have a relaxing day more than anything else Yumi, L via, Kikuri all was contributing to a big mental stress on my behalf and even felling a tad guilty with my nekomimi that was worth it.

I arrived at the house 12 of the street 13, even with the trees being so abundant and covering in dry leaves, giving it a yellowish color tone, I looked at the entrance gate, it should be about four feet, around that height of my chest with its white bars; o looked around at the house with the red shown bricks, searched for the bell and pressed it, moments later purple, followed by purple furred ears appeared on the small door opening; what was actually very rare among these places, and with a visible curious face asked:

-Good afternoon, who are you?
-I am called Richard I intentionally didn t say my family name while Akira bowed the little one beside me is Akira.
-How may I help you? she asked with a growing curiosity.
-What brought me here was actually that I came for a chat with Mr. Max and his bride Izumi Talia I said exactly how the King ordered me.

The girl, that by the looks on her face didn t look older than 13, let out a small muffled surprise scream, asked for a moment and said that she would come back in instants, after one minute, two minutes and no response, I began wondering if I did something wrong according to what the Kind told me to; then a voice in the intercom, followed by a small noise that indicated that the gate had been unlocked, said: Please come in, soon Max and Talia will come to talk to you .

We went through the narrow gate, and walked the seven feet between it and the entrance door, which was semi-open, with a light push, I opened it excusing myself and entering with beside me; it as completely dark, did the light go out? I asked them to the emptiness: Anybody home? and as soon my words were absorbed by the house walls I heard Akira s surprise shout, that was muffled somehow, something pointy and cold was placed against the back of my head and a door closed behind me, followed by a strong voice, that seemed to have a bit of apprehension on it:

-Tell me who sent you and I might not have to kill you.
-Oh I replied with my regular calm, seeing they wouldn t do anything to Akira, as they didn t have an answer yet sorry if I made something to upset you, but I just came here, because I have business to make.
- Business you say? he replied, noticeably getting madder so what if I just end this business of yours with the tip of the crossbow bolt? So I can just say I was acting on self-defense -Ohhh, self-defense you say? I replied, thinking that was maybe what was getting out of this situation - if you intend to use of that way I advise you two things.
-And which would those be? he asked in a mocking manner.
-First, if you indeed plan on pleading legit self-defense do not attack by the back; second, the moment that the sensors on my body detect anything abnormal on my body, it won t take longer than thirty seconds for all the local police forces to be here I bluffed about the detectors, hoping it to bring the desired effects.
-Did you really believe that I could be fooled so easily? You are indeed right about the legit self-defense part, however, for having so many gadgets on you, you needed to be to be really rich what is really improbable if you need to live a life like this, don t you agree?
-And why would I need to live a life like that if I am the second richest man in the world? I replied, this time without being bluffing.
-Ha! If you are the second richest man in the world, why do you need to do that? What good would it bring to someone spoiled rich? I felt that he pressed the bolt even more tensely against my head.
-What good it would do me? Find out the traitor among the ones of my people I began replying while thinking carefully on my words that can even try to destroy our order and attempt against the life of Your Majesty I believe that to be really honorable and for that I am here for that same motive the King recommended me to you.
-The King recommended me ? he replied while I felt the tension of the bolt on my head become lose but traitor your people the King?
-Yes, the nobles of Verona there is a traitor among us, Your highness gave me the mission of finding who the traitor is and bring them to judgment but to do that I need let them not find out what I am doing -I understand however I am not a noble, I never allied myself with one, so if you hadn t come here for another motive - he said while he circled around me and placed himself before me wait a moment nobles you said how did you got here being a noble? More importantly why did you come here?
-As I had said, I need to be very cautious in my investigation and others cannot know I am on their tails, for that, I need to refrain buying stuff from known shops, seeing that for sure the other nobles have their connections on those places, so Your Majesty recommended me to you, seeing you supply him directly yourself.

At that exact instant, even in the complete darkness, I noticed he lowered his crossbow; I saw he murmured something incomprehensible to me, instants later, probably still stunned by all those revelations made in so little time, asked me:

-But if you were here to buy items with royal indication how did you know about Max and Talia?
-What do you mean? I asked still not knowing to what he was referring to I just said what was directed by Your Majesty as kind of a password -T THE KING told you to say that? he said while he punched the air in frustration Talia turn on the lights, Your Majesty caught us as he said he would.

After some moments, I heard Akira let out a relief scream and run to grab my side, then the lights were turned on and I saw a young white man, with very long brown hair, on waist level; however it was all messy, looking like those people that played instruments or at least liked Rock, had emerald green eyes and wore a mixture of social and casual clothing, he probably had just arrived home when I got here.

Then the girl that opened the door, dressed with a purple dress, making an all out purple combination, placed her paws in front of her and bowed saying she was sorry for not being polite from the start it was when I noticed something really peculiar, even being a nekomimi, she had hands on the places of paws! I noticed the hair and fur color was really rare, the purple eyes as well denoted that as well but hands? Some saw it as a gift, others as a curse I never saw that in real life and I was astonished, I really wished to look it closer, so asking for permission I presented:

-I am Montecchio Richard, head of the noble house of the Montecchio, I came by indication of Your Royal Majesty to acquire equipments to the mission, however I am sorry for not presenting myself once I said and bowed the little nekomimi beside me is my personal caretaker.
-Good afternoon, I am Hikari Akira she said bowing as well.
-Good afternoon, they know me by Takara Max and she is my fian SECRETARY! he replied while greeting us.
-G G Good Afternoon! she said with energy on her voice, but totally shy I am I Izumi Talia!
-Pleasure to meet you lady Talia I said while I neared her Sr. Max, I notice you have a VERY rare representative of the species, would you allow me the honor of looking her closer? I have a very special care towards nekomimis seeing the person I loved most in this life was my previous caretaker, that took care of me since I was eight years old.

Max proceed to analyze me with his eyes, probably some fear inside kept him from giving a quicker answer, however I was sure that, even being a person that swore not to meddle with the nobles, he had already heard of the Montecchio and their considerable honor and correctness of character; after some moments he said:

-It is alright, if she has nothing against it that is he then said while pointing the purple nekomimi.
- I I don t see a p problem! she replied while blushing slightly.

I kneed before such uncommon creature and studied her from head to toe, the hands in the place of paws was what was drawing my attention; hybrids perhaps? No even in interracial couple where one was nekomimi and the other human, the parent s gender is what would determine the race of the offspring, for instance:

In a couple where the male is human and the female is nekomimi, if the kid was a boy, he would be a human, and in case of a girl it would be a nekomimi. If the nekomimi was the male one and the female was human, if a boy is born, it shall be nekomimi and if it is a girl, it shall be human so cases like Talia was very rarely seen, normally treated like aberration or mutations and usually excluded from society.

-How old are you? I asked intrigued by something.
-T Twelve - she replied blushing harder.
-Wow, you have quite long hands for a twelve years old girl I replied while I looked at them.
-Oh do you think I am a freak as well?
-Negative, I am just mesmerized, do you have claws?
-Y Yes I have them! They contract like this! she then showed her claws coming out of her fingers then entering again.

I noticed that fact with tons of surprise, but it made me really happy of having come, even though this little mishap! I felt something was missing, then I looked around and notices was still planted where we were before had a uncontrollably curiosity face on her and I ordered her to come closer, what she made with haste however as soon as she saw Talia s hands she shouted while pointing to her:

-I cannot believe it! The prophecy began? turning as white as snow.