What the heck? – I asked while standing up quickly, the explosion noise had come from the frontal part of the house and there was where I headed to – this is bad!

Explosion? – Niwatori asked also standing up – might we have had problems on the gas line?

Unlikely – Enma replied, running together with us – Richard's lines are the best protected and secure ones from all kingdom, I don't believe that this kind of sound comes from an accidental explosion… - the kitsunemimi shook her head then – it is much more probable it comes from explosives…

Explosives? – Niwatori exclaimed astonished – how can they be using forbidden material?

I don't know – I replied at the exact moment we arrived at the front door, which already was a little bit damaged from the explosion – but I believe we will be finding out soon enough…

Noble Montecchio Richard – a voice called me through a megaphone – you have something that belongs rightfully to us, hand it to us and we might spare the lives from the other people in this residence!

Damnation! – I commented while heading towards the intercom – never! I prefer to die rather than giving you what you desire!

What do they want Richard? – Niwatori asked.

I am not sure – I replied looking at him, pondering if this was part of the attack or not, I decided to play as if I didn't suspect anything just yet – I think we shall find out soon anyway.

As you wish! – the megaphone voice replied – we can make your wish come true – at that exact moment I heard something falling to the ground and rolling near the entrance door, followed by the sound of a burning wick.

Crap! – I shouted, pointing to the other side of the pillars – get cover! We are going to have an explosion!

Said and done, half second after everyone was concealed behind their respective pillar an even stronger and deafening explosion destroyed the front door and threw its remains in the middle of the entrance hall; for everyone's that saw its pieces flying by astonishment, it took almost thirty seconds for the smoke to dissipate and for us to notice that where once was an entrance door, now remained just a huge hole at least twice its previous size; instinctively Enma wore a pair of special glasses and looked towards the propriety's entrance, saying moments later:

Nekomimi attackers, all of them – she then adjusted something in her device – hence why they didn't bring crossbows, but they have a huge numerical advantage, we best be the best there is…

Count with us Richard! – both Kitagawa and Niwatori said – we shall fight beside you! We don't know why they attacked, probably they want that videolog you have to prove they murdered the descendant, that is why we are not going to allow anything happen to the people that live in this house for some small fight inside our race that just lasts some centuries!

Alright – I replied, seeing that in case they were really enemies, they would have tried to do this right now and I could do nothing about it – Enma, take Enmie and her "stuff" with you – I placed a lot of emphasis on "stuff" so she would know what it was without me mentioning it – and head towards the secret exit that is in the back of my propriety, near the far end of it next to the parking lot – I lied deliberately, as the kitsunemimi knew very well that the secret exit was inside the kitchen, in case someone was listening, they would have a false information – regarding you, follow me! – I headed outside then.

Well well! If it isn't the almighty Montecchio Richard in person! – a nekomimi commented while leaving the middle of the group that was standing before the gates – it will be much better to deal directly with you, rather than using dynamite! – the blonde nekomimi laughed, he had white fur, blue eyes and was extremely muscular, he had a tattoo on his left arm that could be read "Nekomimi" and on the right one "Supremacy".

I don't have anything to do with the likes of you – I replied to the individual that seemed to be the leader – in case you don't want to be slaughtered by the royal force, that shall be here in no more than three minutes, leave this place at once!

Ha! Don't make me laugh Montecchio! – the nekomimi laughed – for the royal guard to know that something happens here, the guards from the noble proprieties needed to alert the royal forces… - he then looked mockingly at me – but how can they do that if all thirteen guard posts were neutralized and their staff eliminated?

Thirteen? – I exclaimed shocked – h… how did you managed?

Were thirteen guard posts all the ones that guarded the noble zone? – Niwatori asked.

No, they were twelve… - I replied beginning to break a cold sweat, as I just had realized that the situation was a little worse than it seemed – there was a hidden one that just served the purpose of warning the palace in case we lost contact with any of the twelve guard posts, that one was hidden and just me as well the Capuleto father knew about its existence… they… anticipated everything… my Saint Meow the thing is way worse than we thought…

That is why, if you don't want everyone to get hurt, give the girl right now! – the nekomimi ordered, advancing together with his subordinates.

B… But she is already dead! – Niwatori shouted to the group, making all of them direct their attention to him – the noble Richard will not be able to help you!

What do you mean dead? Since yesterday? – the group leader asked, looking to the young man – actually who are you after all and why are you helping the idiot noble there?

Who am i? – Niwatori's eyes became filled with hatred – I am the one idiots like you tried for years to find and never did! – the nekomimi then took his shirt off, revealing a slim and strong body, however not very muscly – I am the leader and supreme representative of the nekomimi race!

The silence that followed after that was so thick it was almost deafening, the only sound that was barely hearable was the wind passing through us, the attackers looked at Niwatori with visible astonishment and disbelief and stood that way for almost a minute, until moments later when they exploded into laugher, everyone at the same time, it was as loud as a cinema in a comedy movie day, which just made the leader become redder and give them his back; there was a tattooed statement in a language I didn't know, which said: "Supermo Duce de Generis", after the attackers leader calmed down, he could notice the inscription on the nekomimi leader's back, that was when he said:

Hey, Midori – he then pointed to a female nekomimi that was at his side – that tattoo there, is it ancient writing? If it is, translate right away!

Yes boss! – Midori peered closer, looking intently – it is indeed ancient writing! It means "Supreme Race Leader".

Damnation! – the attackers leader shouted – that writing is only known to a very few, and as far as I know just you Midori, aside the people that are supposed to know, knows it, which means that the nekomimi leader arrived before us!

Hein? – Niwatori, Kitagawa and I said at the same time.

But do not allow that small advantage of them to intimidate us! – he then pointed to us and said – the informant said that until yesterday the girl was here! So attack and find out to where she was taken! She can be really far!

Oh dammit – I thought, looking to Kitagawa and drawing my sword – I can take care of myself, what about you guys?

If you think Lívia's cat-fu if the most advanced Richard, you are completely mistaken – Niwatori replied, preparing himself in a cat-fu pose I had never seen before.

Well… well… - Kitagawa replied, moving the neck and getting ready his paw's fingers – it has been such a long time since I don't teach youngsters good manners… don't worry Richard… I think I will be done soon.

Bunch of stuck up people! – he turned around and shouted – ATTACK!

Despite never having been part of a real war, we had open field battle training, at first everything I learned came to my mind instantly, however it took almost a minute for the first opponent to be able to reach me, as Niwatori, with his big, quick and precise movements made his opponents fly with an ease that was surprising, now Kitagawa moved with softness and grace beyond compare, without making unnecessary movement, with simple touches he was able to make even the biggest opponents fall with astonishing easiness; I was thinking about that when the first nekomimi opponent reached me, with his fighting glove and attacked me, making me block him with the sword.

Then I began attacking impetuously my adversaries seeing they also came after me with clear intention of eliminating me, they began falling like flies around me and despite me trying to hit the less vital spots, in a way just to disable most of my enemies, I was sure that a lot of them would die because of the wounds; it was incredible as they didn't attack using tactics, but rather pure instinct, as if they were human it would be impossible to survive a confrontation like this one; after around ten minutes of intense battle, I had taken down my tenth opponent, I looked towards Niwatori and asked:

With this one I just got the tenth one, and you Niwatori, how many did you beaten down? – I asked in a challenging way.

Fourteen – he replied smiling sarcastically to me.

Thirty two – Kitagawa commented, looking around.

Curses, I lost! – I exclaimed jokingly, looking to the attackers leader that now had no more than three henchmen along with him – well, I think your plan for a frontal attack didn't work as well as you thought it would my friend, give it up now and surrender yourself so I won't have to kill you.

And who said I love? Everything is happening the way I imagined! – he then took a dynamite and a lighter – I intend to blow you up right here!

You must be really desperate! – I laughed at his failed attempt to intimidate us – you should have known that I know pretty well how explosives work, after all my business is being a miner! – I then pointed to the artifact in his paws – if you throw this too early, I can take it on my hands and throw it back at you, in case you hold it until the last moment, it can explode on your paws, which wouldn't be the very least pleasurable believe me.

And who said – the leader replied, smiling maliciously – that you will be able to throw it back at me? – he then set the wick on fire – hold them!

What do you mean? – I asked without understanding much of what was going on, at the exact moment all nekomimis that we believed to be dead or defeated jumped and grabbed us, rendering us immobilized – w… what is this? Will you use all your allies to ensure victory? Are you insane you monster?

Monster? I am just a winner my dearest noble – he then threw the lit dynamite - which makes me completely different from you.

When I thought everything was over a dark blur grabbed the explosive and threw it back against the leader, that had just enough time to run a few feet and jump, however the explosion was so strong that it threw him against the wall, making him howl in pain and then take the paw to his left arm, which visibly looked broking, as it was twisted in a completely weird way; I looked at whom had thrown the artifact and noticed it was Yokumbi! Speechless, I beaten the already hurt nekomimis that were holding me down and got free from them, then I said:

Thanks Yokumbi, I owe you one more! – I then gave him thumbs up.

If we begin counting, soon you will owe me your nobility title Richard – Yokumbi then looked around and commented – I see I lost the best of the part, aint' I right? They are almost all defeated, just this loser remains to be, right?

There… is where you are gravely mistaken… - the nekomimi laughed, in an almost insane way – now that… I have all combatants in the front part of the house… it means that the back part… of the propriety is unprotected! – then using his paw he whistled so high it echoed throughout the propriety.

W… What was that? – I asked, at first without knowing what it was all about, however then it was heard shouting, as if all the people cheering at a station began doing it at the same time, coming from the back part of my propriety! – damnation! – I exclaimed while we headed to the house's entrance, at the same moment that Enma arrived from inside of it coming from the opposite direction – Enma! What is going on?

Richard my boy we are surrounded by all sides – she then winked at me – but all the others are already locked in the panic room!

That is wonderful! – I exclaimed, looking towards the leader – you lost! Now that all my other workers are on the fortified room, you won't reach them in time! As the amount of explosives needed to penetrate so deep in my small fortress would be easily detectable to the royal guard, which by the way must be on its way! That is why even if you torture me I will never open the chambers… give it up right now!

And in case I torture someone that isn't you, dearest master? – an unknown voice to me said, leaving the house's side wall, who was locking Dawn's paw on her back in an arm lock, he had a dagger on her throat – can I kill Andrade's little bride? Making her slowly into pieces? – that was when I recognized him.

Accursed Reinold! – I then pointed my sword at him – even though you were the quiet type, you were one of my workers! Why did you betray me? How could a human sell himself to our worst enemies?

Human? – Reinold replied in a mockingly way – where do we have a human here? – he then bite the middle of the forearm which was holding the dagger and pulled, revealing fur under the fake skin – you don't have a clue how this false skin itches man…

It… cannot be… - I replied astonished – but… w… what about the cat ears… and tail?

Oh, them? – he then moved aside his big hair and, as a matter of fact, there was a typical "hole" used for nekomimi hearing, without the exterior part of the ear of course – I took an iron overheated knife and removed them, as well as my tail, the pain is insanely huge Richard… just for you to know how serious we, the revolutionary army always were… now hand the girl if you don't want this little puppy here to die…

Allow… him to kill me Rick… they got my beloved… my sister… - Dawn began crying – I don't have… motives left to live for… allow… him to kill me… don't do what… he orders you…

Hey, shut up little puppy bitch – he then whapped Dawn's head hard – the one who talks here is me… - he then looked at me – so idiot noble, how will it be?

W… Wait… - I thought, even after all this, the royal guard would notice that there is something wrong after thirty minutes without communication from the guard posts – allow me to think for a moment – the attack itself must have taken this long already, soon reinforcements shall be here – I t… think we can negotiate… but what you guys want so badly? – I asked, bluffing.

Don't play dumb on with me! I want Akira! I saw the videolo! I know exactly who she is! – Reinold replied, making my blood freeze.

Alright… just a moment… - the son of a bitch spied on me all the time! I became desperate and that attracted Reinold's attention, but at that exact moment an explosion happened inside the mansion, I saw leaving the smoke a small rolling nekomimi, whom stood up with an incredible agility and, upon seeing me at the entrance shouted.

DEAR! HELP! THEY ARE AFTER MEEEEEE! – she then ran towards me.

Drat! They found her hideout! – Enma exclaimed, also running towards Akira.

Akira! Watch out! I will… - it was at that instant that I heard a giggle right above me, when I was less than a foot from entering the mansion, I looked up and saw a nekomimi dropping something, that landed exactly at my feet, when I looked down I noticed it was a dynamite that was on the verge of reaching the explosive, at that exact moment all I managed to saw was – SHIT!