Courage's question was answered with, obviously, a 'yes', but it was now a matter of Katz' answer. Though she hated to admit it, she still belonged to the man by means of a self-made deal. Saoirse asked Courage to return tomorrow around the same time for the answer which, she prayed, would be positive.

With that, the trio left. Saoirse was filled with nerves suddenly. She glanced at the clock and decided to flip the sign from 'Open' to 'Closed' – it was highly unlikely that someone should come within the last hour of business. Plus…she didn't want to be interrupted in this.

In the meanwhile, she grabbed a duster and started to brush the feather tips over the many novels, clearing away any dust. How was she going to approach this topic with Katz? Truthfully…she only recalled a few things over the past month or so. The grief she had experienced consumed both her heart and her memory for the most part. What had happened between them since? Had she just obeyed his every command? Ignored them? Where did they stand as of this second?

As the human dusted, she was reminded of the task back at home, the Terriers' home. Then she thought about how she had often had to do more of the chores those last, leading up to days. It felt like a lifetime ago and, in a way, it was. Back then, Saoirse had been living with two loving, caring owners. She, they, had been living in their own world as though time would freeze just for them.

Realistically speaking, the issue of 'what next' would have come up sooner or later. Oliver's side had started to hurt to the point where he couldn't get out of bed. Sheila had been getting tired, too tired to move up and down the stairs. They were old and no matter how much Saoirse had resisted the idea of discussing it, they were going to die eventually.

So what would have happened if not for Katz? Possibly, more than likely, she would have ended up with Courage. Courage was the true owner…she had no doubt that it would say so in their wills. Alas, that couldn't happen since…well…the government.

Life happened regardless if Saoirse wanted or liked how it played out. She had decided to make a deal with Katz and now she was stuck with him. He had some obsession with her. She still recalled the time he explained it before her suggestion of a deal. She was, what did he say, a pretty distraction for his true business? That was her purpose…but surely there were other human pets, prettier and far more bendable, than her, right?

And yet…Saoirse felt a pang of reluctance, then guilt, inside her. She stopped dusting. To be honest, brutally honest with herself, Saoirse couldn't imagine going back to the quiet, simple farm life as before. To live with another pair of elders and Courage, though he was close to her age, seemed dull. She would once again be placed in that 'own little world', that 'frozen slice of time' like she had been before. Not to say that she couldn't find happiness in that once more, especially with Courage to play games and tell stories with.

But…there was another world with Katz, another layer of 'freedom' for someone like her with someone like him. For better or worse, they had more adventures. After all, were they not selling illegal books to shady, though at times interesting, characters? Some of Katz colleagues were curious. Some part of Saoirse told her that there would be more soon enough, more adventures, though she wasn't sure what they may be or how welcomed they would be.

She let her hand fall to her side, duster hitting the floor from her slackened grip. She had made the deal to belong to Katz 'body, mind, and soul'. Well, he had the body while the mind strayed…but it would seem that he was certainly tempting the soul.

"What are you doing, girl?" His crisp, cool voice startled her from her thoughts. How long had she been staring at the 'D' authors, at the Count of Monte Cristo? When she looked up at him, she took him in. Those vivid yellow eyes that seemed to glow and rarely blinked, the pale skin that rarely saw sun, the slicked back red hair, the slim though graceful body that always held the sense of danger in his stance, his sharp nails, his ears, his tail that never stopped its slow dance…

Pointy ears instead of floppy, round ones and a fluid tail rather than a stiff one…a cat instead of a dog. Cats, and Katz for that matter, were sketchy creatures. With this abrupt thought, she snapped out of her daydream and cleared her throat. "Dusting."

He raised a thin eyebrow. "So why is the duster on the floor then?" When Saoirse looked down at the object at her feet, she realized with a start that she hadn't blinked while studying her…'Master'. Blinking rapidly now to bring back her sight, she picked up the item and shrugged softly. "I dropped it." As she stood, she looked at the man once more. His eyes remained on her body for a second longer before they met her gaze. Curious.

His lips twisted into a hint of a scowl as though her subdued behavior was the most offensive thing yet done. "Foolish girl. Get back to work."

Saoirse turned away as he left, coming to a realization. No matter how much of a sense of 'freedom' it was with this man, no matter how many doors his black market business opened to snoop about in, this place, this man, was lacking the one thing Saoirse wanted: love. Well, and everything that came with it, that was. Kindness, understanding, respect…all of these things she had had with the Terriers and currently had with Courage's household. But with Katz? No way. There was no way she'd be able to thrive, although perhaps survive, Katz' callous and cold treatment. To Courage and the Terriers, she was someone to adore and cherish; to Katz, she was a human and therefore lower than the sole of his foot. He saw her as a pet, a plaything to order around, but she was a human being, she was a person…

She needed to live with Courage. So the question again was, how to go about bringing it up to Katz? No doubt Katz held some sort of affection for Saoirse for saving him…she would play off of that. At the very least, he owed her. Yes, that was how she would approach it. A businessman like Katz would only understand cold terms – much like in the deal she had made.

Gathering her nerves, Saoirse placed the duster behind the counter and went to the back of the store. She passed the room where his bed and her cot rest and went to the 'office'. She knocked once before opening the door. "Yes?" That dangerous tone rang out, sharp as a quill point.

Saoirse cursed inwardly and hoped he couldn't hear how hard her heart was pounding in the silence of the office. He was looking over the books, it seemed, the accounting books. Perhaps, she thought quickly, she could offer to come in and assist with the store but live with Courage? That would be a desperate attempt to be saved.

Saoirse opened her mouth and made something of a squeaky noise. Her face turned a vivid red, almost as red as his hair, as he raised a brow in amusement. Clearing her throat, she thought of Courage. She thought of the farm house, the scent of a clean house, the home cooked meals from Muriel, the grumblings of Eustace, the storms and the night skies at their place with that creaky windmill…and she felt determination fill her.

"We need to talk." Her tone, like her posture, had straightened, hardened, and was filled with purpose once more.

Katz noted this and even sat up in his chair, setting his pen down. In the past few weeks, she had been so listless that, short of prodding her with a cigarette, he hadn't been able to elicit any response outside of tears. Now, however, she was strong, fierce, and looked like she was planning something. Ah, Katz thought with a dark grin, this was the Saoirse he had met, had wanted, had craved…

"I believe we already are." He pointed out dryly. He took pleasure in the kiss of pink that flooded her cheeks once more, if only for a moment, before her complexion returned to normal. She had certainly lost some color these past few weeks, shut away from the outside world and sun. Not only that, he noted upon closer inspection, but there were still hints of shadows underneath her eyes and she had lost weight. He made a mental note to get her to eat more, even force-feed if needed. A sickly pet didn't prove a distraction, but begged suspicion instead.

Undeterred, she continued, "I saved your life back at that building." The air in the room went cold. If she noticed, she didn't show. In fact, she probably did notice and only showed it through pressing on, refusing to let it play on her emotions. "I risked my own neck to break in and save you. That was never part of the deal. I did that on my own."

Katz slowly stood, interested but apprehensive as to where this was leading. "That you did." Pause. "Do you expect a cookie or a ribbon for your valiant efforts?"

Her jaw tensed briefly, annoyance flashed through her eyes. Katz felt a long-missed sense of pleasure in watching this. Ah, this was what he had been striving for for so many weeks. Perfect.

"No, but I have a proposal for you." She paused, gathering perhaps the right words she it was clear she had the nerve enough. "I have fulfilled my end of the deal, as you have yours. I have belonged to you in all senses, an obedient pet the past few weeks." Listless, grieving, submissive…same difference, right? "But I'm not happy here and I don't think I'm as much of an influence on your business as you think." He said nothing, prompting her to continue. Now nerves grabbed her stomach, twisted it until she spat the words out, "I want to belong and live with Courage. I'm happy with him, he has offered a place for me, and it is what the Terriers would have wanted." At this, Saoirse fell silent and worked on ridding herself of the lump at her throat.

Neither moved for a long minute, though it felt like five. Saoirse was starting to feel her bravery leave her, her palms were starting to perspire. She noted with a start that she had entered yet another unannounced staring contest with the man. She blinked.

And as though a spell were broken, Katz ceased being a statue and made a scoffing noise. He started to walk around the desk and made his way towards her. As he took his slow and measured steps, he spoke with a sickening mix of pleasure and ice, "The deal, dear girl, was that you would belong to me in body, mind, and soul if we found the Terriers. It was never specified if we should find them alive or dead. It was never specified that you should save me if something were to befall me. Yet they are dead and you did help me." He stopped just before her, less than a foot between them.

That wasn't enough for him though. Instead, he leaned forward slowly as he spoke in a hushed tone, "If you're going to attempt to paint your 'heroic' act as anything but selfless, then you're even stupider than I thought. You risked your life to free me because you wanted to find out what information I had on the Terriers. You saved me to save them in a sense." Their faces were merely inches away. Somehow, though she had lost what little color she had upon his harsh, real words and presence, she managed to tilt her chin up to keep his gaze.

That's what he wanted. He wanted her to look up, to act righteous, to present a challenge that he could bend and morph. Never break, that was important, but to twist. His yellow eyes were intensely bright now, like gold sparkling before the sun.

His hand darted up suddenly and pinched her chin between his index finger and thumb. Her eyes widened and he swore he heard a hitch in her breathing. He continued in that same hushed tone that seemed laced with dark chocolate and razors. "You have not fulfilled your end of the deal yet, girl. You swore yourself to me body, mind, and soul. While it is true that I possess your body as my rightful ownership, your mind has been lost to me in this delusion suffering you insist on clinging to. Your soul, likewise, has been shrouded in a veil of darkness to which I cannot even see, let alone touch and own. In that sense, my dear, you have not fulfilled your end of the deal…and because of this, I will not enable you in breaking your word."

Then, as a final point to relish in this situation, Katz reached up with his free hand and grasped the collar. His fingertip stroked it as though it were a treasure to be cherished. Then he grasped the name tag. Emerald coloring spelled her name out and behind it possessed the information of the old owners. No, that simply wouldn't do. "We will have to update your new tag to say my name…and only mine." Then, as though suddenly bored, he released her with a slight nudge and turned away.

Saoirse stumbled a step back, catching herself on the doorframe although his push hadn't been that powerful. It was her legs that refused to work properly just then. The fear, the outrage, the horror, and the shock of it all made them weak. She watched as he started back to his desk, stunned.

Not fulfilled her end of the deal…because of grief? Because of natural grief? And her tag…her tag would be replaced, not with her name and his information on the back, but just his name?! Her hand went to clutch at the last item of the Terriers she owned, heart pounding.

She would never be free of him. She would suffer forever. She would never fulfill her end of the bargain because she couldn't. She'd never know happiness again, never see Courage again. And all because of…Katz.

Something in her snapped. Katz, the businessman. Katz, the 'Master'. Katz, the sadist fuck. Katz…Katz, Katz, Katz, Katz…Katz, the man she had the unfortunate luck of ever meeting. No…she couldn't, wouldn't stay with him. She wasn't meant for this life, it wasn't in her nature or her name for that matter.

A crazy idea possessed her just then. Without any filters to stop her, with only the raw need and want for happiness, the raw loathing and fear she felt, she undid her collar while holding onto the tag, keeping it silent. Within a second and two quick steps, she felt like she was watching herself perform the next act, like a movie.

Saoirse swung the collar over his head and wrapped it tight around his neck. In the second Katz had to realize what he had seen and was feeling, she had started to pull it tight. Then he was struggling for air.

The sense of power and control that filled Saoirse was intoxicating. She kicked the back of his knees to force him to knee, stumbling briefly in her own stance. Now she was taller than he was as she bent over him, pulling the collar tighter. She was breathing heavier perhaps from the physical activity or the thrill…or both. Katz, however, struggled to inhale, giving only a raspy noise.

Alas, that moment lasted only for so long before the next replaced it.

Katz' sharp nails reached around and dug into her thigh. He waited only a second for her to register the sensation before he dragged them down and towards him, ending at her knee. A sharp scream left Saoirse's lips as pain filled her, her new wounds throbbing fiercely. The blood that dripped down her leg felt uncommonly hot as though it were spilt tea instead of her life force. As a result, she had leaned over just enough for Katz to perform his next action.

The man grabbed her long hair by the roots and yanked forward. Saoirse toppled over him almost comically, although realistically it had helped that she weighed so little. With his neck free and the collar on the floor – Saoirse had grabbed at her head and thigh – he inhaled greedily.

When she looked up from her awkward position, she saw the naked fury on his face and noticed a dark gleam in his gaze. "I wish you hadn't had done that." Promises of agony and possibly even murder rolled off his words in waves.

Realizing that this was serious, feeling herself once more and not just a person in a movie, Saoirse rolled onto her side. She couldn't let him have the upper hand or else she'd certainly lose – his height, weight, experience, and energy would win it for him. Her only chance had been in the element of surprise and that was gone now.

So the human willed her pain into anger and shot up from her position. She tackled Katz onto the floor, cursing loudly when he managed to grab another fistful of her hair. As they rolled around the office floor, she punched every part of him she could get to. There were several groans that filled the air, even a couple of crisp snaps that suggested a broken bone.

A shout ringed throughout the air and it took Saoirse a second to realize that it was Katz who howled so. Perhaps it was due to the fact that she may have snapped his tail – sprained it, more than likely. Still, the amount of agony made his eyes vividly bright, almost demonic.

She managed to turn the tables, pin him down in that moment of disorienting pain. Without hesitation, she grabbed his ears and slammed his head against the floor once.

She didn't get a second time to do it for his fist made contact with her temple. The sheer strength combined with the disorientation that followed immediately afterwards sent Saoirse flying off to the side. She rolled a few feet away until she rested on her back, faintly aware that her entire body was damp with sweat…and blood, judging by the floor, though it was a question as to whose.

That was how they both remained. Katz on his back and Saoirse on hers, both staring up at the ceiling as they felt their new bruises, bumps, and wounds pulse with each breath. Katz' tail remained immobile, the sprain causing movement to be too much. Much like his pet, Katz felt his head and vision spin from the non-too-gentle love-tap. Saoirse had enough sense to press her hand against the open wound on her thigh. Other than that, the pair lay there breathing, both in their own thoughts.

Saoirse licked her lips and winced at the coppery taste of blood. Finally, without looking away from the ceiling, she asked in a hoarse voice, "Why did you want me to begin with?" Truthfully, it was implied. They both knew the surface answer was to serve as a distraction…but it wasn't the entire answer.

Katz' tail twitched followed by his own grimace. Would he answer? A moment passed. They both were staring at the ceiling, refusing to look at the other just a few feet away. Just as Saoirse thought he wouldn't speak, his velvety voice rang out, "You're just a human girl…yet you behaved and behave as though you're equal to any of us. Your previous owners taught you well, but they also made life dangerous for you by offering such freedom and education." Pause. "I wanted that, someone to keep me entertained, to challenge me." Another long pause. "I was bored." He tried to add a casual shrug to his revealing confession, but Saoirse wouldn't fall for it.

Another couple of minutes passed. Saoirse felt tired though she wasn't sure if it was from the blood loss – which had stopped finally – or the adrenaline leaving her. Her eyelids heavy, she tilted her head to the side and looked at him. In a voice that hinted satisfaction, she whispered, "What do we do now, Katz?"

The man turned to look at her, his usually slick and perfect hair a god-awful mess. His eyes met hers, sharp despite being worn out. He gave a soft sigh. His answer would decide a great deal of things…

A/N: So, I re-read my story and a few others and decided to make a sequel of this story. It'll contain the question and answer of Saoirse's origins/family, the relationship and living with Katz/Saoirse/Courage etc etc...it'll be quite an adventure - plus with some, ah, romance.

The next chapter will be the last for this story, but fear not, there'll be another story soon! :)