I listened to all sorts of music in making this chapter, Juice WRLD and Drake were prevalent in my playlist. If you can, write with music, be sure to revise your work afterwards though. I wrote some good stuff for the more tense moments of this chapter, so please enjoy it.

-MalMetal

CHAPTER 24: Only to Her, Only for Her

Haru awoke to an unusual empty room. Nothing moved except for her hand that picked up her cellphone. Its screen read eight thirty-two and nothing more. A hollow sigh of quiet, empty frustration escaped her lips. She reluctantly got up to take a shower. Water rained down on her shoulders, arms, chest, stomach, legs and finally down a drain to be forgotten as each drop rejoined an indistinct mass of water in the sewers below. Every droplet of water is unique under a microscope until it joins others that look exactly like it. It becomes nothing more than a shapeless mass in an ocean of exact copies. If a single drop evaporates into air no one would notice. No distinction, no identity. Only one less drop in an endless sea.

Haru stepped out and got dressed, her empty frustration complimented the bags under her eyes. She took one last look in the mirror, trying to manage a smile. An impossible task. Leaving the female dorm was taxing in and of itself, still she managed to drag herself outside where autumn's breath briefly revived her drowning soul. Cool air, brown leaves, changing seasons. Concepts she could guess would come and never be wrong about. This relaxed feeling vanished upon entering the main school building. Her steps led her to a door, inside there was a small conference room.

One of the academy's many counselors had requested her to speak about matters regarding her grades and worries coming from her professor. Up until now she felt nothing, now every single heartbeat drummed in her ear. She shakily grabbed the door handle. Instinct told her to run away, act like she never received the letter delivered to her dorm. Any excuse would do, consequences could be considered later. Despite it all, she opened the door to a rectangular table with three people sitting across from her. All were in formal attire. The counselor was a capybara, her presence gave off no sense of malice or desire to do wrong. To her left was a dwarf white rabbit just like Haru but slightly taller, again no sign of danger. Haru tried to move her head to the counselor's right, finding herself unable. Her body refused to turn and see who was there. In an effort to regain composure she moved to sit, she could not move. Her feet felt like they were encased in cement. A threat to her life sat in this very room, nothing would move forward unless it had been identified.

"Good morning Haru, please have a seat." Haru ignored the counselor and forced herself to look at the threat. A brown, combed mane, glasses, cigar, dark colored blazer and bright red tie. Nikushi sat next to the counselor. He looked at Haru, gently smiling. Excessive fear typically resulted in a physical reaction, especially for herbivores. To flee by any means would be natural, the right thing to do, especially when face to face with what someone feared most. However, subconsciously accepting whenever an effort is fruitless is a symptom of intense fear. Instead an animal's mind substitutes it with something to rationalize this partial catatonic state. Haru's mind does exactly this, in exchange for a state of complete paralysis, it flashed unpleasant memories of that night repeatedly. Every. Single. Detail. Nikushi got up from his chair and stepped closer. Her mind departed reality, the lion in front of her was the real thing.

All of his physical features were branded into her memory, she could never forget his face for as long as she lived. The face which kept her up at night, the fangs that were meant to kill her, the beast that would drool over her exposed body. Nikushi reached out his hand, planting it on Haru's left shoulder.

"Haru! What's wrong!?" Nikushi's voice was not his own. It belonged to another. Haru's vision went blurry and then focused on her headmaster's concerned face. She quickly slapped his hand and backed into the doorframe.

"You're okay." The rabbit said, getting in between them. "You can go." The headmaster shared a shocked look before he left as Haru was eased into a chair. Images of that night disappear and she returns to the current moment.

"Haru… are you okay to talk?" A reluctant gaze answered the counselor. "I think she'd be more comfortable talking to you." The male rabbit nodded his head.

"Haru, my name is Mattheus. I'm a police investigator, I wanted to ask you a few questions." Fear had begun to settle itself.

"...Like… what?"

"Your disappearance a little over a month ago. Before the Meteor Festival, you were gone all afternoon and did not return until the next morning. If you could tell me, what were you doing during that entire time?"

"...Nothing." Mattheus let out a sigh, almost like an apology before he spoke up again.

"The boss of the Shishigumi, Nikushi, is dead. You don't have to fear him anymore." Haru whipped her head to meet Mattheus' eyes. He was not lying to her, even so, she looked turned back to herself in defeat.

"For the past ten years herbivores have been kidnapped, none of them were ever seen again after disappearing. Families were torn apart at the seams. The only leads we've ever had were a similar description of two lions during these disappearances." Mattheus laid two pictures out on the table. One was a picture of Sony, the other of Dolph. "You know these two don't you?" Haru closed her eyes, her body began to shiver.

"I wasn't doing anything. I just wanted to leave, that's all."

"Why so scared of your headmaster then? Why are you scared of two lions you've never seen before? Haru I know this is a lot to take in but everyone in the city needs your help to make sure these two are involved. Are these two the ones who took you the day before the Meteor Festival?" Haru pushed the pictures off of the table.

"I don't know them! I've never seen them!" The walls were closing in around. Hands were inspecting her, eyes were ogling her. Each touch stabbed her, each look seared her flesh.

"Haru I need-"

"Please stop Mattheus!" The counselor interjected. "Haru, you're free to go. I'm terribly sorry for all of this." Mattheus looked at the rodent with surprise. Haru nearly ran out of the door, she could not leave fast enough. Her mind mixed between the present and past. Even the hallway around her began to change the ones from her memory. She started into a sprint, eyes closed. Shaky legs made her trip over herself, but a hand grabbed her.

"Let me go!"

"Hey, it's me!" Haru opened her eyes to see Bill. Legoshi was behind him, both shared a concerned look. "What's wrong with you?" Haru looked away from Bill's fangs, not answering his question.

"Please… I need to go."

"C'mon you can't just run away if something's wrong. We're here-" Legoshi placed a hand on Bill's shoulder.

"We'll come by later, Haru, is that alright?" Haru's ears drooped at the wolf's question. She turned away, running off without a word.

"Why'd you stop me?" Legoshi titled his head behind Bill. Mattheus stood there with a judging look.

"Bill and Legoshi. Let's talk."

"Are you the one who made her act like that?" Bill's angered expression earned him a smirk.

"We can talk more inside." Mattheus entered the counselor's office.

"C'mon." Legoshi said. They entered the office and closed the door behind them.

Haru ran until she fell under a tree, she instinctively curled into a ball. Fear, guilt and anger poisoned her. More so guilt than anything. The way she feared Bill and Legoshi crushed her, ttears started down her face. Anger accompanied them because their flow was uncontrollable. Haru's shoulders bounced up and down slowed. Cries came from her mouth, albeit muffled by her knees.

"Hey… Hey!" A soft voice brought Haru to see a white dall sheep. His eyes were a soft, muted blue that locked her attention.

"Here, wipe those beautiful eyes." Haru pushed the handkerchief from the sheep's hand. She wiped her eyes and stood up, storming off back to her dorm. The sheep picked up his handkerchief, dusting it off.

"Sensitive." The sheep watched Haru cry as she ran. A single droplet stains the ground it hit. That tear rained down like it did that night in the Black Market. A heavy rain came down on top of a wolf, tiger and panda who fought to save her. At that same time a red deer who craved redemption would be on his way to her.

Louis moved deeper into the market he once called home. Everything is a blur or unknown, still this place is undeniably home. He moved past every food stand doing his best to keep his head down and ignore several scents of cooking or raw meat. Managing to get past the stalls, he passed a brick arch and was greeted by various apartment buildings that were connected to moderately sized buildings.

"Disgusting." Carnivores were as far as the eye could see. A sinking feeling of dread grew with each of his steps. All Louis had was the name Shishigumi, nothing else. No direction nor could he ask, less he placed himself in further danger. Still he blindly marched forward until bumping into an elk covered in rags. The old elk turned to the red deer, seeming sickly. He looked as if he had not eaten in a day or so. That is not what horrified Louis most, instead his lack of fingers did.

"One finger for seventy-five thousand yen." Louis' pupils began to shake at the sight and offer. Rage, sorrow and more boiled to the surface. However, this mixing pot of uncontrollable negativity pointed towards carnivores was not limited to them. He carefully gripped one remaining finger on the elk's left hand.

"Your fingers are worth nothing. They are invaluable, so why do this? Why give them away?"

"If you won't buy then I'll be going." The elk removed his finger from Louis' grasp and hobbled past him.

"Hey! Where is Shishigumi's base?" The elk stopped, then pointed to a large pagoda that towered over some buildings nearby.

"I wouldn't go there if I were you. They don't hold good prices for what you give them." Louis did not stay to hear all of what was said. He simply ran, unbeknownst to him a beast began to follow him.

Louis' vision switched between the pagoda and the changing landscape around him. Eventually he would reach an alleyway just before a large clinic. He stopped dead in his tracks.

Two carnivores appeared in front of him then two more behind. Heavy breaths and moist pants made Louis' fur stand on end. Although the darkness slightly obscured their faces, he could tell they looked exactly like those he saw through the elevator's gate that day. Before he could move, a yelp sounded from one of the two carnivores behind him. Louis looked to see what happened. A tall, slender figure with horns protruding through holes in their hood stood there. As if a beast themselves, they tore through each foe with such precision and efficiency, Louis could only sit back in awe of them. The beasts scurried away and the person stood in front of the stunned buck.

"What's a noble like you doing in a gloomy place like this?" Piercing blue eyes pried into Louis' very soul.

"What I'm doing here is none of your business. I appreciate your help, but I need to be going."

"If you walk through their front door you're gonna die." Louis' ears stood up.

"… How long have you been watching me?"

"Long enough to know how stupid you are." Melon replied. "I can help you not get killed. If you're up for that idea I mean."

"Get to the point."

"I know a back entrance to the pagoda, on any normal night it's guarded, but you're in luck and so am I."

Melon's calm tone put Louis off.

"What do you want?"

"Nothing much, a simple trade. I show you the best route to their base, in exchange, you kill their boss for me."

"Why would I do that?"

"Because he's the one eating that dear little rabbit of yours." Louis narrowed his eyes. "Don't give me that look. Like I said you're not as smart as you think you are. Plus you wouldn't be getting out of that place if you managed to get in."

Melon took a pistol from his pocket and got rid of the magazine.

"We gotta deal?" Louis opened his mouth to decline but is a one way trip regardless, and there was no guarantee Haru would still be alive if he managed to get there. Whether she would be dead or not, he had to do something for her. Even if that meant trusting a complete and utter stranger. He reached out his hand. Melon placed the weapon in his hand.

"Good, let's go then." Louis kept his fingers beneath the trigger as he followed behind. It wouldn't be too long on their path that the sky cleared up. Anxiety bubbled inside Louis as they drew closer, soon coming to a back gate entrance to the stone wall border surrounding the base.

"Here we are. Your way to Nikushi." Louis walked past Melon. He tried to open the gate but it was locked from the other side. Melon smirked, grabbed Louis by his collar, chucked him over top of the gate then jumped over himself.

"C'mon let's go." Louis scrambled to his feet. After a few steps they were greeted by a small stairway leading to an old red door.

"Be sure to follow through on our deal. I'll be in a lot of trouble if you don't, 'kay?"

"Why trust me with this if it's that important?"

"Because no one will believe Ogma's son killed Nikushi. Hell would freeze over before that thought crosses anyone's mind. Not only that, you and I have the same goal, just different reasons for our pursuit. Now do what you came here for." The moment for conversation ended and action had to be taken. Entering, from the back door on the first floor, Louis heard some voices.

He hid in the shadows but he could tell who spoke. He waited for Haru and Legoshi to leave out the front door before moving. A large part of him wanted to see Haru safe but forced himself to be satisfied hearing her voice. Louis ascended multiple stairwells until he reached a hallway. Carefully, he opened the door at its end. A strong scent of blood flooded his nose, it was still fresh.

"That damn wolf." Nikushi cursed, struggling to stand. His left hand shook violently, blood leaking from his left trapezius. Louis' hands shook as he turned off his pistol's safety. Even if a disgusting carnivore in his mind, murder is still murder. His hatred could only control his behaviors so much. Anxiety swelled once more. One bullet, one kill, therefore, one chance. Nikushi finally steadied his hand.

"I'll kill you for taking my meal." That was all that needed to be heard. Memories of Haru drowned out any other emotion in Louis' body. He stepped inside and fired immediately. His bullet pierced Nikushi's throat, dropping him to the ground. Blood immediately flooded his mouth. His killer stepped closer to him, kicking his gun away in the process. Life spilled all over the floor, he looked around until resting his gaze on Louis. Red slowly ate away the white of his eyes. To be killed by an herbivore angered Nikushi. He raised hand and spouted unintelligible hateful words. This only expedited his death, another thirty seconds passed before a cold presence froze his body still.

No words could describe what Louis felt in this moment. The closest description to his current mental state is utter confusion.

"This had to be done, it had to be. For what he did to Haru!" Louis tried to rationalize the fact of his action, yet that panic lived in mind alone. Sweat dropped from his head, quiet laughter came from his mouth. A smile crept onto his face. Something inside this deer had been satiated after yearning for so long. He fell on the couch behind him, staring at Nikushi's body. Logic, in light of his action, abandoned him. His hands were stained with someone else's blood, he rubbed his face again. Louis is a murderer.

He sat there doing absolutely nothing. He didn't know how much time passed until he saw Ibuki, Free and Dolph enter the room. Free ran to Nikushi, Dolph and Ibuki looked at the herbivore in shock. By this time Louis had resigned himself to his fate.

"He's dead." Free's announcement prompted a sigh from Dolph. He pulled his gun but Ibuki grabbed his arm.

"Why are you stopping me?"

"Because we can use him to our advantage. He's not just any ordinary herbivore-"

"I know who he is. Why does it matter?"

"He can give the Shishigumi a new name. Think about it, no more wasting our time with politicians and endless parties. Now we can really run the Black Market through true means." Ibuki's explanation did little to sway Dolph.

"Who's gonna agree to this, hm? With or without that deer we are finished."

"He'll just be a figurehead, I will run everything else. We can finally stay out of the news and maintain our structure. Every single police commissioner can do away with our names and any evidence against us. An herbivore leading us will be the icing on the cake. We can start anew."

"What about the other three gangs, they'll be a problem if they group together now that we have no more protection."

"I won't join you." Louis interjected. "Just kill me and be done with it." Free looked at Dolph and Ibuki.

"This was a one way trip for you wasn't it? Is that what you really wanted?" Ibuki stepped closer as he spoke. "Your life still hold's value, so let us use it. Until then you stay alive for us."

"...Why?"

"Because you need to pay for killing our boss and because you're far too young to just give up, right? A prideful young buck like yourself ought to want something to his name. You killed Nikushi after all, why not reap the benefits?" Louis lifted his head, meeting Ibuki's pitiful gaze. It seemed demanding, no, pleading for Louis' agreement.

"All of this is too… too insane." Ogma echoed in his son's mind, then Haru's face flashed. He stood to his feet, swallowing all emotion once more. Shadows of where moonlight could not glow covered Louis' expression. "If I'm just a figurehead… I'll still need to attend school. I will operate with you after my school day is over and only then. Just to keep things… normal." Moonlight revealed a smirk that turned Ibuki and Dolph's blood a bit cold. They were standing with a wolf in sheep's clothing. Ibuki focused himself and extended a hand cementing the deal. This transpired a month ago, since then Louis has been lost.

"Boss, we're here." Louis awoke at Free's voice. Memories of that night always replayed in his mind whenever his eyes closed.

"Ibuki, Dolph. Let's go." A fall's morning right outside of the mayor's office. Louis stepped out a black car with two high-ranking members of the Shishigumi. During this time Legoshi and Bill were being interrogated by Mattheus at school. Haru returned to her room and wrapped herself in her sheets, cowering from those horrid memories.