Untitled,
 

Alex dipped his had into his pocket and pulled out the small dagger he fitted it into the lock and turned the blade sharply, the door clicked open and Rhys splayed his hand on the wood to push it open further. “Nyx” he whispered the word that allowed him to see through the door and pierce the darkness, he let out a long breath “We were right.” he confirmed. A ripple of excitement went through the four nekos.

“Alli, you first.” Rhys hissed.

Alex nodded, and slipped into the house, he perked his black cat ears and listened to the silence for a moment before creeping down the dark hall. He heard Rhys muttering behind him as the others entered the house. At the end of the hall was a small kitchen, just like they had expected, they all slipped inside and someone flicked the lights on. Alex suppressed a gasp. The kitchen was made from marble, Marble! he didn't think the stuff even existed anymore, let alone in a dump like this.

“Gold mine!” He heard one of the boys say, it sounded like Tux. Alex flattened his ears against his mess of black hair as he stared around the kitchen, so many cupboards, how many contained food? Tux was already at the fridge, his bright green cat ears twitching with excitement, the small, skinny neko had been hungry for days, in fact they all had.

Ollie pulled open a cupboard and grinned, he took his backpack off of his back and set it on the side as he riffled through the store of tins with grubby hands. He pulled most out and dumped them into his pack, no time to be choosy. The humans here had gone out, it wasn’t likely that they would be back until late, but none of them were taking any chances.

Alex pulled the covering off of his face, he usually always wore a black sock like thing that hung around his neck until he pulled it up to cover his mouth and nose, the edge of it coming to just beneath his bright pink eyes. He could feel Rhys watching him so he quickly dropped to his knees and pulled a cupboard open, bleach yum.

He shuffled to the next cupboard, pulling his pack off of his back he set it on the floor and stuffed the crisps and biscuits he had found inside, one of the biscuit packets was already open, five left, he stuffed all of them into his mouth at once and chewed greedily, he choked a little but it was so worth it. He’d choose food over air any day.

He moved onto the next cupboard and just as he pulled it open he heard something that sent a sharp chill down his spine and flattened his ears against his head, the front door slammed open. He jumped to his feet, picking up his bag he slung it onto his back and looked around the kitchen, Tux, Ollie and Rhys were all standing like him, completely still, eyes wide, ears pricked.

He heard Rhys mutter something and then watched as his older brothers eyes flicked to the door way, piercing through the darkness, beyond the kitchen. “Run.” he said, his voice piercing the silence. Tux and Ollie stared at him for a moment “Run!” Rhys said a little louder. There was the sound of a gunshot and Alex felt a hiss of air skitter over his cheek as the bullet streaked past. Tux ran towards the window above the sink and punched it out, he jumped up onto the sink and then outside, Ollie followed, Alex heard heavy foot steps and another gun shot. He didn’t look back as he jumped up onto the sink, the bullet embedding itself into the counter where he had just been standing.

He heard the thud of a fist hitting something and looked over his shoulder, Rhys had hit the man and the gun span across the floor. The man was tall and had much larger muscles, the punch had stunned him more than anything. He was like an animal and unlike Rhys he was well fed… “Rat bastards!” he spat, throwing a punch at Rhys who ducked. He punched the guy in the gut but it hardly seemed to effect him.

He grabbed the neko by his neck and slammed him into the wall “How dare you!” he shouted, then pulled Rhys off of the wall and slammed him into it again, Rhys winced. Alex jumped off of the counter.

“Cleas” he winced as his fingernails extended, sharpened and thickened as he said the word tattooed into his wrist. He jumped at the bear of a man and sunk his nails into his back. The man cried out and whirled, knocking a few plates from the side and onto the floor. Rhys dropped down to his feet and crouched a little as he held his throat for a moment. Alex backed away, his claws had already shrunk back into his hands, he just didn’t have enough energy in him to sustain them and run.

“Hay over here! Meat head!” Rhys shouted. The guy turned, and Alex noticed someone else standing in the doorway, a small woman, her phone to her ear.

“Rhys we have to go!” Alex cried, Rhys followed his gaze to the woman and his eyes widened slightly, the distraction left him open and he received a nasty punch, landing on his cheek. He stumbled into the fridge and the man was on him, laying into him with thick, heavy hands.

The man growled something that Alex didn’t really hear, all he knew was that his brothers face was bloody and the neko was making small noises of suppressed pain.

Alex had to help, but he really didn’t have the energy. His heel knocked into the gun that had span across the floor and he stooped to pick it up, he held it out in front of him with two hands on the butt, one finger on the trigger. “Get off of him!” His hands shook, the woman screamed and in the distance… sirens.

The man turned and looked at Alex, “You can’t shoot me rat.” he snapped “You are already going to be hunted for this!” Alex knew that, but Rhys was hardly moving, he was slumped against the counter, holding his bloody nose with one hand.

“Alex, don’t” his voice thick through the blood. “Don’t condemn yourself.”

Alex was still shaking violently, “Let us leave.” he demanded.

The sirens were close.

“Let us go.”

The man grinned “Shoot me and it will be the last thing you do.”

“Alex.” Rhys said quietly.

The man reached back and took the collar of Rhys’s tatty shirt and pulled him forward, he was going to do something else to Alex’s brother. Alex closed his eyes and fired.

http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/u...t/AlexRose.jpg
I drew this Picture of Alex.

*gasp* !!!!!!!!!!!!!!.... then what ..then waht ....damn ..damn ! why do you always have to end it at a cliff ..GRR!!!! waste .. i demand more >:)... and girl you are getting better at this .. you really discribes the fight well ..:D and way to go ,...first tie being about nekoes ..... ^^ LOVE IT!!! KEEP IT UP!!!

You're a cliffhanger aren't you?
Pretty good by the way.

Five Years Later.
 

Alex tipped his head back and felt the suns heat on his face. He was used to it so it really didn’t burn anymore, it used to when he’d first started living in the down worlds, but after five years you got used to it. He climbed up onto the small outcrop of rock that blocked half the entrance of the cave and then down the other side, landing on light feet in the darkened cave.

Tux looked up from his spot near the back “Get any?” he asked as a light thud announced Honey’s arrival behind Alex. She stepped forward and dumped her pack, her windswept blonde hair fell across her face and she swiped it away, annoyed.

“Hardly.” she sat down beside Tux and crossed her arms over her chest, she eyed the bag. “The security has gone up, it’s mostly the results of bin diving.”

Tux pulled a face, “We really can’t go on like this.”

Alex leant against the rocks that partially blocked the entrance “We have to.” he sighed, his dark eyes flicking closed. Dark circles ringed them and his lips were chapped and split in places from the harsh winds. He looked so much older than he was, then again they all did. At 21 years old his movements and general appearance made him look just under 30.

Tux pulled the bag towards him and opened it, he fished out a takeaway box and flicked it open, half a burger. He picked it up and bit into it then grimaced “That’s going to turn into my third case of food poisoning this month.”

“If you don’t like it you can go back out.” Alex snapped.

Tux looked at the entrance where the sun was edging out of view, which meant it would be at 12 o’clock “I choose life.” he said quietly.

“I thought you might.” Honey quipped, pulling a half finished bottle of water out of the bag and downing it. She sighed and leant against Tux her head resting on his shoulder, ears flattened. Alex was still staring at the opening, waiting.

“When did the others leave?” He asked.

“Not long after you.” Tux shrugged. Taking another mouthful of burger and dipping his hand back into the bag, to rifle around a bit. Alex’s eyes flicked to the bag then back to the opening, Tux remembered when his eyes used to be bright pink, now they looked more like cloudy red wine, hardly any light in them. Not since…Tux was even scared to think it, the topic just wasn’t something that Alex talked about.

“If they don’t get back soon the sun will be at it’s peak.” Honey commented.

Alex nodded. Even those who had lived in the down worlds for longer than Alex and Tux didn’t go out at peak time, when the sun was directly above and bore down on any creature dumb enough to go out at such a time.

He heard a small scuffle of feet climbing the rocks and gave a sigh of relief, he moved away from the entrance as a small boy with white hair dropped down, he was a few years younger than Alex and it showed. Ollie grinned as he threw his pack down, Alex heard it clunk and his lips pulled up at the corners a little “Tins?”

“Do you expect anything less?” An arrogant female voice came from above as Sam jumped down and dropped her own pack, which just fell as a heap of material on the floor. “Not enough to fill both bags sadly”

“Tins are good enough.” Tux said through a mouthful of burger.

Sam eyed the burger in Tux’s hand “Bin diving, I see.” she shook her head, “I hope the others got something a little better.”

“A tin opener maybe?” Tyler slid down the worn rocks to land a few feet from Alex, he dropped his pack and grinned, his blue cat ears twitching.

“You actually got a tin opener?” Tux asked sceptically.

“Yup.” Tyler crouched and dipped his hand into his pack, he pulled out three packets of crisps, a packet of biscuits and about 10 bars of chocolate, trust Tyler to go for the junk food. Alex frowned, his eyes going to Honey, how had they only managed to bin dive when everyone else had obviously gotten into at least one house? Tyler pulled out a tin opener and threw it to Sam who caught it easily, she turned it over in her hands as she examined it.

“Nice one.” her eyes flicked around, “Where’s Jade?”

“Here.”

They all looked to the corner where the pile of rocks met the cave wall. There the neko stood, his dark hair falling straight around his face, his misty eyes flicked up to them. No one had seen him come in, or noticed him pick a half finished sandwich out of Honey’s bag. He was turning it over with his long fingers now, sharp eyes examining it.

“Welcome back.” Tux said, having finished his burger.

So that was everyone, just as the sun reached its peak the seven friends sat around the remains of their fire, Alex was furthest from the group, as always he preferred not to join in with the conversation, his cat ears flattened against his birds nest like hair, his knees drawn up and his arms around them.

Tux had his arm around Honey as she rested against him, his green hair contrasting with her blonde, his green eyes flicked to Alex and he seemed to start to say something and then think better of it, Ollie and Tux often did that. Ollie was leaning against one of the side walls of the cave, his back curving with it. His stone grey eyes surveying the familiar cave, “Do we need to go out again?”

Jade, who was now sitting a little closer to the others and guarding the bags of food, said “Probably not tonight, maybe tomorrow, depends on how much Tux eats.” Tux looked up, his cheeks a little red.

“Seems that all we do is go out for food these days.” Sam sighed, she ran a hand through her short, spiked hair and yawned.

“What else is there to do?” Tux asked, “Some of the most wanted, we are.”

“Jade and Alex are anyway.”

Ollie and Tux both looked to Alex as Sam spoke, but he pretended he hadn’t heard, his dark eyes stayed staring straight ahead. The two boys then exchanged a small knowing look before returning to the conversation, “Ye well we are fugitives too.” Ollie snapped almost proudly.

“You sound like a child.” Alex commented.

“I am a child.”

“There’s no room for children in this world”

He felt the others eyes on him and sighed, getting to his feet he went to the opening and leant against the pile of rocks, staring up at the blue sky. He felt someone behind him but didn’t turn as his eyes tracked a bird fly across it, its wings beating slowly, it must feel so heavy, flying in such painfully hot conditions. Alex felt a bead of sweat run over his cheek and drip from his chin. Jade leant beside him.

“You haven’t been yourself lately.” He commented quietly. Alex’s eyes flicked to him.

“I haven’t been me for five years” If Jade’s hearing wasn’t so good he wouldn’t have heard Alex’s words.

“Everyone changes once they start this life.”

Alex nodded slowly.

“How about we go out tonight? we can talk.” Jade suggested,

Alex looked up at him, studying his soft features “Maybe,” he said, if it was anyone else he would have said no, but this was Jade, and he hardly ever offered help to anyone.

“Is that a yes?” he asked,

Alex heard Ollie snoring lightly “I’ll sleep on it.” he said.

“That’s a lie, you never sleep.”

Alex let out a long breath, “You noticed,”

“I’ve been around you for four years, I can notice a lot in that time.”

Alex glanced over his shoulder, seeing that everyone else had fallen asleep. Honey was curled up with Tux, Ollie was sleeping sitting up with his head leaning against the wall, Tyler was sprawled across the floor at the back of the cave and Sam was curled up at his feet. Alex looked back to Jade, who smiled.

“Cute aren’t they?” he asked quietly.

Alex didn’t answer, Jade pushed off from the rock pile and sat down, he shuffled around so he was leaning against the wall, his elbows on his knees he looked up at Alex and his ears pricked up.

“No?” a line of sweat edged down his forehead and he sighed, “Well I’m going to sleep, even if you aren’t.”

Alex smiled a little “You know I wont.”

*excited* ...WASTE!!!! THIS IS GOOD !!!..,... more i demand more nekos xD... very nice twist waste.. you are gonna keep me on edge the whole story XP... you gotta a way with words girl... and i love it.... i think i am addicted to your stories XD.... keep it up .. ^^

“LUCIEN!”

Luke groaned and rolled onto his front, pulling his pillow over his head. He heard the shout again and curled his hands into fists. A few minutes later he heard his door open and footsteps came into the room and towards the bed “Lucien!” her sharp voice hurt.

“Luke.” he groaned.

“Lucien.” Wendy repeated as she pulled the duvet off of him, he felt his bare torso go cold and groaned again, burrowing his face into his mattress, the woman’s voice pierced his skull and just stayed there, ringing.

“Luke.” He repeated, his voice muffled. He took a deep breath as he tensed his shoulders and arched his back a little. Wendy pulled the pillow off of his head and threw it aside, he felt her fingers knit into his thick hair and pull. He gritted his teeth as he let her pull him up.

“It’s half 12. Rise and shine!” No one in their right mind was that happy in the mornings, then again Wendy was always happy when she was abusing him. The 40 year old ‘nanny’ seemed to have some sort of sadistic crush on the 19 year old boy.

“I don’t know about the shining part.” He mumbled as he sat back on his heels, her fingers slipped out of his hair, and he watched her give a curt nod from the corner of his eye then leave the room. He fell forward and burrowed his head into the pillow.

“I’ll be back Lucien!” her voice carried through the door that she’d slammed.

Luke rolled over and sat back up, he was faced with an image of himself sitting up in bed, reflected by the mirror on his wall. The face of a hangover. His dusty blonde hair was tousled, in need of a brush and his green eyes dull, he could see the pain in them, the pain his head was giving him. He let his shoulders slump before turning so his legs hung off the side of his double bed, he could hear murmurs coming from downstairs, what had Wendy said about the time? He shook his head unable to really remember, all he could hear was the ringing in his head, and it was so painful.

He pressed the palms of his hands against his eyes and saw lights dance across his eyelids then let his hands fall to the mattress, he touched his feet to the cold wood floor and winced as he pushed himself up. Never again. He kept thinking as he shuffled into his private bathroom, never again.


Luke came back out half an hour later, a white towel hanging over his neck. He was rubbing one end against his damp hair. There was another towel secured around his narrow hips, he glanced around the room suspiciously. His bed had been made and his room tidied. He really needed a lock on his door to stop such invasions of privacy.

Just as he pulled open his wardrobe the door opened again and Wendy came in carrying a pile of clothes, he glanced over his shoulder but didn’t turn around, he could feel her sharp eyes scanning over his bare back, it made him physically shudder.

“Thank you Wendy.” He said quietly, he retrieved a t-shirt from his wardrobe and pulled it on after taking the towel from around his neck, he heard her dump his stuff on the bed and then leave, “Knock next time!” he called after her as she shut the door. She didn’t reply.

Luke finished off dressing and came out of his room in a pair of beige cargo pants that hung loosely around his hips and a tight black long sleeved T. He’d dried his hair and combed it back, so it was out of his eyes and swept into a point at the back of his head. Luke went down the stairs that were just outside his loft bedroom door and came out on the first floor landing, he looked around and descended to the ground floor.

Luke walked into his kitchen and something hard hit the back of his head, he stumbled forward and turned to face his father. He held up his hands “Peace, dad.” he said quietly, his eyes wide and almost fearful, he didn’t need this after just waking up.

Lord James Willard surveyed his son “Where were you last night?” he asked. His green eyes flicked over Luke, Lord Willard was a tall man, built like Luke with broad shoulders and narrow hips, although he had more muscle and a stronger jaw line, lines around his eyes and thinning hair.

“I went out.” Luke crossed the kitchen and opened the fridge, he felt someone hit the back of his hand and pulled back sharply. He shot a look at Wendy.

“You will spoil your lunch.” she snapped, he felt a heavy hand grab his shoulder and spin him around. What was these? Abuse Luke day? He sighed, of course, it always was.

“I told you that Lady Reads was coming for dinner last night.” His father growled.

“You did.” Luke agreed.

“Then why weren’t you there?”

“You didn’t specifically request my presence.”

Lord Willard gave his son a warning glare, “You know that I expected you to be there.”

Luke sighed, his eyes flicking to his fathers, he could almost see the anger building up inside. If he pushed him any further it could prove painful. “Yeah, I’m sorry.” he looked away.

“You’re sorry.” Lord Willard shook his head “I see.”

“What else do you want me to say?”

Lord Willard didn’t answer, he just turned away. When he reached the door he paused “General Bank is coming for dinner tomorrow night, I expect you to attend.” Luke nodded, although his father couldn’t see it, “Oh and Lucien?” He winced at the use of his name, “I want you to be here for dinner tonight as well, we haven’t had dinner together for a long time.” Lord Willard turned and gave his son a smile.

Luke forced one in return, he wouldn’t come, he’d rather take the hit than spend his night in awkward silence.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” His father gave him a long look before he left the room.

Luke gave a sigh of relief, he heard Wendy laugh and gritted his teeth.

“Do you want me to tell him now or later that you can not go?”

“Preferably when I’m not in the house”

Wendy opened her mouth to answer but Luke held up his hand, he could feel his mobile vibrating in his pocket. He fished out the small silver phone and flipped it open, he gave Wendy a light smile before putting the phone to his ear and sauntering out of the room.

“Missed you last night.” he said quietly.

He heard Tammy give a small giggle “Yeah, my family suck.”

Luke had been seeing Tammy Weller for a few weeks to date, she was different from some of the other girls he was seeing, a little sweeter, a little shier, way more annoying. She thought her family sucked? She hadn’t actually met his father yet, although she had heard of him, who hadn’t heard of Lord Willard and the car crashed that had killed his wife, put his only daughter into a wheel chair and killed her twin brother?

Poor man, he lost a wife and son he never really paid attention to then got off on the ‘fame’ it gave him. The thought made Luke want to hit something, then it made him tear up, he wiped his eyes angrily.

“Hello? Luke?”

“Tammy.” He said softly “I’m thinking of going out again tonight, want to meet me at Roads?”

“It couldn’t be just me and you could it?” Hopeful. Luke shook his head a little.

“No, the guys would castrate me if I went without them.”

“Ok.” she did sound disappointed “Reads at seven then?”

“See you there.”

“Bye Luke” she disconnected. Luke sighed and slipped his phone into his pocket, he leant against the wall, he’d been walking whilst on the phone and now found himself outside his sisters room. He knew why his thoughts were so heavy this morning, even why his father wanted them to have dinner together tonight. He was leaning on the wall opposite her door, just staring at it.

It had been five years since Lord Willard had received the call that had changed everything, five years exactly. “My Lord I am afraid we have some grave news…” the 14 year old Luke watched on as his father listened, the mans eyes widening as the doctor spoke. “They died on impact, but your daughter can still be saved,”


“Bella.” Luke uttered her name as he stepped forward and knocked on the door. Her reply was sing song as usual, happy.

“Come on in.”

Luke pushed the door open and slipped into her room, his eleven year old sister sat in her chair her cheek resting against the back of one hand as she read from the book in her other hand, her bright green eyes flicked up to meet his.

“You finally rose from your tomb?” she asked, moving the hand she was resting on to tuck a strand of her long blonde hair behind her ear, she had a heart shaped face, like her mothers, and a very faint sprinkle of freckles spread over her cheeks. “Luke?” her smile faltered a little “What’s wrong?”

Luke’s eyes widened a little “Nothing,” he said, “Nothing”

She raised a thin eyebrow, “I don’t believe that.” Bella set her book aside and wheeled her chair forward, she reached out and took his hand, her touch made him want to cry, he swallowed.

“I just came to see if you were awake, that’s all.”

“Liar, you know I don’t sleep.”

Luke dropped his gaze, giving a small smile, they both knew why he was actually there. Lord Willard wouldn’t have bothered, but his son did, he’d be there as both her brother and her father, as promised.

*fan girl scream* i need more...you hear me MORE!!!!!!!

When Jade woke up Alex was still standing by the entrance, the only difference from before Jade had fallen asleep was the dark sky beyond the opening. The moons light streamed in and lit the nekos upturned face, highlighting his mess of black hair with streams of silver, in the moonlight he looked like the young man he was, Jade realised that this was what Alex looked like when no one else was looking, “Did you wake up early just so you could stand like that and freak me out?” Jade asked. Not wanting Alex to look round and catch him staring.

The neko didn’t move, he continued staring at the sky, “I’ve been thinking.” he said quietly.

Jade got to his feet and stood beside Alex “That’s dangerous.”

Alex chose not to reply.

“You are thinking about your brother aren’t you?” That made Alex look, his head whipped up, his face had hardened back to how it usually was. Jade held eye contact, he could tell that Alex was thinking through all the replies he could give, Jade saved him the bother of asking “Tux told me.”

Alex looked away “How much?”

Someone stirred behind them “Do you want to walk and talk?” Jade asked.

He nodded and began to climb up the rock pile, he made it over and jumped down, his tatty trainers sinking into the soft sand, he began to walk towards the cluster of lights on the horizon without waiting for Jade.

A few minutes later he heard running footsteps behind him and then Jade fell into step by his side. “Alex, don’t blame Tux.”

“How much do you know?”

“Just that he died five years ago.”

“How much do you want to know?” Alex’s eyes flicked up to him, he wasn’t sure how much he could tell, probably not any of it. He hadn’t even spoken about it to Tux and Ollie, their conversations were always about the future.

“I don’t, I wouldn’t pry into that Alex, I just think you need to talk about it, Ollie and Tux tell me that you were not always so hard arsed.”

That made him laugh, “That’s what they said?”

“They just worry.”

If only they knew, then they’d understand, “Did…did they tell you how it happened?” he swallowed, hard.

“They said you broke into a house.” the images flicked through Alex’s mind, You first Allie. His throat tightened a little. “And the guy who owned it came home, they got out but left you and your brother in there.” Jade stopped walking and Alex took two more steps before he stopped, he didn’t turn around, he could see the guy, the pure bulk of him. The way he held onto Rhys… “They don’t know what happened after that…” Allie don’t… he blinked away the tears, but even his hands felt heavy now, heavy with the metal they had held, “They just saw you coming through the darkness, covered in blood, without Rhys.” Jade’s voice had faded away, of course that was what had been said. It was the story that everyone else had assumed, “You wouldn’t talk about it, you just carried on walking.” Alex.

“Is that all you wanted?”

“What?”

“Did you just want to confirm your thoughts?”

“I wanted to try and get you to talk it out.” Jade approached him slowly.

“It isn’t something that talking will heal.” He swallowed the emotions that tried to push through, “Is there something else you wanted to do tonight?” he asked, raising his chin to look up at the stars, his eyes scanned the sky. Jade took one more step to get in front then turned.

“Have you ever been to a human night club?” he asked, a mischievous smile lighting his face for a moment before it seemed inappropriate and he bit his lower lip, the light in his eyes dulled a little.

Alex looked back at him and smiled to show it was ok “No I haven’t. Isn’t that… a bit dangerous?”

“Not if you wear the right disguise,” he winked, “Humans can be quite dim sometimes. And surprisingly fun.”

Alex nodded slowly, his face had become impassive again, night clubs were not things he usually went to, especially human ones, but it would take his mind away from the anniversary this day marked. He saw Jade smile again and then turn and start off towards the cluster of lights that were becoming bigger with each step. Nekos were often faster than humans, so a journey that would have taken roughly three hours only took the boys an hour and a half.

By the time they reached the town Alex’s lips were blue from the cold but it didn’t bother him too much, his body was used to the harsh cold of night. Jade was shivering violently beside him, his face impassive “Now we need to find a nice looking empty house.”

“Why?”

“We need disguises don’t we?”

The town began with fields, a few stretches of them, patrolled at night to keep the ‘rats’ away. Jade and Alex slipped into a corn field with the crops reaching about a foot above Jade’s head, the patrols hardly ever caught any nekos that had been written off as criminals, it was easy to slip through their fingers and into the main bulk of Gallerie.

Alex slipped around the side of a farmhouse and dashed across the open space between there and the fence that sectioned off the farmers land, Jade came behind him and they vaulted the fence easily. Dropping into a dark alley, the houses around all slumped to one side as if the next was holding the one before up, Alex wasn’t sure how the one on the corner of the street didn’t fall over, there weren’t any streetlights either.

Alex had heard that practically ever neko settlement in the country looked like this one, and that they were lucky to get anything at all. Alex remembered when he used to live in a place like this, in a town not to far away. After being caught robbing that house Ollie Tux and himself had become wanted men, if they were caught he was facing the death sentence. Ollie and Tux would just spend their lives in jail.

Humans didn’t get such high charges for robbery, but then again Alex wasn’t just a thief. He shuddered and pushed the thoughts aside. Even though they were in enko territory they still had to be careful, there was a reward on both Jade and Alex’s heads and although some nekos would never report their own, most would. They needed the money right?

So the boys snuck from shadow to shadow, they knew when they had passed into the human vicinity as the streets were lit. It was a Saturday night and only eight thirty so any house with no lights on was a good enough target, they walked down about two streets worth of houses, their ears pressed flat against their heads so a quick glance in their direction wouldn’t prove too fatal. Humans were used to seeing grubby looking nekos walking around, so as long as the two kept their heads down and didn’t catch anyone’s eye they probably wouldn’t be recognised.

Jade laughed when they passed a notice board with both of their faces plastered across it, along with Ollie’s, Tux’s, Honey’s and a few others, there was probably one of those in every town in the country, little did the citizens of this town know that they had the biggest chance of receiving the 3,000 pound reward.

Alex shook his head “Only 3,000 I’m worth more than that right? Jade?”

Jade puffed his chest up a little “I’m just way more important see, 3,500! The others only have about 1,000 on their heads.”

“I guess the fact that you’ve been wanted for two years longer than I makes the difference.”

Jade nodded and they carried on, they walked for another ten minutes before Alex paused, surveying a medium sized house, three bedrooms perhaps? Two living rooms, running water? Ok for some. The thing that stood out with this one was the high hedge and the fact that all the lights were out, and the houses either side didn’t look occupied either. Jade stopped a foot or so ahead and nodded.

They both glanced around the street then made their way up the front path towards the door, Jade rang the bell and they waited with bated breath for an answer, when, after four minutes, no one had answered Jade checked the door for an alarm system.

O...M....G.....in shaking with excitement.You have me addicted to this....cant wait to see if they get in the night club*coy smile*

A few minutes later they were both in the master bedroom, rifling through the draws and cupboards with gloved hands. Alex wasn’t sure what he was looking for, he’d hardly ever been anywhere in a humans house other than the kitchen. “Carry on in here, I’ll check the other rooms.” Jade said as he went out. Alex shrugged and pulled open another draw, bras and thongs, hm they wouldn’t suit him. He closed the draw.

When Jade came back he was wearing a pair of tight jeans and a black blazer with a tattered red tie and a top hat that hid his ears, he wasn’t wearing anything beneath the blazer and his usual scruffy trainers were still on his feet. He was holding a pair of white jeans, which he threw at Alex, “These are more your style.”

Alex caught them and rose a brow “Since when did I have a style?” it was true, he’d never thought about his clothes before, usually the only thing that bothered him was how dark they were and how much warmth they would hold in. The jeans were pure white and looked like they would be tight to his legs, not his style at all.

“Just put them on Alex.” Jade snapped, rolling his eyes he left the room.

Alex pulled off his tatty tracksuit bottoms and changed his boxers, not to the thongs, and then pulled on the jeans with great difficulty. When he had them on they hung low around his hips but were surprisingly easy to move about in. He went off to find Jade in what looked to be a teenage boys room. When he went in Jade tossed him a black and grey stripped long sleeved roll neck.

It was dark and looked warm… Alex pulled off his old jumper. He was about to put the roll neck on when Jade sprayed him with something, it smelt weirdly nice but made him cough a little. Jade grinned. “Now you can put it on.”

Alex pulled the jumper over his head, it was way clingy and he wasn’t sure about how it outlined his small but slightly muscled body, in fact the whole outfit just shouted ‘look at me!’ Jade then gave him a hooded zip up black jacket.

“I’ve made the hood so that it will cover your ears,” he paused “You may appreciate the irony of it as well.”

Alex pulled on the jacket and found that Jade had fastened a head band to the inside of the hood to stop it from slipping off. He pulled the hood up and ran his hands over the top, he frowned when he found that there were two extra pieces of material on top of the hood, he went back into the hall where he had seen a mirror.

He did smile a little when he saw that cat ears had been attached to the hood for… decoration? It was quite cute actually. He scanned his eyes over the rest of his appearance and folded his arms, “I need shoes.”

Pointed toed, flat black ankle boots were thrown from the boys bedroom and into the landing. Alex put them on, a size too big but he wasn’t complaining. When he looked up again Jade was standing in the doorway. “I’ve fastened the hat to my head, so as long as neither the clips or the head band on your hood break we should be safe.”

Alex nodded, “Let’s get out of here, I don’t like spending so long in a humans house.”


Jade led Alex to a well lit street with quite a few groups of young people walking along it, Alex’s first instinct was to walk around and hide, or better still run. But Jade had his hand on his back and was pushing him along at a steady pace. The street was lined with a few shops and bars. People from 15 to at least 40 were filtering in and out of the bars, and the music coming from them made the street vibrate.

They headed to an underground club, and as they descended into the main area Alex’s instincts were just screaming at him. Telling him to turn around, especially when they entered into the club where the only escape route was the set of stairs that could so easily be blocked off.

“We are safe.” Jade assured. “I’ve done this hundreds of times.”

“Hundreds?”

“Well once or twice.”

Suddenly Alex didn’t think this was such a good idea, however alluring the sound of music was, he wanted to dance, Jade was already moving to the beat, his head bopping and every now and then he’d do some funny hand movements. He looked a lot happier than Alex was used to seeing him and had soon managed to get them both near the centre of the dance floor where they often came into contact with the bodies of humans.

It took an hour for Alex to settle in, and when he had he found that dancing wasn’t really so full of peril, and it was obvious that no one realised that he was a neko, especially because he had caught so many girls eying him up.

A new song started up and he heard loads of people scream and shout, they obviously liked this one, two girls came towards them, grinning widely one hooked her arms around Jade, the other looked to Alex.

“You guys are so cute.” she said as she swung herself around and latched her arms around Alex’s neck, he could smell her sickly sweet perfume mixed with sweat and alcohol. He wasn’t sure he liked the way she was rubbing up against him, obviously trying to get him to respond. He just stood there, his arms by his side.

“No dude look.” he heard a soft voice, it was surprising how well it carried over the noise, from behind him and then a strong hand on his shoulder. He looked up at the boy who was pulling him away from the girl, he was taller than Jade, which surprised him.

The boy had blonde hair that he had combed back out of his eyes, but it didn’t make him look stuck up like that hairstyle usually did as strands of his hair were sticking up and a few falling over his bright green eyes. Alex watched the boy run his hands up the girls arms to bring them around his neck then slip them down the length of her body to her waist. She shuddered, his hands looked gentle although he was quite a big guy, broad shouldered, soft on the eyes.

He began to move his body with hers, his hands slipped down to hold her bum. The girl looked like she was in shock but soon began to enjoy his company, he must be important, Alex thought, his eyes flicking over the boys clothes. Tight light green shirt, expensive looking jeans that hung loose around his narrow hips, shiny shoes. Maybe he was some sort of celebrity. When the song ended he let go of the girl and she self consciously pulled away from him and straightened her short skirt.

The boy looked down at Alex, “Get it?” he frowned “How old are you?”

“Twenty one.”

“And you haven’t danced like that before?” His eyes were almost mocking, he seemed so bright and happy. Alex felt Jade come to his side.

“Problem?” he asked, his eyes flicking up to the human boy. Jade was the average height for nekos, which made Alex feel very small. Even that girl had been half a head taller than him.

“I was just teaching your friend to dance.” the boy grinned. He looked from Alex to Jade, and Jade nodded, he was then pulled away by the girl who had come up to him at the beginning of the last song. The boy smiled “You had anything to drink?” He asked Alex.

“No,” he didn’t have enough money to buy himself something.

“I’ll get you one if you want, you look like you need it.” he cocked his head in the direction of the bar and Alex nodded ok, he followed the boy through the crowd not missing the looks the human’s friends gave him.

Alex sat on a stool beside the boy as he called the bar tender over “Two of my usual.” he said. The tender nodded and picked out two glasses. The idea that this boy could be a celebrity solidified in Alex’s mind. “You’re quite small for a 21 year old.”

“I know,” Alex nodded, frowning a little as the drink was set in front of him. He watched as the boy picked his up and drank it in three gulps, Alex picked his glass up and examined the drink suspiciously as the boy handed over some money.

“It isn’t poisoned.”

Really? The thought never crossed my mind, Alex thought dryly before drinking his own drink, the taste was sharp and hot as the liquid slicked its way down his throat it made him give a small yelp. He covered his mouth self consciously, how embarrassing, making such a noise now! A bit of a give away really, but when he looked at the boy he was laughing.

“I haven’t seen you around here, what’s your name?”

“Alex…” he hesitated, he’d just been about to give his full name to this stranger, “Alex Black.”

“I’m Luke Willard.”