• I still was unable to speak. He fell to his knees and looked at me.
    “Why are you a cat?” He asked, barely able to manage above a whisper.
    Cat?
    “Yes, cat.” He bent down and picked me up in his hands, looking at me.
    I tried to speak this time.
    “Mew.” Was all I heard.
    He stroked my head, sighing to himself.
    “Maybe it’ll wear off. Come on, we’ll continue to travel. I’ll get Lunar to follow from behind.

    Once everything was ready to go, I walked onto his shoulder, as he mounted up. Lunar had been faithful enough to say she would follow behind. Shadow set off at a trot, and Kilunar picked me up in his hands.
    I brought my black paw to my face, and started to lick it. It was dirty.
    Great. I was starting to have cat thoughts. Just what I needed.
    He laughed once and hugged me – however you could hug a cat.
    “You know what?” He asked. “I don’t care you’re a cat. You’re still my sister.”
    I licked his cheek.
    How I longed to be back to normal.
    “I’m sure it’ll wear off.” He smiled. I went back to his shoulder, and lay down on it. My tail swishing behind me.
    But the problem was how it would wear off.
    “Easy. What were you doing or thinking of when the cat ears and tail wore off?” He asked. He stopped Shadow and Lunar, and got off. He crouched near the ground, placing me on the dirt.
    I thought back a moment.
    About my powers.
    “Do that again, then.”
    I closed my small animal eyes. He stroked my head, and I purred. He grinned – I could feel his joy brushing against my fur. I heard him step back a few feet, and I opened my eyes.
    “This smells so bad!” I commented, and got to my feet. I brushed off the silk of my outfit.
    Arms wrapped around me, and I snapped my head back up. He pulled me away at arms length.
    “You’re okay.” He smiled – a smile that outmatched the sun.
    “Of course I am.” I returned his hug.
    “Thank Goddess you’re okay.” He whispered.
    “Okay. We should head on out again.”
    “Yeah. Come.” He let go of me – all but one hand – and walked to his horse. He got on, and helped me on behind him.
    “I’ve gone long enough without seeing your face.” Was all he said.
    I’ll follow. I heard Lunar say.
    I smiled, wrapping my arms around his waist. “You sure Shadow can handle all this weight?”
    Shadow huffed.
    “Sorry.” I muttered. Kilunar laughed and set off at a gait.
    I tightened my arms around his waist, put my head against his back, and closed my eyes.

    “Just a little further before it gets dark.” I heard a while later. I opened my eyes to see him looking over my shoulder at me. I rubbed my eye with one hand, and looked around.
    The tree’s got thicker as we went along the path at a slower pace than before. It was dark enough; the sky was dark with shining stars and the crescent moon coming closer and closer to the full moon.
    I placed my cheek against his back again, looking to the sky.
    Wondering if it’ll ever be perfect.
    Will it ever be safe…?


    (Unknown P.O.V. (Oh this will kill you. Gotta love unexpected turns! ^-^))

    “No, I told you to stay as you were. You didn’t listen to me.”
    “Stop! You don’t control me! Never now, nor ever again!”
    “Come now, Teruko Asami.”
    “I said you don’t control me!” The tears threatened to give way in her eyes, her tender voice shaking.
    There was a slapping sound. She was thrown back against the wall, her head hitting the wall hard. Her neck slumped lifelessly on her neck a moment, before she looked up into those dark, lifeless eyes.
    “Please…” She whispered. She choked back a sob, and her tears flowed silently down her face. “Please… let me free.”
    “Now do you realize what you are?” He asked, getting to his knees beside her. Her face was bruising up already.
    She nodded sullenly, glancing out the floor length window.
    Where a teenager with blonde hair was. His soft eyes watched with fear – for her – the blue in them shaking. He was small, yet he was fifteen.
    Mosoma… She thought to the boy, wishing he could hear. Go away before you get caught. Please. She willed for her eyes to tell her words.
    He shook his head, watching her. Her long blonde hair was in her face, and she blew it back when she looked at her “Master.”
    “The bond cannot be broken.” He laughed, and walked away. She slumped to the floor, on her side, her arms holding her up shakily.
    She heard the sliding door open from where Mosoma was, and he silently came to her.
    “Go, Mosoma. You need to get away.” She whispered, her tears overflowing.
    “Yeah, you wish.” He sighed. “Come now. I’ll tend to your wounds.” He picked her up in his arms and snuck her out of the house.
    “Why was I born an Asami?” She whispered to the almost full moon.
    And far in the distance, about three days away from where she was, the two graceful horses’ hooves thumped against the dirt road.
    No one would know.
    Not yet anyways.
    Your savior is coming. The cat near her told her, licking its paw. She cannot free you of the cat, but she can get you and him away from here.
    “Thank you.” She whispered to the stars. Her tears fell silently down her cheek while Mosoma tended to her face, examining it with gentle fingers.