Where there is smoke...

"Oh no." Janette whispered as her trees began to ignite one by one, lighting up the darkness like candle lights in the abyss. It's fiery bright glow burning bright with yellow desire, catching on from tree to tree, turning her apples into ash. She could only stare from inside, stunned at the realization of what had occurred.

"Janette, we need to go!"

Her lips pressed together to surpress a whimper, feeling a cold sweat trickle down. Her eyes reflected the yellow glow outside of her house, making its way to consume each and every tree, surrounding them in the process. Her friends were shouting, reaching for an escape, a way out. While all she could see was her family's life burn away.

"Janette, please! Let's go!"

Syri tugged at her arm, panic rising as the fire had now reached their house and shattered the windows under the sudden increase of heat. Janette flinched as glass flew her way, snapping out of her trance with Syri pleading her to follow. Looking back at her she could only nod, feeling her feet move on their own with the young Nekomata leading the way. Reta was screaming at them to go through, holding a door open for them as they ran through.

Outside, the Nekomatas sat with an eerie look of calm over them, each one staring intently as the house began to burn. Perdilius reached down to pet MiMi, scratching behind her ears as he too watched the fire glow. Leone approached him from behind with questions in mind.

"Wasn't the contract to capture and detain the Nekomatas? This certainly feels the opposite approach."

Perdilius stood still, seemingly poised at his idea come to light.

"I ensured that my men would light the path to their salvation, less they choose damnation as their new home. They have a way out, I assure you."

Leone frowned. "Then why burn the building down, not all of them are Monsters."

"I do not care for the others, they bare their own sin for reconciling with those creatures. In life, there is a heaven and a hell, Valhalla and The Underworld. We can spare them yes, let them settle with their mistakes and see if they choose a path of redemption. It's the Nekomata's I am after, aren't you?"

He blinked and raised his eye.

"Why the nervous look, you show too much empathy for a trained killer." He commented, patting MiMi before glaring back at him. "Make yourself useful and get to them before the gods do."

"I told you, I would do things my-"

He raised his hand up with sharp precision, his eyes shifting from calm and collected to one of restrained anger and agony, the fire reflecting off his dark eyes. "I am done being patient. You do as the task commands, no further input is to be desired. Once I have the Nekomatas, you will be paid your due and will be on your way. I would expect you to be just as eager to finish this as I am, no? Now go do your job."

Leone winced and turned his head, keeping a silent tongue. His demeanor and behavior gave him his answer, knowing this the hunter reluctantly began walking away with a twitching lip.

"Go to the west, hunter. I will rejoin you when it is done." Perdilius added, raising his hand to call for his aid. Raz quickly rushed to his side, being careful around the Nekomata's. "Do me a favor and have your men approach to the east. We shan't have any more surprises from these cats after all."

Raz swallowed and nodded. "Yes sir. What of the hunter, perhaps we should send him assistance."

The priest snorted at the remark. "Let the boy have his tantrum. I've more faith in you then I do in him."

Raz gave a questioning look but nodded anyway. It was not his place to question after all. "As you wish. How many shall I take?"

"Mmm, take four or five and be sure they can fight this time. Don't disappoint, the gods are watching." His soldier nodded in return, quickly calling for names before running out towards the mansion as well. Perdilius let out an exasperated sigh, rubbing his head. Kneeling down, he petted MiMi once more and smiled. "We are close, can you feel it? I believe I may be growing nervous. What do you think of him, can he manage alone?"

The Nekomata sat still and stoic, the soldiers around shared looks as they watched the priest react to a silent girl's words. "Of course, you're right. He's done it before after all, how naïve of me to think otherwise. If you insist then so be it."

He lifted himself back on his feet as both Nekomata's approached MiMi at each side, staring at their master for his word. "Follow the man and make sure we get your family home."

They nodded before sprinting down the dirt path towards the house as he looked back. "How many shards do we have left?"

"Three in hand, sir!"

His eyes formed a look of disappointment. "Damn, let's hope it is enough. Gentlemen, let's move in."

"This way!" Felix shouted, pushing the door open and clearing out the smoke polluting the air inside. He held it open as the other girls struggled to catch up, each one coughing harder than the last. Dimyri seemed to have it worst, her face growing read as she folded over and fell on her side.

KuliKuli and Emyri ran in to help her up. "Dimyri!"

"I... I feel funny." She groaned, holding on to KuliKuli's paw with a . Coughing into her paw, she began to look pale and queasy. Something began to glow on the ground, When Emyri held her up Syri cupped her mouth.

"Mother, the brand!"

"Ignore it!" She cried out, holding her up in her arms. "She needs air!"

"Uh!" Felix let go and closed the door, with KuliKuli crying out in surprise.

"Master!"

"Not safe outside!" He parted the door to see a number of men waiting for them, crossbows in hand. "What do we do now?"

Janette raised her voice. "We stay inside!"

"What!?"

"There's another way out just in case!"

Reta rolled her eyes. "Of course there is, where is it! A secret bookshelf access?"

"No, that's too silly! It's under the floor, just follow ah!" She pulled away in time as another window blew out, the fire now hugging the house walls and searing her mother's plants. "Follow me!"

"Like we have a choice!" Reta glared as she watched as those men in metal chest plates began to surround the back door that Felix was leaning on. "Chikushō."

"Hey, Felix!" Na'Vi growled, baring her claws. "Can you fight? You better, either we fight or flight!"

Felix nodded, glancing at KuliKuli as she stared at the arrow piercing through his arm. "Go with the others, we'll try to hold them off."

"They're coming!" Reta hissed, looking around for something to use. A broom, fuck it. She grabbed it and broke the brush off, leaving the wooden handle to herself. "I'll definitely be rusty with this."

KuliKuli swallowed. "Are you sure?"

"Just go!" Felix and Na'Vi shouted, with him nodding back. "Don't worry about me, I'll make sure we find you soon. We all will, now go!"

KuliKuli looked back as Emyri called her name from the other room. She looked back and breathed hard, "I-I love you!"

"Oh geez." Reta grumbled.

Felix shook his head and smiled. "Back at you, now go!"

She spun around and headed with the others, with Felix looking back out the door. "They're coming."

"Good! I've needed stress relief for a long time!" Na'Vi shouted, with Reta gripping her broom handle hard. "Let them in!"