Oki wo tuke kudasai

"K-Keep away, oh great. I use to love that game, well whenever you let me join. But like this? Eh, I'm not sure I like this gane anymore." Syri nervously murmured, leaning beside her Auntie.

Zimi held her tight, brushing her hair briefly. "It's not the way I would prefer either peaches, but it helps if you think of it that way."

"Cute, that hallway was our exit but if anyone knows of an alternative plan well..." Reta leaned back and tilted her head, her eyes directed at the young Aunt. "I would place my bet on her. She's escaped here several times after all."

"You have?" Syri looked up rather surprised. Both Dimyri and KuliKuli seemed interested as well, with Na'Vi resting against KuliKuli's arm for support. Her eyes were sealed and the twitch and crook of her lip and facial muscles said enough to where her attention stood.

Zimi hesitated and looked up, hoping for a few thoughts to enter her adrenaline-fueled state. "It's not worth much, most of my getaway routes have been sealed off. There is a weakspot in this tunnel where light peirced through, but its below where we're moving."

"So we're stuck?" Syri's voice cracked as she asked.

Zimi shook her head. "Not exactly, the top floor is the next best exit. But it's... well-"

"Out with it!" Barked Reta.

"Just don't be afraid of heights." Zimi added as they came to an abrupt stop in the dark. All of them looked around and inspected in the dark, with KuliKuli catching the light several meters above.

"Did we stop?"

"I think so-" Dimyri shook as suddenly the gears screeched and groaned loudly, turning counterclockwise. Soon they began to descend at a much quicker pace as metal continued to scream and grind.

"That's too fast!" KuliKuli cried, digging her claws along the stone walls as sparks began to shoot forward. Syri moved out of the way, looking down the hole in the center of the wheel. It seemed that the light from which they came from was growing ever so larger, with several unhappy metal men waiting for their arrival.

"We're doomed!" She squeaked in horror, her oldest sister scanning the area.

"Claws out and grab on!" She shouted, slapping her bare hands onto the hard rock. "Crap!"

KuliKuli dug her claws in rather well, catching a decent grip and holding on as the others continued to drop. Glancing over and with quick thinking, she wrapped her tails around Dimyri's hands and pulled her upward, grabbing onto her sisters waist for support.

Zimi took notice of this display, turning to her niece. "Your turn, hurry!"

"But, the others?"

"You first, dear." She spun her around quickly before looking over at Na'Vi. Na'Vi nodded and leaned forward, grabbing Syri's shoulders before shrinking down into her cat form. Now much lighter, Syri flinched and squeaked as her claws sunk into the wall and she no longer stood on the wheel. Thus leaving Zimi with Reta.

"Think you can handle me?"

"Don't think I've a choice, hun." Zimi grunted, supporting Reta's weight and digging her claws in with the sharpest grunt. "Uhn! You need to lose weight!"

Reta snickered, resting her head on her saviors shoulder as the other girls held on. Dimyri looked down to find their wheel had stopped to pick up a few angry soldiers, instructing the mechanism to wheel them up as they readied their weapons.

"Climb!" The girls did as they were told, climbing as hard and as fast as they could. The light at the top was so close, ever so close that they could feel the breeze of fresh air to save them from this thick musky cave air. Syri closed her eyes, silently pleading that they make it soon, her arms beginning to ache, her claws growing dull with each stroke. She had it easiest when it came to weight, as Dimyri impeded KuliKuli's momentum incidentally.

They felt an exhilarating sense of relief, a feeling of immense weight being lost as KuliKuli and Dimyri finally arrived and rolled onto the floor to catch their breathe. However it was shortlived once the two girls began to look around, finding the difference in this area in comparison to the rest of the temple. Smooth stone walls, a nice carpet flooring, bookshelves against the walls and a chandelier?

Crash!

Looking fast, they caught sight of a shocked maid wearing a black and white dress and apron, complete with brown large curled bangs and a nice young face with soft blue eyes. Well, it seemed there was a pile of broken glass at her feet, she was moving something upon realizing the company that had arrived. Company which was soon accompanied by four more girls in fact.

"Oh!" She stepped back, cupping her mouth and falling into a comfortable sitting chair. Past her stood the welcoming view of a balcony extending outdoor, their ticket to freedom at last. Looking back down the tunnel, the soldiers were close to arriving within seconds!

"Over there!" Zimi pointed with her paw. "That's our exit!"

"Excuse me, Miss." Syri waved as she walked past the maid, poking her head out the balcony edge. Everything was so huge yet so tiny from how high up they were, and immediately she felt her heart grow fifty tons and weigh her down onto the carpet floor. "N-No."

"No?" Dimyri grabbed her sister by the arm. "I should be saying no, I don't have any claws!"

"You jump, I stay." She chuckled as she began to sweat, stepping back and bumping into KuliKuli.

She rubbed her sisters arms slowly. "It's very scary, but this might be our only way out. Please, we need to do this for Mom."

"Mommy." Syri pouted, the memory of her taken mother now fresh in her head once more. "D-Darn, fine! But I-I-I won't like it."

She swallowed, reaching for Dimyri's hand with one tail and KuliKuli's paw with the other. Zimi breathed in deep, extending her claws with the other Nekomata's following her lead. "Okay girls, on three."

"One." Syri squeezed her sisters tight.

"Two." Reta licked her lips, holding Na'Vi in cat form in her arm.

KuliKuli exhaled and stared beyond the balcony.

"Three!"

But before she began to charge forward, something thin, tight, and nimble was thrown her direction and wrapped tightly around her arms given its momentum before pulling her back. She fell quickly as she was caught off balance, and the thin lasso bounding her arms to her chest led into the hands of a familiar young man who hid behind one of the bookcases.

"No!" Syri shouted, seeing the other guards arrive and grab KuliKuli, pinning her to the floor and tying her paws together.

"J-Just go!!" She yelled at them, debating if it mattered had she transformed into her cat form or not. "GO!"

"Rawr!!" Na'Vi lept out from Reta's arms and after Raz's face, only for him to catch her in time before throwing her into a small bag and tying it into a knot.

Only Zimi, Syri and Dimyri remained as Reta looked back out and whined. "Reta, you are being so stupid for this. Damn it!"

Without warning, Syri felt herself pulled back before she sat onto the balcony edge next to her sister and aunt, staring at the wolf in fear and shock. Reta sighed. "I don't know you girls, but I know your sister. She would have wanted this. Make it count for her, eh?"

Raz pulled his lasso back, charging his throw and aiming for Dimyri next. She locked eyes with him as he narrowed his gaze and threw his lasso after her, only for Reta to move her arm the way. She frowned, pulling the rope tight as the soldiers came after them.

"Your time to shine." She mentioned, pushing the three girls off the balcony just as Raz pulled her back and into the arms of his men, managing a few last words before a bag was thrown over her head.

"Oki wo tuke kudasai, take care."