Unwilling Allies

"Ee kuso, this is the thanks I get for deciding to stay as someone's pet for a chance. Sure, their company is all good fun and the food was nice while free, but I didn't want to find myself like this. Cowards don't deserve happy endings." Norowa Reta muttered, pushing herself up and glaring forward alongside Zimi.

The doorway had begun to reveal itself slowly now, Zimi stepped forward and kept her claws ready for whoever they met.

"Listen, I don't know you and personally I don't think I would like you, but I certainly can say you aren't deserving of a happy ending. I don't know why you behave so rude or forward, I can only speculate that. But I can say here and now, that whoever you are, you're anything but cowardly." Zimi replied, her muscles going tense as she readied herself for the incoming threat. "At least, I hope you aren't."

Reta groaned, pushing Zimi aside to step forward, ignoring the bruise marks surrounding her. "Just let me die fighting the way I'm supposed to."

"Your deathwish."

"Gladly." She smiled as they arrived, face to face with a Hunter, foot placed back with a hand to his belt. "Fuck."

Leone tilted his head, surprised as he now stood in the way of a Monster Cat Girl and a... well, a normal girl who seemingly looked as if she came out of a fight. "Something tells me you two aren't supposed to be roaming around freely here."

Acting fast, Reta slipped back and pulled at a random chain, telling the wheel to begin its movement once more. As the gears began groaning, Leone pressed forward and jumped onto the wheel, pushing the girls back before they began to ascend. In reaction, Zimi swung her claws from either side, forcing Leone to draw his blade in defense.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Though he blocked with every strike, the claustrophobic setting of the elevator they were trapped in made sporadic movements quite impossible for either party. Zimi was awkwardly flinging her arms around, without direction and lacking aim. Leone found himself using the middle chains to maneuver around, dodging more and more alongside Reta, who kept herself in the back of the girl in the offensive. She flinched as scratch marks appeared on both her arms, before Leone began swiping in return at Zimi, landing a few more cuts on Reta by mistake.

"Ee, ee that's enough! Hey!" She shouted, scraping her arm against the wall as the wheel continued to move.

Zimi gasped as Leone yanked her forward by her paw before locking her in a hold with his sword over her neck. For a moment, she braced herself for the worst, closing her eyes and accepting her fate. So it is, let it be to go with dignity as a Nekomata then as a mindless slave.

"Zimi, it's me." Leone whispered, keeping a hold on her. She hissed and twisted under him, struggling to pull away. "Calm down."

"Calm down!? After what you did to us, to Emyri? She trusted you!"

Leone backed off, releasing her as she spun around and pushed him. He kept his hands down, breathing in as she degraded him further.

"Go ahead, pierce my body and get it over with. You don't deserve that blade and you know it. You're not a Hunter, Leone."

Reta sucked in her breath and slumped forward, groaning as Leone stepped away allowing Zimi to realize her partners state. "Oh my gosh, did I-? No, d-dang! Sit up, let me see."

Zimi inspected her cuts when something tapped her arm. Turning back, Leone offered her a roll of gauze for use. Without reluctance, Zimi grabbed at it and used her twin tails to apply the wrappings around both of Reta's arms carefully. "Well, at least the bleeding isn't too bad."

"Stings." She whined, looking up. "So, guessing there is history here?"

"You can say that."

"He on our side?"

"No"

"Yes." Zimi looked back in shock, prompting him to explain. "Sort of, I am but I'm not."

"No you're not, you had your chance then and I'm not trusting you now." She growled, their momentum beginning to slow down.

Leone kneeled down between the two with a serious look. "I don't need your trust, but right I'm the only way for you and your friend to escape."

"Why do you care if I make it out or not?"

"Because he has Nityri." Zimi froze, her eyes staring forward as his words sunk in. "And right now you have around twelve hours before he begins the ritual. You know I have my hands tied."

"By choice." She muttered.

He shook his head. "Regardless, it's only a matter of time before he figures out what's delaying him."

"So what do you expect us to do, sounds like he has who he wants." Reta asked, sitting up as the door frame began to emerge once more.

"I am suggesting we work together."

Zimi scoffed, brushing her hair and flexing her paws in anger.

"Hey, this is bigger then us. You can undo all of this, but you have to help me help you." Leone spoke, glaring back as they began to arrive on the next floor. "Now's the time, what's your answer?"

"I do this for MiMi and Emyri, NOT for you." She grimaced, helping Reta to her feet.

Leone nodded, motioning for her to stick her paws forward before locking chain cuffs around her wrists.

Reta checked her bandaged arms, fingers clenching as she tried to ignore the sharp pain with each movement. As Leone moved to grab her arms, she pulled back and stared him down.

"Namen ja ne, konoyaro."

He stared back before spinning around as their wheel paused once more.

"I won't."