"How much money do you want for this one?" The voice was a smooth deep baritone, and its owner was equally as seductive as he strode over to the thick steel door. He peered through the barred window, his smoldering sapphire eyes falling on the cell's occupant. "He's mighty cute, you know."

"Because it's you, Kurai-San, I'll practically GIVE him to you. He's a mute though. He's not good merchandise for my business." Another man, older this time, stopped behind his customer with a worried look. "He's had behavior problems in the past, and all of his past owners have demanded refunds because of it. They stick me with him and I can't just DUMP him. I paid good money for him. Are you sure you want to take that one? We have a more docile selection over here."

The man's steely blue eyes never left the still body that sat huddled in the corner of the darkened cell, his knees curled up and his head down. His fluffy white ears might have been beautiful, had they been clean. It was the same with his dingy grey tail which he supposed should have been white. Even with the other man trying to coax him away from the cell and towards a broader selection of pets, he couldn't leave the cell door. His large smooth hand gripped the bars of the window and called back to the owner. "I'll take him. Name your price, Itoshi-San."

Sure enough, Itoshi, the pet dealer, had been quick to name a price and get the cat-boy off of his hands. He gave Kurai, his customer, directions on punishing the pet, feeding the pet, bathing the pet, and eventually a word of warning. "Now, Kurai-San, I do have to warn you of the pet's violent streak. He's a scrappy little guy, but he'll behave if you treat him well, I'm sure."

Kurai merely nodded at most of the directions. He knew what to do and what not to do. He wasn't stupid. It was the last part that had caught his attention, however. He glanced back into the cell at the cat-boy who, by now, had uncurled himself and hobbled uneasily across the stony floor to the door, probably realizing he was being sold, yet again. His large jade eyes held darker green around the edges and the middle, and appeared glassy against the boy's pale face and messy blond, almost white, hair.

Indeed, the boy's face looked stunned as he was led out of the now-open cell door by Itoshi. It was apparent, the long span of time since he'd last been sold. The not-so-stale air of the corridor outside the cell made him perk up just a bit, until he gazed upon his new master. Instantly his face contorted into caution and he took a step back.

"Customers are wary of him. He's really a good pet, but he's misunderstood is all. He can't speak, so he's mute, and sometimes customers can be cruel to him, causing him to act out. Nevertheless, it gives him a violent side." Itoshi seemed saddened by it, as if he honestly felt bad for the boy. He gently placed his hand on the boy's shoulder and continued to speak, this time to the pet. "Hikaru, this is your new master. His name is Kurai. He'll be a very kind master, I'm sure. Don't be afraid."

Still a bit wary, he stepped forward, into the light. He was a couple heads shorter than his new master, and his body was thin but lean. His pale skin didn't look sickly, just dirty, as did his hair. He wore a simple black tunic style shirt that cut off at his elbows, exposing his bare shoulders and slender neck. It ended at his mid thigh, and he wore a loose pair of black cloth shorts beneath it that were barely visible under the shirt.

As Kurai studied him, he noticed the hollowness of the boy's expression. He must have been very lonely, to look like that. He'd noted that the rest of the pets at least got to share cells. Maybe he was just too violent to stay with the others? "Why is he down this hall and not with the other pets?"

Itoshi's face fell again and he replied. "He's much smaller and weaker than the other pets, so we have to keep him here. The pets often fight to be sold to a good master, and after a while we started to notice the others picking on him. He fought back and severely injured a lot of our best pets, so his home is here now." He seemed to honestly feel sorry for the cat-boy, but he also realized business was business. "I'm glad you bought him, Kurai. Surely he'll have a good home with you."

Kurai knew the other man was refraining from adding to the thought. He knew Itoshi wanted to ask why he was so interested in the pet. Brushing his jet-black bangs from his pale face, Kurai answered the unspoken question with a remark. "It gets lonely sometimes. I'm glad I thought to get a pet. He'll be well treated, I assure you."

That simple reassurance seemed to soften Itoshi, although the cat-boy, Hikaru, still appeared on edge, doubtful even. The thin fingers of one of his small hands brushed up against the elbow of the other nervously, and his legs shook. He was barefoot, and the corridor was chilly. He opened his mouth to say something, but no sound came out and he bowed his head in defeat. His blond-white hair shadowed his features and he sniffed in.

"Don't look so weak in front of your master!" Itoshi whispered to the boy, his words coming out harsher than he'd intended them. "Do you not want to be out of here?"

The only response Itoshi received was the growling of Hikaru's stomach involuntarily. If it hadn't been for Itoshi's understanding of the smaller boy, he might have reprimanded the pet. However, he knew the caretakers he employed were stingy when it came time for them to seek out his cell and feed him. Instead of yelling, he turned to Kurai.

"He doesn't eat much… I'm afraid I can't always be here, so I employ caretakers to help feed and take care of the pets. They sometimes don't think to give him as much attention as they do the others, and sometimes they forget him all together." Without saying it directly, he was hoping Kurai would pick up on the unspoken message and know to feed him.

"I've finished signing the necessary paperwork for him. Does he have any personal belongings? Is he partial to certain foods? Is there anything about him that you haven't told me already?" He met Itoshi's eyes briefly and stepped up to Hikaru. His hand traveled to the smaller boy's shoulder comfortingly.

"I'm afraid there's not very much I can tell you. If he did have any personal belongings, the nursery confiscated them before I bought him, or the other pets took them. He doesn't speak, and I keep them on a lean healthy diet, so I don't know if he has a favorite food or anything." He silently released his hand from the boy's other shoulder and eased him forward, towards Kurai. "Please take care of him."

Kurai nodded and left without saying anything more. His hand remained on the boy's shoulder, although it became a tight, protective, grip once they came to the main corridor, where the other pets dwelled, four to a cage, with actual bunks to sleep on. They, unlike Hikaru, were allowed time outside as well, and appeared far healthier than the boy.

From the corner of his eye, Kurai noticed the glares the other pets shot Hikaru, who shrank back some in fear. Decisively, he pulled Hikaru into the crook of his arm as it snaked around his waist. He glared left and right at the other pets, daring them to glare like they had moments ago. None of them did, and he was satisfied with their fearful gazes.

It was fall, and the weather outside the large brick building was just as chilly as the corridor he'd found Hikaru in. He was unaffected by it, having decided to wear a sleek black coat, a grey v-neck sweater, and a durable pair of black slacks with his shiny black dress shoes. It did, however, affect his new pet, who still wore his earlier black attire and an old pair of boots that were falling apart at the soles.

He had noticed the thankful look on his pet's face when they'd made it to the warmer area of the building, towards the front. He was sorry to have ruined that by bringing the boy outside directly. He should have known to call his driver around to the front and then go straight into the car. Nonetheless he was grateful for the curious gaze the boy cast to everything. It must have been so new after so long.

The shiny black car pulled up to the curb five minutes after that, and he eased Hikaru into the warm back seat. He'd yet to say anything other than what he had when Itoshi had been with them, and it shocked Hikaru to finally hear the man speak. "You'll be warm soon, ok? It's going to get better." He used his large hand to caress the mute's smooth cheek reassuringly. "We'll give you a nice hot bath, some delicious food, and a nice warm bed, ok?" He watched the boy's face soften and a lingering flicker of hope appeared in Hikaru's eyes as he soaked the words in.

He nodded his response and watched as Kurai gracefully slid into the car. He shut the door firmly and helped fasten Hikaru's seatbelt before doing his own. Not once since then had he spoken to, or looked at, Hikaru. Instead the conversation consisted of him ordering the driver to take them to his estate. Meanwhile, he ordered the heat be turned up for the sake of the smaller boy.