Out on the town (Kit Estenial)

[NIN]

The sun was setting in the red sky and the clouds look like orange, strewn, sea foam.

Colors all over the top of the world like a dome painted by a heartfelt artist. It's bittersweet message of "good night" gave a twist to a person's heart. They, whom wish this day would have lasted forever, and the slight fear of what the next day would bring. Would it bring sadness? Would it bring rain? The sky would simply answer, in a hollow voice, " good night". Nothing stopping the progress of time except for birds floating in and out of the distance. Their shrill calls making the last vestiges of light even more precious.

The power lines in which entrapped the sight to look even farther away, started to surge. City lamps lit up and sent out the droning sound of electricity. Neon signs sporting Aerugese food was switched on one by one down the neighborhood.

The food district started it's business. People one by one, filed into this area with big eyes and growling stomachs. Having the need to fill one's belly and energize themselves with something different made the sky less fearful.

For today, they were eating out.

One of these people was a 7 year old girl. Her inquisitive eyes sparkled with mischief. Picking up a hand or two to ask if they had seen her parents. Those people she had selected would look high and low, get tired and feed her. Then finally drop her off at the police station.

This had happened twice already today. First she had some crab and later on she had to make some water works for some ice cream. Now it was dinner and her tiny stomach rumbled again. Who would she pick...

She spotted a man with ears, a tail and a posture that people avoided.

That one!

She ran up to him from behind and clasped his left hand. If he looked down she would simply smile and say " Hi!".

[Kit Estenial]

It had been an eventful day, Kit reflected, as the sun was setting into the color of his dinner: a 23 year old woman drained of every morsel of blood. No doubt the police had found her already, but he was far enough from the body that he wouldn't be bothered. He had made his way to the culinary district, drawn by that haunting aroma of meat. Fresh and cooked, raw and living, he could take his pick really. He licked off what blood was left on his teeth with his Uroburos stamped tongue, savoring that wonderfully young blood. His right hand was occupied with a bag of new kimonos, specially ordered to be picked up today. The designs he sent in, wearable for the first time. He was excited to get back when he was stopped by a vibration in his pants. He reached in, brought out his phone, and flipped it open. It was a text from the palace. He was needed soon. Someone needed to watch Nyx. Great.

Just then, as if the thought of a little girl had done it, another was produced. Small, pale, silver hair like his. The most innocent look on her face...that word did not seem to fit. In fact, this whole situation looked very familiar, but why. He gave a polite "Hi" to him as he looked down...what was this?! She had his hand in hers, like they were best friends or something. His ears twitched and tail flicked as he stared at her with cold eyes. But then they softened as he spoke to the little girl. "Hello, little one. Do you need assistance?"

[NIN]

As soon as that man looked down, she saw that his traits looks a lot like hers. Glowing red eyes, fair skin that looked like porcilean, and white hair. The only difference was that his was silvery and sharp looking while hers was sharply cut and more white than silver. Was he apart of the place she was supposed to avoid? Or did he look that way coincidentally? If her memory serves her correctly: every person who looked like her, had always had a black heart.

This thought didn't stop her. Makoto of the Yakuza had a heart of black, yet he took her in. So-Sul, had a heart of stone, yet she taught her how to code better. Finally, Tomoe Nakajima had took her in arms before and she had a heart of evil.

Everyone seemed to melt when she was around. Was he the same?

" Are you a pokemon? Or are you from Inuyasha? I'm Hikari NIN Matsudaira." She wormed her hand within his and started walking with him. This was a person who was okay with denial when there is a short meeting, but when it's drawn out... several people become less prone to being negative.

Though she wouldn't ask for a meal until she knew this person. It was her first time meeting a person with animal parts on them. Were they mechanical? Were they biological? So many questions to be answered!

[Kit Estenial]

Pokemon? Inuyasha? Now THAT brought back memories. And questions; he understood the Inuyasha statement but...pokemon? Did he look like a pokemon? He didn't think so, the marble white skin and ability to say more than "Kit, kit" should've tipped the child off. But innocence and ignorance were abound in children, so he did not comment on the matter. She slipped, into his hand, hers and began trying to walk. Kit had nothing better to do in his spare time, so, why not spend it with this child? They can be very interesting, he reminded himself of his experiences with Nyx back in Drachma. This could be quite fun.

Hikari...hmmm. A name he'd heard before, but not attached to this small child. Nothing as innocent as this. Definitely nothing anywhere near innocent. She was white haired, like him, had red eyes, like him, slender framed, like him...was a woman waiting in the wing ready to spring the "She's your daughter!" card? With as many times he's been to Aerugo, it wouldn't surprise him, but this girl was at least 7 and he had been very pure until a year ago, once he became a prostitute then the new Gluttony, overindulging in EVERY pleasure known to man. He had been staring at nothing during this, but he then shook his head and spoke to NIN. "Well hello, Ms. Hikari. I am Kit Estenial. As you might have noticed, I have tiger ears and tail. Yes, they are real"

[NIN]

NIN's eyes grew wide... with slight disappointment. "Aw... so they're not dog ears and tail? Man, and all this time I thought you were Inuyasha. Can you eat chocolate or grapes? Cats can't eat that. Is it hard to sit down with your back bone all- GROWWWWLLLL~~~

That. Was her stomach.

Hikari stopped in her tracks and held her belly.

She nervously looked back up as if apologetic. Perfect, now to pop the food question. " D-Did you hear that, Mr.Eshten? Sorry...." Looking down cutely at her shoes. Yes! This will definitely get her food! Her heart rate wont be out of whack since she wasn't lying and in her moral system: she thought this wasn't bad at all.

She had to be careful with that since a lot of people could tell when a child was lying. Though what person would deny a child food after a physical response of being hungry? No one~

Though they would probably have more of a questions whether or not she was lost at all.

NIN wasn't only in it for the food now. Even though she was truly hungry and she came to con him out of a meal, she wanted to know more about this pretty-cat-man. Wait..."pretty cat man?" Her eyes bolted back up. " YOU'RE NOT INUYASHA! You're Sesshomaru! " And began giggling. He would look funny with all the makeup.

[Kit Estenial]

This child...was decently amusing. Much more childlike than Nyx though and definitely more of an otaku than her as well. She also had several childish mannerisms, which was also slightly different than Nyx. NIN's questions were given in a a barrage, one after another and usually unrelate-...Was that HER stomach? It growled like the world's fattest man. His gaze went puzzled, his eyebrow raising at her. She looked...regretful. As if she could help it. He recognized this all too well. He did the same thing when his "father" beat him for walking too loud. He immediately reached down to her shoulder and crouched. The connection had been made. "Don't you apologize, you probably haven't eaten in a while. It's not your fault"

Kit stood then and took NIN's hand. He smiled and gestured out to the street, to the many restaurants abound the area. She could pick wherever she wanted and Kit would pay. She was small, she probably wouldn't eat too much, and his salary had plenty left to spend. So, what would he do? This girl was alone, but something about her reminded him of himself. Nothing physically, but mentally. Like he'd seen this before. But his memory was so foggy that he couldn't recall. For now, this young lady would be under his wing-er, tail to be precise. Then came the Sesshomaru quip. And then he became embarrased, a smiling face under slight blush. He'd been Sesshomaru years ago, in this very country. Anime conventions, man...he still had the picture in his wallet.

[NIN]

The sound resonated within her tiny frame. She had heard many words in her intelligent little mind. Though none sounded so sad... and eager as this. Even she had the mind that told her that this person was saying more than what he was using the words for, her maturity simply took it as being a "nice person". Computability with the mind and understanding the mind's undertones are completely different. One shows intelligence, the other experience.

Her face brightened up immediately on contact. Her child instinct telling her that without the need of understanding it. Children were cute so they could be taken care of, and they acted cute to ensure their safety. Not on purpose though, it is in every human's DNA in the beginning. People had to learn to be cruel and mean. Not sweet.

"Okay..." Her mind turning blank with the contact that was now moving to her tiny hand. Then a small gesture. In her files, she saw it many times. The orphan-mother gesturing for her to greet the pitiful students. The pizza man showing that it was on the house. The clerk leading her out of the supermarket to find parents that didn't exist. Mako telling her to get out of his way so he could reach the fridge. Though most of them was like Naka. To which she always looked at before every meal. She would make that gesture. A gesture to never be afraid and have a nice meal.

Food...

Male children get their growth spurt between ages 12 to 16. Female children start at the age 8 and stop at 14. This was when her bones would extend painfully if she didn't get enough nutrition. Which meant one thing: no such thing as over eating when you're 8.

"American burger?" She looked up with hope, looking for approval. She saw no objection and dashed forward, her tiny hand reaffirming the grip in their palms. " Burgers!!" She yipped and tried to drag the Sesshomaru to a diner. Where she would take in as many calories as she could fit in her little body.

[Kit Estenial]

Her face lit up in excitement as she looked out to the stalls. Like Kit was Jesus. The amount of hope in that child's eyes was enough to make anyone give her anything and Kit's dark side cringe, but Kit felt warmed by this. Gluttony, the one who only feeds himself, feeds another? Takes care of another? Relates to another?...Yes. Because Kit was like NIN, several years ago. Hungry, alone...it resonated deeply with him, ringing his morals to the forefront. She clasped his hand in hers and tried to rush off with him to a burger diner. Kit went along with her, his face lit up as much as her.

He shuffled along in his kimono, his bag trailing behind in his fingers as he opened the diner door for NIN. This wasn't like the 5 star restaurants he'd been to and upon closer inspection, it was a Five Guys establishment. The fabled king of burgers. Kit walked to the nearest table and set his bag on the table. He pulled out a chair for NIN and awaited her to take it. He then crouched, his tail flicking and flashing. "What would you like to eat? Order whatever you can stomach." He smiled and awaited her order. Once she gave it to him, he left to the front counter and waited in line, leaving her and the bag at the table. And within sight lines.

[NIN]

NIN hopped in the lovely plastic chair, the smell of burger kind special sauce hitting her nostrils. Fast food restaurants took advantage of a children's selective senses of carbs, sugars, and salt. The most rare types of food in the wilderness now presented an ease of access to any child with two dollars. Good and bad in their own ways. Good for NIN, but bad for their bodies if people were speaking of long term nutrition. Though no matter for now.

NIN pointed out what she wanted. She wanted the double stacker burger, an orange juice, and some fries with mayo and ketchup. That way she could take the fries, mash them in the burger and pour the tan mixture in the burger itself to make one tasty meal. Saving the tomato and pickles last to eat with her fruity liquid.

She relayed this to Kit as if she was picking out a puppy. " Ooh! ooh! can I have two tomatoes?! They look like sad apples!"

While he walked into the line, she swished her feet back and forth. Even two seconds could bore someone so hyper. She spotted the shopping bag and with a blank mind she looked through it. Curious with the different shapes and curves probing through the semi-transparent plastic bag.

NIN knew what this was....

NIN remembered caressing her cheeks against them countless times in hazy summer days, and dark nights when she got lonely. The person who accompanied them, being gone. Nights filled with illogical fear and horror. The only thought is with the only person to care for her is not within her sights... or even worse: never will be again.

Kimonos.

Without a second thought she stuck her head in the plastic bag to rub her face against one. That way it wont be unfolded.

A very. Stupid. Move.

[Kit Estenial]

Quite the order, he though, reciting it ver batum to the cashier. He also added his own order: X-tra large fries with a double cheeseburger with just cheese. Simple, yet delicious. He waited at the counter for the food, tapping a clawed finger on the laminated counter, thinking about his new charge. She seemed so depraved, so much like himself in such ways. Most likely an orphan as well...he thought on it and thought on it. If he could ever change something about his childhood, it would be his father. He wanted to go to carnivals and dances, play soccer with other kids, just BE a kid. But that was taken away at birth. She didn't have the ability to be a kid, either, no one to look after her.

There was a festival tonight. The whole reason he'd picked up those kimonos. He was going to get ready and comb the streets and play like every time, his instruments back at his hotel not too far from here. Could he? ...Yes. Should he? Absolutely. The food was placed on the counter as he heard the ruffling of plastic. His bag. He turned and saw NIN's head buried in it. Shit.

Kit hopped the box of potatoes that were there and pulled her out in a snap. He wasn't mad, but concerned. He saw ruffles in the kimonos. She had been rubbing them. He took a deep breath of relief and put her in her seat again. He reached in the bag and pulled out the silk garment and handed it to her. With a smile, he was back at the counter and came back with the tray of food. He sat down quietly and distributed the meal. Then he spoke, "If you wanted to hold it, you could've asked, little one. No need sticking your head in bags...Speaking of asking, there's a festival tonight. Kimonos everywhere. Would you like to come with me?"

[NIN]

NIN's head was pulled out of the nice bag and the cat-man pulled the kimonos out to see what she was inhaling so deeply. She was still in a daze when he started talking, and the scent of cloth being replaced by burgers.

"If you wanted to hold it, you could've asked, little one. No need sticking your head in bags...Speaking of asking, there's a festival tonight. Kimonos everywhere. Would you like to come with me?"

She nabbed her burger and started on it, loving the special sauce that dripped on each side, garnishing her fries. Munching in contemplation of the idea of beautiful clothing and games everywhere. Wait- why was she even thinking about it?

"Yea!... but..." she looked down at her partly-eaten burger. This man was being very nice, and she felt if she confessed to her ploy, he would be more open about himself. She especially wanted to know why he had those animal parts on him.

" I don't have parents looking for me. I ran up to you cause I was hungry and you looked pretty." She wasn't expecting any punishment from this man. She had never known fear of grown-ups, only in them abandoning her or being loud. She only thought of whether or not he would forgive her so he could talk to her about his tail and ears.

Would this amount of confession and honesty warrant that? Or should there be more?

[Kit Estenial]

Ah...so the truth is revealed. Kit had suspected it, as only as a possibility, but it was always in the back of his mind. A normal person would normally never think a child this age would lie about having parents, but Kit knew better. Kit lived like that. He'd never admitted it to his victim though, so this was new. He just...started laughing. He kept with his laugh, throwing his head back some. "Little one, no need to apologize. You found a target and went for it. But what you've done warrants some sort of punishment...You have no choice in the matter, you're coming with me to the Festival tonight."

As of late, Kit wasn't being as evil as he had months ago. He thought of it as a potency situation, as he lived with the evil he'd adopted, it curved downward and evened out. He felt as if he was stable, both allowable of kindness and harshness. Kit was like any human being now...in a sense. As he thought on this, he started wrapping up the food and putting it in the bag. He put the kimonos away as well, then took both in his hand. "We have alot of preparation to do for this, Hikari"

Kit still felt like this girl wanted something. It wasn't food, she had that. It was a want...to know? Was it knowledge she wanted? If so, about what? Kit could contemplate it forever, but he had an inkling that he'd know soon.

[NIN]

Mr. Estienial was laughing. It started to turn evil which somehow calmed NIN. Maka would do that right before letting her do something fun, so she compulsively smiled. What fun thing did the Dog-man have in store for her? She hoped it would be something to do with those kimonos.

"Little one, no need to apologize. You found a target and went for it. But what you've done warrants some sort of punishment...You have no choice in the matter, you're coming with me to the Festival tonight."

Some sort of punishment... for getting caught? That was the most likely scenario in her mind of why she would need punishment. Getting caught would be the worse thing in reality, it was a good thing that she had gotten caught by a person who feeds people.

Wait.

What was he doing?

He was taking away the food! No!

NIN frowned as soon as her burger was set in the bag. Those few bites would fill her up for another hour or so, but she wished she could have finished it all. The fries would get soggy. Oh well.

Maybe this punishment had to deal with food? Like eating chicken? Did they have those kinds of things at festivals? She couldn't look it up or even ask without giving off a hint that she wasn't "normal".

Oh well.

"We have alot of preparation to do for this, Hikari"

NIN took his spare hand while getting out of the booth. " Preparation for the punishment? Is that why we're going to a festisal?" She inquired, not knowing she mispronounced the word.

[Kit Estenial]

Kit nodded slightly to NIN and looked puzzled for a moment. "Well....not exactly. The Festival is usually a time for people to go and have fun. If you had any plans, then too bad. We've got to get alterations for a kimono to make, dinner to eat, so on so forth. We can do this at my apartment. Now lets go!" He sounded rather excited about the Festival, he had looked to it all year. He also looked puzzled at the floor, realizing how much of a pedophile he sounded like, bringing a small child to his apartment for food and fun. Well, he...wasn't a pedo, but it made him laugh a bit. He pulled open the door and held it open long enough for NIN to pass through.

He took to the streets in his white collared shirt and black slacks, his collar jingling with his steps. His steps quickly carried him only a block down the road to a small hotel. Checking behind him and ushering a way for NIN to follow, he made it to his door and unlocked it with the small gold key. He went in immediately and laid out the kimonos. He waited for NIN and gestured to them with a sweeping hand motion, "Pick any which one and it's yours. Then you can eat."

[Csilla Angelis]

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