Nezumi ignores the kittenâs comments for a decent while, rolling the window up and gesturing at the driver to move. Heâs tempted to show how much he likes to keep his promises, but decides to give the boy one last chance. Only when theyâre out of the underworld and in the lit streets of the city does he turn to acknowledge the kittenâs presence. Honestly, heâs a thousand years too old to bother himself, but he thinks it might be amusing to indulge.
âThe last daddy I had was murdered, by me. Iâve prepared a lovely bath of molten gold for himâthat was some time ago, however, I wasnât in need of a good company for some time, which is why Iâve bought youâthe bad company,â Nezumi smiles, âVery lonely, indeed, but donât worry, you wonât be trapped with me. I wonât be paying you any attention at all, since that seems to be your wish. I guess Iâll just store you away; somewhere in private,â he shrugs.
Nezumi understands why Sasuke is defensive and angry. He would have been too if someone would treat him the same way. Livid, actually and he cannot possibly imagine what humiliation the neko went through, but he doesnât feel like forcing Sasuke into realizing that being with Nezumi is much better fate than staying a prisonerâheâll let the boy figure it out by himself and heâs going to use a very clear and strict example as he takes Sasuke into a comfy looking room with a wide and soft bed, a sofa and a large TV set with all sorts of video games and consoles to pass time, as well as a vast library.
At the top of a skyscraper, there is a loft that takes up two floors and has been Nezumiâs home since the tower was build. A private billionaire sitting on his own joint-stock companyâa cover up for his actual business which is a business of his own that nobody gets to stick their nose in. Not even the media who sneak around and try to catch a glimpse of the mysterious man. Nezumi makes sure his CEO is more famous and remains a pleasant voice on the phone instead.
âIâm sorry if this is disappointing. No pretty maids, either. Just me. Youâve been expecting a manor, right? I do own a few, but they have such idle view. All nature and grass and trees. Itâs still the same. The city down here, however, that still grows and changes,â Nezumi speaks and looks towards the window that makes up half of one wall, then shrugs, âOh⊠Wellâbut since Iâm just a scum and youâre so unwilling to become a company, then I suppose this has all been set up for nothing. Iâll have to buy a new âtoyâ that may appreciate the offer of partial freedom and lack of physical violence better.â
They are accompanied by Nezumiâs driver. A man with skin ashen like it was made of stone and touch just as cold. He doesnât speak, only makes sure Sasuke doesnât try anything funny.
The room Sasuke is put in instead is a small, windowless cube with no furniture. The walls are soundproof and there is a golden statue of a middle-age man with horrified expression standing in the corner. The metal is worn and looks ancient, but the lines of the face are still recognizable. ââI hope you wonât mind some company. Heâs very quiet. I promise,â Nezumi smiles gently, then leans closer and whispers, like a secret. âSometimes, it still feels like he blinks,â and with those words, he locks Sasuke in and leaves.
      Just fucking say something.Â
Sasuke canât stand when heâs ignoredâbrushed to the side as if heâs nothing more than an ornament that happens to make noise. It makes him want to try harder to get on the other manâs nerves, to prove Sasuke isnât someone he can just PRETEND isnât there. By the time Nezumi opens his mouth (finally) however, Sasuke wishes heâd kept it shut. Recoiling in shock, Sasukeâs ears flatten.Â
That canât be why Nezumi bought him, is it? Of course the phrase killing money has been around ages, but taking it literally? Still reeling, Nezumiâs next words hardly register. Sasuke snorts. âStuff me away with the rest of the collection?â he drawls, disgusted. âCanât imagine anyone could consider YOU good company either.â Thereâs something about Nezumi that presses on every one of Sasukeâs buttons, coaxing out all of his ire down to the last recesses. At this rate, Sasukeâs fur is permanently bristled.
It takes a bit of force to get Sasuke to pry away from the corner of the seat heâd settled in. Heâs not keen at all to follow Nezumi, && the lumbering man behind them is far from encouragement. Itâs a challenge trying to stay a decent DISTANCE from both men, but Sasuke folds his arms && shrinks, his eyes darting from one man to the other. With only one, perhaps Sasuke stood a chance. Heâs not about to RISK it with both, not least because now he doesnât trust Nezumi to be all there.Â
The sight of the building makes Sasuke pause, his breath taken away. Itâs far from the ornate mansion heâd envisioned, but itâs still enough to leave someone awestruck. Itâs too much for one person, OVERKILL. âYouâre telling me you can live without someone taking care of you?â Sasuke derides, fully intent on digging his hole deeper. âI can see why no one would want to live with you.â He narrows his eyes upon hearing Nezumi state something about a lack of violenceâitâs almost enough to make Sasuke LAUGH. Instead, it comes out as a bitter scoff.Â
âYou donât expect me to believe that,â he snaps, as if Nezumi truly is crazy. He doesnât miss the sight of the florid room once itâs gone, itâs only a reminder of Nezumiâs status as well as his own. âYouâre all the same. You might think youâre clever, but I donât fall for those pretty lies!â Panic is beginning to bleed into Sasukeâs voice, && the cold room triggers the downfall. The statue with its face frozen in terror makes Sasukeâs heart sink as he remembers the conversation heâd shared with Nezumi back in the car. âThe last daddy I had was murdered, by me.â
Anxiety curls in Sasukeâs chest && makes his breathing fast, SHALLOW. He turns to face Nezumi, shrinking away when Nezumi leans closer. âYou canât do this,â Sasuke hisses, his teeth grit to steady his voice. Of course, Nezumi does anyway, closing the door with a finalizing CLICK before Sasuke can reach it. He slams his fists against the door, as if punching right through it were plausible. Heâll shout himself hoarse for all the good itâll do him, clawing at the door, the handle, before sinking his nails into his own arms as he tries to calm himself down. Itâs just a room, just a room. Nothing in can get to him, but Nezumi can FORGET HIM. It makes Sasuke scream louder, if only to hear himself instead of the silence in the room. He checks every corner of the room, like an escape may be hiding, but he maintains a wide berth around the statue.
Sasuke doesnât want to be ignored.Â
