After he disappeared, I walked back home. Though somewhat angry about how he spent my money on cigarettes, the question of how he managed to buy a pack of cigarette using my underage body was a mystery, that somewhat calmed me down a bit as I thought about it. 

But that wasn't my biggest concern right now.

                         ****

As I walked back home. I reached an intersection where I saw something rather, odd, on the way. Under the center spotlight of the street lamp there, lay a small carton box covered neatly on all sides by duct tapes and was placed on the center of this narrow intersection, making any passerby like me wonder what's inside it. 

Though, it was obvious that someone really placed it right there, so that it would intentionally attract anyone's attention who pass by it.

And of course, I went near the box and inspected it, since its corners where so neatly covered by duct tapes, that it was almost impossible to open the box without using any sharp materials, almost as if the owner wanted its contents to be kept secured, but, on top of this box there was one small hole. A hole, small enough to be used by someone to peek at the inside of the box. And out of curiosity, I tried to peek inside it. 

As I peeked at the hole, I was shocked to see what was inside it. 

A creature with two pointed ears,

A small tail,

And above all else, A small and furry body!

Sleeping in a ball formation, a white kitten lay purring asleep inside this box.

Gasping in excitement, my whole senses went wild and told me: take this cat back home, since it was obvious that a heartless owner didn't want this beautiful feline creature around. 

I wanted to free the kitten out of its confinement and pet it while we walk back home. But seeing how all of the corners of the box were neatly covered in duct tapes, I couldn't think any other way to open to box, other than just punching a hole on one of the sides, too make a big enough hole, for me to take out the kitten. But, that will surely wake up the kitten, so the risk was too high.

"I'll just bring you home with this box then" I quietly said to the kitten in the box. Slowly and carefully I lifted up the box, as to not wake up the angel that slept inside it. As soon as I got a good grip on the corners. I began a slow and careful walk back home. Since Emi was acting all cat-like this day, for some reason, I am sure she'll be glad that I got a new cat today. Then again, I remembered that she was doing something important, back home, then taking my time to walk slowly would benefit us both. Probably.

"What the heck is that and where's my pudding?! Nya!" Waiting outside the house, Emi shouted angrily at me when I arrived home. Seems that my careful and slow walk made Emi wait for 10 minutes or so. She was now back in her normal attire, and normal child-like attitude.

"Shhh...Calm down..." I said in a silent voice.

"Calm down!? You made me cry, made me wait for so long for that pudding, and now this!? What's inside that box that's much more important than me anyway?! Porn...?!?" 

She shouted while pointing at the small box I held.

"No..! It's..."

"Mew..."

A cute, loud mewl from the box, answered Emi's question.

"A-a cat?!"

"Yes, a kitten! You see on my way back I saw this box and-"

"I don't care where you found that... thing. Put it back where you found it! And don't you already have a cat?!"

"What do you mean?"

"Nghhh!"

She took a breath in, then exhaled. Suppressing her anger, Emi then made a cat-like smile, lifted her hands in a cute cat-like stance and then looked at me with eyes that say, welcome back master!

"Oh, you mean Mono? but Mono is already dead, remember?"

" Grrr... Dummy! idiot! "

After that she clawed my face,

"Why did you do that!?"

"Cuz your an idiot, that's why! Now, if you don't want to get clawed again. Throw that cat away! I don't want it inside the house."

"But Emi, this is my house."

After I said that, she stood their silent and was looking at me with a much more angrier face.

"Idiot! Idiot! Idiot!!!"

"E-Emi, can I come inside now, besides, don't you like cats?"

"No, I don't like them, Nya!"

"Then why are you acting like one? Nya?"

I began to copy her.

"I-its not that I hate them, it's just you..." She began to mumble some words so quietly that I couldn't hear her explanation.

"Emi, I can't hear you, can you please speak, Nya?"

"Aghhh! Stop making fun of me! Get rid off that thing right now! I am the only cat who gets to be patted by Arthur! Nya!" 

I sighed as she was being a pain right now.

"Mew... Mew"

*SFX: Scratching*

Mewled the kitten in the box as it began to scratch the inside of the carton box. Getting anxious whether or not its hungry or getting stressed out by Emi's shouting. I tried to ignore her and just walked past her.

"Hey! I said no cats inside the house!"

She said as she blocked my way.

"Emi, stop being childish and let me in."

I irritably said as I tried to walk past her. 

"No!"

She childishly protested, then tried to push me back, which she almost hit the box, and if my body didn't instinctively back off in time, she might have crushed the cat.

"Emi! You almost hit the box!"

"I don't care if that cat gets hurt or killed! Just throw it away."

She then extended both of her arms and blocked the way to the doorway.

"Emi, you're being more childish than usual, let me in now!"

"Throw that cat away and I'll let you in!"

"What's your problem with me having a cat anyway?"

"Ahhh! Just throw that cat away! Throw that cat away! Throw that cat away!!!" 

From time to time it's hard to believe that she's the same age as I am. Standing right in front of the door, Emi blocks the way.

I thought about how I was going to get in. Since Emi is small and her incubus buff is now gone, I can easily push her aside and go through the door.

Yes, that should work.

I said to myself. 

But since I am holding the box in front of me, running in a head-on attack might get the kitten in danger. 

Emi has already shown that she will be remorseless with this cat. I guess I'll tackle her aside then. Sounds good, after that, I should able to...

"You can come back in when you've thrown that cat away! Nya!"

*SFX: Violently shutting a door followed by clicking sounds*

"Emi..?"

Emi went inside and locked the door.

"...Emi.!!!"

I quickly ran to the front door, put the box down, and then knocked on the door repeatedly. 

"Hey, Emi! Can we talk about this? Please let me in!"

"No! I don't want that cat inside the house! Nya!"

"Then why are you acting like a cat?!"

"Get rid of that cat or you'll be sleeping out there tonight!"

"Emi!!!"

I made a last futile knock at the door and then stopped. I sighed as I asked myself why she's being so unreasonable this time. I sat down. Leaned on the door and banged my head on the door.

I already locked all openings in the house: backdoor, windows, etc... Only Emi knows how to break into my house without breaking anything.

"Mew, mew."

Meowed the kitten. As one of its paws was reaching out of the hole, scratching and tapping what's around. I smiled for a bit as I saw those cute, white furry paw reached out of the hole.

"I'll get you out of there soon..."

I said as I playfully poked the kitten's paw.

"Ummm... E-excuse me... A-Arthur, is  t-this a bad time?"

"...?"

Looking at the direction where that soft voice came from. There, just outside the small fence of my house, I saw a familiar girl. Giving me a very shy look, she was tall, her very symmetrical face paired well with her violet eyes and black long hair, which reached until the end of her hips.

"Ummm, t-that's my... a-and I am sorry, b-but can I have Mittens back... please." Looking face down and was speaking in a very shy voice. Ashly was her name, well known for being creative, smart, shy, and for having the biggest breast in our class. Her D-cupped breasts would attract unwanted attention for her. Right now, her gray sweater is really emphasizing her large bustline, she looked like she's was wearing a tight sweater. Even though she wasn't, wearing a tight sweater.

"Ashly? Why are you here?"

I said as I picked up the box and went to her.

"Mew... Mewww..."

Meowed the kitten as I carried the box went to Ashly.

"And more importantly, if this was your cat, why did you throw her out?" I used the word her because I guessed the kitten was a female since Ashly called the Kitten Mittens.

"W-well, I... kinda... tried to..." Fidgeting as she tried to explain, her voice slowly began to trail off until I can only hear soft mumbles.

"Ummm... Ashly, I'm sorry, but can you please speak a little louder." I said in my kindest tone as to not hurt her fragile feeling. After hearing that, she took a small breath, exhaled, then tried again. This time she attempted to look at me much more directly and spoke a little louder.

" S-sorry but so far... t-this is my loudest, and... L-looking at people who I don't know well... m-makes me nervous... And you're the only few people... t-that I can talk... to you this way... " a slight blush that formed around her face, mixed well with the shy quite tone she was giving off. I can see that she was really struggling to keep up this conversation going, so I tried to help by getting to the point.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"So this is your cat? And Mittens was her name?"

" Y-yes."

"I see, Ummm... not to be rude but, can I ask why is, Mittens, in a box?" 

Her face began to frown and show some hint of sadness.

This is bad! I said to myself as I knew I stepped on a landmine.

"Please don't misunderstand! I didn't mean anything bad about it-"

"No...no it's not y-your... fault. M..my, parents don't... want any pets at home... So I tried to... Put her in a... And tried... leave her... but..."

Fidgeting, and pressing both of her index fingers, her voice began to trail off again, softer and softer until I can no longer hear her voice.

"....!"

After noticing that her voice trailed off again, she stood there frozen in embarrassment. She was really never good at conversing in front of people, even to her few close friends, which includes me.

Reaching out my hand, I tapped her on shoulders, to calm her down.

"It's Ok, Ashly, you don't have–"

"But I can't! So I duct taped all of the box's sides and left it on the street, then I ran away as fast as I can!!!"

She suddenly shouted.

"Ehhh...!?"

Retracting back both my hands, I was dumbfounded. I wasn't expecting that the timid and reserved Ashly, would suddenly shout out a clear and straightforward sentence. And I am not the only one who's surprised.

"I...I...I am sorry!"

Blushing heavily, Ashly covered her face with her hands and was apologizing, for some reason.

"W-why are you apologizing?"

"I shouted at you! And that was very rude of me, and that shouting at people is bad!"

"You did it again!" I pointed out that she spoke another straight sentence.

"I am sorry!"

"Stop apologizing, you did nothing wrong."

"But I shouted at you again... You even pointed it out!"

"No, no, that's not what I meant, what I pointed out was you just said another straight sentence, not because you shouted at me."

"Really? Since when did I do that?" 

"Since now!"

"Now... You really think so?"

Removing her hands from her face. Ashly suddenly realized that she just said another straight sentence, without pausing or trailing off.

"Yeah! Here, answer this, why did you put Mittens in a box and left her in the street?"

She then looked at me directly and spoke.

"My parents found out that I have a cat. They told me to throw it away because pets are not allowed in the house." She spoke clearly and loudly, neither looking down nor pausing her words. Wanting to hear continue to speak like this, I continued to question her.

" But why was Mitten's box duct taped?" 

"Because she kept leaping out of the box, and that's why I duct taped all of the corners of the box neatly!"

Why neatly? I asked myself but didn't bother asking her.

"Arthur! Please don't stop! continue asking some more questions!" She suddenly shouted excitingly.

It was plain to see that she was eager. Her eyes were filled eagerness, both of her hands were clenched in eagerness, and her body was showing its eagerness by puffing out her D-cupped chest confidently.

"O-ok, Ummm. How did you know I was the one who took Mittens?"

"When I changed my mind about leaving, Mittens behind, for the tenth time. I went back to get her, but when I got back, I saw you, taking Mittens. I didn't know what to do, so I followed you here." 

"Ah, so you followed me." She followed me for a whole ten minutes!!! It's a good thing you weren't seen as a stalker.

"Ok, so do you want to have Mittens?" I said as I gave her the box.

"Yes! But I can't, I don't know what to do. My parents don't want any pets at home... But, I don't want to lose Mittens, she means a lot to me." As she said her answer, her eagerness quelled out as she paused for a moment to think about what will she do.

"Well, why don't you let her stay here?" Her eyes shot up in surprise after hearing this.

"B-but is that alright with you?!"

"Yes, and I did own a cat once, so I know how to take care of Mittens," I said with utmost confidence.

"Really! You had a cat once!? What's her name!?"

"Her name was Mono, and..."

After that innocent question, our conversion began to sidetrack into a whole discussion about cats.

From what she likes about cats, to my likes about cats. To, how we pet them, to how we feed them, and then laughed about how we, time to time, tried to gain their attention when they were ignoring us, but would ultimately fail at the end.

Her girlish laugh was something new to me, she never laughed at school, nor even tried to smile. She was timid, shy, and reluctant around people. And as minutes went on, I felt like. I wasn't talking to that shy, timid, and reluctant, girl anymore. It felt like I am talking to someone else. It felt like, I am talking to a new Ashly.

*Ba-dum*

I felt a small beat inside me. It was very noticeable when it appeared on my inner chest, but as soon as I took notice of that feeling, it quickly disappeared, as it quickly came.

Half an hour passed, the night was still clearly young but,

*Whoosh*

A gush of the cold night breeze that passed by us, and swayed our hair, reminded us that it was time to go home. 

"Good thing I wore my sweater," she giggled as the wind stopped.

"Good thing for you, but bad thing for me," I remarked. Since I was just wearing nothing warm. Just a shirt and pants.

"I guess its time to go home."

"Yeah. So, Ummm, I'll have Mittens stay here, and that you can visit her from time to time, sounds good?"

"Yes! Definitely good. Thank you, Arthur, you really helped me a lot.  time."

"What?? I did nothing."

"Hey, that's not true, you helped me overcome my shyness, then gave Mittens a roof over her head."

Smiling brightly, she gave me a very warm gaze of happiness, as she said that to me.

"Well then, you're welcome?"

I said in a somewhat unassured tone since I didn't felt anything special about helping her. I mean anyone will help a friend in need, right?

"B-but, I can't just accept your welcome, can I ask you how can I reward your kindness?" Clasping both of her hands as she said that, she waited for my answer.

'Wow, that's a very formal way of saying it.'

I said to my self. As she said that.

"W-well, Keep relying on me, I suppose?" Instinctively said.

After she heard that. Her eyes widen and were partially glazed with an expression that I couldn't read.

*Fwossshh*

Suddenly and without warning. I heard a sound, it was the sound of an arrow hitting a wood, but that arrow didn't hit any wood, rather, it hit her, Ashly, right in the middle of her two large bosoms. My eyes popped into surprise as I saw the arrow struck on the dead center of her chest. At the same time, I was confused.

She didn't fell or screamed in pain. Like any person would do, if they got hit. She just stood there, unaware of the arrow on her chest. She kept looking at me with the same set of expression. 

"Ashly! Are you Ok!" I quickly shouted as I grabbed both of her shoulders. But as soon as I grabbed her, the arrow suddenly exploded violently into a pink, bubble-like state. Covering Ashly's entire face. 

'What the hell is this!?'

I said to my self, as I witnessing something that I couldn't explain. I backed off for a second after that arrow violently evaporated into bubbles.

*Fwooshhh*

"Ah!" It was that arrow again! and this time it hit me from behind. It had the same sound effect earlier, an arrow hitting a wood, rather than sounding, like an arrow hitting a flesh. Well, now I know why Ashly stood there unhurt, the arrow didn't hurt all. Quickly as I can I removed the arrow behind me, then threw it on the ground. 

"You..."

I heard an unfamiliar voice called out to me after I threw the arrow. I looked up, just above the roof the of my two story house. I saw a very young girl. Wearing nothing more than just a simple white dress and was holding a red, toy-like short bow. 

She has a blonde twin-tailed hair, two blue eyes, and what stood out the most as I assessed her looks, is her white wings. Attached naturally to her back, it was twice as her size, but it wasn't flapping, nor doing anything that would help the blonde child fly. She was just silently levitating above us.

'Is that a real-life cupid?'

Those were the words, that came to mind when I finished assessing her whole appearance. If someone else saw her right now. They would certainly think, she's an elementary student, on a stage play, and her role is a Cupid.

"You!" 

This time she called out very angrily. Looking at me with dagger eyes. She was clenching both of her hands in anger, as we stared at each other.

"Ummm, Arthur?"

Ashly suddenly called out to me, out of concern I quickly ignored the cupid hovering above us and turned my attention to Ashly.

"Ashly! Are you Ok!?"

I quickly said. The arrow was gone on her chest, and the bubbles also disappeared.

"I-i am fine, but, Ummm... Do you have any girlfriend?"

"Eh... Girlfriend?"

"Yes, girlfriend..." Her tone was normal, her face was unflinchingly normal! And the way she was asking me was just like a student, asking a normal question to a teacher.

'What!?!?!? What do you mean by that?'

I screamingly shouted in my inner thoughts. As this question came out of nowhere.

"Ummm, well... I don't have any. And can I ask why you want to know?" I blushingly said as I asked her.

"Eh? Why did I ask...."

She looked at me blankly for a moment,

3...2...1...

"Ahhhh! Nothing! Nothing! Nothing!"

She suddenly panicked and instinctively covered her whole face with her hands.

"Ummm... It... Was.... J-just... And... I... Curious... Hehe." Waving and, making some odd hand gestures in the air, talking to me face down, and her voice turned soft and shy, like earlier. It felt like the old Ashly returned.

"......?" 

I didn't understand what she said, and, not wanting to dive deep into the subject, on why she asked me if I have any girlfriend. I just stared at her.

Face down, covering her face with both of her hands, and clearly doesn't want to speak anymore. I can tell that she was really embarrassed. After a moment awkwardly standing, another cold wind passed by. 

Not wanting her parents to worry about her, 

"So, Ummm, it's getting late and you should go home now, your parents might be worried sick by now."

I decided to break this awkward atmosphere around us. 

*Nod. Nod.*

I got two, shy, nods in response.

"Should I walk you home?" I instinctively offered.

*Shake, Shake*

Shyly shaking her head, she then said,

"I'm fine, thank you..." Even though her voice was soft like earlier, when we met, and even though her whole face was covered by both of her hands, her words were clear to hear.

                        ****

After waving goodbye as she went her way. I then looked back, above the roof, where I saw the young twin-tailed, blonde girl, hovering, or levitating, above us earlier. She was gone. And strangely enough, as I stood on the front porch alone, I suddenly felt tired. I felt a sudden urge to massage both of my eyebrows, as I contemplated everything that just happened today. From the recent event regarding Emi, and to that twin-tailed girl, shooting arrows at us, while levitating above us. 

Well, thinking about them won't do, I'll just ask him later. I bet that incubus knows a thing or two about magical arrows and creatures with a description of a young-blonde-twin tailed-girl-with-wings-attached-on-her-back.

Lifting the box. I then went to the door, to deal with another problem.

'Now. How do I explain this to Emi?' 

I said to myself as I walked to the front door. 

I took a quick breath in and breath out. And hoped for the best. After that, I knocked on the door, but as soon as my first knock hit the door. It slid opened.

"Huh?" 

Surprised since I was expecting it to be locked. But, it just opened. Gently pushing the door and peeking inside, I saw Emi, crouching near the door. Hugging both of her knees whilst her whole head was covered by her blue hoodie. She looked like a blue ball, sitting on the corner.

"Emi?" I said as I entered.

"Did you have a fun time talking to her?"

Her tone was noticeably angry, as she replied.

"You were listening? How long?"

And did you even saw what happened to Ashly? 

I got no response but, she stood up, then walked to my direction. 

"So, you heard us?"

I said as she stopped right in front of me. Covered by her hood, she stood in front of me silently.

"You can have the cat..." She suddenly said as she grabbed the box from my hand,

"Hey! What are you doing!?"

Ignoring me, she then walked briskly into the living room, and then to the kitchen. Following her, she placed the box on the table and then took out a pair of scissors in one of the cupboards.

"What are doing?"

"I want to see the cat." 

*Snip, Snip,* 

She said as she began to snip the duct tapes. Sloppily.

"But I thought you didn't like them."

I said as I took the scissors from her and did the snipping.

"It's not that I hate them..." She then went to my side and leaned her head on my shoulder. 

"Its just that you give them all of your attention, like last time when you got Mono. You left me alone."

*Snip, Snip*

"What? No, I did not"

*Snip, Snip*

"Liar..." She then lightly pinched me on the side.

"Ok, maybe I did, but that doesn't mean that I would be doing... *Snip* The... *Snip* same...*Snip* thing."

Finally removing all those duct tapes.

"Mew."

Mittens suddenly leaped out of the box. 

Small, fluffy, white, and cute black eyes. I quickly lifted her up and placed her in my folds. Then patted Mitten's head at the same time. 

"Very cute..." I said.

"Mew..." 

Mitten purrs in satisfaction.

"See!" Emi, suddenly whined as I petted Mittens.

"But, I'm just patting her."

"Yeah! You're patting her! Not me! Arthur...! Pat me on the head too!"

"Why are you obsessed with being patted anyway!?"

"Ehhh! Just pat me on the head already, and leave that stupid cat alone!!!" She whined as she roughly rubbed her head on my shoulder.

FFS Emi, leave me alone!

I wanted to shout. But... Not wanting to make her cry again.

"Ok! Ok, I'll pat your head,"

"Yis!!!"

"Later!"

"Nghhh!"

"After I've finished feeding her, and giving her a bed. Probably, let her sleep on Mono's old bed."

It was 7:30 as I looked at the clock. 

"Make it quick then!!!"

Emi whined as she stomped her way to the living room.

"Spoiled little child!" I irritably said to myself as she left.

"Mew..."