Chapter 46

Arthur's wings were definitely shaking.

It was not just the delicate care he had to do to the Madaragumi's bonsai collection but the nerves are getting the best of him. He wished that he had packed an extra flask of tea to soothe his nerves but alas this wasn't the case.

Not even the whispering, indecipherable talks of the bonsai plants could calm him down.

Any second now, he could be killed if he had misconduct his steps.

"Are you always this paranoid, bat?" one of the younger jaguars who stood to guard him asked. The boss had ordered one of them to watch over him and poor Arthur can't hear or locate Agata with his clicks!

'I hope he is okay...' the Honduran white bat thought to himself. 'I wished Aoba was here...Or Legosi....Or dad....Dad, please help me....'

Arthur continue to care and tend for the bonsais, occasionally murmuring to the plants. Now for bats, all of them can hear the plants and flowers but only a few could understand the gibberish those little things are saying. Unless it's a pitcher plant or a Venus flytrap because they have some traits like animals which makes them easier to understand.

"Is this okay?" he asked as he was trimming one of the bonsais. The member who was guarding him, a clouded leopard looked over and tapped his shoulder to give him the signal.

"Well, well, I am impressed," the bat's ears picked up the voice from the boss. "Bats are good with gardening after all. Is that a thing or..."

"My grandfather was a florist while my grandmother is a beekeeper," Arthur explained with a small smile at the memory. "They both tend a field of flowers together and that's how they met."

Both boss and the clouded leopard almost smiled at the bat's story. They were not sure if the legend of Vampyrums are true but this one is certainly putting his charm on them! But there's things to be done.

"I see," the boss cleared his throat. "You have spent the first hour tending my bonsais so the next hour's a bit easy. Let's see if you can handle our hospitality or else we won't let you or your bodyguard go."

"Agata! Is he okay?"

"The lion? He's safe for now. Come, you have another hour with us."

Arthur gulped but firmly grasped the paw of the Madaragumi. "Um, if I can ask...may I know your name?"

"It's Hanzo. Please to meet your acquaintance, bat."

Arthur bowed his head at his direction. "P-pleasures all mine."

...

The next hour was basically the members having their meals which consisted of wagyu beef from cows, grilled whale meat and raw sashimi. Arthur was so queasy over the smell of blood and meat, decided to hand upside down on the lowest branch of the tree while the Madaragumi sat outside for their supper.

"You okay, Agata?" Arthur whispered to the Congo lion. He knew the Shishigumi was under him so his ears could feel the brush of Agata's mane.

"Well, I only followed the boss' and other Shishigumi members when on a mission," Agata told him. "None of us has ever venture out of the Black Market unless it's for a mission. Like when I first found you at the store."

"You mean that none of you have ever travelled or been out of here? What about gangs like here and the other two?" Arthur asked in a whisper. He was curious to know about these carnivores.

"Nope and it's the same for any gang," sighed the Congo lion, who began to eat a medium rare beef that's well seasoned between a toasted milk bun with generous spread of butter. "Here, you looked hungry and I promise you, there's no meat for you."

Arthur took the small bite and almost fell off the branch from how soft yet crispy the toasted milk bread was! Also, the spread of butter on it was almost cream-like, the bat's leaf-shaped nose twitched in delight. He was still on guard but he could relax a little bit for a bread.

Once his hour was up, Arthur was escorted to the next gang member with Agata as his bodyguard and eyes. He was riding on the lion's shoulder with small headphones that was connected to his phone.

He had messaged Aoba to let the dorm mother know that he will be back late because he needs to take care of something.

While they were moving to the next gang, Arthur played a looped music that will calmed his beating heart. He hoped to practice this piece once he is back at the dorm. He wondered what the world would be like if it's as unknown as the universe in space.

He knows so little yet so familiar with the world he was thrusted into.

Sighing, he hoped the next gang called the Dokugumi wouldn't step on his neck or almost make him deaf.

Most importantly, he hoped these group of Komodo dragons don't breathe out fire!!

...

Meanwhile back at Cherryton, Aoba was rereading the message Arthur had sent him over and over again.

He wanted to know if his friend was okay because the message sounded urgent. Almost desperate if he had to put into words. He was at the cafeteria all by himself since Bill and Tao are working on something together. Plus, his roommates are out and about, leaving him all alone.

He sighed, eating the soup the carnivores are served which was onion soup with cheese and croutons.

"Hey! You're Aoba, right?"

The bald eagle lowered his head at who was addressing him. It was that black and white harlequin rabbit, Mizuchi! She looked worried and he had a feeling he knew why. He hasn't talked to her a lot much like the Honduran white bat. She sat on the opposite side of the table, her thumbs were twiddling.

"Yeah, Mizuchi I presumed?"

"Do you know what happened to Arthur?" she asked, her green eyes were wide with concern and fear. "If anything happens to him, I don't know what I'll do...."

Aoba felt sorry for her. He knew a bit about her relationship with Arthur but he never knew she would react this badly. It was 10 p.m. and still no sign of the fluffy white fur with wings.

"I don't know where he is other than his message that says he needs to take care of something," said Aoba, who ate a spoonful of the soup. "But whatever it is, I trust him."

Mizuchi nodded, knowing that's how the both of them felt. "Again, thanks for letting me know that my ex tried to harm him. Lately, he's been over his head in getting me back. I guessed in his world, 'no' means 'yes'."

The bald eagle clicked his beak. So far, no other animals besides the drama club along with Mizuchi are accepting the bat and overlooking at the fact that he's blind. He wondered if adults have more common sense and are sensitive about this situation.

"Whatever it is, I hope he gets back before midnight. Our dorm mother might as well scare him out of his fur rather than some things in town."

Mizuchi wanted to urge him to tell her more but stopped herself. She noticed Aoba had some bags under his eyes and his body posture was going to slump across the table. Mizuchi can't wait for another outing with Arthur, this time they both agreed on breakfast at a cafe.

A cozy cafe, smell of brewed tea/coffee and a platter of shared pastries as the both of them talked about their life. They can talk about music, stories, movies even if he can't see or the way his ears wiggled and his smile while she talked about her new clothes design.

So simply yet so satisfying....

"Aoba, could you please deliver this to him if you see him?" asked Mizuchi as she hands him a folded pink paper. "You can slip it under his door if you like. It's just a message in morse code I wrote in correction fluid."

The bald eagle arched a brow at what the message read. It was something he wasn't sure of since he has no experience with the idea of morse code. He might have to ask Arthur about teaching him morse code besides learning braille to help his best friend.

The message read:

..

.-.. --- ...- .

-.--- --- ..-