Chapter 48

Arthur could hardly breathe when wearing the mask. He can't fathom the idea of wearing the mask the whole day without gulping a fresh breath of air. Nonetheless, he carried out the task because to be honest, he wouldn't want to live and breathe in filth.

After all, bats prioritise on cleanliness besides sounds.

He had Agata to help him and one of the members of the Dokugumi guiding him where he should clean. It was still difficult to make out what is his surroundings since the mask had blocked Arthur from using his clicks.

"Not bad, bat," the member commented. "You don't say much, do you?"

"Not when I'm focusing," Arthur murmured through the mask. "I hope it's okay for you. Since I'm blind and all, seeing isn't something I can achieve besides understanding colours."

Agata was kept aside but he was able to keep an eye for the Honduran white bat in case these Komodo dragons tried to backstab him. So far, the brownish-black Dokugumi member was instructing and talking with Arthur as he cleaned.

"So what is cockfighting?" Arthur enquired. "The ones I've heard about back in my old home were usually associated with male chickens having sickles on their feet."

"That was your first thought?" the member snorted a laugh. "You didn't think it would be about us males pulling down our pants and-"

"Nope!" Arthur shook his head before he could finish. "I'll shut up after this."

The Komodo dragon smiled behind the mask. It's a shame this bat is blind to read facial expression. Those cloudy blue eyes are very eerie when reflected in the dim light. They were similar to faded jewels that used to be worthy.

Like all animals, they all knew the blind ones were the first to go in the real world.

"Come, you will use your ears and hope your feet are ready for this," he tapped Arthur on the shoulder before scooping him up, much to the bat's protest.

...

'They can't call it boxing?'Arthur thought to himself as he relied on his ears to help him locate the sounds of swipes or even the thump of the scaly tail. Both of his wings were bind close together with straps so that he could fit. Poor Arthur was getting boxed by the ears and cheek.

"Come on, Arthur!" Agata roared. "Beat him down! He's just as small as you!"

"Hey! Don't talk about my son that way, lion!" Arthur heard Savon hissed through the mask. "Isaiah! Show the bat what cockfighting is!"

"Hit him in the eye! It's not like he'll need them!"

Arthur was utterly terrified at the idea of being eyelids. His blindness was one thing but becoming eyeless sounded like a horrific nightmare!

He could only listen to the footsteps and the tail for dodging while his punch was what he would rate as pathetic. He and sports were never in a good relationship. He doesn't mind workouts to be in shape or playing ping-pong due to the sound it makes but other than that, he's useless in sports.

"Come on, Arthur!" he heard the repetition from the Congo lion. "Just cling onto him!"

The Honduran white bat took a deep breath, listening to the oncoming steps and body shift before leaping onto the Komodo dragon's back. All he could do was hold on with his dear life as he tried to used his guarded wings to wrap around his neck.

"He's really doing it! He's doing it even with the mask and his wings are bound!!"

All Arthur wanted to do was end this because he just wanted to go home to a warm bed, cup of tea, his friends and talk to Mizuchi again.

Before he knew it, he felt the weight of the Komodo dragon crashing down on him.

...

Arthur groaned in pain as he tried to sit up. He realised that the mask was off his face, making him open and close his mouth to try using his clicks. He estimated that he was in a room, on a bed and his eyes widened when he detected a presence that's not Agata with him.

"How are you feeling?" it was the Komodo dragon that fought him! Arthur shifted to sit upright with his ears perked up.

"I broke anything?" he asked, voice was hushed in case anything happened. He felt a scaly hand on his knee.

"No, I rolled over before my weight could smother you," the voice hissed in amusement. "My dad said that he had a deal with someone about you. Heard a group of vixens but I could be wrong."

'The last group,' Arthur thought to himself. "So what happens now?"

"That's up to my dad. But to be fair, this is my first time seeing a bat and I never thought I would cockfight with you. I'm told to stay here until he comes back with that lion friend you had there."

"Okay," Arthur nodded, understanding the situation. "So, are you going to takeover the group once your dad retires? Just curious, no harm."

There was a hissing noise that came from the mask before Arthur received his answer: "It's expected. Us Komodo dragons have to look out for each other despite me wanting to do more fighting and enter a cage fight competition."

Arthur reached out and grasped the young Komodo dragon's clawed hand. He smiled when the scaly hand closed in his two fingers. He realised that some carnivores that lived or hangout at the Black Market don't really have a choice. He can't really changed them or the environment but it wouldn't be bad to learn all walks of life, right?

Because that's the way it is.

"Thank you for not eating me," Arthur chuckled, fluffing his fur. "With your dad and all thinking I'm a Patient Zero. Oh forgive me but I'm Arthur!"

There was a hiss-like laugh before his two fingers were shook up and down. "Isaiah. Nice to meet you, Arthur the bat."

Before Arthur could say or do anything else, the door was opened. With a swift motion, the Honduran white bat was scooped up into the arms of a familiar scent.

"Is it time, Agata?" asked Arthur.

"Yes, Arthur. One last group and you can leave if you succeed."

Arthur wished he had more time because he was starting to like Isaiah. He seemed nice enough to talk to and reason with compared to his father or the other adult Komodo dragons. Right now, he needs to complete the mission that the Shishigumi and Louis assigned for him.

With a squeak, he bids the young Komodo dragon goodbye before meeting the final gang: the Inarigumi.

...

Mizuchi wanted to roll her eyes at the box of macarons with a note that came from her ex.

That buck's head was as stupid as a sack of hammers!

The harlequin doe wondered why she fell for him in the first place besides the fact that they're both of the same species. Despite the time being almost eleven, Mizuchi was going out to get some fresh air at the steps of the herbivore dorm.

Also she's going to throw away the macarons in the trash.

How superficial does that buck think she is?!

It doesn't matter how much money he spent on the fancy eggless pastries for her. They were nothing compared to the pencil cup Arthur had made for her with his heart and soul.

"God..." she muttered. "I really do care about him."

She was torn between the idea of falling for the blind bat but also the fact that they are both of different age. Once she graduates, she will either go to university that has the course of fashion designing or become an apprentice to a clothing company.

From there, she will not see her friends in school because they will have their own lives and...

Arthur....That sweet Arthur....

She wasn't sure if this was going to work and she wondered if he knew as well. Does he feel the same as she is feeling at the moment?

So where could he be?

"Taking a breather?" a voice almost made Mizuchi jumped out of fright before whipping her head at the sound. It was hard to see in the dark but the dim lights outside the dorm was enough to shine onto an animal with white fur and long ears.

It was Haru.

"Just throwing this out," she gestured at the box of eggless macarons that were meant for herbivores. "You want it?"

"Let me guess," Haru sniffed, her hands on her hips. "It's from him, isn't it?"

"Yeah...I'm not going to accept it," Mizuchi snorted. "I told him no a lot of times but still so persistent! Plus, he hurt Arthur! His friend that eagle told me about it."

"Tell me about it."

Haru watched the harlequin rabbit with interest. All this time, she will find every opportunity to belittle and torment the dwarf rabbit on a daily basis because of her reputation with the males.

Now, the both of them somewhat are having a civil conversation without tearing each other's furs off.

"You don't happen to know where he is?" Haru asked, leaning against the wall as the wind was breezing past the both of them.

"No. I thought he was with you? You are the president of the gardening club."

"We went to town," Haru explained, her dark eyes were filled with worry. "We were just doing a little errand and then Arthur wanted to stay back. He said he wants to 'take care of something'. What do you think he means by that?"

Mizuchi blinked. "Are you telling me that you left a blind bat into the town all by himself?"

"Hey! What are you getting at?" Haru snapped, appalled by the accusation. "He has done it before on his own! Besides, it's not my place to ask where or what is he doing in town. I'll do that once he gets back. If he gets back..."

Now this made the harlequin rabbit's heart race. The last sentence sounded like Arthur's going to...

"Legosi is going to find him," Haru placed a comforting hand on Mizuchi's. "He'll be back."

Mizuchi took a deep breath and looked down at her.

"Haru?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

Haru smiled, knowing that Arthur has really influenced this stuck up harlequin rabbit. The both of them decided to loiter around outside of the herbivore dorm before heading back inside.

The first thing that both the Lagamorphs do is throwing the expensive macarons and the pathetic card into the trash!