Chapter 71

"Hey! Aren't you listening?"

Arthur felt a rough hand pulling his wing to snap himself out of his trance. He was currently listening to a podcast that was hosted by his old Gryphon Cross friend, Sameer. Lately, he's been narrating horror stories on the podcast while doing history breakdowns and ASMR on ZooTube.

His friend was doing well and he was proud of it.

"Sorry Haru," Arthur smiled a toothy smile. He turned his body to where she was below him as he was hanging upside down. "I got carried away with the story that I didn't hear you."

"Excuses, excuses," he heard the dwarf rabbit tutting. "How are you going to be the president of the gardening club if you keep daydreaming? We gotta count the flowers and grown tomatoes that we're going to sell. You still thinking about getting that trumpet?"

The Honduran white bat's ears lowered. "Um, probably...I might change my mind if I go to the music store. It's like with clothes but music. Anyways Haru, I'm awfully a nutter today."

Haru cocked her head to one side. "What?"

"I think I'm going mad," Arthur sighed, rocking himself to calm down. "With the upcoming play, dinner with my family later this evening and don't get me started on understanding colours! Bloody hell, as if biology wants me to know what cell colour is!"

He heard Haru giggling and patted his fluffy head. "I'm sure you'll find a way, Arthur. I wanted to let you know that I won't be around during the release of the play. I will be going back home to spend time with my family so I want you to take care of the club and new members."

This made poor Arthur almost drop from his hanging position.

"New members?'

"I thought you might wanna know. You're lucky that the first one is coming after I graduate and she's an exchanged student, so make her as comfortable as possible."

Ah, it didn't sound too bad now that Haru has explained it. But this does not ease the ache in his stomach. He wasn't sure why...

"Also she's a bat so that's something to look forward to!"

"Haru," Arthur lowered himself down. "Not all bats know each other and I'm pretty sure I am facing forward from where I am."

He heard nothing but silence. Arthur figured it might be something between her and Legosi. He didn't want to pry but it doesn't mean that he shouldn't place his arm around her shoulder to comfort her. Haru has been an older sister to him and it pains him to sense her being upset.

"Sorry, I thought you might needed it."

"Yeah...I do...."

...

The sounds and smells were overwhelming Arthur's senses.

How he got himself into the Black Market was through Legosi, who told him that he's living with his dad temporarily. Arthur had never felt so grateful for his dad helping his fellow classmate after he was given details about what happened.

"It's a bit uneasy that most adults are staring at us," Legosi commented, letting Arthur ride on his back. Arthur covered his nose since he can't stand the smell of blood despite being trapped in the Black Market before and met all four of the gangs.

He was damn lucky that he did not end up as dinner himself!

"Maybe it's our fur clashing?" asked Arthur, opening his mouth to use his clicks. "Yours is very coarse and rough while mine is airy like cotton."

"We are here," said Legosi. "Dr Kirk said that he came here a bit early to help out. I'm still trying to imagine how he managed to make the leader of the Inarigumi fall for him. Most of the carnivores here are vicious."

"You don't say," Arthur chuckled as he heard a door opening. He was suddenly scooped up and was pressed close to something that's jasmine-scented. Perfume maybe? But Arthur felt up the face, feeling a familiar piece over the right eye.

"Hi mum, sorry that we're late."

"No, my sweet," he felt Ten nuzzling him by the ears. "You're just in time. Come inside before anyone else finds you."

To Legosi, the Inarigumi's hideout were more elegant compared to the Shishigumi when he first went there to find Louis. Most of the vixens were wearing interesting red dresses with slits, figuring that's their signature clothing. He noticed Arthur was chatting with the other members as if he were talking to his relatives.

He felt awkward being a tall carnivore amongst the group.

"Is there anything I can help you with ?" he asked a nearby vixen to which she shook her head. The poor grey wolf felt lost despite how the world seemed to be big for him now that he is expelled from Cherryton.

"You okay, Legosi?" a voice below him asked. It was Dr Kirk, who happened to be in casual attire. Too casual if he had to say it.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Don't worry about me. You got something on your left cheek."

Dr Kirk realised this and rubbed it with his wing. "So sorry you had to see that, dear boy. I can't help but be affectionate with her."

Legosi gazed at the leader of the Inarigumi and then back at the old Honduran white bat. He couldn't understand how can interspecial relationship be easy among the bats while he himself is struggling with his relationship with Haru?

Not only that but he and her had a final talk before she stormed off.

"Dr Kirk?"

"Yes, Legosi?"

"Why did your wife leave you? Hope that's not awkward to ask since you are dating-"

Dr Kirk silenced him with his wing. His eyes looked tired and pained despite the smile he was giving the grey wolf.

"I...actually left her. Because I didn't like how she reacted to Arthur when he was born. Lysa was always a spitfire back in my youth. Never thought she would pick me amongst other bats but after Arthur was born, she changed..."

"Well, she could be in pain after that," Legosi argued. "I mean, giving birth and all..."

"Oh yes, she was screaming and I thought the whole windows at the hospital would shatter," Dr Kirk laughed, his fur fluffing up. Legosi noticed that Arthur does the same thing when he is nervous too.

"The minute Arthur was dropped down, she immediately checked his eyes, hoping he might inherit hers. He's got my fur alright but the minute Arthur opened his eyes, she almost threw him to the ground."

Legosi scratched the back of his neck. How could a mother be so cruel to reject a baby immediately after they open their eyes?

"So I told her that if she was going to act like this because Arthur was born blind, she can leave. And by Nocturna she did without hesitation. I didn't understand what was our relationship back then but I knew I have to focus on my work and my family. Especially Arthur."

Legosi patted the old Honduran white bat on the back. "I'm sorry you had to go through with that. But what it's worth, Arthur is a good bat ."

Dr Kirk only nodded. "Well, best you enjoy yourself now. I'm going to the kitchen to check if they need any help. After all, I am soon to be a member of the family."

Legosi didn't understand what that meant but he knew one thing's for sure: Both father and son found happiness.

...

Suspended.

The word that dreads all parents when their child was sent home and with a letter. Knowing Genji, his parents were well-connected despite being small Lagomorph herbivores. He knew exactly how he could get back at that bat!

After all, his family aren't the only harlequin rabbits.

"My daughter is dating a what?!" the voice on the phone shrieked in disgust. Genji smiled, his plan was coming together.

"Yes, she was so distressed from our breakup, she resorted to that," he explained, eyeing the bottle of the drug his mother had ordered from the Black Market for him.

"But please do not be angry with her. I tried to apologise and tell her about our status as harlequin rabbit and yet she rejected me."

"I understand. You're a good boy for telling me about this, Genji. How far down has my Mizuchi gone? Breaking up with the only other harlequin rabbit and now dating a disgusting animal outside of our species? On top of that, he's blind?!?!"

"Sad, isn't it? I'm only doing this to help her for her own good."

"I will speak to her about this and maybe have a word with that bat."

The end of the line hung up. Genji knew that his time during suspension was paying off. If he could ruin that bat's reputation, he might give him a final beatdown with some enhancement from the drugs.

"No world should ever tolerate those omnivorous Vampyrums," he told to himself. "Especially white ones."

(Author's note: The guy in the video is Stephen Merchant. He's the canon and inspired voice for Arthur from his mannerism to speech.)