Chapter 90

Arthur's entire body was shaking with fear. Why would Legosi and Louis want his blood? It was bringing back a lot of memories pre-Cherryton to which he had repressed ever since he boarded the train and then plane to go with his father to where Cherryton was.

"Arthur?" Mizuchi's gentle voice broke him out of his train of thoughts. He turned his head to where her voice was. Opening his mouth to estimate the distance between them via his clicks, Arthur touched the harlequin's rabbit's cheek softly, feeling the smoothness of her glossy fur that was scented with mango conditioner under his two fingertips.

"I'm alright, Mizuchi," he assured her, guiding them to sit down on her bed. He had so much to tell her and this moment could make or break their relationship. "Louis called me on the phone, saying that they needed me at Legosi's apartment. I don't know if my hearing's getting weak but, they want my blood."

"I'm sorry but what?!" Mizuchi he imagined, blinked in disbelief. "Don't tell me that the former star of the drama club decided to start a blood cult!"

Arthur shook his head, his stomach was churning from fear. He gave her a summary of who Melon was and how he, Legosi and Louis were involved with the whole mess. Not only that, the tensions between carnivores and herbivores could suffer if the hybrid roamed the streets.

There was silence. Arthur's entire body bristled at the tension in the room. Should he leave? Will he be known as a traitor for briefly working with a homicidal maniac just to earn some pocket change? He was bracing himself for the worst until-

"I believe you, Arthur."

Arthur blinked, his wings slowly enveloped the harlequin rabbit into an embrace. He felt Mizuchi's arms wrapped around him, her head resting on top of his. He held her, careful not to crush her inside of his wings. "Thank you, Mizuchi. It means so much to me! I-I'm just so glad that I can tell you all of this."

Mizuchi only giggled. "I'm honoured that I get to hear about your adventures. University can be boring when it's all about workshops, assignments, etc. Arthur, no matter what happens, I'm always here for you, even if we are apart. You have your family, Aoba, everything! If this mission means this much to you, promise me that you will come back in one piece."

The Honduran white bat couldn't stop the tears from trickling down his cheek. He quickly wiped them, in case he might ruin Mizuchi's makeup. His lack of sight was frustrating in terms of judging whether or not someone had something on their face. Feeling her gentle hands on his face, Arthur knew what was happening.

"Mizuchi," Arthur murmured after their kiss. "Since I am needed elsewhere tomorrow, shall we spend this time with each other- I mean having a cup of tea? Me playing music for you to concentrate on your studies? Or-"

He was silenced with a deeper kiss from her, his fur was fluffed up to its maximum. The last thing his ears could hear was the rustling of clothes before his mind became hazy.

...

Arthur made his way to Legosi's apartment with a little guidance from his clicks. It felt sad that he had to cut his time with Mizuchi so abruptly because both the grey wolf and red deer needed his help. The worst thing was to let everyone down, something he wouldn't dare to do before he was even transferred to Cherryton.

Despite it all, Arthur would do anything to keep himself and those close to him safe. The night he spent with Mizuchi was something he wouldn't forget. In fact, dare he would say that the both of them created a special symphony only their ears could hear?

He blushed at the thought, not wanting his mind to be flooded with the memories. Her scent, the sounds they made, even the feeling of their furs together were enough to make Arthur shake his head. 'Since when have I become this sentimental?'

When he arrived, he could hear argument behind the door. He knew that Legosi and Louis have started without him, the latter getting all bothered about something the grey wolf had done. Straightening himself, he knocked on the front door insistently, hoping that it was loud enough for both animals to hear.

Opening his mouth, the Honduran white bat's clicks detected the broad shoulders of Legosi answering the door. He could imagined the wolf greeting him with a nervous smile. "Hello, Legosi. I'm terribly sorry about being late. Are you and Louis finish with your silly squabble?"

"It's not silly when lives are at stake!" Louis pipped up irritably. "It's good of you to show up WHILE I WAS ALMOST DRAINED OF MY BLOOD."

Arthur winced at how the red deer's booming voice. As much as the both of them respected each other, he knew that Louis was the type that the Honduran white bat would not warm up to. It was not impossible, just very difficult.

"Well, I'm here, aren't I?" Arthur huffed, folding his wings. "Louis, I may not know you as well as Legosi, but I know you want this madness to end. Let the three of us work together to bring down Melon as carnivore, herbivore and omnivore. Like my dad would say: rage, rage against the dying of the light."

His speech was followed by silence. Was his phrase inappropriate? Those thoughts were short-lived when he felt Legosi sniffing at his back. It tickled him, causing the Honduran white bat to turn around. "Legosi, what are you doing? Do I smell horrid to you? I should have used the mango shower gel..."

"No! I didn't mean it like that," Legosi protested, his tone was very panicky. Arthur could imagined the said grey wolf holding his hands up. "I couldn't help but smell something on you. Were you...by any chance were you with Mizuchi?"

Arthur nodded, feeling flushed. "Yes, I was before Louis called for this. I'm just thankful that she understood my situation about Melon. Speaking of which, what ARE we exactly doing? Did someone die in here because the stench of-"

"That's exactly what we're doing," Louis interrupted him. His footsteps were different now that he had a prosthetic limb. It creaked every time Louis tried to take a step. "Legosi here is going to fight Melon (and hopefully NOT die) while he needs blood to show the other gangs that he too is participating in the all-out brawl. Do you remember the mission I sent you to a year ago when I was the Shishigumi's boss?"

How could Arthur not forget that moment? Not only did he encounter the four gangs but he also found allies amongst them. Agata, Isaiah, his new mother and some members of the Madaragumi. "So Legosi needs the three of our blood to represent our union as beasts from the three main chains. Other gangs have their own kind but us...just like my grandfather during the war."

The Honduran white bat could imagine both Legosi and Louis smiling at his direction. He presented a default smile, knowing he had to help if it meant keeping the peace. Bats will always be neutral during the war, however that wasn't the case with him now is it?

Reluctantly, Arthur agreed to have his blood drained where Louis does the procedure of finding his vein and inserting the needle. Arthur wanted to wriggle away but he was firm to the whole ordeal. Legosi only held him as gentle as he could.

'And to think I don't have to get my blood drained again,' Arthur thought with a shudder. His mind was getting woozy and although it wasn't painful, he couldn't imagined anyone doing this without fear.

"Don't think we need to worry about you being hot-blooded," Louis chuckled, making Arthur swivelled his ear. "If you are wondering whether or not Mizuchi and I had sex, then yes." He smiled when he imagined the silence to be their shocked expression.

Once it was done, Arthur spreads his wings out to balance his stance. "Legosi, I know you are going to face Melon but can I join you for the fight? I'm responsible for those gangs and him just as much as you."

He could tell that the grey wolf was hesitant but then sighed. "Okay, Arthur. Funny how you are helping me now when in the beginning, I helped you."

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Arthur nestled himself close to Legosi, praying that it wasn't the police. He could hear Louis approaching the door and asked, "Whose there?"

"Hello? Is Arthur in there?" a muffled voice asked from the other side. "I got a message from Aoba about something to do with an all-out brawl? You're here, Legosi?"

Nodding at Louis' direction, the sound of the door was unlocked and a single woosh was heard. Arthur felt a familiar scent and fur in contact with his. "Dad, what are you doing here?"

Dr Kirk chuckled. "I'm here to give you boys some much needed energy before the fight. I brought some cheese sandwiches, ice tea and banana milk. I hope you don't mind, Legosi."

"I-I don't mind! But my room is a little..." Legosi trailed off, embarrassed to say that his apartment was like a crime scene. But the older bat laughed. "Oh, come now. I've read and heard about what's going to happen so please get your strength and energy for what is about to come."

Arthur was touched. His father doesn't have to come all the way here but he had done that because it was in Dr Kirk's nature. Giving him a grateful hug, Arthur gesture Legosi to eat up since they have spent the whole day donating blood.

"Oh no, you are not going out until you finished that milk, young buck!" he heard Dr Kirk calling out to Louis, who was trying to make his way out. Arthur, despite not having the fighting skills, was ready to help Legosi in any way possible.

Even if it meant killing his former employer that hired him against his will.