Nine

Hanna kept pacing. How would she protect Magi? She was in trouble and Hanna wouldn't let them take her away. "Magi," she said.

"Yes malady?"

"Surround the house with thorn bushes. No one can come in," she started shaking. She didn't know what to do. She was majorly scared. Magi was the only one that understood her. She helped her when she was stressed and sad. She didn't want her taken away. If they did, she'd have nothing, nothing. She was looking down and tears began falling down her face as large thorns billowed up the windows. Suddenly, she felt something soft touch her leg. She opened her eyes. Magi had her paw on Hanna's leg and was smiling at her.

"Hanna," she said. "I'll stay by your side, no matter what. Don't worry. I've seen you stressing lately. You can tell me anything. Feel free to talk to me about anything," she smiled.

"Ma-MAGI!!!!" Hanna began to sob loudly. "I DON'T WANT YOU TO LEAVE!!!"

Magi looked taken back. "Wh-why would I do that?" she asked, smiling, but a look of worry spread on her face. "Som-someone sent me an email last night," she sniffed. "It said that they would take you away tomorrow and.... and..... AAAAAAH!" she sobbed. "You're the only one that understands me!!! AND NOW THEY'RE TAKING YOU AWAY! That's why.... That's why... I WON'T let them take you away."

Magi had tears in her eyes. "They found out..." she muttered. "And now they're worrying Hanna. Like I said Hanna," she said. "I will never leave you. Not for them. Not for anyone. I want you to know that I love you and I came to help you because, at first, I pitied you. But now, I do it to see you smile. And if they're trying to take your happiness away from you, I won't allow it."

Hanna smiled between tears. "Thank you Magi," she hugged her. "Thank you so much." And she began to sob again.

~~~

"Hey Connie?"

"Kuro? Hi. What's up? How's your fever?" the voice from the phone answered.

"I can't believe you're asking me that," he chuckled softly. "Just yesterday I was helping you back from the hospital while you were unconscious."

"Haha, yeah I guess you're right," she laughed. "Well whatcha need?"

"Well, I know you probably won't believe me. I mean, I'm sick and all so you might think I'm having delusions.... but I think someone needs to know this," he said. He told her all about the dream he had, and reminded her of just four months ago when he told her about the cat. The phone was silent.

"Um, maybe you should get more re-"

"I knew it," Kuro said as he hung up.

A couple seconds later, he received a text. It read: "Kuro I'm sorry. I just don't know. Maybe you're tired. I mean the last time you encountered this cat was at night right? You might have been tired then too. Maybe, I mean, it might be a recurring dream?"

He replied: "No this is real and I don't expect you to understand.... I don't expect anyone to understand. So I'm not mad at you." Sent. Kuro fell back onto his pillow and shut his eyes. He was hoping, hoping, that maybe someone would understand him. But it was a small hope. He knew he sounded out of his mind. Who would listen to someone spouting nonsense? He turned onto his side and slowly opened his eyes and looked at his desk. There was.... a note? He thought back onto the last time he got up and read something in this state. His headache crept back and he turned away from his desk. He lay in his bed thinking until finally, he got tired and fell back asleep and looked at the clock. 12:30 p.m. Still a long while until Yuki came back from school. He smiled thinking about her.

~~~

Hanna finally wanted to see him. She decided to bring him there. Magi used her powers to bring him there when he was sleeping. Hanna was ready. Ready to meet the person who met Magi's sister. She didn't know at the time, that her sister had sent her the message. She also didn't know that Em was getting Kuro to go against them. Maybe she wasn't as prepared as she thought....

~~~

Kuro again woke up and found himself in a different place then he started. He slowly bent up and looked around. It was the same room as before, but he didn't see Em anywhere around. He looked all around and only saw the girl from all the other dreams he had. He saw her walk towards him. He thought that she couldn't see him, so he expected her to walk right past him. But all of a sudden, she crouched down in front of him and reached out her hand to help him up. His eyes widened and he took her hand.

She smiled. "My name is Hanna," she said.

"I-I'm Kuro," Kuro said a little taken back.

"I've been waiting to meet you," Hanna said.

"Oh. Um. I've seen you in my dreams before. But touching you is a first.... OH! I mean, not like touching you. Um. Uuuuh," he stuttered.

"It's fine," she said laughing. "I get it." She smiled again and led him to another room. "Wait outside for a sec," she said. And she rushed into the room. Kuro could hear her shoving stuff into closets and drawers and he smiled because he would do the same thing. She opened the door and motioned for him to come in.

"Sooo what were you doing?" Kuro asked before he knew what he was asking. His face turned bright red. She didn't answer, and just looked at him. "Uuuuuuh. N-ne-nevermind!" he stuttered feeling even more heat rise up to his face.

"U-um, M-Magi...." Hanna said in a whisper. A small white cat with collar that had a red ruby hanging down from it slowly walked into the room. It looked.... scared almost. "Um this is my cat, Magi," Hanna said laughing slightly.

"Hello master Kuro," Kuro heard a voice speak into his mind.

"Magi can only talk to a few people of her choosing. She must like you. We can even do this," Hanna said. "I can talk to you like this so no matter where you are, we can talk to each other," Hanna said this, but the voice was now in Kuro's mind.

"How?" Kuro asked.

"Just think about talking to someone, and start thinking in your head," she answered.

Kuro tried it. "Uh, like this?" Kuro thought.

"Yup! Exactly!" she thought back.

"Woah," Kuro said out loud.

"Cool right?"

"Yeah," he said.

"Well, now that we've gotten that done, tell me a bit about yourself, Kuro," she said.

"Mmm okay, but how do you know my name?" Kuro asked.

"You were the one who met Magi's sister," she said, acting as if it was obvious.

"Oh you mean Em? That's this cat's sister?" They were both struck with realization and fell back in surprise.

"Wait wait, Magi, your sister is Em?" Hanna asked, looking shocked.

"I.... didn't want you worrying malady," Magi said looking ashamed.

"Then that means.... but I can't now," Kuro said.

"W-what?" Hanna asked.

"I-I already met her and she's really nice. I can't now," he started pacing.

"Don't tell me..." she said. "Yo-you're not part of that group who wants t-to take away Magi.... are you?" he didn't answer. She just stared at him in horror. After a while, he talked again.

"Em, Magi's sister, came to me twice and asked me to help them. I haven't given an answer...."

"PLEASE NO!" Hanna yelled. "I would have stayed away from you if Magi had told me that Em was her sister. No no stay away," she said as Kuro took a step forward.

"I still haven't given an answer. I don't know yet. I want to say no. You're really nice and so is Magi. I don't know what their freaking deal is," Kuro said. "I'm going to say no, you know that now right?" he asked.

"I just, I just..... I DON'T KNOW WHO TO TRUST ANYMORE!" she let out the loudest screech Kuro had ever heard. His vision began to blur. She was sending him back home.

"No. That's my ans-" He opened his eyes.