A bad day.

Today had been such a horrible, no good day for Kuya.

───※ ·❆· ※───

Kuya sat at his vanity, washed and clean from his bath. A towel was wrapped around his waist, leaving his chest open for the air to do its work.

It was time to get ready for today..

First, he had his monthly checkup with Asa. At the beginning of his stay, he despised the appointments with a passion. However, after he had gotten closer with the doctor, he found himself enjoying the company of his superior and allowing himself time to spend with one of his loves.

Next was his nails. He had meant to get them done, but Akira had denied him for so long. So he was going to see Ryoko so that him and the koi mer would go together. Kaiyo would, of course, be taking them.

After that it was shopping. Groceries for himself. Along with some treats for his children. He would never forget to get some for them after the more than calm week they've had.

Kuya grabbed some of his foundation and dabbed just a little bit on the brush. Akira had it imported from Inazuma. It was nice to be dressed in some of the more traditional makeup he was comfortable in. He finished up and began to get dressed his kimono specifically designed for the colds of Snezhnaya. Asa did not want him to freeze. To which Kuya was grateful for.

It was a constant reminder that people cared about him.

That's what made him happy.

───※ ·❆· ※───

"Ah, Kuya, I see you're ready to head out?"

Kuya turned around to face Ryoko, who stood there in all of his glory.

Like him, Ryoko had a kimono on. But it was rather thin, which made Kuya raise an eyebrow at his friend's clothing choices.

Ryoko's orange eyes softened in slight confusion at Kuya. "What is wrong? Is it my outfit?"

"Yes... there's a snowstorm forecasted... you might want to find more suitable clothing, Ryo.." Kuya mumbled as his fingers glided over the soft, satin material. Good for sleeping. But not for going out in below freezing weather.

"Ah, I see. Kaiyo dear?" The koi called out for the shark mer. Seconds later, Kaiyo surfaced and leaned against the glass wall of their shared tank.

"Hm?"

"You know my winter clothes we were gifted? Get those along with yours. Apparently, there's a snowstorm.."

Kaiyo gave a deadpan.

"Amor, I am from Fontaine, and I even know that Snezhnaya can be unforgivable. You were going to go out in that of all things..?"

"Don’t make fun of me! Shoo or you won't go!"

Kaiyo glanced at Kuya. Kuya shrugged and waved him off. The mer just sighed and dove back under to follow his husband's orders.

Ryoko smiled fondly at the rippling waters before going back to meeting Kuya's gaze.

"Akira and The Doctor have been busy still..?" He asked lightly.

"Today...Today isn't about them." Kuya replied lowly, wrapping his arms around himself. This was a form of self comfort that even Ryoko did himself. The koi recognized it and started to run his slender fingers through Kuya's purple hair.

"Yes... I suppose. But we're to have fun today...so that's exactly what they were going to do."

───※ ·❆· ※───

Ryoko's words seemed like a joke now.

Kuya had gotten separated from him and Kaiyo as they had started crossing through the giant festival that had set up practically overnight.

Now he was pinned up on the wall in the middle of a freezing allyway.

"How much do you think this pretty fox will sell for underground..?"

"Boss, seriously. Let him go. This doesn't feel right. He has familiar clothing." One of the goons warned after seeing just what exactly Kuya had on him.

The foxian's ears were pinned to his head, and he was making noise that sounded mixed between a whine and a growl.

"Oh shut it! Get the muzzle..."

Kuya became louder, his sounds carrying throughout the ally, but sadly not through the festival goers. One of the other men who had been holding Kuya by the hands let go of him temporarily to follow orders.

As soon as his arm was free, he scratched the Boss' eye. Perhaps it was a good thing he hadn't dulled his nails down.

The man yelled and dropped him. Finally, he took a good look at Kuya. High-quality kimono. Familiar fur coat.

Most importantly...

The silver fatui insignia that hung from the foxian's coat.

Kuya now looked feral.

The man who had spoken up before could only watch in horror as his teammates were slaughtered one by one by the very fox they had called weak.

───※ ·❆· ※───

By the end of the attack. The man who had been shivering in fear was the only one left.

Kuya's coat had slipped off along with one of the sleeves of his kimono, showing off his pale, now scratched and bruised skin.

The fox in question was hunched over, taking more and more of the boss' flesh into his mouth, swallowing it quickly like it was the last thing he would ever eat.

The scared man shakily reached for his gun and aimed it at the feasting Foxian.

Until it went dark for him.

Metal heel clicks could be heard in the ally now. Until they stopped right in front of Kuya.

Kuya looked up to his savior, his fully slitted eyes softening almost slightly at the familiar face.

"Fox." The woman greeted.

"Knave..." Kuya was forced to let go of the eye he had gouged and was going to eat. He whined at Arlechinno's cold hands as she picked him up by his messed-up braid.

"Let's get you back."

"To...the Hearth..?" She shook her head.

"No. Though you will always have a place there. The asylum is your home. Therefore, that is where I am taking you."

───※ ·❆· ※───

Only now had he gotten attention from Akira and Asa. Though, it was scolding.

He stood and stared blankly at the kitchen counter in his room, all washed up from the horrifying moment just hours before.

Then the door opened. Revealing-

"My..darling Ismene..." He muttered as the American curl sauntered in with a slice of cake in hand.

She held the plate up to him, silently telling him that she had made this for for him to try.

He took it and put it on the counter, wiping his face and sulking just a little bit more.

Ismene, noticing his demeanor, held her arms out for the foxian.

"Wanna hug Ku...?"

Kuya felt his entire body stiffen up at the question. Which caused the feline to tilt her head and stand awkwardly, waiting for his response.

He broke. The tears that he had been holding in spilled out.

Kuya enveloped his adoptive daughter in a soft hug, burying his face in her wild, soft white hair.

She rubbed his back soothingly as they slipped down to the floor.

Kuya's silent cries filled the room.

There the two sat, having a moment that Kuya thought would've never happened at her age.

It made him happy.

Someone...

Cared...

───※ ·❆· ※───

The Asylum/Asa -- -Asa_No_Y0ru-

Akira -- TaekyoshiAkira

Ismene -- Raemon_Shirogami

Kuya - Ryoko - Kaiyo -- (Myself)

~~

❝𝓙𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓬𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓶𝓮 𝓹𝓪𝓹𝓪 '𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓮...𝓹𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓮..❞