“Kitty, what the hell?” Vince shook his head, unsure if he believed the sight before his eyes.
“I just got a call from Spikes that you died.”
“I know.” Kitty whispered softly, toying with a small crystal pendant in her hands.
“She sounded like she’s a mess, Kitty.” His voice suddenly became stern, his stance stiffened.
“I know.” She responded, her shoulders quivered as she spoke.
“Everyone is.”
“How do you know?”
She glanced up at him, lifting the small pendant before setting it back in her lap.
“Nadine taught me a scrying spell simple enough that even some humans could learn it with this.”
“What is wrong with you?” Vincent hissed at her, catching himself off guard.
“How could you do this to everyone? Everyone is upset and agonizing over your death and it’s not even real.”
“I wanted it to be!” Kitty shouted, standing from her seat. She took a step back, clutching her hands against her chest.
“It was going to be real, but Nadine made me promise to wait.”
“What do you mean?” Vincent responded, making no attempt to move closer to Kitty.
“I wanted to… I thought everyone would be better off without me. I thought you’d all be happier without the monster who killed her own mother.”
“Kitty that’s not fair, none of us-” Kitty held up her hand and he paused what he was saying, watching her carefully.
“So I wanted to die, but Nadine… she said to do it, but to wait twenty four hours. She wanted me to watch everyone’s reactions, see how much better off they really are without me.” Tears fell from her eyes as she explained herself.
“I didn’t want to hurt anyone, Vince. I didn’t think I mattered enough to hurt anyone.”
Vincent stepped forward, pulling Kitty into his arms. For a moment he stayed silent as she cried against him.
“Do you realize how stupid you are? Of course you matter to all of us.”
Kitty nodded as Vincent began to stroke her hair.
“I thought because I was different now, because I killed someone, that I wasn’t wanted anymore.”
“Do you really think anyone would have taken care of you the way we have if that was the case?” Vincent asked, pulling away from Kitty slightly.
“You keep acting like you’re the only one of us who’s done monstrous things. At least yours was for the right reason.”
“No it wasn’t. No matter how awful she was, I should have been better than that.” Kitty’s eyes were on her feet, refusing to meet Vincent’s.
He rolled his eyes, frowning as he contemplated what he would say next.
“So what if you are a monster?” Kitty’s eyes widened, turning to look up at him as he spoke.
“Just because you might be a monster, doesn’t mean that you’re a bad person.”
“But I… That’s not how-”
“Almost all of us have had blood on our hands at some point, Kitty.” Vincent gently pat her head as he spoke.
“You’re no worse than the rest of us, and I know you don’t see us the way you see yourself right now.”
Kitty looked back down to her feet as her eyes began to water.
“Let’s get you home okay? I know a group of canines who are going to happier to see you than they've ever been.” Vincent suggested, turning around to walk to his car.
“I have to tell you something first.” Kitty hesitated before following him.
“What is it?” Vincent brows were furrowed as he turned back around to face his sister.
“It’s about why I let you see me… I heard what you said in the car,” Kitty paused, twirling the small pendant in her hands.
“About not meeting dad and loosing me.”
“What about it?”
“It’s a secret though, okay? You have to promise me that you’ll never tell anyone.”
“Kitty, I don’t think-”
“Promise?” Kitty asked again, making it clear she wouldn’t speak unless he agreed to her terms. He sighed softly before nodding.
“I stole your chance to meet Dad.” Kitty whispered, her eyes still away from Vincent.
“I need you to know I can never apologize enough but-”
“Kitty you already told me the story of what happened. I’ve told you that it isn’t in anyway your fault.” Vincent cut her off, taking a step closer to rub her shoulder.
“No Vince… I could have brought him back. I could have picked Dad over Takado, but I didn’t.” Kitty inhaled deeply before looking up to meet Vincent’s eyes.
“I’m not sorry Takado is here, but I am sorry that my actions robbed you of a chance to meet him.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Vincent asked, unsure of what he should make of the situation.
“When I made my choice, I thought I was the only one it was affecting. I thought that I could live with this alone but…” Kitty inhaled deeply, biting on her lower lip.
“It affected you too. I just didn’t know it, and I feel like you deserve to know. So I can apologize to you for not picking him.”
“Kitty… Thank you.” He pulled her against him resting his head on her head as he let a few tears slip from his eyes.
“Why are you thanking me?” Kitty questioned, though she made no attempts to move away from him.
“For trusting me enough to let me know.” Vincent pulled away, patting her head as he smiled at her.
“It means a lot to me, and I’m okay with not meeting him.”
“You are?” Kitty wiped away a tear, tilting her head slightly.
“Yeah, I may have never had a dad, but,” Vincent paused. He glanced up at the sky briefly, sighing before looking back at Kitty.
“I ended up with a pretty great little sister. That’s good enough for me.”
Vincent laughed as Kitty began to cry once again, running into his arms. She apologized more than he could count, and he reassured her that it was fine.
Eventually they had both calmed enough to get in the car and start the ride home. Kitty had been hesitant, even fought him at first. She relented when Vincent began to yell though.
“What if they all hate me for this?” Kitty whispered, pulling her knees up to her chest. She watched buildings fly by from the passenger seat, anxious of what awaited her.
“No one is going to be any angrier at you than I was Kitty.” Vincent assured her, reaching over to pat her head. Kitty nodded briefly.
“Which reminds me… How are you, I don’t know, normal again?”
“You mean why am I not the equivalent to a broken doll now?” Kitty asked curtly, glancing over him.
She smiled when he nodded slightly, keeping his eyes on the road.
“I don’t really know to be honest. Maybe it’s because I let myself cry, even if it wasn’t over her. Maybe it’s because I want to be better now. Hell, maybe it’s both, but I just don’t know the exact reason.”
“Whatever the reason, it’s good to have you back.” Vincent smiled at her patting her head one more time before the two fell into a comfortable silence.
…
Spikes wiped her eyes as she made her way towards the living room. It had been several hours since Vincent had returned her calls and yet she had not heard from him since.
Panic began to creep into her mind as she thought of the possibility of losing him in the same day she lost Kitty.
Spikes sighed with relief at the sight of her brother. She ran to his side and began to cry. He didn’t say a word, only wrapped an arm around her and stroked her hair with the other.
Minutes passed before Spikes stopped crying, but remained seated on the floor next to her brother.
The two canines jumped to their feet at the sound of the door.
“Hey sorry to barge in, but I thought I should help her get home.” Warren gestured to Sabbith as he opened the door for her.
“She… updated me on what’s going on, and before you ask, there is nothing I can do.”
Takado nodded in response, sitting back down he kept his eyes from everyone. Spikes began to cry once again as she slid back down to the ground. Sabbith trotted to Spikes’s side, sitting beside her as Spikes bawled.
“I think I should go. I don’t want to overstep here.” Warren turned around to exit, to come face to face with Gabriel.
“Oh, I didn’t realize you had a guest.” Gabriel peered around Warren, eyeing Sabbith suspiciously for a moment.
“Well that explains why she wasn’t answering my calls.”
Sabbith looked up briefly to glare at him before returning her gaze to her feet.
“I’m sorry? I’m not really sure what’s happening.” Warren commented, taking a step away from Gabriel.
“I was just about to get going.”
“Good because we all kind of need to deal with a personal matter, so you don’t really belong here.”
“Gabe, knock it off.” Sabbith barked though her voice was weak. Gabriel glared at Warren once more before moving to sit across from the girls.
Vincent entered the room, breathing heavily as he struggled to keep the grin from his face.
“Oh good everyone’s here. That works out freakishly perfectly actually.” Vincent brushed his hands against his pant legs.
“Vincent where have you been? You said you were on the way hours ago.” Spikes lifted herself from the floor, making her way towards him.
“I thought… I thought something had happened to you too.”
“Actually that’s a really funny story, and I’m hoping you’ll forgive me for it later but-”
“But nothing Vincent! Kitty is dead, what could possibly be more important than that?” Spikes demanded, pushing him back.
Warren’s eyes widened as he turned to look at the front door just as she walked through.
“I just don’t know Spikes, maybe something like her being alive?” Vincent’s grin widened as he looked back at Kitty who kept her eyes firmly on the ground, refusing to look at anyone.
The entire room went deathly silent as they all stared at Kitty, unable to believe their eyes, completely frozen until a loud slap brought them back to reality.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Sabbith screamed, grabbing Kitty by the front of her shirt and slamming her against the wall.
“Do you have any idea what you did to us? Do you realize how much of a hell the last twelve hours have been?”
“I know.” Kitty whimpered as she bit down on her lip, forcing her tears back.
“Then why… If you know, then why the hell…” Sabbith’s grip weakened as tears fell from her own eyes.
“Why would you put us through that? Don’t you know how much we love you? How much it hurts to think we’ve lost you?”
“Sabbith, I-” Kitty hesitated when Sabbith pulled Kitty into her arms.
“Don’t you ever do that again, do you understand me?” Sabbith quivered as her grip on the cat tightened.
“Promise me you’ll never do anything like this again.”
Kitty nodded, wrapping her own arms around Sabbith. “I promise.”
“Kitty…” Kitty peered over Sabbith’s shoulder to see Spikes crying before she ran over and joined in on the hug.
“We have to go get pictures taken, okay? We have to go to the library, or you need to drag me to sushi no matter how much I complain.”
“Spikes what are you-”
"We need to sit around and watch TV for hours like we used to, and I need you at The Den to micromanage everything and annoy the crap out of me, okay?” Kitty nodded, wiping tears from her eyes, a small weak smile on her lips.
“I’m sorry… I know it’s not enough but I’m so sorry.” Kitty whimpered. Spikes and Sabbith both ignored her, refusing to release her until their tears slowed.
“Kitty.” It was the first time he’d spoken, and instantly Kitty stiffened. She slowly turned to face him, holding her breath as their eyes met.
He didn’t move just stood completely still as he watched her, as if he didn’t believe his own eyes.
“Takado?” Spikes spoke up after a minute of uncomfortable silence. He didn’t look in his sister’s direction, didn’t acknowledge she’d spoken but he finally began to step forward towards Kitty.
Her entire frame shook, but she kept her ground waiting anxiously for whatever he would say or do.
He stopped inches in front of her, and it was only then that she realized he was shaking, that his eyes were bloodshot.
Only then did she realize she completely destroyed the man she loved.
“Takado… I don’t deserve this. I don’t deserve for everyone to be so glad to see me.” Kitty whimpered, her feet still frozen in place.
“I don’t deserve any understanding and if you… If you don’t want me anymore I can’t blame you. No matter what you do, I’ll never do anything like this again.”
Takado wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling his face against the crook of her neck. Kitty stayed silent, hesitantly returning his embrace.
“Are you okay now?” His voice was raspy, and yet still carried a gently tone as he spoke.
“I think so. I feel more like myself.”
Takado nodded, slowly lessening his grip on her. Only enough to look into her eyes.
Guilt swelled in Kitty’s gut at the sight of tears in his eyes, but he smiled and gently ran his hand across her cheek.
“I missed you Kitty-Kat.”
“I missed you too.” Kitty cried loudly, throwing herself in his arms. “Takado, I love you. Thank you for taking care of me. I’m so sorry for everything.”
Takado shook his head and smiled, running a hand through her hair as she cried on his shoulder. He kissed her forehead before resting his head against hers as she continued to cry.
“Welcome home Kitty.”
“It’s good to be home.” Kitty laughed weakly, wiping tears aside.
She pulled away from Takado slightly, glancing at all of her friends who had gathered in their small living room.
All of the friends she was stupid enough to think would be happier without her. Friends she had selfishly hurt and yet still cared for her.
From Warren, who she didn’t know, and Vincent grinning in the corner. Sabbith and Spikes both smiling at her while wiping aside tears. To Gabriel standing beside Sabbith, pretending not to wipe aside a few of his own tears.
“I’m home.”
