• Once, in an alternate reality, far from our own, there lived a small neko girl. She didn’t live in a home. She didn’t even remember having a family of her own. In ragged clothes, she sat on the sidewalk of a dark street, lit by only one streetlamp. Day and night, next to a sign that read, “Free Kittens.” One particular night, it started raining. She had nothing to keep her dry, so she sat in the rain, getting soaked. She shivered.
    She remembered days of trying to get a home, from passersby’s, but everyday, she’d been ignored. She wondered if she would ever find one.
    The rain stopped falling on her. She looked up to see a young man in a business suit, kneeling down, holding an umbrella over her. She’d never been approached before, so she flattened her ears against her skull, in fear. The young man smiled, and asked, “Would you like to come home with me, little kitty?”
    To the young man, she was just a helpless silver kitten, getting sick in the rain. She hissed, scared. He only swept her up in his arms, mumbling, “You must be starving..” She calmed down abruptly at the sudden warmth, and snuggled against him instinctively. The neko girl was asleep before they reached a street corner.

    When she woke, it was day. She sat up in a large four post bed, trying to remember how she got there. She looked down to see she was wearing a lacey white nightgown. In her confusion, the neko girl stumbled out of the bed, and fell to the floor. She looked up, and around her, starting to cry. She was in a strange room, with things she’d never seen before. A door opened, and a little girl, seemingly the same age as her, hurried in, and kneeled by her. The neko girl, scared and confused as it was, lashed out, scratching the girl’s arm. The little girl cradled her slightly bleeding arm, tearing up. “You mean kitty..”
    A maid came in shortly, and pushed the neko girl away. She only hissed in response. The maid bandaged the little girl’s arm, and asked if she wanted the cat taken away. To the neko girl’s surprise, the little girl grabbed the maid’s arm. “Don’t take her away! She’s just scared! I want to take care of Silver!” Her expression was serious. The maid looked at her. “Silver? You named her?” The neko girl only watched. The little girl nodded profusely. “Yes! Daddy gave me Silver, and I’m going to turn her into a lady!” The maid stared at her for a moment, looked at the neko girl, who stiffened, and back at the little girl. She smiled, “Okay, Annabelle. You win.”
    Annabelle cheered, as the maid stood and stepped out of the room. Annabelle turned to the neko girl. “Your name is Silver, little kitty,” she smiled. “I’ll make sure you become a pretty lady!” Silver stared at the excited girl. She wondered if this was the home she’d been hoping for.

    Years went by, and Silver grew into a young woman, just as Annabelle did. Silver loved her mistress more than anything, but as time progressed, she noticed a growing sadness in Annabelle’s eyes. “What’s wrong, Mistress?” Silver mewed, sitting next to her on the bed. Annabelle petted her head gently. “It’s okay, Silver. I was just thinking..” Annabelle had gotten really sick, as she had told Silver before. She wasn’t allowed to leave her room anymore. She was constantly taking medicine, and taking long naps. Silver didn’t understand what was wrong, and worried about her severely.

    A week later, she became worse. The doctors advised that her father keep the cat from staying in the room. When Annabelle heard of this, she refused, and screamed at her father. “She’s my only friend! You can’t take her from me!” Her father gave in, and didn’t say anything more about taking Silver.

    It was night. Silver awoke to shuffling and muffled noises. A single lamp was on, and Annabelle was getting dressed. Silver yawned and padded up to her owner, mewing. “What are you doing up so late, Annabelle..?” She turned to the cat, smiling. “I’m going outside. You can come too.” Silver became wide awake. “What?? You can’t go outside!” Annabelle laced her shoes, and picked Silver up. “Let’s go!”

    The girl somehow sneaked her way downstairs, and outside. The crisp night air blew in their faces. She sighed happily, and set Silver down. Then twirled about, clearly enjoying herself. Silver watched with her ears back. “We need to go inside, Mistress!!”
    Annabelle did not hear her. She only pranced about excitedly. Then she yelled, “I don’t want to be sick anymore!!” Lights turned on inside the home, and her father ran out just in time to see her fall over into the wet grass. Silver was there beside her, pushing her, trying to wake her. “Mistress!” The father knelt down, and rolled her over gently. Then let her head rest in the crook of his arm. Annabelle lay lifeless in his arms. “M-my baby girl.. My sweet Annabelle..” Silver looked up at him, eyes full of sadness. The man was crying. She moved closer to him, purring. He quickly shoved her away. “No, Silver! She’s gone.. Stay away from us..!” Hurt, Silver began crying hard, stepping away from them. But before she had started to run off, she heard the words, “I want her back.. I wish she would breathe again..” She froze, closing her eyes.
    Silver turned around, facing the man and his dead daughter. She shed a final tear, and it fell softly into the grass. The ground surrounding her lit up, and the light engulfed her. She soon felt as if she was floating. Then, a voice, in her thoughts, asked, “What is your wish, Neko?” She opened her eyes. “Granted.”
    The father looked up, noticing a flash of light. It was gone when he looked, but after it, he saw a young girl, his daughter’s age, with large, silver cat ears, and a silver tail, walking towards them. He asked as she kneeled down in front of him, “W-who are you, miss..?” She looked at him, whispered one word, and leaned down to press her lips to Annabelle’s. After, she stared at Annabelle’s face, smiling. Then, she slowly faded away. Annabelle inhaled softly, and opened her eyes. Her father, in shock, embraced his daughter tightly.
    Annabelle’s eyes were dull for a moment. Then, they shined. Looking up at her father, she asked, “Where’s Silver?"