Sona Nyl: 1907 - Cat City

 ~Unknown Year, a certain month. Sole Underground Car~

"Hey, A."

"What is it, Lily?"

"Baseball...what is that?"

"What about it?"

"Ah, you haven't met Ruth-B yet.
The kid from Cat City. You know of it?"

"I know. I was there at the time, of course."

"I see..."

"Yes."

"So then..."

"Yes."

"There's a thing like baseball, yes? Ruth-B loves it. I don't know a lot about it, but it's a game with a bat and a ball, right? I would guess it's called exercise that's played in a big stadium?"

"Correct."

"Can I do it, A? I wonder if I can also do it too."

"Yes. If you desire to."

"Well then, can we? I want to play baseball too."

"There's just one problem.
In baseball, two teams made up of 9 people compete against each other."

"But there's only two of us..."

"Yes. That's why we can't play baseball.

But we can play catch..."

"What?"

"It's just as the name implies. First---"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~1906, a certain month. Cat City/Nighttime~

At night in the Underground World---

This was before the Stranger arrived.

This was back when the night of the Violet Shadow still existed in the underground of old New York. Ruth-B had skipped his nightly "routine" and went outside. This was because today's "daily routine" was a little heavier. When he went to confront Le Chat and Mao, he said, "Tonight, I'll be dealing with both of you at once." but as expected, it was tough when the two of them were together. Though the future Home Run King wouldn't say he was at his limit, there was no way he can do his "routine" while trying to fool his body, which was turning into iron. Ruth-B couldn't stand for that.

Naturally, they couldn't care about that.

Those two were well aware that Ruth-B's body was turning into iron. Of all of the cat people living in the walled city, known currently as Cat City, those two were the closest to humans. They can think like humans too. That's why they could understand him. Nevertheless...

His pride couldn't allow to let this happen.

It's their anger he was worried about. Even now, they were thinking about him.

So he escapes from Cat Castle, and wanders down Cat Lane.

The cool night air was pleasant.

Yes. As he was walking and thinking---

"It's strange of you to be walking alone, Gang Leader of Cat City."

"It's not a gang."

Someone from a gang. The tall Hat Man.

How many times had he gotten into fights with street brats who were part of gangs when they were on the surface? In fact, Ruth-B disliked the gangs who were once said to be part of New York. The same goes for the so-called Mafia. Despite his liking for baseball players who had a strong sense of camaraderie and confidence, he began to dislike them too after his favorite baseball player was forced to retire due to their involvement with gangsters.

This wasn't a kid from the Bronx.

"What do you want, Hat Man? You came from outside the wall, have you?

No matter what, I ain't letting you through. You can just chill here in the outer wall."

"No, no. I ain't here for that tonight."

"What's the difference?" He glared at him. He wasn't going to lose to some gangster.

"I didn't come here to tell you to open up the wall tonight."

Upon saying that, the hat man laughed and took out a pair of gloves.

Ruth's eyes changed colors.

"Ooooh, what is that?" He said, his voice becoming hoarse. No way this was it. Was this man wanted to do this? "What is this? What are you trying to do?"

"Well, I figure it'd be nice once in a while to do this. Just two men playing catch."

"Okay. We can do that."

Ruth-B laughed.

This was different from someone who didn't like gangsters but likes baseball.

~   ~   ~

With his back towards the towering wall reaching into the dark sky, Ruth-B feels the glove's feeling. It was a good item. Wasn't used much by the feel of it. It was a little stiff, but its constitution wasn't so bad. Ruth smiled as he slowly shifted the shape of the leather with his fingers.

"Think you can catch my ball, old hat man?"

"It's Luciano.

To be exact, I'm Lucky Luciano. I'm beloved by the Goddess of Fortune."

"Guess you really are an old man," He said, smiling while rubbing the tip of his nose with his glove.

 "Well, it doesn't matter. I'll be taking those words right back at you."

"I'm not an old man!"

"Hm?" He didn't believe he'd take it like that. "...I don't suppose you'd be able to take my ball like this, old man."

"I'm not one to brag, but my shoulders are strong."

The one-eyed man, hidden by his hat, smiles like a shark.

I see. Ruth was now a little impressed.

His shoulders certainly looked strong. No matter how he looked at it, the man would have to wear the glove on his left hand. In that case, the pincher would have to use the other arm or hand. That is to say, the right hand that was made of metal which was certainly strong and sturdy. His shoulders may be strong, but in the Underground World, body parts that become iron generally become clumsier to use compared to living flesh. It was a simple principle. Flesh was soft. Iron was extremely hard. Things that become too hard can't be moved so flexibly. It's why the Moles, whose bodies have turned into metal, cannot move so easily.

However, there are exceptions to this.

For instance, the Dark Gang.

Despite their whole bodies turning into iron, they're known to move at around the same speed as humans if not faster depending on the individual, although they were somewhat slow. There was a story of someone with horns capable of moving three times faster, but that was impossible.

Anywho. In any case.

The hat man said he can manipulate his metal just as well, if not better than the ones enchanted by the Witch of the West. That was something to be impressed by. Ruth-B's expression tightens. Even so, he couldn't conceal his joy of being able to play with someone else---even if it were just catch, to use a bat and glove, he couldn't help but feel the smile creeping from the corners of his mouth in his eyes. 

"That's my fault for teasing you. I'm prepared to catch your ball."

"Better hope you can," He said, twirling his iron right arm. "I haven't properly timed it, but my ball is amazing. The ball will probably be hitting around a hundred miles (one-hundred-sixty kilometers) per hour."

"...Wouldn't be so funny if you turn it into a joke."

He shrugged his shoulders.

The hat man's face appear to show he wasn't lying. Rather than teasing him, Ruth-B shrugged his shoulders and declares with his body that he'll take it. A ball that can travel as fast as a hundred miles per hour was legendary in the history of baseball in the U.S. Not even a star pitcher in the major leagues from five years ago could claim he had reached the 100 mark.

"Guess that's a unique thing here in the Underground World. Interesting. I''ll be able to say that when I get back to the surface."

"What do you mean?"

"I'll be the man who said he struck a hundred miles."

"First you gotta catch my ball, kid. Once you get 10 of them, I'll let you swing the bat. Think you can first catch my ball with your eyes?"

"I'm gonna do it!"

"That's the spirit."

"...You're a strange old man."

He really was a strange man. The hat man.

The only one to have come from "that side" of Broadway beyond the giant wall. Ruth knew that the wall could relatively be easy to open from the other side. That was four years ago. Not long after New York "fell" underground, Ruth was surprised to see a dandy man wearing a hat come from the other side of the wall. The cats even made a fuss about it too, Ruth thought. Did he really want to play ball with a weird guy in a hat tonight?

He even went out of his way to get some gloves.

"...well, that's fine. Just so long as I get to play some catch."

"Then let's get to it. Come on!"

"Let's go!"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~1907, a certain month. Cat City/Early Morning~

"Ugh...so tired."

"That's so terrible nyaa. Why nyaa? Why is that nyaa?

How could you disappear without our permission and come back tired nyaa?"

"You can't be tired. Where in the world did you sell oil to, Humpty?"

"Hehe..."

"Don't hehe!"

"Nyaa!"

Cats were supposed to have a monopoly on where wind blows.

Le Chat and Mao were initially happy to see Ruth-B, the owner of Cat City who disappeared and returned back at dawn, but upon arriving back to their suite at New York's old Ritz Hotel, known as the Cat Castle, they saw him collapse on the big bed with a satisfied "nii hii hii" smile on his face, they couldn't continue their rejoice at his safety.

Ruth-B, who had seemingly used up all of his physical strength, relaxed and fell face first into the slumbering sleep of rest, with the sound of a satisfied look on his face!

"Nihihi..."

"You're laughing!"

"Hmm? Well I don't get the reason for it, but if Ruth-B is happy, then that's that, yes? But what about you, nyaa?"

"That's not good! This isn't good! Why would you talk like you're a dog with good comprehension, yet still be a cat!? Where did your pride and nobility as a cat gone to!?"

"But nyaa, when he makes a face like that, nyaa..."

"Our turn will be next month, you know!?"

"Uuuh...I feel weak thinking about it, nyaa."

It was rare. Really rare for Mao to peck on Ruth's face without going "hihihi" and making such a troubled expression. Mao was free-spirited, more free than any of the cat's living in Cat City. Even though her fellow cats accepted her as such, her reputation was different compared to her current expression. Ruth-B had an exquisite expression that was completely relaxed and satisfied, yet exhausted from the bottom of his heart---

"Seriously, nyaa."

"Wh, what's the matter?" She was surprised. She had a bad feeling.

"This feeling of vulnerability..." Her ears twitched. She sensed it in the wind.

"What..." Her voice was growing quiet.

"It's..." She didn't want to say. But...

"Wh-what are you..." No way. Could it be?

"Maybe it has to do with that?"

The talking ceases for a moment.

Even though it seemed like Mao didn't care about anything, it was everything else to do with the Underground World. Ruth-B was different. Despite being able to freely come and about from Cat City and the outer ward like a rootless weed, Mao was just like the other cat people. To her, the most important thing was Ruth-B, who she was hesitant in expressing her thoughts on.

Le Chat had a face of surprise on her, like a cat would be confused when coming face to face with a mouse. But Le Chat knew very well why knew the reason Mao would make such a face was due to the young king of Cat City. And so, she gasped. No way, she thought. Even though they were just thinking about it. 

"N-no way..."

"Perhaps they must have mated somewhere else, nyaa?"

"Ehh---!?"

"No so loud, nyaa!"

"Ah, they're getting bigger nyaa!"

"It's been a long time since I've heard Le Chat end a sentence with nyaa."

"Nyaa!"

"You're so loud and noisy. If you really are a French cat, you should stay quiet nyaa."

"No, no, no, no this can't be, Mao!"

"Err..."

Suppose that this was true.

What if Ruth-B had mated with an unknown female cat or woman somewhere, that this was why he was laying down so happy while asleep. Mao wondered what could this mean, and she got to thinking about it. Could that mean all of the cat people in Cat City are going to be driven away? Or was it because these two kept fighting so much that he decided to have himself an affair with another woman outside of their area out of a whim? Ah, if it's with another human woman, was it not mating but infidelity? Hmm, Mao pokes Ruth's face with a difficult face. Hey. Master. Say something.

"Nihihi." They were sleeping. Nihihi.

"You're smiling, nyaa."

"W-would you really like another woman this much!?" Impatience.

"Mmm. I don't know nyaa. I don't smell a woman or anything on him." Honesty.

"That can't be something you aren't aware of! A-ah, you've been to a lot of places so you must know a lot of stuff, don't you!?"

"I don't know, nyaa..." Seriousness.

"You're useless!" Revolting.

"If you say so, nyaa." A sigh.

"Oooh...what should I do? I guess I should call everyone else." Confusion.

"Hmm..." Consideration.

"What should I do!" Asking.

"Hmm. Maybe I should just go and check it out, nyaa?" Suggestion.

"Eh? What do you mean by checking out? What does that mean?" Wondering.

"You know what I mean." The cause.

I see.

Le Chat blinks twice, wondering if such a move really existed. Crackling.

If you are involved in mating, in an affair, or something of the sort to get to this point, then this was the easiest method to find out. Just check and see if there are any traces of it. By looking out for the areas where he specializes in, they can immediately tell if he's done it or not. Perhaps...but he didn't look refreshed like he took a shower after. If his hair was damp, it was likely from sweat that he just left. She figured he would have a shower or something after taking a proper bath with hot water, but the smell negated that. The smell of sweat that Mao and Le Chat both loved lingers. But they couldn't smell the scent of another woman at the moment.

All they had to do was clearly make sure...

To be precise---

"We just have to take his pants off!"

"Also the underwear, nyaa."

"T-the underwear!"

"Oh, Le Chat's getting so excited. Hihihi."

"D-don't change your tone like that, it's scary!"

"Nyaa. Well then, we'll be taking off your pants, our cute little Humpty, Ruth-B. How about you show us your least cute, evil side of yours, nyaa?"

"...why do you look so naughty?"

"You're the one being naughty, nyaa."

Seeing as they were about to go and do this, she thought to make the mood a good one.

Sighing, Mao put her hands on Ruth's pants. Le Chat was saying something strange, being conscious of the scenario becoming weird. By the way, tonight had already come to an end but even though it was early morning, it still felt like it was nighttime. Even if things continued as is, nobody would complain as she thought.

"Mmm...hehe, nice ball." Sleeptalking?

"A ball?" Wondering.

"He said ball, nyaa." Affirmation.

"Oh, that's a common name for cats in the Far East!" Amazement.

"Eh? What if he means like a man's ball?" Wondering.

"So maybe it's not a woman, but a man?" Wondering.

"O-oh, that's it...Ruth-B." Astonishment.

 No way. It can't be.

That can't be. Our Ruth-B!

"...hehe. We play catchball...
It's been so long...that was it...with you..." Sleeptalking.

"Nyaa?" Wondering.

"Catchball?" Affirmation.

He was sleeptalking. Sleeping and mumbling.

At last, the two of them had come to a conclusion.

Yes---

He was throwing balls with some really strong man, and got so exhausted that he fell onto the bed, sweating which they both loved, and was just slumbering.

"...So that was it?" Relief.

"...So that's what they meant, nyaa. I feel terrible, nyaa." Relief.

"It's true. You're such an idiot. You idiot, Ruth-B." Relief.

"Hmm...hihi...the shoulders are amazing too..." Sleeptalking.

"Nyaa." They thought it was cute.

"...jeez." They couldn't help but think this way.

For now.

They didn't have to worry about being cheated on.

For now.

He seemed to be sleeping comfortably after throwing around a ball.

The two sighed a breathe of relief. The two cat people.

When they boy they love wakes up, they'll make him take up a lot of responsibility for the series of panics they had. They were determined to make it happen as they hit off, which was rare. Really rare.

For now.

They shall sleep with him until noon. And...

(To be continued)