He held her close to him, knowing that any second Mi-chan was going to find them and massacre him. Yet for some reason, it didn't matter to him. All that mattered was making Neko happy.
Despite his anticipated attack from Mi-chan, some rustling in the bushes from in front of them gave him cause for alarm. That was not the direction he would expect Mi-chan to come from.
"Neko-chan," he said, keeping his voice down. "Stay here."
He left her and took a few guarded steps forward. All his caution did him no good, for a couple seconds later, he was hauled off his feet by a net. He hung suspended from a tree, trying to figure out what exactly had happened for a moment.
"Jasper-kun," Neko shrieked.
"Don't move!" She froze instantly. He didn't know if there were other traps around, and he didn't want her to get caught in one like he had. "Call Michiru-san," he instructed her.
"I don't know how," Neko said pitifully. She studied the trap anxiously. "If I untie the rope-" she started, taking a step towards the tree where it was tied off.
"Don't move!" he warned her again.
She bit her lip. "If you don't get down, I'll be alone. I can't do anything alone, Jasper-kun. I just get into trouble. Please!"
"Neko-chan, listen to me. You are one of the strongest people I know. Just believe in your inner strength." He thought of how she had stood there and waited for him to decide whether he was going to make good on his threat two months ago. How she had cut herself off from the love of her life to try and protect her. How she had selflessly given her life to save Tenshi's life and soul. "Of all the people in this universe, you are the only one I would give my life for. And the only one I would live for. Doesn't that prove to you how strong your soul is?"
Neko looked down. "I don't know. I just want you down."
"Neko-"
They both jumped as someone began to clap through the bushes. "How touching!" a dark man said appearing from behind a bush. A large scar ran across his eyebrow. "I'm sorry to interrupt you lovebirds, but- Well, actually I'm not all that sorry."
Jasper looked Neko in the eyes. "Run!" he ordered her.
"But-"
"RUN!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Neko turned, ready to hightail it out of there and get Mi-chan's help, but hadn't ran more than two steps before she ran into a different man.
"Oh, look! We found us a beauty today," the new guy said to his friend.
She backed up and turned again, but found herself surrounded by not only the first two men, but also two more, each looking more menacing than the last.
"Jasper!"
"Uh, he's a little tied up at the moment," Scar Guy told her, laughing at his own joke.
Jasper attempted to get out of his ensnarement, but ended up simply tangling himself further in the net. "Let her go!" he warned the thugs around her. "She doesn't have anything of value. Just leave her alone!"
The big, burly guy behind her grabbed her, as another one, this one short with brown hair, came up and examined her necklace. "Gee, it looks like she has something of value right here. How about it, honey?"
"Iya!" she cried, trying to break free of her captor. She didn't know why she cared so much about the necklace, but it seemed to be a part of her - a piece of the mystery that was Mizuno Neko. She didn't want to lose it.
"Neko-chan, just give it to them. It's your second one. We can get another, I promise."
The brunette yanked the necklace off her neck, breaking the chain. Then he moved his eyes down to the sparkling ring on her right hand. "We'll be taking that too," he told her.
"DAME!" Neko fought even harder to get away.
The brown-haired bandit pulled a knife from his belt and held it against her throat. "Let's renegotiate this," he said, brandishing the knife threateningly.
"Nusubito!" the fourth bandit reprimanded him. "Surely, there are other things of value this girl can provide us with. Don't cut her, okay?"
The one named Nusubito took the ring from her finger and backed off. "I suppose you want her first, Gokan," he grumbled.
"NO!" Jasper yelled.
Neko's eyes widened. She had just figured out what they really wanted with her. She desperately fought to free herself, but couldn't fight the strong arms of the man holding her. Thinking of no other way, she bit him.
"OW!" he said, swearing a bit too.
She didn't hesitate to run out of his reach, but was grabbed by the blonde one, Gokan, who had made Nusubito back off. Though tall and thin, he was quite strong and easily pushed her into a nearby tree. "Pretty girl. Now why would you want to do something like that for? You'd think you didn't like us or something."
"HELP!" she screamed as he tore her shirt open so her bra was exposed.
"Shut up!" He slapped her, and she tasted some blood at the corner of her mouth. This only made her scream louder, which in effect made him angrier. He shoved her into the tree a second time. Her head hit the trunk with great force, and she began to grow dizzy. She closed her eyes as her vision blurred. This wasn't happening. It couldn't be happening. Mi-chan was going to save her. Someone was going to save her. *Please, someone, help me!*
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Mi-chan cursed herself for stopping to help Tenshi. Now she had totally lost Neko and Jasper. He had been right behind her. No doubt they were together now.
*I swear, if you hurt her, I will kill you with my bare hands!* she thought, wishing he could hear her threat.
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