Chapter 2

For once, she was actually glad to be going to the hospital, even if she had to walk while everyone else sped past in their expensive cars. The problem was that her father had been in an accident and was now in a coma. Tallia didn't enjoy visiting him, but she hated the guilty feeling she had when she didn't. Her mother never talked about the accident, but Tallia had found out that her father had been in a car accident. Actually, the official records—she had her own way of seeing things if she really wanted to—said that the three of them had been in a car accident in a town nearby before they had moved where they lived now. Of course, she didn’t remember this accident, and it always bothered her. At one point of the two years she had come to help out at the hospital, it had occurred to Tallia that maybe that’s how she had gotten her scar. She figured that maybe she had hit her head, which would explain the fact that she couldn’t really remember anything from her childhood, at least not much. Maybe that was why her memory of her childhood was so foggy. Didn’t most people remember things that happened merely three years ago? Tallia barely remembered even moving here! Most kids were born with birth marks, but not huge scars on their faces. Maybe she hadn’t had the scar her whole life. Maybe she had gotten it in the car crash…

The sounds of machines buzzing and the smell of cleaning fluids were all too familiar with her as they filled her senses and woke her up from her thoughts. The woman at the counter—young with brown hair in a bun and glasses on the end of her nose—looked up and smiled when she recognized the new visitor.

"Well, hello Talli!" she greeted with her perky voice, using the nickname she had given her "Are you going to visit your father before starting your work?" Tallia only nodded as she did everyday. She wasn't just there to visit her father; she was paid to help out, even though at most hospitals the jobs that she performed would count as volunteer work. There weren’t so many eager kids willing to help out around here, and the school councilor had suggested this job to Tallia. Tallia had said that she wanted a paycheck for it if they were going to take up the time that she could be using to work for real money. Something about that statement had seemed to worry the councilor so much that she had agreed to that. Later Tallia had heard her saying to the telephone, “It’s better for her to be working there than out in the streets.” As if she thought Tallia would be working at some shady place and the councilor had just saved a young girl from going down the wrong path. (No need to thank me! I do it all the time, because I’m Super Counselor!).

Tallia hadn’t been too happy about coming to the new school and she had mouthed off to a few of the students and teachers. She might have uttered a few threats, but only to make them leave her alone. She wasn’t actually going to rip off the boy’s hand and make him eat it (in all fairness, he was the one who had dared to touch her). The evil lady who thought she was Superman had decided she needed counseling as well. She wanted to “dig down deep and find out what was troubling her little Tallia”. She could tell the woman what was troubling “her little Tallia”. Her father was in a coma and her mother was never home! Of course, that was a lie, the telling her part, because she couldn’t have really told her that in her sophomore year! If she told her that then they would have taken her away. They couldn’t do that now obviously since she would turn eighteen soon—this Saturday to be exact. She hated counseling, having a nosy person who had no business knowing about her asking personal questions like that got on her nerves. Her annoyed, depressed looks caused the councilor to suggest professional counseling. Tallia quickly stopped complaining. The last thing she needed was for the school councilor to try to contact her mother. Of course they had sent home a note suggesting counseling. Tallia only had to write a return letter and forge her mother’s signature approving it—she couldn’t say no or they might actually try to call.

She was waiting for her father to return to consciousness so that they could be a family again. It was better to just go along with the school counseling and tell them what they wanted to hear than to be observed by a professional.

After visiting her father for a little bit, she put on the candy striper apron and began delivering the many bouquets, candy boxes, and teddy bears to the patients who were lucky enough to have people who cared about them. It didn't take too much time because it wasn't a big hospital. Rather than one of those huge five story buildings, it was a simple two story one. All it was for, really, was residents that lived nearby. Normally it was pretty empty besides for a few people who might have broken an arm. All of the rich people went the extra distance to get to a better hospital. Tallia never thought it was that bad. Her father had been there for awhile and they seemed alright.

Tallia glanced at the glass doors in the front of the hospital, it was already dark and the moon was visible through the trees. She grabbed a broom and began to sweep the floor where dust had settled. The hospital was mostly empty, minus the patients that were safe in their beds and the doctors and nurses unlucky enough to have the night shift. Tallia was happy and content with the silence. Anything but quiet made her cringe at the memories of long ago when she was care-free and had friends and a family. Now she shut everyone out, not letting anyone get close to her in fear that they might break her heart again. Getting close to people was weakness and weakness would be fed upon, she couldn't let that happen.

Tallia jumped at a sudden sound at the front door. She didn't see anyone there, which made her slowly scowl at herself for her foolishness. What had made the noise? She quickly put up her apron and broom and left through the front door, her job finished for the day since her meeting at school had ended early. Who had been watching her? Was it some sort of creepy stalker? Maybe it was a stupid prank. Well, she wanted to end what ever was going on, so she made up her mind to catch them and warn them to leave her alone. She stood in front of the hospital and listened intently. Footsteps. She quickly and quietly followed the noise until she saw a person. They noticed her and took off running. She swiftly followed, they wouldn't be getting away. She chased the stranger down an alley, cornered. She shoved the person against a wall and held down their arms.

"Who are you and what do you want?!" she yelled. Tallia realized it was the older boy from before when she had been headed to school. She had been right; it must be a creepy stalker. He struggled to break free of her grasp as she glared at him, waiting for an answer.

"Now I am positive," he confirmed to himself in that strange dialect, confusing Tallia about his intentions even more.

"Positive of what?" she asked him even though he had been talking to himself; she wasn't a very patient person.

"You must be her—her reincarnation, that is—she always was faster, smarter, tougher... and stronger," he added, trying—and failing—once again to break free.

"Who-Who are you talking about?" Tallia stuttered, accidentally letting her weakness show.

He smiled, "The Queen Nyoko's Heir, Princess Takara, Feline Princess, First and Only Child of the King and Queen Kazuo and Nyoko, Honorary Fighter, Treasure of the Felines." As he stated her honorary names in order, he left out a few, though she would not know the difference.

"Right..." she said, not understanding a word he spoke.

He smiled, a knowing, certain smile, "You are the reincarnation of the Princess Takara."

She sighed, she gave in to the confused feeling she had—mostly because he didn’t seem very threatening, they were speaking in a conversational way—and asked, "What makes you think that?"

"Well, first of all, all the qualities I listed before. Secondly, this scar, what is it from?" he asked, referring to the prominent scar on her cheek. He knew she didn't know, so he continued, "It is the same scar the Princess received before she was killed. Last, and most important, this necklace," he said, stroking her Cat's Eye marble. She hadn't even realized she had let his wrists go. She quickly shielded it from him with her hands.

"Don't touch this! It's special to me," she snapped, not quite taking in what he had just said. Before Tallia realized the significance of his words, he pulled a necklace matching hers from beneath his black shirt. She just stared at it, wide-eyed.

"Where...where did you get that?" she stuttered.

"You gave it to me, it is how we control the change," he answered.

She gave in again, "Into what?"

"Cats, panthers, our true forms."

"Wait, wait, wait! Hold up! You're trying to tell me I had a past life as a Cat. Oh no, not just a Cat, a royal Cat! Oh, and you are a Cat also! Wow, when are the men with the nice white coats going to come and take you back to the crazy house?"

He just stared at her. He had known it would take time to get her to believe him, but he wasn't expecting this.

"Princess, I know it is not my place but please calm down!"

"My name is Tallia!" she yelled, a little louder than she meant to. After Tallia took a moment to calm down, she tiredly said, "I'm sorry, but this is the kind of joke you pull on a dumb blonde, see my hair? Black."

"It is no joke," he said, looking a bit amused at her anger, "Here, I can show you."

She just crossed her arms in a fine-I'll-amuse-you kind of way.

Tallia's jaw dropped when she saw the teenaged boy transform into a small, black Cat right before her eyes. She couldn't take it anymore, this was all so overwhelming.

So, she ran from him, hoping that what he said before—that she had always been faster than him—was true. Once she was far enough away, she leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. She had to think this through, but before she could, there were hands on her shoulders throwing her to the ground. Why couldn’t she be left alone? Just her luck of course, to be stalked and mugged on the same night.

"Whachya got?" the ragged man said with a stupid smile on his face. He must be drunk, or on drugs. Or maybe he’d done something else that was equally stupid. He wanted anything of value she had, he might even want her, who knew. She noticed his eyes drop to her necklace.

"Get away from me," she said, punching him in the nose. The man took a knife out of his pocket.

"Now, you don' wan’ this ta get messy, do ya?" he took the knife to her shirt and cut an 'X' over her heart. This was mostly to scare her, and maybe a bit to relieve his need to do something reckless. It wasn't enough to kill her, but enough to cut through her skin. She cringed as the blood stained her shirt. Then he pushed her across the ground to the brick wall nearby, "Now hand it over."

She didn't bother screaming, it was dark and no one would hear. If they did, they wouldn't care. People were murdered practically everyday here and no one cared. She expected the worst, and waited to be stabbed to death—not having the strength to fight back anymore—until she heard a man scream. She stiffly and slowly sat up. Everything was fuzzy when she did this and her head hurt a lot having hit a brick wall. She saw a dark figure wrestle the man to the ground and walk towards her. She tried to inch away until the black Panther turned into a boy and picked her up. As he looked at her worriedly, she slowly lost consciousness. The boy carried her to the place where he knew she could get help.

Tallia's eyes squinted open. Realizing this place was not her room, she quickly sat up. This was a bad action; she was still soar from earlier that night which she was just starting to remember.

"Princess, you should be resting," a familiar voice came from a small black Cat.

She managed to say, "Could you change human again, I feel weird talking to a Cat," she had groan, surprised that she was already becoming used to this strange boy. Why did he keep following her?

With that, he returned to his human form and responded, "You are also Cat. You merely refuse to change."

"I do not," she countered defensively.

"That is enough, both of you," an old lady with a kind face and a heart-filled smile said, "Just like the good old days, years and years ago."

She chuckled at her own memories, giving the girl a warm smile.

"Who are you?" she asked, already starting to like the woman.

"I was your nanny, when you two were young. You were the best of friends although your parents disapproved of it. Princess Takara being, well, a princess and Kiroshi being a mere worker in the palace."

"Wow, you really built me up a lot there in that flash back," the boy—whom Tallia now knew was named Kiroshi—said dully.

"Do you also believe I am a... reincarnation of this princess person?" Tallia continued to interrogate, trying to hide the panic feeling she was experiencing.

"Actually, that is what Kiroshi and I were talking about while you slept. I believe you are not a reincarnation. It is more like you were resurrected."

"So you think I am a dead person who's been brought back to life..." she said, not quite believing what she heard, "I don't understand how that is possible. I don't remember ever being a Cat and I do remember life as a child with my parents, not this princess' parents," she countered, slightly lying about the memories she claimed to possess.

"Yes, that is odd, but there could be a reasonable explanation right under our noses. I believe you were resurrected and that scar is proof. It was created by magic; it is now attached to your soul."

Tallia went to touch the scar on her face but found it made her think about her new scar. Her alleyway scar, how stupid she was. She let her weakness out, all because of this stupid boy! Why did he have to come?

"It might take awhile," Kiroshi added, as if reading her thoughts, "but I know you will remember. You must remember. Tell me, do you remember anything about us? Do Nana or I look familiar? Do you have a strange fondness of cats?"

She gave him a strange look, but thought about it anyway. She remembered how his voice had sounded so familiar, she nodded, "A little," was all she said.

"A good start," Kiroshi said, mostly to himself.

"You must rest," Nana said, starting to lead Kiroshi away from the room, "You need to call someone? A guardian?"

She shook her head, she didn't feel like explaining. Nana nodded and the two left her alone. As she slowly drifted off to sleep, she took in her surroundings. The apartment, or house, or whatever it was had an Asian feel to it. Come to think of it, their names sounded a bit like Japanese, or Chinese or whatever.

She yawned, and her thoughts grew further and further apart. Takara... Was she really Takara? What had she gotten herself into...?

A/N: Wow, this is probably the worst chapter in the history of the world. It gives me a headache to read it! I’m so sorry! I can’t think of a way to make it more acceptable, so I’m just going to have to beg you to forgive this terrible chapter. It jumps around a lot and you get a LOT of new information. If you need me to explain something, I will. I’m so sorry this chapter is so horrible!

Pyrgus: Thank you so much for my first (and probably last, oh I hope not!) review! Weeee!