I was awoken from my sleep by the creaking of the door. My head was throbbing, as were various cuts and bruises all over my body, making it hard to focus on whatever it was the two men were saying, but I tried.
"And this is our collection of Neko."
"Isn't that just Japanese for cat?"
"Well, it's not the name that matters. What matters is what they were made to do. See, they were selectively bred for longer lifespans for generations upon generations, until they became able to live as long as their human companions."
"Oh, that'll be really good for him. I was a little bit guilty about buying a pet he'll eventually outlive. He's been through so much already..."
The two men walked past my cage, the familiar handler, and the guest, which stopped to look at me. That was the most interest a guest showed me in... I couldn't tell. Time just... Doesn't exist here.
He didn't look at me like he wanted me. He looked... Concerned?
"... Hey... Why's this one so small?"
The handler shrugged. "They take longer to fully develop, thanks to the lifespan. That one's a runt anyway."
"Oh... So how old are they?" The guest asked. "... This one. Do they have a name?"
"Sixteen, and no. You give it a name when you buy it. That's the point." The handler answered.
"Um... Yeah. Hey, little buddy..." He stuck his fingers through the holes in the cage, and I backed away. Not that there was anywhere to back to, I was already in the corner. "... They seem scared."
"Oh, that one's just shy is all... There are other Neko here, y'know. Younger, stronger, more energetic. Are you sure this is the one you want?"
The guest nodded, causing the handler to unlock the cage and reach for me, his big, rough hands being a bit more gentle than usual, for show.
I was put into a carrier cage, money changed hands, and the guest, who was now my owner, put me in his car. I wondered how long this would last before he took me back like everyone else. Probably just long enough to fool me into thinking they won't, just like everyone else.
It was hard enough to think back there, and now that the car was moving, I could barely keep my eyes open. I was so tired. I was always so tired...
-
When I woke up next, I was in a bedroom. The carrier door was open, and my owner was standing over me, tilting it down slightly, signaling me to get out. I didn't want him to be angry, so rushed to do so, trying not to limp as I stepped onto the bed.
It was soft, so much softer than I'd laid on for a very long time, and I let sleep take me once more.