It seemed like everything had happened suddenly for Daiki. One second he was in his master's house locked in the basement without having eaten or drunk for 2 days, then he found himself in front of a house he never saw before because he was sold to another master.

Daiki had been thrown out of the car without any explanation, left in front of the door with his body not even covered to hide the wounds that had been inflicted on him by his previous master. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the unfamiliar driveway, and he could smell something cooking inside that made his empty stomach twist painfully.

His ears were folded all the way back when he knocked on the door, the wood cold against his bruised knuckles. He felt his heart pounding out of his chest and the last thing he wanted was to enter another house full of violence. The sound of approaching footsteps made his tail twitch involuntarily between his legs.

"Daiki, cat demi-human."

Daiki spoke softly once the door opened, looking down at the ground with his ears flattened against his head and his tail tucked tightly, his voice trembling slightly. He knew he probably looked ridiculous, a grown man acting like a frightened kitten, but he couldn't help the fear that gripped him.