"I think Boss needs to work on his timing," Tao grunted as he stumbled through the dark. "After all, sending us out in the middle of the night to check on the trap? Why couldn't this wait until morning?"

Takeo sighed. "Because Frankenstein does not want the cat to escape the cage." He paused. "This is, what, the third cat we've caught in the trap in two weeks?"

"Yep," Tao started with a nod. "I swear we have a crazy cat lady somewhere in this neighborhood. People need to learn to keep their cats indoors!" Tao moved the flashlight around as he avoided tripping over a rock. The cat trap they had set up was at the corner of the house, and the light on Tao's phone beamed against the silver wiring.

Takeo grimaced. "I've never liked cats anyway. They're so...vicious."

Tao grinned. "Is that why you didn't stop Seira when she chased after the cat with her Death Scythe?"

Takeo shuddered at the memory. Only three weeks ago, Seira had seen a cat walking through their yard with a baby bunny in its mouth.

Takeo had never heard Seira scream until that moment. He did not even know how Seira was able to identify the baby bunny as her personal favorite: Rosy. But she did, and in that moment, all hell broke loose to reveal the raging goddess of death.

Takeo would not wish such a terrifying fate on anyone, even a cat. But in that moment, he had been frozen with fear as Seira ran out of the house (she took the time to gently open the door and not smash it down) wielding her Soul Weapon as she chased after the cat that held her favorite bunny captive.

Takeo had thought help had come at last in the form of Raizel. The Noblesse had arrived at the sound of Seira's screams and the energy released from her Soul Weapon. Surely the Noblesse would be able to talk some sense into the Loyard Family Leader.

When the blood red wings had sprouted from Raizel's back, Takeo knew that the cat was already dead.

As of now, Rosy was a permanent houseguest in the Noblesse's family.

"Having frightening flashbacks?" Tao teased.

Takeo glared. "You don't want to know."

Tao shrugged. "At least we are protecting the yard from the predators." He fell quiet at the thought. The cats, and even the hawks, seemed to have identified Frankenstein's yard as an open buffet. Only recently, and Tao had not yet told Seira or Raizel, he had found the remains of a baby robin in the yard.

He was also eager to get rid of the cats and dump them off at animal control. The memory of the dead baby bird was all too fresh in his memory.

"Alrighty!" Tao gleefully said as he shined the light on the cage. "What nasty critter have we caught toda-WHAT IS THAT?!"

"What?" Takeo demanded, alarmed at Tao's exclamation and rapid retreat. The light was suddenly gone as Tao leaped back with his phone, the only light that was provided. Despite Takeo's alarm, he was slightly disgruntled. Just because his vision was enhanced did not mean he possessed night vision!

"Tao, what is it!?" he shouted.

The light jostled around as Tao shakily pointed his phone back at the cage. "That! What kind of a cat is that?"

Hesitantly, Takeo looked and nearly recoiled at the sight. In the cage was a still creature lying prone on its side. Its mouth was open to reveal sharp pointy teeth. A long rat's tail was curled up around its body. Thin hairy ears were limp on its face as the creature had yet to move.

It was the most hideous thing Takeo had ever seen.

He blinked. "Is...is it dead?"

Tao shuddered. "It looks like it is."

"But what kind of a cat is it?" As revolted as Takeo was at the sight, he could not deny his curiosity and crept closer to the cage. Tao slowly followed but stayed behind him with the light.

"Is this some sort of a Union mutant?" Tao asked.

Takeo shrugged. "Google it. I don't recognize this type of cat species." he frowned. "It looks hideous!" He grimaced at the thought of touching this dead thing. Perhaps they could throw the cage out and buy a new one?

"If the Union created it, then does that mean it was spying on us?" Tao asked. The light vanished as he rapidly typed on his phone. Finally overcoming his fright of the maybe-cat-agent-creature, he crouched down next to Takeo. "If that's the case, then we might need to tell the Boss."

Takeo would have responded if not for the rough hand on his shoulder. Based on Tao's startled shriek, he was also being assaulted by the hand on his shoulder. The area was suddenly alight with Tao's blue electric power as he shocked the would-be attacker with electricity.

"Stay back!" Tao shouted. Takeo scrambled back from the dark, stumbling figure and wished he had brought his guns to protect himself.

"What is with you?" the figure demanded. At the voice, an icy pit of dread formed in Takeo's stomach, and he was glad that he was not Tao at that moment.

Tao stuttered. "B-Boss!" He hid his hands behind his back and pleadingly glanced at Takeo. "We...we thought you were...its handler."

Frankenstein grunted and brushed at his jacket, the smell of burnt leather reaching Takeo's nose. He winced when he realized that Tao had aimed pretty well when he shot at Frankenstein.

"Handler of what?" Frankenstein asked.

Retrieving his phone, Tao pointed his light at the trap. "That thing!"

Frankenstein cocked his head. "The possum?"

Tao and Takeo blinked. "A possum?" Tao echoed as he looked back at the creature who was now, apparently, playing dead. He glanced at Takeo. "Um, of course. A possum."

"What are you doing out here?" Takeo suddenly asked. There was no need to dwell on the fact that both he and Tao, modified human beings, were unable to recognize a possum when they saw one.

"You two were taking too long and I was growing worried," Frankenstein answered. He kneeled down to observe the possum. "You'll just have to open the back of the trap. The possum will eventually leave."

Takeo grimaced at the thought of getting any closer to that rather hideous creature. Noticing the grimace, Frankenstein shrugged. "Or we could take it to the butchers."

Tao sputtered. "The what?"

Frankenstein stood up. "The butchers. Some use the meat for pot pie." At their confused expressions, he shrugged. "It's a delicacy."

Tao looked horrified while Takeo looked disgusted. Tao pointed his light back at the possum, who was still playing dead. "Did you see this thing?" Tao demanded. "And you want to stuff it, eat it, and poison us? No thank you!"

"I'm sure Seira could make the dish edible," Frankenstein replied.

"Oh I'm sure she could!" Tao retorted. "But you want to stuff this...this creature!" Tao pointed his light at the possum. "And eat it?!"

"Eat the cat?" a new voice asked. This time, Tao barely refrained from electrocuting the newest arrival. Seira stepped forward, still wearing her pink apron. "I am sure I could find a suitable cat recipe to serve for dinner."

Takeo and Tao shuddered as the cute girl in the pink apron plotted ways to cook the bunny killer. "Um, Miss Seira," Takeo placatingly said. "This is a possum, not a cat."

Seira focused her red eyes on the creature. "Does it eat bunnies?"

Tao and Takeo rapidly shook their heads. Despite not knowing for sure what possums had on their menu, neither one of them wanted to subject anyone to the wrath of the overprotective goddess of death.

Losing interest, Seira turned to head back into the house. Frankenstein followed after her after instructing the two modified humans to take care of the possum.

Now left alone with the possum (still playing dead), Tao glanced at Takeo.

"You sure this thing is still alive?"

A/N:

I am not sure if possums are native to Korea. But they are for this chapter!