dinohouse | [Liveman parents, mostly]

Since Gai started going to school, I've actually started attending most of my classes. I also spend some time in a tree in the courtyard, but it's the effort that counts.

Not today, though, despite all of my best intentions, all I can focus on as I walk past Genta's sushi-cart (all closed up tight, and I haven't seen him in days, which is kind of a shame because fish) is the tiny mewling squeaking sound somewhere behind one of the wheels.

Which turns out to be a new born kitten, all small and spindly and confused and it's eyes aren't even open yet, but when I reach my hand towards it it balls up against the warmth of my palm and closes it's tiny mouth around the end of my pinkie.

It's cold, it's way too cold and shivering and there's no other cats around anywhere and I don't know what to do.

No, wait. Yes, I do. It needs a mom. A mother will take care of it. Or any kind of parent. But there's no cats around.

But I have three. And they always know what to do.

I run the entire way back to the house with the little guy cupped protectively against my chest. It fits easily in one hand but I use both just to keep it a little warmer.

I throw myself in through my cat flap, skid and almost fall over (man, sometimes I miss the grace of my original body). "Someone! Anyone? Is anyone still home?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I know you couldn't. You did the right thing." I stroke his hair soothingly. It's a little too early for me to try to cheer him up with thoughts of what we'll do if allowed to take the kitten home.

"You're not mad?" I'm not sure why she would be, I don't know if I've ever seen Megumi mad about anything.

She seemed to get pretty close over my Switch, though. I'd feel bad about it, but it's about the only thing keeping me from meandering around in a state of panic worrying about whether Maki is going to come back to life or not.

"How can I be? I worry, of course, but I trust you. That's what mothers are for." And to wash dirty socks, and check your homework, and plenty of other things that I also do.

I look at the clock on the wall. We've been here ... three-quarters of an hour. It feels like an eternity.

I like that. I can definitely get behind that. I smile at her, rub at my temple a bit, then look up at the clock. The passage of time is one of those weird human things it took a while to understand properly, but I think I'm getting a hold of it.

"How long will this take?"

"I - I don't know. It depends on whether they have to operate, or -"

I'm interrupted by the receptionist calling us to the desk. Thank heavens for that.

..."Operate, like cut open with knives?"

I'm on my feet even before the receptionist is calling us, but then I figure if we're being called that probably means everything is okay.

Right?

I beat Megumi to the desk and lean over it to get in the receptionist's face. "Is he okay?"

We're taken to one of the rooms to be reunited with our kitten, which is - well, not exactly skipping for joy, but looking better than it was when we left it.

I'd better listen to this astronomically long list of instructions about injections, fleas, worms, feeding, heat, and helping it go to the bathroom. Kazari isn't going to take in any of this, he just wants to see the kitten.

I am so relieved that the kitten is actually moving around and not mewling pathetically anymore, and I don't even bother to ask the doctor whether I can hold it, I just pick it up in both hands and press my nose to it's fuzzy body.

I half-listen to all of the instructions the doctor is giving Megumi, but I know she's paying enough attention for both of us. She can elaborate for me later. The doctor doesn't look like Maki but he's got similarly stupid glasses, and I don't like it. I'd rather listen to Megumi any day.

"Can we take him home now?"

"Yes, soon, darling. Just let me finish listening to this." I agree to pay upfront for a flea collar and to make an appointment for injections. We're going to have to go to a pet shop and buy a bed, scratching post, feeding bowls, toys, litter tray ...

How am I going to explain this to Yuusuke and Jou?

I wait, somewhat impatiently, holding the kitten against my chest. My kitten.

Yummy.

I smile to myself and then turn the grin on Megumi. "I have some money saved up. I know he's my responsibility."

That doesn't mean we won't help him out, but I won't say so for now, "why don't we buy him some things?" I pause to confirm with the vet that this is in fact a he. Kittens are lovely but just the one is enough for now.

"Alright!" I can get behind that. I keep Yummy held against me with one hand, but I reach for Megumi with the other arm and hug her around the waist. "Thank you for helping me. I promise I'll go to school tomorrow."

"It's okay. Why don't you take him out to the car?" I give him a little kiss on the top of his head. Better pay the vet and book this appointment for the kitten.

"I can do that." My nose wrinkles up when she kisses my head, but I'm not about to complain, with all she's done for me today. I shoot a fleeting frown at the doctor because I guess I'm thankful but he's still a doctor, before leaving.

I take care of business and then head back to the car. I've already made a little mental list of everything we're going to need for the cat.

"What are you going to name him?" I ask almost as an afterthought as I start the ignition.

I'm settled back in the back seat of the car, huddled down with Yummy on my chest so I don't have to look out the windows while we drive.

"His name is Yummy!" I announce when she asks. "I think I knew it from the second I found him, but I had to be sure he wasn't going to die."

"Yami?" Darkness? I suppose it is his pet. Maybe the name means something to him, I don't know.

"Yummy," I repeat for emphasis, and the kitten in question actually makes a little purring sound in response. He already knows his name! I am the best cat owner alive, obviously.

Maybe Ankh would chill out if he got himself a pet bird.

"It's kind of an inside joke." I realize aloud, looking at my cat and then bumping him with my nose.

"Yummy." I'm surprised when the kitten purrs. Kazari seems to be bonding with him already, "it's ... nice."

There's a pet shop about fifteen minutes away. I head off in that direction.

"It's something from my other life, you know, before." I shrug a little, looking up into the rear view mirror. "When I was a Greeed. It's funny, kind of, but I think he likes it."

"What will you tell the others about him?" At least we have a cat flap already.

I fill in Kazari on the kitten's medical details and all the things the vet told me about taking care of him. I can write them down when we get home.

"Which others?" Does she mean the family, or the other Greeed? I could care less about them.

I listen to her the way I couldn't bring myself to listen to the doctor, nodding along. "I'll take care of it. I promise."

We pull up outside the pet shop. It's a big one, different sections for all kind of pets. One of the biggest is devoted to cats so we should be able to find everything I need. I grab a trolley and begin checking off the list of things we'll need for ... Yummy.

[Liveman parents, mostly]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject