Alternate title: Neko-reki. This is, partially, for my good friend BlueRoseMidnight. But it was also for me. B/c I'm cat-boy loving trash ^-^ Enjoy! (also the future pairing is a surprise so don't ask)
The last thing Gareki remembered was a hand clamped over his mouth and pain. He felt like he was floating in deep water and everything hurt. His head and lower back seemed to feel the worst of it though. He tried to struggle to the surface but the more he tried the more he sank deeper and deeper. It felt like he was drowning, until suddenly the water was gone, and the pain was dulled.
Gareki found himself laying in, what felt like, a bed. He was surrounded by loud noises, voices and beeps could be heard all around. It sounded like they were right beside him. He managed to pry his eye lids open, blinking a few times at the bright light. He looked around and realized he was at the research tower. But why? He tried to trace his memories back. They had been going after a varuga and had chased it into a weird building. It had tanks of liquid all over the place, all in different colors. He remembered Yogi mentioning something about Kafka and the varuga rupturing one of the tanks before a hand clamped over his mouth and he remembered no more. Gareki huffed in frustration, so he'd gotten hurt? Had anybody else? What was in those tanks? Was anybody else hurt?
Just then he heard Yogi's voice "Ehh? What do you mean something's happened? Is he ok?"
Hirato's voice followed right after, sounding suspiciously grim and serious "Like I said. there's been no problems with his internal but his external has undergone some... changes."
Gareki's brow furrowed, were they talking about him? What did they mean by changes? He looked down at himself. He still looked the same. The door opened and Hirato walked in, Yogi following close behind. Yogi smiled at him the his eyes seemed to glide up and he froze, smile turning cold and shocked. Hirato just looked serious. Gareki crossed his arms, a little self conscious
"What happened?" he said, glaring a little.
Yogi jolted back to life and opened his mouth but Hirato cut him off "How do you feel Gareki?" Hirato asked.
"I feel fine. What happened?" Gareki snapped.
Hirato sighed then smiled "I'm afraid you'll have to bear with us but... we don't know-"
Gareki opened his mouth but was cut off. "On that note." he reached into his pocket and withdrew a small square object. "You may have to get used to certain things until we figure it out." he threw the object to Gareki who caught it.
It was a small hand held mirror. Gareki felt a sinking in his gut as he held it up. There atop his head were two fluffy black cat ears. On his shoulders were small black patches of skin the trailed lighter down his arms till you couldn't see them. His teeth also looked sharper. Gareki dropped the mirror and checked behind him, sure enough there was the tail.
His eyes were wide in disbelief as he looked back at Hirato who just smiled a little "Akari is trying as we speak to find a way to fix it but until then you will have to live with them." Gareki swallowed and looked down. Cat ears? What the hell? Was this even possible?
Yogi spoke up then "Umm... If it makes you feel any better... I think they suit you."
Gareki blinked at him before rolling his eyes and turning back to Hirato "So what happens now?"
Hirato sighed "You come back to the ship with us and report any other changes you experience. Akari will call you back when he needs to test you or tell you results."
Gareki nodded. He supposed he could live with it until they knew what was going on. It didn't seem to much of a bother after all.
He took a deep breath "Fine." and stood up. He steadied himself and looked at the other two expectantly, tail swishing lightly behind him.
Yogi smiled at that and secretly thought it was cute. Hirato just smirked "Let's go." he said and walked out. Yogi and Gareki followed.
