A/N: So...today I found out that my cat is sick. Very sick. This is me. Settling myself with this news.
Tohru sat beside herself in the rain. Clutching the small, shivering black bundle of soggy fur to her chest to keep it warm. It had called out to her. The others would understand. And so the two made their way back to her home. Her home...she liked the sound of that. Ever since they had welcomed her with open arms.
And she was sure they would do the same for the little soul she had found. By happy circumstance. And so through their meeting he was so named. Serendipity James. James because...well...he was a boy. And she didn't want him to be offended or embarrassed by the name Serendipity. Maybe she would just call him Seren.
As she stepped through the door she was met with a set of warm rich brown eyes and a cheeky smile.
"My my! Our dear little flower has certainly gotten herself a good dose of water today!" Shigure chirped happily as Tohru offered one of her warm sun-like smiles.
"I forgot my umbrella today!" She responded with a giggle before a small, weak little noise manifested from the depths of her jacket.
"Well, what is this?" Shigure asked curiously, moving a little closer to the young lady as she began to unzip her jacket.
"I hope you don't mind, Shigure-san..." She murmured softly as she produced the small, damp black kitten that had been residing in her jacket, already mostly dry from her warmth. "I found him abandoned and crying in the rain."
Shigure smiled at the small bundle brought to his home. Tohru was never one to ask for anything. Especially for herself. So...if saving this small little creature from the gutters and harsh elements made her happy, Shigure was more than willing to oblige his little flower.
"It's no problem at all, Tohru." He murmured gently, stretching his fingers to greet the lucky little kitten before smiling at her. "Does it have a name yet?"
"He sure does!" She chirped happily. "Serendipity James!" She declared, and it was all Shigure could do to stifle his laughter at the unfortunate choice of name...whatever made his little flower happy.
And so Seren became a...mostly...welcomed part of the family. Growing in strength and size, he became a formidable little hunter. Often bringing small mice and rats to Yuki...who found the display of affection more than a little disturbing, much to Kyo and Shigure's amusement.
Seren and Kyo became fast friends as well. Though...if anyone began to suspect this and mention as such, Kyo would admittedly recite that he 'hated the damn cat.' No one really bought that, though.
Things seemed to be going well. And Tohru was happy. So very happy. Until...one day...
"Hey...that damn cat doesn't look so good." Kyo's gruff voice rang through the kitchen, catching Tohru's attention.
"What's wrong, Kyo-kun?" Tohru asked, moving into the kitchen where he was...Kyo never sounded this concerned, especially over Seren.
"The Damn thing wont shut up!" He groaned as Seren continued to cry out in distress.
"What do we do, Kyo-kun?" Tohru murmured, her words weighed down with concern as she moved to cradle and comfortable the small cat.
"I don't know..." Kyo's voice sounding as lost as hers.
The two decided to keep vigil over Seren. Kyo was a good sport and would watch the small creature whenever Tohru had to work. And it seemed...for a time...that Seren was getting better.
"Maybe it's just the flu?" Tohru murmured to Kyo as the two exchanged shifts.
"Do cats even get the flu?" Kyo asked, his tone coming more than a little dubious at Tohru's explanation of this sudden illness.
"You would know better than anyone, Stupid Cat." Came Yuki's response from the other room as Kyo bristled in irritation.
"Say that to my face, Rat boy!" Kyo snapped as Tohru gave a small sigh in response to the boys' banter.
And so they continued their diligent vigil over the weekend. Yuki decided to lend his assistance when Tohru had been called on an extra shift at work. And even Shigure managed to sit with the small creature for a few hours. Though Kyo and Yuki began to believe that this was more to do with avoiding work than anything else.
Tohru was fast asleep after a long shift at work...tossing restlessly in her bed. Worry over her little friend had been reeking havoc on her sleep. She was having a dream. One she often had. Where her mother was calling out to her. Only this time, her mother's calls had turned into screaming. Awful, horrible screaming. Screaming that penetrated her soul as she continued to listen on in horror before waking into darkness. But the screaming... The screaming was still there.
'Miss Honda!" The familiar voice came through her door above the screaming.
"Yuki-kun?" She murmured, trying to collect herself, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she gazed at the clock...3:00 AM.
'Miss Honda...somethings wrong with Seren."
With those words Tohru shot from her bed to the door to meet Yuki. The two sat with Seren, Tohru trying to offer as much comfort as she could. But the screaming continued. And panting. And puking. Seren continued to gaze at her with those wide, round emerald eyes as he struggled to breathe.
"I think we should call Hatori." Yuki suggested, trying to keep his voice calm for the sake of Tohru and the cat.
"But he's not a vet!" Tohru protested. "And besides...it's so early. I...don't want to bother him." She murmured.
"Hatori has more than enough experience with animals." Yuki deadpanned. "Besides..." He continued softly. "Seren is family." And with this Tohru offered a weak smile as she nodded in agreement.
Despite Tohru's misgivings, Hatori was actually quite knowledgeable about animal physiology...and more than willing to help.
Tohru had found it endearing when the little creature had been smothered with an oxygen mask to relieve his respiratory distress. And Hatori had found it more than unusual that the creature had revolted when he tried to take the mask off. No cat in their right mind would have tolerated a mask to the face. But Seren craved it like an old friend.
And then Hatori came back with words that ripped through Tohru's heart. No. Through her very soul. Just one word, and her whole entire world came crumbling down in flames.
Leukemia.
Feline Leukemia.
...and just like that...her world was changed forever.