It was a slow day. Only a few customers had come into the store. A lanky man sat at the counter, leaning back in his chair as he read a magazine. He had long white hair that flowed down to his thighs and a newsboy cap that sat snugly directly above his eyes. His face was lean much like his body, with narrow eyes that suited it. He had on a tight white turtleneck, and a pair of black pants.

It was another slow day. Kite hadn't seen a customer for a couple of hours so he busied himself by learning about an Arctic expedition from a six-month-old science magazine. Suddenly, the shop door slid open. Kite's head remained pointed at his periodical, but his eyes gazed at the customer. It was a young petite woman with an angular face and large golden eyes. She had messy white hair that went a bit past her chin. Most notably she had on a rather perky expression and her lips were shaped into a playful curl. Kite immediately had a bad feeling about her. Was she here to cause trouble? Was she going to make a scene? Maybe he was just over thinking it.

"Hmm…" said the girl. She walked forward with her arms behind her back. She knelt down and looked at a tank where several turtles were busy swimming about and slipping off rocks. After a few minutes, she walked around some more before stopping at the bird cages. The green parakeets started to squawk and flap their wings as her face appeared next to the bars. They seemed especially distressed.

"Anything, I can help you with miss?" asked Kite.

She gave a small giggle of happiness as her head darted between cages.

"Is this your shop?" she asked.

"I suppose you could say that."

He waited for her to make another comment, but she seemed content with the simple answer. Kite watched her a bit longer as she looked at the pythons with her same consistent degree of amusement. Finally, his eyes went back to the magazine.

"Bye!" she said. He looked up and as she skipped out of the store.

"Oh- Thank you for... visiting" he said, even though she could no longer here him.

I wonder what she wanted? Did she just come to see the animals?

The next day Kite was cleaning out the Leopard Gecko cages. Normally, he'd do it afterhours, but with such slow traffic, he figured he might as well be productive. That's when he heard the door open. He quickly got to his feet, a bit flustered since he was entrenched in the waste-filled gravel he'd been filtering. He quickly took off his cleaning gloves and returned to the front desk.

"Hello. Can I—"

A sweat drop slid down the back of his head.

It's you.

Yesterday's visitor had returned. Truth be told, he wasn't particularly surprised. That's how these sorts of things went, right? Today she was dressed in a double breasted long coat and orange knee-length socks.

"Oh?" he asked with a fake smile, "Welcome back."

"Hello sir." she said. She seemed to scan him for a second before marching towards the mammal isle. The puppies immediately began to wag their tales as she approached. She crouched down to better look at them. She slowly pulled out a hand and began to stroke them each on the neck. Kite watched her with interest as she glided over to the cats. She tilted her head as she looked at them lazily sitting about their chambers. Her lips seemed even more curled as she observed them.

Could be a long lost relative of hers.

"Do you enjoy working here?" asked the girl.

Kite was silent a moment. Then he said, "I suppose. I can't complain getting to watch them like this. And I can be sure they're taken home by responsible owners."

She looked over at him as if he were in a cage himself. With a hand waving at him, she headed back out the door.

"Bye!"

"Thank you for- oh forget it."

Kite was scrubbing down the windows when he heard the door open. He scrambled to put down his cleaning supplies when he realized it he was looking at a familiar character.

I decided to do this in the morning so this wouldn't happen. Does she come randomly?

This time she admired his small collection of fish tanks sitting on the shelves in the back of the room. Her eyes followed a handsome black and white fish, a Moorish Idol, with interest.

Kite decided he might as well finish the cleaning he had started. He knew he didn't have to worry about her bothering the animals, and with her so comfortable, there wasn't any reason to break the silence. Besides, any moment now she would do that hersel-

"What's your name?"

Kite's mouth opened slightly. He was more surprised by his flustered state than by her question.

"It's Kite."

"Kite." she repeated

Two sentences? That's new.

"I like this store."

Kite said, "Thank you."

"Bye!"

"Um…"

She was already gone. He'd have to ask her own name tomorrow.

By now, the women had seen every animal in his shop. Kite knew he was bored because he kept finding himself wondering what she would do next. While the thought continued to preoccupy him, the door opened up and someone slipped in. He knew exactly who it was.

Kite said, "Welcome back. By the way, I didn't catch your name."

Her eyes widened as she said, "Neferpitou."

"Neferpitou…" said Kite, "I don't have anything else here. I'm going to watch over a customer's mink in tomorrow though."

"A mink? I've never seen one. Are they much different than ferrets?"

"They're a bit harder to care for and more rambunctious."

She asked, "You have experience with them?"

"A bit. I mostly know people that do. "

He smiled as he said, "You know, this is the longest you've talked to me."

Neferpitou laughed lightly and said, "We never tried is all."

We?

She said, "Can I come back to see it?"

Kite said, "Of course. I'll have it in about ten tomorrow morning. How's that sound?"

"It's a date."

Kite didn't answer. He wasn't quite sure what to make of that um… joke.

"Bye!"

She gave her usual hand wave before exiting the pet shop.

Now that she's holding conversations with me, I can tell I was right about her. She's definitely trouble.

Kite walked over to the window, watching her skip down the sidewalk. As he gazed at her, a wry smile appeared on his face.

"There we go." said Kite as he finished attaching the harness to the mink. The little creature purred and started darting about its cage.

"Hey now," said Kite, "Settle down."

"Kite"

He turned around to see a welcome face. Pitou was dressed in a white top, a slim leather coat, and blue jeans.

"Neferpitou."

"Nyah," she said, "Call me Pitou?"

"Pitou then. You're just in time. I'm going to take Sasha here for a walk."

"A walk sounds fun. " She followed him outside, watching him guide the jittery mink down the sidewalk. Her eyes started to wander up Kite's back. To her surprise, something was missing.

"You're not wearing your hat Kite." she said.

"Yeah, I'm trying something new. So?"

"It suits you too. Now I can see all of your pretty hair."

"Hey, don't tease. I like it long."

She reached out and put her hand through it.

"I'm not teasing." She laughed and said, "I like your hair too."

Kite quickly changed the subject, "Would you like to try walking it?"

Neferpitou raised here eyebrows.

"Is it okay?" she asked.

"Why would I say "no"? I suggested it, didn't I?"

Kite wasn't sure what had possessed him to do such a thing, but he put his hand over Neferpitou's trying to guide the leash into her hand. His fingers quickly recoiled, almost losing control of the leash. Kite was silent for a moment, his ears feeling unusually hot. Neferpitou blinked, clearly puzzled on why he had stopped handing it to her.

Neferpitou reached out her hand now. "Can I?"

This time Kite slipped the leash into her palm. She quickly shut it and started to walk the mink to the side, as they cut a corner.

Kite said, "Do you own any pets?"

Neferpitou looked up at him and blinked. She said, "Not right nyeow. I'm afraid I'm not allowed to have pets at my apartment."

"I see. That's too bad."

What's with all the verbal tics?

Neferpitou said, "I get to see plenty of animals each day at your store though."

"You like all of them too. That's unusual. Most people like the dogs, cat, or birds. They won't get near the snakes or spiders."

"Oh, but they're all so cute and interesting. If I could keep a pet, I have no idea which to choose."

"If you do need a pet, I'll help you choose one."

"And what pet do you think would suit me?"

"The answer is so obvious I don't even want to say it."

"Huh? Tell me. Tell me. Tell me."

Kite laughed and walked ahead of her. She started to chant, "Kite! Kite! Come on, tell me. Why is it so funny you have to hide it?"

She put a free hand on her hip in an exaggerated fashion and said, "Are you saying I look like an animal?"

Kite said, "Nonsense, none of them are as adorable as you."

Kite immediately regretted saying it, as he did the fact his face was turning an obvious shade of red.

As she pointed a finger to her face, she said, "I'm adorable? You really think so?"

His features still red, Kite said quietly, "Shameless too."

She giggled as they continued down the road.

After fifteen minutes, they'd arrived back at the shop. Kite unbelted the mink from its small leash and placed it back into its cage. He turned around to see Neferpitou staring at him, her hands crossed behind her back. She spun around and waved at him.

"Bye!"

Kite began to walk forward towards her.

"Wait." he said.

She stopped dead in her tracks. She turned to look at him, her eyebrows raised in confusion.

"Yes?" she asked.

Kite struggled for words. He had spoken both out of impulse and necessity. But now, that choice had left him dumbfounded.

He thought, "It's so easy for you. Always cheerful and confident. I can't read you Pitou. I don't know what you'll say. I'll probably just make a fool of myself. Wait, what am I saying?"

He smiled.

As if you'd mind.

"Did you have fun today?" he asked.

"I did." She said, "Thank you for inviting me."

"Pitou… do you want to do something later?"

Neferpitou's eyebrows suddenly raised even higher. Her eyes widened exponentially and her mouth opened ever so slightly.

"I-If you want."

"Really?" he asked, "If you'd rather not, that's fine. I don't want you to think you're obligated to come."

"No. I'd love to go out with you!" she said, looking worried.

He asked, "Go out?!"

He had meant that and yet hearing it put bluntly by her made it seem scandalous to him.

Kite said, "Well you d-wait- you will? I mean... are you okay?"

Neferpitou was looking away, her eyes suddenly more interested with her feet. Her cheeks had a light shade of pink painted onto them.

"Where will we be meeting?" she said, "I think it would be easiest if we agreed to meet here at six."

"That's great."

She finally looked up at him. She closed her mouth, seeming to gulp for a second. Her face suddenly brightened with a smile and she turned away.

She said rather deeply, "See you then."

Kite stared in disbelief for a while. At last, he regained himself. He started to turn back to the counter, but gave one last glace out the window.

"She was flustered? Pitou, I guess I don't know you so well after all. Still, I may not know much, but… I'd like to find out."

Author's Notes: This is a short story that I wrote for one of my favorite Hunter x Hunter ships. This is the first of three chapters. Please look forward to the next one!