Makoto sunk into the bath, enjoying the warmth on his tired muscles. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply when he felt something brush his hand. He looked over the side of the tub and watched the black cat, the strange black cat that always was watching him jump up onto the edge of the tub and dip it's paw in the water, blue eyes never leaving his.

"What are you doing?" Makoto asked sitting up.

Dewdrop flicked water at him walking from the edge of the tub onto his knees then using them as a diving board and doing a small lap in the warm water.

"Most cat's don't like water," Makoto stated with amusement.

Makoto, unable to coax the cat out of the water settled for having to share his bath with Dewdrop. He was getting use to the lack of privacy, even if it was sometimes annoying. He couldn't go into the bathroom without Dewdrop following. He couldn't play video games without the cat in his lap. He couldn't eat his cereal without having to hold it off the table and eat it like he was in a contest. He couldn't use the computer without the cat sitting on the keyboard, or do his homework without Dewdrop sprawling on top of the books or paper, swatting at his pencil, pen, or highlighter until it went flying into the dark void behind his desk or under his bed. Makoto had gone through more office supplies in the past month then he had in all his years of schooling.

When Makoto went to drain the tub there was a flurry of black fur and blood in the water. Makoto pulled his hand back holding it close to his chest. "Fine, okay," he said before drying off, bandaging and cleaning the cut, and dressing. Leave Dewdrop to swim around in the bathroom as long as he wanted.

Some evenings when Makoto had friends over Dewdrop would sit at his side and when he wasn't paying attention would be on his lap or licking his hand. It was almost like the cat was jealous. But Makoto dismissed the idea. Some of Makoto's friends Dewdrop tolerated, others he hated. Kisumi couldn't get out the door fast enough for the cat. Usually with angry red lines on his arms. If Makoto had spent the day with Kisumi, Dewdrop would come up sniff him and then angrily stalk off, facing the window and tail flicking back and forth in quick agitated motions.

Makoto dreamed, when he could and when it wasn't of him drowning in an ocean of black fur, it was of a beautiful castle. He always heard a voice and would settle down in front of a fire as a man with sharp teeth told him a story. Sometimes the man would lead him around the grounds, with the air of a disappointed father. Shaking his head from time to time as he told his story.

"A long long time ago," he'd begin, "there was a king who held great riches but none greater than a monopoly on water. His greed nearly killed his subjects and isolated himself. Eventually he was all alone. No family, no friends, no servants or subjects, just him and his prized water."

His voice would fade out and the man would disappear. Makoto would find himself in the courtyard walking towards the lake when a voice would call out.

"You! Get away!" A young man, barely older than Makoto, in what was once kingly attire would say coming from inside at a fast pace. His black hair would be in disarray. His clothes dirty and torn, it looked like he hadn't changed in months.

Makoto would hold up his hands, "I'm sorry. I've gotten lost," he would say.

The man would glare at him, look him up and down then scoff. "It can wait," he'd say before sitting in a well worn chair over the lake, his feet sinking into the water.

Makoto would move near cautiously. It felt dangerous, but he'd sit in the grass and look out at the water. They would sit there for what felt like hours, the king forgetting he was there. It was peaceful. And as the atmosphere relaxed Makoto would study the man. He was beautiful, underneath his lack of self care. Then a knock would sound and Makoto would disappear. He'd observe but he couldn't interact. The king tried to ignore it but the sound, the echoes of the knocking would become too loud for him to leave alone. Sometimes he'd be swimming and would just dive deeper in the water to drown it out. Makoto would find himself underwater, able to breathe and enchanted by the life in the water, jellyfish that didn't sting, fish that glowed and sparkled. But the knocking would make it's way into the water, louder and louder till Makoto felt like his ears would bleed.

The man would grumble and curse and make his way to the front door and throw it open, with his best how-dare-you-i-will-have-you-beheaded look to find a small red headed girl dressed in rabs sobbing at his doorstep. She'd cry and say how her father was dying and all he needed was a little water, just the smallest dewdrop to live.

The King would blink, surprised and then would laugh. "A dewdrop?! Wait then until morning and there will be plenty of dew drops for your father. Go away and take your noise with you!" He'd say, turning and slamming the door.

Makoto would get a glance in that moment of the land outside of the castle, even Makoto could tell there was no chance of even the slightest precipitation to save the girl's father. But the man never looked at the girl, never looked past her at the state of things. He'd head back to his lake but the door would burst open with a gale and the small girl would be there rubbing her eyes and sniffing as a taller man with red hair would walk in, he didn't say a word just tapped the king on the head and he'd disappear in a puff a smoke.

Makoto always woke up with tears in his eyes. He sniffed and felt a rough tongue on his cheek. Dewdrop would wait until the moment Makoto felt he was okay before whacking him in the face with his paw and darting off.

After having Dewdrop for several months Makoto got use to things he hadn't expected to. Like having to check his laundry basket for a black cat that buried its way underneath. After starting the washer having to dig out the wet cat before closing the lid no matter how much he protested. He couldn't set a glass of anything down unless he wanted it to be knocked over or broken. If he didn't get the hints that Dewdrop wanted to go outside or was hungry he was to expect to be rudely brought back to attention, by scratches, bites, or a paw to the face. Makoto's only defense to keep his glasses safe and to be able to sleep without a flying cat running around on him was to fill the bathtub before going to bed. Sometimes in the middle of the night he'd wake up to a cold wet cat in his bed, but it was always a calmer cat. Cat nip was a nightmare and should never have been tried out.

If he spent the night anywhere else his siblings and parents would relate how Dewdrop had cried at the door when he didn't get home on time. He'd whine to be let out, would run around the yard in a panic smelling the air and meowing. When giving up and coaxed back inside he'd drag different things of Makoto's onto his bed and sleep inside his pillow case. When Makoto got back Dewdrop would come running with a chorus of meows. Makoto would sit down in the entry way since there was no way to get any further. Makoto would explain where he'd been and why and apologize for worrying Dewdrop, as the cat ran over him checking for injuries. Once assured Makoto was home safe and sound the cat would stalk off and ignore Makoto the rest of the day. After the 4th time Makoto always called home and his parents would set the phone next to Dewdrop who would meow in response to whatever Makoto said. It helped a little. This never happened with anyone else.

In the afternoons Dewdrop would ask to be let out and would disappear all afternoon just to be back in time for Makoto to get home from school. They were never sure where Dewdrop went until Makoto passed the cat on his way home.

"You should be careful Makoto with Dewdrop. He's a black cat," Rei said.

"You're not being superstitious are you?" Makoto asked.

"No, of course not. It's just that because these superstitions exist people can be cruel. A lot of black cats are killed, especially around Halloween or Friday the 13th. You shouldn't let him out as often as you do. You can't always trust people."

"You're joking right?"

"He's not. There have been all sorts of stories about people hurting pets. I was reading this story yesterday where they were putting blades in apples and feeding them to dogs. And more people like dogs then they do cats. So you can only imagine what they'd do to cats, especially one like Dewdrop," Nagisa said.

Makoto shuddered.

"Plus, if he trespasses and ruins anything or scratches anyone they could demand you have him put down, or they might just kill him themselves."

"But what if he's protecting himself?"

"Doesn't matter and with his better-than-thou personality around anyone other than you and your family he's not going to win over many strangers."

"Wait, isn't that Dewdrop?"

Makoto looked where Nagisa was pointing and saw Dewdrop, blue collar that had been a pain to get him to wear, standing on a fence, at eye level with a bizarrely dressed red haired man. Dewdrop's back was arched and he was hissing, paw swatting at the man.

Makoto felt a cold rush of panic and ran forward, feeling sick. With everything Rei and Nagisa had said a million different terrible thoughts rushed to his mind. He had to hurry before Dewdrop hurt the man. Makoto grabbed Dewdrop off the fence, pulling the surprised cat into his arms.

"I'm so sorry!" Makoto said "Please don't hurt him!"

The man lifted his sun glasses and looked Makoto up and down with red eyes. He grinned a sharks grin, "Your cat?"

"Yes! I'm sorry."

"Don't worry I won't hurt your cat. What's his name?"

"Dewdrop"

The man let his sunglasses fall back over his eyes as Rei and Nagisa grabbed Makoto by the arms to pull him away.

Makoto looked down at the cat in his arms, tears welling up in his eyes as the panic subsided. "You've got to promise me," Makoto said, "You won't get yourself in trouble and get yourself killed."

Dewdrop looked up at him, head tilted to the side studying Makoto, pushing himself up and looking over his shoulder at the laughing man before licking up one of Makoto's salty tears.