Purebloods - Animals in our world, dogs and cats, they can't talk and have no human features. Half-breeds/Hybrids - Half animal, half human, human bodies with animal features like tails, ear, wings, etc. They can do humanistic things, essentially humans with a animal features. (Think of Inuyasha from Inuyasha)

Both creatures exist in this world, Kagami and Aomine are Hybrids. Both have ears, tails, fangs, and eyes like a tiger and panther.

Man's Best Friend
Chapter 2

"Kagami, I'm home." Kuroko announced opening up the door.

It was strange saying those words for the first time. Kuroko didn't even realize he was going to say it until he said it. All those late night housewife shows must have really brainwashed him subconsciously. At least all he said was 'I'm home' instead of the classic, 'honey I'm home.' Whichever he would have said though, none of those calls would have gotten a reply. Upon entering his small home the first thing he noticed, which should have been his new roommate, was the pile of dirty dishes all stacked up in the sink. The second thing he noticed, which still should have been his new companion, was the rough scratch marks all along his couch. Finally though, he finally noticed his new friend standing out on the balcony with his tail swishing back and forth as he stared at a bird.

Kagami's ears twitched when he heard keys jiggling and turned around right when his new master was taking off his shoes then placing his bag on the counter. Eyes lowered, his tail swishing a little faster as his head tilted sideways a bit.

"I'm hungry." Were the first words that left his mouth.

"What happened to the couch?" Was how Kuroko decided to answer back.

Kagami shrugged lightly as he walked back into the tiny apartment, his tail closing the sliding door behind him. "I start clawing things when I get bored."

"Isn't that why I got the toys?"

Kagami made a blank face, "... oh, right."

He readied himself for the lecture, the scolding, the yelling and the soon to be argument, his new master hadn't done any of that though. He didn't bother doing any of that as he walked towards the couch and further inspected the damaged.

"Thank goodness it was already in bad condition," He sighed out, "I think you actually made an improvement." He tried to joke.

Kagami... blinked slowly, his shoulders easing down in the slightest as his tail fell down against the floor. He tilted his head again, this time in the other direction, and narrowed his eyes. "You... aren't going to scold me?"

He was ready for the scolding, prepared, but not for... nothing. Absolutely nothing except an ignore and a horrible joke.

"I didn't pay for the couch, I know it's a hunk of trash but it does its purpose. I'm sorry you're forced to sleep on this lumpy thing, if you want you can have my futon. It's not much, but it's sure better than this now."

Kagami's ears lowered distastefully; not only was he not getting scolded for something bad he did, but he was also getting rewarded for doing it? And sympathy? This didn't make sense in Kagami's book. "What kind of master are you?"

"My name is Kuroko Tetsuya, not master." Kuroko told him moving back towards the kitchen, "so the food I left out wasn't enough? You sure eat a lot for such a small thing." He said staring at the dishes.

He looked back at Kagami and noticed the small little seven year old kitten. He was wearing Kuroko's old basketball shirt and some shorts, a few sizes too big that he had left out for him before going to school just in case Kagami might want to switch out of his kennel clothes (which was just a red shirt and pants that had the pet shop's logo on it). Kagami looked like any other elementary school kid, short with a high voice, except for his tiger-like features. Kuroko didn't think red tigers existed though, especially with eyes as blood red and sharp as Kagami's which he was using to stare right back into his own icy blue ones.

"Why are you being so nice? I don't get it, none of my other masters treated me this way."

Kuroko didn't know the answer the little kitten wanted, so he answered truthfully, "you're my guest and my friend. This is just how I treat them."

"Friend? Aren't I your pet?"

Kuroko sensed a deeper meaning behind his words and figured that when the little tiger wanted to talk about it, he'd speak up more clearly. "Well you told me yesterday you're more human than animal, so to me you're my friend. Do you prefer if I refer to you as my pet?"

Kagami just didn't get this guy. He said nothing as he simply turned back around, reopened the sliding door, and went back on the balcony to start his bird watching again. Kuroko sighed, knowing he got the answer wrong, and started washing the dishes before he reheated the last bit of curry from last night. He set out two plate on the small coffee table, which had been moved in front of the couch instead of beside it, and invited Kagami back in for lunch. Watching the tiger scarf down the meal like he hadn't eaten in days made Kuroko imagine his money practically flying out the window with food bills. He needed to stock up on more cup of noodles or pick up another job or something or else he'd have a starving tiger on his hands.

"Do you want to play? If not I'll be studying before I have to go to work." Kuroko asked picking up their dirty dishes from the table.

Kagami furrowed his eyebrows, "are you serious?"

"I don't want you getting lonely or bored, I think one more scratch and our little couch will be out for the count."

"I'm fine just by myself, thank you." He hissed.

Kuroko shrugged and took their plates away, washing them all and putting them away before picking up his backpack and getting himself settled in the living room. Kagami was on the couch laughing at the TV while Kuroko had his head in the book, writing up notes as he studied.

"I'm being too loud." Kagami stated in a way that he really meant, I'm not going to quiet down if you want me to so leave the room if you want that.

"I don't mind, it's a nice change from the quietness I'm used too." Kuroko said writing down some more notes.

Kagami frowned, "you're a weird human, you know that?"

"I've heard."

Kagami's frowned deepened and he ignored his new master. He just couldn't read him at all, this master just so, so, STRANGE! Kagami didn't know that there were humans like him, quiet, to themselves, almost like himself. It was weird thinking so much about his master, so Kagami quickly turned his attention back to the TV. Time passed by in the blink of an eye and Kuroko closed his books, packing them back up.

"I'll be home for dinner, do you think you can hold off until then?"

"Yeah, yeah." Kagami mumbled.

"I think there's treats in the bag, feel free to eat those. Your toys should be in here too." Kuroko said picking up the plastic bag on the counter.

He placed them on the small coffee table in front of Kagami and looked at him. Kagami's red eyes reflected the television, but when his eyes focused on him they were alert and bright.

"What?" He asked.

This would be the moment where the master would pet the pet and be off, right? Kuroko reached out to pet him, he paused though and pulled his hand back. Kagami wasn't like other pets, Kuroko knew this. He seemed more independent, closed off. Getting petted would probably be an insult to him. Standing up, Kuroko reached for his backpack and headed for the door.

"Bye Kagami."

The door shut behind him and Kagami leaned up, his nose turned up. His master was turning stranger and stranger each passing minute.

"What's with him?" He asked himself scratching his ear.

Kagami paused and looked at his hand, was he trying to pet him before? Why didn't he? It's not like he's never been pet before. Kagami's mind was filled with thoughts about how strange his master was until he came home, looking dead tired.

"Here, my boss gave me some bentous. Go ahead and eat my share, I'm just going to go to bed. Goodnight Kagami." Kuroko said dropping the food on the coffee table before heading straight for his room.

If this was how life was going to be, Kagami living alone and getting free meals, then he was about to live it up! This wasn't all that bad. His bed and entertainment were a joke, they were better than that stupid little old pet shop though. His master didn't seem to bother him too much, it was like he never existed in the first place! Sure his cage was a little bigger, he had his space though and small amount of freedom.

"I can get used to this." Kagami grinned largely, his fangs sticking out as he reached for his bentou.