The Fourth Day

Zell's fourth day as a cat began badly.

Seifer and Fujin sauntered into the dorm room at six-thirty, waking both Zell and Raijin. If it had been up to Zell, he would have given the annoying bully some hisses and several deep scratches for barging in uninvited this early, but Raijin just yawned and greeted them as if it was no big deal.

"Something goin' on today?" Raijin inquired.

"We're going chicken hunting," Seifer declared.

Fujin rolled her eye and whacked the blond on the head. "OBSESSED."

"Chicken hunting?" The third DC member asked cluelessly.

"Yup. Seems like Zell's been avoiding us. I even asked around. Apparently, no one's seen your boyfriend for a few days."

Boyfriend? Zell's sleepy mind picked up on the fact that Almasy was missing his favorite victim, but didn't understand the abrupt transition to the topic of Raijin's missing lover. Of course, the implication that Raijin was gay was hardly a revelation after what had happened last night, but the martial artist had never heard any rumors that Raijin had a lover.

"Zell's not my boyfriend, ya know," the muscled man murmured shyly. Zell would've sworn that Raijin was blushing behind his swarthy complexion.

Is there another SeeD or cadet named Zell? He wondered. He didn't recall hearing anything about that.

"Don't know what you even see in that Chicken-wuss anyway," Seifer muttered.

Things clicked. Zell blinked. WTF? Raijin was interested in him??

Raijin frowned at that comment. "He's sweet. I hate it when you pick on him, ya know?"

Zell must have made a noise, because all three giant faces turned to stare at him. He nearly panicked, but the petting by a large tanned hand calmed him. Sweet? Sweet?! I may be nice, but I'm definitely not sweet! Despite the stares he was getting, he huffed angrily. Raijin is a moron.

"You still have that stupid cat?" Seifer asked.

"Zell isn't stupid, ya know!" Raijin retorted. Zell's ears twitched in alarm. There was no way that he could know it was him!

"ZELL?" The albino asked with a snigger. Seifer chuckled at Raijin's expense too.

"You named the cat Zell?" The ex-Knight elbowed the woman next to him. "You said that I'm the one obsessed?" They both laughed.

"…Shut up," Raijin protested quietly. The two SeeDs ignored him.

His weak reply affecting some part of his conscience, Zell looked at the man. The big guy's chin was tucked to his chest and he looked almost miserable.

Still laughing, the visitors left the room with a "See ya," from Seifer as an afterthought. Raijin didn't move.

Zell stood up and walked into Raijin's range of vision. "Mrow?" He asked, confused and concerned. The man sighed and raised both hands to stroke him.

"Good kitty. I'm okay. They're just assholes, ya know?"

Raijin didn't look any happier, so Zell butted his head against his chin. "They make fun of me sometimes, but they're the only friends I've got, ya know. They found out that I have a crush on the guy that Seif likes to pick on and they tease me about it sometimes."

This new information did not mesh with the conception of the trio's relationship that Zell had always had. Could it be that Seifer and Fujin were strong-willed pricks and Raijin had just gone along with them because he didn't have anyone else? Could this intimidatingly brawny staff fighter be naturally gentle and kind and sensitive? As Raijin's fingers scratched the itchy spots behind his ears, Zell mulled this hypothesis over. He did have to admit that he couldn't recall Raijin ever instigating anything. And the man usually just stood back and stayed out of the conflicts unless either one of his "friends" prodded him into joining in.

Zell's eyelids were falling shut from the attention and the purr was rumbling loudly.

"I decided to name you Zell," Raijin declared. "That's the name of the guy I like, ya know. Your eyes look a lot like his." Zell was both fascinated and reluctant to hear about Raijin's crush on him.

Large brown eyes looked into nowhere. "He's a martial artist. Blond hair and blue eyes, ya know? He's short, but he's strong. An' even though Seif scares him, Zell never backs down." The amount of respect on Raijin's face was humbling. All Zell could do was just stare and listen. "He's brave. He helped Squall fight the Sorceress. An' he's smart. Knows a lot about history and electronics. He was the one that figured out the power system in the basement levels, ya know." Pride as well as admiration was in his voice.

Raijin's mind returned to the here and now and his gaze dropped back to Zell's. "And, ya know, he's really cute." His self-depreciating laugh was almost a shy giggle.

Since it didn't seem like Raijin was going to stop petting him soon, Zell curled up in the man's lap. He felt stupefied. All his whining to himself about not being noticed, and here was a guy who seemed to put him on a pedestal. Why didn't the man ever make a move? Given Zell a hint? He was dying to ask. "Mao," he said instead.

"Good kitty," Raijin repeated absentmindedly, lost again in his thoughts. "I know Zell probably hates me 'cause I hang out with Seif, ya know, but maybe… maybe next time I see him I should try to talk to him."

"Mrrr," Zell agreed. Though who knows when or if I'll be human again. He certainly hadn't made much progress in figuring out what happened or getting anyone to believe that he wasn't a real cat.

Raijin seemed to recall something because he suddenly frowned. "I wonder if he's really missing?"

Yes! Zell thought. If I can get Raijin to investigate this, maybe he'll find clues that'll make him figure out that I've been changed!

"Meow!" He demanded. He jumped off the bed and sat by the door.

Raijin gave him a weird look. "Are you telling me to go and find him?"

Zell tried nodding his head but it didn't work. "Me-ow!"

"You are a strange kitty. Sometimes it seems like you understand what's going on, ya know?"

Zell purred. The man looked startled. "Okay. We'll go. I'm gonna get dressed first."

--

Once they were walking the crowded halls, Zell permitted the indignity of being carried. It was certainly more appealing than being trampled to death.

The first place Raijin decided to visit was the Headmistress' office. Quistis was surprised but welcomed him warmly. Zell could tell, however, that she was put off balance by the unusual visitor.

"Where did you get the kitten?" She asked. Zell silently laughed; if it had been any other cadet or SeeD, ol' Quisty would've come right out with a "Pets are not permitted in Garden!" Seemed like the huge man intimidated her, too.

"In the Training Center, ya know."

The blond woman frowned. "How did it get there, I wonder? Well, anyway, what can I assist you with?" She moved behind her desk and sat down, gesturing for Raijin to take a seat as well.

"Um, well, Seifer Almasy mentioned that Zell Dincht has been missing."

Her eyes narrowed. "Pardon me, but I wish to know your motives in asking this question. Why are you looking for Zell?"

Raijin fidgeted. "It's nothing bad. I just wanted to talk to him, ya know?"

For a second, Quistis looked lost. She resumed her in-control and capable attitude quickly. "I know you do not usually participate in the bullying that Seifer and, to a lesser extent, Fujin engage in, but why should I tell you anything about Zell?"

The man couldn't think of an answer, except admitting his attraction, and he didn't really want to blurt that out to this whip-wielding demon lady. Zell picked up on his fear of Quistis and felt smug; she was definitely a good person to have on your side.

…Well, except when she was refusing to give out any information to the one guy who had the chance to figure out that you were a cat. Zell found himself getting annoyed at Quisty.

The Garden Headmistress waited for exactly two minutes for Raijin's response. Not getting one, she got to her feet. "If you cannot give me a reason, I'm afraid I can not tell you anything about Zell Dincht's whereabouts."

Zell glanced up at Raijin and saw that the man had a stricken expression. "B-but…"

Hyne, Zell thought. The man was a bit lacking in the intelligence department. He couldn't even make up a lie about a mission or needing Zell's skills for a problem or something.

Zell's reasoning for Raijin's silence changed greatly with what the man said next. "I… I don't wanna lie, Miss Trepe. But I'm embarrassed about the truth."

Quistis was also surprised. Her eyebrows shot up toward her hairline and she sat down again.

"Is it a personal thing, Raijin?"

The man nodded, keeping his gaze safely on the kitten in his lap.

"But it is not anything bad for Zell?"

Raijin thought then shook his head.

Quistis seemed to stifle a sigh. "Zell seems to have disappeared four days ago. After teaching his class, he was last seen at the Training Center."

Raijin looked up worriedly. "The Training Center?!"

The headmistress nodded. "But there have been no signs that he was eaten by a T-Rexaur. I've had SeeDs trying to draw the GF he had junctioned from the monsters in case that had happened, but Quetzalcoatl has not turned up." The staff fighter's expression didn't change, so she elaborated, "That is a good thing."

"Miss Trepe, I want to help look for him, ya know," Raijin demanded.

Quistis shrugged. "Honestly, we've hit a dead end. We've asked his mother and friends, and no one has any idea where he's gone."

"But still," the man stated, refusing to be denied.

"Then I suggest you take a look around the Training Center where he was last seen."

"Okay!" The man stood up quickly, thankfully snatching up Zell before he fell on the floor. "Thank you very much, Headmistress," Raijin said politely before he turned and half-ran from the room.

Quistis was both amused and confused. Did Zell have a relationship with Raijin? It seemed highly unlikely; the few times he was seen around Garden, Raijin was always with the rest of the Disciplinary Committee. As far as she knew, the large man never talked to anyone else. She had always suspected that he was shy, but had been unwilling to believe that hunch until today, when she had actually talked with him.

Raijin actually seemed to be quiet and calm and even rather innocent. Maybe it was simply his somewhat low IQ, but now Quistis now preferred to think that Raijin was more tenderhearted and moral than his friends.

--

Raijin practically ran to the Training Center, something that Zell thought was quite amusing since getting there a few minutes quicker would hardly have an effect on his disappearance.

He stopped just outside the first gate. "I shouldn't bring you in there. It's dangerous." He started to put Zell on a bench, but the kitten mewed pathetically. Zell needed to go with him; he would lead Raijin to the spot where he'd transformed.

Raijin almost looked persuaded, but managed to stick to his decision. "No. You are staying here." He set Zell down. The cat looked around then bolted through a gap in the fence.

"Zell!" Raijin cried. He ran after the defenseless kitty.

Zell had equipped Quetzalcoatl with the No Encounter skill, and he was able to activate it even as a cat. He made sure that Raijin stayed within the range of the effect yet kept himself just out of the man's reach. He stopped in the clearing where he'd last been human.

"Bad kitty!" Raijin scooped him up and swatted him on his butt. Zell would've blushed if he wasn't a cat, but all he could do instead was squirm and mew. He was clutched protectively against the man's hard chest. "This is a dangerous place. You could've been killed, ya know!"

The man really seemed to be distressed. Zell felt a stab of guilt and licked the man's wrist in apology.

"Hey," Raijin said, realizing where they were. "This is where I found you!"

Zell squirmed, indicating that he wanted to be put down. Amazingly, Raijin allowed it, with a cautioning, "Don't wander off, ya know."

The cat trotted to where he thought he'd been standing when he'd used the Pet House and nosed around the tall grass.

His collar! It was lying in a thick patch of weeds hidden in a shadow. Zell meowed in triumph and ran over to nudge it with his nose.

"What did you fiind?" Raijin carefully stepped through the grass and gasped when he saw the accessory. "That's Zell's!" He reached down, picked it up, and reverently stroked it with his fingertips. Zell meowed to get Raijin's attention, sitting where the collar had been.

"How did you know-" The man cut himself off and his mind seemed to make an intuitive leap in logic. "You- you're not Zell are you?"

Zell purred ecstatically and had to jump up and dance around in relief.

The man dropped to his knees next to the cat. The look in his eyes caught Zell's attention and he stilled.

"Zell?" The man whispered.

Zell purred and rubbed his head against Raijin's knee.

"What's three minus one?"

Zell cocked his head. What the hell did that have to do with anything? But he obediently meowed twice. "And who is Seifer?" Raijin asked. Zell hissed. Inside he was laughing at the simple fact that they were having a conversation of sorts.

Raijin sat back on his heels and covered his face with his hands. "Oh Hyne…."

Zell was concerned. "Mrrow?"

"'Mbarrassed, ya know," the man mumbled.

Well, so was Zell. He'd listened to Raijin explain his attraction for him, seen him masturbate over a similar-looking guy in a porno flick, and now people would know that he had somehow managed to turn himself into a damn kitten!

Zell wondered how to convince Raijin that everything was okay, for now at least. He climbed onto the man's legs and bumped his head against his elbow. One hand lowered to reveal one brown eye. "Meow."

Raijin actually sniffled a little bit. Had he been crying? Zell wondered. Once again, the genuine and gentle personality that Raijin seemed to have hidden under his menacing exterior stirred something in Zell. He'd learned since this morning that Raijin was someone that he wanted to get to know, maybe even help out, since he appeared to be a fellow victim of Seifer Almasy.

"Should we go tell Miss Trepe?" Raijin inquired. Zell meowed in confirmation.

Neither of them moved. Raijin finally ventured, "Can you please get off my legs?" Zell acquiesced but stood in place as the man walked a couple paces away and looked back. "You coming?"

Zell was very tired. Apparently, he'd danced around a little too much or something. Unfortunately, kittens didn't appear to have much stamina. His jaw opened in a huge yawn.

"You… want me to carry you?"

"Mew." Yes. Zell's eyes began to close as Raijin picked him up, but he recalled something important and struggled in the man's grip.

"What is it?" Raijin placed him gently back on the ground and Zell sleepily staggered forward about two foot and nosed a small bottle hidden in the grass. The staff fighter collected Zell and the Pet House vial and collar, as Zell himself yawned again and fell asleep.

--

He must have been sleeping very deeply, for when he woke up he was alone in Raijin's room. The man had left a short note next to him explaining that he was talking to Quistis. Zell felt a strange mixture of amusement and pity as he studied Raijin's handwriting: childish and blocky printed letters scribed in pencil.

Zell stretched. Then, sighting the full water dish and bowl of liver treats, he felt a wave of appreciation for Raijin and dug in.

When the door opened, Zell ignored it and continued eating, expecting Raijin. He was literally pulled away from his food when someone lifted him by the back of the neck. He hissed and squirmed.

"Hey Zell." Fear hit him and Zell stopped struggling. He was swung around to look right into Seifer's face.

He thinks I'm a cat, Zell reminded himself, and he started meowing pathetically.

"You can stop that, chickie. I know it's you." Seifer looked vastly amused at the situation. "I would have thought you'd change into a chicken. But I must admit you make an awfully cute little kitty."

Zell stopped moving completely and just hung limp in his enemy's grip. He was defenseless: four pairs of claws and a mouthful of tiny teeth were hardly any match for Seifer; and with his pathetically low HP of 25, all Seifer needed to do to KO him was poke him once with a stick.

Almasy smirked. "Quite the opportunity for me. You are in no condition to fight back now. …But what shall I do with you?"

Zell did his best to glare at his tormentor while expectantly glancing at the door.

Seifer noticed his looks and laughed. "Your hero is not going to come and save you. Fujin's got him distracted." Zell's hopes were dashed. "But don't worry little Zell-Kitty; I won't play with you too hard." The man's chuckles grew ominously louder. "I ain't plannin' on hurting ya any."

The torture went on for almost an hour. Seifer hadn't lied—none of his pranks actually harmed Zell. By the time the fifth frilly doll dress with matching hat had been forced onto Zell's body for the benefit of Seifer's camera, he was praying for death or the pain of a broken bone; something to keep his thoughts off of the humiliation.

--

Seifer dropped Zell off back at Raijin's room. The staff fighter's frantic pacing was interrupted by their entrance.

"What did you do to him?!" The dark man was worried and enraged enough to forego his usual addendum of "ya know."

Almasy casually dropped the kitten onto Raijin's bed. "Nothing. We just enjoyed a little play time. I'll give you a copy of the photos when they're developed." The blond smirked smugly and left the room.

Raijin scooped Zell off the bedspread. "Did he hurt you?" Zell meowed in the negative, but his ears were still flattened in shame and he avoided making eye contact. "Whatever happened, it wasn't your fault, ya know?" The big man soothed, "You couldn't have done anything."

Zell reluctantly ceded the point. But I was stupid and unlucky enough to get myself into this situation in the first place, he thought glumly.

"I told Miss Trepe. She didn't believe me, ya know."

Zell felt despair tighten its hold around his chest. He wanted to hiss, but didn't have the energy to fight through the cocoon of depression.

"I was going to take you back to see her, ya know. But now it's too late and she's prob'ly left her office and is down in her apartment. And I don't know where that is, ya know?"

Zell just slumped even more bonelessly against the corded forearm that was holding him up.

The gentle stroking and scratching stopped abruptly and a thick finger poked Zell's side. This jolted Kitten Zell out of his funk, and he turned to face Raijin's ginormous head and give him a narrow-eyed glare. Hey! I was enjoying my well-deserved little pity party here! Zell thought indignantly.

The man's face didn't register any contrition. Raijin's half-frown was more distracted than annoyed. "Wait. You know where she lives, right? You can take me there and we'll convince her, ya know!"

Meanly, Zell attributed the delay in the man's realization to his dim-witted mind, and mentally rolled his eyes.

"You must want to change back soon as possible, right?" Raijin continued. "I mean, you prob'ly hate being defenseless, ya know." The large guy's face darkened and he futilely tried to hide it from Zell. "An' you must really hate being stuck with me."

The last sentence was mumbled, and seemed to be more of an admission of low self-esteem than an insight into Zell's feelings. Despite his black mood, Zell was moved to reassure the man. Raijin had taken very good care of him, figured out his identity, and—though several days ago Zell never would have believed he'd be admitting this even to himself—he was, despite appearances, a good guy.

Zell mewed to get the man's attention, then deliberately purred and butted his head against Raijin's chest.

Four minutes later they were standing at Quistis' dormitory door, Zell having directed Raijin with discreet claw extensions—right for 'right' and left for 'left'—that gently pressed against skin.

The martial artist-turned-cat found the concept of him 'riding' and 'steering' the large staff fighter quite amusing.

"Yes…?" Quisy's inquisitive answer trailed off in puzzlement as the opening door revealed an unexpected caller.

Raijin looked at the floor and shuffled his feet. "Um. Zell wanted to see you." He thrust the kitten towards the woman. Zell pawed the air in alarm; the only keeping him from a very long drop to the floor were the four fingers under his belly.

Quistis reluctantly and awkwardly took the cat. "This is nonsense!" She huffed.

Zell mewed and looked back at Raijin. He was surprised to find himself uneasy in his good friend's hold; he missed the security of Raijin's arms. This thought came at Zell from left field and he knew he'd be blushing if his face wasn't furry.

Raijin refused to accept the cat. He crossed his arms and tried to think of some way to prove that the cat was Zell. It took him a couple moments to remember what the Headmistress had said before; the panicky glances he was getting from Kitty-Zell kept distracting him with guilt.

He finally came up with something. "Try to draw, ya know!" He suggested triumphantly.

Quistis rolled her eyes and did so just to placate the brutish idiot. Only to find that Quetzalcoatl was indeed Junctioned to an immature feline!

"What?! I don't understand!" The woman thoughtlessly and accidentally dropped the cat.

Unfortunately for Zell, his built-in feline instincts didn't include the well-known cats-always-land-on-their-feet ability. He howled when he hit the floor, though mostly from shock.

Raijin immediately picked him up and cuddled him, the offense of dropping a helpless kitty apparently grave enough for him to glare at the scary whip-lady.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to drop him!" Quistis gasped in apology.

Zell's caretaker stopped his accusing glare and held him up to eye-level. "You okay, Zell?"

Zell felt something inside him melt at the worried expression in those brown eyes. All he could do was lick the man's nose and purr.

Quistis was unbalanced by the seemingly affirmative response to Raijin's inquiry. "Well, why don't you leave Zell with me and I'll call a meeting to try to figure out what happened and how to change him back?" She extended her arms expectantly.

Raijin looked at her hands then back at Zell, frowning. "I don't think so, Miss Trepe. Zell has been happy with me, ya know. You have your meeting and come see us when you're done."

Raijin left the stunned woman and walked down the hall. Zell was surprised at the usually compliant man's refusal to follow orders. Relieved, though. Again, Zell noted the unexpected preference to stay with Raijin instead of Quisty. Now, the thought was joined with the realization that what the dark man had said was true: Zell had been happy with Raijin. Still was happy, according to the unconscious purring that rumbled in his throat and chest. Happier, in fact, than he'd been the past several months.

--

That night Raijin sprawled on the bed, Zell in the narrow space between the muscular body and the wall. Instead of feeling penned in, he felt… safe.

"I hope your friends figure out how to turn you back, ya know," Raijin offered. Zell watched as the man bit his lip and looked at the ceiling. "But… I'll miss you. Even though, ya know, you aren't yourself. It was nice to not be alone."

The marmalade-colored kitten studied Raijin's face. Hyne, the big guy looked so sad. Zell tried to put as much comfort into a meow as he could.

"Bet you can't wait 'til you're human again. So you can be with your friends. Ya know?"

Man, Zell thought. Where was this guilt coming from? Of course he wanted to hang out with Selphie and Squall and Quisty! Though… everyone had been too busy lately to actually hang out…. And the only people who actually seemed interested in talking to him in the past several months were his students and Seifer. (Almasy's attention, though, he would be happy to do without.)

"Maybe…" Raijin's eyes flicked to meet Zell's before darting away again, "maybe we can hang out sometime? Just, ya know, hang out?" His voice was so hopeful, yet his body language clearly expected a negative answer from Zell. His vulnerability got to Zell and the martial arts instructor felt a wave of kindness and compassion toward the man who had unreservedly taken him in.

Zell rolled on his back, his right side pressing close to Raijin, and purred in response.