Sighing in frustration Takano pressed the elevator button to his floor.

He didn't mean to take so long but he was unfamiliar with choosing the right size and style for Ritsu. He had to have someone help him multiple times since he never shopped for anyone else in his life before.

Takano carried three bags full of shirts, pants, shoes, and socks. If he missed anything he could easily go back and get it.

The elevator stopped on his floor. Takano took only a step out the elevator before he stopped cold when he spotted Yokozawa standing dumbly by his open doorway.

Takano's eyes widened. Crap! Ritsu!

"Oi, Yokozawa." Takano called out as he ran to him.

Yokozawa looked over at him and pointed inside. "What the hell is that!?"

Takano groaned. He'd seen Ritsu. "Get inside!" Takano commanded as he pushed the man in.

Yokozawa resisted. "Not until you tell me why there's a kid in there and…are those ears?" Yokozawa's eyes widened as he also spotted the wagging tail.

"Damn it Yokozawa. Just get inside!" Takano finally managed to get Yokozawa inside the apartment and lock the door behind him.

"Takano what is that?"

Takano sighed as he dropped the bags by the doorway. "It's a long story Yokozawa." Takano glanced at Ritsu who was hissing at Sorata while Sorata was calmly sitting down watching Ritsu. What was Ritsu doing? Takano took note of the scattered books on the floor.

Yokozawa shrugged, "I have plenty of time, now start."

Takano sighed again; he didn't need this so early in the morning. He looked to Ritsu who was now circling Sorata. "Ritsu what are you doing?"

Ritsu glared at Takano. "What does it look like I'm doing?"

"Leave Sorata alone."

"I didn't do anything! He attacked me!"

"Sorata? He wouldn't harm anyone."

Ritsu rolled his eyes. "That's what you think." Ritsu goes to the living room to sit down on the couch with his arms folded.

"Are those real?" Yokozawa pointed to Ritsu's ears and tail.

"Yeah…they're real."

"Where did you find him?" Yokozawa's gaze was fixed on Ritsu.

"I was walking home from work late at night when I saw Ritsu just standing by himself on the sidewalk. I didn't see the ears or tail at first since he wore a hat and long coat."

Yokozawa went over to Ritsu to study the ears closer. He was about to touch them when Ritsu slapped the hand away.

Ritsu glared at him. "You better get away from me human."

"Poor manners." Yokozawa murmured.

Ritsu hissed at him, his fangs looking aggressive in the low light. Yokozawa drew back sharply in surprise.

Takano ignored them and continued the story. "He collapsed in the next second. I wanted to take him to a doctor but Ritsu asked me not to. So I took him home and well…"

Yokozawa glanced at Ritsu. "He's a cat?"

"Felis Human!"

Takano grinned. "He hates it when you call him a cat."

"Isn't it the same thing?"

"No."

Ritsu hissed at Sorata who jumped on the other side of the couch. Sorata only mewed and grew comfortable on the couch.

Ritsu turned to Takano. "I thought you lived on your own. I didn't know you had a partner."

Both Yokozawa and Takano gawked at this. "Ha!?"

Ritsu frowned at their reactions. "He has a key to this apartment. So I assumed…"

Yokozawa fretted. "I'm just a friend!"

Ritsu shrugged. "There's no harm if your partner is the same sex."

Yokozawa sputtered. "Aren't you a little too young to know about these things!?"

"I'm old enough Human!"

Takano raised his eyebrows. "Your kind isn't prejudice about this?"

Ritsu shook his head. "We are Felis. We are freedom. We are not held down by rules. We follow love."

Takano cocked his head. "That's interesting."

"Interesting? Takano he's just a kid-"

"I know, I know." Takano waved it away. "He's different from us Yokozawa. Just leave it alone."

Yokozawa scowled. "So you're keeping the kid?"

Takano shook his head. "He's only staying here until his magic comes back."

Yokozawa blinked. "Magic? He could do magic?"

Takano nodded. "I was skeptic too until he used a bit of magic on me." Takano left out the part about people wanting Ritsu dead. He knew Yokozawa would freak and demand to lose Ritsu somewhere or let someone else take care of him. He couldn't do that. He already started this and he was determined to see it through.

Yokozawa tensed. "He used magic on you!?"

"He just commanded me to take him here instead of the hospital."

Yokozawa glanced at Ritsu with disbelief. He looked like he was fighting the urge to take Takano away from him. "Why does it have to be you? Why not give the responsibility to someone else?"

Takano made sure to make his tone seem uncaring. "He'll be here for a couple of days." Takano shrugged. "No harm in that."

Yokozawa rolled his eyes. "You don't like company especially kids."

Knew him too well. "Technically he isn't a kid-"

"Masamune," Yokozawa's tone was a warning. "You're hiding something from me. Is he threatening you?" Yokozawa glared at Ritsu.

Ritsu rolled his eyes. "Please Human. I don't stoop so low as to threaten weak beings."

"What the hell did you say!?"

"Ritsu enough!" Takano looked to Yokozawa. "He didn't threaten me. I agreed to let him stay."

Yokozawa studied Takano in silence for a couple of minutes. "Come with me."

Takano rolled his eyes. "That's not necessary."

"Yes it is. Now come." Takano groaned as Yokozawa lead him outside the apartment.

-Ritsu

Ritsu studied the man as he took Takano outside. Could he be trusted? So far he was just concerned about Takano's safety. He sensed danger in Ritsu and in turn could bring it to Takano. He was smart, keen, and knew danger when he saw it. But Takano was stubborn.

"What are you doing here?"

Ritsu ignored Sorata. His ears twitched in trying to locate the two men's voices. He couldn't be careless.

"Felis, I demand you-"

"Shut up." Ritsu cut him off.

Sorata looked annoyed. He jumped down from the couch and put himself in front of Ritsu. "I want you out of this house now."

Ritsu glanced at Sorata. His fur was black and the stomach was white. He looked delicate, a perfect picture of health. "I said shut up Cat."

"My name is Sorata." He hissed, Sorata's tail wagged aggressively.

Bored, Ritsu looked around the room as if that was more interesting than the Cat before him. "I don't care."

"You better! Since you got my master in all of this!"

"It's none of your business." Ritsu's ears twitched again. He picked up voices from either side of him, probably Takano's neighbors, and voices from outside. Got them.

They were talking about him. So far Yokozawa doesn't feel right about this as if he could already sense the future.

"None of my business?" Sorata's screech brought Ritsu back to their own conversation. "You're going to get my Master killed! I know who looks for you and they will not give mercy to anyone who stands in the way."

"You think I don't know that?" Ritsu hissed. "I'm trying my hardest to bring back my strength and leave tomorrow hopefully." Otherwise they might find him. They were skilled in tracking; it was only a matter of days before he was found.

Sorata regarded Ritsu quietly. "Do you promise me that you would keep my Master safe at all costs?"

Ritsu looked away. "I cannot guarantee his safety." Takano's only hope now was that he would get his magic back soon and leave this place.

"Felis! Promise me!" Sorata hissed. "He doesn't deserve the violence you will bring to him. He is a kind man, filled with hope and love. I will not stand by and let you take him away from me."

"Shut up cat. I said I won't be here for long-"

"They know you are here in Earth. I heard what they plan for you and Felis," Sorata looked Ritsu dead in the eye. "You'll be begging for death."

"I can handle myself. They will not get me."

Sorata scoffed. "You are a fool. You are just a child-"

"Stop with that! I'm not young! Ugh!" Ritsu went to the books on the ground and concentrated hard. He needed to regain his power, his ability to defend himself and those around him.

Ritsu gashed his teeth as he tried to lift the book. Nothing.

He lifted his right hand and opened his palm. The book shook a little.

"How did you get so weak?" Sorata asked.

Ritsu relaxed his body. "Parasite." He murmured absently. He was disappointed in himself, such little power he now possessed.

Sorata's eyes widened in disbelief. He moved himself away from Ritsu as if he was the most contagious thing in the world. "You survived that!? It's supposed to be deadly. No one would be able to defeat it."

Ritsu turned to Sorata. "It is nothing to me." To use the parasite means to damn yourself. He wouldn't be surprised if whoever casted the parasite on him was already dead.

"But you're only a child."

"I am a Prince-"

Sorata hissed. "Prince Onodera Ritsu? Not you! My master will surely die now!" He growled low in his throat. "That is…if I take care of you first."

Ritsu rolled his eyes. "Such a small thing. You have no magic. You gave that up the minute you chose to be a Cat."

"I chose to be a Cat because you Felis don't have heart! I'm proud to be a cat."

Ritsu scoffed. "So you chose to be with Humans? They are the worst of the worst. They abandoned you, out in the streets. They-"

Sorata hissed and jumped, his claws aiming for Ritsu's eyes.

Ritsu easily sidestepped. "Even with my magic gone you can't touch me."

Sorata hissed. "You don't know anything about Humans! They're not evil."

Ritsu ignored Sorata as his ears picked up Yokozawa and Takano's conversation. They were too loud.

Yokozawa kept scowling at Takano that he was hiding something from him. Which he was. He noticed the way Takano had not mention that he was being hunted down. He was considerate for his friend but in a way also foolish. It was better if Takano had some kind of protection.

Ritsu coughed roughly. The sound came out ugly, horridly; his chest ached at the roughness.

Sorata considered him worriedly. "It looks like some of the parasite is still in you."

Ritsu stayed quiet. He didn't know for sure, it could be the aftershocks of the parasite or maybe a lingering feeling. Something else.

He didn't want to consider the fact that his life was still in danger from the dangerous parasite. He didn't need to freak out right now.

Calm, stay calm in everything.

Or lose all that matters.

Ritsu kept this saying deep in his heart. He was alive because of these words. His prayer.

Sorata nudged his nose against Ritsu's leg, surprising Ritsu with his sudden gentleness. "You need to get back to your world-"

"I know! I can last until then." The cat was irritating him. He needed time alone to think. Needed time to strategize.

Yokozawa and Takano finally entered the room with a calmer aura. "Come on Sorata." Yokozawa called. He crouched down so that Sorata could climb into Yokozawa hands. Sorata let out a purr. He then looked to Ritsu. "As soon as you get your 'magic' leave." With that Yokozawa left the apartment.

Takano sighed. "Sorry, he's just really overprotective of me."

"Not surprised," Ritsu replied with a shrug. "since he loves you so much."

Takano sputtered. "He's just a friend."

"Ah…So it's one-sided."

"How can you tell?" Takano pointed at the small child in front of him. "You're only a kid."

Ritsu growled. "Would you stop calling me a kid!? I'm not a kid!" Ritsu crossed his arms and pouted.

Takano chuckled. "So cute!" Just to irritate him.

Ritsu hissed, giving Takano the reaction he wanted. "Human! I said don't call me cute!"

"It's Masamune."

Ritsu huffed.

Takano laughed softly. "Alright, alright." Takano ruffled his hair playfully.

Ritsu hissed at him. "Stop…that!" Ritsu shoved his hands away.

Takano smiled. "I brought you lots of cloths."

Ritsu perked up at this. "Finally!" Ritsu reached down to take off the large t-shirt.

Takano scowled. "Wait until I get the clothes! Don't get naked now!"

"This is annoying!" Ritsu dropped the t-shirt on the floor leaving him butt naked.

Takano reached for the bags and threw Ritsu a pair of underwear, jeans, and a green long sleeve shirt.

Ritsu studied the clothes first before putting them on one by one. He then sighed in comfort. "These are better…but…" Ritsu looked at his tail that was being crushed by the waist band of the jeans. "Masamune, cut a hole in these jeans."

Takano frowned. "Huh?"

"I need you to cut a hole here." Ritsu pointed at the back of his jeans.

"Wouldn't that be weird though?"

"Did you buy me a long sweater?"

"Yeah…"

"Then it's fine. Besides, it's not like I'm going to leave this apartment anytime soon."

"Well…"

Ritsu crossed his arms. "Masamune just do it."

Takano blew out a breath. "Fine….but first…let's take you a bath."

Ritsu paled. "No! No bath!" Ritsu drew away from Takano.

Takano grinned. "What? Kitten doesn't like water?"

"I'm not a damn cat!"

"Then why don't you like the idea of a bath?"

Ritsu pouted. "I just…don't like water…"

Takano smiled. "I won't fill up the tub, I promise."

Ritsu looked away, he felt his cheeks heat up as Takano smirked at him. "I-I don't know…"

Takano crouched down in front of Ritsu. "I won't let anything happen to you ok?" Takano gave Ritsu his hand, giving Ritsu the chance to take it or not.

Ritsu stared at it. Why was he being so gentle with him all of a sudden?

Takano grinned. "What? Just take it."

Ritsu tentatively took it. He frowned, such warm hands.

Takano smiled and pulled Ritsu toward the bathroom.

Well…Let see how this one goes. Ritsu thought.