Chapter 7: Choices: Nostalgia


Sekai ichi "Cat"sukoi

Chapter Seven

"Good luck with your new Oda" the breeder called from the steps of the mansion.

"Yeah, whatever," Saga mumbled lifting his hand in listless acknowledgement. He nodded to the furiously blushing kitten standing next to him. "Get in." the teen nodded to the open car door, as the driver his mother had hired to take Saga to the breeder's took the small suitcase from the wide-eyed neko.

Obediently the Oda climbed into the backseat of the car; Saga climbed in behind him. The driver shut the door. Within moments the two youths were off: headed to the Saga house where they'd begin exploring their new relationship as "pet" and "owner".

The boys rode together in silence.

Saga looked over at his new Oda, Ritsu. The slender neko was sitting, hands on his knees, tail curled submissively into his lap, its tip and the kitten's large brown ears twitched occasionally with excitement and anxiety. Ritsu's green eyes were firmly focused on the floor of the car. His cheeks seemed to sport a perpetual blush.

Despite the impassive mask Saga wore, inside he was pleased. He'd gotten what he wanted despite the breeder's protests and being shown almost a dozen adorable female teen kittens. And his new Oda was really cute… in a high-strung, nervous, shy, blushy kind of way.

"So, Oda-kun, you hungry?" Saga drawled. He kept his voice purposefully nonchalant though he himself hadn't eaten since early that morning. Now, it was almost four.

Ritsu's slightly bowed head shot up. He looked at Saga. His cheeks suddenly bloomed pinker. He was afraid to answer, not sure what his new master wanted to hear.

Saga frowned slightly as the kitten seemed to be struggling to decide. For fuck's sake, it was a simple question, not some complex logarithm. "I want a sandwich," he declared, growing impatient. "I'll get you one too, if you want."

"S…sure, Saga-Senpai " Ritsu stammered.

"Good." Saga called out to the driver, "drop us off in the business district near the neighborhood. We'll find our way home from there." He turned his amber eyes on his new pet. "Your bag's not too heavy. Right?"

Ritsu just blushed and shook his head. Even if it was, he would never have told.


The two males soon sat across from each other at a small table in the midst of a bustling fast food restaurant. Saga, new to this neko owning business, had been hard pressed not to show his embarrassment at having to try three restaurants before finding one that was neko-friendly.

He was also shocked by how indecisive his new hybrid seemed. When the woman behind the register had begun asking the Oda what he wanted on his sandwich, Ritsu had seemed overwhelmed. Finally he had stepped in and just ordered the same thing for both of them.

Saga was now watching his Oda, trying hard to disguise his fascination. The kitten was eying his sandwich apprehensively.

Ritsu's lovely brown ears flicked in anticipation. "I'm sorry, Saga-Senpai," the perpetually blushed pet offered as he lifted his sandwich awkwardly to his mouth. "I just didn't know that they'd ask so many questions…"

"Have you not eaten at a place like this before?" Saga was perplexed: this was one of the most popular food chains in Japan.

Ritsu shook his head "no" before biting into his sandwich. The minute he tasted it, however, his ears perked forward and his eyes widened in amazement. "Wahhh, this is great!" he exclaimed. "No wonder people like eating here!"

"Have you never had fast food?"

"No, Senpai."

"Instant?"

"Uh no… Sorry, Saga-Senpai." Ritsu looked uncomfortable. "My breeder was very strict with what she fed us. She always said poor food would make our fur dull."

Saga sat back as he watched the kitten relishing the novelty of the sandwich. The teen ran a hand through his thick black hair as he tried to keep a casual appearance, but inside he felt a strange anger bubbling inside his chest.

Stupid pampered pet. He watched the innocent Oda. The kitten had taken huge bites his first few mouthfuls, but now he'd slowed down and was delicately nibbling. Ritsu looked so fresh sitting there, cute and fluffy. Saga reflected on the palatial dwelling the kitten had been raised in. Never alone, Oda had been surrounded by dozens of other nekos, with servants to care for them when their breeder was busy. Thoughts of the neko's luxurious, well-attended to life and the fact that, despite this, the hybrid didn't seem at all spoiled made Saga feel suddenly mean.

Saga had never been one of those boys who tormented hybrids, but in this minute he wanted to pinch the little cat's ears and pull his tail. He wanted to let Oda know in no uncertain terms that he was owned now and that his days of innocence and pampering were over. In short, out of envy he wanted to crush his new kitten.

After the two teens had finished eating they headed out onto the street. Saga moved at a purposeful pace, strutting slightly in his perfected attitude of teen disdain. Ritsu hurried beside him, panting as he carried his suitcase.

Saga stopped outside a book store. "I want to go in here, for a bit," he declared. He grimaced when he saw the universal symbol for neko (the same for a man but with ears and a tail) in a big red circle with a red slash through it, posted in the widow to the side of the door. This was not a neko-friendly establishment.

"Uh… Okay, I'll wait here for you then, Senpai," Ritsu said and moved over to the bench that had been installed outside the shop for nekos waiting for their masters. (Just because the store wasn't neko-friendly didn't mean it was heartless.)

Despite his earlier anger, the two teens had gotten into a surprisingly engaging conversation about books towards the end of their lunch. So Saga knew his Oda liked books just as much as he did. He'd hoped that they'd be able to share the experience of the bookstore, but seeing the sign, he wasn't going to do something so obvious as to seek out a neko-friendly shop again.

The easy way with which the kitten accepted such blatant discrimination irritated Saga. It stirred up all the feelings he'd had before he'd gotten distracted by their discussion of literature.

"What's wrong with you?" Saga suddenly demanded. "How can you take this so unblinkingly?"

Ritsu's green eyes widened in shock at this outburst. He wasn't sure what he'd done, but he'd obviously displeased his new master. "I'm sorry, Saga-Senpai." Ritsu bowed.

The kitten's contrition just angered the teen further. "What in the hell are you apologizing for?"

Ritsu cringed and bowed again, his chocolaty ears flattened in distress. "I'm sorry, Senpai, I didn't mean to make you angry."

"Why do you even care about that?" Saga's golden eyes flashed like lightening.

"Because you're my master now… and I like you a lot," Ritsu mumbled meekly.

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. You don't even know anything about me really!"

Seeing the hurt on Ritsu's face, Saga suddenly felt overwhelmed by the despairing exhaustion that dominated so much of his existence these days. "It seems you make declarations of affection pretty easily. If that's the case maybe you should find yourself a new owner!" Saga stormed into the bookstore, leaving the Oda standing limp-tailed out on the sidewalk.


Inside the store it wasn't long before the still-fuming Saga drifted over to the pet section. The breeder had asked him repeatedly if he knew anything about neko breeds. Takano, lying smoothly, he thought, had assured her neko knowledge was a passion of his second only to his love of literature. The truth was, however, he really knew shit about nekos other than the general stuff he'd gleaned from conversations or television.

Flipping through a neko breed book, Saga looked up the Oda. The information was pretty basic. It seemed the Oda was a common breed. It came in a variety of colorings, was reasonably bright, hearty, playful, and relatively easily forgiving. (Though not nearly anywhere near the level of a Yoshino). All in all, it was a popular hybrid: amiable and not particularly problematic.

Saga was surprised that someone like Ritsu's breeder would even raise a neko like the Oda. He recalled how much the woman had harped on the rarity of all the other hybrids she'd shown him.

"Oh well," he sighed. Given what he'd just said to his new neko, it was nice to know that Odas were resilient. Saga felt badly now for being so short with the young cat. He glanced up and saw the back of a brown-eared head still waiting in the bench area outside the store.

Saga shook his head. His heart clenched at his own cruelty. However, he wasn't ready to face Ritsu again just yet. Seeking distraction, he continued flipping through the breed book. A few pages further, still in the "O" section, he stopped suddenly. Saga's eyes were arrested by a picture of a hybrid that looked remarkably like his Oda.

Out of curiosity he read the entry.

The Onodera

Onodera nekos are typified by a characteristic coloring. With its huge green eyes, dark brown hair, slight build and pink blushed cheeks they make the most adorable kittens. Due to the fact they are slow aging, these hybrids often retain this cute kittenish appearance well into adulthood.

However, one must think seriously before committing to an Onodera. These creatures, while incredibly eager to please and very industrious, are also incredibly bright and highly sensitive, making their temperament precarious. In fact, because of these traits, as they mature, Onoderas can occasionally become volatile. In addition, while Onoderas can also seem to be quite indecisive, once they do reach a decision about something, they become incredibly stubborn. So a firm hand and lots of patience makes for the best Onodera owner.

Another characteristic, critical that potential owners be made aware of, is that like their distant Takatsuki relatives, Onoderas are single-mate hybrids, pairing for life. Unlike the Takatsuki however, where the pair bond occurs with the first partner of the neko's first heat cycle (unless the neko is seme, which is rare), the pair bond of the Onodera occurs with its first oral or penetrative sexual contact.

With the Takatsuki, a repeated exchange of fluids is required to keep the dominant partner perpetually paired. An Onodera's first shared fluid experience, however, where the Onderas' fluids are orally consumed by another will be permanent. This means that both the Onodera and that partner will be paired for life in a virtually unbreakable bond.

So strong is this bond that many a disconsolate Onodera owner has been driven to suicide over the death or disappearance of a beloved pet. (Disappearances are unfortunately more frequent than many breeders wish to acknowledge. Onoderas are a flighty neko. GPS micro-chipping is therefore a must.) Out of concern for potential owners, the breeding of Onoderas is now frowned upon by the International Neko Hybrid Association. The production of this hybrid has all but ceased in many areas of Japan (its native country) and the raising of Onodera nekos has been made illegal. While there is still black market breeding of Onoderas as a status symbol among certain populations of the elite, this remarkable hybrid has become increasingly rare. Perhaps, in the not too distant future, this particular breed soon be extinct.

Saga frowned and closed the book. He took his neko's ownership papers out of his pocket and carefully looked at the breed name. No, it said Oda quite clearly. He breathed a sigh of relief and stuck the book back into the shelf. Good thing. Because who in the hell would want to get stuck with something like that?

Looking up from the shelves, Saga saw the windows of the store streaked with raindrops. It was pouring outside. "Damn it. That stupid Oda is going to be soaked." His sharp amber eyes scanned the bench area and his heart started pounding when he realized his new neko was gone.

Saga rushed outside the store, looking up and down the street. He was panicked. When he'd told Oda to find another owner, he really hadn't been serious.

"Saga-Senpai!"

The black-haired teen turned and saw Ritsu hurrying towards him from the direction of a convenience store across the street. The neko was under the cover of an umbrella. He was carrying his bag and had another new umbrella in his hand.

Breathless, Ritsu handed the open umbrella to his owner as he fumbled with the new one. Saga stood stunned under the shelter of the umbrella Ritsu had given him. He watched the neko struggle to get the new umbrella open. By the time he'd accomplished this, the kitten was pretty well soaked.

"So sorry," Ritsu apologized. "My mistress packed an umbrella in my bag, but I saw you didn't have one. I had some pocket money though, and so I went across the street to get one for you. I thought I would be back by the time you got out, but there was a line. Sorry, Saga-Senpai."

Saga looked at the kitten in wonderment. "Why would you do that?"

"I didn't think you'd like getting wet," Ritsu offered nervously.

"No, I mean why would you do something so nice for me after I spoke so harshly too you?"

"Well, sometimes, people just get upset. I mean, that happens. Besides, you just have seemed so sad."

"Sad?"

"Ummm… that was why I started following you in the library. I wanted to know why you were so unhappy and if maybe I could do something that might make you feel better." Ritsu blushed furiously. His rain-soaked ears twitched. "Sorry I haven't done a very good job yet."

Saga heard only truth in his kitten's voice. That Oda, seeing him for only a few seconds, realized truths about him that his own parents had never bothered to notice touched him deeply. Experiencing the unselfish neko's generosity, a crack suddenly coursed up the frozen surface of his heart.

"You might be doing a better job than you think," Saga replied. His voice was still cool, but not edged with its previous bitterness. He studied the neko standing before him.

Ritsu had dropped his head and his damp brown tail was anxiously flicking.

"You still want to come home with me?" The older teen prayed that his voice did carry the sudden hesitant hope he felt.

Green eyes looked up gratefully, their unguarded expression sent another chunk of ice tumbling down off Saga's glacial heart.

"Yes, please, Senpai." Ritsu's cheeks pinked brighter.

"Let's go then. Before we both catch fevers."

Together the pair headed off silently side by side towards the Saga's empty house.


Takano wrapped his coat around him. The chill in the air had been increasing with every block he traveled. Not that the editor noticed. He'd been too lost in his recollections to pay attention. His feet, however, had taken him automatically to the pet shop. He'd made enough trips here over the last decade he could have undoubtedly walked the route blindfolded.

The editor was shocked by how hard his heart was pounding. He wished that Sato had given him more information. All she'd said in her call was that she'd found a neko that matched his description perfectly… except for one thing. The neko was even the right age. He had apparently been out of the country for almost a decade with the family that had just relinquished him.

Takano shook his head. He'd long thought he was incapable of such hope, so when he felt it now, it surprised him. Thank god Yokozawa was here and he could take his guardian angel cat home with him if this didn't pan out. Because honestly, Takano didn't know how much more disappointment he could take.


Yes, so this is the Takano/Ritsu canon back story. BF101 had originally asked for a neko one shot with this pairing… but once my imagination got hold of it… well, like un-spayed/un-neutered cats… the population of this story kind of got out of hand… But just so you know there will be an emphasis on Takano/Ritsu … though I plan to give equal time to the other couples as well because I have my own favorites.

Thank you for reading and reviewing... and re-reading and re-reviewing.