Thanks to Fanficqueen306, Hiya, Guest, and HarunaOno for the reviews! I really appreciated them!

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Your expressions are amusing
Even when you're angry
The way your mouth moves is kind of cute
The words you say keep me wide awake
You inspire the colours in my world
It doesn't feel like tolerating each other
When our enjoyment shines through.


TATOMI'S POV

I stare up, and my own bewildered eyes meet Byakuya's suprised ones. I swear I heard a quiet chuckle escape from where Nee-san was standing.

Tch, did Nee-san just throw me at Byakuya?! My fur spikes up indignant at the very thought. I turn my head and gave Nee-san a scathing look. Why oh why did she do this? Didn't I already tell her I didn't want to go back to the soul society yet?! Stupid Nee-san...never listening to what I say... Nee-san returns my scathing look with her stern one, then she turns to Byakuya with a smile, "Bya-bo, take care of this kitty for me while we're here, 'kay?"

What?! Nee-san! We already made up, didn't I tell you?

"...This kitten is not mine, Yoruichi Shihoin," says Byakuya. He picks me up by the tail and dangles me in the air, "Nor is it my responsibility. "

I yowl in pain and squirm, failing my paws around in the air, wishing he'd just let go of my tail. Thanks to my efforts, I start to swing in the air like a pendulum. Great. My stomach starts to churn and I clamp my jaws shut, hoping to prevent myself from throwing up my dinner from last night.

"Bya-bo, onegai (please)!" Yoruichi looks up at him with imploring golden eyes, "Please! I know how, er, gentle you can be. Plus, kitty will have more fun hanging out and meeting new people rather than following me around. " Liar.

Byakuya narrowed his eyes and sighed at the lame piece of flattering coming out of Nee-san's mouth, while I continued to swing back and forth.

Nee-san grins, "Unless if you were hoping to spend this time to shunpo with me?"

"I'm a captain, Yoruichi. I doubt the kitty would be pleased if I take it-"

"-her: she's not an object-"

"-her on a mission of mine. If I get sent, that is."

Yoruichi shrugs, "Leave her with Renji then. He's your subordinate."

"I do not want my office destroyed. why can't you just take care of it yourself?" says Byakuya calmly.

"I-"

I squeezed me eyes shut, "Why don't you just stop trying to give air sickness or whatever this is called?!" I screeched. It came out as a series of ear-piercing meows, but both Nee-san and Byakuya got the message.

Byakuya stops and sets me carefully down onto his arm, at the same time Nee-san tries to whip his face with her long ponytail, "Bya-bo, you're suppose to be kind and gentle with the kitty!" Byakuya shoots her a dirty look, but Nee-san waves it aside," You're out of practice, Bya-bo. Taking care of kitty will help you develope and improve your hospitality skills."

Byakuya opened his mouth to argue, but Yoruichi beats him to it, "Plus, kitty is very nice, aren't you, kitty?" she says, petting my head, which sends the world swirling around me again. I sigh in relief when she stops and rest my chin onto Byakuya, waiting for the world around me to stop spinning. Again. Even if this was a Shihakusho, it was Byakuya's, and it was really really soft...

BYAKUYA'S POV

"..." I feel myself soften a bit-not that I'd admit it, as the kitty starts snuggling into my Shihakusho, momentarily reminding me of Tatomi. Even if we had made up, it still felt as if we weren't like before. I had hoped to get to spend time just to...just to talk to her again, and, it was kind of amusing to hear her argue with Abarai.

"Oi, Taicho, I think, er," I look up and see Renji scratching the back of his neck awkwardly, "The kitty might've fallen asleep...eh..."

I stare at the kitty, whom had a rather peaceful expression on its face, and realized that it's breathing was steady, a sign that it was indeed asleep.

"Oh pleaseeeeeee Bya-bo?" says Yoruichi again.

I sigh in resignation, "...Very well, as long as it does not cause any trouble."

"Yay!" Yoruichi pumps her fist in the air, "Thanks, Bya-bo! I knew you would cave in eventually!" I open my mouth to reply, feeling an anger vein appearing on my forehead, but she grabs Ichigo and Urahara, and they shunpo away, leaving me, Rukia and Renji staring at the kitty sleeping in my arms.

"..."


TATOMI'S POV

I blink open my eyes and wiggle out of the soft blankets that had been wrapped around me. Where was I? Then I recognize the decor, and the vaste amount of space in this room I was in. Nee-san's pleas to Byakuya flooded back to me and I flopped onto the blankets. Wonderful. This was, without a doubt, the Kuchiki manor.

"Hi kitty, are you awake?"

I blink open my eyes and a pair of large purple eyes meet mine, and I jump back in suprise and fall off the little basket-bed that I had apparently been sleeping in. The blankets fly into the air and land on me one by one. Could this day- or afternoon should I say, get any worse? Someone pries them off of me, and peers at me closely. Rukia.

"Are you hurt? Sorry I startled you," then her expression changes, "Kya!" I duck as Rukia tries to pet me, "You're so cute! Hee hee," then she pauses and gets up, extending an arm out to me, "You hungry?"

My stomach grumbles in response, and I leap onto her arm. She laughs and I nudge her chin in delight. Rukia...you haven't changed. Just please don't feed me cat food-( Koi fish...) Ah shut up! Are we going to go through the whole falling into the Koi pond scene again?! (Maybe...)


I'm following Rukia through the twists and turns, when she pauses suddenly and I smash my nose. Ow. Rukia turns around and holds up something glittery, and was red like a fire engine. My eye twitched in annoyance, I hated that neon red. Abhore. Hated. What'ver you want to call it.

"I almost forgot!" she says, bending down, "You're sooooo cute little kitty! Lets give you a little ornament right on top of your head. Chappy has one just like yours, see?" I shake my head and lean away from the ornament. No luck, Rukia puts it on me anyways. Tch. She pets me on the head and gets up again, "Now Chappy's happy, aren't you chappy? Kitty and Chappy are going to be great friends! Do you want to have a friend, Chappy?"

I raise a paw, about to continue to follow Rukia when my nose twitches. This scent... (It's wonderful, isn't it?) Huh? My stomach grumbled. (Aren't you hungry? You didn't even eat breakfast...) Meh, they'll probably feed me. (Feed you what? Cat food?) ... (C'mon, lets go visit the pond again.) Why? (Aren't you hungry?) Well yeah, but (Then lets go and eat something!) What's there to eat? Pond leaves? (Better than that. There should be something there. Don't you recognize that sweet aroma of-oops, better not reveal it yet. Just follow me.) Tch, fine. Not like I wanna starve anyways. (YAY! LETS GO EAT KOI FISH!) What?! Is that what you had in mind?!

My body turns and start walking towards the screen door that led to the pond. Rukia keeps on walking ahead, too distracted with her chat with Chappy to notice. Well, I guess it really didn't matter. Plus, I was hungry. What were the odds that I was going to get fed, anyways? Well...Byakuya would probably make sure-but still. Fresh fish would taste better, wouldn't it?

I pause beside the pond, seeing the Koi fishes clear as day, swimming around. So pretty...(So tasty too...) I settle down on a rock, curling my tail over my back legs as to not get in the way.

Patience. One thing I'd probably never have...when I'm hungry, that is. My back legs bunched up, and I felt the need to just jump in the pond and scoop up the Koi that seemed so annoyingly close.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Six.

Seven...

Eight.

Nine.

Ten.

I open my eyes and sigh with satisfaction. Good. The Koi fish were swimming closer. Ten more seconds should be sufficient, right?

One.

Two...

Three...

Four...

Five..

Six...

Seven...

Eight...I could almost taste the Koi fish now..

Nine.

Ten.

I open my eyes, Here I go.

BYAKUYA'S POV

What is taking so long? I wondered, staring at my tea, waiting patiently for Rukia to arrive at the breakfast table. I lay down the reports that I was going through. I need to remind Renji to write specifically next time...I set down my cup of tea.

"Have you finished your breakfast, Kuchiki-sama?"

I nod absentmindedly, "Please clear the table later. I wish to talk to Rukia while she eats."

"Yes, Kuchiki-sama."

I stare outside at the sakura petals, and let my mind wander for a moment.

I wonder how Tatomi is..I'm glad we're finally friends again...but..I feel like...what's the word- Different? SenbonZakura. Listening to my thoughts? ...Master..I'm simply concerned. ... *sigh* Your friendship has been mended, has it not? Well, yes. Then it's all good, isn't it? It feels different from before, as if there's still an invisible wall separating us. ...It's been a long time, master, says SenbonZakura quietly, You don't know her as well as you use to. That's all. Unless... Unless? Unless your friendship has always been beyond friendship, and now you are- You talk too much, SenbonZakura. Something flickers into my mind. That's right. She still hasn't answered. She still hasn't answered my question...is she...hiding something?

"...And you're just going to love spending time with Kitty!" Rukia's voice reaches me, and I look up to see her enter, bouncing up and down, with her very adorable bunny. At least someone's happy about having a temporary guest... "Ni-sama!" she says with a bright smile, "We're here!" Then she sees that I've already finished my breakfast, "Ah, gomenasai, Ni-sama. I didn't realize we took so long-"

"It's fine," I pause, and discreetly peer behind her, but no ball of white fur peeks out. ..huh.. "Where's the kitten?"

"Oh! She's right here-" Rukia pauses, blinking rapidly at the emptiness behind her, her eyes wide with suprise, "Oh no...

".." Something felt familiar, but I couldn't grasp it., "When was the last time you saw her?"

"In...in the large room that led out to the gardens and Koi pond, Ni-sama," says Rukia. She looks down on the floor, crestfallen.

I put a hand on her head in reassurance, "Don't worry. I have a feeling that I know exactly where she is."

TATOMI'S POV

I dip my paw in the water and scooped up the Koi. Something wraps around my paw, and my eyes widen in surprise.

"You probably shouldn't do that."

I jump in fright, and lost my balance. Failing around in the air, I noticed the 'thing' wrapped around my paw disappeared. Whomever that was, they were not getting away with it. I hook my claw onto the tip of the 'thing' (which was actually someone's tail), and I pulled whomever it was down with me into the pond.

Not again.

I choke on the icy cold water, the weight of whatever that was still stuck on my head pulling me down. Note to self: the Koi pond is, in fact, very deep when one is a cat. Kuso, I kicked my legs, trying to swim 'up', wherever that was. I felt something dark faraway stretching out towards me. Then something latches onto my scruff, and I'm pulled up by a set of strong jaws. My head breaks through the water, and I fall onto the grass, gasping for air. I catch a quick glimpse of my savoir, a sleek black cat with golden eyes, before it vanishes from sight. I sat up, groggy, and shake my head to clear out the water. Was that Nee-san?

"There you are."

Kuso. I was caught. I look up to see Byakuya towering over me, his violet eyes in slits, with a dash of annoyance spilling out of his expressionless mask now and then.

His eyes drift over to something on my head, and he tugs at it roughly. I yelp in pain, but he pretends he doesn't hear. After a few painful tugs, it's off. "What is this?" my heart sinks a bit when I see him hold up the neon red hair ornament, that was drenched. I took a few steps back-carefully to avoid falling into the pond for the 3rd time-feeling like a kid getting scolded. "You went playing in the water!" I jump at his sudden change of tone, from cold to harsh. A breeze comes by and I shiver a little.

BAYKUYA'S POV

I felt my frustration boil over me, and it grows as I see it shiver. A flare of anger, frustration, and something else flows through me as it sneezes, "Idiotic cat. Now do you know why you don't go and play in the water?!" It sneezes again in response.

Hmph. I turn to a servant whom was standing meekly behind me, "Go inside and get a towel," I pause, "A large and soft one, if possible." He nods and leaves. I turn back and face the kitten, who was still shivering on the grass. At this rate, it was going to get sick. What was taking that servant so long? You're not being fair, reasons the patient part of me, barely 2 seconds has passed. My frown deepens as I see the kitten shiver again. I take of my captain haori and throw it at the kitten, "Dry yourself."

My haori falls over it, and the kitten disappears under the white 'blanket'. I wait for a moment, observing the constant motion of my haori, before finally realizing that it was possible that the kitten had gotten stuck. This was so annoying...I bend down and take hold of my haori, and start drying the kitten whom was still stuck inside. It shivers, and I feel its trembles through the haori. You're going to get scolded later, master. Better than the kitten getting sick. It squirms and tries to wiggle away, but I hold it tight with one hand, and continue to dry it with the other. A captain's haori is simply cheap material...

"Taichou!"

TATOMI'S POV

I finally successfully escape, and crawl out of the tent made from Byakuya's haori. Stupid Byakuya, didn't I tell him I don't get sick easily?! It was too late now, his haori was already wet... "Idiot," I meow.

"Taichou!"

I whip my head around, and see Red-pineapple head standing a few feet away from us. He's holding a wooden kantana, resting on his shoulder. Always trying to look cool, I see... Byakuya straightens up, "Is something the matter, Renji?"

"Er, well," Renji rubs the back of his neck, "It's mid afternoon, and um, yesterday you did promise everyone you'd come to see how they're progressing and all. Our subordinates have been training very hard in the morning."

Byakuya nods, "Very well. We should get going then."

I meow impatiently and thump my tail on the grass. Idiots, did they forget about my breakfast?

That's when Renji actually looks around his surroundings, and sees the soaking wet haori Byakuya was holding, and me. "What happened?"

Byakuya closes his eyes, "The kitten was misbehaving." I open my mouth to say that I was, in fact, trying to catch my breakfast, but he silences me with a look. "Lets go." They turned around and took a few steps forward, but I stayed where I was. "You too, kitten." I stayed where I was, waiting. C'mon, Byakuya, surely you know that I haven't ate my- "You've already wasted enough of my time, kitten," his voice has a sharp edge to it, "Lets go."

What?! Was he actually going to purposely starve me?!

"It's your fault for eating Koi for breakfast. Now," I yelp in suprise as Byakuya picks me up by my tail, "Lets go."

But I haven't ate yet! He takes a step forward, and shunpos with me in his hand. This is all your fault, Nee-san...my stomach grumbles, well, at least I'm not throwing up. And I didn't even eat any Koi. Stupid Nee-san made me fall before I could. Byakuya is such a baka...


I'm set down onto the ground, beside Byakuya's haori. Violet eyes pierce mine, "Don't cause any trouble."

I glare back at Byakuya, and my stomach grumbles again, louder.

BYAKUYA'S POV

"Don't cause any trouble."

She glares back at me, and I hear her stomach grumble. I feel myself soften a bit, maybe I should just give her something to eat... but then again, she ate the Koi. I think. It would not be right. Perhaps she shall wait until lunch for some proper food.

TATOMI'S POV

Byakuya pauses for a moment, and my heart rises a little, will he? Then he turns away, and my heart sinks. He isn't going to.

Something warm pats my head, and I look up to see Byakuya withdraw his hand, "Sorry, kitten. But I can't let you eat Koi and think you can get away with it," he says softly.

So I sit there, beside his haori, and watch as he gets into his stance, ready to do a mock spar with Renji. Okay...so maybe it was partly my fault that I wanted to eat Koi...but I didn't eat any, so it's not my fault. Well, technically it is my fault because if I had been quicker I would've been able to eat it, but I wasn't fast enough, so it was my fault. But Nee-san was the one that made me fall, so it wasn't my fault. But then again, if I had been quicker I wouldn't be starving right now, so it was my fault? Eh? Argh!

I shook my head, trying to clear out the confusing thoughts. Note to self: talking to yourself too much can lead to very confusing one-person conversations. Wait, that's not right. Conversations have to have at least 2 people, so should I call it a monologue? But who has heard of a confusing one-person monologue? What? Okay, maybe I should just stop talking to myself...I look over beside me, and stare at the still wet captain haori. I get onto my paws, and spread it out on the bench/floor/bench/floor so it would dry better in the sun.


3rd PERSON POV

The kitten/Tatomi sits there, watching Byakuya spar with Renji. A couple of trainees loose interest, hearing the others say that it was a mock spar, and that neither of the two were actually sparring for real. One of them gets tired, and decides to sit down.

"This is so boring," says one, walking over to where Tatomi sat.

"Yeah," says the other, following them over, "You just know they're not even trying when Renji is yelling advice at us while he's sparring with our Taichou," he deadpanned.

"Their Bankais are interesting and all, but frankly I just want to rest today. I wish the captain would spar with one of us instead. Even Renji spars with us."

"Renji spars with us rarely," says the other, sitting down, "But Taichou is kinda-" A shriek of pain interrupts him, and the subordinate leaps to his feet. The others whom had been closely observing the spar between Renji and Byakuya, noticed that Byakuya shot a scathing look over to where the two other subordinates were.

TATOMI'S POV

Don't glare at me, Byakuya. It's not my fault this idiot decided to sit on my tail! Why do you guys all have to abuse my tail, anyways?! I-

"Oi, you idiot, you nearly sat on this cat!" says the 'friend' of the idiot-who-tried-to-sit-on-me.

"Tch, how was I suppose to see it? And it's not a cat, moron!" the moron-who-tried-to-sit-on-me says, "It's a kitten."

I glare at them both and hiss.

"LOOK AT WHAT YOU DID, MORON!" says the 'friend' of the baka-who-tried-to-sit-on-me, "YOU ANGERED THE CAT! WHAT TYPE OF PERSON TRIES TO ANNOY A CAT?!"

You. Or well, should I say, you're friend.

"WHAT?! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING?! PLUS, THE KITTY'S AN IDIOT FOR SITTING THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE! SOMETHING AS TINY AS THAT CAN'T DO ANY DAMAGE, ANYWAYS-" the moron-who-tried-to-sit-on-me says, pointing his finger at me. My eye twitches in annoyance.

"SO WHAT IF IT'S WEAK? YOU'RE STILL AN IDIOT! AND A MORON!"

"YOU'RE THE ONE WHO CALLED IT A CAT! IT'S A KITTEN! A WEAKLING KITTY SO WHO CARES IF WE ANNOY IT-"

I jump onto the moron-who-tried-to-sit-on-me, and proceed to biting his ear. Hard.

"OWWWWWWWWWW" he howls, "WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS KITTY?!"

"IDIOT! I TOLD YOU NOT TO ANNOY IT!"

By this time, most of the trainees gathered around to observe the spar between Byakuya and Renji were no longer watching. All of their heads were turned towards the scene where the kitty had been left.

"Taichou..."

"Lets stop here, Renji." They sheath their zanpakutos and Byakuya shunpos to where the kitty was , er, giving punishment to one of his subordinates. Seeing the look on Byakuya's face, the faces of the two subordinates went pale. Little did they know that Byakuya's annoyance was not at them, but at the white furball attached to one of their ears.


I huff again, but Byakuya merely tightens his hold on my tail. My poor tail...by the end of the day, I'll be lucky if it's still attached to me...Where are we going, anyways? I look around the place as Byakuya quickens his pace, Renji following close behind him. Well, Byakuya dismissed everyone for an early lunch, so maybe we were going to eat lunch too? I settle myself comfortably in Byakuya's arms. If we were going for lunch then, surely it was worth it to not act up.

BYAKUYA'S POV

A while later, we arrive at the Kuchiki manor. We go in, and I open my mouth to inform someone to fix up some fish for the kitten, when a hell butterfly lands on the tip of my finger.

"Kuchiki-taichou, please report to a captain's meeting immediately."

I nod, and the hell butterfly flies back out an open window. I study the kitten for a moment. It would be unsuitable to bring the kitten along, especially after taking the trainee incident into account. I set the kitten on the ground where it looked up at me with her head slightly tilted to one side.

I hesitate, and her ear flicks curiously, "Renji, take care of her until I return. Hopefully it will not take long."


TATOMI'S POV

I roll around in my blankets, the growling of my stomach echoing through the room. I couldn't sleep. For the whole day, I hadn't eaten a single thing.

"Here," says Renji, offering me some artificial cat food. I turn away in disgust.

1. Those made me sick

2. Those made me sick

3. Byakuya would probably korosu me if I threw up in his house. Well, after Renji korosu me first, that is.

"Fine then, be like that," Renji picks up his bowl of rice and proceeds to eating it. The ahou. I give him the most imploring wide green eyes, but he merely shuts his eyes, "Your fault, not mine."

And then when Byakuya returned, Renji left. And then Byakuya left again. Being the idiot I was, I finally decided to be good, just so they'd feed me dinner. But Byakuya didn't come back yet, and Rukia came to simply tuck me into bed/basket.

Great. I groaned, and hopped out of my bed/basket, careful not to tip it over like last time. Maybe the kitchen would have something I could eat. I wander out of my room, my paw steps echoing way too loudly through the halls, and my shadow stretched extremely long under the glow of the chandelier above me. Stepping into the kitchen, the first thing that catches my eye is something on the table. I blink my eyes a few times.

Maybe I was going delusional now.

I sniff the air, and the sweet aroma flows through my nose.

Dragon fruit.

I leap onto the table, and was about to sink my teeth into it, when Byakuya's spiritual pressure fills the room.

"Scatter, SenbonZakura."