Of You, Me, and Us
Summary: "I like you." When those words left her lips, Botan had expected to hear him utter words of apology. After all, she didn't think he felt the same way about her. She didn't expect Kurama looking at her straight in the eyes before leaning closer to kiss her. And although he didn't say anything, one glance at the expression on his face was enough to tell her: she was his now.
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho.
Chapter 28: Kitten
Bored, emerald orbs shot daggers at the small, furry kitten curled up in a ball on the blue-haired ferry girl's lap, one delicate and well-sculptured red eyebrow twitching with each time a purr resounded from its w-shaped mouth as Botan ran her soft nail-polished fingers through its black and white fur.
Kurama continued to watch silently as his girlfriend proceeded to lavish all her attention on the baby feline, all the while ignoring his presence in the threshold of his own apartment. The cold stare on his strikingly charming features intensified ever so slightly as he eyed the kitten rub its small head against his lover's forearm, its purrs reaching a new and higher notch as Botan's digits intensified their actions.
This was not the first time he found himself jealous and regretting his decision of getting the pet for his girlfriend, nor did he think it was going to be the last time. It had been bordered on a natural decision to buy a cat for Botan on her god-knows birthday- considering her long-time affection for the nocturnal creatures and her own resemblance to them. When Botan had squealed in joy, her features brightening up and her excited eyes matching that of a toddler in a candy store the moment he pulled the kitten out of its cage, Kurama had figured that he had made the right choice in buying the feline from the pet store. Even if it did cost him a lot to pay for all its food, medicine and litter box expenses. It didn't really matter to him- all that he cared about was making his long-time girlfriend happy on her special day.
Now, he wasn't exactly so sure anymore.
He felt as if a part of her had just left him the instant she began paying more attention to the cat more than to him. Of course, it would be considered immature and childish to envy an animal who couldn't even speak even when he was a milennia old fox who could just wipe out a thousand enemies with a single rose whip, but he just couldn't help it. His pride and ego just wouldn't let the cat win in terms of getting Botan's attention- even though the feline had been on a victory strike ever since Botan took it under her wing and guidance. After all, it was just a cat. Except everytime Botan failed to acknowledge him due to being too immersed in the kitten's cutesy charm, he felt as if he was a little, sulking child who had just been replaced with a new sibling by his parents. But he wasn't a child. And this wasn't a new sibling. But it probably was replacing him.
Kurama broke out of his musings as he felt something soft and tiny come in contact with the warm flesh of his cheek. He blinked before turning his head to see a furry paw right at the side of his face, flat and ticklish on his skin. Brows furrowing, he locked eyes with the yellow ones of the kitten before flicking his gaze upwards to Botan's smiling face. He pulled away from the cat's touch as it tried to rub its paw on the mound of his cheek, but made no move to protest as Botan placed it on his lap. His peridot orbs remained squinted, features deadpanned as he stared back at the kitten's wide eyes. The feline's expression was of innocent curiosity, one he had seen countless times on his lover's visage.
He only snapped out of the staring contest when he felt gentle, warm lips collide with the shell of his ear before traveling to his cheek, at the spot where the kitten's paw had been- and by the time he whirled his head to the side to face his girlfriend, Botan had already taken his cheeks in both hands, surrounding him with the warmth of her palms, before leaning in to place a small kiss on his slightly opened mouth. He wasted no time in moving his head forth and deepening the kiss, just as he felt the cat's claws dig into the fabric of his khakis. When he darted his tongue out and allowed it to skim over Botan's lower lip, he caught the anxious, angry meowing of the feline in his lap. Jealous much? He chuckled to himself without breaking off the lip-lock, before pushing his tongue into Botan's mouth. The wet appendage streaked over the roof of her mouth and trailed around her pearl white teeth before meeting hers and stroking back. He felt the four feet on his thighs jumped down from their position on its lap before Botan pulled apart and looked down at the kitten pawing at her shirt. A giggle resounded from her lips whilst annoyance began to brew inside of Kurama's system as she picked it up into her arms and stood up from the couch. He assumed she was going to go back to petting the cat again, but then she placed it back on his lap.
A confused and startled blink.
Botan's full, pink lips curved upwards to form a smile.
"I'm gonna go make us some food," she informed him, already halfway to the kitchen before she spun her head around to peer at her still befuddled boyfriend. "You take care of him. Maybe it's time you guys bond with each other," she remarked all too knowingly, leaving him with only the girlish sound of her laughter before she whirled around on her feet and disappeared into the kitchen.
Kurama continued to stare blankly at the wall, watching the clock go tick-tock for a few moments before averting his gaze back to the kitten in his arms as he felt a pricking pain on his thumb. He watched the cat try to bite his finger off in its anger and though it didn't particularly hurt, it wasn't exactly pleasant either. Soft growls and furious meows sounded from the feline's throat before a heavy sigh erupted from his. Bond, huh?
"So," He pulled his hand away and hovered it over the cat's head, observing in disinterest as it tried to catch the appendage like a predator would with its prey, "want to compare claws?"
