A/N: So, um, I'm nineteen today. You might have noticed *still in shock* seriously, guys, thanks so much. This means a huge lot to me. *loves you all* oh, and have some nekomata!Kaito to celebrate too :3

Dedicated with many thanks and cookies to Halfling Rogue, for her stack of cat-related data. So, so helpful it's been–and it'll be, heh.

Disclaimer–I'll give them back when I'm finished playing with them. Honest. *pulls out cat-ears and cat-tail*

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What You Have Tamed

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'You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.'

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Le Petit Prince

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"Kaito. Stop it."

No answer.

"Kaito."

No ans–

"KAITO. Stop staring. It's creepy," she hissed, focusing best as she could on the salmon she was chopping off, and tried very hard not to jump when two clever, clever arms sneaked their way around her waist. "Kaito!"

His tail curled around her leg, running along the jean material with lazy, content slowness. "But I'm bo-o-ored," he complained easily, clutching her waist. His nose nudged its way in the crook of her neck as he peered interestedly at what she was fixing. "Ew, salmon."

"It's not for you," she snapped. "I bought you onigiri, but I need to finish this before I heat the miso soup and you're annoying and I don't have time to cuddle and just, just go in the living-room," she insisted, shaking him off.

His arms uncurled from around her, taking his warmth away. "Aoko–"

"And don't think about coming back in here before I tell you you can," she added with a stern look, smacking his chest with the spatula. "Just turn on the TV or something."

She half-expected him to whine and try and snuggle again, but as she fully turned to him now, dropping the knife on the chopping board, he remained standing a few steps away, hands buried in his jeans pockets. One cat ear was cocked to the side, twitching slightly.

"What?"

His lips curled in a smile. "Nothing!" he chirped, happily, and trotted off into the living-room without further ado.

Aoko stared after him. Over the last month, Kaito had not wasted one opportunity to snuggle, and today of all days had been one of her heaviest this year, college-wise at least. She had returned home exhausted and sour, two hours after her usual time, only to be tackled to the floor by one very grumpy and frustrated nekomata.

She Had Not Been Pleased.

(… and man, did those jeans fit him.)

And then fixing dinner. And fish. And him latching onto her shoulder, trying to watch what she was doing, which was–in more than one way–very cute, but just as equally irritating. She had banned him as far as the table – he had immediately proceeded to stare.

(Why did that tail dangle down his legs just so…)

It had become frighteningly mundane, this routine they put up every night. Some evenings she would just let him–his body, after all, was warm and comfortable in a hug, and fit against her in the exact manner of that of a cat, albeit somewhat larger–but tonight was–just not the night.

(She needed to stop thinking that way.)

But as she returned into the living room some minutes later, having finished off the salmon and set up the rice cooker, she did not find him, as expected, curled up on the couch, gazing at some TV show. The TV was off. He had, apparently, noticed the china dog that stood by it, dignified in its miniature representation, and was sitting on his hind legs, tail flicking, ears a little flat, engaged in a staring contest.

She wasn't sure he was winning.

"Alright," she said, moving closer to the couch herself, and he turned immediately, pinning her with a smile, his hands flat on the floor. "If you want to cuddle, it's now or never. I'll have to work on my history thesis after dinner–wah! Kaito!"

He'd pounced.

She found herself on the couch with a rather enthusiastic cat-man on top of her, all long limbs and lanky legs and surprisingly strong arms as he pressed her against the cushions. His head came to ledge itself in the crook of her neck again, and when he spoke up it was with a slightly outtake of breath, which slithered on her nape and left with a shiver that sounded almost like a laugh.

"You smell good," he whispered, and nuzzled her hair, once, twice, three times and then again, making soft, nearly inaudible sounds almost in the shell of her ear.

Aoko did her best not to blush. Her hands came around him to hug his waist, not as hesitantly as she used to; they were getting comfortable in their new roles. It wasn't a matter of owning or being owned, she had been quick to realize, as Kaito might have feline genes, but he certainly did not behave as a pet–save the cuddling. And the food.

He knew to read and write, she had found. Count also, though the most complex operations were out of his reach. This made it easier to busy him with, as it would have proved difficult to keep him inside without distraction; but despite his usual hyperactive behaviour around her, he could immerge himself in books and TV shows, and had not yet expressed any direct wishes to go out from time to time.

She tried not to think about what would happen–what she'd say–when he'd finally ask. How could one conceal cat ears and a tail in Ekoda?

Kaito whined and fidgeted on top of her, obviously irritated by the lack of attention. With a slight grin, she lifted her hands to his ears, scratching them automatically, and a long, pleasured purr built in his throat, vibrating softly against her skin. He let out a short laugh, rubbing his head back in her hand. Her fingers tangled with black hair.

Such moment were not uncommon between them now, and she thanked Kami she was used to visiting friends rather than have them visit her, for how would she explain this to anybody? She'd been lucky enough to have managed to lock Kaito in the bedroom when the custodian had come up to talk two weeks before.

Still, she liked those moments. She liked the long-limbed weight on top of her, the raspy quality of his accent-heavy voice, the rough fabric of his clothes coupled with the soft, soft ears and tail. She liked the life Kaito had brought into her life, and the animation he always provided her with–even though that animation sometimes expressed itself through destroyed living-rooms.

So at the end of the day, they'd plop down on the couch and cuddle. Sometimes the TV would be on, but neither of them would really listen. (Since Kaito had appeared in her life, Aoko found the TV wasn't really as fascinating as she'd once thought it was.) They'd be silent (for the most part–Kaito would always purr in her neck, or make quiet almost meows-like sounds) and, sometimes, when he nuzzled her in that particular way, she'd laugh and drop a kiss on top of his head.

She was somewhat curious, though, tonight. So far, her petting Kaito had not gone any farther than ear-scratching and rubbing down his back, but she had never adventured herself as far as the tail; due to some rather unpleasant experiences with her neighbour's cat when she was seven. But Kaito's tail–coiled around her leg, tickled her face, flicked on her bare skin when he sometimes came to wake her up in the morning. Surely it couldn't be any wrong–

She let her hand trail down from his head–he whimpered a little at the loss, but didn't otherwise protest–down shoulderblades to the small of his back. No particular reaction. She strayed all the way down to his tail, and brushed hesitant fingers against it.

He froze.

After a second he nuzzled her again, but she thought his breath came out harder and shallower. She stroke it against, this time a little more firmer, hoping he'd tell her if it hurt someway or oth–

He moaned, quite heavily too, and lifted himself on his hands, staring down at her. His eyes, she saw, were impossibly dilated and a dark, dark blue, slited pupils throbbing wildly as they found hers.

"Kaito…" she uttered; her voice was airy and uneasy; uncertain grounds. "Are you okay? I didn't–" a frown, "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

His face scrunched up and he bit his lip, but shook his head and let himself nestle back down into her shoulder. "No," he breathed there. "Do-do it again."

She did, though more hesitantly this time, and unsure of his reaction, curl her fingers around the black, silky tail, and rubbed it once.

The reaction was instantaneous. His frame was racked with a violent shiver, and with a whimper he pulled away hurriedly, entangling his limbs from hers in a haste that was almost painful, and with a glance that was inhumanely blue, he curled up on the other end of the couch. She thought his shoulders were trembling.

"Ka-Kaito," she said, now flustered and on the verge of being sick. "I–I'm sorry…"

He shook his head vehemently.

"Then what?" She crawled closer, pulled him in her arms again; he let her, hesitant but obviously needing it. "Did I scare you? What happened?" she nudged her nose against his hair, hoping he'd say something, do something–anything to break the tension this had instituted between them.

"Nothing," he whispered, and licked her cheek for emphasis; nipped at her jawline. "'S nothing."

She sighed, and cradled him against her until he relaxed, until his arms curled around her as well, and they cuddled again, albeit this time in a sitting position. "Don't scare me like that," she chuckled, after a while. Hers was still a tentative voice, but as he didn't protest, it took on firmness. "I'll bet you'll be so restless tonight you'll ask to sleep in my bed again." She forced his face out of the crook of her neck where it had buried itself, and watched him severely. "You always find a way to curl yourself around me when you do that."

–and the kitchen began to bleep.

"The rice!" Aoko yelped, and was off the couch and out of the room in no time.

Kaito sighed softly, watching her go, and curled his tail back to him with a thoughtful look. That was unexpected, his eyes seemed to say to it, amusedly, and he sprawled out over the couch all over again, burrowing his face in his folded arms. His tail flicked over his legs, the memory of her caress still running through it. Hmm.

He watched Aoko come and go from the kitchen to the table, hissing as the rice bowls stung her palms, and sticking burnt fingers in her mouth. She cast him a smile as she passed for the third time, walking off to get the onigiri.

Don't laugh, his eyes said, watching her from behind black bangs. In sleep you always reach out for me first.

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Before anyone asks, no, there's nothing wrong with Kaito's tail. It's just oversensitive. Hee hee.

And because butterfly-chan is an awesome, lovely, lovely friend (and this is the third birthday present, dear, I'll get it back on you, seriously), she's written me an omake for this, also based off the first prompt. *glomps her and offers cookies to the whole cook– I mean, party* Here goes–

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She knew, when she arrived one late afternoon tired after long hours of studies at her university, that something should be done about the nekomata living with her. Her eye twitched once again at the sight of her living room… her destroyed living room. Scratched furniture, ripped cushions, stains on the carpet that seemed to lead to the kitchen… she still wasn't prepared to see what happened there…

Yes, something should definitely be done… now!

She saw the bedroom door open, and a bouncing boy with cat ears and tail came out with a big smile.

"A-o-koo!!"

He was just going to latch himself onto her neck when her outstretched hand halted him.

"Kaito…" She started slowly. "What happened to my living room?" She tried to stay calm but she couldn't stop her eyebrow from twitching.

Kaito seemed to sense something was wrong, for his ears flattened a little against his head. "Um…the living room?" He gave the mess a quick look and turned to Aoko. "Nothing. It looks fine to me," he said with a smile.

Aoko exploded.

"What do you mean it looks fine?!" She shouted, making Kaito jump. "It's a mess!! Kaito you destroyed the living room!"

Kaito backed up a little. "Um…really?"

"What do you mean 'really'?! Just look at it!" She turned and started to pick up the ripped cushions. "You shouldn't do that Kaito! Now I'll have to clean all this mess, and I'm really tired from studying all day long!" She was turning around to continue to lecture him when she noticed his expression.

His face was that of a scared child, his lowered eyes full of regret and a bit glassy. His ears were now completely flat against his head and his tail was curved between his legs. She swiftly felt all her anger melt away at his sight, and she was now the one feeling sorry for shouting at him in that way. How could she stay angry when he was looking that cute?

Aoko took a deep breath and let it out in a long sigh. "Look, Kaito, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have reacted that way." She saw him slowly lift his eyes at her. "But you really shouldn't have done that, its bad, okay? Try to be more responsible and cooperative next time, yes?" she said with a gentle voice and finished her sentence with a soft smile.

To emphasize that she had forgiven him she lifted her hand and scratched one of his ears, which resulted in a long and soft purr from his part. Kaito, to let her know he understood, nuzzled her cheek with his nose and liked it with affection. She knew he had innocent intentions while doing so, but still she couldn't help but blush at his way of thanking her.

The next day, Aoko was showering while humming softly in a very good mood. She had saved what she could from her living room, which was very little, and remembered with a smile how eager had been Kaito to help her. Hopefully she wouldn't have any more problems like that…

She turned off the water and slid the curtain of the showerplace, only to come face to face with an outstretched hand holding a white fluffy towel. Her reaction was immediate; she grabbed the towel with a shriek, covered her body with it at full speed and glared at the cat-boy standing in front of her with a grin.

"What are you doing here?! I told you are not allowed to come in here while I am using it!!" she shouted with a very noticeably red face.

Kaito continued to smile innocently. "But A-o-koo! You told me to be more responsible and cooperative! Well, I'm helping you!" As soon as he finished speaking he quickly went to grab her hair brush and offered it to her with a goofy grin. "You use this thing too, right? I watched you before."

Aoko sighed and tried to calm her nerves once again. 'Remember, he's not like you Aoko… He doesn't think like that…'

"Ne, Aoko… Doesn't it bother you to be all wet? I don't like it…"

Aoko face palmed.

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*loves over* your Kaito is more boyish than mine… but man, isn't he cute. :33

In other news.

LUUUUUUUUUUPIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN the third.

That is all.