A Nekomata Tail. Chapter 1

By Allen Lewis

This is a fanfiction dedicated to the Anime Highschool DxD

Chapter 1 12 years ago

Issei stood silently on the sidewalk watching his best Friend, Irina Shidou climb into the back seat of her parents car. Her father was being transferred to England because of his work. He was an official of the Protestant Church. Issei, of course didn't understand any of this, he just knew that he was never going to see her again. Issei thought that Irina was a boy instead of a girl because they often roughhoused and explored the woods around Kuoh town. They spent their time together trying to catch bugs, wrestling and wading in the creek behind the Old School building, and watching the construction of the all new Private Kouh Academy, which was going to be an elite private school for girls.

Irina was openly crying while waving goodbye as the car sped away. Issei tried very hard to not cry while waving back, because he believed that boys shouldn't cry. He wasn't succeeding because tears were freely flowing from eyes and dripping onto the ground. He watched until the car turned the corner and disappeared from his sight. His first grade class was going to be a lonely place when he was to start in a few weeks.

On a whim, Issei decided to go back and visit his and Irina's old hideout. There was a small shelter that he and Irina built in the woods. It was a simple structure made from tree limbs and scraps of wood with a board for a roof that would keep the rain out. After a few minutes of walking he found his hideout and discovered a kitten inside. The kitten was pure white with yellow eyes and looked like it was starving. Issei picked up the kitten which was shivering and cradled it against his chest. "I'm going to take you home with me kitten." He said. "I will take care of you."

The kitten looked into his eyes and saw gentleness and caring, and settled into his arms and started purring. By the time he got home, the kitten was fast asleep. Issei walked slowly so he didn't disturb the kitten as he walked. When he arrived at the back door, he kicked off his shoes and walked into the kitchen. Issei's mom was a kind woman and she doted on her only son. She was cutting up vegetables while preparing lunch. Miki Hyoudou turned when she heard the door open.

"Did you see your friend off this morning Issei?"

Yes mom, but more importantly, I found a starving kitten in the woods. Can we keep it?"

Mrs Hyoudou carefully picked up the starving kitten from Issei's arms and looked carefully, Yes, Ise, we can keep her. We will take her to the veterinarian later, but right now she needs something to eat and drink. Mrs Hyoudou handed the kitten to Issei and took some dried fish and placed it in a bowl on the floor and poured some milk into another bowl. Then Issei rubbed the kitten's head to wake her and after she yawned and stretched, he placed her on the floor to eat.

Issei thought that he heard the kitten say, "Thank you for the food." and began to eat. She tried and failed to eat daintily as a proper kitten should, but she was too hungry. Issei sat on the floor and watched the kitten eat. After the kitten finished eating, she drank some of the milk and after licking her paws she washed her face. she walked over to Issei after eating and climbed into his lap and fell asleep purring contentedly.

"What are you going to name her, Ise?" Miki Hyoudou asked.

Issei thought about it and finally said, "She is such a beautiful kitten and pure white, I think that I will name her Shirone."

as soon as Issei said the name Shirone, the kitten opened up her eyes and looked at Issei's face, nodded and licked his hand. then she promptly fell asleep again.

"I think that she likes that name, Ise." Miki said, "and somehow it fits her."

Later, when it was time for bed, Issei was in his room putting on his pajamas, while Shirone was lying on his bed watching him. Then he heard the sound of a cat crying at the back door. Issei ran downstairs and opened the door to find a black cat that immediately walked inside. Unknown to Issei, Shirone had followed him and upon seeing the grown cat, walked over and butted heads with the black cat. Then the cat licked Shirone on the head and looked up at Ise expectantly. "I guess that you are hungry too." Issei said.

The black cat rubbed her head against Issei's leg and after walking between his legs, she sat down in front of Shirone's bowl and looked up at Issei. Issei took the milk out of the refrigerator and poured some milk, but the cat didn't drink any, she just looked at Issei and waited. Mrs Hyoudou had walked into the room unnoticed and said, "Grown cats can't drink milk Ise, it gives them an upset stomach. offer her some water and some of the left over fish from dinner. Ise put some water in another bowl and put some fish in Shirone's food bowl. Again, Issei thought he heard, "Thank you for the food." but this time he thought he heard it from both cat and kitten in unison. Miki looked at both cat and kitten that were sharing the fish and said in mock displeasure, "It looks like we have two cats now. What will you name the other cat?"

The black cat turned and looked directly into Issei's eyes. Issei stood motionless for almost a minute staring back into the yellow eyes of the black cat. "Her name is Kuroka, mom, and she is Shirone's sister."

Miki laughed and said, "Oh, how do you know this Ise?"

I don't know, mom, I just know."

Mrs Hyoudou placed her hand on her chin and said, "Perhaps they are Cat spirits, Nekomata, that have come to bless our home." and then she laughed, "But of course that is superstition." and laughed. Then Shirone did something that neither Issei or his mother ever saw before, she stood up on her back legs and reached out with her front paws toward Issei. Clearly, she wanted to be picked up. Issei picked Shirone up and she immediately climbed onto his shoulder and curled her tail around his neck and started to purr, then unseen to either Issei or his mother, she stuck her tongue out at Kuroka and deliberately turned away and softly licked Issei on the side of his neck.

"Bedtime Ise." Miki said, "Tomorrow we will take them to the vet."

Issei climbed into bed and Shirone curled up next to Issei's head and gently curled her tail around his neck. Kuroka jumped up on the bed and walked up and licked Issei's hand and then rubbing heads with Shirone she walked to the foot of the bed and went to sleep. Issei drifted off to sleep with the sound of the cat and kitten purring. He awoke once during the night and thought he saw a young girl under the covers with him and a naked teenage girl lying on top of the bed with her arm over the little girl. Issei blinked and saw that the kitten was under the covers with him and the cat was lying on top of the bed with her paw over the kitten protectively. "I must be dreaming" Issei said aloud and drifted back to sleep.

Early the next morning Kuroka awakened Issei by tapping his face and meowing in his ear. Issei sat up and after rubbing his eyes, he said, "I suppose that you need to go outside to use the toilet." Kuroka and Shirone both jumped off the bed and headed down the stairs. Issei found them waiting patiently for Issei to open the door and let them out. Issei watched them run under the shrubbery and disappear. A few moments later Shirone came back out of the shrubs and walked back into the house, but Kuroka didn't. Issei waited for a few minutes and shrugged his shoulders and went back into the house to get dressed. Issei played with Shirone for a little while and then she jumped back onto Issei's bed and went to sleep. a little while later Issei's mom, Miki, came to the door and said, "Come on Ise, we need to take the cats to the vet and pick up some cat food."

Issei scratched his head and said, "Um, I let them out this morning but Kuroka didn't come back in"

"Oh well, perhaps she will turn back up, but in the mean time lets take Shirone to the vet."

Issei nodded and said. " come on Kitten, lets go get you checked up OK?" Issei picked Shirone up and followed his mother downstairs. When they got in the car and started to drive away, Kuroka jumped on the hood and gave Miki a disapproving look, as if to say, "Are you leaving without me?" Issei opened his door and Kuroka jumped off of the hood and then jumped into the car. Shirone was sitting on Issei's lap and stuck her tongue out at her sister, but Kuroka jumped onto the top of the headrest and looking down on Shirone, she licked Issei's cheek and turned away from her sister. Then she jumped into the back seat.

Dr Ishido pronounced both cats in good health and said that they were both underfed. Shirone was carried by Issei into and out of the vet's office but Kuroka just walked beside him, occasionally touching his leg with her tail. Neither cat was afraid of either the vet or the office When they left the examining room and entered the lobby a German Shepherd was sitting next to its owner. It started barking but as soon as Kuroka hissed at him, the dog cowered under the chair and refused to move until Issei, his mom, and the cats left the office. The dogs owner looked in wonder at Kuroka and the veterinarian's receptionist remarked, "In all my years, I have never seen a dog so afraid of a cat."

They stopped at the pet food store and Issei waited in the car with the cats while his mom went into the store to buy cat food. Shirone was lying on Issei's lap sleeping while Kuroka sat on the headrest and watched the people going in and out of the store. One man was walking his Great Dane which looked at Kuroka through the window and started barking. Again, Kuroka hissed and the dog took off down the sidewalk with his tail between his legs, dragging his owner by the leash. Issei looked at Kuroka and said, "You must be some terrifying cat to scare dogs like that." He wasn't expecting an answer but Kuroka said, "You have no Idea boy, but I like you, and I think I will keep you."

... "You can talk?" Issei said in surprise.

"Yes," Shirone said from his lap, "but don't tell anyone OK?"

Issei looked at Kuroka and her eyes captivated him for a moment. "Who would believe me if I did? Issei answered truthfully. Your secret is safe with me."

"We believe you Ise, you have an honest face." Shirone said."Can I call you Ise?"

"Yes of course." Issei said, "Nice to meet you. "

"We are in your care." Kuroka said bowing her head. "I think I will like living with you."

Shirone looked at her sister and said, "Just remember, I found him first!"

"Of course, but he has to grow up, nya? We can fight over him later, nya."

Shirone curled her tail around Issei's wrist and said firmly, "I won't lose big sister."

"Perhaps so little sister, but there is always room for one more, I won't take him away from you, and when the time comes we will share him, nya

"It is agreed Kuroka," Shirone said, but I am first!"

"Perhaps so, we will see, little one."

The cats never spoke to Issei again and after a while he decided that he had imagined it all. Shirone was a good kitten and always slept on Issei's bed but Kuroka was more of a wild cat. She came to be fed and would play with Issei and her sister for a while but wouldn't let anyone but Issei pet her, nor would she let anyone pick her up, not even Issei had that privilege. She would jump on his lap or lie beside him on occasion, and allow herself to be petted by him, but no one else. and so the years passed. Whenever Issei left the house, Kuroka and Shirone would walk beside him, one on each side, as if they were his escorts and bodyguards. When he was at recess at school, or playing sports, later as he grew, they would watch from a distance. They were always watching over him.