To be honest, If Could go back and take away the Hyuugas and just have Ghost in Mika's corner, I would have, but I still adore this story so much I will not change a damn thing!
Also this is really filler but a great way to make useful fluff... it is also a testing chapter for a few things. I want reviews for this, if you have suggestions for this kind of chapter.
Petting Ghost, exchanging chakra with his pet and ally, Mika walked out of the Hyugua manor and into the training ground he and Hinata had just sparred in a week previous. Placing his cat on the ground, Mika kneeled to him. "Okay, Ghost, it is time to begin your training. We are going to play a game, Simon says. I am going to say something,you do it and you get a treat!"
Ghost perked right up, the word treat clearly having an effect. His entire attention was on Mika, sniffing at him softly.
"Yes, treats, but you have to earn them. Let's start with the basics. Sit." He put up a hand and pushed Ghost's butt to the ground. The cat did not like this and stood up. "No, sit." He pushed him down again. Ghost stayed like that for a minute, so Mika held out a treat infused with chakra. "Good boy!" Ghost happily devoured the treat, his eyes warm with pleasure. "Good boy, very good." Mika kissed his little nose, and Ghost started to purr. "Let's do that a few more times. Then we can move on to your next command." Mika latched on a leash to his new friend. "Prepare to work every day, whenever I am too tired to train myself and for at least two hours a day. I want you to be my ultimate ally!"
He heard soft laughter come from behind him, turning he saw Neji. "This is not going to be easy, cats are not as smart as dogs and are far too independent to be proper ninja."
"Cats can be taught to do a lot, even poop in actual toilets. I think I can do this. Now unless you have something nice to say, go away."
Neji just smirked. "I wanted to watch you, your mind is quite interesting. Don't you think you are overstretching yourself? Elemental control, Silent killing, Kenjutsu, medical, shushin, sealing and now this?"
Mika nodded. "Yes, actually I am but it won't be as hard as you'd think. Medical is my primary, and I get paid to do it so I do not have to worry about missions taking most of my time for a while even with the invasion. I have every other day off, and I found ways to mix tai and ninjutsu training with silent killing training and chakra control exercises all at one with my conditioning. While I recover, I will read or train Ghost. Ghost also provides me with love, loyalty and company and fun which I need therapeutically so I am not overstretched. My friendship with Hinata does the same really."
Neji nodded. "What about your friendship with me?"
"Are we friends?"
Neji flushed. "I would like to be..."
Mika laughed. "Apologize to Ghost and we will see."
Neji walked over to Ghost and petted his tiny head. "I am so sorry, please forgive my rudeness." Ghost bit at him before licking his finger. "I think I am forgiven by this mighty beast."
They both sat down, right in front of Ghost. "Sit Ghost." To Mika's shock, Ghost sat right on his little but, but leaned in for a treat. "Good boy, so good! Yes, you get a treat from Daddy."
Neji snorted. "Daddy?"
Mika smirked. "Yes, Daddy. Problem with that?"
"Not at all... Daddy."
They both laughed, loud and long, and for several moments. Mika breathed in harshly and petted his beloved kitten. "Now, let's try high five."
"Do you think he can?"
"Is that a challenge, Hyuuga?"
Neji just smirked and Mika knew he made a new friend.
"""
Mika, reading on his bed in the Hyugua Guest quarters, was getting ready to sleep when he felt a warm presence on his side. Looking down, he saw Ghost curling into him, purring up a storm. Unable to say no, Mika started to pet the beautiful boy... only to immediately feel chakra pooling slowly and minutely into him. Ghost's chakra. It was like a tiny trickle of warmth, but it was there. Ebbing and flowing in time with his purrs, a reassuring, connecting social essence imbued with love and familial loyalty.
"You are the best, you know that Ghost?" Smiling, Mika continued to pet his friend, sharing with it his chakra as well, tiny flickers of warmth. "Wanna know what I was reading? Are you curious?" Ghost did not respond, but Mika knew he was interested. "I was reading a book on poisons, it is a field I am interested in applying myself to in order to stem my disadvantages... I would have to get you to be immune to my poisons, so I am not a threat to you too. Wonder how that would work.
Oh and I was thinking of having you get medical lessons. If the Inuzuka Ninja hounds can be taught to do jutsu, why can't you do the same? Cat purrs can help heal the body without chakra, with it who knows? Either way, you are going to be the best ally ever and help me reach heights I would never reach otherwise."
"""
Two weeks til Tsunade returns
Ghost's growth only increase as the days went by. By the start of his second week with Mika, the cat had grown to ten inches long and weighed about four pounds. He was way smarter too, able to handle the commands of sit, stand, high five, come and retrieve. Mika trained him with toys, having him bat at them for treats, or grab them and bring them to Mika for treats. His little boy was really responsive to basic commands and knew his name. Unlike a typical cat, he responded to his name and would come running when he heard it. Usually for treats or pets or kisses.
He loved kisses.
The chakra infusions had done wonders to the cat, who's own chakra was now a third the size of a civilian's. The goal was, by the time he reached his forced adulthood, to have academy-level chakra reserves. That would be enough for him to walk on water, and climb surfaces and would be the sign that he was ready to be a ninja cat! Or rather, that was the theory... Mika hoped that by that time he would be ready for full on combat training...
In either case, Mika was proud of his little buddy.
"Ghost, today is the start of more serious training. You are going to start your tracking training. I am going to hide your treats, you are going to bring them me first and then you can have them. I might throw in some commands, but you are going to do this? Okay?" To his shock, Ghost actually nodded, like a freaking person. "I hope that means you understand me, even if your mind should be about that of a five year old according to Hana... "
''''
One week til Tsunade returns
"Okay Ghost, let's play hide and seek!" Mika said, smiling at his little buddy, who was wiggling excitedly. "I am going to make some clones, you have to find the real me! if you do, you get treats and a new toy!" Mika ran through his handsigns and vanished, calling out. "Come find me!"
Immediately, Ghost was on the case and running around at speeds no normal cat could manage. His muscles were stronger, refined chakra was brimming through them molding them and the rest of his muscles into something that would one day be devastating. He leaped fifteen feet onto the roof and rushed toward the first clone, stopping to sniff it and then moved right away... right to the real Mika who was hiding not too far away.
Ghost shot into Mika's arms, yowling loudly for his treats.
Mika laughed at him, kissing his little face. "Okay, okay you little bully."
'''''
Hinata smiled as she watched Mika with Ghost. "He is happier than I have ever seen him. Ghost really was the best choice for him." It was a joy for her to see her friend dedicating his time, his effort to the sweet cat.
Hiashi nodded. "He is smiling more and more. Ghost is learning very fast too, he will be a real asset when the time comes."
"I assume so, but must all good things be tied to combat?"
"Very true, dear daughter... Maybe we can have Ghost taken into the Hospital as an emotional support animal while Mika works, and have him trained to detect cancer and other such illness?"
She perked up. "I think that sounds great! And it would really help him medical powers, I like it. Let's tell Mika over dinner."
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was a joy to write. Do you like Ghost's training regimen?
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.