Chapter 2: A New Home

Once I was dry and had a small bowl of delicious fish soup in my stomach, I was curled up in Calliope's lap on the couch. The entire family was sitting around on pieces of furniture in the living room. From what I gathered, Kira and Piccolo were the heads of the family while the rest were their children; Anicola, Harp, Viola, Cello, Bell, Cyan, and the triplets, Zenith, Clarinette and Calliope (the three who let me inside).

I was amazed at how many people could live inside this house. It was either very enormous or made to look that way. Raising my head, I looked around and noticed Kira reading a book with a cat on the front. I couldn't read in the human language, but I assumed that she was doing that for me. Getting up to my feet, I stretched before jumping to the floor. Sitting down, I raised a paw and began cleaning it for a moment as I looked up to see Calliope and Clarinette watching me.

"She's so cute!" Calliope exclaimed in a high-pitched voice. "Tiny's going to fit right in around the house."

"I hope so, Calliope," Clarinette told her as both stayed in their chairs, keeping their eyes on me.

"Perhaps you two should be reading this book instead of me," Kira's voice stated as I ceased my cleaning and gazed at her. Her large green eyes stared right over me at the two girls seated behind me. I couldn't help but feel that this Kira would be a wonderful person.

Getting to my feet once again, I made my way slowly over towards where the two large figures of Piccolo and Kira sat on a couch. By the time I reached their feet, Kira had already returned her eyes to the book while Piccolo merely crossed his arms and had his eyes closed. Not even bothering to 'meow' at them, I bounded up into Kira's lap and poked my head under the book in her hands. She looked down at me and smiled before placing a hand on my head and gently scratching behind my ears.

"What is it, Tiny?" she asked softly. "I know you're not hungry since you were just fed. I suppose you just want attention…strange since this book says cats are loners by nature."

Pushing her hand with my tiny head, I began purring as she ran her hand along my arched back. Then, I heard Piccolo chuckle as he declared,

"Kira, you're talking to a cat. That creature can't possibly understand what you're saying."

"Now, Piccolo," Kira told him, raising an eye bone as she came to my defense. "They say that cats are among the smartest of creatures even if they are rather independent. But, they make the best of pets in the facts that they are quiet, clean, and as I said, they practically raise themselves. Tiny will be a good pet for all the children. You may even grow to like her, too."

"Heh," he scoffed at her and me. "I doubt it."

Gazing at Kira, I noticed her eyes narrow and begin to glow green as she said, coolly,

"Anymore of that attitude, Piccolo Daimao, and you will be using this couch for your bed tonight."

"Kira, you know I don't mean anything by it," Piccolo smiled at her as his hand brushed against hers as she still held the 'cat' book.

Although she tried to remain annoyed on the outside, I could tell Kira was forgiving Piccolo for his mistake. It made me smile at her because I knew she was an understanding person. And I suppose I could grow to like Piccolo, too…even if he was rather loud at times.

Within a few hours, nearly every one of the children had turned in to their rooms. However, there was a slight squabble, which, sadly to say, I caused. Calliope and Bell were arguing which room I would sleep in for the night.

"Clarinette and I found her first, so Tiny should sleep in our room!" Calliope cried out.

"You don't even know how to care for a kitten, and what makes you think that the older sisters shouldn't have Tiny in their room?" Bell argued, glaring at her youngest sister.

"That does it, both of you!" Kira's stern voice resounded through the hallway as I looked up in surprise. I didn't think that I would ever hear Kira sound so angry. Striding towards their rooms, Kira stated, "Since your father and I are the oldest in this house, Tiny will stay in our room."

"What!" Piccolo inquired in annoyance.

Shooting Piccolo a look that kept his mouth closed, Kira bent down and lifted me into her hands, saying,

"Girls, I think you should get to bed. You'll see Tiny in the morning, and we'll have her decide where she wants to sleep after tonight."

"Alright, Mom," Calliope and Bell answered at the same time. Before going into their separate rooms, I saw both girls stick their pink tongues out at each other, and then quickly closed their doors. I assumed they did this so that Kira wouldn't see what they did, but somehow, I think Kira noticed, too. If she was anything like my mother, Kira wouldn't let anything like that pass her sight.

Rubbing my head against her hand as she held me, I reminded Kira that I was tired, too. She sighed,

"Okay, Tiny, it's time for bed."

Striding down the hallway once more, Kira and I entered the large room where a rather enormous bed was in the very center. Already, Piccolo lay under the covers, apparently sleeping. But, there was something about his breathing that made me certain he wasn't really asleep. However, Kira didn't seem to notice as she placed me at the foot of the bed on the side opposite of Piccolo's feet. Then, she strode into a smaller room on Piccolo's side of the bed.

Curling up into a tiny fuzzy ball, I kept my green eyes on Piccolo as he rested his head on one of the soft, fluffy things…I think they're called 'pillows'. I wasn't too familiar with the names of all human objects, but some were hard not to know, such as soft things, like pillows and cushions. In a quick change of mind, I felt a slight itch on my left hind leg, and began to chew the area of my fur before licking it flat again.

Minutes later, Kira reappeared in a white dress slightly shorter than the one she wore before, and she was running a wooden stick with thick bristles through her white hair. I think the humans call it a brush, but I can't be sure. Then, she walked quietly over to the glass doors, which I failed to notice (amazingly enough, since we cats are curious by nature), and opened them. The storm that had brewed all around had calmed down, and a bright, silver moon shone down on the ocean from what I could see.

With soft steps, Kira walked out into the night air as the wind gently blew her long, white hair towards the ocean. Then, my ears pricked up as I noticed a sound coming from outside. My curiosity got the better of me again as I rose, stretched, and bounded off the bed, padding towards Kira. She turned to face me as if she knew I was coming before sitting down on the stone railing surrounding the small area. Patting a hand on her lap, I understood Kira's offer to sit, and jumped up into her lap, settling down to where I faced the ocean.

"Do you hear it, too, Tiny?" Kira whispered to me. "Do you hear the song of the ocean? I'm not surprised since cats have sensitive hearing…as do we."

Looking up at Kira as she stared out over the ocean, I meowed softly to her as she smiled before looking down at me. Then, returning her gaze to the ocean, I watched as she opened her mouth, and I heard such a beautiful sound come out. Her voice seemed to ring in harmony with the sounds I heard coming from the sea. Gazing out on the surface, I thought I saw several silver forms leap out before crashing down into the water as if in response to Kira's voice.

Kira laughed softly,

"The dolphins are dancing tonight."

"It looks that way, Kira," a resounding voice stated as I nearly jumped out of my fur, and turned to see Piccolo standing right behind Kira. It was shocking and rather astonishing that I had not heard him come outside. This family was rather interesting, and definitely not human. Shaking my head, I watched as Kira grasped Piccolo's hand, saying,

"I didn't mean to disturb you, my love."

"You didn't, Kira," Piccolo declared as he bent over and wrapped an arm around her upper torso. "I wasn't asleep. I heard you come out here and saw the cat follow you, so I thought I'd join you." Then, he put his mouth very close to her pointed ear, whispering, "Besides, hearing your beautiful voice was enough to stir me from my slumber had I truly been asleep."

Smiling at his words, Kira rubbed her face against Piccolo's as I had seen other humans do at night in certain areas. As I saw the current situation, I leaped from Kira's lap to the floor, and headed towards the slightly open door. Pushing my head through, I quietly slipped out of the room and made my way down the corridor. 'I suppose they will thank me for leaving later,' I thought as I padded through the hallway. 'Besides, I want to explore this house to the fullest extent.'