Naruto Fan Fiction

SI-OC!

(Title)

"The Weasel and His Cat"

DISCLAIMER: I do not own 'Naruto'!

WARNING! RATED M! For warnings of harsh language.

"Nekobaa..." Itachi eventually said, slowly and cautiously. "I do not understand. You had asked if I was aware of Hotaru-san's situation before telling me this story, but I do not understand the connection between them." His eyes glanced toward the the black-furred cat. "Are you saying... Hotaru-san, possessed Hisao?"

The old woman took another long inhale of her pipe, slowly exhaling the smoke and watching rise up before disappearing.

"In sorts, she did. Ho-chan is not a normal cat, though I assume you've already guessed that by now. Her 'situation', as you called it, is a difficult one to explain so let me do it the best way I know how to. By telling you what I know. This story I'm telling you, Itachi-chan, is of the first time Ho-chan had stepped into our world."

"Our world?" he whispered, barely able to believe his own words. That would mean...

Itachi didn't full know what that would mean actually. His active mind was supplied with so many new questions that it was nearly overwhelming. Though, without a doubt there was a sort of knotting in his stomach when he heard these words. One that had him feeling restless and resisting the urge to squirm around where he was seated. It was excitement he was feeling. Like finally uncovering the answers to a mystery!

He leaned forward over the table unconsiously, his excitement getting the better of his mannerisms. "What happened to Tomomi after that? How did she turn from a man into a cat? Is she an Obake? Or even a Bakeneko?"

Nekobaa laughed at that.

Laughed.

Itachi's excitement deflated, he sat back on his heels as his shoulders slumped despontantly. He didn't know what he said that was so funny...

"Ho-ho! Oh, Itachi-chan, you sure crack me up! There's no such thing as a Bakeneko! And Ho-chan is certainly no shapeshifter!" she said between her cackling. Itachi's eyes darted over to the small bed in the alcove of the room and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the still-sleeping forms of Hotaru-san and Nekobaa's grandaughter. He still didn't know what was so funny. Nekobaa's shoulders were still trembling with laughter as she spoke again, "Though I don't blame you for thinking that, as she is now I can see how you came to that guess. But, no. She's not a shapeshifter. I'm pretty sure that this is the first time she's ever been a cat before!"

Itachi still did not understand. And to the young prodigy, it was terrible frustrating to not be able to understand something.

Nekobaa's chortles died down and she tapped her pipe, emptying it of the ashes. "Well, I suppose the best way to put it is... to call Ho-chan... a Traveler, of sorts."

"A traveler?" he repeated, eyebrows knitting together as he strained to understand.

Nekobaa nodded to herself, "Yes, that's the best way to say it. Ho-chan had never explained it fully by any means but she had once told a very wrathful Kiyoshi that her lover, Hisao, was quite dead and his spirit was gone. And she was just a wandering soul that had ended up filling the space he left behind not by any choice of her own. Ho-chan had been young then, still trying to figure out what was happening herself when she unfortunately met a grief-sticken and equally bull-headed young woman who would not accept any sort of condolence Ho-chan could give."

"What do you mean that it was not her choice? Where does she travel? What is Tomomi?" Itachi asked insistently.

Nekobaa sighed, refilling her pipe with dried herbs. "Hotaru is a traveling soul, she ends up in a body—not one that she chooses, and then lives out the rest of that life. Whether it's a short life as a woman or man or a long life as a dog or bird! When that body dies again she moves on to the next one. She has no choice in where she goes or what she even ends up as. When she opened her eyes as Hisao that was the first time she had been brought into our world. Where she came from before or even where she goes when she's not here, I don't know."

Itachi was quiet, his mind was spinning with what Nekobaa had told him and what it meant to him now that he knows. Tomomi was not a normal cat, that he had already knew. But to be a 'traveling spirit'? Wandering from body to body for what had to be decades now? Living countless lifetimes in different places?

How lonely must that be...

The old woman cracked a small smile at the contemplative boy, "You know... Hotaru isn't actually her name, right? For as long as I've known her, she's never said her what her true name is." Then she scowled and muttered, "...the crotchety, old shrew."

She hadn't?

Itachi felt small smile of his own curl his lips.

"...Nekobaa? How do you know all of this?" he asked quietly, eyes resting on the cold tea in his hands.

"Because of Hisao." she said. Itachi frowned in confusion but held his tongue, waiting for her to explain. "Though his spirit passed, his body and all it's weakness remained. And as such Hotaru inheirited his weak consitustion along with his near-sightedness among many of the other things that kept him from becoming a shinobi with his clansmen. Though she realized her love was gone, Kiyoshi felt the need to care after his body and the spirit now residing inside. She was cold and bitter towards Hotaru for many, many years. And Ho-chan certainly didn't makes things easy! Even back then she hardly had any patience for humans. They fought and bickered for years, even after they moved from that backwards coastal town to a small Senju compound on the outskirts of the newly established Hidden VIllage in the Leaves."

On the outskirts of the Village? Could it be the same ruins where she stays now? He knew that those were once Senju housing. Itachi wondered if the Feline was really so sentimental? It was unexpected, like most of the things he's heard today.

"If they really disliked each other so much, then why did Kiyoshi-san stay? And why did Tomomi not drive her away?" he asked. She certainly has tried on many occasions with him.

"I can't speak for Ho-chan, but as for Kiyoshi... even though he was dead, a small part of her felt as if she was keeping Hisao alive. So, they lived together for the years until Hisao's body had given out again and Hotaru passed on."

Itachi felt his throat tighten slightly thinking about Tomomi's life. Lives. It was an uncomfortable feeling.

Nekobaa grinned, confusing Itachi for the umpteenth time that day. "It just about scared the hell out of Kiyoshi when a surly little red fox with yellow-green eyes had shown up on her doorstep some years later."

"She... came back?"

"Not just once either. That era was still deeply rooted with warring clans, death was a common affliction back then. Over the decades Ho-chan would come back to stay with Kiyoshi and try to live in her peace and solitude." Nekobaa said Tomomi's favorite words with a mocking tilt to her voice.

Itachi pressed his lips firmly together even though he found that a little amusing. That reminded Itachi of a question that has been burning in his mind for the longest time now. "Nekobaa, why does Tomomi dislike people and... society in general? Do you know?"

Nekobaa opened her mouth to speak—

"It's because I find that humans are loud and disruptive, little weasel. Particularly when they interupt my sleep." answered a dry voice, alarming Itachi by her suddeness.

He swallowed thickly as he turned to meet a pair of lime-green eyes pinning him with a glare. The Feline stifled a yawn as she rose up from the bedding.

"Now, what was it you two were talking about?"

The Weasel and His Cat

TO BE CONTINUED

A/N: So, I just learned what exactly a Bakeneko is and was quiet disturbed to find how many similarities it has to Tomomi. Wasn't intentional at all. Just thought I'd mention that. Other than that, what do you guys think?! This was it! This was Tomomi's story! Or, as much as Nekobaa knows. I promise we'll get it straight from the cat's mouth eventually. I hope this made it as clear as possible for everyone. If not then feel free to message me and I'll be happy to explain further!

For now, thank you so much for everyone that shared their theories and thoughts about Tomomi's origin. I really loved reading them!

I love you, guys! 'Till the next time!

-Nanami