This chapter is turning out pretty long, I've split into two parts!


CHAPTER ELEVEN: SHEDDING

Moriko sighs as she continues to vacuum the house; the weekend brings mild chores, but some much wanted peace to their mix matched household. It's been awhile since they've had such a relaxing time off. She can't even remember the last time Kato spent a weekend without looking over her shoulder, paranoid of everything she hears, convinced that someone is going to bust in at a moment's notice to kill them. To be fair, it's a paranoia that to some level, they all share.

You don't spend as much time in the Facility as they did, on the run for as long as they were, without developing some paranoia to survive. She wonders what it says about them that they can actually sit down and enjoy their time again.

She watches the small clear tub on the front of the vacuum quickly fill with dark strands of fur. It won't be long until she's going to have to empty it for the umptenth time. Her nose twitches as she tries her best to avoid sneezing from all the stray strands that she ends up breathing in. She wonders just how much and how long they've all been breathing in the fur and just how much damage that is doing to them.

She shakes that thought out of her head and tries her best instead to think about happier things. Like last night with Haruhi. Her heart blooms with the mere memory of it, her cheeks flushing slightly. She can't remember the last time someone's actually given her this many butterflies.

"I'd tell you that continuing that train of thought is as pointless as dating a human," Reve comments casually, her eyes still on the newspaper in her hands, "And that you'd be endangering us all by pursuing it, but at this point, I don't really think you'd listen to me."

Reve politely lifts her feet onto the coffee table as she reads the paper to get them out of Moriko's way - who mocks Reve's words under her breath. Her phone vibrates on the table, but she ignores it, not quite caring enough to look. Her mind drifts to the memory of Kyoya. His eyes looking at her as if he has all the power over her, as if he finally got something of interest. She scoffs. Power hungry bastard. He wants to see real power, I'll show him. But for now, she owes him a favor. One small favor. The price to pay for him knowing her secret - granted, she'd rather him know about her crush than the truth of her existence. That doesn't mean that she can't make that bastard wait for a reply.

Honestly it's times like this that she can completely understand why Kato is rather fed up with humans. She'd much rather just wipe Kyoya's mind and be rid of this situation completely, but it'd be too easy for her to erase too much which could bring up problems if she, for example, erases the past week or so in his mind when the other hosts remember it perfectly. She'd never hear the end of it from Moriko if she were to mess it up and put them all in jeopardy either.

Besides, Kyoya is relentless. It's the one of the things she noticed about him. He always knows everything about everyone and the fact that he doesn't know much about them is likely driving him to desperate measures. She doesn't quite want to know what he's capable of if he's desperate enough. So she will let him this - her crush, her secret - and if he believes that all there is to her, then he'll think that that he knows all there is to know. He won't go digging for more. He needs to take a step back anyhow.

"Kato," Moriko turns the vacuum nozzle toward her sister, "I'll get swordfish for you if you let me do this."

Kato's monstrous beast of a form looks up with sleepy eyes as she stretches out with a tired yawn, her muzzle smacking absently. The idea of getting el pez espada is appealing. She can't remember how long it's been since she's had that. Reve is always so hesitant to spurge too much, especially with how much food (especially fish) that Kato eats. She buys enough for them to get buy, though it took some convincing to get her to believe that it didn't matter what form Kato is in, the amount of food that she'll eat is the same.

She looks toward the nozzle that Moriko motions toward her and sighs before laying back down, hissing slightly as she feels the nozzle run its way through her fur.

"Your shedding is ridiculous in this form," Moriko grumbles, "Why couldn't you be a giant hairless cat?"

"At least it's better than a giant hairy mutt," Kato weakly argues, grumbling over the mental link.

"At least a mutt would actually like this," Moriko snaps back lightly, "Now turn so I can get your other side."

Moriko ignores the hissing and snarling that comes from Kato as she turns, offering her other side for the same de-shedding treatment. Reve watches from the corner of her eyes, her lips twitching into a slight grin of amusement from the scene. Kato's large form spread out like a rug, lazily grumbling under her breath, causes butterflies in her chest. Cute. Her cheeks flush slightly as she turns her attention back to her newspaper.

Moriko curses when the vacuum finally gives out with a noise that would send terror to a suburban mom with messy kids.

"Damn it! Vacuum's out. This is the third one this month."

She sends an accusing glare toward Kato, who doesn't seem nearly as concerned.

"So? Good news if you ask me," Kato curls up on the floor, making herself comfortable again as she plans on going back to sleep.

"It's literally the worst news with your shedding," Moriko huffs, "We have to go to the mall and get a new one again."

"Maybe we should buy a cat brush so she doesn't keep breaking the vacuum," Reve's voice is flat and quiet, her eyes briefly glancing toward Kato, who looks at her with wide eyes.

"The brush is almost as bad as the vacuum."

Kato's voice whines to deaf ears as Moriko agrees that a brush would be better. Once Moriko agrees to something, as her sister, it's Kato's duty to go along with it. It doesn't help when she's out voted.


The mall's crowded and smells like a mix of body sweat and fake perfume. It makes Kato's nose itch for every second that she's there as she trugs along behind her sisters with a begrudging acceptance. The many heads that look their way - whether it's from Reve's intimidating height, Kato's exotic and muscular form, or Moriko's loud and excited chittering at every plant she sees - quickly turn away at Kato's glare.

"If you're getting what you want, and Reve is getting what she wants, can I get what I want?"

Reve sighs, "This isn't a shopping spree, Kato. I have to get books on meditation to help my control. Moriko has to get a vacuum because you broke ours and if you feel left out, consider the brush your gift of the day."

Kato lifts a brow, believing Reve to have the most control and mental strength out of the group, she wonders why Reve even feels like she needs to gain more control in the first place.

Moriko lightly nudges Reve, "Lighten up, Reve. If we have the money and it seems we're going to be here for a while, we may as well enjoy ourselves. For now anyway. Why don't we all get our essentials and we each get one thing that we want? Otherwise, why would you give us each our own card?"

"For emergencies," Reve stretches out the word with a frustrated groan, but at the sight of Kato's large, pleading eyes looking at her, she concedes. "...Fine. On top of essentials, and I do mean essentials, we can get one fun item."

Kato's lips stretch into a Cheshire grin as her mind begins to wonder to things she could get. Most places are already out of the question with no need or desire for most 'human' things, but the food cart is starting to sound more promising.

Moriko's heart warms at the sight of Kato's excitement as she begins to think of what type of plant she wants to bring back home. Her eyes drift away in thought before something familiar catches her eye. She squints and looks closely at the person of interest, their yellow sundress causing her cheeks to warm.

Reve wonders just how much this decision is going to bite her in the ass later, but before she can dwell on it too much, Moriko gives out a shout.

"Haruhi?!"

Their head turns at the sound of their name as the rest of the group follows Moriko's gaze toward the host. Kato huffs, complaining about not smelling them sooner from all the over-priced and chemical-infused perfume in the air.

Moriko's expression becomes a bit strained, her muscles constricting as she panics with each step that Haruhi takes toward them. She spoke without thinking this through, what is she expecting to happen, how come she never knew how cute Haruhi looked in a dress, and why can't she focus on anything other than how adorable Haruhi's smile is.

"Moriko-chan," Haruhi's smile is bright and infectious with Moriko not being able to do anything but return it, "I didn't expect to see you here, with this being a 'commoner's mall.'"

They roll their eyes and use their fingers to form air quotes around 'commoner's mall.'

"It's just a mall," Moriko replies dumbly.

Haruhi scoffs, "Try telling them that. They keep losing their shit over each and every sale they see and the twins and Tamaki-senpai have already been kicked out of a few stores."

They jab their thumb over their shoulder and sure enough, the rest of the host club isn't too far behind her, but with all the distractions around, it's clear that Haruhi's disappearance is mostly unnoticed. Tamaki and the twins are arguing, Kato can hear it pretty clearly (something about Haruhi being in such a short dress), and don't seem to notice that the subject of their argument is gone.

Kato locks eyes with Honey and Takashi, both who give brief nods in greeting that she finds herself returning with crossed arms and tight lips. Kyoya's look toward Reve is noticed, but Reve doesn't give him the gratitude of returning any greeting, looking away as if she never noticed him in the first place.

"Why don't you just join me then?"

The words are out of Moriko's mouth before she can register what she's asking, her heart pounding in her chest as she prepares herself for a no. But instead, Haruhi just grins.

"If your sisters are okay with it, then I'd rather be with you."

Moriko glances toward her sisters, but Reve just waves her hand, "Just go, but you better hurry before the others notice that Haruhi is gone."

"Thank you," Moriko gives a quick bow toward Reve and an apologetic one toward Kato before she and Haruhi whisk away from the hosts.

The moment that they're gone from sight, Kato sees Tamaki's head pop up with interest, as if he sensed that something is amiss. Some sense, he's a bit late to the party.

"HARUHI!? WHERE ARE YOU!?"

"She disappeared with Moriko," Kato's voice is harsh, causing Tamaki to shrink back as he notices her presence. She smirks slightly, "Apparently, she doesn't really want to be around you."

She admits that she takes a small bit of pleasure from the way Tamaki just wallows in misery at her words, mumbling on and on about how 'it's all lies' and his 'precious little daughter loves him.'

"I thought he'd be more concerned about Haruhi's gender being revealed," Kyoya pushes up his glasses with a smirk, knowing the way it would stir Tamaki (and the twins) up.

Kato snorts as Reve crosses her arms against her chest with an unimpressed glance, "We've known about Haruhi for a while, but given that we didn't know their gender identity, we didn't say anything."

"Fair enough," Kyoya concedes, "After all, Haruhi, themselves, stated that they don't care if people see them as a girl or a boy. Our dear president understands this, but is in a bit of denial."

Reve and Kato glance toward the way Tamaki still wails about his 'pretty daughter being discovered by a bunch of a ruffians'. Kato bristles at the words, taking a step forward.

"Ruffian," Kato growls, "If you want to see just how ruff I can be, I can gladly show you."

Takashi is the one to step forward, more out of a curtsey than anything. He can tell by the dimmed fire in her eyes and the looseness of her stance that her words lack any real venom. She's not a real threat. If she really wanted to hurt them, she would have done so by now - he has no doubts about that. Honey may not accept it yet, but he knows that they wouldn't stand a chance against her. Something about that both intrigued and frightens him - the former more so than the later.

"Stop playing, Kato," Reve waves off the other girl's 'threat', "Why don't you run off and actually do what we're supposed to be doing - shopping."

"Mori-senpai, Honey-senpai why don't you keep her company?"

Kyoto's eyes gleam in a way that makes Reve want to destroy those stupid glasses of his. He makes a notable look into her eyes, challenging her, pressuring her. Let's see how this plays out.

Reve can read that thought above all others, it projects itself toward her threateningly, as if he really thinks he's one upped her, that she'll make a scene because he's sending off those two humans with her crush. It takes two to tango and I'm a pretty good dancer.

Her lips thin but she gives no big noticeable sign of the constricting in her chest as Kato actually accepts Takashi's and Honey's presence beside her as they walk off. Reve's jaw tenses and locks at the way Kato brushes against Takashi's side and she's reminded at who it really was that went after Kato on that balcony. Her eyes flash dangerously as her body tenses, a way to keep her form together.

Kyoya watches her closely and notes the tightness of her jaw and stance with a smirk.

"Tamaki, you and the twins can go look for Haruhi, make sure that she's not getting into too much trouble."

Tamaki nods frantically and gives a salute, "We will find her mommy."

He dashes off with the twins and Reve finds herself alone with Kyoya. He has that same look in his eye, that challenging stance. They both know that now that they're alone, they can speak more freely, something that with them can be dangerous.

"You ignored my texts and my calls," Kyoya presses.

Reve shrugs and starts to walk away, barely throwing a look over her shoulder, "If you want to spend all day talking about this, we can at least do it while I'm shopping. Come along, mommy."

It's petty but it works. She doesn't have to look to feel his presence following her a reserved frustration. If he wants to send off Takashi and Honey with Kato to piss her off, then she's going to make him follow her around the mall while she shops. It's only fair and it still doesn't mean that she has to listen to him.


"So Kato-Chan, what store do you want to visit?"

The food court is on her tongue but she spots a store that grabs her attention with small kittens in its window.

"That one," Kato breathes, her heart reaching out to the small kittens as their cries reach her ears - let me out, give me attention. She understands them the way a mother cat would understand her kittens. She knows what each meow means from its pitch, its tone.

Honey follows her wide eyed gaze toward the pet shop. Her eyes are fixated on the kittens in the window and she doesn't even seem to notice the puppies on the opposite side of the window that most people are stopping to coo at through the glass.

Takashi feels his lips threaten to smile as his eyes are drawn to the window as well. He looks toward both the puppies and the kittens and takes a step forward. Both he and Kato barely notice each other's presence as they both head straight toward the pet shop.

Takashi flushes when they reach the door at the same moment, not even noticing that she was heading the same direction. He holds the door open for her and she mutters her thanks as she dashes through. He watches her as she's immediately drawn to the kittens.

Unlike the puppies who wander obientently behind a small fence near the window, Kato steps through a second door to get to the small glass room that's made up for the kittens.

"I expected her to go the puppies like everyone else," Honey comments.

Takashi disagrees. With how much Kato herself seems like a cat, it makes sense that she'd go straight to the kittens without a second thought.

He can't help but watch her, the thought of playing with the puppies becoming more distant in his mind. She's immediately swarmed by the kittens that climb up her like a pole, but she doesn't seem bothered by the sharp nails that dig into her. The ones that move to the wrong spots, she grabs by the nape of their neck and moves, correcting them. Her lips move as if she's saying something but Takashi can't hear her over the loud chattering of the kittens.

They're excited, Takashi realizes, they like her. It seems to be mutual. She has the largest, most genuine smile on her face. A halo of light seems to surround her as she laughs, the kittens climbing on her and batting her hair. Takashi's eyes go wide and a light bulb goes off in his mind as he realizes just how cute the entire scene is and how much it softens Kato's rough edges.

By the time Kato steps out, Takashi has a small flush on his face. The shine to her lips with the small pant that comes from them, and her relaxed posture just makes him flush more.

"How do I get them," Kato asks with a firm determination, "I want them."

"I don't think the store will let you take all of them," Honey offers, "I think they have a limit to only buying two pets per customer a day. The only exception being the fish."

Kato frowns, her relaxed posture turning more tense, "Fine, how do I get two of them?"

Her heart longs to bring them all home with her. She wants to give them a loving home, because no one could possibly love them as much she could. No human could understand their needs as much as she does. But if she can at least take two of them, she will. Consider it her gift for the day.

With the process explained and after her nearly strangling the employee who kept giving her the wrong one, she finally finds herself at the checkout. She eyes the brushes on display by the register and hesitantly picks out the biggest cat brush they have and adds it to her pile. Hopefully getting it will lighten the fury of Reve.

Takashi holds the door open for her, as with both of her hands are full as she carries two cardboard pet carriers. Honey eyes her curiously, noting the quiet mews coming from the carriers and the small paws that poke through the air holes in the box.

"Aren't you going to buy them food? You can't just bring something home with you because it looks cute."

Kato scowls at Honey's question as she pauses at a nearby bench, setting down with the carriers, mumbling under her breath, "-kvazaŭ mi estas stulta, nefirebla malgranda azeno."

"I'm not stupid," Kato's voice is louder and more sharp, "I love cats like they're my family and I treat them like such which means that they're not going to eat that fake food that smells like chemicals and processed meat. We have fresh meat at home, they'll be fine eating that."

Honey has an argument on his tongue, but it catches in his throat when he sees Takashi nodding along as if he agrees with Kato and understands. Takashi takes a seat on the bench beside her and helps her as she opens the carriers, even if he's not sure why she's doing so in the first place. Something about it reminds him of a child that keeps slipping their fingers through a carrier to pet their new friend because they just can't wait until they get home.

Kato, however, doesn't simply slip her hands through the gaps to pet the cats, but rather opens the carriers up entirely and allows the cats to jump about freely. Takashi reaches out to catch them, trying to stop them from running off, but stops short. They don't go toward freedom, they go toward her.

Her new cats, one being a kitten that's obviously the runt of its litter and the other being a larger, older cat with wild hair that seems to match Kato's own, immediately go to her lap as if they have no intention to ever be far from her. The kitten crawls to a space on her shoulder and just under her neck, hidden slightly by the depths of Kato's own hair while the other cat curls into Kato's lap. Takashi can hear an echo of loud purring and sees Kato's chest vibrate with the sound.

Honey wants to point out that that the cats being free may not be the smartest idea, but he sighs and sits down on the bench on Takashi's other side, holding Usa-chan close to his chest. What was the point of arguing if it's to deaf ears?

There's a peaceful silence that envelops them, a moment passing through them that seems rare and Takashi can't help but cherish it slightly as he feels something developing in the air around them. He absently reaches and pets the large cat in Kato's lap that pushes its head to his palm.

"The big one is a Norwegian forest cat," Kato speaks softly, as if she doesn't want to disturb the silent peace that's spread between them, "They're known to be warriors, with even Vikings having them on their ships as mousers. They're strong cats. This one, you look into his eyes and you can see it."

The large black cat looks up his beady eyes to meet Takashi's and he can't help but see what she means. Even an animal's eyes are a gateway to their soul and with it being as old as it is and still being in a shop, there's no telling what it's been through.

"He will be Bizar," Kato says simply, "For being such a brave soldier. Persians," Kato brushes underneath the chin of the kitten on her shoulder, "are quiet, peaceful. Very elegant and this one… she is very small, a runt. She won't get as big as some of her brothers or sisters. So she will be Carinna for being such a small and dear little lady."

Takashi notices the fire in her eyes ignitating, this time with warmth and softness. A fire that's spreading light rather than burning those around them. His cheeks flush with a similar warmth that Honey notices with curious eyes.

Kato ruffles her hair with her fingers, careful of the kitten hidden in its depths and watchessome of it come off with her fingers with a frown. Shedding in human form, this is a fucking pain. At least when she was in her true form, the fur that fell but still clung to her wasn't noticeable. It never itched her skin or teased her nose. It just reminds her how much weaker humans are, including her human form.

Curiously, Takashi watches her closely as she tries to get off a few of the stray hairs. She crinkles her nose and without hesitating, his hand is on her face.

Kato stops moving. She's hit with the scent of woody musk that she could make a candle out of as she feels his calloused hand brush against her cheek. The hand of a warrior, she realizes, with the callouses that form when you make one too many fists and hold onto your sword with your life. His face is a bit too close to hers. The first thing she wonders is how intense and focused his dark eyes are, yet soft around the edges.

The second thing she wonders is why she doesn't push him away with all of her strength. She could break him in half if she wanted to, slam him into the ground and break his ribs. But instead her palms hesitate on his firm chest and she gives a light shove, just enough to get him but gentle enough that it's not any tougher than friends who shove each other around.

Her eyes aren't contacts, Takashi realizes when he sees the complexity of shades of yellows that swirl around in her eyes. Her skin is prickled with rough skin that's softer around the curves of her face, but like every other part of her, it feels muscled. Strong. Her cheekbones highlight a sharper, more square jaw and thick neck that moves into broad shoulders. The hair that covers a side of her face breaks apart and he can see the edges and hints of a scar going down her right eye that looks deep and painful. His fingertip touches the edge of it, hesitantly, and then he feels hands grip at his chest, mildly groping the firmness of his breasts and they stay there a second too long before they shove him away. It barely pushes him back and he gets the message as he leans back.

A stray long black curly hair that wraps around him is held between his fingers. Kato stares at him for a moment then toward the hair in his hand. She huffs and her cheeks are dusted with a dark blush.

"Thanks."


*Talking to me like I'm stupid, insufferable little ass.

Shedding Part II will be coming soon(ish), with Reve and Kyoya's adventure along with Haruhi and Moriko's!