~Cifra~

Chapter Four

-o-

Disclaimer: Digimon does not belong to me.

Warning: This story contains mature content, specifically sexual content. Please do not read unless you are 18 years or older. Thank you.

I want to personally thank my one reviewer from last chapter: Erik. Thank you for taking the time to tell me what you think, even though it is a pretty weird story. It's kind of fun for me to know that this story I began writing just for myself is also appreciated by other people like you. So this chapter is dedicated to you.

I look forward to hearing what the rest of you think too, and always, always, always appreciate your constructive criticism as well.

-o-

When I did manage to wake up the next morning, the only thing I could think about was how much I wished I could fall back asleep. My muscles ached, and I was exhausted as hell. On top of that, I was late for work. "It's just not fair," I groaned, struggling to roll off the couch and stumble toward the shower. And though he had been curled up on my chest, the cat managed to hop onto the back of the couch as I got up, then jump back down to curl up and fall back asleep on the warm cushion where I had been lying.

Lucky cat… he didn't have to go to work.

Sighing and showering rapidly, I dressed myself in a clean suit and hurried out the door, not even surprised when the cat leaped onto my shoulder. By the time I reached my work, I felt like three days had passed.

How do you feel? The cat asked me, peering at my face curiously. His whiskers brushed against my cheek, tickling me a little bit.

I shot him an irritated glare as I stepped into the elevator at my building, and waited until the doors were closed before replying. "I feel like crap," I complained under my breath. "If it's going to be like that every day, then you have to wake me up so I can be at work on time."

I don't have to do anything, he responded, his voice sounding amused. If I willed it, you would have to stay home all day every day.

"Then I wouldn't make enough money to afford a place to live or food to eat," I pointed out, "and then I would die. That doesn't suit your needs very well either."

You aren't being difficult, are you? He asked, narrowing his pupils as he stared at my face. He seemed to be deciding whether or not to take offense at what I had said.

I sighed, hanging my head tiredly. "Kyo, please just try to understand at least this. I don't have anything against you, and I'm not trying to cause any trouble or be difficult, really. It's just that work is important to me, and I want to be able to do well at it. At least for now, can I ask you to wake me up if I sleep past my alarm like I did today? Eventually I'll be able to wake up on my own, but I'm not used to being that exhausted."

He didn't answer at first, but sat silent and still upon my shoulder as the elevator opened up onto my floor and I headed briskly to my desk. Only after I sat down and began to work on my daily routine did he jump off my shoulder and settle on my desk to watch me. His face crinkled into a curious and inquisitive expression. Kyo? He asked at length, watching me.

I smiled a little sheepishly, pausing in my work so that I could reach a hand over to scratch his head. "Yeah," I said gently. "I just thought it fit you."

Why Kyo? I'm curious. He accepted my petting as though he expected it, but only mildly enjoyed it, more interested in why I had decided to name him that.

"A couple reasons, I guess." Shrugging, I went back to work, glancing at my spreadsheet and trying to remember where I had left off yesterday. "It sounds regal, yet simple, which I think fits your style. And you've been very understanding and cooperative with me, even though you probably wouldn't have to if you didn't want to be. So I thought it was fitting in that sense too, since that's one of its meanings." I paused, then grinned awkwardly. "Also, when I was a kid, I always wanted to have my own cat named Kyo, but my parents didn't let me."

He remained silent, watching my face as it blushed, and observing me as I nervously continued my work and pretended not to be flustered. After a few minutes, he smiled and purred as only cats can. Thank you, Takato, he said, and his voice was full of warmth. I will accept the name you have given me.

I nodded, still blushing. But the rest of that day, I felt much happier than I had when I had woken up.

-o-

"It's strange to see you come in late," Satou said to me after a strategic planning meeting. The work day was nearly over, and all we had left to do was finish our current projects before submitting our newest proposal. Then we could head home for the day. "Aren't you always on time?"

I laughed politely, shaking my head. "It doesn't usually happen to me, but I slept past my alarm this morning."

"Had a little too much to drink last night?" he grinned, chuckling. "Hey… You should come drinking with us tonight—a few of us are going to that new bar down town. You're still young, and there's more than a couple girls going…"

My eyes strayed to where Kyo sat on my shoulder, but I could feel nothing from him. If he wanted me not to go, I was pretty sure he would tell me. "I could probably go," I said slowly. "I'm just wondering if it's such a good idea, considering how late I slept in this morning."

"You won't make the same mistake twice," Satou patted my back. "You never do! Come with us, it'll be great!"

"Alright," I acquiesced. "But I can't stay long."

We said our farewells, heading back to our cubicles, and I sat at my desk with a tired sigh. I didn't really feel up to going, but the last few times I'd declined his invitations. If I didn't go this time, he might never invite me again. Who knew? It might be fun.

You didn't ask me, Kyo suddenly said, jumping into my lap and peering up at me with his ears tilted backward slightly. Was he upset?

I stared at him in bewilderment, trying to decide whether I should be annoyed, or just ignore the absurdity of his remark. "I waited to see if you would say something, but you didn't seem to mind," I said under my breath. "How am I supposed to ask you in the middle of a conversation like that anyway?"

He scowled, digging his claws into my leg in irritation. I don't know if I want you to go drinking with your coworkers, he complained. You should have asked me.

I sighed, hanging my head and trying to stay calm. "What do you want me to do?" I said at length, eyeing him with a cynical expression on my face. "I accepted his offer because I've declined all the other times, and I didn't want him to be offended."

Kyo didn't respond, but he looked at my face as though searching me for something. It was like I was trying to pacify a child, almost. Takato, he said slowly, narrowing his eyes. I will allow you to go on two conditions.

Did I even have a choice? No, the real question I should be asking was, did I want to know what might happen if he decided I was being difficult? "What are they?" I asked. Just following my gut feeling, but it seemed like the best thing to do was accept whatever he demanded.

First, I will accept that you don't need to ask my permission for these kinds of things, provided that you always obey when I tell you that you may not go.

At least that was better than having to ask him permission to do everything—that would make me mad. But I still didn't like the idea of my freedom quickly being taken from me. "Fine," I replied, a little sharply.

Narrowing his eyes a little further as he studied me, Kyo continued. My second condition is that before you go, I will need to cipher energy from you. You might want to find someplace to…distance yourself from your coworkers.

I felt the color leave my face as I suddenly realized what he was saying. "What, here? Right now?" I hissed under my breath. A blush rapidly crossed my face, and I felt mortified at the very idea. Didn't he get how incredibly awkward that made things for me? How exhausted I got from him doing that? "Why?"

His face was expressionless as he replied. Isn't it obvious? You're going down town, are you not? The busy areas of the city are usually crowded with restless and territorial Erus who are itching for a fight. You may remember the dog from the day we met? Obviously it makes more sense for me to get an energy boost now than to take one from you there.

I shuddered, not enjoying the idea at all. Suddenly, my existence was becoming an incredibly tedious one. "I understand," I whispered, my mouth dry. Slowly, I rose from my chair, and Kyo hopped onto my shoulder gracefully. As I exited my cubicle and tried to find a place to hide—where the hell could I hide for this kind of thing?—I suddenly felt him touch his nose to my face and lick me gently on the cheek.

It was like being struck by lightening, and having to pretend that nothing had happened. My knees grew weak, and I had to pause and lean against the wall briefly before I could continue. I picked up my pace at once. "What are you doing?" I whispered, frantic.

He didn't feel like answering. Instead, he licked my jaw line once more, as though to tell me to hurry up already. Urged by my haste—I had to find somewhere to hide before I collapsed from the infuriating waves of ecstasy that rolled down my spine—I bolted for the elevator and hurried inside. My hand slammed the button for the basement level—it was below ground level, and was primarily used for storage, so it was a good bet that it was mostly deserted this time of day.

Kyo dug his claws into my shoulder slightly, and moved his nose closer to my ear. It was almost like he was taunting me when he licked me once more, his tongue sliding slowly up my jaw and tickling my ear. I could swear that the sound of my thundering heart reverberated off the walls of the elevator.

"You're so…mean…" I panted, gritting my teeth and trying to stay calm. Why was he doing this to me? Didn't he see that I was trying to go somewhere private? What point was he trying to prove?

The doors opened, and I dashed from the elevator and hurried down the hall, turning into the first unlocked storage room I could find. It was just my luck that it was empty. Hurrying into the corner where I was concealed behind tall filing cabinets, I finally lost my ability to stay standing, and collapsed to my knees as the feelings of pleasure cascaded through me.

Kyo's licking increased, migrating from my face down my neck, until he was tracing the lines of my collarbone. A couple times he nipped my skin, and it took all of my strength to keep a moan from escaping my lips.

I know what this is, I thought, though my mind was a cloud of confusion. It's like being turned on…like sex…only it isn't sex at all. I don't know whether to be horribly offended, or disappointed. Shuddering and panting as my body grew hotter and hotter, I began to realize that along with my body being coerced into creating and producing energy, I was also becoming quite hard.

And that most definitely made me angry.

"You…" I panted, cringing and curling up where I lay on the floor. "You… jerk…" My body shivered as his magic continued to create heat and energy inside me, and I glared at him through squinted eyes as he absorbed it into his body like glowing light. Why was it so different now than it was before? It wasn't just an exciting and good-feeling experience anymore. I felt violated, embarrassed, angry, and worst of all, I was this close to cumming inside my pants!

At the last moment, before I couldn't take it anymore, he stopped. Standing on top of me and watching me as I tried to calm down, he sighed and shook his head. I won't apologize for ciphering energy like this, he said quietly, hopping off of me and cleaning his paws with his tongue.

I struggled to keep myself from shouting, and managed to stagger to my feet and straighten my clothes. I need to find a bathroom, I thought, refusing to look at him. I was so angry, I didn't know what I would do. All of my friends have warned me that I'm like a wild card when I'm angry, and if my experience in the Digital World hadn't taught me anything, I might have kicked the damn Erus until he coughed blood.

But I was determined to remain in control.

Without speaking, I hurried out of the storage room and dashed toward the nearest bathroom. I had some unfinished business I had to take care of, and I was thankful that, for once, the cat didn't follow me.

Later I made my way back to my floor and entered my cubicle, already feeling acute exhaustion. It was hard to plaster a smile on my face and look cheerful when I was so pissed, but somehow I succeeding in fooling everyone. My work prepared for the next morning, computer turned off, and my belongings gathered, I headed back toward the elevator to wait for Satou and the others.

Kyo was sitting there, waiting for me.

I glanced at him, feeling angry and betrayed, but shoved those feelings aside to deal with later. I had to act normal. "Come on," I said quietly, bending over and picking him up into my arms. He made no move to resist me, and did not seem upset.

"Matsuda-san, there you are!" Satou declared, walking up to me with six other coworkers. Two of them I knew personally, but the rest were strangers to me. He grinned, as though surprised to see me. "I didn't think you'd actually come!"

I laughed, throwing on a cheerful face. "I'm not that anti-social," I declared. "Thank you for inviting me."

"I'm glad you could come. Hey, you're not bringing your cat, are you?" he scowled a little as we all piled into the elevator. "You really shouldn't bring that thing with you everywhere. It's weird."

A couple of the girls with us crowded around me, exclaiming quietly how cute he was. They asked if they could pet him.

I glanced down at him, where he sat curled up on one arm—I held him close to my chest so that he didn't fall off—and wondered silently what he was thinking. Did he dislike having people fawning over him? Would he dislike being pet by them? Who cares? I suddenly thought. I'm mad at him right now! I hope it DOES bother him! Forcing a smile, I looked up at the girls pleasantly. "It's okay, you can pet him. But be careful, I don't know how he is with strangers."

They excitedly began to pet him, cooing about how soft he was. "What is his name?" one of them asked me, her face turning shy when she looking into my face. Her eyes turned sideways, like she was too shy to retain eye contact.

"His name is Kyo," I said quietly.

"Do you really have to bring him? We're going drinking," Kimura-san complained.

"I can't exactly leave him behind," I shrugged.

"Sure you can, you can just pick him up later!"

I smiled crisply, feeling irked by that statement for some reason. Sure, I was annoyed with him, but as a cat-lover in general the idea of leaving him at work while I went out to party was horrible to me. "You'll probably never own a pet, so you can't understand. I won't just leave him somewhere while I go out drinking. It'll be fine, so don't worry about it." I paused, then tried to change the subject as we exited the elevator and stepped outside. "Where are we going? Someplace with good beer, right?"

Things got better from there, as we hopped a bus and headed downtown to the bar Satou told us about. I knew how to make a group of people feel comfortable and have fun, so it was easy to keep conversation from turning back to my cat and prevent arguments from popping up. We ate dinner and had several drinks—that is to say, they had several drinks. I had discovered that the best way to not get drunk is to lift your glass as many times as they do, be just as loud and excited as they are, but don't actually drink very much. By the time a few hours had passed, they were all happily drunk and I had had only two cups of beer. That was hardly enough to give me a buzz.

It was fun, though. When I wasn't thinking about Rika, or Kyo, or work, and just talking and having a good time, I actually felt really happy. We left the bar in high spirits, promising that we'd all get together again sometime.

I walked Satou to the street to call him a taxi—he was by far the drunkest of us all—chuckling as he rambled on and on without stop about random things. "You, sir," he said to me, patting me caringly on my back as I supported him with my arm, "can hold your liquor like a gaijin! What are you made of?"

"Who knows? Taxi!" I called, trying to wave one down.

"Everyone thinks they can fool me, you know," he kept rambling. "But I can see through masks. I've always been able to do that, you know."

"You're very talented," I smiled. Some people were horrible when they were drunk, but Satou just seemed like a really nice guy. I shifted his weight against my shoulder, and glanced down at Kyo. He was sitting on the sidewalk beside me, looking both bored and irritated. Not that I really cared that much right now.

"Take you, for example," Satou said, his words slurring a little bit. "You're a man in unrequited love, but no one would know just by looking at you." His words startled me a little bit, and I looked at him curiously. "I can tell," he laughed. "I can always tell. You love a girl who doesn't love you back. No…" he paused, narrowing his eyes and peering up at me closely. I had to recoil a little from the stink of alcohol on his breath. "No, you're in love with a girl who's scared to love you back. Isn't that it?"

"You've had too much to drink," I scolded, laughing. It unnerved me how right he was.

"You're too angry," he scoffed back at me, patting me again with a patronizing expression. A taxi finally pulled up, he allowed me to help him into it. "I don't know why you're mad at your cat right now, but you should lighten up. He's a good cat. I can tell."

"Tell this taxi-man your address," I instructed, keeping my face blank.

Satou grabbed my shirt collar before I could pull back from the taxi, fixing his eyes onto mine. "Matsuda-san," he said seriously. "You aren't supposed to be alone. It's not good for you."

I cringed, forcing a smile on my face as I pried his fingers away. "Get some sleep, Satou-san, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Takin' the day off," he hiccupped, and sighed heavily. I closed the door and watched to see that he gave his address to the taxi-man, before stepping back and sighing with relief as the car drove away. I couldn't explain why he unnerved me so much, but his words penetrated through my emotional barriers and stabbed right at my weakness.

He was right, wasn't he?

I was lost in my thoughts so I didn't notice the man walking toward me from behind until his arm was suddenly wrapped tightly around my shoulders, and his face was leering too close to mine. His breath also smelled heavily of alcohol. "Hey," he breathed, grinning at me. "Saw you in the bar, earlier. You're the one with the stupid cat, right? So where is it now?"

I stiffened, prying his arm off and slipping out of his grasp. He was strong, and it might have been difficult for most people, but I was not exactly average when it came to these kinds of things. Ever since the Digital World, I'd always stayed in shape, and I'd always been stronger than most people.

He seemed surprised by how easily I had gotten free, and his face rapidly clouded with anger. "Hey," he snapped. "You should watch it and just do as I say. I'm Yakuza, you know."

"Good night," I remarked tersely, bowing my head slightly and walking away. I didn't know who the heck he was, but I didn't want to deal with him. So long as I retreated to a crowded area, he couldn't do anything to me.

"Not so fast!" he yelled, rushing me and reaching his arms out to grab me. I ducked, twisting my body so that he ran past me, and then continued on my way toward the crowded shopping district just ahead. "You bastard!" he yelled.

"What the hell?" I complained under my breath, breaking into a run as he chased me. I was just about to reach the cross street when suddenly I found myself being grabbed by something strong and cold, and was yanked backwards so fast I had no time to get away. I found myself being flung against a wall in a dark alley behind the shops, without any idea how I'd gotten there.

"Little shit!" the man who had grabbed and chased me was standing in front of me, his hands clenched into fists. "Trying to run away, are you? That's not going to work. You're mine, now!"

I stared up at him in bewilderment. What could he possibly want from me? "I don't have any money on me," I said honestly. "I didn't even bring my credit card."

"Stupid!" he yelled, slapping my face so hard, my vision blurred momentarily, and I could taste a hint of the metallic flavor I recognized as blood. "I don't want your money, I'm Yakuza!"

How did that make sense? I thought being Yakuza meant they always wanted money. But if that wasn't the case, was he saying he wanted to kill me? How did I get here, anyway? "What do you want?" I glared at him, lifting a hand to my face as though that would alleviate the stinging.

He laughed, and it was like the sound of sanity dying right before my eyes. "You're one of their bitches too, and you ask me what I want? Are you that stupid? What do you think I want?"

"I really have no idea what you're…"

He grabbed me by my shirt and pulled me to my feet, then slammed me against the wall as hard as he could. "I want you to die," he hissed, his face two inches from mine. I couldn't even break free before two long tentacle-like arms sprang out from behind him and pinned my hands against the wall, above my head.

I didn't have time to cry out. The man's mouth was suddenly crushing mine, one of his hands squeezing my neck. It hurt, and I couldn't breathe, but I was pinned in place as his slobbery, smoldering kiss threatened to suffocate me. What the hell is happening? My mind screamed. I remembered that I had legs and tried to kick him, but two more tentacles sprang forward and held them firmly in place.

I can't breathe, I thought, gasping and trying to break free. But that was a mistake. As soon as my mouth was open, his tongue forced his way into it. What the hell? What the HELL? What is happening right now!?

I was vaguely aware of his other hand yanking my shirt open, and slipping inside to ruthlessly pinch and twist one of my nipples. By then I really was about to faint from the lack of oxygen, and the crushing sensation of his kiss as he strangled me. But it was the horrifyingly familiar sensation of pleasure rippling through my body that terrified me the most. It was the same sensation that I felt when Kyo licked me, and it was spreading rapidly from where the tentacles gripped my arms and legs. Only then did I realize...

An Erus was behind this.

Air suddenly rushed back into my lungs, and I found myself falling to the ground gasping and coughing. I was free. Close to unconsciousness, yes, but I was free. Still coughing, I struggled to my hands and knees, holding my throat with one hand and peering dizzily upward to try and see where my attackers had gone.

What I saw after that made me think that I might be dreaming.

A giant animal like a mountainous, glowing tiger with fur as black as night, stood between me and the man who had attached me. Behind the man floated a giant, glowing octopus.

I'm high from asphyxiation, I tried to reason with myself, swallowing and trying to blink away the vision before me. But instead of going away, it just seemed to get clearer.

It couldn't be real… could it?

So you thought you could conceal yourself behind a Veil, Dygon? A growling voice seemed to thunder through my skull. It was familiar to me somehow, but so full of power and rage that I couldn't place it. I am not so weak as to be deceived by that.

"This is my territory," a second voice answered back, equally as terrifying and powerful. "Your Cifra is mine now."

And your life is mine, the first voice replied back. Suddenly, the giant cat blurred from sight. All I could see was a bright ball of light interspersed with a darting black shadow, and the ground trembled beneath us as though a stampede of elephants was charging us. When the light disappeared, the giant cat stood over me protectively, while the giant octopus lay in a steaming puddle on the ground.

The Yakuza man began screaming, and he fled as fast as his legs could carry him.

Are you alright? The cat asked me, peering down at me. Takato, are you alright?

I held my head, feeling terrified and faint. The octopus slowly dissolved into steam, like it had never been there, and I looked above me to study the black tiger with my eyes wide. I could see rips in its flesh from the octopus's arms, and his body was no longer glowing. Somehow, I knew that the fight had been very close.

That was when I realized who was standing over me.

"Kyo?" I asked, my voice quiet. I couldn't manage to speak any louder when I was this bewildered.

He sighed, and his body trembled a little bit. Stepping away, he suddenly shrank before my eyes until only a little housecat was left—still torn from his fight with the octopus. I'm afraid you'll have to carry me home, he said, his voice matter of fact.

I stumbled to my feet, gasping and trying to speak, but nothing came out of my mouth. I didn't know what I was supposed to say! "Kyo!" I finally blurted, rushing toward him and lifting him very, very carefully. I made sure that I didn't touch any of his injuries. "We're going to a vet, right now!"

That's not necessary, it will just heal over time…

"That's not an option!" I yelled, beginning to run. His face turned up to look at me in alarm as I held him close to my chest with both my arms, running as fast as I could. I found the nearest police box and begged directions to a vet clinic, and made my way there without speaking.

Luckily they were still open. I burst in, showing them my injured cat, and told them that they had to fix him—no matter what it cost. At first they tried to get me to wait out in the lobby, but I refused so adamantly, that they finally relented and let me come with them into the back. Anxiously I paced back and forth, watching as they carefully cleaned his wounds and stitched them back up. All I could think about was how it was my fault.

I was the one who insisted on going, the one who got attacked like that. If I'd just gone home right away instead of lingering around the street corner after talking to Satou, none of this would have happened. And on top of that, I knew… Kyo had only barely won that fight.

What would have happened if he hadn't replenished his magic before we left? I thought, a sick feeling taking hold inside me. He would be dead, and I… I shuddered and tried not to imagine what might have happened to me if Kyo had lost.

The vets finished their work, and one of them came toward me with paperwork to fill out. "Please fill out the following information," she said. "We'll schedule a follow up appointment to take out the stitches…"

Everything seemed like a blur as I finished everything up, and by the time I took Kyo into my arms and left for home—they tried to put him in a cat-carrier, but I refused—I felt too tired to even think. I shouldn't have been so mad at him, I decided mentally, seated on the bus with Kyo resting on my lap. It seemed like he was still asleep from the medicine they gave him. I wonder if he was scared? I thought absently. He's not used to our planet, so maybe going to the vet or doctor is something he's never done before. He said it would just heal over time. Is that what he used to do when he got injured? Wait until it healed on its own? I shivered, growing protective. I wont let anything happen to him again, I thought, angry.

Back at my apartment, I placed Kyo on a pillow on my bed and dressed into my pajamas as fast as I could. I crawled under the covers, laying with my face pointed toward the cat's unconscious body, and let out a tired sigh. "I'm sorry," I whispered, knowing he couldn't hear me.

And despite my anxiety, I fell asleep quite rapidly.

-o-

…to? Takato!

I stirred, groaning at the prospect of waking up, and sat up reluctantly. It was early morning, and the sun was peeking into my room through a crack between the closed curtains of the window.

Kyo was lying on the pillow beside me, his face blank and tired looking. It's time to get up, he said, yawning once.

I stared at him, blinking. "What?" I asked.

One of his ears tilted back, as though he was annoyed at my question. You wanted me to wake you up for work, remember? Well, I've woken you up.

For a moment all I could do was look at him in amazement. Here he was, the alien who had once acted like I was his slave, waking me up for work just because I told him to. And after he'd rescued me at the risk of his own life! I blinked, picked up the cordless phone by my bed, and called my boss. "Ah, sorry to bother you this early," I said, when he picked up on the other end. "I'm afraid that I'm going to have to call in sick today. No, it's just a small bug, I should be fine by tomorrow. Yes, thank you. I apologize for the inconvenience. Good bye…" I hung up, tossed the phone aside, and laid back down, pulling the covers up to my neck.

Kyo looked at me blankly.

"I'll have you know, I never call in sick," I told him sternly. "I've never done it, not even once. So don't expect this to become a habit or anything."

His eyes narrowed slightly, but he looked amused. Is that so? He asked, yawning again.

"It is," I retorted. We were both silent for a minute, staring at each other. I let out a sigh, and carefully, reached up a hand to scratch under his chin. "Thank you, Kyo," I whispered. "I'm sorry I was angry at you."

Though he didn't reply verbally, I could tell that he was happy by the way the corners of his mouth turned up in a smile. His eyes closed, and he rested his head upon my hand as I pet him.

It was so cute. Smiling, I leaned forward and planted a kiss on the top of his head, like I would have done to a normal cat.

Suddenly his eyes snapped open, and his pupils narrowed to mere slits as he looked at me. It was so shocking, I froze in place and could not look away. What was that? He demanded, his body tensing. I thought that I could see the faintest glow of an aura around him, but it quickly vanished.

"It was…" I blushed, suddenly realizing what I had done. "It was just a kiss on the head," I stammered, embarrassed. He continued to glare at me suspiciously. "That's what you do when you have a cat," I tried to explain. "You pet them, like this," I indicated by gently continuing my scratching of his neck and chin. "And you kiss them… like… that." I did not repeat the action by way of explanation, however.

His eyes narrowed, but already he seemed less tense. That's what you do when you have a cat? He demanded, almost scoffing at me. Do you know what you sound like?

"I'm a cat-person, okay?" I continued to blush. Turning away so that my back was facing him, I crossed my arms and muttered under my breath. "We had cats when I was a kid, before my parents opened their bakery, and that's just what we did. That's what you're supposed to do with a cat. You pet them, scratch their chin, play with them, kiss them on the head, and put up with their peculiar behavior because… because that's what cats love, and that's what you do when you love cats."

Suddenly Kyo was purring. I see, he said gently, sounding incredibly amused. When I didn't turn back around, he let out a small sigh and settled himself on his pillow. I didn't mind it, he said after a moment. It just startled me, is all. A very peculiar thing, that kiss. Yes, very peculiar. It was almost like a cipher.

I snorted, rolling my eyes. "Yeah you would think that," I complained.

Don't think you can say something like that without explaining, he snapped, sounding annoyed again. How like a cat—perfectly content one second, and instantly annoyed the next.

Turning so that I was lying on my back, I rubbed my sleep-crusted eyes with one of my hands and tried to explain. "You would think that a kiss is similar to a cipher because that's how you take energy—you make someone feel good. But it's different than that. Giving someone—or a giving a pet—a kiss isn't a device to create a reaction that makes energy. It's like saying 'I love you' or something. That's why it causes you to feel something, because it means something."

Kyo watched me thoughtfully with half-closed eyes, his chin resting upon his paws. So when you kissed me, it was because you love me? He teased.

I turned my head to give him a sarcastic look. "No, idiot, it's because I love cats."

Then I guess, he yawned, closing his eyes completely, that I'm really very lucky I found you after all.

"I found you, remember?" I mumbled, growing embarrassed again. I wasn't sure why it made me feel so awkward, but I couldn't deny that I had grown attached to him—only because he was a cat, though.

…Even if that cat happened to be an alien that did weird things to my body so that he could maintain his magical energy.

"How do you feel?" I asked quietly, stealing a glance at him.

I'd rather not say, he replied. He still sounded annoyed.

"I'm supposed to give you another dose of pain medicine soon…"

He opened one eye and peered at me narrowly. I'd rather you didn't, he snapped. I didn't like it. All of that vet nonsense was completely ridiculous. I would be fine over time.

"That's not an issue I'm going to back down on," I snapped back, glaring at him. "Here, when people get injured, infection can set in and hinder healing. You could die if it's not taken care of properly."

I'm not from your world, remember?

"No, but you took the form of a cat, which is from my world. I know more about cats than you do," I crossed my arms, and then winced, sitting up in bed. Carefully, I checked them to see why they were bothering me, and gave a small sigh. The dog bite was mostly healed, but my wrists were practically purple from where the octopus had gripped them last night.

Kyo lifted his head to look, and laid his ears back in annoyance. I should have killed him slower, he said, growling.

"Never mind that, I'll be fine," I said, reaching over and petting him again. I was beginning to get hungry, and since I was awake anyway, I decided I might as well get up. "You, on the other hand, got pretty torn up. So you'd better take it easy for a while until you're healed up." I slipped from the bed and was about to leave the room, when I saw the strangest look in his eyes.

It was wistful and sad, almost like he knew I was going to leave and not take him with me. My heart twisted inside my chest, and without thinking, I leaned over and planted a second gentle kiss on his head.

"I'll be back," I said, chuckling. Then turning, I left the room and made my way to the kitchen.

-o-

I think I'm beginning to really have fun with this.

What do you think? Well…You're still here. Ha…haha…haha….

~Rukatofan