Cifra

by Rukatofan

Takato is 22 years old. The love of his life left him one year ago, and he spends his days alone at work and at home. But a fateful encounter with an alien creature just might change his luck, and give him a chance to win her back. (Rukato/TakatoxAlien/Mature. Lots of lemons in the chapters to come.)

5. Chapter 5

~Cifra~

Chapter five

-o-

Disclaimer: This story is purely fanfiction. Digimon and all its characters does not belong to me in anyway.

Warning: This story contains mature content and sexual themes. Please do NOT read unless you are 18 years or older.

Thanks so much to my most amazing and wonderful reviewers since my last chapter post: Dusk, Guest, oghren, major wallace, and rgm0005. Especially Dusk, haha. Wow, so many reviews! Thanks to you all for taking time to give me your thoughts, even if it was to say you didn't expect it or like it. I always like hearing from you, and I'm sorry it took me so long to get this chapter posted. Real life is a bitch, man. This chapter is dedicated to you.

-o-

I came back into my room with two plates in my hands. One was my rice and omelet, the other was a small plate with a fried whole fish. Both were incredibly delicious, I knew so because I had cooked them many times before when I found the time. "This is the first time I've had the time to make breakfast in ages," I said cheerfully, crawling back onto my western-style bed and setting my food beside me. "Kyo, I want you to try this."

He lifted his head tiredly, giving me a pointed and annoyed look. I don't eat food, remember? He asked, as though I was the most stupid being on the planet.

"I know," I chuckled. "But I had a thought—you've got the body of a cat, right? And obviously, you bleed like cats do, and you're affected by pain medicine like any normal living thing would be. So I figured, you've probably got a stomach and taste buds too."

Your thought is irrelevant. I still don't need food.

"No, because you've got magic. But food tastes good, and I want you to try it." I presented the fish before him, grinning with what I knew was an expression few could resist. I knew that I had a magnetic personality, and that I could make people do things they might otherwise not want to do. Did I abuse this skill? Perhaps. But only on very rare occasions.

Kyo sighed, sniffing the fish with a look of disdain. But my excited and hopeful expression seemed to affect him the same way that it had affected my parents or Rika, or anyone else I had showed my cute side to. Hesitantly, he lowered his head to the plate and began to eat it, looking incredibly uncomfortable.

Satisfied, I beamed and began to eat my own food, talking conversationally as I sat beside him. "Eating is always more fun when you don't have to eat alone," I said honestly. "It tastes better, too. So even if you don't ever need it, it still makes me happy that you tried it. Who knows, maybe you might find you like it? My world is full of enjoyable things like food. We have really beautiful scenery too, like mountains and rivers and all other kinds of things. Sometime I should take you to Kyoto, to see the temples. They're very historic and beautiful too. You're new to our world, after all, so you wouldn't know about all the wonderful things we've got. Life really is a wonderful thing…"

I continued to talk until my plate was finished, and I looked down to see that Kyo had finished the entire fish. It made me really happy, somehow. Taking his plate, I quickly brought it to the kitchen and set it in the sink, then went back into my room to check on him. He was still curled up on the pillow, but I thought that his eyes looked brighter, with more energy.

"How did you like it?" I asked, scratching his head as I climbed back into bed. "It's okay if you don't like eating—if it's too weird or anything. But it did make me happy. Today, I'm going to take care of you, so just tell me what you want and I'll do it for you, okay?"

A quiet purr rumbled through him, too quiet to hear, but I could feel it through my hand as I pet him. He lifted his head, smiling at me like cats do when they are content. Would you really? He asked, chuckling.

"Yes," I replied honestly. I laid down beside him, pulling the covers up to my waist.

Then kiss me again.

I hesitated, blinking, and then obliged by kissing the top of his head. His purring increased instantly. "You like that, huh?" I smirked. "You're so weird."

I do like it, he purred. It seems to give me energy, very subtly.

"Uh huh. You weird alien."

You are just as weird to me, Cifra.

"Hey," I grinned.

Takato. Suddenly Kyo was staring at me intently, and once again I felt frozen by his eyes so that I couldn't move. He did not say anything else to me, but rose carefully to his feet. Taking one silent, cautious step after another, he moved from the pillow until he was standing on my chest, and his eyes did not release me.

I could hear my heart pounding in my chest as I realized what he was about to do, but I couldn't utter a sound. Swallowing, I waited without moving. My mind was an empty cloud of confusion that was fixated on his eyes and the sound of my heart.

He lowered his head, still watching me, and gently licked my neck. At first it didn't feel like anything—just a hint of warmth—and I was confused by it. It was almost like getting licked by a normal cat. But he continued licking me, and the warmth began to gradually grow and intensify until as before, each touch caused ripples of inexplicable pleasure through my body. I wondered if perhaps his fight last night had left him a lot weaker than before, and that was why I had not felt anything from him.

But soon I couldn't think at all. Everything became one big blur of surging heat and excitement inside me. Nerves on fire, I was smothered by heat and the pounding heartbeat in my chest. When I wasn't cringing and gasping at every touch of his tongue on my neck and jaw, I was struggling not to cry out in ecstasy.

It's too weird, I thought, barely coherent. I don't like it… I don't… "K-Kyo!" my mouth betrayed me, and I choked out his name as my back suddenly arched. It was too much… Too much…

His claws were digging into my skin, and he bit my neck without warning. Even if his teeth had broken my skin, I wouldn't have noticed. All I could do was gasp and shudder. I was barely aware of what he was doing, or even what I was doing. It seemed like hours passed before I hit a climax so hard, I wasn't able to keep myself from crying out with a loud, erotic voice.

Then exhaustion slammed into me immediately after. My body heaved painful breaths in and out, and as sanity slowly returned to me, I found that I was drenched in sweat and possibly something else. Forcing one of my eyes open, I peered down at my chest and saw Kyo sitting on it looking greatly refreshed, and much less weak than he had been before.

A scowl flickered across my face. "I don't… I don't like it," I panted at him, blushing and growing irritated just by looking at him. Didn't he know how weird this was? It was creepy! Why did a cipher have to be something like this?

Kyo was staring at me, his face blank with a hint of bewilderment. He was looking at me like I was something strange and foreign to him. He almost looked… scared.

"What?" I demanded, lifting my hand and holding my forehead. I was beginning to get a sharp headache from the exhaustion I now felt. Why was he looking at me like that? He was the reason why I was embarrassed like this—crying out like some horny freak in heat or something. It's not like I wanted to act like that. As I glared at him, it suddenly occurred to me that I might have hurt him by accident. What if I'd whacked him? I didn't even know what I was doing during all of that. And with his injuries…

Despite the heavy, aching feeling in my body, I sat up and carefully lifted him, placing him back upon his pillow. "Are you hurt?" I demanded, checking his stitches until I was satisfied that they had not opened or bled at all. "Did I hurt you?" I asked again, holding his face and forcing him to look into my eyes.

The look of bewilderment was still there, and—I thought—a slight expression of anxiety. He didn't reply to me.

"Kyo," I said quietly. "Tell me, are you alright?"

I am… he hesitated, looking distressed. I am fine.

"Did I hit you?"

No, you didn't hurt me.

"Are you sure? Don't lie to me, Kyo."

He winced at the sound me his name, and pulled away from my hands with a small shudder. Kyo… he murmured, his voice full of conflict in my head. I don't… I don't understand why, but every time you say it… every time you say my name… I feel so… He looked up, a grimace on his face—something I never thought I'd see on a cat. I feel so happy, he finished quietly.

I let out a sigh, shaking my head and scratching his neck with one hand. "That's what's bothering you?" I asked, yawning. It was still morning, but I knew that any minute, I would fall asleep and not wake up again for many hours. "It's normal to feel that way. It's your name, isn't it?"

He looked at me oddly.

"Kyo, that cipher thing you do to me is really creepy," I told him bluntly. "I don't really like it. But I don't dislike you, so I'll put up with it. It's the same concept with your name. You never had a name before, but I gave you one. And because it came from me, you accept it. So don't worry about it."

Humans are much different than other Cifras, Kyo replied slowly. You are all so different, with such strong personalities. You make me feel like I don't understand anything, and I have lived for millennia and been to hundreds of worlds all over the galaxy.

"It's a good thing to feel like you don't understand everything," I chuckled. "Because that's when you can learn something new—something good."

Takato, he said, lifting his head and looking into my face searchingly. I am… thankful… to have you as my Cifra. Thank you.

I smiled, yawning and lying back down with my head on my pillow. My eyes closed involuntarily, and I reluctantly accepted the fact that I would be forced to wait until I woke up before I could shower. "I should be thanking you too," I murmured. "I was really lonely… before you showed up."

He stepped onto my chest, where he curled up and laid down. He licked me once more on my chin—not using magic, just a simple cat-kiss—and settled down to sleep. I've decided, he said sleepily.

"Hmm?" I asked, too tired to put my question into words.

He didn't reply at first, so I thought that he wasn't going to. But just before I slipped into a deep sleep, I heard a quiet reply that suddenly filled me with hope. I'm going to help you get your Rika back.

My heart swelled in my chest as my world went black.

-o-

That evening I sat at my desk with my sketchbook, drawing. I had slept for many hours, just as I'd thought, and was very stiff when I woke up. But after taking a long hot shower and changing my sheets on my bed, I decided to draw since it was something I enjoyed and hadn't done for a long time.

My sketchbooks were full of random doodles of Guilmon, my friends and family, and most of time, Rika. I'd always loved drawing, and my sketches had vastly improved over the years. Now, I could draw almost anything I wished. Rika's smile, her angry face, how she looked when she was bundled up on a cold day…

I sighed, and stopped drawing Rika. It was time to move onto something less depressing. Eyes drifting about the room, I caught sight of Kyo sleeping curled up on the couch. He had such a cute expression on his face, it made me smile at once. Without a second thought, my pencil moved across the paper and captured it.

I love drawing, I thought, feeling relieved. Normally I had to wait until the weekend to have time for this, but since I'd taken the day off—it was Friday too, so I had an extra long weekend now—I felt like I could do whatever I wanted. As I recreated images of Kyo's various expressions and poses I'd seen him in, I remembered the massive black cat he'd turned into last night.

I paused, trying to remember how it had looked. The shape had reminded me of a black tiger without stripes, but his ears had been more pointed, like a lynx. Carefully sketching it out, I tried to recreate it to the best of my memory. When I was satisfied, I studied it thoughtfully. I wonder how he got so big? I thought curiously. And what did he mean when he said he wouldn't be fooled by a Veil? On top of that, I really don't understand what happened last night. It doesn't make any sense. Why would they say they're going to kill me, and then…

My face flushed, and I quickly thought about something else. Just the thought of last night turned my stomach and made me incredibly uncomfortable. If not for Kyo needing immediate medical attention, I might have had some kind of enraged breakdown.

Turning my mind in a different direction, I studied Kyo again with absently wandering thoughts. Sometimes he makes very human expressions, I thought, smirking a little bit. I wonder why he can't take the shape of a human? He said something about them being too different and complex. But if anything, shouldn't that make it even easier for him to take that form?

I hardly realized what I was doing until I blinked and looked, and found that I had been sketching what I imagined Kyo might look like as a human. There were several rough outlines, nothing definite, each with slightly different features. But as I looked at them, and thought carefully about each expression and mannerism that Kyo had, I began to feel like I really could capture it. Smirking and falling readily back to work, I went through several pages of planning before I finally had it.

I set my book down with a feeling of accomplishment. Staring up at me from the page was a man—probably 30 something—with pitch black hair and bright eyes. They were narrowed, with slightly more oval pupils than normal, and he had the expression of someone who is trying to act cool and aloof, but is secretly curious. His mouth was thin, with lips not too full, and he had a strongly defined jaw and Adam's apple. His shoulders were broad, and he was strong, but not overly so. It seemed like an average size unless you looked closely, for I pictured him to be strong—like the giant cat. I'd also drawn him somewhat tall, also because of how tall he'd been as the black tiger.

If he was a human, it would have to be a perfect mix between his feline grace and his power and magnitude as an Erus. Looking at the sketch of him that I had created, I secretly prided myself on doing a pretty good job.

"I think I want something to drink," I sighed, closing the book and rising to my feet stiffly. I glanced over at Kyo, but he was still sound asleep. Wondering if he was thirsty, I grabbed a bowl of water for him and a cup of it for myself. It was only after I set it down on the ground that I realized he probably wouldn't think of drinking it. That was an argument I could have with him another day.

Maybe I'd just go to bed early. Hell, I was still incredibly exhausted, so I might as well, right? I hesitated between the kitchen and the main living area, suddenly remembering that this was the time I normally went to the gym.

"Guess I'll skip the gym today," I murmured, not relishing the idea of exercising when I felt like this. Instead, I washed my empty cup and set it in the rack to dry, then walked to the couch. "Kyo I'm going to bed," I said. He didn't wake up, so I knelt beside him and placed a hand on his back. It relieved me greatly when I felt his heartbeat and the steady inhale and exhale of air.

Checking to see if I've died? He asked, yawning and rousing himself slowly. He stretched, very cat-like, and turned his head to look up at me. Erus don't die, Takato. You needn't worry about me.

"What about the octopus?" I frowned. "You killed him, didn't you?"

I killed the octopus body he created for himself, Kyo replied calmly. But he is not dead. Right now he is weak and formless, and probably trying to create a new body for himself. If we could kill each other, our race would have died out millennia ago.

"I guess so," I mumbled, feeling slightly distressed. "So that freak is still out there, and he might try to get me again, is that what you're saying?"

He can't touch you again. I defeated him. It's the rules.

"Some people don't always follow the rules."

People, perhaps. But Erus always follow the rules. That's why it upsets us when our Cifra don't.

"Right." I stood up, then lifted him into my arms before making my way into my room and crawling back into bed. After turning off the light and settling in for sleep, I suddenly recalled what I thought he'd said to me earlier that morning. "Hey Kyo," I said, reaching my hand out to pet him. "Did you say something about helping me get Rika back?"

I did, yes.

A million emotions suddenly rushed through me, and I sat up abruptly. "Will you really?" I asked excitedly, unable to contain my joy. A smile broke across my face. "But how? You said that her Erus is very possessive and we're both in danger if we try to get too close. How can we change all that?"

Kyo stared at me with a slight expression of alarm, before suddenly he was chuckling and smirking at me with his purring, cat smile. I rather like it when you're this happy, he admitted. Yes, her Erus is very possessive of her, that is true. But there is a way to save her from him.

"What? How?" I blurted. I grabbed him, holding his face with my hands and rubbing his cheeks with my thumbs.

It will be very difficult…

"I'll do anything, please just tell me! What can we do? I love her so much, Kyo…"

His eyes seemed to pity me for a moment. The only way is for me to fight her Erus and defeat him, and take Rika as my own so that he can not take her back.

"Okay, but there must be a catch or you wouldn't be so hesitant," I sighed. "What is it, Kyo?"

Takato… the thing is, right now I am very weak. It may take hundreds of ciphers before I could even stand a chance. On top of that, he may kill Rika out of greed if he thinks that's what we're planning.

"Then we just need to trick him," I scowled. "It can't seem like there is any preconception leading up to it, a fight will just have to happen at the right moment. In the meantime, I'll secretly find out what division Rika works in and what her hours are, so that I can run into her and cause the fight at just the right time."

That wont work. She will run away.

"Not if something happened that made her unable to run away," I declared. "I know I can make it work, I've always been able to pull off things like this when it really mattered." I brought my face down and kissed him firmly on his head, and rubbed my nose against his dry cat nose. "Thank you for this, Kyo. I know it's a huge risk for you, and that both of us could die if things don't go well. But I'll do whatever you need so that you can get strong." I smiled, my face beaming with pure joy. "Thank you…thank you so much…"

He watched me incredulously as tears escaped my eyes, and seemed unable to look away. When I released him and flopped back onto my bed, I draped an arm over my eyes and grinned like a maniac.

"Thank you," I whispered again, my thoughts full of Rika's face, her smile, her smell…

Beside me, Kyo watched me like he was looking at something he had never seen before and couldn't understand—like an awe-filled child discovering the ocean for the first time.

I just thought that was kind of funny.

Do you really mean that, he suddenly asked, resting his head against my arm. It could take years before I'm strong enough.

"Years is unacceptable," I insisted. "I've waited too long already. Any longer might kill my heart."

I might take that as your permission to be greedy, he said, smirking. Casually he licked my arm, sending waves of pleasure through me like a jolt of electricity. Are you really sure about this?

"Well how often are you thinking?" I blurted, lifting my arm to peer at him in alarm. He couldn't be planning and ciphering me again today, could he?

As often as I can, he chuckled, licking me again. His tongue was rough, and it sent shivers down my spine. I was really beginning to dread it at this point. I am incredibly weak right now. If I am to get strong enough to protect you at work, I've got to…

"I get it, I get it!" I blurted, blushing and turning my head away. I lifted my arm and covered my eyes again, gritting my teeth when he continued to lick me. "I just wish there was another way you could do this. Why does it have to be so…" my voice trailed off to barely audible. "…so erotic?"

He paused, observing me casually, before continuing to lick and nip my arm. It was weird, and slightly less enjoyable than when he would do it to my neck. But I was trying not to think about that. I could do it differently, he said slowly. But you recall what I said about that, right?

Right now, all I could think about was how hot I was becoming. "Remind me," I panted, shuddering. Damn, it feels so good…

There are two ways for your nerves to interpret our magic, and two different kinds of energy. One of them is acute pleasure… He trailed his tongue up my arm slowly, sending waves of ecstasy through me. The other is acute pain. Suddenly he bit down, and for the first time, his teeth broke my skin.

Whatever enjoyment I had been feeling before was suddenly ripped from me as though I had never felt it before. My nerves were screaming, and pain raged across every inch of me so sharply, I couldn't breathe. My eyes snapped open, and gasping in a sudden mouthful of air, it took all of my strength to keep from crying out in agony.

What the hell is this? My mind screamed. What is this? What is this? Why does it hurt so bad!?

Where his previous treatment had elicited a rush of energy through heat and pleasure, this new sensation of pain coerced energy of a different kind—adrenaline, endorphins, rapid heart-beat increase, and all other kinds of ways that I tried to deal with it.

This is torture! I realized, and a strangled cry escaped my mouth before I could stop it.

Suddenly the feelings were gone, like they had never been there. Panting heavily, I turned my head and peered in shock at Kyo's face, about to yell at him, and froze. He had an expression I had never seen before—one of horror, disgust, and regret. My complaints died on my tongue.

It's…it's a different kind of energy, he said slowly, shuddered. I have never used it before now, because I don't approve of it. But now that I have tried it… his voice trailed off, and he looked over at me grimly. Now I know… even if you told me you preferred it that way, I will never do it again. It sickens me.

I let out a small sigh. "Well, that's nice to hear," I dropped my arm back over my eyes, feeling drained. "I didn't care for that kind of cipher either."

I'm sorry you don't enjoy the pleasure, he said, nuzzling my arm with his face. He moved so that he could curl up against my neck. But I'm going to cipher the that way, and that's just how it has to be. That's just how our magic works. He began licking me again, this time giving small, gentle cat-kisses to my jaw line. Once again, the incredible feelings of pleasure tingled down my spine, and I was almost relieved to feel them.

"I'll live," I mumbled, cringing as my heart rate picked up and I began to feel very, very hot. "You're doing it for Rika. For me…" I lost my train of thought. Somewhere during the cipher, I remembered calling out Kyo's name, but it was only after everything was over and I was quickly losing my consciousness that I became bothered by it.

Why was it, if I was so in love with Rika, that I called out Kyo's name at my climax?

It disturbed me, even though I couldn't stay awake any longer to try and sort it out.

-o-

By the time Monday came around, three things had happened. The first was that, though he seemed to disapprove haughtily, Kyo ate food every time that I ate. In fact, if I didn't prepare something for him too, he seemed horribly offended. Secondly, he unrelentingly ciphered me every time I had the strength to get up out of bed for any semblance of time. Finally, though I continued to complain to him that it was creepy and I didn't like it, a strange and gnawing feeling had begun to grow inside me until I couldn't ignore it anymore.

After every time I climaxed, and just before I fell unconscious, there was part of me that felt like, despite how good it made me feel, I wanted more. I almost felt like I was neglected, somehow.

Ugh… I thought, running a hand over my face as I trudged into the office with the infernal cat upon my shoulder. I don't know whether to be angry at him for doing this to me, or angry at myself because I wish he could touch me more when he's doing it! How sick can I be? What is wrong with me? I kept remembering how, when it was Rika and I, we could hold each other, kiss each other, find each other's sweet spots, and exploit them. I had discovered all of hers, like how she would melt every time I nibbled her earlobe.

She had discovered mine, too.

This sucks, I groaned inwardly. I know it's all to get Rika back, but every time he does that, I just feel unsatisfied. When can I hold her in my arms again? I want to feel more than the idea of pleasure. I want to feel the touch of it on my skin. I miss the feel of human hands touching me.

And why the hell am I thinking about this? It's just making me pissed!

I slammed a stack of papers on the floor beside me and let out a large huff of air, then furiously began to type at my computer. If I didn't refocus onto work right now, I was going to get really, really annoyed.

Takato? Kyo asked slowly, lifting his head from his nap and studying me with concern splashed across his face. What's wrong?

"Nothing," I muttered darkly. "Just…just nothing."

He narrowed his eyes, but turned away and nestled into a small ball on one corner of my desk and fell asleep. Since his fight, his injuries had been healing well, and I was planning on taking him to get his stitches removed sometimes soon. But in the meantime, he still moved cautiously and spent most of his time—when he wasn't ciphering energy from me—sleeping or resting.

"Hey, Matsuda-san!" Satou poked his head into my cubicle as he was passing by, and grinned widely at me. "Heard you took a sick day on Friday too. Guess even you can get drunk, eh?"

I smiled obligingly. "I did take a sick day, but it wasn't because of drinking. I really wasn't able to come in that day. Otherwise, I wouldn't have taken a day off."

"Ever the dutiful worker. That's your first sick day since you started, isn't it?" He paused, about to continue on his way, and glanced at Kyo. "Hey, does your cat have a shaved patch on him? No…two shaved patches?" He walked in, coming forward to pet Kyo's back gently with his hand. "He's injured! What happened to him? Is this why you called in sick?"

I glanced over, watching how Kyo seemed to put up with the petting, but not really enjoy it. "Yes," I said softly. "He had to get some stitches because he got into a fight, but he's doing alright now." I paused. "Actually he probably doesn't feel like getting pet right now."

"Oh," Satou yanked his hand back, looking apologetic. "Sorry, he's just so soft. You care a lot about him, don't you? It's what makes you a good pet-owner. You really love your cat."

"Yeah," I murmured, looking back at my screen in an attempt not to look uncomfortable.

"Haha, don't get all flustered just cause I found out you're a cat-lover," Satou laughed and patted my back heartily. "Everyone knows you're a cat-lover! Why else would you bring your pet to work every day? You'd better get your girl soon, or you'll end up as that single cat-owner guy who lives in apartment B-212 forever."

"That's not my apartment…"

"It's a joke," Satou smirked. He walked out whistling, and then quickly poked his head in one last time. "It was fun the other night. Let's hang out again sometime."

"I'd like that," I said without thinking. Then quickly glancing at Kyo, I amended my statement. "That is… when it's a good time for me."

"I get it, I get it," he laughed, walking away and leaving me alone.

I sighed and refocused on my screen. I had work to do, and missing Friday had set me back quite a bit.

You love me, Kyo said, and I could hear the smirk on his face without having to look at him.

"Alien weirdo," I muttered darkly.

He just purred, nestled comfortably with his nose tucked into his paws, and fell asleep. I went back to work with a strong determination to catch up on my projects.

By the time five hours had passed, I was so engrossed that I didn't notice it was time for lunch until suddenly, Kyo hopped into my lap and dug his claws into my legs. Jolting from the shock, I looked down at him and blinked. "Kyo?" I asked, confused.

Takato, normally you take breaks from the computer, he said, scolding me. What's wrong with you? Aren't you supposed to take lunch at this time?

"I think I might have to work through lunch today," I sighed, absently stroking his back with my hand. "I've got a lot of work to catch up on. We've had a mix up with the printing company, and the numbers that our intern compiled are incorrect—I can't seem to find where the error is without having to read through the whole thing…"

You should eat. Aren't you hungry?

"I'll be fine—I can wait till dinner."

He stared up at me restlessly, his ears tilting backwards as though he was too frustrated to contain himself. Finally, he turned away indignantly. Well I'M hungry. So get me food or I'll start licking you. And don't think I won't.

I blinked. "You…you're hungry?" After staring at him in complete astonishment, a grin slowly spread across my face. "Hah…so…you're hungry, huh? Well, what do you know…"

Shut up, if you laugh at me I wont let you get somewhere private, his eyes flashed. And anyway, it's your fault. I didn't need food before, but now that you've introduced it to my stomach, it seems to think it needs it.

"Okay, okay," I chuckled, standing and lifting him into my arms. "Let's go eat, no need to get fussy." I hastily clocked out, then headed toward the elevator. There was a cafeteria on the ground floor—usually too expensive for my budget—but eating there once in a while wasn't going to kill me. I hadn't stopped at the convenience store today, so I didn't have food for myself anyway. "What do you want to eat?" I asked him good-naturedly. Somehow, the irony of his demand for food had put me in a much better mood than I'd been in all day.

What are you going to eat? Kyo asked, peering at the menu as we stood before the counter. He seemed unsure of how it worked.

"I'm going to eat udon," I said, scanning the menu to see if anything seemed edible for cats. "It's the cheapest."

Then I'll have that too.

"You probably wouldn't like udon. Maybe miso would be better? Oh! They have yakitori, you'd probably like that…"

The cashier girl behind the counter giggled, startling me from my thoughts. "Irashaimase," she said cheerfully. "What can I get for you and your lovely cat?"

"I'd like one udon and one yakitori," I said, coming forward and pulling out my wallet. I casually noticed that I liked how she looked, but other than that was not overly attracted to her. It was probably because her eyes reminded me somewhat of Rika's. As I paid, she bowed and giggled a little bit more, before ducking away toward the kitchen in the back to call in my order.

When she came back, she had a small plate with a piece of sashimi on it. "Shh," she said, winking at me and handing me the plate. "A little present for your cat."

"Thank you," I bowed, smiling genuinely. "I'm sure he'll love it!" As if to second my words, Kyo purred loud enough for her to hear, and graced her with his cool, feline smile—the one where his eyes were mostly closed, and he looked so cute, it made me unable to stop myself from grinning and kissing him atop his head.

Dang it… why did he have to be a cat? I can't resist when cats make that face.

As I hurried over to a table to wait for our food and placed Kyo upon the chair next to me, I set his plate of raw fish before him and let out a long sigh. "Here, this is really good fish. It's called sashimi and it's very delicious."

He smirked at me, bending down and lapping it up neatly into his teeth. It was devoured in a matter of seconds. You know, that little stunt made her heart-rate increase quite rapidly, he teased, studying me with half-closed eyes. You should be careful not to act so cute, or she may just fall for you.

I managed to keep the blush from reaching my cheeks, but my ears felt hot. "Well it's your fault," I whispered. "If you go around making that stupidly cute cat-smile I can't help it! It's the weakness of being a cat-lover, I'll have you know."

Really? He purred loudly, and it sounded warm and magnetically appealing to me. I'll have to remember that when I want you to kiss me.

"Shut up," I rubbed his head a little too forcefully.

"Here's your order," the girl at the counter said, coming toward us and placing each dish before us. "One bowl of udon, and one yakitori. I hope you enjoy it!"

"Thank you," I smiled at her. She left with a quick smile—someone else was at the counter waiting for her—but not before handing me a name-card surreptitiously. Blinking, I looked down at it and saw that she had written her name and email address on it in pen, in case I wasn't sharp enough to know why she'd handed it to me.

See? Kyo said, still smirking at me. He was devouring his yakitori now, and looking like he enjoyed it. You should only show your cute side to me.

I really did blush then, and stuffing the card in my pocket—who knew why I kept it, maybe I was just thinking about what it felt like to be touched by human hands?—I slurped up my udon noodles without another word.

-o-

"Ah, Matsuda-san, Nakamura-san has asked to see you in his office before you go," Kimura said, hurrying toward me right before I stepped into the elevator.

"Oh really?" I asked, growing concerned. Was it because I'd called in sick? Or did it have to do with Kyo? "Thank you," I added, bowing to him and stepping briskly down the hall toward my boss's office. A nervous feeling began to grow in the pit of my stomach, and I wondered if something bad was about to happen. I knocked on the door, heard the permission to enter, and slipped in silently. As I closed the door behind me, I hastily bowed to show my respect. "Pardon the intrusion," I said deferentially. "You asked to see me, sir?"

He coughed, motioning toward the chair that sat before his desk with a wave of his hand. I took that as an indication to sit, and moving forward, I bowed once more and seated myself in it. Kyo slid gently down from my shoulder to settle into my lap, and promptly tucked his face away and pretended to fall asleep.

"Ah, Matsuda-san, thank you for coming," my boss coughed once more, eyeing the cat in my lap with a wary eye. The little bird upon his shoulder was motionless and silent, staring at Kyo with what appeared to be a scowl. "I trust you are feeling better today?"

"Yes, thank you," I demurred. That wasn't why I was here, I knew that much. So why couldn't he just get to the point? My stomach churned with anxiety.

"I understand that your cat has been injured," he said slowly, as though sensing my urgency to get on with it. "How is he?"

"He'll be alright," I said, suddenly feeling protective. "Actually, I'd like to ask for this coming Friday off as well—I'd like to take him to get his stitches removed."

Nakamura's face grew alarmed, and he perked up slightly to take a better look at Kyo's shaved patches of fur. "Stitches?" he blurted.

"Would that be alright, sir? If not, I understand, I'll just go after work, but it really would be better for him to get some rest…" I continued talking, and absently began to stroke Kyo's back with my hand. I was nervous, although I couldn't really say why. Somehow, my gut instincts were telling me that the little bird was not happy…and that concerned me. Kyo was in no position to fight just yet.

"I…" Nakamura stammered, and glanced sideways at his bird as though waiting for instruction. After a moment, he let out a bewildered sigh. "I suppose Friday should be alright… so long as you finish the proposal before then and pass of the other work to the rest of your team."

"Absolutely," I bowed. "Thank you for your understanding, you are very generous."

"Y-yes…" he shifted his weight, coughed some more, and then rubbed his sweating forehead with his hand. After a few awkward moments, he began to talk again. "I have heard some rumors around the office," he said slowly, "and I was curious to find out if they were true."

"Oh?" I asked, lifting my head and watching him with what I hoped was an innocent expression. Rumors? What rumors? I wish I knew what was happening here!

"I heard your…cat's name is…er…what was it?"

"Kyo," I replied. I frowned, only slightly, in confusion. "His name is Kyo."

"Ah…yes. And he was with you in the cafeteria earlier today. Did he eat with you?"

"Yes, I'm sorry, was that a problem?"

"No… of course not…" he dabbed sweat from his forehead once more, looking increasingly uncomfortable. "That is to say… I wanted to make sure… is he—your cat I mean—is he, in fact, an Erus?"

At this, Kyo lifted his head slowly from where it had been resting, and looked squarely at the bird upon Nakamura-san's shoulder. I will obey your authority, he said, and by the volume of his tone and the shocked expression on my boss's face, I knew he had spoken so that all of us could hear him. Takato loves his work, therefore I allow him to continue it. But it is not my intention to do anything besides accompany him here. Is that a problem for you, Lyra?

The bird's feathers bristled, and for a moment, it seemed to grow larger and more menacing. If it responded to Kyo's words in any way, I was apparently not permitted to hear it. For a few minutes the room was filled with tense silence. Then, to my alarm, the bird leapt from Nakamura's shoulder and landed on the desk between us. Growing until it became a massive, glowing eagle with ridiculously sharp talons, it screeched at us with a piercing cry and batted massive amounts of wind in our direction.

I held tightly onto either side of Kyo's body, my eyes widening in alarm. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to think, or even what was happening. My boss looked as terrified as I was! But sitting relaxed on my legs, Kyo did not even flinch.

Finally, the great eagle folded his wings and glared at us in silence. He seemed to be waiting for something.

I accept, Kyo said quietly, and bowed his head.

The eagle nodded, begrudgingly satisfied, and shrank back to his previous size. He flew back to my boss and settled on his shoulder with a dismissive turn of his beak.

"Th-thank you for coming," Nakamura-san said, bowing his sweating head nervously.

I stood, holding Kyo too tightly as I tried to remain calm. But I felt safer if I could hold him close to me, rather than place him back on my shoulder. I bowed, swallowing a lump in my throat. "Thank you for having me…and for giving me Friday off. I can work from home, if needed."

"That won't be necessary. Good day, Matsuda-san…"

Clearly dismissed, I backed out of the room quickly and closed the door, heading for the elevator as fast as I could. My heart was beating so fast, I knew that the sound probably felt smothering to Kyo, but I couldn't shake how scared I felt.

Why are you afraid? He asked me, peering up at my face from my arms as I stepped into the elevator and slammed my hand on the button for the ground floor.

I leaned my head against the wall, sighing and trying to release the tension in my shoulders. "I don't know," I whispered. "I just… when I thought that that eagle was going to attack you, it terrified me. What would I do if something happened to you? When you're injured and weak as it is…"

He was silent for a moment, but I could feel a content purr rumbling through him. Takato, he said gently. Shall I tell you what happened? Would that make you feel better?

I nodded once. As the elevator opened up, I stepped out and hurried to the bus stop. All I wanted was to get home.

Then I shall, he purred, rubbing his nose against my arm. That Erus is very powerful, you may remember. But he noticed that I have been acting strangely, and he can tell that I am trying to build up my magic for a battle. He wanted to make sure that it wasn't with him.

"So he was threatening you?" I scowled. It made me mad. "Couldn't he tell you were injured? Why would he assume you wanted to fight him?"

Probably because before, I was stronger than him, and now I am weaker. The fastest way for me to get back to where I was is for me to beat him in a fight and absorb all his power.

"Wait, you can do that?" I asked, looking down at him in surprise. "Then why didn't you, when you fought that octopus?"

We were too equally matched. I used too much magic, and was unable to save any to steal it from him. Kyo turned and observed the bus driving up to us, and waited until we had boarded and took a seat before he continued. If I were him, I would be concerned too. That is why I agreed to his terms, and promised that I would not fight him. I have no desire to do so.

"I'm glad," I admitted quietly, keeping my voice low. I didn't want to get caught up in fight like that—especially because my boss was involved.

But it was amusing, nonetheless, Kyo purred. He wanted to know why I was eating food, and why I had allowed you to name me. He thought there must be something wrong with me.

"What did you tell him? That's not so weird, is it?"

Of course it is. We do not have names, and we do not eat food.

"But you called him Lyra."

Silly Takato… do you not remember how I called that dog-Erus Dygon? Lyra is also a term, only instead of an insult, it is a term of respect. I was flattering him.

I sighed, shaking my head. "Well at least it ended peacefully. I'm really lucky you're so reasonable. What if you had been the type to get offended easily? If you ended up getting hurt again, I might actually punch someone's face in."

His ears perked up, and he looked at me with surprise. Then he laughed, hiding his face against my chest with shaking shoulders. For some reason, that just made me feel embarrassed. Oh Takato, he chuckled.

We made a stop at the grocery store before I finally returned to my apartment, but by then I felt mentally worn out. We didn't talk to each other any more, so I was left to my own whirling cloud of undefined thoughts as I put the food away and made dinner for us both. When I finished, I carried two plates from the kitchen to the living room, and sat down on the floor in front of the TV.

"Here," I said tiredly. I was sitting with my back against the couch, where Kyo was curled up patiently cleaning his fur. I had to turn my head back and sideways a little bit to look at him as I set the plate of fried fish on the cushion behind my head. Then I turned, grabbed the remote, and turned on something random I could watch while I ate.

After this, I'd probably draw some more, I decided absently.

Takato, Kyo said a little later, after both of our plates were empty. I leaned my head back against the couch cushion so that I could be lazy and look at his face at the same time. He stared at me, his expression unreadable, and then leaned his head down and licked my forehead.

The familiar jolt of pleasure made me cringe, but I didn't try to stop him. I'd gotten used to it at this point, hadn't I? Sighing and closing my eyes as he continued to lick me—now moving so that he traced the side of my face toward my ear—I tried not to think about how lonely it made me feel. How much my skin ached to be touched…

It took me a minute to realize that he had stopped, and I opened my eyes with a feeling of confusion. I turned my head to look at him. "What's wrong?" I asked.

His face looked conflicted, and he studied me with narrowed eyes. I don't understand, he said quietly. I don't know why, but no matter how much magic I use, I can't seem to cipher very much energy from you at all.

I shifted, turning my body so that I face the couch, and leaned my arms against the cushion. "Is it because of your injuries?" I asked, worried for him.

He shook his head, turning away from me with a sad look in his eyes. No… that's not it.

"Then what? Is it because of the food?" I sat up abruptly, anxiety gripping my stomach. "Is that ruining your magic? I'm so sorry Kyo, I should never have…"

No, he cut me off quickly, sighing and shaking his head with a half-smile. That's not it either.

"Then what? What's wrong?"

Yes, that's what I want to know, too. He turned away from me, curling up into a tight ball as thought he intended to go to sleep. Maybe I'll just be done for tonight. You could probably use the break anyway. Wake me up when you go in to bed—I want to go with you.

My confusion at this sudden change of attitude made me feel more distressed than relieved, for some reason. I almost felt like I'd been rejected, somehow. Why does it bother me so much? I thought, turning away and drawing my knees up to my chest. For a while I could only sit there and try to sort out my feelings of disappointment and worry.

I need to draw, I thought unhappily, rising and walking stiffly to my desk. It was a good decision, because drawing is an escape from reality—a place where I can remember all the things I love the most. I drew sketch after sketch… my parent's smiles as they baked bread, Guilmon devouring it, Rika and Renamon side by side, and the whole gang of us together. I spent a long time drawing Rika, but after my heart started aching, I gave up and moved onto my newest enjoyment: drawing Kyo.

There were several scenes that I created with my pencil, and all of them made me smile. Here he was curled up on the couch, sleeping with a smile on his face, and here was his expression the first time he tried drinking chicken broth—he'd really liked it. A few times I recreated his giant tiger form, standing over me protectively, and tried to picture him fighting the octopus. But when that began to make me upset—I had an unresolved hatred for that stupid octopus—I moved on and began sketching him as a human again. What would his expression be like if he was human? Would he glare with his eyes half-closed, like this? Or would he smile with his eyes closed and the corners turned up in a smirk when I did something that made him pleased?

I wasn't aware that he was there until I heard his voice, speaking to me. What are you doing? He asked curiously.

I jumped, startled, and turned to see him looking at me from the floor. His ears were perked up, as though the sound of the pencil scratching against the paper had captured his attention and compelled him to come find out what I was doing. "I'm drawing," I answered, exhaling. He looked at me without comprehending. "Here," I chuckled, and rose from my seat. Getting down onto the floor so that I was lying on my stomach beside him, I opened the sketchbook to the beginning and showed it to him. "I drew these pictures," I explained, flipping through the pages and showing them to him one by one.

He watched each page with great interest, his tail moving side to side with a curious and excited sort of motion. What is that creature there? I have never seen it on your earth, but you've drawn it quite often.

"That's Guilmon. He's from the Digital World—it's a world that exists parallel to our own, and we can't get to it anymore because it became too dangerous for both of our worlds. He was my friend—we fought against evil together, with Rika and Henry and Ryo and all the rest… I miss them a lot."

I can tell. What about these people?

"Those are my parents. They own a bakery, and they make the most amazing bread. Someday, we should go visit them. I'd like to introduce you to them." I smiled, rubbing his head affectionately with my hand.

I know who this is, he added, after a few pages. His face looked sad as he studied my many drawings of Rika, but he did not voice his thoughts.

When we came to my many sketches of him, however, his ears perked up in alarm. I didn't say anything, but I watched him as I turned the pages—slower than I had been before. I couldn't be sure, but I thought that he looked really happy.

Stop, he said suddenly, rising to his feet and looking down at one of the pages. What is that!?

"Oh, that's just a made-up sketch," I laughing, covering my face with my hand. "I was just imagining what you would look like if you suddenly got water dumped all over you…"

He glared at me, not amused. You've made me look utterly ridiculous, he scolded. I wont forgive you for that.

"Oh calm down," I continued to laugh, petting him until he relented and returned to a sulking crouched position beside me. "I'd never actually do it, that's why I had to draw it. Don't be so uptight!" I quickly turned the page, and continued to show him my collection of drawings. It was incredibly fun to watch him and see his reactions to each one, especially my portrayal of his fight with the octopus. I'd drawn him looking as awesome and majestic as I could, after all.

He purred when he observed it, pleased.

"Anyway, those are my drawings…" I began to close the book, ready to get to my feet and get to bed early, but he placed his paw down on the open page and refused to let me close it. I paused, staring at him in confusion. "What is it?" I asked.

He looked up at me, then turned and studied the book carefully. There are more drawings in here, he said. I want to see them.

"They're nothing," I said quickly, pulling on the sketchbook. Suddenly I felt awkward, and I knew that he could hear my heartbeat increasing. "I'll show you some other time, let's just go to bed…"

Takato, he commanded, flashing his eyes at me with a sudden forceful push of magic. I felt my will to resist crumble into nothing. Show me.

Swallowing and looking away awkwardly, I raised my shaking hand and turned the page.

Kyo didn't say anything as I turned page after page, just stared at each drawing with silent, intent eyes. I couldn't look at him, and I couldn't bring myself to explain. All I could do was turn the pages until there were no more drawings left.

Only then did he step back and allow me to close it. I scrambled to my feet and put the book away, walking into my room and changing into my pajamas. Does he know? I thought anxiously. Is it weird to him, that I drew him as a human? Or maybe he doesn't know… maybe I should have just said that was somebody I knew or something. I had to go and act all weird…

When I turned off the light and crawled under my covers, Kyo hopped up onto the bed and sat beside me, looking down at me with a calculating expression. I was too nervous to look back at him. Takato, he said. I inwardly shuddered at the sound of my name. Was that me?

He did know, I thought, devastated. I turned away and hid under the covers. "I-it's just drawings," I mumbled. "I wasn't trying to offend you or anything, I was just having fun imagining what you would look like if you were…you know…like me."

He leapt over me with a single graceful jump, and walked over to where my face was hidden under the blanket. Why are you embarrassed? He asked, sounding amused. Did you think I would be offended?

"Are you?" I asked, my voice quiet.

Quite the contrary. I was flattered. He began to purr, and with one of his paws, he pushed the blankets away from my face so that he could lick my forehead gently. It was like a kiss, without magic.

My awkwardness melted away a little bit, and I reached a hand out to stroke his fur with my fingers. I always liked it when he did that…and I loved the sound of his purring, too.

You're not going to hide from me anymore? He asked, smiling at me with his eyes mostly closed. When I shook my head, he settled down and rubbed his nose against mine with a contented sigh. Good.

It was almost too much for me to take. Without thinking, I reached my arms up and grabbed him, pulling him under the covers with me and cradling him against my chest. I'd always wanted to have a cat that slept with me under the covers—it would curl up with its face outside the covers and resting on my arm, and I would hold it close to me and lay beside it as I slept. It was just how my parent's cat used to sleep with me when I was seven.

He seemed surprised at first, but I didn't let go of him. "You," I breathed, chuckling and closing my eyes as I kissed the top of his head. "It's your fault you know. This is how you sleep with a cat."

Is it? He asked, huffing slightly. But after a moment, he gave in and laid his head against my arm in defeat. I suppose that I'll put up with it until you fall asleep, then.

I grinned, closing my eyes and finally relaxing.

Takato…?

"Hmm?"

He hesitated, and I could feel by the way his body tensed up that he seemed reluctant to ask whatever question he had on his mind.

"What is it?" I pressed, growing sleepier with each second. I really was worn out.

Is that… that is, do you wish that I was had a human body?

My eyes opened, and I peered down at him with a slight frown. "Why?" I asked. "Because I drew you that way?"

He avoided looking at me, almost like he was sulking.

"I think you're fine just the way you are," I insisted. "I love cats…and I love you as a cat. Okay?" I blushed awkwardly, but it was true and I didn't deny it.

But when I cipher your energy, you would rather I was a human, wouldn't you?

I coughed, sputtering strangled sounds that were supposedly words, but only came out as choked sounds. My face flushed deep red. "Wh-what is that supposed to mean?" I demanded, finally managing to form a sentence.

His ears tilted backwards in irritation. Well, it's true, isn't it? Here I'm supposed to be able to use my magic to make you experience the greatest sensations your nervous system can interpret, and instead I seem to be failing more and more each time. You want someone to touch you places I can't touch you. To kiss you. To hug you. Like a human, would. That's why I can't… why I haven't been able… His voice trailed off, and he turned his face away so that he didn't have to look at me.

I couldn't answer him though. I was too busy trying to calm my rapidly beating heart, and wishing my face was not quite so hot and red from utter embarrassment. How does he know? I thought, devastated. Why does he know? God I want to die right now…

How the hell did it get to be so awkward?

I didn't think I'd ever get to sleep after that. But somehow, I found myself waking up the very next morning with Kyo standing on my chest and staring intently into my face. I blinked, groggy and confused. What just happened?

I said, wake up you idiot, he scolded me, folding his ears back in irritation. Don't you have to go to work?

Sighing, I lifted him up and placed him beside me, then got up to get ready for the day. "It doesn't feel like I slept at all," I mumbled under my breath, feeling almost like I'd been cheated somehow. This was going to be a long week, wasn't it?

-o-

Wow, I honestly didn't think people would like this story at all. I thought there would be hordes of angry readers throwing shot glasses at their screens and yelling "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING? THIS STORY IS CRAP!" and all that. I mean, I'm writing it anyway, but it's still nice to know people are actually reading it.

Sorry it took so long to update, I'll try not to take so long with the next chapter. Thanks for reading! And as always, I love to hear what you think.

~Rukatofan