Chapter 8 : A Change of Heart

Author's Note : The setting is around episode 25, I don't know why. My memories are kinda messed up, I tried re-watching Gaim again and ended up skipping a few episodes from the last chapter.. It doesn't really matter, but I'm just hoping I don't messed up the fanfic's timeline as well.

I'm not sure if I can prevent OOCness on Kaito's part.. I'm so sorry if I failed..

And these grammars.. I really don't mind any revisions. Because I don't have any beta reader T ^ T)

"Ouch! Ouch! Nee-chan, help meee!" That began the morning on Kazuraba household.

The black and brown-colored cat was pissed beyond everything. Each time Kouta dared to hold him, he fully released his claws and grazed his tan skin until it bled a droplet or two. Let the stupid Rider learnt his lesson. Well, it wasn't Kaito's fault that he couldn't tell anyone he was in a cat form, but the very thought of last night's accident sent shivers down his stomach. And later returned as headache. There was no way in hell Kaito would forgive him.

His sister currently warned Kouta not to pet the cat and gave it some space. Which made the man slumped in the corner again, while applying his band-aids in agony.

"Why are you still angry with me, Neko-chan.." sobbed the man who became the first Armored Rider in public. This would make a good headline on a gossip tabloids.

On the other hand, Kaito was getting restless again as he remembered what the fairy said.

He needed to do something. Fast. But what?

Searching for a true love?

Now he wished he could banged his desperate-sounded brain into the wall. For thinking about bullshits like that. He was Kumon Kaito, damnit. He would take the world into his palm and it shall be done someday. So, he got to endure whatever cruel reality presented to him.

His mind tried to evaluate his current relationships with other human. Although he was already pessimistic at the beginning.

Zack and Peco were clearly out of options. If he went to Peco, he wasn't sure he could keep up with his antics and jokes. That was why he 'assigned' Zack to attend Peco, although later they became really close. If he went to Zack, Peco was surely going to be sulky because Zack was not paying attention to him. And it was only an assumption, as he didn't know if Zack liked a cat or not. Anyone from other team.. From Team Gaim? That Mai girl, the substitute for their missing leader? But somehow, he couldn't feel any connections to her. He knew she was a good kid, but he never really got to know her. It would take double efforts to relate to each other. Should he went to her, Kaito would have trouble to remove himself of Kouta. And it was likely the girl would returned him to the dark-haired man. Goddamn it.

He could never imagined himself to be in a relationship. Even he never considered bringing someone into a relationship with him. He just wasn't cut for romance. And most of all, it might just hindered his objectives to destroy Yggdrasil.

All of these confusion mixed perfectly inside his head. Kaito didn't realize that arms finally got through his fur and proceeded to carry him. Before he could registered what happened, Kouta kissed him again, on the same place again. His whiskers tingled and a small consciousness on the back of his head diminished completely.

"Gotcha, finally." Why did this man kept coming into him? Didn't he know that he could get hurt again?

Oh. Of course. He was a cat now. Of course the dark-haired man did what he did. Now why didn't he do something about that?

But he hardly moved his paw, let alone his claws. This was one of that rare time their gaze met properly without any disturbance. Without any detestation nor rivalry. Kaito was so accustomed to connect with him in the most unpleasant circumstances where he considered every people was a threat to his plan. And Kazuraba Kouta was one of the biggest threat. This.. was a rather strange experience.

He noticed Kouta's hair was getting longer, making a bit of a mess on his head. Golden eyes trailed down into his slightly tanned face. That childish smile was still there, with a bubbly hum. Why did he noticed all of this? Was his brain ran out of topics that suddenly this fool intrigued him?

No.

NO.

He absolutely wasn't intrigued at him.

But his eyes couldn't lie. They kept watching him. Watched as that smile changes into a grin. Watched as that hand lazily stroked his head.

"You know.. I'm glad you're here." said Kouta, starting to fill the void between them while gloomy expression replaced his smile."There are lotsa things in my head. But I don't know how to explain it.."

The man sat on the sofa and placed the feline on his lap."I really want to talk to Mai or Micchy, but I don't know where to start. I'm really not good at things like this.. And I might make them worried again.. Should I talk to Zack or Peco? But, I'm not sure if I should to talk to people who's never been in contact with Yggdrasil. It might confuses them.."

Of course the cat would only stared at him, Kouta laughed a little at his weird speech. Then, the dark haired man sighed and breached his back to the sofa.

"Where's Kaito at times like this? I think I should try to search for him again.. about what should I do about Yggdrasil. Don't you think it's strange that Kaito didn't show up somewhere? There are no sights of him.. I mean, that's was why I went into Yggdrasil yesterday, because I promised him. Did he go somewhere? Or did I come at the wrong time? I don't understand it.."

I'm here, thought the striped-colored cat ironically. Kaito remembered it too, but of course for circumstances unknown to Kouta, he couldn't fulfill the promise.

Suddenly, his phone rang and Kouta picked it up." Hello, Zack?"

"Kouta! There's a large Inves mob around Gaim's stage! Can you come?"

"Inves again? Right away!" He took his blue hoodie and was about to dash into the scene. But before he realized, the little feline went out ahead of him from the corner of the door. "Neko-chan, wait!"

Being ignored, he had no choice but to move his feet towards the stage. But the cat didn't seem to flee, and headed exactly towards the battlefield. Just how in the world a cat acted this way? It was as if it wasn't any normal animal.. Curiosity later, now was an emergency and he had no time to ponder about it.

A few minutes later, they met up with Knuckle and Ryugen who already clawed their way into the mob. Kouta transformed into his Orange Arms and began charging to the enemy. But his attention was divided as he noticed the cat advancing toward an Inves on his right. Then it jumped and bite the grey hand, and the Inves flailed its arm to get rid of the cat. Sick of swinging, the monster used its other arm to punch the cat away.

Kouta watched in horror as he leashed Orange Sparking towards the Inves, he quickly retrieved the cat. Its body scarred quite a large gash, dying its brown and black fur with blood. The severe breathing further panicking Kouta, drove him to use his strongest attack for an instant-kill.

"Neko-chan! Are you alright?"

"Kouta! What happened?" Zack had just de-transformed and walked towards them, followed by Mitsuzane. "Wasn't that the cat you found? Oh God.. it's wounded.."

"I have to take it to the hospital.."

"Kouta-san, why did you brought that cat? You know it's dangerous!"

"I didn't! It just followed me here! I'm confused too.."

Mitsuzane eyed the bloody cut and Kouta's watery eyes. He was about to say something, but decided to put it down for the moment. "Anyway, let's go to a vet, I think I know one."