-1James: Okay! Next Chapter, what are we on, three?
Daen: Yep and it's been what, four months now?
James: Dunno, not keeping track. Anyhoo; usual disclaimers also, if you are a Jeremy fan then… well… sorry. I'm not done with him yet.
Daen: You have a sick, sadistic, and vindictive mind… I knew there was a reason I liked you!
Three eyes turned to regard the small, furry, kitten now standing in the bottom of the Scanner, regarding them curiously. A hush fell on the room and a single question floated about the minds of the three friends. It was Aelita who first put a voice to the question. Taking a tentative step forward, her eyes locked on the small, blond cat, she said in a voice barely more than a whisper, "Odd? Is it… really you?"
Another soft meow was the cat's only reply but, at the sound of its own voice, the cat seemed to grow quite confused. It looked down its nose at its mouth, looking almost as if it had been betrayed. It began to make strange sounds, lolling its tongue around in its mouth before finally shaking its head and saying, "Ae- Ae…li…ta. D-don't cry."
Though faint and somewhat weak it was definitely Odd's voice. Aelita, Ulrich, and Yumi stared at him in shock. There was no doubt now: It was Odd. The small cat standing, confused and very curious, in the Scanner was Odd Della Robbia.
Ulrich was at Odd's side in an instant, unable to believe his own ears.
"Odd! Is it really you? Say something again, Odd, please!" said Ulrich who was now on all fours to be at eye level with his transformed friend. Odd gave a very catlike grin, opened his mouth and said, "Something again. There, happy?"
For a brief moment there was nothing but a stunned silence. Then, at almost the exact same moment, Yumi and Ulrich burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter and Aelita gave a tearful cry and enveloped her friend into a near crushing hug, unable to contain her joy any longer. Odd merely purred, pressed against Aelita's breast.
It was many moments before their euphoric rejoicing died down and they were able to once again think on the matter at hand. It was true that Odd was still alive but there was no denying the problem of his new body, or the problem of Jeremy's leaving.
After a few more minutes of silence, Odd spoke up saying, "Hey guys, I'm glad I'm alive and all but I'm hungry and they don't exactly allow pets in the cafeteria… or anywhere else on campus."
"I suppose the only thing we can do is sneak you back into our room and bring you back something." said Ulrich, rising to his feet and helping Aelita up. She had yet to let go of Odd, clinging to him as if afraid that by letting him go he would disappear. She carried him back to the dorms, Yumi and Ulrich keeping watch for any teachers. As they opened the door to Odd and Ulrich's room, Odd's dog, Kiwi, crawled out of his dresser drawer bed to greet them. It wasn't until they were all safely inside the room that Aelita finally set Odd down on his own four feet. Kiwi, however, took one look at the cat in his territory and threw a fit, barking and chasing after the frightened Odd.
"Whoa! Kiwi, it's me! It's Odd! Down boy, down you dumb dog!"
After two or three laps around the room, Odd jumped onto the bed and then leaped back into Aelita's arms. Ulrich grabbed Kiwi's collar holding him back as he continued to try and get at Odd, intent of devouring his poor owner.
"Hey, Aelita, get Odd out of here while I calm Kiwi down!" he said. With a nod from Aelita she and Yumi stepped out into the hall. Odd was shaking in Aelita's arms, still trying to get over the shock of nearly being killed by his own dog. Yumi and Aelita both looked worried, their problems just kept coming.
"What are we going to do now, Aelita?" said Yumi, a worried frown playing about her features. "He can't stay with Ulrich or else Kiwi will rip him to shreds, my parents won't let me keep pets so he can't come home with me, and hell will freeze over before I let him stay with Jeremy. I think we have a real problem here."
Aelita looked down at Odd forlornly, gently scratching behind the poor, purring, Odd's ears. She seemed lost in thought as she quietly petted her feline friend.
Odd too was lost in his own thoughts. Ever since Aelita had scooped him up and hugged him to her back at the factory. Odd had been unable to stop purring, with the sole exception of when he had been running for his life from Kiwi. Deep feelings were stirring within him, feelings he didn't quite understand. He couldn't be sure if those feelings were his own or a result of his new body. All he knew was that the lightest touch by Aelita filled him with warmth and made him purr.
After several more moments of though Aelita looked up at Yumi and said,
"Alright, I've thought it over and I think it would be best if Odd stayed with me in my room." Yumi and Odd both looked at Aelita in shock. Yumi's mouth hung open in complete disbelief. For Odd it was a dream he never dared dream, come true. The strange, warm feelings inside him increasing ten fold.
"Are you sure about that? He may be a cat but he's still Odd… still a guy, y'know?" said Yumi.
Aelita gave her friend a gentle smile and nodded.
"Yes, I'm sure. I've decided Odd can live in my room until we can turn him back.
I don't mind, really. I don't have a roommate so no one will have no know he's there. To be honest, I'm kind of looking forward to it." she said with a blush, looking down at Odd, nestled against her breast, her body growing warm though she didn't know why.
James: And we'll end the third chapter here. Oh, in case you haven't already guessed, the rating may go up pretty soon.
Daen: Oh great, you're turning it into a lemon! And with a cat for Bast's sake!
James: Hey! It might get a bit… risqué in places but I swear on my laptop it shall not become a mere lemon. This started as a story and so it shall remain. I have much in store later on and if there is a little Cat/Girl-turned-computer program-turned-girl again action here and there then so be it!
Daen: Right, whatever. You're sick, man, real sick. Anyway, James may be a perv but he is getting to be a pretty good writer. He has other stories so check them out ;
James: And don't forget to review! I really like hearing feedback on my stories.