Author's note: Sorry for being so slow in writing the story. I had 2 assignments to rush out in a month. I'm finally on holiday! Forgive me!
The start of the cliché story! Actually I didn't want to involve Rukia… But there aren't many characters that fit the role, so I included her in the story. Orhime taking care of Rukia… Rukia wouldn't survive for long! The main reason why I didn't want to include Rukia in the story is because I'm a IchiRuki fan, so it's kind of hard to write about them being in a story but not together. Argh.
Ichigo and Shiro didn't do anything dirty in this chapter!
Setting: Shinigami don't exist. Humanoid cats do! Yes, Shiro isn't the only humanoid cat in this world. Both cats and humanoid cats exist. Don't get confused.
Warnings: Lousy English, Mature content, Yaoi, Cussing, Neko!Hichi, Neko!Rukia
Chapter 3: Humanoid Cat Hates You
"Where are we goin', King?" Shiro, the white humanoid cat asked, his hands behind his head, looking around at the shops. His beloved King dragged him out after lunch without even telling him anything.
"I'm going to get you something," his King, Kurosaki Ichigo, replied.
Shiro stared at Ichigo's vibrant orange hair. "Eh…" And suddenly wrapped his arms around Ichigo's neck and whispered in his ear. "Sex toys?"
Ichigo hit his forehead with his knuckles and the white cat immediately released him. "Ouch! That hurt!"
The orange head turned around and glared at him. "Is that all you can think of?"
Shiro rubbed his forehead and mumbled. "No… I forgot that my King is a prude." And he received a kick in the shin.
The next few minutes, Shiro followed Ichigo quietly; curious as to where he would be taken to. Then finally, Ichigo turned and entered… a pet shop. WHAT?
He had no choice but to follow his owner into the shop. "Hey… King?" He asked as Ichigo looked around the shop. "Yes?"
"Why the hell are we doin' here?" Shiro almost cried out. Ichigo didn't seem to notice his pet's distress as he continued his search and finally found what he wanted.
"Here." Ichigo held the item in front of Shiro's face.
"A collar?" Shiro asked, staring at the black leather with gold metal and a golden bell. "I'm ain't gonna get lost or anything. Why do I need that?" He looked back at his owner.
"I've kept you for quite awhile, and I never thought about giving you a collar. Now that I thought of it, I might as well buy it then." Ichigo explained.
"Just so simple?" Shiro questioned. "Are ya sure it ain't because ya wanna let others know who I belong to?" He sneaked over to Ichigo's back and wrapped his arms around his waist.
Ichigo blushed and elbowed him in the stomach. "No!" And he huffed off to pay for the collar. Shiro smirked as he watched his owner marched off. He was just so good to tease. He couldn't wait to be in bed, snuggling with his King, doing all kinds of dirty stuff to him.
"Let's go!" Ichigo shouted and brought him back to reality. "Stop smiling to yourself! It's creepy!" And he exited the pet shop. Shiro blinked a few times before he ran out after him. "Wait, King!"
"Kurosaki-kun!" was the first thing Shiro heard when he past the door. Jealousy immediately took over his mind.
"Inoue! What a coincidence!" Ichigo replied as Inoue Orihime, his classmate, walked over to him.
"Hi, Shiro-chan~" Orihime reached out and rubbed Shiro's head. He tried very hard not to attack her. He wrapped his arms around Ichigo's neck tightly, growling softly so only Ichigo could hear. Shiro never liked Orihime ever since he saw her for the first time. He could tell that she has feelings for his King and he's not going to let her get close to Ichigo. Orihime turned to Ichigo. "He's grown pretty big, hasn't he?"
"Ah, well, he has always been this size since you last saw him, Inoue," Ichigo answered as he sweatdropped at Orihime's question.
"Oh, really?" Orihime blinked as she tried to recall. Ichigo tried to change the topic before she started daydreaming to something else like always. "So, what are you doing out here?"
Orihime was brought back to reality. "Oh, yah. I came out to shop with Tatsuki-chan! I needed to buy food for Rukia-chan so Tatsuki-chan accompanied me. Look!"
Ichigo and Shiro peered into the paper bag that she brought up. It was filled with peanut butter, apples, cheese, chicken, onion and jelly. Both of them blanched in their minds as they tried to think of what food Orihime could come up with. Poor Rukia. Then Ichigo remembered something. "Where's Tatsuki?"
"Oh! She's helping me buy some milk!" Orihime explained and pointed in one direction. "What about Rukia? She's not out with you?" Orihime's face immediately saddened after Ichigo finished his sentence. "She's having a fever. That's why I'm cooking porridge for her."
"What kind of porridge are you cooking…" Shiro murmured next to Ichigo's ear and received an elbow to his stomach the second time that day. "Is she okay?" Ichigo asked, concerned. After all, he and Rukia were really good friends since Orihime always brought her over when she's free or when she went overseas and needed somebody to take care of Rukia. Shiro and Rukia practically grew up together. Ichigo's father didn't even treat her as a cat, instead, he acknowledged her as his third daughter. She was really well liked in his family.
"Yupp. She just caught a cold." Orihime smiled. "Do you want to come over? It'll make her feel better."
"Ok, we'll go over." Ichigo said while Shiro growled. Ichigo thanked god that Orihime didn't hear it. "Ok! I'll go over to get Tatsuki-chan, then we'll go together!" And she ran off.
Ichigo looked at his pet. "What, Shiro? I thought you would like to see Rukia too." Shiro growled lowly. "That's not it…"
Ichigo eyed Shiro for a while. "Hey. Get off me already. My shoulders are going to break." The white cat grinned widely. "Are you sure you want me to get off?" Shiro breathed into his ear and caught his earlobe between his teeth. Ichigo shivered before he managed to raise his arm and push Shiro's head away. "Stop it! We're in the middle of the streets!"
Shiro raised his arms up as if surrendering. "Ok, ok, I'll stop."
"Oh, I almost forgot."
Shiro looked as Ichigo reached into the plastic bag he was holding and took out the collar he bought just now. "Yar gonna put it on me NOW?" The white cat couldn't believe what his owner was thinking.
"We have nothing to do while we wait anyways…" Ichigo mumbled as he unfastened the collar. "Come here, Shiro." He called out as he held the collar higher.
Shiro couldn't help but feel embarrassed. "Alright, alright. Can't ya be a little more discreet?" He grumbled as he stood in front of Ichigo, bending a little so Ichigo could fasten the collar. "There!"
Shiro raised his head back up and looked down, trying to see the collar as he tugged on it. "It looks nice on you." Ichigo stated, smiling. Shiro didn't know whether it looks nice on him, but as long as it made his King happy, he's not going to care at the moment.
"Kurosaki-kun! I'm back!" Orihime yelled as she pulled Tatsuki's arm. "Hey, Ichigo." Tatsuki greeted his old friend when they stopped running. She and Ichigo had known each other since young because they went to the same Dojo for lessons. Ichigo was such a crybaby back then. "Hey, Shiro." She patted Shiro on the head, which made Shiro hiss a little. Tatsuki always liked making fun of him.
"Hey, Tatsuki." Ichigo greeted back.
"I see you've bought Shiro-chan a collar." Tatsuki teased. It made Shiro regret agreeing to put the collar on just a little. "I didn't see that just now." Orihime said, confused.
"I just put it on. I only bought it awhile ago." Ichigo explained.
"It looks nice on him!" Orihime exclaimed, not that Shiro appreciated. "Ok, ok. Can we go?" Shiro said curtly and walked off. He briefly heard Ichigo said something like "He's embarrassed" before all of them started to follow him.
When they reached Orihime's apartment, they found Rukia sleeping on her bed with a frown on her face. Ichigo reached out his hand and felt her forehead, which was very hot. If it weren't because Shiro knew that Ichigo treated Rukia like a sister, he would've been jealous.
"Have she taken medicine?" Ichigo asked Orihime.
"Yes. Before I went out, I gave her some for fever. I guess the fever hadn't gone down yet." Orihime felt Rukia's forehead as well. "I'll go cook the porridge now, so that she can eat the medicine."
"No, I'll do it." Ichigo said on second thought. "You and Shiro can take care of Rukia. Tatsuki and I will cook the porridge. Is that alright?"
Tatsuki nodded and went out to the kitchen with Ichigo, leaving Shiro and Orihime with Rukia. It might not be a good idea to do this, but Shiro was helpless in the kitchen. Orihime went out to get a wet towel while Shiro sat down on a nearby chair, folded his arms on the backrest and observed Rukia. She was still as petite as ever, maybe it was because of Orihime's weird recipes, but it shouldn't be since Orihime's figure was great. Shiro and Ichigo never figured out a good reason for her height except that it's in her genes. Her black cat ears twitched every few seconds as if listening for danger.
"You're really worried about her right?" Orihime suddenly spoke as she came in, scaring Shiro as he jumped from the chair.
"So what if I'm worried?" Shiro snapped at Orihime's weird question when he recovered.
"Nothing!" Orihime grinned and carefully placed the wet towel on to Rukia's forehead.
Shiro narrowed his eyes. "Are you planning something?"
"No! I'm not planning anything!" Orihime blinked, terrified by Shiro's accusation.
Shiro turned his attention back to Rukia. "You better not."
"Do you hate me, Shiro-chan?" the girl asked, bringing his attention back to her. She gave her this hurt expression that made him feel like a jerk for treating her badly. Sure, she was going to steal Ichigo from him, but Ichigo had taught him better.
They were interrupted as Ichigo and Tatsuki entered the room. Tatsuki held the bowl of porridge carefully over to the bedside table while Ichigo went over to shake Rukia softly on the arm. "Rukia… Rukia…" She struggled to open her eyes while Ichigo continued, "Come have some porridge."
Rukia mewed as she turned, dropping the wet towel and nuzzled her face on Ichigo's arm. "Come on, you midget." Ichigo said as he messed her hair. "I'm not a midget. Strawberry." Rukia retorted, glaring at Ichigo. "Good to hear you're fine enough to retort." Ichigo stated and let her lean on to the pillow on the headboard.
When they finally left the house, it was already time for dinner. Rukia ate half of the porridge Ichigo cooked, which was not too bad for a person or half-person who was sick. Then she went back to sleep after taking her medicine. She should be fine by the next day. Ichigo waited till she was soundly asleep before he could leave at ease. He would stay there all day if he could but he thought he'd better not.
"Would ya take care of me like ya did just now if it were me, King?" Shiro asked as they made their way home.
"Are you jealous, Shiro?" Ichigo smirked as his pet blushed furiously.
"Shuddup and answer!" Shiro yelled in embarrassment.
Ichigo hung an arm around Shiro's neck, pulling him close. "Of course. But I'd rather hope you'd not be sick. Silly." The orange head caressed the cat's soft white hair.
Suddenly he was pushed on to a wall and lips crashed on to his forcefully. He struggled a little before kissing back, surprised at the sudden attack. Finally getting his breath back when Shiro broke the kiss, he asked his question. "W-What…was that all about…"
Shiro gave him a peck on the lips before answering. "Because yar being such a cutie." Ichigo pushed him back before Shiro could get close to him again. "We're in the middle of the streets!"
"I don't care." Shiro said and tried to get back but failed. "You don't care, I care." Ichigo glared at him.
Shiro sighed. "Ok. Let's go home quickly so that I can eat you up earlier!" He exclaimed, dragged Ichigo and zoomed off as fast as he could.