Felis Domesticus

A/N: :DDDDDD There is much rejoiceth for me on behalf of this fic. Please thank the following lovely people…

Zyu the Last

Conjure Lass

RazorCardz01

… because they are willing to help me with future ideas and become a better writer out of the kindness of their hearts. Their efforts truly make me want to bawl like a baby whenever I try to express my gratitude. They also have wonderful fics out as well, so check them out!

4

The first night was hectic, not that Ichigo expected anything less.

However, much to his relief, his family's reaction was less dramatic that what he had imagined. Now that he thought about it, he was glad that all his shirts had a high collar. His father would undoubtedly notice any strange marks on his only son, and it wouldn't do to have teeth imprints on his skin showing. Even worse, his father could mistake it for a hickey and who knew what his crazy father would go from there. It was still embarrassing to have Rukia witness one of his father's breakdowns in front of a poster of his deceased mother. Ichigo refused to ponder any further and promptly rang the doorbell.

Yuzu was Yuzu, after all. His youngest sister wasted no time in cooing and squealing over the bundle of fur tucked within Rukia's arms. Like the female Shinigami, Yuzu also had a fixation with small furry animals, going so far as to put herself in danger to ensure their safety. No animal walked away from Yuzu cold, starving, or injured. Something sparkled within her soft brown eyes, uncannily similar to Rukia's. Ichigo swore he could see the two of them starting a fan club, Grimmjow's icy death glare not deterring them in the slightest.

Karin was Karin, after all. The other female of the Kurosaki residence had barely raised her head above a sports magazine propped open on the dinner table. She didn't think a pet would drastically change family dynamics, so it didn't have much of an affect on her. As long as she didn't end up cleaning the litter box, of course. Judging from the look on her older brother's face, she had a sneaking suspicion this was all his dark-haired friend's doing. Her Ichi-nii would never randomly bring in a small furry animal when he had said he was going out to take a stroll, and without advanced warning no less. Karin rolled her eyes at her twin's antics, already feeling a slight headache beginning to pound in the back of her skull. She shrugged off a slight twinge of foreboding at the bottom of her gut; the cat did have a wonderful death glare.

Isshin was Isshin, after all. The situation was rather unexpected for the man of the family, Isshin; so his only son had a soft spot within him all along. Isshin was secretly glad; the boy's tough exterior scared away potential girlfriends. He recalled having read somewhere that girls in this day and age liked boys who had a soft spot for animals. Of course, Ichigo didn't show this quality: his posture was apathetic as usual, though his face looked like he was trying to tell a lie. As if he was going to believe a single word from his son's mouth. However, his cute girlfriend was another matter. Isshin blinked down at Rukia's unnaturally wide eyes, the girl already beginning to tear up as she began her sob story excuse for the appearance of the animal in her arms. Isshin's heart melted at the sight; her words completely blocked out from his mind. Though he would have to add several more items onto the shopping list, he didn't mind taking in a pet. Perhaps the presence of a cat would liven up the household. He didn't see any harm in bringing up the animal in the family.

However, he did notice the injury on the animal. His trained medical eye had almost immediately spotted the crusty matted fur on its hind leg, tinged with a subtle red hue. In a flash, he had scooped up the animal out of Rukia's arms and set it down gently on the nearest flat surface. If the cat was indeed a stray, it had to be checked for internal diseases as well. Granted veterinarian work wasn't his specialty, but the gash should be easy enough to fix and bandage. His brows immediately furrowed upon closer inspection of the cut. Centuries of Shinigami duty had trained him to spot Hollow attacks in his sleep. There was no doubt that the cat sported a wound from a Hollow. Isshin tried as discreetly as possible to glance at both his son and Rukia. Was it only coincidence that they managed to pick up a cat injured by a Hollow, or was there something more to this whole scene? The twinge of foreboding at the bottom of his gut told him it was the latter. The animal's reiatsu was also fluctuating too much for his liking, and he promised himself to keep a close eye on the cat.

No sooner had he returned the cat to Rukia's waiting arms did she hurried up the stairs, towing a reluctant Ichigo. "Shouldn't we leave it downstairs?" The redhead complained when they reached his bedroom. "Don't cats shed or something? I don't want to find fur all over my room."

Rukia mustered another half-hearted glare. It was rather uncharacteristic of Ichigo to complain so much in one day. After all, it was just a small instinctual bite. It wasn't as if Ichigo was going to take care of Aoi-chan all by himself. Truth be told, she didn't trust Ichigo with such an adorable creature. Knowing him, Aoi would be neglected and most likely abused. She couldn't resist sticking out her tongue childishly at her friend. Ichigo was being unreasonable and ruining her mood. She couldn't wait to show Aoi off to the rest of her Shinigami friends, sure that Matsumoto Rangiku would fawn over him as well.

Ichigo decided to ignore the juvenile display, opting to cross his arms under his chest and scowling skeptically at the feline. There was a slight twinge of foreboding at the bottom of his gut, and he ran through what Rukia had said back out on the street. "I still think we should at least have Urahara take a quick look at him. There's just this feeling I have… Just in case this has any remote connection to Aizen."

Rukia sighed, exasperated. She should have known Ichigo wouldn't let the matter go so easily. "Ichigo… not everything rare that occurs is connected to him. You saw the Hollow that was after Aoi. If Aizen wanted him, he wouldn't have put him in such danger." Her face suddenly softened and she stepped closer to the teen, placing a reassuring hand on his forearm. "I really don't think this has anything to do with Aizen's plans or Inoue…"

Ichigo forced himself to look into his friend's eyes at the mention of Orihime. The onyx depths held nothing but openness and warmth, but also silently willing him to let it go. Maybe he really was just overreacting. Maybe he really was just being irrational. Maybe he really just needed to forgive the cat for something that was not his fault. He looked away again, an action that told Rukia she had had won for now. Rukia pursed her lips, turning her attention back to the cat. "But if it makes you feel better, we can make a quick trip to Urahara's tomorrow. Just so you can calm down. Perhaps Yoruichi can even give us some pet care tips…" She broke out into giggles at the idea, and even Ichigo's scowl softened at that.

He was about to express his gratitude to the female Shinigami when they heard the unmistakable sound of his father calling them down for dinner. The duo raced down the stairs, the scent of Yuzu's homemade dinner taunting them along the way, and with his dark-furred pet trailing after them. Setting foot inside the dining room, Ichigo couldn't help but notice something was different. The familiar sight of his youngest sister setting the table was missing, and the rest of his family was lounging around the kitchen. "Where's Yuzu?" He asked, noting the cooked food and the missing presence of his sister

Isshin shot his son a confused expression. "You mean… she's not upstairs?"

"No!" Ichigo groaned, count on his father to keep track of his own children. No wonder his father was never worried when he ran off on Shinigami duties. "She was supposed to be downstairs!"

Karin actually lifted her head from the magazine. "Great. She ran off right when we're about to have dinner." She shot Isshin a flat look. "And our dear old man didn't even notice her leave."

Isshin sputtered, trying in vain to defend himself. Ichigo mentally cursed, immediately thumbing through the phone book of people in the neighborhood. It was unlike her to leave so suddenly, and with the sun starting to slip below the horizon, the streets could be dangerous for a small girl like herself. Surprisingly, none of the neighbors had caught a glimpse of her either. After a few more calls, Ichigo finally put down the phone book and the phone, groaning loudly. Ichigo couldn't believe his day: first the cat and now his sister had apparently vanished into thin air. He waited by the window for ten more minutes, but when there was still no sign of her, he finally reached for the phone to dial for the police.

Just as he pressed the first number, the front door creaked open. Ichigo slammed down the phone and turned his attention immediately to the doorway. There, in all her adorable glory, stood Yuzu with an armful of shopping bags. She took a wobbly step into the house, and Ichigo stared in mild shock as two more bag boys followed after her, their arms also full of plastic bags. They set down their loads, leaving immediately afterward, but not before giving everyone present a bewildered glance. The entire house was silent, still deciding whether to be relieved or confused. Yuzu dropped her bags with a loud thump, revealing her red and slightly upset face. "Sorry everyone, but I went to the store to buy some cat food since it was dinnertime. But… but I've never bought cat food before and I couldn't decide what kind to buy. So I… I bought every brand…" Her large eyes glanced around the kitchen, capturing her family's incredulous expressions. "How come no one's started eating yet?"

Isshin face-faulted, moaning something about bills. Karin smacked a hand to her forehead. Ichigo tried to suppress an urge to sigh. Rukia giggled and walked over to the girl, reaching down for a bag of cat food. "It's alright, Yuzu. I'm sure Aoi-chan will appreciate your efforts."

Yuzu beamed brightly, reaching into another plastic bag to pull out a small bowl. She reached for a marker, neatly writing 'Aoi-chan' on the side. Rukia then ripped open a bag and poured a generous amount of biscuit-shaped cat food into the bowl. She straightened up, beckoning to the pet not three feet away. "Come here, Aoi-chan! I'm sure you're hungry!"

Grimmjow wanted to bite off the girl's hand.

It was indescribably demeaning to have to walk on all fours and eat from a bowl. What made him even more livid was the fact that everyone stared down at him like it was the most normal thing for him to do. Another bowl was placed next to the food, filled to the brim with water. He was supposed to walk over on all fours. He was supposed to lower his head. He was supposed to eat from a bowl with his mouth and lap at the water like a common house cat. Which he essentially was. Cerulean orbs narrowed to slits and he pounced onto the female Shinigami, claws outstretched. What did she take the fearsome Sexta Espada for, a pet?!

The look on her face gave Grimmjow satisfaction enough. Rukia winced as eight sharp claws dug into her upper thighs, and she frantically tried to push him off as gently as she could. "Aoi! Stop it! What's gotten into you?!" Grimmjow was about to use his canines on the girl as well, but he never got the chance to as a pair of strong hands latched around his middle from behind and forcibly pulled him off the startled girl.

"I swear you're bipolar, Aoi… Now stop attacking anyone who shows you an ounce of kindness and eat!" Grimmjow snarled at the voice, turning his head backwards to hiss into the face of his rival. He blatantly refused; his pride would never allow him to stoop so low and eat like an animal. Besides, he was a Hollow and didn't need to eat anything other than souls. Feeding him biscuit-shaped cat food was like feeding carnivores vegetables. No sooner had Ichigo set him down again did he start another tantrum. He tried snapping at Ichigo's hands, anything to wipe that annoyed look off the redhead's face. He raised one paw to swipe at Ichigo's arms, but froze as he suddenly experienced something he thought he had long forgotten.

His stomach had made an unmistakable growling noise.

Ichigo had never sighed in exasperation so many times in one day. Today was definitely not his day, and he thought sullenly of his Shinigami friend who was the one responsible for pulling him in to all this mess in the first place. He was currently sitting on the edge of his bed, trying to rub away a fierce headache. His trademark scowl was firmly fixed on his face deeper than ever, and he spared a glance at the clock on his desk. Eleven thirty p.m. glared back at him in neon red, reminding him that he still needed to attend school early the next morning. Just then, Rukia decided to walk into his room, already dressed in his sister's pajamas and looking just slightly less frazzled than he was.

Frankly, he had no idea how he had lasted until bedtime. He didn't know how he could continue keeping the cat if only one day could wear him out so much. The cat proved to be more than a handful, putting up unnecessary fights and acting plain spiteful for no apparent reason. Ichigo secretly wished he could have arrived too late and let the animal be eaten. Who knew how much trouble it would save him? Of course, Rukia would never admit to anything, still insisting on being optimistic. Couldn't she see the cat was nothing but a demon incarnate?

Ichigo groaned, the whole night had been one large blur imprinted on his memory. The cat was simply impossible. Somehow, they had gotten through dinner and he even took a quick shower. He feared that he was beginning to become extremely paranoid, never knowing when the damn cat will pounce on him and start trying to scratch his face off. The animal was harmless enough, but it was annoying trying to fend him off and calm him down, which took quite an amount of energy to accomplish. Somehow, he found himself hours later sitting in his room, facing the source of his headache.

Grimmjow didn't care. If his self-proclaimed owners had expected a meek and docile house pet, they were sorely mistaken. Somebody else besides himself needed to experience a drastic change as well, and his rival was the perfect candidate. It was a twisted sort of vengeance in a way, trying to make others feel like him. Innocent or not. Seeing the frustrated and angry face of Ichigo always lightened his mood, and he never passed up an opportunity to rile the teen. He supposed he could be considered a sadist, but it was all the more fun for him. After hours of wearing Ichigo thin, he finally found himself on the redhead's bedroom floor, glaring up at an exhausted face. Serves the bastard right for never dying when Grimmjow wanted him to.

"What are you starin' at?" Ichigo spat rudely. The cat resembled more and more like his rival, Grimmjow. Those electric blue eyes bore into his own dark brown, filled with the same defiance and insanity. Why the Fates had decided to give him a constant reminder of the Arrancar escaped him. The personality was also uncannily similar, always thinking of attacking and never giving up. He filed away a mental note to beat Grimmjow's ass extra hard next time they met; it was the best way to unleash all his pent-up frustrations.

When the cat only continued to glare at him, Ichigo continued. "You can either go sleep in the bathroom on the tiles, or if you prefer something softer, you can go into the hallway and sleep on the carpet."

"Ichigo!" To his expectation, Rukia admonished him from the closet. She had already crawled in and slipped underneath the covers, eager to catch some rest before school in the morning. It had been a long day. She turned her attention to the cat on the floor, feeling sorry for the poor way her stubborn friend was treating him. He was simply too adorable to be neglected and spoken to in a harsh tone. She grinned wide, pulling back the covers. "Come here, Aoi-chan! You can sleep with me since Ichigo is being a big meanie." She loved cuddling with soft furry things.

Grimmjow would rather sleep outside in a ditch, exposed to the four winds.

He ignored the fawning female, opting to continue his staring contest with Ichigo. In fact, his rival's bed looked rather inviting. It was smaller than his own back in Las Noches, but it looked just as comfortable. Why should he be sleeping on a floor when a bed was right in front of him? He was not some subservient little lapdog that was underneath a mere human. Just the idea boiled his blood, and he leapt up onto Ichigo, scratching and trying to bite the teen's torso in his fit of rage.

"Not again!" Within seconds, Ichigo had the cat by the front legs, dangling him at arms length. Grimmjow continued to hiss and snarl, his eyes reflecting pure hate. Ichigo was about to give up and lock the rabid animal inside the bathroom, when his eyes caught sight of the bandage still wrapped around Grimmjow's hind leg. He hadn't noticed anything until then, but the stitches must have reopened and fresh blood was beginning to stain the white of the wrapping. Ichigo sighed yet again, forcing his face to smoothen a little. "Aoi… just stop it…"

He placed Grimmjow back on the floor, walking to the bathroom across the hall to retrieve a roll of bandages. When he returned, he picked up the cat and set him on his bed, using one hand to keep him in place. As quickly as he could, he changed the soiled cloth, mindful of Grimmjow's attempts to bite his hand. Years from helping his father in the clinic had taught him basic first-aid. Tying up the ends firmly, he straightened up, looking back into his pet's face. "Now don't move too much and it'll heal faster."

Whatever else he had planned on saying died in his throat when his dark brown eyes met cerulean blue. The cat's bright eyes held a peculiar emotion. It had stopped struggling and acting aggressive, only to stare at him with something different within those eyes. It was now guarded, closely scrutinizing him without the usual malice. Grimmjow blinked once, before rolling back onto his feet and padded over to the other edge of the bed, on the far side of the pillow. Without further warning, he plopped down on the mattress, wrapping his furry tail around himself. His eyes returned to Ichigo's, silently daring him to object to his behavior.

Ichigo groaned again, running a hand through his orange hair and down his face. He didn't like the fact that some animal off the street decided to settle down on his clean bed, but his brain complained that it was too tired to argue further. He had school bright and early the next morning and he liked to not have the teacher yell at him for sleeping during class. In response, he directed a sharp glare to his pet. "Fine. But if you scratch, bite, or do anything funny during the night, I'll throw you out the window." Stifling a yawn coming up, he crawled under the covers, immediately turning so he faced away from the cat, scooting as close to the edge as possible.

Grimmjow lay there in his corner for a long time. His eyes never left Ichigo's figure stretched out on the other side. Moonlight spilled onto the bed from the indrawn window, bathing the teen in a white glow. His vision had long adjusted to the darkness, and he could clearly see Ichigo's neck and mop of orange hair peaking out past the covers. It would be so easy to seriously harm the boy in this moment of vulnerability. His mind reeled from the assortment of possibilities, but then scoffed at each and every one of them when he deemed them all too cowardly. His pride would never allow him to stab anyone in the back when they weren't looking. It would cheapen his power and make him look weak.

He didn't know how long he laid there, occasionally flicking the end of his tail. The house was completely silent. He supposed it had been quite some time because at one point, Ichigo rolled over, now facing him. The redhead was sound asleep, one hand grasping his pillow and the scowl plastered firmly on his face. Grimmjow decided he didn't look too different even while asleep, looking as though he was battling his demons in the dream world instead. However, his breathing was too calm and his fiery gaze was missing. Grimmjow sight traveled across from Ichigo's face to his hand. It was new to see that hand clutching onto anything but a sword. It looked out of place, clutching a pillow like an actual fifteen-year-old, not a boy who was forced to grow up too fast. Everything from the smooth plane of the back to the long fingers seemed so different without his sword. Is this what Ichigo would look like if he had never acquired Shinigami powers? Just an ordinary human schoolboy?

Grimmjow finally closed his eyes, not because he was tired, but because the sleeping figure of his rival ruined his image.

A/N: Oh! And don't forget dear Kaihyou-chan, because she is one wicked mind reader. Fear her super-human abilities! x.X'