Chapter 05: Bath Time
When Kaiba felt the urge to use the bathroom, he suddenly regretted drinking so much water earlier. It hadn't seemed like much at the time, but he kept forgetting that his bladder would be in proportion to his smaller body.
When Kaiba tried to jump down, Yami's hands stopped him again. "What do you want?" Yami asked as he set Kaiba on the ground.
Since he couldn't verbally answer, Kaiba went over and pawed at the closed door. Yami got the hint and opened it and Kaiba bolted in search of the bathroom. Finding the toilet as quickly as his little legs could carry him, Kaiba walked over to the toilet and put his paw on it when Yami came into the room.
"Ah," Yami said with understanding.
Kaiba stood up onto his two hind feet and braced his front two on the bowl, trying to figure out how to get up to where he needed to go.
"You're too tiny to use a toilet," Yami said with a laugh as he gently scooped up Kaiba. Kaiba would have fought the hold, but he had to use the bathroom too badly to do so. Taking it as a good sign, Yami brought Kaiba back to his bedroom and placed him near the litter box he had hidden in his closet to give Kaiba as much privacy as possible under the circumstances.
Kaiba meowed angrily at the idea of it, causing Yami to patiently explain, "You'll fall into the toilet if you try to use it. I put this here so you can take care of your business without anyone seeing."
As much as Kaiba didn't want to do it, he hated the thought of Yami being forced to clean up his mess off the floor more. Skulking into the closet while Yami went back over to the bed, Kaiba used the bathroom and forced himself to cover up his mess with litter. He immediately made a beeline for the closed door and began trying to open it from the bottom with his paw.
"Now what?" Yami asked as he got up to let Kaiba out of his room.
Heading back to the bathroom, Kaiba went to the shower room this time and sat down to look up expectantly at Yami. "You want to shower now?" Yami questioned and received an emphatic nod in response. "It's a little earlier than normal, but I guess it's okay. Unless you want to shower every time you use the bathroom…you are, aren't you?"
Kaiba huffed in annoyance as he entered the shower and waited for the water to start. He ignored Yami disbelieving laugh as he haughtily waited for Yami to return with a towel. What Kaiba had not expected was Yami to return completely naked and he made a noise that caused Yami to laugh at him. "What, did you think I was going to shower with my clothes on?" Yami asked him in a bemused tone of voice. "Just pretend we're at an onsen or something."
Realizing it was a little ridiculous to feel so scandalized, Kaiba waited for the water to get hot before he walked under the spray, his fur instantly flattening down and making him look even smaller than before. "I'm going to wash myself, then you," Yami informed him, not wanting to get soap on Kaiba after he was clean.
Kaiba huffed and said nothing as his eyes strayed to Yami's form against his will. Despite his slight stature, Yami was surprisingly well defined. Even Kaiba had to admit that Yami was aesthetically pleasing—if you were into that sort of thing. Still, it felt wrong to watch him bathe, so Kaiba forced himself to look away.
It felt like forever before Yami announced, "Ready."
Sitting on the floor, Yami gestured for Kaiba to get closer. "You're going to have to come closer than that if you want a proper bath," Yami chided him, pleased when Kaiba stopped just short of his crossed legs.
Grabbing a shampoo bottle, Yami dispensed some onto his hand before messaging it into Kaiba's fur. Against his will, Kaiba purred at the sensation because it felt so good. Yami's fingers were doing divine things to his body and Kaiba melted under the touch despite himself.
"If you roll over, I'll do your belly," Yami offered and Kaiba appreciated that his rival hadn't tried to command him to do so, which was the only reason he complied. When Yami worked the shampoo into his under belly, Kaiba's body stretched against his will to luxuriate under the feeling. He was surprised at how disappointed he was when the feeling of Yami's fingers on him went away as he began rinsing Kaiba off with the movable showerhead. Kaiba was grateful that Yami prevented any soap from getting into his eyes. He was even more appreciative when Yami's touch returned to work conditioner into his fur. Once again he became completely pliant under Yami's touch as he continued to purr in sheer contentment, pride be damned.
All too soon it was over and Yami got a big, fluffy towel and wrapped Kaiba up in it. Kaiba struggled against it, causing Yami to explain, "I'm not cleaning up wet kitty paw prints off the floor, so you're staying in the towel for a little bit."
Wrapping another towel around his waist, Yami picked up the towel with Kaiba wrapped securely inside and sat him on the bed while he changed into his night clothes. It was weird for Kaiba to see Yami so casual, almost like he was seeing something he shouldn't. But the thought was put out of Kaiba's mind when Yami returned to the bed and picked him up again to hold him.
Kaiba started to struggle and fuss, but Yami merely shushed him. "You're tiny, so you'll be dry in to time," Yami told him. "Just relax."
Kaiba silently fumed at the treatment, but it changed nothing. It was weird being held by Yami. He could hear the steady thrumming of his heart and it was oddly comforting—not that Kaiba Seto needed such things.
Finally Yami put him on the bed and unfolded the towel. "Please stay on the towel, you're still kind of damp," Yami requested.
When Yami left the room, Kaiba spitefully put one paw on Yami's comforter just because he could. Yami came back and saw it, causing him to grin rather than get angry like Kaiba would have assumed.
Tapping Kaiba's paw and causing him to withdraw it back onto the sheet, Yami chided, "You just had to do that, didn't you?"
Kaiba was surprised when Yami produced a small comb and started brushing out his fur once again. It felt so good that he started to purr against his will, making Yami smile. "You're a lot more honest when you're a cat," Yami commented as he continued brushing out Kaiba. It caused Kaiba to harrumph, which only made Yami's smile wider.
However, his smile quickly turned to a frown when he noticed that Kaiba had started to shiver. It made him pause and get up again, leaving the room temporarily. Kaiba was confused, even more so when Yami returned with a hairdryer.
Turning it onto the lowest setting, Yami began to blow dry Kaiba's fur. Kaiba pinned his ears down at the loud noise, but the feeling of hot air on him was divine. He purred louder in appreciation, unable to stop the reflexive behavior.
Yami grinned to himself as he continued, pleased when Kaiba rolled onto his back without being asked. It made it easier to access his denser underbelly fur and Yami tried not to coo out loud when Kaiba yawned; it was just too damn cute.
Running his fingers through Kaiba's fur to check if he was finished, Yami decided that the kitten was dry enough. Shutting off the hair dryer and placing it on the floor, Yami couldn't stop himself from petting the now fluffy white fur. "You're even softer now," Yami commented as he resisted the urge to burry his face in said soft fur.
The comment and tone annoyed Kaiba, but he let it go because he honestly felt too good to care about such small things. Besides, it wasn't like he could do anything about it at the moment anyway. No, all he cared about was getting back into his original body.
Kaiba was once again startled when he yawned and felt himself getting sleepier. He hated how weak his body seemed as a kitten. Kaiba Seto did not need naps!
Yami watched as Kaiba struggled against the sleep that was so eager to claim him. Kaiba swayed on his feet as his eyes kept fluttering closed only to open once more.
Taking pity on him, Yami gently picked Kaiba up and placed him on his pillow. Unable to resist petting him on the head, Yami told him, "Good night, Kaiba," and watched as the kitten finally curled up in sleep. It wasn't long before the purring softly began again and Yami grinned.
Stroking a velvety ear and watching it flick away from him, Yami couldn't help but comment, "Too cute," as he watched Kaiba sleep.
Eventually Yami stripped out of his clothes and crawled into bed. He was unaccustomed to hearing purring, but Yami decided that he liked it. Maybe I'll get a kitten after this, Yami contemplated, only to realize it probably wouldn't be quite as precious as Kaiba.
A/N: I know quite a few of you were hoping for a Kaiba freaking out because of water chapter, but I think there's enough of his humanity left that he would tolerate it.
NEXT CHAPTER:
He was unprepared for Yami to lightly tap him on the nose in reprimand as he warned, "No biting."
The next chapter will be posted on Sunday, July 20th, so please look forward to it! Until then, I eagerly await your reviews and thoughts on this chapter!
