AN: Sorry for not updating sooner! I, being a bad student and all, forgot that I had midterms around the corner and totally didn't study at all for them until the very last minute. But nevertheless, they're done with and here's the second chapter! As usual, enjoy!
By the time Tsuzuki made his way back into the office with kitten safely in tow, Watari and Tatsumi were already inside, the former making idle chat with the secretary all the meanwhile helping himself to a complimentary breakfast. Tatsumi, however, was never one for desserts, especially during the morning. Of course, that didn't stop him from taking some for later - it would be Tsuzuki's punishment for already leaving his station unattended.
"Nothing like starting the day off sweet, huh?" Watari grinned as he pinned his fork into a slice of heavily cocoa-dusted tiramisu.
"Hey! Get your grubby hands off that cake, it's mine!" Tsuzuki interjected, storming into the room.
Watari flashed a winning grin and proceeded in eating said piece of tiramisu. "Finders keepers, losers weepers!"
What gave him the right to sneak desserts from under his nose while he was gone? Such indecency! He would've snatched up the box of sweets in an instant were it not for the small fidgety animal he was already carrying in his arms, which Tatsumi took immediate notice of.
One look at the fuzzy little feline had him taken aback, if only for a couple of seconds. It was no wonder why Watari was fussing over his work the day before, locked up in his room the entire time. Not to mention, he didn't see Kurosaki-kun anywhere that morning, which was quite unusual since he was always punctual. Noticing Watari trying to muffle his laughter the very minute Tsuzuki stepped into the room, it didn't take a rocket scientist to put one and one together. Tatsumi held back his amusement; the poor boy still had so much to learn.
"Tsuzuki-san, what have you got there?" he asked, changing the conversation. He folded his arms and brought a hand over his mouth to hide the smile forming on his lips. This was a new look for the boy; he seemed kind of cute actually.
"Tatsumi, can I keep him? Please?" Tsuzuki looked up at him with his shimmering puppy dog eyes, squeezing Hisoka close to his chest. "I promise to take care of it!" With a face like that, nothing could look more adorable than the sight of Tsuzuki holding a tiny kitten. How could anyone deny him?
Damn it, Tsuzuki, I can't breathe! Let me go! Hisoka thrashed about, kicking his scrawny hind legs against his arms and yowling with aggravation. It was bad enough that he had to suffer in his current form let alone having to deal with his partner's torment. He didn't recall how he ended up in Tsuzuki's arms, but all he knew was that he had to escape somehow.
Tatsumi chuckled at the empath's futile struggles. He certainly didn't like this at all. Maybe if he spent more time with his partner, it would do the boy some good. After all, the usually stoic man could never turn down Tsuzuki in this state. It was as if he had this effect on him that made him look the other way. It didn't involve loosening the company's purse strings, so what harm could possibly come out of allowing Tsuzuki to look after a tiny animal? With any luck, it would teach him to be more conscientious.
"Well, normally I wouldn't allow employees to bring their pets into work with them, but seeing as how this is an unusual circumstance and how this little fellow has no apparent owner judging from the lack of a collar, I guess I have no choice but to let you take care of it for the day." Tatsumi concluded with a tender smile, eliciting an almost immediate squeal of excitement from Hisoka's babysitter-for-the-day. His grip on the poor feline just got that much tighter.
"I love you, Tatsumi!" he beamed.
Whaa--?! I'll never forgive you for this! DIE!!
Hisoka knew that Tatsumi was toying around with him. It didn't take an empath like himself to know when he was being messed around with. And he didn't appreciate his poor sense of humor one bit. He once again struggled against Tsuzuki's hold, meowing and fidgeting about wildly. He wasn't about to let this dimwitted guy assume responsibility for him. If he could do anything about it, he wasn't going to go down without a fight!
"Well now, he's kind of restless, isn't he?" Tsuzuki blinked, suddenly finding it difficult to keep the kitten from hurting him, not to mention itself. Stroking the back of his ears to calm him down, he cradled Hisoka close to his chest and walked over to his desk, placing him down on the wooden top gently. Surprised at the abrupt action, he did a complete 180 and sat back bewildered, staring up at Tsuzuki with wide eyes, his tail tucked neatly around his body.
Looking down at the cat that was now in front of him, he came to the realization that his new partner was missing something.
"What kind of a name should I give it?" he asked, pulling out his chair. Noticing the twine that formerly secured his pastry box lying next to him, he picked it up and flung the string back and forth on the desk in quick motions. This earned a few head snaps from Hisoka, his tiny head darting left and right as his sharp catlike eyes trained on the end of the string like a moth to a flame. Tsuzuki chuckled at the kitten's failed attempts to catch it as he pawed at the string to no end.
"How 'bout Custard? Or some kind of dessert? Since you like them so much," Watari commented absentmindedly, talking with a mouthful of tiramisu.
Upon hearing that suggestion, Hisoka diverted from his game of bat, hissing in disapproval.
What kind of a name is Custard?! Though, it would be like Tsuzuki to pick a name after his favorite dessert. Hisoka shuddered inwardly.
"In my opinion, he looks like a Koji to me," Tatsumi sneered, "It's certainly behaving like a child."
If cats could glare daggers into the human soul, then Hisoka was doing the best he could to show his extreme displeasure. His hairs were standing on end with his slender tail swishing back and forth wildly, obviously annoyed at the little game those two were playing. Whatever they were trying to get at, it wasn't funny. For a person who placed such high pride within himself, it was embarrassing to say the least.
"How about Ringo?"
...apple? Hisoka paused for a second. Oh yeah, Tsuzuki's favorite pie filling. I guess it's not that bad of a name for a pet. Definitely beats Custard any day, he thought.
"Ringo-chan. Do you like that name?" Tsuzuki leaned over to find signs of approval from his companion. "I think it suits you," he said with a warm smile, stroking the kitten's chin softly.
All of the frustration he was venting seemed to disappear in a flash. Hisoka arched his neck in pleasure and leaned his body forward against Tsuzuki's touch, seeking more affection from him. It was strange how he couldn't find it within himself to fight against Tsuzuki. It was as if his body was acting on its own accord. Though he hated to admit it, it actually felt pretty good to be pampered on. For the time being, he could see himself getting used to a lifestyle like this.
"I think he likes his new name, Tsuzuki-san," Tatsumi observed.
"I think so too," he nodded in agreement.
In a sudden change of atmosphere, Tsuzuki once again realized that something, or rather someone, was missing during that moment. "Oh yeah, come to think of it, where's Hisoka? I haven't seen him all morning. I want to show him my new pet!" Tsuzuki smiled, twisting his head around to look for his familiar face. Finding no such face, he pouted, "Where is he?"
At this point, Watari couldn't hold back his laughter any longer. How could anyone be so oblivious? "I don't know, I didn't see him anywhere in the office today. Isn't that right, Tatsumi?"
Catching his drift, he followed along with Watari's charade. "That would seem so." In any case, he knew that Watari wouldn't revert the kid back into a human until he had his fun.
Tsuzuki frowned. "Is he feeling sick?" Suddenly an idea popped into his head. "I know! Maybe I should bring Ringo-chan over to surprise Hisoka. That'll make him feel a little better for sure!" he grinned, scooping his little buddy up from the table.
It had to be a crime to be so blatantly ignorant. Hisoka let out a long sigh.
Oh, boy...Tsuzuki, you hapless idiot.
I think this story's starting to unfold from here on out. Note the connotations behind Hisoka-neko's behavior near the end (double entendre in the middle 3 sentences!)...I didn't realize how it could be taken two ways until I proofread it. Cats actually do do that though. But, that's the most that you'll get out of this fanfic, so enjoy it while you can! XD
But anywhoo, please review and let me know your comments and/or suggestions!