Cat and Mouse - Drabble Series
Pairing: ShikaNeji, AsumaKurenai
Warning: Shounen ai
Summary: [Drabble Series] Cat!Shika. Mouse!Neji. Is it possible for a cat to love a mouse? And would that mouse love the cat back? [ShikaNeji]
Inspired by: TwentyOne by Mrs. Paper (Chapter 17: Cat)
Disclaimer: Naruto and anything related does not belong to me. Don't sue.
Chapter 3: The Bath. They wrestle.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?"
Kurenai gave an impatient noise. "Of course it is. We can't give Hinata-chan back a dirty, smelly pet. Iruka would have my neck." The last part was muttered.
Asuma didn't look convinced. "But I don't think she'd want a traumatized pet either." When the black-haired woman glanced his way, he coughed into his hand and turned away.
Looking down at the smell grey furball trying desperately to swim out of the bathtub, he winced. It wasn't that he particularly liked mice, but he didn't want to have mouse murder hanging over his head the rest of his life. He gave it one last shot.
"Aren't mice supposed to clean themselves," he began nervously, "like cats?" He stopped after seeing Kurenai with an odd glean in her eye.
"Kurenai… what are you going to do with that hairdryer?" By now he was backing away slowly.
The drenched mouse, Neji, seemed to have similar thoughts. He huddled on the bathtub rim, staring at Kurenai with wide mouse eyes. To Asuma, it seemed to be a pretty good mouse version of a plea of mercy. It was just too bad Kurenai didn't notice.
The hairdryer came to life with a bloodthirsty whrill. And all hell broke loose in the bathroom.
Shikamaru looked up from his usual perch when Kurenai returned Neji to his cage. He wouldn't have looked if only she hadn't been dripping wet with soggy toilet paper hanging over her shoulders like a makeshift cage. From the suppressed anger on her face, he knew better than to mew anything so he just kept quiet until she left.
But he was curious by now. Whatever had happened up there in the grand washroom (biggest washroom in the house) he didn't see. He had heard though, and so apparently had the raccoons living under the porch. Kankuro and Temari will probably have a heck of a time trying to calm Gaara down after that display of noise. He didn't even know where half those sounds had come from, but something had sounded suspiciously like a lawnmower… trying to sing opera. Or maybe that had been Kurenai with the opera – sometimes the two sounded eerily similar. It was why he avoided the bathroom vicinity during her early morning showers.
It was only logical that whatever had gone on up there, it had involved Neji. The grey mouse was currently curled up in the right corner of his cage, at the farthest point from Shikamaru. He had his back to the cat and his face was hidden from view by the wood shavings on the bottom of his cage.
The Nara cat slinked over to the other side of the cage, and peered down at the mouse. He blinked, slightly surprised. Now that he was closer, he saw that Neji's shoulders were moving. Was he shaking?
He cocked his head to one side. He mewed. He nudged Neji with his nose – repeatedly, but there was no response. He finally pried open the cage door and picked the mouse up by the loose fur on his neck.
He felt Neji tense, but didn't release him until his head was out of the cage. He dropped the Hyuuga mouse on the cabinet, inspected him for any signs of injury but found none and started to ask if anything was the matter when Neji pounced.
It was a silly battle – after all Shikamaru was twenty times the size of the grey mouse – but it lasted for a lot longer than the Nara cat expected. Neji was lightning fast and versatile. He dodged almost all of Shikamaru's pounces and came back with swiping claws and biting teeth. Shikamaru was impressed, but not impressed enough to want to drag this battle on any longer.
They wrestled until Shikamaru had Neji pinned under him, both paws on the side of the mouse's body. They were both panting hard.
Shikamaru leaned down close to the Hyuuga, "care to tell me what that was about, Neji-mouse?"
Neji turned his head to the side to avoid Shikamaru's deep brown eyes, but as the cat's warm breath washed over him – smelling faintly of tuna and milk – he felt his face heat up in a slight blush at the sudden nickname. He blinked. It had a nice ring, and he found himself liking it.
Shikamaru wasn't expecting an answer, although he had hoped to get one. Neji didn't seem like someone who would blurt out their thoughts and feelings, but he was fine with that. Maybe once they got to know each other better, the other might be more open with him. Still, Neji was being quiet, even for his standards, and Shikamaru started to lean down and nudge the mouse's still form.
He stopped in half-nudge when he noticed a pleasant odour floating around Neji in a soft, entrancing cloud. It smelled of strawberries and… and cream? He leaned closer, intrigued. He would never have imagined he'd meet a mouse who smelled like this. It was nice, and he found himself liking it. Without thinking or realizing what he was doing, he pushed his nose into the Neji's fur, burying it deep and inhaling. The smell invaded his senses and he felt the world wobble slightly.
Neji gasped, feeling somewhat undignified and gave a small squeak. He started to squirm against Shikamaru's hold. What did that cat think he was doing – inhaling him?
As the Hyuuga started to struggle, Shikamaru finally and suddenly noticed the soft, silky texture of Neji's fur. It was softer than anything he's ever felt before, and was thick and gleaming of health. Almost subconsciously and feeling intoxicated, he rubbed the side of his face against it. Then, he was too tempted to run his tongue over it.
But at that moment, Neji snapped at his paws and escaped when Shikamaru reflexively loosened his grip. The grey mouse raced towards the cabinet, scaling it with precise and fluid moments, and dove headfirst into his cage. The metal door slammed shut after him.
Shikamaru waved his head back and forth, trying to clear his thoughts. What had happened? He didn't even fully remember what he did. What had he been thinking?
His lips curled in a cat-smile. Try as he might, he could only remember the temptation and the silky touch of that grey fur.
End Drabble 2
AN: This reminds me of my hamster, back in elementary school. I gave it baths and probably forced it to an early grave. –sheepish grin-
R&R, please!
-Horologii