So, it's been a while. I'm really really sorry about that. This past academic year has probably been the busiest and most stressful of my life. Between college, applying for universities, exams, coursework, severe health problems, etc I just couldn't get round to writing. But on the plus side, at least it all paid off, I got into my first choice university! I'm both super excited and super nervous :')

This prompt gave me so much trouble. I wrote like 5 different pieces and I don't particularly like any of them, but I hate this one the least. So I've decided to post it anyway, because otherwise I think I'll be stuck on this prompt forever.

SUMMARY: When he imagined what his family life would be like, it didn't involve a cat. But then, children can be very persuasive.

Chapter 21: Purr

"That can't be right."

Karin shifted slightly at the sound of Tōshirō's voice. "Hmm?"

"I could've sworn I heard a cat."

Karin's eyebrows furrowed as she propped herself up on her forearms. "Huh? A cat?"

Tōshirō mirrored her position and nodded. "Yeah. We did lock up all of the doors last night right?"

"Definitely."

Both of their heads turned towards the closed door as they heard something fall downstairs. Karin sighed as she got out of the bed, wrapping a dressing gown around her as she made her way downstairs, Tōshirō following. While Karin expected to see a cat running around, knocking things down, she did not expect to see her five year old son chasing after it.

"What are you doing?" Karin repeated herself when it appeared that the child didn't hear. "Kiyoshi! What are you doing?"

The small boy turned round, guilty expression on his face as he turned round. "I...I was trying to catch the kitty."

Karin sighed. "Well yes, but why? Why is it even in the house?"

Kiyoshi's eyes dropped to the floor, face guiltier than before. "I heard it meowing outside. I thought it wanted to come in."

Tōshirō raised an eyebrow. "So that's how the cat got in, but why is it now hiding in the corner? Why was it running from you?"

Kiyoshi started fiddling with his hands. "I don't know. I was only petting it! But then it scratched me and ran off."

Karin stepped forward. "It scratched you? Where?"

"Are you alright?"

The child nodded vigorously at both his parents. "I'm ok. It was only my arm, and it didn't hurt a lot."

Tōshirō nodded. "We should still tend to it later."

Karin made a sound of agreement as she slowly approached the cat currently cowering in the corner of the room, half under a chair. "You might have petted him a little too hard sweetheart." After a couple of minutes of convincing, she had managed to get the cat out from it's little hiding place and into her arms. "I think he's calmed down a bit now."

"How do you know it's a boy kitty?"

Karin looked from the cat to her son. "I don't really. I can't tell the difference without looking at it properly. It just kinda slipped out."

"Mum?"

Karin sighed at the tone of her voice her son was using. It was the tone he used when he wanted something. "Yes?"

"Can we keep the kitty?"

"I don't know, it already might be someone's pet. This little kitty could be lost with someone trying to find it."

"But it might not! It doesn't have a collar!"

"Not everyone puts collars on their pets. We should at least check around to make sure it isn't somebody's."

Kiyoshi thought for a moment. "What if it's no one's? Then can we keep it?"

Karin paused for a moment, then turned to Tōshirō. "What do you think?"

Tōshirō looked at his son's pleading eyes for a moment before turning back to Karin. "It could end up being a lot of hassle, having a pet."

Karin shrugged. "Could be worse. Cats look after themselves for the most part."

"To be honest, I don't know much at all about keeping a pet cat. Do you?"

"I probably know more than you, but still not a decent amount." Karin paused for a moment before turning back to Kiyoshi. "Ok how about this. We'll look into it, and we'll think about whether we can keep it or not, but we really should check that no one is missing that cat first. It's not a yes, but it's not a no either. Sound good?" The five year old nodded vigorously, knowing it was a victory.

After a couple of weeks of searching for an owner, the Hitsugaya family came up short. And after being subjected to weeks and weeks of begging and pleading, Tōshirō and Karin finally gave in and let Kiyoshi keep the cat as a pet. Tōshirō was worried that keeping the cat would cause problems, and there were some issues to begin with, with Kiyoshi getting scratched for being a bit too overzealous and not being careful enough, but other than that they had no problems. Unfortunately, despite all of Kiyoshi's efforts to become the cat's best friend, it seemed that Tōshirō was the cat's favourite, much to everyone's surprise.

Yeah, like I said, it's not great, but it's better than the other things I wrote for this prompt, so it'll have to do. I really struggled with how to finish this chapter as well. I'll try my hardest to make the next chapter better and write something that I actually like. The next chapter prompt is 'Money', which I already have an idea for, so with any luck I'll update soon. It could end up being quite a big chapter as well. I hope you look forward to it! :)