I do not own Blackbird. Blackbird is strictly copyrighted to Shilin

Title: Catfight

Rating: PG

Ding! Ding!

"Keri... I don't think this is a good idea."

"Trust me Weirin; I know you'll love it."

The two adults stepped though the doorway and almost walked into a worker with a "My name is Vocruen" sticker on his red jacket. With a smile he greeted the duo. "May I help you two?"

"We're looking for..." Keritzel trailed off, as if unable to decide between the words 'pets' and 'companions'.

"Furry friends?" Vocruen patiently kept his smile.

Weirin nodded. "Are any of them potty trained?"

Vocruen began to lead them to the back of his store. "Yes, some are."

"Which ones?"

'My my, so persistent, this girl.' Vocruen inwardly sweated. "Well... there are three- I mean two kittens, I highly recommend. Iriel was adopted yesterday but… I think these two will be suitable." As he droned on Keritzel took one look at his surroundings and cringed. The shelves were full of rodents, ranging from mice, rats and some gerbils. Aside from animals the shelves were also filled with various pet supplies. Many of which had collected at least an inch thick of dust.

He and Weirin shared a small dorm. However, a few days into their vacation Weirin had begun to complain about the stillness in the air and the silence that often bugged the two. They had a previous pet - Meron the bobtail, but the cat had died of an unknown disease a few days later. (Keritzel discovered later, hat Meron was already sick when they had adopted her). The litter box, the pellets and materials were replaced with fresh supplies in preparation to the newcomer. And with some recommendations from his tutor, Mr. Gorchen, they found themselves in 'The Maelstrom - There the pets go'.

"Here we are!" Stopping at a cage, and breaking Keri's train of thoughts, Vocruen opened the door, and held out a few treats. "Come out my little angel..."

Weirin rolled her eyes at the worker's baby talk. She bit back her tongue to prevent laughing out loud when her eyes fell on the small sign on the open cage. "Veloce - White haired - Very playful and beautiful - Daughter of Auresque (RIP)" Sure enough, a small white head appeared at the opening, and sniffed Vocruen's hand. Weirin couldn't suppress her squeal of delight. "Oh my god! She's so cute!"

Pawing at the open door, the white kitten slowly stepped out on Vocruen's lab, and stretched - extending claws and all. Vocruen yelped. "Veloce! Bad girl!" After fixing his clothing, he picked up the kitten and faced the two potential buyers.

"Say hi to them, my little angel."

The kitten blinked, bored at the two and yawned. Keritzel laughed. "How old is she?" Weirin's excitement frightened Keritzel a bit. In the beginning as they left the apartment, Weirin suggested the idea, of getting a third roommate as opposed to the cat idea.

"She's only about six months old, I believe." Vocruen chuckled as Veloce bit into the treats.

"Oh my god, Keri! SHE'S PERFECT!"

Keritzel smiled. "I'd know you'd-" He stopped his sentence as a black ball from the corner of his eye darted out and attacked Vocruen. The worker yelled in surprise and stumbled backwards, falling onto the forgotten cage. Veloce landed on her paws and blinked at the striped black and white fur ball, which landed beside her. The kitten had a black head, her ears tipped white and white paws with a small white ring of fur on her tail. It mewed mischievously, pawing the air.

"Are you alright?!" Weirin walked over, and helped the worker up. Vocruen coughed and rubbed his back in pain. "Oh, Blackbird - stop being so jealous!"

"Blackbird?" Keritzel asked in surprise. Vocruen sighed and pointed above them. A metal cage was on the top shelve; its lock on the door was bitten apart. "Blackbird - Black and white -Very energetic and playful - Daughter of Krain" sign hung on its side uselessly.

Blackbird sniffed Veloce carefully before hissing and bearing her teeth. Weirin screamed. "What do you think you're-?"

Vocruen waved it off dismissively. "Blackbird always gets jealous... see, a previous owner returned her..."

A pang of regret hit Keritzel and Weirin.

"Why was she returned?"

"Oh, she was getting into so much trouble, such as attacking the owner's dog and simply being too energetic and destroying her house. The owner didn't reinforce what I trained her to do." Vocruen frowned. "It certainly sounded like the owner didn't want Blackbird being… herself. She needs another companion and when I suggested the idea to the woman, she told me I was crazy and demanded her money back."

Blackbird, oblivious to the conversation pawed at Veloce. Veloce, annoyed with being poked, bit into Blackbird's tail. The two mewed angrily and grappled. Blackbird bit into Veloce front paw; Veloce bit into the scruff of Blackbird.

"A-are you sure this is alright? To just let them fight?" Keritzel gulped.

"They usually stop after a while." Vocruen sighed.

Keritzel shook his head. "Are you crazy? They'll hurt each other!"

Kneeling down, he grabbed both of them by the scruff, and pulled them apart. Veloce bit into his finger in annoyance and Blackbird's white eyes flared, as she angrily swiped at his hand. The young man released the two felines and to his surprise, Blackbird nuzzled the white kitten, mewing. Veloce purred and proceeded to clean herself.

"Told you." Vocruen's triumphant smile burned into Keri's mind. Flustered, Keritzel made a mental note to himself.

"How old is this one?" Weirin asked, as she began to pet Blackbird. The black kitten pushed its head more roughly against the young woman's hand.

"She is nine months old."

Veloce mewed, her turquoise eyes boring into Keritzel's green ones. He watched her carefully as she approached him. 'She wants me to pet her?'

Veloce mewed as if to confirm his thoughts. Outstretched, Keritzel begin to pet the young kitten. His hand glided over her small head and to under her chin. He laughed feeling the vibrations of the growing purr. Weirin's eyes met his. The both of them nodded knowingly. Mentally, Keri felt a burning hole in his credit card.

Keritzel yawned, staring at the computer screen. Weirin had warned to him to go to sleep at 10:00pm and it was well into 2:59am. The vacation homework was bothering him. Keritzel was the type to always finish his work early, so that the nagging conscious wouldn't bother him at least till the last day- when it tells him to get ready and pack for classes once again.

He takes off his glasses and sighed audibly. The homework was truly getting to his nerves.

Something wet licked his toes.

Keritzel jumped and looked underneath the desk. Veloce tilted her head, mewing as if to ask why he was still up.

"I have homework, you silly little kitten."

Veloce mewed and bit into his toe. Keritzel could have sworn she may have said: "Go to sleep, silly little boy."

"Where's your Blackbird buddy anyway?"

~ Meanwhile in Weirin's room ~

Blackbird squatted over a pair of Weirin's boots. A few minutes later, a very smelly, brown pile soon after formed.

The black/white kitten mewed in satisfaction and jumped on to Weirin's covers, rubbing herself in it.

Veloce jumped on his lap, ignoring his surprise and sat in front of the computer screen, refusing to budge.

"Veloce…" Keritzel sighed. "Please move."

Testily, those turquoise eyes seem to pull him in.

"Veloce, please move. I'm exhausted and I just want this done."

Veloce didn't even twitch or blink as the young man groaned.

"That's it, move. Now."

Raising his hand, he attempted to gently prod the kitten away, but as his finger neared her, she hissed, ears flipped back angrily, teeth bearing and her claws digging into the old desk.

Terrified Keritzel backed away. "Alright! I'll save it and go to sleep. You happy now?"

Veloce stared back. She jumped down on the keyboard, saving his data, and slithered behind the computer desk. Moments later, the computer shut down. Veloce's small head appeared, holding the plug in her mouth. Keritzel held his head in his hands; a small chuckle emerged from him.

"You're no pet… You're a companion… for sure."

He placed his glasses on the desk and collapsed on his bed. He sighed pathetically, upon the realization that he was obeying a kitten earlier. Two jumps on the bed made him bounce. He flipped on his back and saw Blackbird on his right and Veloce on his left. Both kittens gazed at him.

"Thanks."

Veloce mewed in response. The two kittens curled up on his sides, their purring lulled the young man into the realm of dreams.

-FIN-