Anakin made it halfway to his own quarters before a strange pressure built up behind his eyes. He blinked and rubbed at the bridge of his nose to try to get rid of the sensation. It didn't hurt, exactly, but it wasn't a very pleasant feeling either, a bit like the beginning of a sneeze. He paused and waited, hoping the pressure would stop if he wasn't moving, but nothing happened. The pressure continued to build until it was on the point of actual pain, and then he changed.

He was once again a kitten.

Kriff it all.

It was a very long way back to his rooms when he was like this, and he felt very tired. Of course, he'd almost always felt kind of sleepy the last time he'd been a kitten, but not like this. This felt like there was a Besalisk sitting on his eyelids, dragging them closed.

Anakin clumsily stumbled over to the wall of the hallway and curled up, tucking his nose under his tail, before sleep swiftly claiming him.

0o0o0

"Skywalker? What are you doing out here?" a deep voice asked, rousing Anakin from his nap.

Anakin lifted his head and blinked blearily at the orange figure in front of him, too tired to bother with meowing at them in annoyance. He lowered his head back down onto his paws, intending to go back to sleep if the person didn't have anything else to say.

Unfortunately, the person had other ideas. Two large hands wrapped around his middle and hoisted him into the air.

This time Anakin made his annoyance known, meowing loudly as he was tucked into the corner of the person's arm, reaching out with the Force to further express his displeasure.

Master Koon, as the person turned out to be, simply laughed when Anakin glared at him, gently scratching him behind one of his ears as he picked up Anakin's robes, lightsaber, and arm.

"Let's get you back to your quarters," Master Koon said.

Anakin wasn't listening. He'd melted into a puddle of goo, purring louder than he'd even thought possible, as soon as Master Koon had started scratching him behind the ears. It felt so amazing that he couldn't even fall back asleep.

He didn't pay attention to where they were going, content to just lay there and purr, although he did sense Ahsoka's presence growing closer. Maybe Master Koon could teach her the secret behind his masterful skill at ear scratching.

Anakin was stirred from his happy daze when Master Koon stopped scratching to knock on a familiar door. It swished open, revealing Ahsoka.

"Master Plo!" she exclaimed happily before blinking down at Anakin. "And Master Skywalker."

Master Koon picked Anakin up around his middle and held him out to Ahsoka along with his belongings. Anakin meowed plaintively at the loss of scratches.

Ahsoka stared at him for a second before she burst into laughter, forced to lean against the door for support. Plo chuckled a few times behind his antiox mask, although Anakin couldn't tell whether he was laughing at Ahsoka or with her.

He glared at his young Padawan, silently plotting to punish her horribly with extra meditation and shifts assisting Master Nu in the Archives. She wouldn't be allowed to do anything fun for a whole week. Punishment lasting longer than a week bordered on cruel, as Anakin had learned as Obi-Wan's Padawan, and he wouldn't be that mean.

"Sorry, Master," Ahsoka giggled as she accepted him from Master Koon, blissfully unaware of the horrendous punishments in her future. "It's just, you only changed back a little while ago, and now you're a kitten again."

"I recommend you keep a careful eye on him," Master Koon said. "I found him sleeping in the hallway."

"In the hallway? Really, Master," Ahsoka mock scolded. "You should be more careful. Anyone could have stepped on you."

Anakin reached out and patted her on the nose reassuringly. He wouldn't have let anyone do step on him and escape without severe scratches on their ankles.

Master Koon nodded to the both of them. "I'll see you later, little 'Soka."

"Bye Master Plo," Ahsoka said, tucking Anakin under one arm and waving.

Anakin wriggled free, jumping out of her arms and making a beeline for the fridge, the beginnings of a ferocious hunger stirring now that he wasn't quite so tired.

Ahsoka was still at the door when he reached the kitchen area, so Anakin pushed himself onto his hind legs and reached out into the Force to keep himself upright. Then, with far more focus than he would normally use, Anakin gripped the handle of the fridge and yanked on it with the Force.

"Do you want me to comm Senator Amidala?" Ahsoka asked as she moved into her bedroom.

Anakin sent vague negative feelings through their bond as he browsed the fridge, looking for something to eat. Probably no fruits or vegetables, no bread either. Really, the only thing he was certain would be safe for him to eat as he was now was meat. It was a good thing he lived with a Togruta because there was plenty of meat in the fridge.

"Why don't you want me to call the Senator?" Ahsoka asked.

Anakin got back down onto all fours and pulled the closest piece of meat out of the fridge with his teeth. It was some of Ahsoka's leftover nerf steak: a little tough and chewy, but still delicious.

"Master, why - hey!" she exclaimed as she stepped into the kitchen area. "I was going to eat that later. And why are you eating it on the floor? That's so gross."

Anakin shrugged as he chewed on a mouthful of steak. He'd eaten in worse places, and besides, their kitchen floor wasn't that dirty.

Ahsoka wrinkled her nose at him as she sat down on the floor next to him. "If you don't want me to call Senator Amidala, then how do you plan on changing back?"

He shrugged again, more intent on satisfying the hunger clawing at his insides than anything else. Anakin swallowed his last bite and reached over to pat her on the shoulder, forgetting for a moment that he was a kitten again.

That strange pressure built up again, faster than it had the last time. He scrunched his face and shook his head, trying to get it to go away.

For the fourth time, Anakin went through the shift between human and kitten.

Ahsoka reached over and poked him in the side. "You're back!"

"I think I can control it if I practice, Snips," he said, absently flexing his fingers. A gleeful smile broke out across his face as numerous possibilities ran through his mind.

Ahsoka's eyes widened as she clearly began to imagine some of the same possibilities this would give them.

"Although, maybe you should figure out a way to keep your clothes on first."