. . .
. .
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He reached up, flicking the long, dark and very interesting strip of cloth. The small feline stood on his hind feet with a paw holding his balance on the solid form. The other paw busy, the cord wouldn't stop moving. Halting momentary, he observed the swaying silk before he quickly tried to capture his desired prized.
"It's a tie, Moyashi."
The tabby looked away from moving object, tilting his head back. The firm jaw of his Master was in full view. The young man looked ahead to the mirror before him as he adjusted the tie around his neck, the reason the silk danced back and forth. His gaze travel down once again as the tie made a flip getting attention.
I can get it, it can– it stop moving!
Just as he got ready to pounce the silk, he got picked up by the scruff of his neck. The kitten stayed still as his feet left the bureau. His eyes leveling enough to find his Master's face, he mewl staring at the man with round metallic orbs.
"I'm heading out, don't go near the pond or wander away from the house." His Master gently tapped his little pink nose to emphasize his point.
"Meow."
I know, I can't never venture away without you around.
"Seeing as you understand, stay with Miko for the rest of the day."
His ears and gaze slowly dropped. Can't his master see, he can't stay indoors forever. Outside, there was a beautiful forest literally connected to the back garden. All the tabby dreamed of was to run freely among the trees, bushes and flowers. He wanted to explore the forest just like any other animal would.
He got sift and the kitten looked up to meet his Master's face now closer. The feline blinked before his small tongue flicker out and he licked the tip of man's nose. The action lead to the tiny animal rubbing his face against the young man's cheek. A chuckled filled the tabby's ear, and he purred. He loved making his Master laugh, it made him feel happy.
"You're very affectionate this morning, Moyashi." Kanda cradle the small bundle in one arm and walked away from the mirror. As he got closer to the bed, the man felt the kitten snuggling against him. He lower his pet on the bed where he picked up his jacket and finished putting his suit on.
Smoothing every wrinkle on his attire, the bundle on the bed soon caught his eye. The male glanced down and watched with fascination as his rare kitten licked his paw before he rubbed his small head then face. The feline continue to groom himself and Kanda couldn't look away. After a while the small animal felt his stare as he stop licking his paw.
What is it?
"Mew."
His Master pet him on the head before gently scratching below his jaw and the kitten purr happily. The raven stopped then picked him up again. "Behave, Moyashi." His Master peck the top of his head and the tabby meow. He was let down and the feline follow his owner with a watchful gaze until the door blocked his sight. The feline slowly jumped off the bed and walked straight for the larger window.
With the armchair near the wall, he was able to reach the windowsill. It didn't take long as his Master appeared on the driveway. Just as the young man opened the car, he glanced around until his eyes landed on the tabby by the window. The kitten excited that his owner noticed his presence swayed his tail. The man looked away and got inside the vehicle, the engines roar to life and he watched his Master go.
To his delight the door was open and the white kitten stalked out of the main room. He reached the staircase and simply stood watching for the top as his eyes landed on Miko waiting at the bottom. The woman wore a magenta kimono with dark butterflies and her usual warm smile.
"Come now little one." Miko open her arms in a welcoming manner. The tabby decided to get down, he was hungry and he knew the woman would feed him. Taking the steps one at a time, the kitten went down with small hops.
He paused just as he was getting to the bottom, and he decided to take the steps like a big cat. The tabby stood straight, reached forward but at the last second learn that he couldn't reach the next step. Losing his balance, the feline stumbling down.
"Kitty!" Cried Miko watching as the small bundle came rolling down the stairs
In the last few steps, the woman took hold of the tabby before he could continue to fall. She gently cooed the kitten hushing him and nursing any injuries the small cat might have. After no complain created by her precious cargo, Miko lifted him up.
"You silly, you can't take the steps like that. Maybe later on when you're a little bigger?"
Seven months and no change. You're a strange kitten, just like your Master. The woman thought carrying the feline away.
The two were in the back garden, the sun already out and shinning all around. The tabby sat on the outside table, drinking his daily milk. Next to him Miko worked on some roses she was going to take inside the mansion. She sat trimming the flowers before adding them to the vase.
"You know kitten, I think Master Kanda has a very soft spot for you."
The feline slowly stop lapping the warm milk and he lifted his gaze away from the bowl. For a moment he caught sight of the gardener walking a few yards away from their table. He return to the woman talking, his Master had a soft side for him?
"Meow."
Miko glanced at the kitten before picking up red bud from the bunch. "You are probably wondering what I'm talking about."
Clip!
"Well before you my dear, the Master had more pets. Felines to be specific." She paused to measure the stem of the rose. Having the right measurement, Miko clipped off the remaining.
He had more like me? The tiny cat suddenly became very intrigued. He wanted to hear more of what the lovely woman would say about his Master that he didn't know about.
"Master Kanda really likes cats, and for as long as I have work for him I never really seen the mansion without a feline around." The woman carefully placed the rose in the vase, examining her work then picked up another. "Though back then his taste for cats were on the exotic side. The first one I can still remember was a leopard."
The tabby forgot all about his milk and decided to join Miko closer. Her story roping him effortlessly and pulling him in. Line, link and sinker. He slightly wonder, if any of those cats were still around.
In the forest maybe?
"After the leopard came the puma. Then it was the white tiger, he wasn't as pure coated looking as you my little one, but he was a sight." She gave the kitten a look. At first she wondered what of breed the small cat was until Master Kanda pointed it out. Even in a small domestic cat could the Master find a unique little tabby. The little bundle was almost pure coated white only with the slight pale gray stripes on the side of the feline's hind legs, paws and a few trips almost at the tip of his tale. The light gray shade was almost unnoticeable unless someone took a closer look, but enough about that.
"Then it was the lion, and finally a panther. I saw them all, running freely all around the perimeters of the mansion. Everyone working at that time were walking on eggshells, afraid of getting pounce on."
Clip!
They ran around freely?
"But even as they did as they pleased, one thing never happened. All of those felines never enter the mansion, unlike you my little one." She turn to face the kitten, his wide metallic hues spoke of curiosity.
"Mew."
Unlike me?
"I never really thought about it, until you came along. Master pampers you like I have never seen him. He might be busy, but he makes time for you." Miko return to the vase and adjusted it sideways looking for any imperfection. The ivory antic as delicate looking as the tabby sitting on the table next to her work. "He shelters you in a very different way, you're special to him."
No, he's keeping me away from what he gave others... freedom.
"Only for a couple of years, before you, did the Master went without a pet. I have to say, he was rather on the moody side." She smiled remember the young man. She continue to reminisce, not noticing that a certain feline wasn't listening anymore.
His little nose twitch, his Master prohibited him many things, like getting near the pond to be near the koi' unless he's with someone. He did almost drown but he had a bad leg that day. The forest was big, but he wouldn't get lost. He's a cat, he could easily sniff his way back to the mansion.
I'm not dumb!
His Master didn't allow him the simplest of things, and it sadden him to know the ones before him had all the freedom they desired.
The tabby suddenly got struck with a wondrous thought, his Master wasn't home and Miko looked to lost in her story. The kitten decided then, that if his Master didn't give him the freedom he wished for, he would simply be the one getting what he wanted. What are the odds of his Master returning home at this exact minute?
Like me flying.
Leaping off the table, the white feline carefully and quietly sneaked away from the woman. In a fast sprint he was gone. The edge of the forest slowly grew closer and his animal instincts kicking in. The unusual and rare tabby would venture the forest freely. The place he was forbidden to go, and the same place where his Master first found him.
A/N: So I decided to give this story a shot.
I was rather impressed by the many reviews the first chapter received.
Thanks everyone.
Later.