Chapter 72

October 3rd

I awaken to a knock on my door. I roll over and check my phone; I've got no calls or texts, but how can it be 10am already? And why does no one ever wake me up?

I groan, annoyed and sleepy, sitting up and rubbing my eyes. "Who is it?"

"Miss Matsui, may I come in?"

Watari?

I run a hand through my hair and make sure I'm not falling out of my cami before calling back to him. "Yeah, c'mon in."

The door opens slowly, and the old man comes in, but something feels wrong. He walks across the room and sits on the edge of my bed by my feet. It's something he's never done before and a pit forms in my stomach. Something bad must have happened, my heart leaps into my throat.

"Watari…?" He takes a breath and sighs it out like he's preparing himself.

Oh no…

"Miss Matsui…I've received a call from the Veterinary Clinic…" I stare at him, hanging on every word.

No, please god, no…

"I'm afraid that not all of the kittens survived the night…" His words pierce my heart like daggers, and they shatter that bottle I hide everything inside. Watari becomes blurry like I'm looking through trick glass, but after a second my face feels wet and I realize they're tears and once they start, they don't stop flowing. After last night I wasn't sure I had any left, but they just don't stop. I cover my eyes with my hands to try to stop the flow, to try to force it back, but they continue to fall, stinging my face on the way down.

"No…no they couldn't have died. I don't understand. I saved them, Watari. I found them in time, I-we brought them to the vet. We made it in time! They can't be dead! I did the right thing! This isn't fair! How could this be? It's not fair, it's not fair!" I shake my head and start to lose myself to that tidal wave I shoved into that broken bottle.

I feel the old man wrap his arms around me and I bury my face in his suit, wrapping my arms around him to try to solidify myself, so I don't get swept away. I know that if I don't hold onto something the tidal wave will carry me away.

"I know Miss…it's not fair…you did everything you could for those three, but they were too far gone. The vet said they were riddled with fleas and worms and that they were already hypothermic when we brought them in. She tried everything she could, but they passed during the night…" I look up at him confused, tears still streaming down my face.

"Wait…three? What do you mean three? I thought there were four kittens." I wipe my face with the heel of my palm.

"Yes, it seems the little one you held to your chest made it through the night. The Veterinarian said it's nothing short of a miracle that he made it. For some reason he didn't have worms like the others, only a bad case of fleas and ear mites. She said he was also terribly malnourished and that's why he appeared so small. They're older than we first thought as well, his eyes were closed because of mucus. She said once she cleaned his eyes and gave him a bath his condition improved dramatically. You were right Miss, it seems someone had a litter of kittens, waited until they could be separated from their mother and left them in an alley. She said, had you not come along, surely they all would have perished…"

I can't believe it…the little guy survived…he's okay…

Watari let's go as I wipe the wetness from my face. The good news basically put tape over the crack in my emotional bottle. I'm alright now…sort of. I'm heartbroken by the loss of his siblings and I feel terrible that he'll never see them again…he's an orphan…like me…but I won't let him be alone. I said if he made it, I would spoil him rotten, and that's just what I'm gonna do. I feel an immense pressure lift off my shoulders and despite losing the other three I feel like I can breathe just a little bit easier; like maybe it's possible for me to believe that everything will be okay.

"Watari…when can he come home?" He shifts his weight.

"Well actually, I got the call this morning, but she said he wouldn't be ready until about now. He won't be up to playing and he'll feel lethargic for a few days, but as long as we give him the care he needs, then he can come home."

I feel like I could jump up and do a happy dance. I feel a smile spread over my face. "So, can we go now?"

He stands and brushes himself off, I spot an area on his shirt that's wet from my tears, but either he doesn't know about it or doesn't care. He takes the handkerchief out of his breast pocket and hands it to me. I use it to properly wipe the tears from my face.

"We can go as soon as you're ready. I suggest we go to the store and gather supplies first, however." I nod, excitement filling the empty void sadness left behind.

I can't believe he made it…he survived…

"Alright Watari, I'll be down in a few minutes." The old man smiles and leaves the room. I can't help myself I'm so excited that I stand on my bed and jump up, punching the air. "YES!"

I climb off the bed and run to my closet throwing on a pair of jeans, one of my built-in-bra cami's and a black button up dress shirt. I slip on my socks, run a brush through my hair, grab my spybelt, phone, wallet, and keycard before I leave my bedroom. My jacket is by the door, free of rain and muck and my boots are on the boot matt, dry and saved from the condition I left them in last night.

Wow, Watari's a miracle worker.

I slip them on, pull my arms through my sleeves and practically run through the hallways to the elevator then down another hallway to the stairs.

. . .

Despite them being heavy duty glass, I run down the stairs past a sugar high Ryuzaki and a dozing Light. Light wakes up with a jolt as I trample down the stairs like a heard of elephants next to his poor head. I feel bad for a moment, but then I jump the last three stairs and Ryuzaki looks my way.

"Suzuki are you alright?" Ryuzaki almost looks scared by my behavior.

"Where's Watari?!" I don't have time for this I want to bring the little guy home.

"He said he was going out, so I assume the garage…" He practically stammers it out, but I don't have time to stay and explain, I spin on my heels and run to the main elevators.

Watari is in fact in the garage, waiting for me in the Mercedes. He sees me running to the car and laughs as I slide into my seat.

"I would ask if you're ready to go, but it seems you're more than ready. He shifts into drive as I buckle in and we take off.

. . .

I don't know what the little survivor looks like because it was so dark, and he was so dirty, but I just assume for the moment that he's a little black kitty. This makes finding a collar a little difficult, but I end up deciding on three; a plain black with a bell, a red one with a bow, and a black one with skulls and crossbones that also has a bell. I can always return whatever ones I don't use. Watari and I pick out two litterboxes, some kitten food, a bunch of weird toys, like a catnip carrot and pickle and we even find something called catnip bubbles. Watari says not all kittens react to catnip in a stereotypical way so I get some soft treats, a bag of crinkly toys, and a laser pointer. We also get a cat carrier before we head off to bring our little survivor home.

. . .

As we pull into the vet's office, I can barely contain my excitement. I'm saddened by the loss of his siblings, but I'm being given the chance to give him a good life and I want him to live for not just himself but them too.

When we walk in the lady at the front desk greets us with a smile, obviously grateful that I'm not leaving puddles on their floor again. Her smile feels sad to me like it's bittersweet and I agree. "You're here to bring home that kitten you found?" I nod.

"Yeah I'm really upset that I couldn't save them all, but I'll take really good care of him."

"Yeah, I heard what happened, but you did the best you could and so did we. We were just a little too late, but that's okay, we saved at least one." She say's it a bit weird but I get her point.

You can't save them all.

"Well," She stands. "I'll bring you to a new room and you can meet your new baby. "Watari and I follow her to a room labeled '4' and I notice he's carrying the cat carrier, which I totally forgot about in the car. "They'll bring him out in a few minutes." She closes the door behind us and Watari and I take a seat in the chairs.

We sit quietly for a few minutes and then someone knocks on the door. My heart starts to race from excitement. The door opens and the vet from last night comes in with a small bundle wrapped in a towel.

"Hi again." She smiles as she kneels down in front of me. "He's doing much better; we gave him fluid and treated him for worms, fleas, and ear mites. He may not have worms, but it's precautionary." I nod and she unwraps the bundle revealing a small, sleepy, black and grey kitten. My heart practically explodes from the cuteness.

"Oh my gosh…" She hands me the bundle and the little kitten looks up at me with large light green eyes. He squeaks at me and yawns, walking across the towel to the crook of my arm. He lays down and turns into a little ball, he stretches one paw out and makes biscuits on my arm.

"It seems, that you've been chosen." Watari reaches across and pets the little furball.

"I agree." The vet smiles at me and I can't help but smile too. "Have you thought of a name yet?"

A name? I was so worried about the others and this little furball that I didn't even think about a name.

"No actually…I haven't given it any thought at all." She nods.

"That's okay, you have plenty of time."

Watari stands and straightens his suit jacket. "I assume we can bring him home now?" The vet stands as well and dusts off her pants.

"Yep, as soon as you fill out the paperwork, you're free to go."

Watari looks down at me and the sleeping kitten. "You stay here, Miss, I'll go and take care of the paperwork." I nod and pet the kitten.

"Alright Watari…" He leaves, followed by the vet.

. . .

Watari comes back a few minutes later, but the kitten hasn't moved and been sound asleep the whole time. "The paperwork is all set Miss and they said for us to call once you decide on a name." I nod and stand with the kitten in my arms, he stirs slightly and snuggles deeper into my arm. I don't think I'll be needing the cat carrier right now. I wrap the towel around him more as Watari picks up the carrier. A thought pops into my head and I have to ask.

"Watari?" He turns as he was about to open the door.

"Hmm?"

"How old did they say he was? At first, I thought he was a newborn because his eyes were closed, but if it was all mucus…"

"They estimated that he's about six weeks." I nod but another thought passes through my mind.

What about his siblings…?

"What's gonna happen to his siblings?" His face changes to remorse and sadness.

"Well Miss, what did you want to happen? Did you want to bring them home and bury them? Did you want them cremated together? Or did you want to leave them here and have the Veterinarian take care of them?" I stand there, shocked by all the options.

I didn't know there'd be so many options…What do I say? If I took them home to bury them where would I even do it? Surely Ryuzaki has plans for this building after the Kira Investigation, so that'd be weird to have a grave for kittens on the property. But to have them cremated…Is there even a point to that? Where would I put them and why bother? This kitten wouldn't know the difference so it wouldn't be for him. It would be for me…but there was no time to get attached…so maybe it's for the best if I let the vet take care of them…whatever that means…

"I…um…I don't know…"

"Well, I'll give you until tomorrow, and if you don't decide by then, I'm afraid the Veterinarian will have to take care of them." I know he's trying to help but it comes out kinda harsh, I nod anyway.

"I understand, Watari."

"Good. Now, are you ready to bring him home?"

"Absolutely." The old man smiles and opens the door, extending his hand through it. I check on the sleeping furball one more time and since he's still snuggled up in my arms, I head out the door, excited to show him his new home.

. . .

I walk through the doors into the surveillance room and everyone's in there. They look up as I come in, Light, Ryuzaki, and Matsuda jump to their feet.

"Suzuki are you alright? I heard you went out last night and hit your panic button…" Matsuda rushes to me, but when he spots the kitten he stops, his eyes going wide. "Woah, what is that?!" He slowly comes closer and I unwrap the bundle revealing more of the sleepy furball. Matsuda melts at the sight and starts to pet its head. Ryuzaki and Light meander over to look at him as well. Then after a few minutes the Chief and Mogi join us.

"Last night I went out for a walk and found a box of kittens. They were colds and covered in dirt and who knows what. I pressed the button so Watari would call and since it was pouring, he was already on his way. He picked me up and we rushed them to the emergency vet. The other three didn't make it though…"

Light nods. "That's why you were so upset."

"Yeah…" I look to Ryuzaki and he's mesmerized by the kitten, I turn my body so he can see him better. Ryuzaki puts his thumb to his mouth, thinking. "Ryuzaki, do you wanna pet him?" His eyes go soft at the scraggly kitten in my arms. He reaches out and sticks a finger under its chin, rubbing gently. The kitten lifts his head in time with the scritches and starts to purr. "Awe, I think he likes you."

Ryuzaki smiles. "Have you named him yet?" I shake my head 'no'.

"Not yet, I haven't really given it much thought, I was just worried about him making it through the night." Ryuzaki takes his hand away and Light starts to pet the kitten.

"He's lucky you found him, who knows what would have happened otherwise…"

The Chief comes closer to investigate and I once again turn my body so he can see. He sighs, his face going soft as the kitten yawns and stretches out an arm. "Finding a kitten in the middle of the Kira Investigation, what are the odds?" He chuckles lightly. I half expect him to lecture me on the responsibilities of pet ownership, but he doesn't.

"Yeah, no kidding…" Watari clears his throat behind me and I turn and see he's still holding all the kitty loot.

"Oh jeez, sorry Watari. Let's go get him settled. See you later guys." They all move back, and I head up the stairs, Watari trailing behind me.

Heads up, the next chapter is NSFW rated M for Mature