Serendipity

Chapter Two:

Itachi drove slowly and carefully, easily able to detect where the kitten was at all times.

He was a bit confused by its sudden change in attitude but he kept on driving. The small creature was curled up against one side, frightened. The GPS in the jeep was set to lead him to the animal clinic, lowly calling out the directions. Itachi was glad to find that it was only two miles away. He sighed in relief once he parked and opened the door.

That was his mistake.

The sound of the door opening had the kitten's ears snapping up in attention. It didn't waste even a second to run out the opened door. Itachi was barely climbing down when the small fuzz ball zoomed past him.

Panicked, he slammed the door behind him and rushed after the small creature, chasing him past the parking lot. It was quick, but it was also a little on the dumb side in Itachi's opinion as the kitten ran to hide behind a trash bin. The small fur ball looked pathetically tiny as it caught its breath.

Itachi snuck up behind it, easily snatching the little thing back into his arms.

He was amused by the way it puffed up and hiss at him, looking terrified. The small handful of kitten seemed to be glaring at him as harshly as it could, tense, and ready to fight despite the fact that it lacked any real strength. It was sad because it felt so bony and fragile against his fingers. If Itachi really wanted to, if he was truly cruel, he could have crushed it and killed it in less than a second.

But Itachi was not heartless like that.

"It's okay," he assured, "No one will hurt you now." Itachi pressed the little creature to his chest, wanting desperately for his words to reach it. "Please, calm down! I won't hurt you," Itachi ran his fingers over the protruding spine, whispering sweet words of comfort. "Everything is going to be okay." Words he remembered his mom whispering to him whenever he got hurt or when he felt scared or unsure.

Eventually the kitten went boneless and quiet in his arms. Itachi paused, chancing a glance at it. Red eyes looked up at him, still highly on guard, not trusting him, but they were looking at him. Almost as if sizing up the person before them.

Itachi swore that he could see the kitten thinking, more than likely just waiting for the chance to run away. He couldn't allow that to happen, again. He didn't want to let it out of his sight.

"Let's have you checked out okay, and once you're okay and capable if you don't want to be mine, I'll let you go," Itachi gently murmured. He wasn't sure if the kitten understood him or not, but it suddenly went stiff and petrified in his arms. Making sure he had a solid hold on him, Itachi made his way to the clinic. The place had only a few patients and Itachi looked around before moving towards the receptionist desk.

"Hello, welcome, do you have an appointment today?" A bubble gum pink haired girl greeted him with a sweet smile. She opened her eyes to show off emerald green eyes as she regarded him. She was dressed in a white nurse outfit, and had a name tag on her right side that read, Sakura.

"Yes, I made an appointment for this kitten here. I found it earlier this morning and it seemed to be in bad shape. I wanted to make sure nothing was wrong with it." Itachi explained.

"Alright, can I have your name sir," She asked, turning to the computer in front of her.

"Uchiha Itachi," he answered her as the pink haired woman checked the appointment list. Her eyes lit up once she spotted his name and checked him in.

"Alright, I will just need you to fill these out for me as best as you can," she handed him a clip board with some forms and a pen. "This is going to start a record for your kitten and we can add more to it once we learn more about it. So just answer what you can and don't worry about anything else. When you're done filling them out just bring them back to me here." She smiled at him as she finished her explanation.

He nodded, "Thank you," he said, taking the clip board. He looked back to the waiting area and moved to the next empty seat. He noted the different pets that had been brought in, all of them looking relatively healthy and well. Itachi was just glad that it wasn't that crowded. Once settled with the kitten balled up against his stomach, Itachi shifted the clip board. As long as he kept one hand on the kitten the little thing didn't move much but Itachi managed it.

He looked at the form dauntingly when it asked for name, age, and gender. He glanced down at the stiff kitten. Well…he hadn't named it yet so for the name he quickly jotted Kitty, nothing on the age. For gender…Itachi couldn't tell but he figured it must be a boy so he just put that. After that, allergies past medical care, or anything like that he was not able to tell but he made an account as to how he found him. The last page was for him, asking him his name and address as the pet owner.

Once he was done he returned the papers and waited to be called in. Itachi never really felt nervous or concern when he went to see a doctor for himself, but at the moment he could feel an uncomfortable ball knotting his stomach. The wait seemed to go on forever, nearly everyone that had been there before him had been called. A few new people had come in, in particularly a group of women who made him feel uncomfortable with their staring.

Itachi found himself nervously running his fingers over the soft puffy fur of the still kitten.

Itachi nearly face palmed when a silver haired man walked out and called, "Itachi and kitty?" He really should have come up with a better name.

Itachi tried to pay no mind to the gushing women who giggled, and whispered on how they found the name cute. He walked up to the silver haired man, and paused in front of him with a sharp nod. The man had a mask over most of his face but his one smiling eye was a dead giveaway that he was also amused by the name.

"Hello, I am Dr. Kakashi, let's see what we have here, cute, cute, yes…" The man looked over the kitten, making a few sounds in the back of his throat before asking Itachi to follow him. The door closed heavily as the silver haired doctor led the way to another room. Itachi noted a whole open area with several dogs watching television…

Strange, Itachi though.

"It says here that you found him last night and he looked wounded," Dr. Kakashi stated. "We will have to see then, but overall from what I can see he looks well…" The silver haired doctor gestured to the table. "Place him here."

Itachi moved to place the kitten on the table, but it suddenly dug its claws onto his shirt. Meowing loudly, "Uh,"

"Don't be scared boy, here unhook his claws upwards." Dr. Kakashi said as he quickly drew on gloves and helped Itachi settled the small thing on the table. "Hmm, a young one, no doubt born not too long ago… I would suggest you go back to the area to see if you can find his mother." Kakashi said.

Itachi nodded, making a mental note to make sure he returned to have a look. He flinched, when Dr. Kakashi started the treatment. All he could do was watch torturously as the kitten turned rebellious again, almost looking at Itachi like he betrayed him as he was stretched, pulled, tugged, and practically violated as the doctor performed his exams.

Itachi himself felt horrified by the exams, even though Dr. Kakashi assured him that they were necessary, common, and harmless.

By the end of it, Dr. Kakashi was holding down the yowling kitten by the back of his neck like it was nothing, and looking over the results of his tests. "Everything looks good, no broken bones, nothing wrong with his vitals, no infections of any kind, he's just a bit undernourished and dehydrated. Nothing to worry about really," Kakashi muttered looking at the little thing. "Just a regular house pet it seems,"

"Regular house pet?" Itachi asked, confused at the look Kakashi held in his one visible eye when he said that.

"Well," the man drawled, "You said you found this little one, sometimes we have cases of skin walkers, lycans, ware creatures, shapeshifters or the other tricking people into owning them like pets." Dr. Kakashi explained, the kitten began to growl trying to get away once more, "Seeing a baby like this makes it more suspicious. It has becomes a concern and we would suggest swift termination, but that's not the case here. You're in the clear. Let me just give this one a few shots and you can be on your way."

"Shots for what?" Itachi asked with concern, after all he thought the kitten was in the clear.

"No need to worry, just something that will help boost his immune system, as well as a nourishment and rehydration shot that will allow him to settle into a steady diet better, and finally a de-wormer that I will administer orally." Itachi flinched as the kitten hissed as the skin on the back of its shoulder blades was snatched, and in came a blond nurse, holding two needles. Lastly, a syringe holding a type of medicine that the kitten had forced down his throat. "We're done,"

Itachi stepped forward to get the kitten back into his arms. It kept moving his small mouth and tongue, as if trying to spit the taste in his mouth out, letting out low growls. "Thank you," Itachi muttered, although he really wasn't feeling all that thankful.

"No problems, just head to the front and pay the pretty rosette. Make sure to ask for a follow up appointment," the man said, going his own way. Itachi made his way to the front where the receptionist charged him. She was really pushy on him getting a small kennel she claimed was safer to use when transporting his kitten. Itachi had flinched, shocked at the price. It wasn't that he lacked any money, but he was still surprised at the ridiculous price for the contraption.

He didn't book a follow up. Itachi told himself he would try to avoid bringing kitty here unless deemed absolutely necessary.

This was the first time his heart broke.

"I'm sorry about all that, but it seemed like the best option," Itachi whispered as he walked out of the animal clinic.

Looking down at the calm dozing kitten, he figured it was worth it if he was going to be alright and live. Once at the jeep, Itachi opened the kennel and settled the kitten inside and then secured it. He glanced at the list he got and then looked up the nearest pet store, amazed to find that there were a few that allowed pets inside.

Setting up his new destination he pulled out of the parking lot. When he got to the store, he pulled the kitten out so he could hold him and went shopping for a list of things that he had been advised into getting. Itachi got food, a bed, scratching post, kitty litter, litter box, and a few toys.

All the while the kitten remained calm and quiet within the shopping cart. If anything he looked a bit sleepy, ready to pass out at any second but he wasn't allowing himself to. Itachi smiled sadly.

Buying all these things will be worth it if they helped to make the kitten feel more comfortable.

God, if he didn't feel like he had overpaid for some of the things he had gotten.

"Come to think of it, I could have just given up one of my pillows to you, even they cost less than this pet bed," Itachi darkly muttered as he went back to the jeep. Oh well, what was done was done.

Driving back home, Itachi was glad to be back in the apartment. He set everything up and then opened a can of cat food to see if the kitten would eat. The little thing sniffed it before turning its head away from it.

Right, some cats could be picky with their food. Maybe he got the wrong kind for his kitty?

This was going to take some trial and error it seemed. Making a mental note to never get this brand of food, he thought about what he could feed him in the meanwhile. He smiled softly as he petted the quiet and calm kitten, thinking it was a large improvement in his attitude, and took it right back when the kitten released a low growl.

Oh well, Itachi thought.

"Itachi, I'm hungry! Cook some dinner please!" Kisame whined from the kitchen where he looked like he wasn't sure what to do with himself. The man even turned to look at Itachi pleadingly.

"You know Kisame, a boyfriend or a girlfriend really like it when a man can cook for himself," Itachi responded with a frown on his face.

"Really now," Kisame smirked, "Then why the hell are you still single!"

"Because it's my choice," Itachi said, getting to his feet to join Kisame in the kitchen. "I'm not complaining about it,"

"Yeah right," Kisame grumbled.

The small kitten watched Itachi go, relieved now that he had some space. He sat back, as he watched both men, from where he was, move about in the kitchen.

Okay so for now he was stuck.

Taking in the situation, he made a mental note that the big one was named Kisame, and the weird one that seemed dead set on making him miserable was called Itachi. The kittens tail flicked up and down, tapping it impatiently, eyes narrowed on Itachi.

Did Itachi even realize that taking him to a vet was the worse idea possible? If Dr. Coo-coo brains had found out that he wasn't a simple house pet, he'd be dead right now. So screw Itachi trying to help him, he doubted he would have been helped the moment he found out.

No doubt Itachi would have let them end his worthless life.

How the hell was he going to get out of here? Itachi already proved to be very smart and he clearly was not going to let him go any time soon. Was he really trying to help him? The kitten screwed his eyes shut, trying to think of how to make a successful escape. His mother did say that not all demons were nice but some could truly be…was Itachi one of the nice ones?

His ears suddenly perked up at the searing hot sound of a pan cooking something…what…ah meat. His mouth watered at the delicious scent. It was followed by the smell of rice, and was that tomato slices being added…

The kitten got to its feet, rushing to go and see what was being made as his stomach led the way. He walked back and forth, hungry and impatient. He moved when Itachi moved, and got closer when Itachi moved away. He started to meow loudly when the food looked like it was being plated so far away from his reach.

Please, save some for me! The kitten was praying. Everything smelled divine. His mouth wanted to see if it would taste just as heavenly.

"That thing is still alive?" Kisame asked, his eyes set on the food as he eagerly awaited his plate.

"It's not a thing Kisame, he's a small boy." Itachi smirked, and looked down at the buzzing fur ball. Its red eyes were wide and shinning, almost like he was pleading with him. It was so cute. Definitely a nice change from all the hissing and growling, "I think his appetite must have grown since I took him to see a vet earlier," Itachi commented.

"Who cares, give me, give me," Kisame took his plate from Itachi happily licking his lips once it was under his nose. "Thank you Itachi, you are the best! Oh my lord, your food is so freaking good." He praised as he took bite after bite, not relenting.

Itachi set his own plate to the side, glancing down at the kitten. It seemed like it wanted some of the food, it shouldn't hurt to give him just a bit before he figure out the right food for him right? Itachi really wasn't sure.

They had explained to him that table food was not good for animals, but how could he deny this cute and adorable kitty begging him for food?

Snatching a small plate Itachi pulled up the choicest of meat, thick tomato slices, and a bit of rice, neatly placing it down for the eager little kitten. Itachi smiled when the kitten growled at a piece of meat, taking such a large bite out of it that it was nearly an exaggeration.

Dear lord, Kisame was right, Itachi could cook.

Cute, Itachi thought to himself once again, 'and so worth every penny.'

Later that night, glowing red eyes looked over the sleeping form of Itachi.

The small kitten tossed and turned on the pet bed he had been given before sighing and giving up on sleep. He couldn't get comfortable here. For all he knew Itachi would decide to end his life. Good food aside, if he found out that he was not only a demon but also a shapeshifter, Itachi might just…

He was scared.

He was not sure how that doctor had not figured it out. It had to be pure utter luck, or maybe it had to do with his genes. His mother had been proud of that and mentioned it many times before…

Getting to his paws, the small kitten closed its eyes and tried to shift. Maybe, if he could get to his demon form he could walk out of here and out of Itachi's life. It would be better and it would make life easier on them.

After all, Itachi did say he could leave once he was feeling well, and he was feeling a lot better.

It was nice that Itachi tried to help him and all, but he wasn't a pet. Trying several times to shift, he failed. His energy was still too low. Falling, exhausted, he looked up at the bed when he heard Itachi move. For a moment he wondered if the man had woken up. But Itachi's breath remained even and no further movement came from him.

Sighing in relief, he brought up his paws, looking down at them. Okay, he will wait until he can shift completely to leave. For one reason or the other being a shapeshifter was a bad thing. Being anything that was related to a creature was bad- an impurity. His mother always said it was something that had to stay hidden. You couldn't openly tell others about it.

Impurity, he had not heard that word until he had met his father. It had been the first thing that their father had said to his mother, as well as his siblings before he proceeded to kill them all. How dare she give birth to such impurities under his prestigious name…

He wasn't sure how he was still alive, but he figured right now Itachi saving him had been a blessing. He didn't want to burden Itachi further. He had been so glad when Dr. Kakashi had not noticed that he was a shapeshifter. Maybe because he was also a demon that it was a seamless transition? Usually shapeshifters were half human, and had a sick and painful imbalance that could go either way. They could be good and pretend to be pets, they could be evil and take advantage of people, or they could hate themselves for who they were.

He didn't have that issue.

He was perfectly balanced. In fact, he could probably live off happily just in his demon form. That was his goal after how his father had cursed them out. That had been their mother's dream, before she had been found out. Now that is what he wanted the most.

Just to live perfectly fine and never let anyone know that he was a shapeshifter.

He trembled, tears coming to his eyes as he cried, unable to control the heavy feeling in his chest. The loss of everything he had known crashing down on him.

His soft mewls weren't lost to the dark though. Itachi sat up, looking his way. Itachi was definitely a pure blooded demon. There was no doubt with the way that he carried himself with such confidence. His glowing red eyes in the dark gave him away to him just how strong of a demon he was. Somehow his approaching form wasn't as scary as to when his father had been the one approaching him.

He mewled brokenly, more tears falling from his eyes, watching as Itachi silently reached for him. He snapped his eyes closed, expecting the worse. Was Itachi angry because he woke him up? Maybe he'll kick him out.

Instead a warm touch greeted him. Soft fingers petted through his fur, and a soft whisper telling him that he was okay.

He shivered. He felt so cold.

"Come here my little one," Itachi whispered softly, picking him up in the most gentlest of ways. He trembled, his senses assaulted by the warm, sweet scent of Itachi. It was like vanilla and cinnamon, or something enticing and fresh. How had he not noticed this gentle scent earlier? He wasn't sure as his mind reeled with pleasure, fingers digging into all his spots, caressing him against a hot chest.

Suddenly he wasn't cold anymore, he wasn't scared, and sleep seemed to have cast its spell on him. Was this comfort…because gosh he was suddenly comfortable. But that was not quite it either, this feeling he had no name for it.

He melted, and nuzzled against that wonderful strong chest, allowing himself to fall into the bliss of unconsciousness.

What was this feeling?

He really wished he had a name for it.