Serendipity
Chapter Four:
Itachi packed a bag, making sure he had everything that a kitten might need.
For the first time in his life he was feeling a strange kind of nervous. He glanced at the dozing kitten on his bed and took a deep breath. It was strange that taking him with him to work would elicit such a feeling from him.
He knew a part of him was worried that the kitten might run away from him. Another part was scared that one of his coworkers might hurt him. The kitten was tiny. The size of his palm really, and anyone could step on him.
Closing his eyes of such negative thoughts, he reached for the small creature, tucking him into his arms and headed to the living room.
No Itachi wouldn't let any harm come to his kitten, everything was going to be alright. It was going to be an okay day, like any other.
Kisame was in the kitchen grumbling about it being too early, his clothes rumpled, and the expression on his face sour.
Itachi ignored him as he placed his bag down with the kitten on top of it on one of the chairs and proceeded to make breakfast. He packed a small snack as a bonus. The smell of the food must have woken the kitten up completely at some point because he was suddenly buzzing around Itachi's legs with a soft purr and eager.
Itachi smiled, setting a plate packed with tasty morsels on the floor for him.
"Should you really be feeding him table food?" Kisame asked as he took a seat at the table. "It might hurt his tummy, he's a cat,"
"I don't know, he wouldn't eat the cat food I got him," Itachi looked at the gorging kitten thoughtfully. "I think I will go out and get a different brand for him."
"Yeah," Kisame sighed, dropping his head onto his fist with a slight yawn. "Let's go before I think about going back to my beautiful and beckoning bed, the only one I'd ever have a love affair with," As Kisame was saying this, Itachi had walked over to the sink. He pulled out the nozzle and jet sprayed it cold on Kisame's face, making the demon splutter and jolt up, shocked.
"That should wake you up," Itachi smirked.
Kisame opened and closed his mouth before shooting Itachi a glare, "Fuck you Itachi! I hope that you never find any love, or lover fuck you!" Kisame used both hands to express that fuck you, before going to his room for another shirt, seeing as the one he had on now as soaking wet. "I hope if you do get a lover that they are mean and evil to you!" he roared from his room.
Itachi softly chuckled.
"He loves to hear himself curse, right kitty," Itachi said to the kitten that was still eagerly eating, and completely ignoring him. Itachi turned to eat his own breakfast and soon they were walking out the door, kitten held over Itachi's left arm securely.
The kitten tensed once they were outside, his head moving back and forth to take everything in. The daylight, the clouds, the shinning sun, his red eyes sparkled. It was the outside world again!
The kitten could see that they were in some sort of structure like building, with several doors around to show all different apartments. There was no roof, but there was a wall that circled all the way around the property. At the front was a door that led to what looked like a small pathway, he wasn't sure what it would be used for, but that was the only area that seemed to have a black barred fence.
In the center of this living area was where they had gotten in the last time. It almost looked like it was a room in itself. It was an elevator though…that explained the strange feeling the first time. The kitten grumbled lowly at the sick feeling that elevator always left on his small body.
He then noted that they had headed down, this time paying attention to the number pattern. It seemed like it was a two story structure, with one floor, and an underground parking lot.
Itachi secured the kitten in the kennel to make sure he was safe. Kisame got into the passenger seat, kicking it back to take a nap of the way to work. Itachi was soon in the driver seat, pushing a few buttons that allowed the cold jeep to heat up. The radio was tuned in to a somber voice talking about cursed items coveted all over the world.
The kitten shivered as he wondered where this stupid demon was going to be taking him today. He will gouge out his eyes if it was another vet.
To say the kitten was surprised to learn that he was going to be going to work with Itachi was an understatement. Why…why would Itachi waste his time trying to accommodate him like this…and then he remembered that he made a mess the last time he was left home alone.
Then Itachi was just doing this to keep an eye on him. So that's what he meant, the kitten thought to himself as he roamed around Itachi's clean and boring office.
Aha, this stupid demon thought he was dumb, but he wasn't! He would show that he could make a mess of his office as well.
The stupid demon had closed the door and told him to be a good boy. The kitten narrowed his eyes at that. Who was he telling him to be good for? He was bad to the bone and he will prove it! The kitten settled himself in the center of the room, licking through his fur for the next hour or so.
"I want to see,"
"Hush up,"
The door suddenly burst open and Kisame and some other man fell through. Itachi didn't stop his paperwork as the men closed the door, cursing. The blond one got up first, brushing his clothes of invisible dirt.
"I heard Pain allowed you to bring some cat with you. Kisame said it was the one that you found half dead. Can I see him? Is he a zombie?" Deidara said as he came over to Itachi's desk, eager blue eyes shining at the raven haired demon.
Itachi gestured towards the kitten that was watching Kisame and the strange blond. His large red eyes seemed startled, but alert.
"Oh my God, it's still fucking alive!" Deidara gasped, unable to believe how good the kitten was looking now compared to what was only two days ago.
"See I told ya," Kisame grinned. "Itachi is doing a good job with him,"
"Don't the two of you have something better to do?" Itachi asked, irritated with his friends.
"No," Both said as they moved to inspect the tiny thing.
"It's fucking small, the hell," Deidara laughed, "It's like the size of a flea!"
"The vet said he was born not too long ago," Itachi said, turning to his computer, determined to finish his work. Deidara hummed, and looked down at the tiny thing again. It did look like a new born, maybe. He wasn't that into animals. He was only really fascinated at the thought that Itachi, a cold, ruthless, powerful, and annoying son of a bitch had actually had mercy for a small insignificant creature.
"So you really plan to keep him?" Deidara asked.
"Yeah," Itachi said.
Kisame petted the small creature delicately with one finger, causing it to growl at him. " I'm telling you! Itachi has been taking good care of this little guy for the past few days, I think he means it when he says that he is going to keep him," He said with a toothy grin.
The kitten froze, startled by that statement.
Itachi was serious about keeping him? But he said that he could leave as soon as he was ready!
"Well anyways," Deidara said, standing up straight again. "We're having dinner with Pain today, so I came to ask what you would like to order. Hidan and Zetsu are making a food run,"
"The usual," Itachi said. Deidara shrugged and moved to leave. As soon as he opened the door, the kitten made a mad dash out of there. Deidara screamed, falling on his ass and Itachi jumped, startled as he saw the kitten high tailing it out of his office.
"Oh no!" Kisame gasped, both his hands coming to his face in panic.
Itachi quickly jumped over his desk, leaving his work, in order to chase the kitten. Kisame and Deidara scrambled to follow Itachi's lead.
The kitten was running, screaming freedom in his head. A gleeful look crossed his red eyes as he dodged several screaming demons. What had they not seen a cat before, HA!
Who cared, there was no fucking way that stupid demon Itachi was keeping him!
"CATCH THAT CAT!" Kisame yelled.
Their coworkers were all continuously startled, jumping when they saw the small blue gray kitten dash by.
"It's a rat!" One of the females yelled.
There was a large disruption as Konan and Pain were shaking hands with their latest client and in ran the kitten. The business men screeched like little girls, jumping onto chairs and the large table in the center of the room.
Pain's eyes flashed a deep purple as he snatched up the small troublemaker by the skin of his back before it could run back out.
The kitten hissed and growled, trying to scratch the offending hand that was holding him by the scruff before he fell limply. Cursing his stupid cat body and it's instincts to just relax and go limp when he was grabbed that way.
He hated it!
The slow growl at the back of his throat rumbled continuously, but he was stuck uselessly.
"Itachi," Pain growled, the sinister aura surrounding him made fear hit the kittens heart. Realization that the demon holding him was dangerous only sunk into his small head then and there.
He was going to be killed, no doubt about it.
He was an insignificant cat after all.
Itachi was at the door in seconds, "Sorry I shouldn't have let him out. It's all my fault, I apologize," Itachi immediately said, bowing his head down low.
The kitten turned wide red eyes to him, frowning inwardly to see Itachi lowering himself to another demon. Why would Itachi do that for him…
"You know that I told you that it was okay to bring him, and you promised there would be no disruptions over this decision," Pain hissed, looking incredibly angry. The kitten stared in utter confusion as Itachi didn't look like he was going to fight him or defend himself. The demon could easily pin the blame on him and end his miserable life…why was Itachi not saying that.
Why wasn't he defending himself against this powerful demon?
It hadn't been Itachi's fault that he got out and ran away.
"I'm sorry, I take full responsibility," Itachi said, head still bowed.
The kitten stared, his small pounding heart scared not for himself, but Itachi.
Why, why was Itachi taking the blame for his friends, for him?
He was an insignificant cat! Itachi shouldn't get punished…so why…
Earlier that morning before they came in Itachi had whispered to him to be a good boy. That he needed to stay in his office or there would be bad consequences. The kitten figure the trouble would fall on him. The demon holding him clearly could kill him here and now.
He was scared, and he figured his death would come, but not Itachi's.
So what did the demon have to gain from trying to take all the blame…?
He was definitely stupid!
Stupid Itachi!
"A kitten in the office, how very interesting," Their client chuckled, crossing his arms. He was trying hard to pretend that he had not just screamed like a girl. "I find this highly amusing Pain, thank you for the entertainment." The man grinned.
Pain frowned, but gave a stiff nod to the man.
"We're sorry for the disruption, it won't happen again." Pain said, giving Itachi a harsh glare.
"It certainly won't" Itachi said.
"It's quite alright, we old demons need a bit of excitement every now and then. So interesting though, Mr. Itachi, what do you plan to do with that kitten?" The man asked, tilting his head in interest. Itachi looked up, his face blank as he regarded the man before him. He immediately recognized him a Yamato, someone they had already labeled as a double agent.
"Take it out of here Itachi," Pain said when he noted the calculated look on the young demon in front of him.
Itachi might show his respect to him due to their friendship and the fact that he worked for him, but Itachi was not to be taken lightly. The man was a dangerous demon, a threat if Pain ever saw one to the elderly demonic community that had grown cocky due to their age and experience.
The fact that Itachi could fool anyone around him into thinking otherwise was fucking scary in itself.
Reaching for the kitten, Itachi didn't even wince when the kitten's claws dug into his hand and it bit into the palm of his hand. Pain inwardly winced knowing how Itachi never let anyone hurt him, much less draw his blood.
"Please excuse me," Itachi bowed once more, and walked out of the room.
"Mr. Itachi is so serious," Yamato joked with a slight laugh, but even he had felt a chill go down his spine when the young demon had not responded to his question.
"Itachi is just quiet, please excuse him." Pain defended his employee and then signaled for the men to exit, "Please, allow me to escort you out of here," With that they filed out of the office and out of there. The agreement had been reached already, and they were going to be investigating the disappearance of small children.
Five of them had been taken and the culprit was probably a trafficker.
It was something serious, as it happened greatly amongst humans.
Now demons have joined the ranks. This made it impossible for the humans to take care of their own business, much less their offspring.
Itachi walked into his office, but didn't say anything as he closed the door behind him with a deafening click.
The kitten was placed down on the floor gently as the demon walked back to his desk. The small Kitten sat there, thinking about what had just happened. Itachi could have literally been hurt because he was taking the blame for him.
Stupid demon, he didn't have to do that!
Tears pricked the kitten's eyes but he refused to cry as he glared at the floor beneath him.
Why was Itachi so stupid? Was he going to have to teach him to take care of himself, and not worry about others needlessly? Stupid demon, the kitten growled, moving to lick over his fur to remove the feel of that vile demon that had grabbed him.
Well, he might as well stay with Itachi for a bit longer, just to make sure Itachi didn't act stupid…
Itachi grabbed a wipe and cleaned his hand, allowing it to heal.
He sighed sadly.
Did the kitten really want to leave him that badly?
He would have to say goodbye to him if that was so. He would be feeling alright by now, and he was eating well…Itachi had just hoped that maybe he would be able to keep him. He wanted to continue taking care of him, and protecting him…but if the kitten didn't want that and was unhappy, who was Itachi to keep him.
Glancing towards the kitten… to see the tiny thing licking through his fur furiously and tumbling to the side because he was clumsy at the task, it made Itachi wonder.
Pain had let out a strong aura that probably scared the little thing. Probably brought back memories of what had happened. Even if Itachi let him go, the kitten had nowhere to go. How would he tell that to a small animal? It wasn't like he would be able to understand him.
Itachi closed his eyes in thought, wondering what was the best thing to do.
Maybe finding it a home that it would choose on its own would be better?
Not many demons cared to keep pets. He'd only ever seen human keep small creatures as such. When he had asked his father about it, the man had said that it was a silly waste of time. Something humans did because they wanted to have control over something because they had nothing else going for them. Humans were just incomplete beings that were weak and had to find ways to cope for what they lacked.
That is why they destroyed, and attacked each other instead of helping one another. Itachi found it sad that humans would waste their time hating another human because of a difference instead of building on each other, and learning to become better.
His cousin Shisui had laughed when he voiced his thoughts on it and said that pets were just a form of companionship. That it might seem silly, but sometimes being able to take care of something, nurture it, and love it was what brought light to others.
Itachi had realized that he had a lot to learn than just simply jumping to the first conclusion himself. He really never wanted a pet, but seeing the small kitten so fragile and at death's door. Something in him had sparked. All he had thought about was trying his best to save that small life that to another would have been insignificant.
Not to Itachi.
Something deep inside that he didn't understand was telling him otherwise. This kitten was not insignificant, there was something more to him. What it was, Itachi didn't have an answer, but he wanted to protect and take care of him at the very least. So it was hard to think about just letting him go, he didn't want to.
But would he be evil, heartless, or make the kitten sad for wanting to keep him?
What should he do?
When dinner time came around, Itachi along with his kitten met up with his friends/coworkers in one of the large meeting rooms. The kitten had been silent through the rest of the day, and even fell asleep near Itachi at some point.
"Itachi we have your food here," Hidan called as he made sure that everything was being divided depending on who ordered what.
Itachi thanked him.
"Man this looks so tasty," Kisame's mouth watered, already unable to hold back from picking at his food.
"Oh that's right, Kisame…" Pein looked deadly serious as he addressed the man, "Konan told me that she saw that skanky boyfriend of yours leaving your office in the middle of lunch! What the fuck man who said you could screw him in your office!" Pain snapped, unhappy with the situation.
Konan looked like she was not going to help Kisame with this.
"I…" Kisame gaped, before he defended himself "It wasn't my idea he was already in my office! He was on my desk naked and he was just so tempting I couldn't say no! Fuck the way he wet my dick with his nasty little mouth…"
"Dude, we're eating here we don't need the fucking details!" Deidara snapped, glaring at Kisame briefly before continuing to prepare his and Sasori's plates.
"I don't approve of you guys having sexual escapades in your office, we are a business. What will our clients say if they saw such things?" Pain's anger was palpable making the shark like demon flinch.
"I'm sorry I'll tell him to leave things like that for home," Kisame muttered, dejected. It had been fun while it lasted.
"Wait, are you guys together or what?" Konan asked, curious now if this was a fling or more.
"I…uh called him a few days ago and started talking again…I'm hoping that we will get together soon," Kisame said softly as he moved his food around uncertain. He and his current flame had not spoken about anything explicitly. "We're not yet boyfriends. We haven't said anything about that to each other at least. But I know we are exclusively dating each other."
Everyone groaned.
"Really Kisame, before you fuck a guy you should ask them if they want to be official with you!" Deidara rolled his eyes. "Otherwise they will never want to marry you,"
"You're giving it up for free, he's never gonna buy your ugly ass," Kakuzu taunted.
Kisame shrunk into himself, "Well isn't it better if he samples and sees if my ugly ass is worth buying?" he asked, looking like he was being scolded. Everyone groaned again.
"You're unbelievable Kisame," Sasori shook his head.
"We should go easier on Kisame. I think he's made progress with this guy. He keeps coming back, so maybe this time you should really talk with him and see if he wants more." Itachi said, seeming a bit distracted as he coaxed the kitten to try some of the food. "And if he doesn't, end it there so you're not wasting your time."
"Ugh it's not that easy Itachi," Kisame groaned, feeling his heart squeeze with fear. He didn't want to break up what he had. He didn't want to lose what he did have just because he wanted more. "What if I push too far and he decides to end things because I'm pressuring him? I really like him."
"Then he is not worth your time if that's all it takes to end it," Itachi stated.
Everyone around Kisame nodded in agreement.
Why was everyone always against him?
Kisame knew, he understood that really they weren't but it sometimes felt like they were. "Yeah, you're right," Kisame said looking up at Itachi with a smile. "Alright, okay. I'll talk to him about it." Kisame conceded. At least he could count on Itachi to have his back if he needed it. He knew he had to get serious. He wanted a real relationship.
Next time for sure he will ask.
With that out of the way, the others started to eat, some fight over food, and the conversation turned to something lighter.
The kitten beside Itachi was nibbling on the shrimp Itachi had handed to him. The little creature was rapidly listening to everything being said. It was his first day here and already he was having a hard time understanding exactly what was going on. Most of the things went over his little head.
He wished someone would explain things in full details, but for now he relied on whatever gossip he could listen to in order to learn.
"Onto other matters, Itachi by when do you think that kitten of yours is going to be able to stay home alone?" Pain asked, irritation clear on his face. "I can't have a repeat of today. Not so much that the kitten is the problem but you know how other demons try to get information on who has what."
Itachi frowned, "I know, just give me some time to figure things out." he said. Everyone glanced at the kitten that was pigging out on Itachi's plate. "I'll start testing to see if he can stay home alone without destroying anything," Itachi said.
"Yeah fine," Pain conceded. "Just be careful, I heard that Yamato was working for that snake Orochimaru, and he already has a strange obsession with you,"
"Noted," Itachi said.
"God, it's a bottomless pit," Deidara groaned, a bit disgusted with the cat on the table.
"He is super cute," Konan smiled at the mischievous little kitten as it moved to snatch the food Itachi had gathered in his fork, easily taking it as his own.
"He's a little demon, is what he is," Kisame grumbled as he took a bite of his own food. "All he likes is food."
"Have you even named him?" Hidan asked. "It's so weird just saying he or that cat all the time."
"Not really," Itachi said, tilting his head a bit in thought. He couldn't settle on a name to be honest. "I usually just call him kitty, and that seems to work."
"That's a dumb name," Kisame said, then quickly added "In my opinion of course." The last thing he needed was to face Itachi's wrath.
"How about we name him something then," Pain said, thinking the kitten could be like their mascot or something. "Maybe something like Shanks, or Roger, no Killer, yeah he looks like a little rascal pirate. You did find him out in the streets after all."
"Oh how about Persnickety, that's a snobbish name for such a spoiled little kitty," Deidara offered. Everyone quickly shot that name down.
"I think mittens or fluffy are cuter names for him," Konan interjected. She really did think the kitten looked like a small round cotton ball of fluff.
"Hey Shanks, come here little Shanks," Hidan tried calling. The kitten completely ignored him, more focused on the fork that picked up food and took it to Itachi's mouth. His little eyes widening as if he was plotting a way to get into Itachi's mouth to reach the food.
"Roger!" Zetsu tried.
"Mittens, come here kitty," Konan tried her own.
"I'm telling you guys he doesn't listen to any name." Itachi looked at his kitten fondly.
"Well he is a cat, don't they play by their own rules?" Pain smirked. "Eventually he should understand that you named him something if you call him that all the time."
Itachi shrugged as he waved his fork with food in front of the kitten, amused when he moved his head to follow the motion. "There's so much food on the plate and yet all he wants is the one I pick up with the fork," He commented.
Everyone laughed when the kitten took another shrimp when Itachi offered it.
"Why don't you try calling him a name Itachi," Konan suggested, "He might respond to you."
Itachi hesitated, before trying it out. Using the names that were suggested, but the kitten didn't respond to any of them at all. The kitten watched Itachi, slowly letting what was happening sink in…his name?
Why would Itachi want to know his name?
He wasn't planning to stick around long enough for anyone to get to know his name really. But if he thought about it, he did have a name…
The name his mom gave him when he was born. What was it again, tapping his tail he thought back to his name. The sweet face of his mother flashed in his mind as she mouthed the name to him. It was Sasuke, yes, his name is Sasuke.
Not like he could tell them that, nor would he dare tell them.
He wasn't suicidal.
Noticing Itachi motioning his hand to him, he tilted his head, wondering what this idiot demon wanted now. He sat back, tail flipping back and forth. Everyone smiled, finding the sight adorable.
"He really doesn't listen to anything huh," Konan said.
"Nope." Itachi agreed, but tried his best to hide his sadness behind a small smile.
"What did you get?" Deidara asked later that night.
They were hanging out in the parking lot of their workplace, their cars circling around them. Pain and Konan had left, calling it an early night. Hidan and Kakuzu already had different plans. That left Deidara, Kisame, Sasori, and Itachi to crack open a few beers as they talked.
"The biggest blunt you ever laid your eyes on baby," Sasori said, pulling out a fat joint the size of his fist.
Deidara grinned, pressing himself against his boyfriend. Sasori lit it and took the first hit before passing it to Deidara. Kisame was downing a beer while Itachi remained silent, not partaking in anything that his friends were doing.
In his arms laid a drowsy, full, pliant kitten.
Itachi dropped down to his hunches and placed him on the floor. The kitten blinked, barely holding his head up as he looked around. Itachi crossed his arms over his knees, watching the tiny thing, waiting for him to run away.
If it wanted to leave, this would be its chance. Itachi wouldn't chase after it.
The kitten shivered, and when his eyes found Itachi, it mewed towards him. Itachi frowned slightly, watching as the kitten slowly moved closer, pressing it's body against the warmth of Itachi's shins, scooting up almost as if for Itachi to pick him up.
"That thing looks like it's going to pop at any second," Sasori flinched, just the sight of the kitten's full belly had him imagining how painful it must be, "It looks like a little balloon,"
"That thing is a glutton, it gorges itself on anything Itachi give him and then lays comatose and useless," Kisame licked his lips from the frothy beer that lingered.
"I think that I will have to let him go," Itachi suddenly said. "he isn't happy being my pet," Itachi flicked the kitten gently so it rolled away from him. The kitten dazedly looked around, before stalking his way back to Itachi and meowing brokenly.
"What, why?" Deidara asked. Itachi watched as all his friends dropped their goofy smiles to give him blank looks. The way they looked from Itachi to the kitten confused the raven haired demon a great deal. It wasn't like they liked the kitten either.
Why would they question his decision?
"Dude, you really like that thing, why are you planning to let it go?" Sasori asked, his eyebrows scrunching up in dislike.
"No way in hell Itachi, keep it!" Kisame huffed, his hands coming to his hips as he glared at Itachi.
"But…" Itachi hesitated, looking down at the kitten. It didn't want to stay. Wouldn't Itachi forcing him to stay make the kitten unhappy?
Large red eyes looked up at him. The kitten's head tilted as he suddenly hooked his nails into Itachi's jeans, and started to climb up to his knee. God, it was so tiny and adorable. Itachi flicked him once more, silently begging him not to make this hard.
The kitten rolled, red eyes narrowing before the kitten rushed him, jumping up onto his knee and hissing before Itachi could flick him again.
"What's wrong?" Kisame asked. "That little troublemaker needs you! it acts like it can take care of itself, but it's nearly dies every time" Kisame hissed, pointing a finger to it, "You're the only reason that he is alive!"
"Kisame is right," Deidara rolled his eyes, "as annoying as that thing is, if it weren't for you it'd be dead. Obviously it's stupid and needs someone to teach it,"
Itachi watched his friends with slight awe. These were the same men that had told him to leave this little creature for dead…
Itachi hissed when the kitten suddenly balled itself against his taut stomach, growling as it kneaded it's claws into him. Itachi held back a flinch as he softly murmured an "Okay," that caused his friends to cheer and go back to enjoying themselves.
Itachi watched the tiny kitten, his hands going around him as he decided. Maybe he wouldn't have to say good bye just yet. Maybe someday, when the kitten was older and decided it didn't need him…but at least it didn't have to be tonight.
Tonight he could bask in the warm soft purrs the kitten gifted him.