Ariel2812 - I'm glad I was a bit worried that the pacing was too slow.
Guest - I'm looking forward to writing about Saiki's brother too. Its gonna be good.
Guest - I think that's a good suggestion for Violet's voice actor, but I'm not sure about Ethan. I'm thinking Eric Vale for Ethan.
This is Lotus
This is Saiki
~This is the thoughts of others~
Reign of the Small King - Some People Just Aren't Cat People
Lotus stood next to Saiki as the two watched a pair of girls from a different school fawn over a stray cat.
"Hey, Saiki do you like cats? I don't really see you as a dog person. Maybe some other kind of small creature as a pet, one that doesn't make too much noise, like a rabbit," Lotus speculated
"I don't care," Saiki stated
"Hmm yeah that seems like the right answer coming from you," Lotus said
"No matter how cute the cat or friendly the dog, to me they just look like this-"
The cat's skin becomes see-through so you could see the muscle beneath.
"-and this."
Then the muscle vanished so you could only see the skeleton.
"So I ask you do you like the bones on the left or the bones on right?"
Lotus shivered at the sight. She doesn't spend enough time with Saiki for the x-ray vision to always be on, but it seems like whenever she forgets that she can see through stuff the power pops back up.
"There's also the impression the animal gives like this cat seems loving and this dog seems loyal. But that's just people projecting their own desires."
One of the schoolgirls scratched the cat under its chin.
"~Don't touch me so casually female homosapien.~"
"That's what he's really thinking."
"Huh? You know I always kind of had this feeling that cats thought they were better than us. My mother actually hates them, she says they like to climb on top of high objects so they can look down on us." Lotus said
The two teens walked away from the girls, who were still gushing over the cat, that they still had no clue was berating them.
"I get what you mean Saiki. Since I've been able to read thoughts my view on a lot of things has changed, animals included. But I still like them. I think the ability to read their minds is kind of a good thing because you'll be able to pick out the animal that has the best personality that matches with your own. Before I never would've thought about getting a ferret but Sir Henry and I go great together. I always thought if I was gonna have a pet it'd be a dog," Lotus said
"Why a dog?" Saiki questioned
"Because of their upbeat friendly attitude. I love how happy and playful they are. So full of energy. Plus they make great companions, comfort you when you're sad, and protect you as well," Lotus said
Saiki stared at Lotus recognizing that those personality qualities were the same ones that Lotus herself possessed.
"You're like a dog," Saiki commented
Instead of being offended like anyone else would have been Lotus just smiled shrugging her shoulders.
"If you weren't my friend and I didn't know your personality I'd find that comment insulting."
Lotus continued to smile as she walked with Saiki. As of late he no longer denied it whenever Lotus said they were friends. He wouldn't admit it either nor would he say it himself but the fact that he would no longer deny it was good for Lotus. A big step towards progress in her mind.
"I was honestly contemplating getting a dog, but now that I've got Sir Henry there's really no need. Maybe later, but Sir Henry will have to approve of whatever animal that I bring in the house," Lotus said
Saiki and Lotus split on their way home, the reason being that Lotus needed to go to the store to grab some things, so she could cook dinner.
Entering the grocery store Lotus grabbed a basket and began searching around.
"Let's see now, I know Ethan was really craving something with potatoes, so I'm gonna need a few of those. Then Violet said she's been wanting chicken. There's also dessert, something light for tonight."
Strolling about the store Lotus collected the necessary ingredients for dinner.
"Okay, up next is cooking oil."
Lotus rounded the corner of an aisle going down another but paused.
"Huh?" Lotus spotted a familiar boy climbing up the shelves in the aisle trying to reach an item on the very top.
Kitaro was pulling himself up struggling to reach for a bottle that was mocking him on the very top shelf.
"~Almost there.~" Kitaro thought
Lotus watched as Kitaro's hand brushed the bottle he was grasping at, his fingertips just grazing the bottle.
"I better-!"
"Ah!"
Kitaro cried out as his foot slipped, and he fell back. The boy closed his eyes bracing himself for the impact but rather than having a rough landing Kitaro was surprised as he came in contact with a soft surface.
"You okay there?" Lotus asked
Kitaro opened his eyes stunned to find himself cradled in Lotus's arms like a groom does his bride.
"Lotus? Oh, uh thanks for catching me," Kitaro gratefully spoke
"~I'm glad I didn't hit the ground but my pride as a man sure took a hit.~"
Lotus sweatdropped, "Sorry Kitaro."
She set her friend down about to say something but gasped as something came into her field of vision. She quickly reached around Kitaro grabbing the grocery basket, she accidentally left floating when she ran to catch her friend.
"That was close. Good thing this store is almost empty," Lotus thought
"Your grocery shopping too? What are you getting?" Kitaro asked
"I'm just picking up a few things to make dinner," Lotus said
"Funny so am I," Kitaro gestured to the cart off to the side.
"Oh," Lotus inspected the contents of the cart, "What are you making?"
Kitaro chuckled rubbing the back of his head. "The thing about that, I'm not sure myself. I was hoping if I started grabbing stuff then I'd be inspired to what I wanted to make."
"I see…..with that in mind though you might be in the store for a while," Lotus said
"Yeah….I was hoping I wouldn't though, I really gotta get this stuff and get home. My siblings walk home after school and I really don't like leaving them alone," Kitaro said
Lotus chuckled, "Little mischievous are they?" She joked
"Yeah, that's one way of describing them," Kitaro said
"How about I help you find something to cook. I did promise to help you with that after all! We can think of it as your first lesson. You can't make a good meal without proper ingredients," Lotus said
"Really? I'd hate to impose on you," Kitaro said
"It's not imposing if I'm offering. Besides, I gotta shop too. Makes more sense if we do it together," Lotus said
"Thank you, Lotus," Kitaro said
"Okay first we gotta decide what you'll be making, so we can get the right things," Lotus said
"I seriously have no idea," Kitaro said
"Well, what do you wanna have?" Lotus questioned
"I'm not really in the mood for anything in particular," Kitaro said
"~I just really wanna cook something Mom will enjoy.~" Kitaro thought
Picking up on Kitaro's thoughts Lotus asked another question.
"Well if you don't want anything, what would your family like? You're cooking for them too right?" Lotus questioned
"What my family would want?" Kitaro put a hand on his chin thinking.
"~I was so focused on what I was gonna make I forgot who I was trying to make it for. But I'm still not that good at cooking so whatever I make need can't be complicated or I'd just end up ruining it.~"
Lotus put a hand on Kitaro's shoulder, "Don't worry so much Kitaro. I know you're new to cooking, so I can give you a simple recipe and I'm sure that whatever you make as long as you put your heart into it, your family will love it."
"~Whoa she can read me like a book, but her words are really comforting.~"
"Now let's hurry before those siblings of yours get in any shenanigans. Is anyone in your family allergic to anything?" Lotus asked
"Thanks a bunch, Lotus. I'll tell you how everything went tomorrow," Kitaro said
"I'm sure you'll make a wonderful dinner. Let's set up a day when we can do some 101 cooking, I can start teaching you some culinary techniques," Lotus said
"Yeah sounds good," Kitaro said
Lotus waved to her short friend as the two split off going their separate ways home.
A brown cat with a red bandanna wrapped around his neck sat outside the Kusuo household. Anpu was his name, a cat who had become Saiki's adversary, well in the cat's view that is.
"Huh? A cat?"
Anpu turned around spotting a pink haired girl carrying two grocery bags.
"What are you doing outside Saiki's house? I'm like 99.9% sure that he doesn't have a cat….or any animal for that matter," Lotus said
"~Does this human know that rude human?~" Anpu questioned
"Huh? Are you talking about Saiki?" Lotus asked the cat.
"~Who?~" Anpu asked
"The guy that lives here? Pink hair? Stony gaze?" Lotus questioned poting at the Kusuo house.
"~Yeah. He's that human who-! What you can speak cat?!" Anpu shouted
"No, I'm speaking through my mind," Lotus said
"~Are you part cat?~" Anpu asked
"No, I'm not," Lotus said
"~So this human knows that human?~" Anpu got a wicked smile on his face. "~I know since my first plan didn't work then….I'll take his place in her heart!~"
"Replace who in whose heart?" Lotus questioned confused
"~Yeah I can see it now. 'Oh I can't be with you I've got a cute adorable cat waiting for me.' That's what she'll tell him. This is even better than taking over his home.~" Anpu chuckled to himself.
"What in the world is he talking about? Also, how fast did he forget that I can hear him?" Lotus thought
"~Human,~" Anpu addressed Lotus.
"My name's Lotus," She stated
"~Human-"
"Okay rude."
"-today is your lucky day!~"
"And why is that?" Lotus questioned
"~I shall let you take me home, I'll even let you stroke me under the chin once a day,~" Anpu said
"If I'm not mistaken it sounds like he thinks he's doing me a favor." Lotus thought
Before she could open her mouth to reject the offer, something scampered up her body before resting on her shoulders.
Sir Henry, who had been observing the interaction from the window in Lotus's room, had made his way outside and clambered up Lotus perching on her shoulders.
"~Begone peasant.~" Sir Henry stated curtly.
"~What? A big rat?~" Anpu questioned
Sir Henry's small eyes sharped in a glare as he hissed.
"Did he just hiss? I never knew ferrets could hiss."
"~How dare you. I will not allow the ill-mannered likes of you to enter this home. Leave, now.~"
"Sir Henry that was rude, but he's right, you have to go. Now. And when I mean now I mean now," Lotus spoke emphasizing the word "now".
"Lotus what are you doing?" Violet questioned poking her head outside from the front door.
Lotus jumped quickly turning around while at the same using her body to obscure Violet's view of the cat.
"Nothing Violet. Just got distracted is all." Lotus said
"Alright-"
"Meow."
"Crap!" Lotus thought
Anpu stepped around Lotus giving an, "I'm the cutest thing in the world," look to Violet.
"A cat?" Violet questioned
"~This is too easy all I hav-AHHH!~"
Anpu jumped screeching just barely avoiding a book being thrown at him, courtesy of Violet.
"Get out of here! Scat you little devil!" Violet shouted
The woman pulled out a broom and started waving it around like a weapon.
"Where the heck did she get that from?"
Lotus watched with Sir Henry as her sister chased the feline down the street.
"I tried to warn him. My mothers hated for cats is shared with Violet."