JUNJOU TERRORIST

IV

FOUNDATION OF LOVE: TRUST

Miyagi looked at his laptop. In his email inbox there was a permission letter he had never asked for, "Dear Professor" it read and he knew right away it was not coming from his daring assistant, Miyagi annoyed him enough to be called just "Professor", with the driest tone of voice possible in all humankind. He continued on reading the letter and felt his brows furrowing, "I spoke with your assistant about your circumstances and he confided on me your working schedule of the last couple of years", the word "years" had being highlighted, that couldn't be good. "It seems to have become quite a habit of yours to not take vacations, since 3 years ago. Taking that in consideration, and the recent events of course, I have decided to grant you 20 days leave, starting today. You must return to work on the 10th for the beginning of the term, thankfully you have no classes or lectures scheduled so it wont be of any difficulty for you or your beloved students and assistant professor." Miyagi felt like snorting at the comment.

Deciding there was nothing to be done he graciously accepted the vacations offer, taking his necktie off and letting it land on the sofa, crushed and wrinkled just like his shirt, he walked to the kitchen to check the pantry, finding it rather empty. He wondered if he could easily run to the closest supermarket and buy the necessary items, backtracking to the corner he found Shinobu cradling a brown fabric between his claws. "Damned brat!" he thought, recognizing his brown suit jacket. He had left it on the sofa the night before and the kitten had obviously taken advantage of it. Bending he tried to pry the claws away from his work suit but the kitten clawed at it harder, his brows furrowing as if he was about to cry, muttering in his sleep. There was nothing to be done, just give up.

Clicking on his computer again he used an online shopping website to purchase a fair amount of supplies. It was fairly early in the morning so he could schedule the delivery for later during the day, knowing he was missing probably 3 weeks of grocery shopping he clicked multiple times on the items listed, like beer, tuna cans, rice, sugar, eggs, flour, onions, tomatoes, tuna cans, milk, beans, tuna cans. He added a long list of vegetables and meats but then, glancing at the sleeping kitty he searched on the "pets" section, clicking on many other items. Hearing a low stomach grumbling he opened yet another window on his internet browser and ordered a "healthy" take out, for himself and said kitten. He should be able to eat it he thought, looking at the picture of a kitty with a "pet approved" logo.

-0-

Taking the opportunity while Shinobu slept peacefully Miyagi decided to deep clean his apartment, for it was a real mess. How had he managed to wrack it up while barely being there was a mystery, one he didn't care to find out, he just cared to clean it all before the feline decided to join the awaken world. He started by lowering the doorbell volume, loud and thrilling noises seemed to scare the kitten more than anything. Then, working his way through the rooms, he swept, moped, dusted off and placed everything in their right order, or as much as he could. Cleaning was something easy to do, specially for someone living alone for so long, cooking on the other hand was another mystery he cared not to press on yet.

After 5 hours and 45 minutes the apartment was finally free of disaster and his doorbell rang with their meals, he took and paid them quickly, placing them on the recently clean and vacated of "alive" items, kitchen table. Looking again at the kitten he decided it was best to continue on eating at the low coffee table, until the feline felt more at ease in the house and confident enough to sit down on the sofa or the dining room. So he brought all the items to the table.

It was somehow remarkable how no noise had woken the rattled cat, but Miyagi thought it was kind of a given, since he had been missing for a couple weeks if the Dean's memory was any good, and he had definitely suffered some level of abuse.

He was starting on the salad box when the door bell rang again and he opened it for the super market employee, it had being such a large order they had to put it in boxes instead of plastic bags, he felt his heart sinking, a long sight escaping his lips. "Thank you" he mustered and closed the door after signing.

Miyagi started cleaning the kitchen, a two hour job he definitely hated, the cabinets were greasy and dusty, filled with empty boxes and rotted condiments, there were some spiders but at least there were no cockroaches. His brows twitched when he opened the refrigerator, it was a death sentence. He breathed in deep and started piling the garbage bags. Unfortunately the moment he finished he had to accept it was time to leave the apartment, he couldn't help taking the garbage out, if the smell was so foul to him, how much would it be for the feline's delicate senses?. He watched the lithe frame warily and took his keys. He moved back and forth doubting, but at the end he had to do it.

He took four bags in each hand, two secured under his armpits and juggled them to open and close the apartment door as quietly as possible. After that he practically raced through the hallways to the garbage deposit area and back. He cursed the slowness of the elevator on the way down, cursed the deposit's clunky metal door, cursed the elevator's slowness again but refused to curse his shaky hands when the damned key wouldn't fit on his door.

"THUD THUD"

Miyagi felt his heart squeezing, his breath stopping midway at the loud sound against glass. Finally the door opened and he rushed in, calling as loud as he could without properly yelling "Shinobu-chin!" He had half the mind to close the door behind himself, looking at Shinobu's frighten state, trying to break the glass doors he felt his heart breaking.

"Shinobu-chin is me, Miyagi!"

Slowly he walked in to the living room, palms up, one feet in front of the other, he's face as calm as he could, like he's voice, thou it trembled "Hey, I just went to throw the trash, it smelled bad, to high heavens you know? You would have passed out if you had smelled it" he tried chuckling softly, to give off a friendly and relax aura, or at least that's what he thought. When he was 5 feet from to the kitten Miyagi stopped and stretched his hand, "it's me, you're safe"

When Shinobu turned to see the old man at first he felt the desire to run to Miyagi's arms, but a strangling fear would not allow him to move, he touched the cold glass and felt like crying, Miyagi walked step by step closer to him, so slowly. "Shinobu-chin please don't do that, you can hurt yourself," Instead of reaching and touching him Miyagi stopped and outstretched his hand towards him, an almost-smile on his lips, "it's me, you're safe". Shinobu felt at the edge of a cliff, and while all his instincts pulled him towards the balcony and the outside world, he's heart pounded and pulled him towards the tired man, bending in an awkward position to stretch his hand as close as he could without scaring the cat any more.

"I'm sorry" he heard and without thinking Shinobu launched himself against the hard chest, burying his face against the soft fabric of his shirt, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you" Miyagi said again petting him gently, "I tried to be quick, I'm sorry" Shinobu felt tears, he heard and felt his own body wrecked with cries of unshed pain and misery.

"Don't leave me! Don't leave me please!" he cried in his mind, as in response Miyagi's arms surrounded his back tenderly, caressing in circles between his shoulder blades, "It's okay, I'm not going anywhere, you're safe now" And Shinobu cried even harder, how long had he searched for safety?, how long had he craved for someone to protect him?, someone who could stay with him, and not leave him. He cried for his tired legs and his bruised skin, he cried for his scarred ears and tail, the fear in his soul, the memories and pain gripping tight at his heart, he cried for all of that until no more tears could fall and his body stopped trembling.

Miyagi never let go, he carried him to his pet-bed and sitting down by his side he petted him softly, Shinobu bite him on his palm growling halfheartedly, instantly licking it clean, "I know, I'm sorry," was Miyagi's only response, no hatred in his voice, no ire, no cruelty. Shinobu bit him again, the last tears rolling down his cheeks, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry" Miyagi repeated like a spell.

It was a rumbling that separated them, almost 15 minutes after the trembling stopped. Both ignored it at first but when the rumbling sounded again Shinobu sat down on his bed and turned to look expectantly at Miyagi. "Just in time I guess" he said, moving away from Shinobu to the coffee table, "I ordered some real food" he continued on while opening their plastic lids, Shinobu's nostrils flared, his stomach rumbled even louder and Miyagi felt like laughing, "You want to eat?" he asked and the kitten's tail swished happily, he never moved from his made-bed thought, Miyagi knew it would take him some time, specially after the horrible waking up. "Hold tight" he said, taking one side of the made-bed and pulling it close to the table, Shinobu gasped and looked worriedly at Miyagi, but holding the fabric tight with his claws he got closer to the food and his mouth watered.

"Itadakimasu" Miyagi said again like last night, sitting down and taking a ham and cheese sandwich, Shinobu looked at his meat and egg sandwich with desire, barely sniffing it, he took it between his paws and gobbled it, alternating with full glasses of milk. Miyagi again felt like laughing at the cuteness of the kitten. "Eat properly brat" he said instead, taking a gulp of coffee, the only thing he could do, even blindfolded, in his kitchen.

-0-

Taking a late late really late breakfast on the first day of vacations seemed completely normal, not working at all on the other hand felt completely wrong, so Miyagi decided to sit down and do some research, at least he could help a little his poor assistant. He chuckled at the thought of the young professor, so visceral with his own relationships, not as gruff as him but defiantly grumpy. A pet could be the right solution for him, he thought for a moment, but looking at the lithe kitten he wondered, would the Devil Kamijou take care of a poor pet?, looking again at the kitten on the floor he smiled, "Maybe..."

Little by little he managed to clear some lines of his to do list, pilling and UN-pilling books in the small table . But never as much as he would, if he hadn't had a certain feline in his house, for he couldn't help stilling glances at Shinobu every now and then, to ease his mind that the feline was fine, and to enjoy the advances he was doing. Cause at first, sedated by the food he had laid curled in his bed, but digestion took only a couple hours, so after some snuggling for another 30minutes his ears perked, his whole body stirring with every sound coming from the outside, his tail swishing whenever Miyagi moved to take another book.

Shinobu stood up and wincing stretched his sore muscles, Miyagi looked attentive at him, a bath was in order he knew, looking at the dirty mop of hair, the stained and ruined shirt and pants. But that would have to wait, water was a serious issue when it came to feline pets and the kitten had been thoroughly traumatized to risk it just for the sake of ambient smell. Shinobu moved his right paw and steadily licked a healing injury, it covered most of his wrist, like a band or bracelet, tight and abrasive. Miyagi could tell how it had being inflicted. "Shinobu why don't you let me help you?" he asked and Shinobu looked at him squinting his eyes, Miyagi pointed one finger up "One moment" he said and Shinobu saw him move away into a room and back with a white box in his hands, he had seeing something like that in the clinic, with the doctor. His tail swished in broad circles, his ears perking forward with curiosity.

Miyagi bent slowly down and sat on his knees in front of Shinobu, the position was uncomfortable, but taking in consideration what was about to happen he thought it better for the kitten to be more comfortable than him, "This will burn a little, but it'll help the wound heal" he said hoping Shinobu could understand his words, he took one cotton swap and wet it with the alcohol. The moment he put it on the damaged skin Shinobu cried and hissed, trying hard to pull his hand away, but Miyagi didn't let him, he hold him still pressing the swap hard enough for the alcohol to wet the wound through, and then he moved it, carefully over it. "Shhh it's okay, it won't be for too long" he said and Shinobu closed his lips, looking away, tears in his eyes. When the cleaning was done he put on some scaring ointment and dressed it carefully.

In a different situation Shinobu knew he would have attacked and run away, but the pained expression on the old man's face, as well as the careful way he touched his hand made him feel and more importantly believe that Miyagi was only trying to help him. After the burning feeling disappeared the gooey substance Miyagi put on top made the wound relax, like softly numbing and it didn't hurt as much.

"Now, the next the one" Miyagi said seriously, taking Shinobu's right arm, a road of scratches lined from his shoulder to his elbow, he grimaced at the sight "this will hurt, be brave kit" he wet another swap repeating the same work, Shinobu pressed his eyes closed tightly, burying his face on Miyagi's shoulder. His tail puffed up and rattled, but Shinobu bared it well, trying hard not to hiss. "We're almost done" Miyagi informed moving on to Shinobu's legs, he tried to work as quick as possible but he couldn't believe how much damage the kitten had stand, the skin broken, scared, infected and tattered in his ears and tail, large bruises and deep cuts in his arms and legs, even bold spots in his muddy fur, he felt his eyes burning with angry tears. How much had Shinobu suffered? The more he cleaned and bandaged the more Miyagi felt glad about deciding against the kennels. "Mmmm..." Shinobu moaned at a specially raw patch of skin on his ankle, the joints were swollen. Miyagi stiffened and held the leg, trying hard not to move it unnecessary. When he applied the swab he felt the whole body shaking, and he bent close to the wound to blew softly over it, "better?" he asked and Shinobu nodded, Miyagi continued on cleaning, the dressing made Shinobu gasp and bit again at Miyagi's arm, but this time it was barely a nibble, never sinking his teeth, Miyagi just petted him softly "I know, I'm sorry, I'm the most horrible person in the world"

Shinobu thought that couldn't be true, and it if was true he wondered how kind and marvelous the kindest person in the world would be.

"Okay, I'm done" Miyagi called, closing the white metallic lid, turning to the kitten to ruffled his fur "Well done" Shinobu's eyes sparkled, his ears perking proudly, as if he had never voiced any complains, Miyagi chuckled, "You're such a brat" and then, Shinobu mewled, "Meoooorrrw" it went with a rising note, the sound high and sweet.

"Shinobu?"

And then again the mewl was repeated laced with a purr at the end, the notes vibrating in his chest. Miyagi frowned trying to understand the meaning but not knowing. "Moooooowwww" the mewl stressed on a high note, always with the purring behind, Shinobu's eyes looked at him intently, he was about to ask when Shinobu's stomach rumbled, Miyagi looked at the clock, it was already 8:43 not too late for dinner, "Okay, okay I get it" he said, straightening up and walking towards the kitchen. Shinobu looking at him expectantly, his tail moving contently. Miyagi gathered their lunch leftovers and heated them up on the microwave, that was something he would never do wrong.

Another loud mewl and Miyagi chuckled hard, "Just a sec" he said taking some bread slices. "This meat it's good, put it on your bread" he said while walking towards the living room, again placing the food at the low table, Shinobu accommodated himself straight, Miyagi showed him first how to do it and the kitten blinked, then watching Miyagi eat he tried copying the man, taking 2 slices of bread, putting some lettuce and tomatoes, putting a good layer of brown juicy meat on top, he closed the bread with another slice and gave it a big bite. He felt the crunchy green, licked the salty and sweet mixing of juice from his lips and an appreciative small mewl reverberated, making Miyagi's smile broadened. Shinobu didn't look directly on to the smile thought, feeling his ears warming.

"It is nice to have vacations from time to time"

-0-

Author's note: I'm alive! Who would have thought the year I finally decided to work this fanfiction out a pandemic happens? It made my schedule impossible, since life and work have become quite demanding, but I'm alive and that is something many can't say. I hope you are all doing well, so as your family. Keep wearing masks, washing your hands and taking care of each other. I hope this chapter warms your heart as much as it did to write it for me. Thank you to all who read it before, who are reading it now and all those who will read it in the future. All comments are appreciated, actually, more like encouraged. Thanks.