Chapter 7 : So Far...

Miku saw him looking at her and smiled. "Funny isn't it? Me and a kid?"

"Oh, but don't get me wrong you're my kid too just..." She looked down at him and hesitated, while she wanted to be as honest as possible to him, she didn't want to hurt him either.

"Look, you'll always be our first family member, even though you're a cat….But…" She inhaled and then exhaled.

"There would always be a wall between us compared to our, let's say, real kid you know?" She gently caressed his head, knowing that her words might sound hurtful.

She continued for a while silently, before adding. "Do you remember that time I found you in the street right? It may look like an impulse at first but no. I had a lot of insecurities a few months ago..."

"The world may seem good but it isn't true at all, and I really want my child to live a peaceful life, even if it feels like I spoil him/her too much."

"I want to see him grow up normally, without struggle, but I was scared." She continued to glance at him lovingly.

"All this is new to me and my husband, we recently got married and moved out of our homes, so I...— That's why I thought that taking you in would be some kind of preparation for the real deal, sorry!" Miku said sadly, she stopped petting him after a while, and instead hugged him close. Him not answering her frightened her quite a bit.

Meanwhile Kurai digested her words pretty easily. 'Well, it's not like I can blame her, I too, wanted to use them only for information at first. I see nothing wrong here.'

He raised his head and licked her cheek. "Meow."

"I'm sorry that we used you! But in those few months together we came to appreciate you more and more each day!" She stopped hugging him and laid back on the sofa, letting Kurai stay between her bosom and nape.

Seeing him responding like this, she felt glad and released the breathing she didn't know she was holding. "...Thanks."

For a few minutes she only petted him, and finally added. "You never were a stranger though... We always tried to make you feel at home with us, Sweetie..." She said murmuring the last part, feeling her eyelids weighing more and more with each word.

Words at which Kurai stood up to rub his side effectively. 'Looks like she was tired today, plus this emotional stress, and sleep hit her easily.'

'And... it feels like I'm becoming better and better at being a cat, huh.' He added, laughing at himself.

'Anyway, guess I'ma take a nap in the meantime too.' His habits didn't change the last few months, this much he was sure.

*****

After another boring day at work, Akio was on his way back home. Because he was the boss of the whole company, there were now very few things he had to manage personally. At least compared to the time his company was still new.

He finally arrived and parked his car. He got out full of smiles thinking about his little household. Though before he opened the door to the manor he stopped, and prepared himself for one of Kurai's pranks. 'Little demon, last time you got me by surprise! But not this time!' He thought of the time the little kitten hid behind the door to scare him.

He truly wondered what his wife did to stop the pranks directed at her.

Shaking those thoughts away, Akio slowly opened the door. 'Safe.'

Seeing no one, he entered and looked around. 'Where are they?'

He continued walking through the house until he reached the main room and saw his wife and Kurai sleeping peacefully together on the sofa. Without giving it a second thought he looked in his pocket for his phone and took a photo. The picture looked incredible, they were his family after all.

'I should probably frame this, Miku would be pleased, hehe.'

And like a good husband he is, Akio went into the kitchen to prepare the food for when the two sleepyheads wake up.

***

After a while, Miku woke up first, and smiled after seeing Kurai and Akio, the 2 persons she loved the most. She tried to get up without waking the little kitten up and went to greet her husband.

"Hello Dear!" She kissed his cheek affectionately while he was cooking with his apron on.

Akio closed his eyes and enjoyed the closeness before asking. "Did you rest well, Darling?"

Miku hummed. "Mh, it was a refreshing nap!" She exclaimed.

All of a sudden she felt a soft sensation rubbing her leg, after glancing down she noticed what or more like who that was. "Mouuh, Sweetie you woke up too? Come here!" She said before picking him up.

The man, or well the cat in question thought, 'Not gonna lie, sometimes it feels good to be a cat.' Enjoying the sensation.

That day the family had a nice dinner together and during the night whipping sounds were heard harder than ever.

*****

3 years and a few months later.

Kurai could be seen waiting on the couch near Akio, with the latter gently caressing his back. Both were watching the TV waiting for Miku to get ready. It was their first time going outside shopping all together as a family.

While Akio was asking himself why women needed so much time to prepare, Kurai was reflecting on his 3 last years.

And indeed he had what to reflect. First he simply became bigger, way bigger than before. It has been close to 4 years since his reincarnation after all. In the beginning, he had just a tiny frame, but now his kitten body has grown up. He probably didn't reach his adult form yet but he was close to.

'4 years are indeed plenty enough for a cat to grow, I couldn't stay small forever anyway...' He sighed.

What also changed was his demeanour, which was a lot more confident and less awkward. Even if no one noticed, he personally did. And this is just a normal thing. When one feels good in his skin, he can only be confident when he wears it.

'At first, the transition from Human to cat was quite awkward for me, but now that I'm reborn this is who I am. It's in my blood. What if I meow? It doesn't even tear a single shred of my dignity.' Proudly declared Kurai.

Although he felt better in his skin, in his cat form, it didn't mean he talked to people yet. It was not that he didn't trust Miku and Akio but he didn't even know what to say when they would ask him why he has a seductress' voice instead of a male one. Anyway, those 3 years could be said to be an acceptance period.

But also 3 years of night training. Well and 3 years of face scratching, unfortunately the rumour reached his family too, but they didn't link it to him. 'Yet.'

Who could blame them? Their little cat didn't look like a ghost at all, well except the golden eyes part that is.

On another note, his training didn't go as he intended it to, because he basically made close to 0 improvements in Shunpo. At the beginning, he thought that it wasn't made for cats but was proven wrong after looking into Yoruichi's memories and seeing her move incredibly fast, albeit a little slower than her human form.

But he stubbornly continued to try. He knew it was hard, Yoruichi was a genius in a league of her own after all. And even she, didn't succeed in the first try. That's why he persevered too, it was in a way, a challenge with himself.

He knew he was close to achieving it but he felt he lacked a certain aspect of the movement, an enlightenment in the technique. 'Even in her world Shunpo is taught, since it's a technique passed down. And it's not like I can directly learn just by seeing it in a memory, sadly there isn't anyone here to help me...' Kurai thought dejectedly.

'It won't stop me from trying until I succeed though.' He added.

Just then Akio rambled something before shouting : "Miku, Darling, how much time do you need again?" That is to say that they have been waiting for her for 45 min now.

Miku shouted back at him from the bathroom. "15 minutes max, Dear!"

'I see, women are women, the world you are in doesn't change a thing.' Kurai had a sudden enlightenment.

The 2 of them therefore settled their attention on the TV. Kurai liked TV, even more after that big event in the USA, where an impressive looking maze appeared seemingly out of nowhere, shocking everyone and trending on every information channel's headline. Its sudden appearance scared people, same for it's colossal height. Now though, a new political election was showing on the screen.

The elections took place in Tokyo. It was quite weird to see the TV showing politics nowadays, generally it was just heroes, heroes, and heroes all day. 'Something interesting happened?' Kurai inquired mentally.

He couldn't be more right. Just then the channel started showing the candidates one by one, it was pretty normal so far, everyone had pretty much the same profile; middle aged Asian man having been to a famous political school before. Until it reached the last candidate on the list.

His name was Nezu, a neat looking mouse in a formal costume, with a scar on his right eye. Looking as regal as a mouse could ever be.

'Wait... there's no way it's him right? What are the odds?!' Kurai was astonished.

He listened more attentively to the TV. They were now talking about his quirk 'High spec' which granted him high levels of intellect. What allowed him to communicate with humans in the end.

'Dang this is interesting.' Kurai added.

They also talked about his journey to the elections, how he used his wits and talking skills to play his human contenders. 'I dunno if I should hope he remembers me or not, but seeing his quirk it's even more probable that he saw right through my act by then. He definitely has my total respect though.' He acknowledged.

'Just him being able to go from the sewers to Tokyo's election is a gigantic feat for a mouse, I can't even imagine what he did to achieve this.'

The TV then started showing his ideas and main points for the election, and by far, from Kurai's point of view, he had been the most innovative and original.

Though he was not sure if he would win. In politics it's not always the best candidate that wins, after all the candidate's qualities are like the tip of an iceberg; they are the visible things needed to win. What we can't see are the money, people backing you, and this list could extend even more,...

"Meow." Kurai stood up and pointed with his head at the TV.

"What? Oh yeah a mouse! But you can't eat him! He might become someone important later, ahaha!" Laughed Akio.

'...' Kurai deadpanned.

Akio seemed confused at his lack of reaction, but didn't insist more.

'Tsk, tsk, your wife would've understood that I want you to vote for him... I guess this is my fault for not talking, heh.' He sneered.

"Oh it's a surprise! You're both watching TV?" Just then, they heard Miku's voice behind them at the stairs.

When they turned back, they were frozen at their places, well only Akio.

'Looks like he fell in love all over again for you girl, nice way to go!' Sagely nodded Kurai.

Miku was even more beautiful than usual today, wearing a long floral dress perfect for the summer, not too bad, nor too sensual. The perfect dress for a married woman. She also wore a thin golden necklace perfectly completing her white and blue dress. Together with her husband black and blue clothes, they matched pretty well.

"Fufufu... Akio, are you flustered?" Miku teased, looking at him.

"I— Yes! I mean you're beautiful Darling!"

"Ahaha, Thanks Dear!" She then glanced at Kurai.

"Come here Sweetie!" She called him gently.

Kurai dropped from the couch and walked toward her, when he got close he delicately jumped in her bosom with absolute control in his strength.

"Hop! Perfect Sweetie! So, do you agree too? Am I beautiful? Ahaha!" She asked, rubbing her face on Kurai's and winking teasingly at her husband.

"Meow." The former let out a meow of agreement, while the latter blushed.

"See how honest my Cutie is! Ahaha, and he didn't stutter!" Miku laughed.

On this cheerful note, the family got out of their property and reached the parking lot outside where Kunishe was already waiting for them.

"Sir, Madam, Kurai"

"""Good morning/Hello/Miaou""" The family greeted the driver back.

Kunishe started marching at the front and opened the door for them, Kurai jumped out of Miku's hug and hooped in the car, to settle comfortably on the back seat. He was soon followed by the couple and Kunishe who first closed their door before starting the engine.

"So, where are we going Madam?" Asked the driver, knowing fully well who was the boss for outings.

"Straight to Saitama, Kunishe! We'll visit the new mall opening there for our little boy here!"

"Just like she said, ahaha!" Akio laughed while nodding.

"As you wish, Madam."

'Aight, first time going out officially, I hope it goes well.' Thought Kurai when the car departed.

**

**

**