#catjo

You weren’t initially planning on keeping the cat. When you brought him home, you thought at most he would’ve stayed the night before you dropped him off at the local shelter. One night turned into two. Two nights turned into a week. Before you knew it, Snowbell became the second member of your household.

You tried to do the right thing, at first. You knew Snowbell probably had an owner who was worried sick looking for him. There was no way that wasn’t true. Despite the grim, sooty conditions you found the cat in, it was clear he was well-cared for and domesticated. His sweet blue eyes and long white fur were clear indicators that he wasn’t the average streetcat. As much as you tried to look for his original owner, nothing came of it. For the time being, Snowbell was stuck with you.

He never once hissed or scratched at you. He was such a sweet kitten, perfectly happy to lounge around on your bed or your sofa, dutifully waiting for you to come back home. You never had any problems other cat owners had with their cats scratching up their wooden furniture or making litter accidents. Life with him was peaceful and domestic. Idyllic, even.

Still, there was something strangely off-putting about Snowbell. You could never fully explain it. As pretty as his crystal-blue eyes were, you felt like there was something more underneath. Sometimes, it really felt like Snowbell was laughing at you. There were times he did things that were too human and less animalistic. Pet owners often overestimated how smart their animals were, but you were sure there was something about Snowbell you could never put your finger on.

Maybe that was the issue. You personified him too much–humanized him.

Snowbell disappeared through an open window one sunny day, just like any other cat would have.

You had been an emotional wreck that night. You cried all throughout the night and barely got any sleep. Pathetically, you cuddled the spot of the bed Snowbell used to lie on, as though his lingering warmth would be nestled in the pillows. You almost called in sick for work the next morning before inevitably deciding to sludge your way through the day. You hadn’t even remembered opening that window, but it wasn’t like Snowbell sprouted human hands and pushed it open himself. Guilt for being a shitty pet owner clung to you like dirt.

Snowbell disappeared on Monday. That night, you called every shelter you could think of in search of him. The volunteers on the other end assured you they’d call you if they saw anything, but you doubted anything would come of it. On Tuesday, you and some of your friends went out on a failed search. On Wednesday, you left out food and your shirt outside your apartment in a feeble attempt to lure him back. On Thursday, you went out to search for him again, but alone.

Snowbell disappeared on Monday. By Friday, you were starting to lose hope of ever finding him.

The door rattled as you shut it behind you. You were supposed to call the landlord about it ages ago, but you never got around to it. Non-urgent, but extremely annoying. Yet another thing tacked onto this terrible day.

Tomorrow was the weekend. You knew you wouldn’t spend it lounging around your apartment, catching up on that show you put off. You would be outdoors, continuing your search for hidden corners and pockets.

On the way out, you ran into your neighbor. Tachibana smiled at you–those pitiful little smiles you’d give to someone who got drenched by a speeding car careening over a puddle. Perhaps, in her eyes, there wasn’t much of a difference between the current you and someone like that.

Her daughter lingered just behind her. She was a sweet girl. Last you remembered, she was about to enter elementary school. She wore her hair in a trimmed bob with a bright blue headband. It reminded you of Snowbell’s bright eyes, the way he would track your movement across the apartment with such intelligence.

You were close enough with Tachibana and her daughter to exchange greetings. Some type of small talk. Tachibana gracefully danced around the glaring topic because she had lived in society for quite some time now.

Dani was less perceptive towards social norms. She peered up at you with big softened eyes.

“Have you found him yet?” She asked before her mother could hush her.

Despite the ache in your heart, you smiled down at her.

“Not yet,” you said, “but I’m sure he’ll turn up soon.”

You weren’t the only one dealing with the loss of Snowbell. The few times you had to leave for a last-minute trip, you often left your cat in the care of the Tachibanas. Dani adored that cat, snuggling him every time she saw him. Snowbell mostly tolerated it. He got along well with most of your friends and neighbors.

Dani frowned, clearly not convinced, but she said nothing more about it. She gave a wave as she and her mother brushed by you and back into their apartment. You smiled until their door shut and locked behind them.

The act was exhausting. You were glad you didn’t pass by anyone else as you wandered out the glass doors, onto the busy streets of the city. People brushed by you, completely oblivious to your misery. You didn’t fault them. Why would anyone pay attention to a stranger? You certainly wouldn’t.

You glanced down at your phone. There was nothing. No alerts, no beeps, no missed calls from someone having found your pet. You expected it. It still sank your heart.

You tucked your phone in your pocket, shuffling around with the missing cat posters under your arm. It was your last batch. Once you put these up, you promised yourself you wouldn’t make any more.

You didn’t want to spend Friday night like this. Not many people would. Your friends tried to talk you out of it, encouraging you to go out with them like you were grieving a break-up. Maybe to them, that’s what you were doing. Maybe they thought you needed a break from your misery.

But the thought of Snowbell being out there, alone, lost, and cold. Completely helpless. Injured–maybe even dead. It was all too much for you to think about abandoning the search for even one night.

By the time you stapled the last poster, the sun had already sunk well below the horizon. Oranges and reds streaked across the sky. In a few hours, it would be well into the night, limiting your vision.

If that wasn’t enough, it started to drizzle. The smell of rain hit your nose. The air started to mist ever so slightly, causing the area around you to take on a faint-blue hue. Apparently, everyone was smarter than you. The streets were empty, with the few people left carrying umbrellas or coats. Cold drops hit your hands, your face, your clothes. It wasn’t enough to soak you, but the dark marks on your clothes got more and more prevalent as the seconds passed. For lack of better words, this severely dampened your mood. You knew all those hours of you putting up missing cat posters would turn into soggy, unreadable scraps by the end of this storm, whisking away into the drain to never be seen again.

It was as though the universe itself was telling you to give up.

You’d try again tomorrow. Hopefully, by then, the rain would clear up. You pulled out your phone to check the time when you stumbled. Your fingers slipped, and you lost your grip on your phone, lips pulling up in a cringe when it crashed onto the ground and slid away from you.

You cursed to yourself as you made your way towards it. You really hoped it hadn’t cracked in the fall.

Pale, lithe fingers reached down and plucked it off the pavement.

It’s like he stepped off a runway. His clothes were expensive just from the look of the fabric itself. Despite the drizzle, he remained perfectly dry. His white hair framed his face perfectly. You couldn’t see his eyes, covered by black sunglasses. He might have been the most beautiful man you ever saw.

He silently offered your phone. You accepted it with grateful hands.

“Thank you.” You told him. Where had he even come from? You thought you were alone on this side of the road.

Pink lips curved into an easy-going smile as he towered over you. The stranger hadn’t stepped back once he handed your phone back. Instead, he leaned forward ever so slightly.

“Cute wallpaper.” He commented.

You glanced down at your phone. Your lock screen showed Snowbell in mid-stretch, baby-pink paws reaching towards the sky as he lounged on your bedsheets. You’d had many pictures of Snowbell, but you thought that was your favorite snapshot.

It was one of the few things you had left of him now.

You feigned a smile.

“Oh, thank you.”

The stranger didn’t register your clipped tone. “How long have you had him?”

“Barely a few weeks.” You honestly said before wincing. “I…I’m actually looking for him so–”

When people comment on your cat’s disappearance, there’s often a twinge of pity somewhere in their eyes. It made you feel small–pathetic. You steeled yourself, readying for that same look before he finally left you alone.

There’s none of that.

“I was about to ask.” The stranger hummed. “I thought he looked familiar. I think I’ve seen him before.”

Your eyes snapped up to his face.

“You’ve seen him?” What followed was a barrage of questions: Where was he? What did he look like? Was he injured? How long ago was it?

The stranger barely even flinched at your demands for answers. Even as you leaned into his space, he barely backed up. His smile grew wider as he opened his mouth to speak.

You jumped at the clap of thunder. The already darkened sky swirled with angry gray-blue clouds. The drizzle threatened to intensify.

He glanced up and clicked his tongue.

“How about we talk somewhere indoors?”

🐾

As soon as you stepped into the restaurant, the weather got ugly.

Rain thumped against the window, spraying water onto the soaked concrete sidewalks and roads. Puddles grew across the ground. Thunder rumbled as lightning streaked across the sky every so often. The wind aggressively blew past your shelter, changing direction every few minutes. You’d hate to be stuck out there at that very moment.

Compared to the storm's harshness, the restaurant was a haven. The warmth heated your cheeks as you shrugged off your coat. It looked a bit on the expensive side. Warm candlelight illuminated each table. You sat in a comfortable chair with a red plush seat, watching the waitress happily fill your cup with fresh water.

He was already glancing at the menu as you awkwardly sat across from him.

“What are you thinking of getting?” He asked as he flipped through the laminated pages. “Oh! The eel here is to die for. You’ll love it, promise.” He assured you.

You pursed your lips. “I’m not actually–”

“This also seems good.” He shoved the menu in front of your face, and you reflexively flinched back. “Wanna try it?”

You forgot how you even got to this point. When he suggested talking indoors, you thought he meant a brief shelter from the rain.

“Are you ready to order?” the waitress cheerfully asked.

“Yes!” He said before rattling off a long list of various foods and treats. He then turned to you with a questioning hum.

“Just the water is fine.” You told her, and she happily gathered your menus before she hurried off.

“Isn’t this place adorable?” He asked you. “I found it a while ago. I think a nice, quiet dinner with rain right outside sets the perfect tone.” He leaned back in his chair.

You stared at him and tried to figure out what he was even talking about.

“You said you saw my cat, right?” You changed topics. “Where did you see him?”

“I definitely saw him!” He told you. “A couple of times, actually. Trust me—would never forget that face. He’s really easy on the eyes, huh?”

Your eyes flitted down as you thought of pretty white fur and sparkling blue eyes. You spent hours a week grooming him, fluffing out his soft fur, and making him the best version of himself he could be. He was the prettiest kitten you’ve ever laid your eyes on, and you couldn’t help but make him even prettier.

“He is,” you agreed. You found yourself smiling just thinking about him.

“Really?” He leaned forward. A mischievous smile spread across his lips. “He’s handsome, right? Really handsome?”

Your eyes narrowed as you continued to eye him. Why was he trying to goad you into complimenting your cat?

“Of course he is,” you responded. It felt more and more like he was making fun of you. Were you wasting your time here?

He leaned back, looking oddly satisfied.

“I’m sure he’d be happy hearing you say that,” he told you. “Cats are really good about these things, y’know. Emotions and all that.”

“Right,” you said, hoping to ease him along into the conversation you really wanted to have. “So, again, you said you–”

“Oh, food’s here!” He cut you off and pointed excitedly to somewhere behind you. “I’m starved.”

Sure enough, the waitress stepped into your vision with a friendly smile pressed on painted lips. You watched as she set down pretty porcelain plates and bowls, most crowded in his direction. The smell of steaming veggies and heaps of rice drifted into your nose. Your lips twitched into a frown as the plates continued to pile up before the waitress set something right in front of you.

You moved, quick to correct her blunder. “Oh, I never ordered anything–”

Your words caught in your throat when you realized it was your favorite dish.

“You should try it!” The man urged. “They make it really well here.”

You watched him for a minute. He paid you no mind, continuing to chow down on his meal. How did he know this was your favorite meal?

When you asked him, he stopped eating, looking amused.

“No way, I was right?” He laughed, looking thoroughly pleased with himself. “You seemed like the type of person who would like this type of stuff. I guess I’m good at reading people.”

So it truly was a coincidence. You glanced down at the meal. Compared to how you made it at home, the restaurant’s version was immaculate. You weren’t too upset. After all, you weren’t a chef. The scent of the food reminded you of all those times you had to fight off Snowbell. He’d go wild anytime you made it. He would constantly appear in the kitchen, eager for a tasty swipe. You’d feed him scraps, letting him enjoy your hard labour every once in a while. You didn’t do it too often, afraid he might get sick, but you secretly appreciated how much he liked it.

In those times, he felt more human than cat.

“What are you waiting for?” A voice snapped you out of your thoughts. The man gestured to your plate. He was halfway done with his own meal. “The food won’t eat itself.”

It wasn’t like you could refuse, right? He’d already ordered it. You felt it was rude to reject his offering, no matter how strange this man was.

You took a bite.

“It’s good,” you said. You took another one.

He nodded along. “I told you!”

His voice quietened a bit after.

“Still, I think it’s better homemade.”

You agreed with him.

You took another bite. Then, you took another. After your tenth bite, you suddenly realized how little you’d been eating lately. Your free time was spent thinking about Snowbell and worrying about him. You barely had time to sleep, let alone eat a hearty meal.

Sometime after that, your belly was full, the plates were cleared of food, and it was still raining. You found yourself perched right at the doors, hearing the murmurs of the other restaurant’s patrons behind you. You watched as the rain lightly tapped at the crystal glass. The more you thought about the way this night ended, the more humour you found.

Earlier, you had been stuck out in the rain before being picked up by a strange man. It almost paralleled the night you found Snowbell.

(You stumbled onto him one random evening after work. You were hurrying home, eager to get out of the rain. The umbrella you held kept most of the moisture off your clothes, but you could feel water drip through your shoes and up the cuffs of your pants. You could almost imagine chucking them off and enjoying a nice warm shower.

Just then, you saw a streak of white.

Barely a glimpse. At first, you thought it was a plastic bag hurtling into an alleyway. You should have pressed on and ignored it. For whatever reason, you followed the gut feeling nestled deep inside of you.

It was a filthy alley. Trash littered the walls and splattered across the ground. The rain made the smell of garbage even more pungent. You scrunched your nose as you peered around.

Something rattled right behind a garbage can. You crouched down as you tried to steal a peek behind the dumpster.

“Come out here.” You clicked your tongue, trying to be as enticing as you could. You thought it was a small dog, at first.

A shadow peeked out of the dumpster.

The prettiest kitten you’d ever seen blinked at you.

Despite the rain that soaked it to the bone, you could make out pure white fur that was tarnished by mud and water. Flattened ears and a pink nose.

The most notable feature of the animal was its eyes.

The brightest blue you’d ever seen.

Like the cloudless sky on a summer day. The color of a calm, peaceful lake, with barely a ripple of disturbance. There was so much life packed within those eyes. They almost put you in a trance, and momentarily made you forget the rain and the harshness of the wind. The warmth and peace that lingered beneath those irises was enough to push away the cold.

A smile spread across your face as you crouched even lower, hoping you’d make yourself seem less threatening.

“Hi there.” You cooed at the cat, who only stared right back. “Are you lost?”

When you reached out, the creature barely flinched. It appeared more confused than anything as you stroked the top of its head before dropping down to scratch its cheek.

Eventually, your affections seemed to win the cat over to your side. Before long, it leaned into your touch, as if enjoying your petting. Happy at the progress you made in such a short time, you attempt to lift it from the grimy ground. Thankfully, the cat allowed you without much fuss. You tucked it under your arms, keeping it in the shelter of your umbrella. Considering how well it did with strangers, it was clear the cat was domesticated. Did it slip away from its owner when they weren’t looking?

“Poor thing.” You were awed by the sweet little kitten. “Where’s your owner?”

You continued to observe it. No collar. No distinct marking of a claim. You debated going online on missing pet forums. Maybe someone reported the poor guy.

How long had the poor thing been outside? It couldn’t have been any more than a day. The cat was practically a white beacon begging to be noticed. There’s no way this cat wouldn’t have been snatched up by a predator if you hadn’t stumbled upon it. In the harsh city environment, it was utterly helpless.

You hummed, glancing up at the sky.

“Looks like we’re both caught in this weather.” You talked out loud. “It’s a good thing we found each other, right?”

The cat continued to stare at you with large blue eyes. You smiled before tucking it into the warmth of your coat.

“You’re okay now.” You told it. “I’ll keep you safe.”

You knew you were just seeing things, but you swore the cat understood you, somehow.)

“Does it look like it’s going down?” A voice asked.

The man stood by your side, peering out the same window you were. You watched as his sunglasses crept over his nose, close to dropping down, before you glanced away.

“No.” You told him. “I don’t think the rain will stop for a long while.”

He hummed in agreement. “If we waited for it to stop, we’d probably be stuck here for hours.” He didn’t sound too upset at that, you couldn’t help but note to yourself.

You nodded along. Just like the rest of the week, tonight had ended in a bust. No Snowbell. No cat. You were stuck in a warm building after eating a delicious meal, while your cat was probably out in the cold somewhere, waiting for you.

Something stung in the back of your eyes.

You were a shitty pet owner.

“I saw him yesterday.”

Your eyes snapped up to meet his. He stared right at the glass. You waited for him to say something more, but he remained silent.

“Was he–” You swallowed. Your mouth felt dry. “Was he okay?”

“Yeah.” He told you. “He looked great. You took great care of him. I can tell.”

Relief snagged at your heart, weighing your shoulders down with a type of pain you’d never felt before.

“I tried to catch him, but he was a bit too slippery for me.” He clicked his tongue.

You failed to muffle your laugh. Snowbell had easily coaxed himself into your arms the first night you found him. You shouldn’t have been proud of this, but you felt something oddly like pride to know you were the only person he cuddled up to.

“Thank you.” You told him. “For the meal and for letting me know you saw him. It was really nice of you to do all of that.”

Outside, the rain dwindled ever so slightly. In the morning, a light fog would drift over the city, suffocating the streetlamps and the roads. The potholes in the streets would be filled with soot and water far into the afternoon with the sun blaring overhead. A bare heat would fill the city, gentle from the rain, but still warm.

“You really miss the guy, don’t you?” He asked.

You didn’t bother to answer. It’s not like you ever tried to hide your desperation. Everyone in your life thought you were crazy for losing it over a pet as you had in the past days. No one told it to your face, but you knew that’s what they thought. To others, you were some cat-crazed person who wandered the streets. You did miss him. You missed him more than anything.

“I don’t think the rain will stop anytime soon,” you said, “I'd better go before it gets too late.”

“I could drive you back,” he suggested.

You shook your head, insisting you’d be fine. You expected him to push back at your refusal. He seemed to take your rejection in stride, reaching out with something in his lithe fingers.

“Take this, then.” He settled the bundled-up umbrella into your limp hand. You recognized what it was after you instinctively grabbed it.

“No, it’s fine—“ You tried to insist, but he waved you off.

“Just take it. I’d hate for you to walk out in this weather without one. You should’ve had an umbrella in the first place.” He berated you, but there’s no real heat in his voice.

“Just give it back when we search for your kitty.”

You blinked up at him.

“We?” You repeated his words.

He nodded eagerly. “You planned on searching for him tomorrow, right?”

Of course you were, and the day after that, too.

“I’ll come with you.” He declared. “Two heads are better than one, right?”

What was so appealing about skulking outside, searching for the slightest hint of white fur? This man was such an enigma; you didn’t understand him. You knew you shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. The more eyes you have, the better. Yet, you couldn’t help the feeling that rested in your stomach.

“Why?” You asked, but it sounded more like a demand. “Why do you want to help me?”

The man tilted his head downward. The softest laugh left his lips at the same moment his sunglasses slipped down his nose.

His eyes.

The brightest blue you’d ever seen.

Like the cloudless sky on a summer day. The color of a calm, peaceful lake, with barely a ripple of disturbance. There was so much life packed within those eyes. They almost put you in a trance, and momentarily made you forget the rain and the harshness of the wind. The warmth and peace that lingered beneath those irises was enough to push away the cold.

They looked familiar.

“I knew somebody who lost their pet, once,” He told you as his lips quirked up. “It’s a sad thing. No one should go through that.”

Everything he said sounded like a joke, but you saw the sincerity in his eyes.

“This person.” You glanced outside when the sear of his gaze got too much. “Did they ever end up finding their pet?”

He nodded. You didn’t know why that gave you so much relief.

“If you have time tomorrow, then yes,” you said, “I’d really appreciate the help. Thank you.”

“Great!” He clapped his hands together before pulling out his phone. “Let’s exchange numbers, so we can meet up tomorrow.”

You agreed, wordlessly handing him your phone before you realized something.

“I don’t even know your name.” You said out loud.

He laughed again.

“Gojo Satoru.” He introduced before raising a finger in the air to point at you. “But you should call me Satoru.”

You hesitantly received your phone from his hands. The contact name ‘Satoru :3’ stared back at you.

“We should speak more comfortably with each other. After all, we’re gonna be kitty hunting buddies, right? ”

🐾

(The best thing about Snowbell was how sweet he was.

Not just to you (but mostly to you). He was loved by everyone on your floor. Children like Dani adored him, and often asked about him whenever you ran into her. You’ve read that cats were often aloof and hated strangers, but Snowbell wasn’t like that at all. He was liked by everyone and everyone loved him.

And then, Hatori came along.

You’d known Hatori for a while, actually. You two weren’t friends–barely a step up from acquaintances. He was a nice guy and you two were similar in age. Whenever you passed him by in the halls, you made small talk but you never went out of your way to do anything more.

So when you briefly mentioned having a plumbing issue and Hatori offered to take a look at it, you accepted immediately.

“Thanks again.” You told him as you led him into your apartment. “Seriously, it’s been driving me up the wall. All that noise.”

“I get it.” He assured you. “The one in your kitchen, right?”

You nodded. A fluff of white caught your attention. You were about to point your cat out to Hatori when all Hell broke loose.

Snowbell made a sound that was almost demonic before he rushed at Hatori. You barely stopped him before he could get to Hatori’s foot, holding him up by the scruff as he thrashed around in your hold. You kept him to your chest as your cat continued his onslaught. If looks could kill, Hatori would’ve been dead ten times over by now.

“I’m sorry.” You told Hatori as Snowbell continued to thrash and struggle. It was getting harder and harder to keep a hold on him. “He–he’s usually not like this.”

Hatori stepped closer to the door.

“I should go.” He concluded.

“I’m sorry.” You told him again.

Snowbell didn’t stop until Hatori was long gone. His fit was bad. At one point, he’d even hacked something up because of how stressed he was. You coddled him the best you could, apologizing to him over and over. He settled in your arms hours later and peacefully purred into your chest as you stroked his head.

You’d never seen him act like that before, but maybe you were wrong about him liking everyone. Maybe he had a bad experience with men and that’s why he acted like that? You should probably bring it up to your vet the next time you go to the clinic.

Either way, this was the last time you’d ever bring Hatori over.

You kissed the top of Snowbell’s head. His pretty blue eyes blinked up at you.

“Don’t worry,” you cooed, “you’re the only man for me.)

Twenty minutes later, Satoru still hadn’t arrived.

You crossed your arms as you lingered near the streetlight. People meandered their way through the busy street all around you. As the minutes ticked on, you grew more and more frustrated. You should have expected this. From the short while you’d known Satoru, he was not the most punctual guy in the world.

He turned up eventually, practically skipping up to you with a smile on his face.

“Didn’t have to make you wait too long, right?” He grinned, completely ignoring the frown on your face.

“I was about to leave.” You chastised. “You need to be more respectful of people’s time.”

He raised his arms up in a semblance of an apology.

“Whoops, my bad,” he said, “I swear I’m not doing it on purpose. I’ve been swamped at school. Lots of stuff to catch up on ‘cuz I took an unprompted vacation a few weeks ago.”

He mentioned being a teacher a couple of times, but you can’t imagine him doing that. Sitting around and grading papers doesn’t seem like the type of job Satoru excelled at, but maybe that was just because you saw this side of him rather than anything professional.

“Okay!” He clasped his hands together. “So far, we’ve checked the area around your apartment. Maybe we should broaden the search a little.”

“What do you mean?” You asked, your initial frustration waning.

“Maybe we should stop thinking like humans and start thinking like cats.” He told you with the utmost seriousness. “Places like underneath bridges and dark places scared little kitties might crawl into for shelter.”

That was a pretty good point, actually. There was a chance Snowbell wandered off somewhere, maybe in a crevasse you wouldn’t think to look for him in.

With a plan secured, the two of you set off. You and Satoru checked wherever you could think of: underneath bridges, in the park, and on the outskirts of a clump of trees. Each time, you came up empty. Any cat you did see never resembled Snowbell in the tiniest bit. They were often so skittish and wary of humans, shrinking away when you came close.

You still left a bit of wet food for them when you turned away. Maybe it had to do with your lost pet, but any stray cat chipped away at your heart.

Satoru passed the time as he often did, talking and yammering about anything he could. So far, the two of you had gone ‘hunting’ five or so times–each trip ending in nothing. Despite how disappointed you were after every failure, Satoru was more chipper than ever. Most would find how talkative he was absolutely annoying, but you didn’t mind one bit. His upbeat attitude felt comforting, like it was his own way of assuring you everything would be okay.

You often felt like you knew him forever. However, it was more realistic to assume you’d known him for three weeks at most. Maybe even less. He was just that type of person. That personality of his reminded you of Snowbell. He was a little like that too, yowling like he was trying to start a conversation with you even though you didn’t understand his language.

Lots of little things Satoru did reminded you of Snowbell, actually.

A couple hours into the search, Satoru suggested taking a break. You didn’t argue.

“There’s a cafe a little ways from here.” Satoru suggested. “I love their coffee.”

You’d seen the surgery contraptions he calls ‘coffee’ and you’d rather not relive that experience. Also, everytime Satoru brought you to a restaurant, he always insisted on paying, leaving you more and more guilty for taking advantage of him. These outings were starting to feel less like searches and more like dates.

You almost laughed, but you held your tongue. Ridiculous. He was just being a nice guy.

“My place isn’t that far from here,” you said as you turned to him. “Let’s just stop there and I can make us something to eat.”

For the first time, Satoru genuinely looked lost for words. He blinked at you behind his sunglasses.

“You never let me pay.” You explained. “The least you could do is let me cook for you.”

“Oh.” He cleared his throat. “Sure! Let’s go!”

You eyed him. He reeled himself back.

“It’s been awhile since I’ve had a home cooked meal,” he told you.

“Hm.” You walked away, not at all fighting the urge to tease him a bit. “So, what. You’ve just been surviving on instant noodles this whole time? Poor baby.”

“I eat.” He told you after he caught up to your pace. “How else do you think I got these muscles?” He playfully flexed but even underneath those baggy clothes you saw his bicep. You forced your eyes away and hoped he didn’t notice.

“Let’s just get you something before those precious muscles of yours get all flabby.”

You let him into your house ten minutes later. Satoru walked in and slipped off his shoes. He placed them next to yours before he looked around.

His steps were slow as he surveyed your home. You watched as he walked up to a window, hands drifting over the glass.

“...Smaller than I remember.” You heard him say.

“What?” You asked.

He pointed out the window.

“From the ground, the buildings look a lot bigger, right? But when we’re up here, they are a lot tinier,” he said.

Right, of course that’s what he meant.

He wandered to your photographs, scanning over the various knick-knacks and other things you’ve kept over the years. He smiled when he caught the lone picture of Snowbell, framed and proudly displayed. He lightly tapped on the glass.

“What a cutie,” he told you.

You agreed, stepping closer to admire the picture as well. Snowbell had always loved attention and he was oddly very photogenic. Anytime you whipped your camera out, he would stretch and purr and create these adorable poses for you to snap away at. You often wondered if you should make an instagram for him so more people could enjoy his adorableness.

Maybe you missed your chance.

“Seriously, the cutest little guy.” Satoru continued. “Terrible name choice, though.”

You rolled your eyes. This argument again. You couldn’t tell if he did it on purpose or if he genuinely had a personal vendetta against the name ‘Snowbell’.

“It’s a cute name,” you argued back.

“It’s uncreative. Especially for a work of art like that.” He pointed to the picture of your cat. “Lemme’ guess, you’d name a black and white cat oreo.”

‘Cow would be cuter,’ you thought, but you decided not to give him more ammo.

“It just stuck. Besides, I didn’t come up with the name. My neighbor did.”

It was a couple days after you brought the cat home. Back then, you weren’t sure if you were keeping him. His original name was even more uncreative–‘Cat’. Then, when you were helping Tachibana lug up groceries, her daughter asked if she could see photos. After showing her the numerous pictures you snapped of ‘Cat’, Dani excitedly exclaimed how similar ‘Cat’ looked to the cat in ‘Stuart Little’. Thanks to her, ‘Cat’ turned into ‘Snowbell’.

“Ah,” Satoru said after your tangent, “So Dani came up with the name, then.”

You nodded, but then you blinked.

“How did you know her name?” You asked.

“You mentioned her,” Satoru breezily replied.

“No, I didn’t.”

“Yes, you did.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Pretty sure you did.” He smiled. “How else would I know?”

Your mouth opened, when a knock came from the door. You decided to table the discussion for now.

You smiled when you saw who it was.

“Hatori!” You greeted. “What brings you here?”

Hatori lingered by the door, polite and reserved as always. He gave a pleasant wave.

“Hey, hope I’m not a bother,” he said, “just hoping I could borrow a cup of sugar.”

You gave a smile. This isn’t the first time he asked for favors like that. You didn’t mind. It was nice to see a sweet tooth that doesn’t go overboard with his sugar like somebody you knew.

Like he’d been summoned, Satoru appeared behind you. You bumped into his chest just as you were about to let Hatori inside. He was so close. You could feel his breath on your back. His faded cologne lingered in the air.

You glanced up. Through his sunglasses, Satoru full-on glared at Hatori.

He’d never looked that upset before. Usually he was all goofy and happy-go-lucky. Now, he was stiff, coiled up like a spring.

“Sorry.” Satoru gave a smile filled with sharp teeth. Had he always had fangs? “We’re all out.”

Hatori blinked. So did you. He reacted first.

“Sorry.” Hatori narrowed his eyes and he looked between you and Satoru. “Who are you exactly?”

“Don’t worry about it.” Satoru reached past you and slammed the door in Hatori’s face.

You remained frozen even after Satoru retreated back into the apartment, slumping onto the couch.

“Uh, what was that?” You demanded after a bit of recovering.

“What?” Satoru whined, immediately going back to his usual attitude. You wondered if you imagined it all. “He was bothering you.”

You narrowed your eyes at him.

“He wasn’t bothering me. He’s my neighbor.”

“You should stay away from him.” Satoru finally told you.

You stared at him as he lounged over your couch as though he owned it. Sunlight streamed through your window, illuminating his hair.

You should have been mad at him. You should have kicked him out. And yet, you could still remember his presence imprinted on your back as he kept you on him. You wondered when your heartbeat would slow down.

“Why?”

“He’s bad juju,” he responded. “I can feel it.”

You gave him a look. “Right. Okay.”

“I can tell with these types of things!” He argued back. “Stay away from him. He’s bad news. He might make spiders crawl out of your sink!”

You rolled your eyes and turned away.

“Do you want food or do you just want to make more conspiracy theories about my neighbor being a spider whisperer?”

“Food, please.” Satoru immediately sprung up from the couch and followed you into the kitchen.

Again, you knew you should’ve been more upset with him. Yet, you weren’t.

It oddly felt familiar.

🐾

The cold made the alcohol bearable.

It warmed your stomach, flushing your cheeks with heat as you felt the burn travel down your throat. When you were younger, you despised the taste of alcohol. You could never understand why anyone would willingly drink the stuff.

These days, you still didn't understand, and yet you drank anyway.

You had to stop soon, but for now, you tossed your head back in reflex, taking another gulp. The bar remained sparse of people. There was nobody in the corner you stashed yourself in, surrounded by empty glasses. You preferred this. You don’t want anyone seeing how miserable you were.

Six weeks had passed since you last saw Snowbell. Truthfully, you stopped looking for him by the second. It was clear what happened to him.

He was dead.

If the universe was merciful, his death was quick. Maybe a predator snatched him up before he blinked. Other deaths sounded far more gruesome: eating something poisonous and collapsing on the hard floor of a cold alley, being hit by a car, or just starving to death.

A more hopeful part of you still believed he might have been picked up before you could send those missing posters out. He was a pretty kitty. His white fur was long and his fluffy tail curled so elegantly. His sweet blue eyes were wide and earnest. The chance of someone seeing him out and about and falling in love with him the same way you did was highly plausible.

Maybe they had seen the posters and just didn’t want to give him back. You think you would be fine with that. You just wanted to know he was okay. A sign. The slightest hint of–

“-Started without me, I see?” A voice teased from your left.

You didn’t bother looking up.

“You don’t drink.” You reminded him, but you didn’t argue when Satoru slipped into the seat across from you.

“Still, it hurts to be left behind.” He arched his plush lips into a faux pout before his mischievous smile was back on his flawless face.

You didn’t even tell him you’d be here, and yet, he showed up anyway. That was always the thing with him. He always just showed up, no matter where you were.

His outfit mirrored the cold that lingered outside of the bar. He was dressed in an expensive looking coat, something that nicely shaped his shoulders and torso. His fluffy white hair contrasted with the dark sunglasses he always wore on his face as he surveyed the mess you surrounded yourself in.

You thought you were about to receive a lecture from him. His smile faded ever so slightly.

“You’ve been crying.”

You didn’t bother denying it. Slowly, you reached up, brushing at your face. Your eyes felt raw, your skin felt open and vulnerable. Your nose felt oddly stuffy, like you were recovering from a fever.

Satoru watched you. You gave a helpless shrug.

“It’s the same thing I’m always crying about.” You admitted. That’s all you really wanted to say, but the words suddenly started pouring out and you couldn’t help yourself.

“I know how stupid this all looks. Trust me, I’m aware.” You started, looking into the glass of your golden brown drink because looking at him would be too much. “He was just a cat. That’s what everyone says to me.”

‘You need to move on,’ ‘You should get another cat if you care that much’. You’d heard all those things and more. You couldn’t even bring yourself to hate the people who’ve said that to you. They wanted to help, in their own way. To them, it was more like watching a child bawl over a lost toy. They didn’t understand.

“He…he wasn’t just a cat to me.” You bit your lip. “He was family. So yeah, the thought of him out there in the cold, miserable. I…I just really hope he’s happy.”

You thought you felt tears prick into the corners of your eyes. You blinked them away.

When you looked at Satoru, you felt yourself frowning.

“Stop doing that.” You told him. Your voice was tight and stern.

“Stop doing what?” Satoru repeated.

“Stop smiling like that.” You insisted. “You always do that. You–you always get this really big smile whenever I start gushing about him.”

“I’m not smiling.” Satoru denied, while still openly smiling.

“Liar.”

You rolled your eyes, but you didn't complain much further. He had this trick he liked to do sometimes. You just looked at him, and you instantly felt better, even a bit.

Snowbell used to have that effect on you, too. Anytime you cuddled with him, his presence washed away any stresses you had. There was just him and his soft fur.

Satoru laughed and shook his head.

“The way you speak of him…it’s nice.” He told you. “It’s nice to hear that. Your cat’s lucky to be so loved. I’m sure he’d be overjoyed to hear how much you missed him.”

You stared up at him.

“You think so?” You asked, your voice hushed.

He nodded. “Yeah.”

He did that often, too. He talked about things like he knew more than he let on–like he knew a secret you didn’t.

Or maybe that’s just the way he talked. He’d always been so odd and eccentric. From the short time you’d known him, he always dragged you from one place to another. He was constantly rambling about things you couldn’t catch onto. You’d call him ditzy if you didn’t know any better.

“You know what I think you should do?” Satoru suddenly piped up.

You looked up at him questioningly.

“I think you need something to get your mind off of the whole thing. Clear your head!”

You glanced around at where you were, what you were doing. Yeah, this was getting a bit pathetic.

“Okay.” You agreed. “Like what?”

His smile curled in mischief.

🐾

“What am I supposed to be waiting for, again?”

“Just hold on.” Satoru’s muffled voice came.

You crossed your arms, but you stayed put. Satoru’s apartment was huge. Even from your place on the lavish couch, you could see the wealth sprawled across his place. A bit empty, like he barely lived there.

Presently, he had tucked himself inside his room and told you ‘It’s a surprise!’ You had no idea what he meant by that, but knowing him, he was probably going to come out in something extremely ridiculous. Your imagination took off without you. You could totally imagine him waltzing out after stuffing himself in a hot dog costume.

He didn’t come out in a hot dog costume. Somehow, his surprise was both less and more mortifying than that.

He still wore his usual black clothes, but there was a new accessory he styled himself with. On top of his head sat two white, fluffy ears. You stared at them in disbelief.

“Tada!” He posed like he just unveiled something.

You got up.

“I’m leaving.”

He was in front of you in a flash, reaching the door before you could. A nervous smile spread across his face as he tried to usher you back inside. You’d never seen him look so unsure before, it almost caught you off guard. With those fake cat ears on he looked even more ridiculous.

“Just hear me out for a second.” He tried to say. You glowered at him, but you relented, flopping back down to the couch.

“Think of it as a therapy exercise,” he finally suggested

“A therapy exercise,” you repeated, incredibly suspicious.

He nodded before sitting himself in the space next to you.

“Studies have shown that petting animals reduces stress in humans and all that, right?” Satoru pondered, but a part of you wondered if he was pulling all this out of his ass. “Since we don’t have a cat right now, well…this is the next best thing!”

You stared at him, wondering if he truly thought you were this stupid. His glasses were off, abandoned back in his bedroom, so the blue of his eyes could stare right into you.

“Try it!” Satoru suggested, tilting his head down to show off his new ears.

Well, Satoru has always been a bit weird, right? He was strange, constantly blabbering about things that never made sense, but he was harmless. From the short time you knew him, he’d never revealed himself to be anything but that.

You sighed, but you reached up and gently patted his ears, hoping that would be the end of it.

They were softer than they looked. Almost delicate in nature. The fur was clearly fake but it was smooth and silky and the blooming pink hidden underneath the fur of the ears had such a deep resemblance to your own lost kitty.

“There.” You told him as you pulled away, albeit a bit reluctantly.. “Is our therapy session over?”

“Not yet.” He cheerfully replied. “We got movies too! You’ll love this one! It’s about a cat who wastes all his previous eight lives, and now he’s on his ninth and…”

You tuned out of his rambles, already knowing how this night will end. Truthfully, you didn’t mind a movie night with Satoru. He was fun to hang out with. Maybe a movie night would be good for you–it would cheer you up.

You thought it had to do with those eyes, mostly; they were why you were so agreeable to go along with his whims. A part of you thought he was well aware of your kryptonite, but you could never prove it.

An hour or so later, you were well into the movie when you glanced down at your lap. The setting changed. Satoru ordered pizza a while back and inhaled three whole slices before you finished even one. Half-finished cans of soda laid on the table. When the movie started, you and him sat at a respectable distance between each other.

Now, Satoru’s head settled on your lap with your hand absentmindedly drifting across his hair and faux ears.

The shade of the cat ears almost blended into ivory locks. His hair was soft, just as silky and smooth as that stupid prop he still wore. You wondered what products he used, if he used any at all when Satoru caught you looking at him.

He blinked slowly at you, like he’s fighting off sleep. Ivory, white lashes fluttered closed to meet the rounded parts of his cheeks before that brilliant blue spilled out open all over again. It was something Snowbell used to do. Once, you looked it up and discovered it was a way cats showed silent affection towards their owners.

You smiled. Satoru caught it.

“What?” He questioned.

You shook your head even before your mouth opened up.

“Do you remember the night we met?” You asked as the movie faded into the background.

He nodded and you wondered if he thought of the same night you were–the night when you were cold and wet and miserable and Satoru was a stranger holding out your phone with a smile you couldn’t decipher.

“It’s really strange.” You admitted. “You pop out of nowhere. You know my favorite foods–you know things I didn’t even know about myself. You’re always there when I need you the most.”

Your voice trailed off to a whisper when he rose up to meet you. He was so close and you realized just how many colors his eyes have. Colors you’ve named before: deep navy, rolling cobalt, the softest sapphire, the brightest tanzanite.

He looked into your eyes, too, and you wondered if he did the same thing you did.

“I’m good at reading people.” His voice was equally low and hushed.

“Are you?” You asked.

He tilted his head.

“Am I?” He repeated.

It’s like the world around you disappeared. The TV, Satoru’s living room, the bustling city, faded into irrelevance the longer you stared at him.

“There’s something about you.” You continued because there was nothing left to say. “I think I’ve felt it since the day we met, but I don’t think I could internalize it until now but there’s something familiar about you. I…”

‘I know I’m going insane, but I think you might be my cat.’

The words sat on your tongue, but you couldn’t bear to say it. It was all so ridiculous even as this full grown man sat in front of you wearing cat ears looking at you like you were everything in this universe. You wanted to laugh. Then, you wanted to cry. So much happened in just days and yet nothing happened either.

You were not sure who leaned in first, but neither of you pulled away.

His lips were soft. It was like his hair but a different texture. They were plump and full of life and adoration as he kissed you. A hand reached up to grab your cheek, holding you in place as he continued to kiss you.

You sighed into his mouth and Satoru stopped kissing you and started to eat you whole.

He pressed you into the sofa and you went down with a small ‘omph’ that he swallowed up too. Greedy, was the only word you thought as he kissed you again and again. He wanted it all, and he wouldn’t stop until he got it.

He only stopped when your head was spinning and you gave a low whine. Even then, he pulled away with such reluctance you could still taste it lingering on your teeth.

You were panting, heavy and needy and hot all over. He barely looked affected. His expression was oddly blank, like he was dazed. You would’ve believed he thought nothing of the kiss had it not been for the tight way he still held you, like he was terrified you’d disappear if he wasn’t constantly holding on. That, and the–

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.”

“Yeah?” You breathed. Your eyes trailed down to watch his Adam apple bob with anticipation.

The longing in his voice, it almost matched the intensity of his mouth. He burned so hot, you should have been afraid he’d burn you.

Instead, you reached up to pet the fluffy ears that rested just on his head. He shivered, eyes closing in a way you swore he could feel your fingers tickle the fur.

The slightest of smiles tugged at your lips. A tease.

“What else were you waiting for, pretty kitty?”

His eyes sharpened, there’s the softest hitch in his breath before he was on you all over again.

Rougher, pressing into you like he wanted to imprint his pattern all over your body so you could never forget his space and shape. Teeth that might have been fangs tugged at your lips as his fingers played with the hem of your shirt.

You shuddered as his long, lithe fingers crawled underneath your shirt, pushing it up and over your chest. The fabric pooled around your neck, proudly showcasing your tits, barely covered by the flimsy bra he was clearly eager to rip off.

His hands were cold as they pressed against your feverish skin. You felt goosebumps rise at just his touch as he reached for your bra to feel your tits. The fabric fell away and left you bare and utterly vulnerable to him.

He cursed, barely pulling back from devouring your lips to glance down at his unveiled treasure. Fingers tapped at your chest, eager to explore.

“Can I…?” He asked like you’d say no him–like you ever could.

Your nipples were hard and tender to the touch. A whine left your throat when he gripped them, squeezing at your supple flesh. It almost felt perverted and lingered on desperation.

“You’re so soft.” His tone almost made you laugh. It was like he could hardly believe it himself, needing to touch you more in order to truly prove that fact of the world.

You want to say something teasing when his mouth is dropping down again to lavish your jaw, trailing all the way to your neck and chest. He mapped your body with his lips and tongue before they finally landed on his prize.

“Satoru..” You could only sigh because he was barely touching you and you already felt everything. You relaxed against the pillows and the leather fabric, completely giving yourself to him. Heat pooled at your core as you twitched underneath him.

“Hm?” He asked, still lapping away at your skin. “It hurts, baby? Want me to make it better?”

He swirled his tongue over your nipples, flicking over them like he’s teasing the flesh. Eventually, he couldn’t help himself anymore. He took your entire nipple into his mouth, groaning as he did so, his voice vibrating your skin.

You felt like you were on fire, and yet, it was not enough. Your body was sparking and bursting into flames as you reached up to grab Satoru’s hair, keeping him there as he nuzzled and adored your tits. He’d barely done anything and you already felt like you were high. Your head was up in the clouds as he continued to ravish you.

“Satoru.”

Your voice was pitchy and drowned in want.

“Please please please.” You begged, uncaring to anything else. “Need you.”

He lifted himself from your chest with a loud, debaucherous pop. Your chest bounced lightly with the movement, nipples shiny and perky from his actions. You could already feel the ache on your skin. You were going to wake up tomorrow with marks all over you–you just knew it.

“Yeah?” He asked. His eyes were darker now, twinged with a type of hunger that should have scared you. His cheeks were flushed, dappled with the prettiest red you’d ever seen.

“Need me?” He repeated, hovering closer to your mouth, just inches away.

You nodded. His mouth curled.

“Gotta’ use your words. C’mon, you can do it.” He goaded, placing a chaste kiss on your cheek. You heard the condescension in his voice. In any other scenario, you might’ve just rolled your eyes. In this one, you wiggled your hips, helpless.

“Need you, please, Satoru,” you told him, “need you deep in–in my pussy.”

He shuddered at your words. There was the tiniest breath, a sigh of excitement, before he was pulling away to curl up at your hips. Eager hands gripped at your flesh, pulling down your shorts with a practiced ease.

“Oh, anything for you,” he said as he pulled apart your thighs to look at your vulnerable flesh.

“Anything.”

You were almost embarrassed at the way he looked at you. He practically drooled, licking his lips like he was trying to taste your heated scent. You expected him to rip off your panties the way he was clearly dying to, but instead he spread your thighs wider to lick up a stripe at your inner thigh. You jolted at the hint of teeth so close to your cunt.

“Bad kitty.” You tried to scold but it came out more like a whine. “Kitties don’t bite.”

“This one does.” He purred into your skin before biting you once more.

Just when you were about to complain again, he finally decided to put his mouth to proper use. Satoru eased off your panties, dragging them down your shaking thighs. He didn’t get them all the way off, like he did with the rest of your clothes. Instead, they tangled up your legs, leaving you completely exposed.

He took his prize like a vulture, swooping down to your cunt. His long tongue licked up and down the entire length of your pussy. Words melted back into your tongue as he worked your wet slit.

“Oh.” You sighed as Satoru’s head disappeared in between your thighs.

You thought he was saying something back. Something rested in his voice as he lapped deeply into your cunt lips–a dark tone you can’t place. You didn’t care. It didn’t matter as your thighs tightened around his head, like you wanted to keep him trapped there forever.

“Satoru.” You barely managed out as he licked the nub of your clit, lightly suckling on it as you felt a wave of tremendous pleasure roll down your back.

“Feel good, gorgeous? Don’t be shy, lemme hear you.” He said, his voice slightly muffled as he continued to eat you out.

As though to coax more sounds from your lips, his fingers delved into your pussy lips to rub slow circles onto your clit as his tongue entered your walls. You give him what he wanted, arching your back as your voice got louder and louder. You could hear the debaucherous slick sounds emanating from his mouth licking away at you. They were barely covered by your own moans of pleasure.

“That’s it. Fuck.” He hissed into your trembling thighs as you felt yourself tense up.

“You sound so cute when you feel good.” Satoru purred. “I’m so glad I’m the one who made you feel like this. All for me.”

You barely registered the darkness in his words. At some point, your legs were propped up on either side of his shoulders. Your fingers fisted into his hair, coaxing him deeper into your wet, needy heat. Satoru barely needed the extra encouragement, eating your pussy like it was all he was made for–like he’d die if he did anything else.

Your whines crested into something else. Satoru picked up on it, eagerly moving forward and picking up his pace as your pussy walls trembled from the constant attention he gave you.

“Gonna come for me?” He pressed. “S’ okay. Let go, gorgeous. You can do it. Just a bit more–”

Your back arched, but Satoru anchored your hips, keeping you in place as your orgasm rushed through you. It was the strongest you’d ever come, wave after wave of pleasure fizzed up your toes as they flexed and curled to assuage the intensity.

Satoru kept going until your body flopped down, exhausted by his ministrations. Even then, he only pulled away when your whines turned into pathetic begs of ‘too much’. You watched him rise from in between your legs with bleary eyes. He wiped away his mouth with the back of his hand, never taking his eyes off you.

You must have looked like a mess as you lied there, breathless. He wasn’t much better. His cheeks were dappled in pinks and red as his blue eyes simmered with ocean foam.

“Come here.” Your arms felt like cement but you reached up anyway, caressing his hot skin, coaxing him down. He followed like he was leashed, tethered to your fingers, crashing his lips onto your own.

You could taste yourself on his tongue, sour and sweet. You wondered what he was tasting as he ate your pussy, absolutely relentless. It felt like he’d happily suffocate in between your thighs, lapping away at your folds for the rest of eternity.

That didn’t sound too bad. A part of you hungered to push his head down to your clit again, let him worship your cunt in waves of ecstasy.

But another part of you felt something hot and heavy rest at your thigh, barely obscured by the denim of his jeans.

“Was I good?” He asked between feverish kisses, bringing you back to him.

“Mmh,” you agreed as his teeth nibbled on your bottom lip. “You were so good,” It’s all you could say, mind muddled and soupy by the orgasm.

Satoru moved down, lavishing your jaw and upper throat in kisses.

“Such a good boy–good little kitty.” He practically melted at your words, whining at your throat as you stroked his hair and fluffy ears.

“Yeah?” He asked, lips pulling away from your collarbone.

You nodded. “The best boy.” You continued as you wiggled your hips with need. “But Satoru–”

“I know.” He pulled away, and you mourned his warmth before you saw the way he straddled you as he fiddled with his belt.

“I’m hurtin’ too, gorgeous. Waited months for this.” Months? But hadn’t you met Satoru five weeks ago?

You ignored every alarm bell ringing in your head just in time to see his cock bob between his strong thighs. He looked painfully hard. Precum leaked from a mushroom-shaped tip as his cock touched your bare thigh.

Your mouth watered.

“Ready, baby?” That growl in his voice was back again as he leaned over, chest hovered above your own.

You never broke eye-contact as you licked your lips. You could still taste remnants of him in your mouth.

“Fuck me, Satoru.”

His eyes flashed. He was going to ruin you. You couldn’t care less. You wanted him to.

His cock slipped through your folds, teasing at your clit, still wet from him earlier. Your eyes rolled back into your skull at the first press of him at your battered pussy. You hissed at the same time he did, but you still managed to keep your eyes on him, wanting to admire what you did to him.

His expression was almost pained as he eased himself deeper into your cunt. His eyebrows were pinched together, and his jaw was clenched like he was physically holding back from crying out at the mere touch of your warmth. It looked like he was doing everything he could to stop himself from coming the moment he entered your pussy. Eventually, he couldn’t take it anymore, collapsing into your shoulder to whine at your shoulder.

“I–I can’t do it.” He whined but you could still feel his cock stretching out your hole. “You’re so warm and tight. Feels like–like I’m home.” He babbled.

You tried to laugh, but it came out as a strangled moan.

“Don’t say stupid”-- You barely stifled a moan as he pushed himself deeper inside you–”things like that.”

He bottomed out with a stuttered gasp, clinging onto you like you were his lifeline. You’d never felt more full in your entire life. He pressed all the way into your womb. If you looked down, you were half-afraid you’d see his cock imprint itself onto your belly.

“Fuck.” Satoru hissed in your ear. “Look at you. You’re…you’re a perfect fit.”

If you could speak, you might’ve agreed. His cock stretched you out oh so nicely, each curve nestled into the deepest, wettest part of you. A spit of precum dribbled out of your stuffed hole, lecherously coating your pussy lips.

“You okay?” Satoru asked when you shuddered underneath him.

You nodded, tucking your head into the crook of his neck.

“Can I move?”

“Please.” Your voice was soft and keening. “Please, please move, ‘toru–”

“Shit, quit that.” He lightly berated. “I’m tryna hold back but your voice drives me crazy…moving, so hold on, gorgeous.”

You moved on instinct, rather than on his order. A particular thrust left you gasping, making you reach up and cling onto his smooth nape. Satoru barely flinched at you clawing at him, curling his lips as he continued to stuff you full.

The way he fucked you was messy, bordering on desperation as he drilled you into the couch. The stretch against your walls left you breathless and panting for more. The cool air of Satoru’s apartment felt like aloe against your heated skin as he picked up the pace, filling you up with his cock over and over again.

“Shit. You feel like heaven.” He said through gritted teeth. “You’re squeezing me so good–do you feel good? Am I making you feel good?” It didn’t even feel like dirty talk. It felt like he was genuinely asking, scarfing down any lick of praise as he continued to drill you against the sofa.

Your pussy spasmed around his cock, bearing down on him like you never wanted to let him go. Your thighs were painfully clenched as you wrapped your legs around his narrow waist. A hand dropped down from Satoru’s neck to your clit.

Before you could relieve the pressure, Satoru snatched it up. He grabbed your wrists holding them above your head. He reached down with his other, circling your clit with his thumb and turning your head into mush all over again.

“Oh, yes,” your eyes rolled up as his cock pistoned into you. “Satoru its–its–”

“I know, baby.” Satoru lowered himself so his cock hit something deep and spongy inside of you. “Just gotta hold on a bit more. I’ll take care of you.”

Something rumbled in his throat. It almost sounded like he was purring as he rutted into you, and maybe that should have been your final sign, but you could hardly care less as you creamed around his cock. Your mind floated as he fucked you the way he wanted to, the way you begged him too. It was an endless build up that seemed to last for centuries.

Your orgasm hit the minute he slammed his cock into that spot all the way inside of you, rolling away at your clit at the same time. Your back arched as you came around his thick cock. Your pussy milked him for all its worth, gushing around him as Satoru staggered and swayed above you.

He didn’t last all that long after. There was a feral snarl before his cum sprayed all the way inside your womb. There was so much of it. Some dribbled out of your sore pussy all over your cunt lips.

Minutes later, when you barely put yourself together after that mind-numbing orgasm, you could still feel Satoru deep inside you. His head settled into the crook of your neck as he tried to regain his breath. You felt butterfly kisses across your skin as he lavished you in exhausted affection.

You stopped him when he tried to pull out, using the last bit of your strength to cinch your legs around his waist.

“Stay,” you mumbled, “‘feels nice.”

He smiled against your neck. You felt his arms wrap around your waist as he laid down with you. The couch was probably a snug fit considering how tall Satoru was, but you could hardly care less.

“Yeah?”

You hummed. You thought he said something else but you were too tired to care. Nestled in the arms of a man who fucked you silly was a good position to pass out in.

Just before you fell asleep, you noticed the funniest thing.

Between the pussy eating and the rapid fucking, those stupid, fluffy ears still remained on top Satoru’ head.

🐾

You woke up to sore legs and an aching body.

Your stiff limbs complained whenever you moved. Blearily, you opened your eyes. Sunlight poured in through a window. It was late-morning, at the very least.

Your environment also changed. The last thing you remembered was falling asleep next to Satoru’s warm chest on his sofa. Now the only thing you felt below you was a springy mattress and fluffy pillows. You laid naked underneath a bulky blanket.

Satoru was nowhere to be found, but the spot beside you was warm. Outside the room, you distantly heard a muffled phone call. Bits and pieces.

“Lost the curse user? That’s fine…got really curious about the…nah, it was my fault for getting caught up in that…yeah, I guess things mostly worked out…should thank him, honestly–”

You must have dozed off. When you opened your eyes again, Satoru was underneath the sheets with you. He watched you with a strange smile on his face, propping his chin up with his hand. His white hair was tousled like he’d never left. He was shirtless, proudly showing his bare skin when the light marks you left on him. With slight disappointment, you noted his cat ears were gone.

“What?” He asked, noticing your souring mood.

You scowled and turned away from him.

“You bit me,” you said, pulling an excuse out of the air. “‘Can’t believe you did that. Get out. I’m banning you from the bed.” You lightly nudged him with your foot.

Neither of you acknowledged that it was his bed in his apartment. Instead, Satoru whined, slumping over you in a bear hug.

“I’m sorry!” He kissed your shoulder, lightly licking over a mark he made the night before. “Please forgive me!” He caught onto your smile. “You’re into groveling? I’ll keep that in mind for next time–”

“Shut up.” You lightly scolded, but you sank into his hold regardless.

“Can I use your shower?” You asked after a few minutes of cuddling. As much as you liked this moment, your skin still felt clammy from last night.

“I can draw us a bath.” Satoru rubbed his cheek against yours with a satisfied sigh. “I got lavender scented bubbles and everything.”

“That sounds nice.” You nodded, but neither of you moved.

He practically invited himself into your shower time, but you didn’t mind. It was a little cute how eager he was. Or maybe that was just you missing every sign in the book. After all, this guy spent weeks and weeks helping you skulk around outside searching for your cat. Maybe you shouldn’t have been so surprised he was this forward.

Speaking of your cat….

“Satoru?” You called.

There was a hum against your skin as his head buried into the crook of your neck.

“I don’t think I need to worry about Snowbell anymore.” You tell him. “I…think he’s fine. Wherever he is.”

“Yeah.” Satoru said in this voice that you couldn’t read. “Wherever he is.”

You needed to shower, but he was so warm and the bed was so soft and perfect. You couldn’t help but drift off again, letting Satoru cling onto you. Distantly, you wondered maybe….