nine lives.

sanctuary.

If this is what it's like to be a spoiled cat, then I didn't mind at all.

Kenma's mother, a kind woman known as Satsuki, didn't mind my stay, in fact, that night, when Kenma hadn't refused his medicine and had fallen asleep on the couch, she took me into her lap. She spoke softly, my breathing deep and even. "Thank you, it's hard for my son...his depression is bad, and usually Kuroo-kun can help, but it was different this time." Her hand scratched under my ear, and a soft purr came from my throat. "Thank you for giving me my son back, you're more than welcome here."

Those words had my eyes opening, and I stared at the woman for a long time, the TV playing in the background, Kenma fast asleep on the couch, curled around a blanket and his PSP on the couch beside him, having fallen asleep playing it. I curled into the woman's lap, feeling much better these days, and I slept.

Kenma fed me, everyday three times a day, without fault. The litter box was set up in the bathroom, and his mother had come home the one afternoon with arms full of bags and she knocked softly on Kenma's door, myself having been curled against his chest as he played his video game, which was, in all honesty, very interesting. She opened the door with a small smile, and he paused his game and turned his attention to her and she laughed. "I drove by the pet store on the way home Ken-kun." His eyes went wide, and she came in and sat on the edge of the bed. "Will you go with me tomorrow? Perhaps, to pick out a collar, and...they're doing tracking tags, maybe a bed? Have you thought of a name?"

He seemed to be shocked, swallowing hard, and her hands wound into each other, a nervous smile. "The kitten needs these things, but, I think it'll be good for us to go together." She bit her lip, turning to him, hair cropped at her chin and her smile was small, she didn't know if her son would like to be seen out in public with her, he didn't like people as it was. "You can go with Kuroo, if you'd like."

Kenma was quiet for some time, probably knowing I needed these things, and his mother was really, honest and true, trying to make an effort. She wanted her son to be happy, and I wondered what it must have felt like, for a parent to care like that. "Can...can he come with us?" He asked, winding his hands together, staring at me in his lap, blinking his eyes. "I uh, I want to go with the both of you." He muttered, and he reached under my chin and brushed his fingers there. "Um...I've been ignoring him...for the cat." His cheeks went red and she laughed, smiling as she pushed his hair back from his face, I wished he would look up more.

"That's more than fine, why doesn't he stay the night? I'll make grilled mackerel, I know it's his favourite. And for desert we can have apple pie."

He nodded, giving her a weak smile, and she smiled in return. "If I sleep, will you wake me up later so I can feed her?" He asked, and I watched the whole exchange, feeling like an outsider starring in and she nodded, hesitating before pressing her lips to his head as she stood.

"Of course, I'm happy." She smiled, and he nodded, and as he rolled onto his side, I moved carefully, stitches stretching but it didn't bother me too much.

He stared at me, and I curled half my body under his chin, kicking softly to get comfortable before putting my head down, and his knees curled me into him, and his hand went to my side. "Your eyes look human." He spoke softly, and I swallowed, standing up and he was more than confused as I laid in front of him, blinking too wide ocean eyes, and he stared and I stared back.

"What happened to you?" More than you would ever know.
"Why are you so gentle?" Because I know how much it hurts.
"Why can you understand me?" I was human once too, you know.
"Who are you?"

I'm not too sure anymore.

The questions came, and I couldn't answer, and it was frustrating but liberating and I only closed my eyes, curled up against him, and the sound of his heart beat, of a new home, a place I finally belonged.