How I Took In A Bratty Neko

The Romance

Shane was dumbfounded. "Did she just say something I never thought would be in her vocabulary?" Shane thought. He looked at her and she looked right into him, while her eyes trembled and shimmered a bit. "A-aren't you going to say it back?" She asked. "You expect me to say something like that right off the bat?" Shane asked anxiously. "I feel uncomfortable being the only one to have said it." Bri responded shyly. "Bri... Uh, you were so, uh, well, mean the first few days. How have you had such a change of heart?" Shane asked. "Because you put up with me." Bri said quickly. "So what? Every owner has to do that stuff." Shane said. "Nobody else besides you would." Bri said back. Shane then realized it. Nobody ever cared enough about her to put in the effort. He was the knight in shining armor, and he realized it now. "You're saying nobody ever bothered to make you feel at home and treat you like family?" Shane asked. Bri didn't respond with any words this time, just a nod, now ignoring eye contact. "Are you sure that's not the only reason you said what you just did? Do you truly love me? Or do you just love what I do for you?" Shane questioned. Bri stuck a claw into his chest. "Ah!" Shane huffed out. He looked at Bri, still not showing her face to him. "Never try to assume a girl's feelings. Only we can determine them, and I know what I said, and why I said it." Bri said softly. Shane was really getting the message now, although it was basically like a blow to the head from the unexpected bat. "Now do you see?" Bri asked as she finally looked at Shane again. Shane nodded. "I do." He said. Bri blushed and looked away again. "What?" He asked. "I like hearing those words... It makes me think we're getting married." Bri said quietly. "Married?!?" Shane questioned fast. "I-is there a problem with that?" Bri panicked. "Er, well, no. But you just said you loved me and are already jumping to marriage when you haven't even heard my opinion on this whole situation yet." Shane mentioned. Bri realized she was getting ahead of herself. She looked at Shane, almost nervously. "So... What is your outlook on this?" She asked slowly. Shane didn't change his facial position or anything. "After all of the things you've said to me or called me..." He started. Bri immediately got worried. "All the things you've made me do, errands or cleaning up..." He continued. Bri looked like she was hanging her head in shame, even though it was resting on the bed. "Even after all the pain and abuse you put me through, like the scratching, the drawing of blood..." Shane said sternly. Bri looked like she wanted to die. "I still put up with you... Just like you said." Shane incited. Bri looked up at him. "I still took care of you, I still kept you close... Do you really need to ask that question?" Shane asked. Bri looked really close at him. "Of course I feel the same in this situation."