Chapter Text
One afternoon, Chishiya finished his shift early. He trudged toward Kuina's apartment, feeling utterly drained. All he wanted was to bury his face in her pillows, or better yet, her lap and drift into a deep sleep. However, the moment he stepped through the door, he heard a faint meow coming from the living room.
There, on the sofa where he usually sat, was Kuina, cradling a snowy-white ball of fur. She was grinning ear to ear, her voice carrying a doting tone Chishiya had never heard before.
"Oh my goodness, why are you so cute? There's a good girl, have another bite of paté"
Chishiya froze in his tracks. The sight sent a surge of irritation bubbling up inside him. Beneath his light blonde hair, his feline ears stood bolt upright, and the tail behind him began to twitch, fur slightly bristling. His eyes locked onto the kitten with murderous intent.
"Kuina", he called out, his voice dropping to a chilly tone.
Kuina started, looking up with excitement. "Ah, Chishiya! Look at this! I found her on my way back from the market. Doesn't she look just like you? All white and acting all posh"
Suppressing his annoyance, Chishiya walked over and stared intensely at the tiny creature nestled in Kuina's arms. As if sensing the killing intent, the kitten stretched, let out a sweet meow and rubbed its head against Kuina's wrist.
"She looks nothing like me", Chishiya narrowed his eyes, his lips curling into a mocking smirk. "I would never make such pathetic sounds just for attention"
"Oh, come on, she's just a baby", Kuina laughed, continuing to stroke the kitten's silky fur. Encouraged, the kitten purred louder and nuzzled into her hand even more.
Chishiya stood with his arms crossed, watching in silence. Normally, by this time, Kuina would have realized he was tired and reached out to scratch his ears. But today, those hands were occupied by an interloper. A strange sensation rose within him, one he would never admit to: a mix of jealousy and a fierce territorial instinct.
Suddenly, without a word, he lunged forward. He flopped onto the sofa, dropping his head directly onto the spot where the kitten had been lying. Startled by the sudden invasion, the kitten scrambled down to the floor, meowing indignantly.
"Chishiya? What are you doing?", Kuina asked, blinking in surprise.
"I have a headache", he muttered shortly, his cat ears drooping in a piteous display. "Her meowing is irritating. Get rid of her"
The kitten continued to cry, its claws kneading at Kuina's pant leg, begging for more affection. Just as Kuina leaned down to pick it up, Chishiya's arm snaked around her waist, pulling her close. His white tail quickly coiled around her wrist like a soft, furry shackle.
"Don't touch it", Chishiya whispered. His eyes were closed, but his tone was purely possessive. "My head hurts. Rub it for me"
Kuina froze for a few seconds, staring at the tail wrapped tightly around her arm. Then, she burst out laughing as the realization hit her. To think that the great doctor Chishiya was actually competing for affection with a kitten. Softening, she began to gently scratch his ears and rub the exact spots he loved.
Chishiya finally settled down, a low rumble of a purr vibrating in his chest, though he still shot a sideways glare at the kitten on the floor.
"You're actually cute when you're jealous", Kuina teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
His cheeks flushed slightly, his ears twitching in response. "I'm... not jealous. Not at all. I simply have a headache and want you to rub it"
"In that case, let me give you a quick massage so I can get back to the kitten", she said, shifting her grip to apply firm pressure to his forehead, kneading it like a clinical muscle treatment rather than an affectionate caress.
"No, not like that", Chishiya said, his voice lazy but tinged with irritation. "You have to rub my head and scratch my ears gently"
"But that won't get rid of the headache quickly", Kuina continued to tease.
"My headache is gone. I just want you to pet me", Chishiya finally confessed his true desire.
Her soft hands returned to scratching his ears and stroking his hair, making him let out involuntary little huffs of contentment. His tail tightened its hold around her leg.
"Don't bring any more cats home", he grumbled, sounding a bit sulky. "I don't like them"
"Alright, alright. I'll only spoil you, okay?", she leaned down and planted a soft kiss on the crown of his head.
And so, covered in the crimson glow of the sunset, Chishiya fell fast asleep on his girlfriend's lap.