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“Come on, where is it?” Kyo whispers to himself, looking across Scarle’s desk. It’s littered with potions and ingredients, making it difficult to find the thing he needed, moon water. Turning around to look at her shelf, the other place Scarle said it could be. Huffing, Kyo approaches it, letting his eyes sweep over each bottle. Finally, he finds the bottle on a higher shelf. He stretches his arm out, able to reach it with slight difficulty. As the heels of his feet return to the ground, he tips a different bottle over. Its lid is unsecured and the contents shower onto Kyo. “Oh shit.”
Kyo steps away from the shelves, trying to escape from the potion. All he can do is hope it isn’t some kind of acid. He stands still, waiting for any adverse reactions. Kyo sighs in relief when nothing happens, turning to leave the room. He’ll leave the clean up to Scarle, knowing it’s best not to mix it with anything, not even water.
I’ll have to ask Scarle if it’s okay to shower to get it off.
Leaving the room, he begins heading to Scarle to drop off the moon water. When he makes it to the kitchen, he suddenly feels odd. He sets the bottle on the counter and not a second later, he falls to his knees. His head is pounding and he shakily lowers himself to lay down. Kyo reaches for his phone, his fingers only brushing it before his vision darkens into nothingness.
Fuck this magic stuff…
***
Kyo’s eyes are blurry when he wakes. He reaches up to wipe the sleep from his eyes, finding that his limbs aren’t moving the way he wants them to. He shakes his head, waking himself up more.
That potion… at least I’m not dead.
Kyo moves a hand to push himself up, freezing when he sees it. A furry, brown and white paw. He flexes his “fingers”, watching the claws extend and retract. “Oh shit!” He tries to yelp, only letting out a panicked meow.
I’M A CAT! HOW!? THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING!
Jumping up, Kyo shakily tries to get a hold of walking on all fours. He wobbles a lot, but eventually finds a rhythm. He makes it to the bathroom and looks up at the vanity.
I’m dreaming… I can’t actually be a cat, right?
Kyo moves into a stance to jump, bracing himself. He’s seen cats jump his whole life, easily clearing large distances. Hyping himself up, he finally springs, slamming right into the cabinet doors. He lets out a pained yowl and shakes his head.
Okay, maybe this isn’t as easy as I thought.
***
Kyo stares at himself in the mirror, still unable to accept what happened despite the evidence before his eyes. He blinks, the brown and white cat reflected back at him following his movements. He looks down at the crescent moon shaped patches on his chest and forehead, the white toes and cheeks.
I cannot let anyone see me like this, they’ll never let me live it down. The Kyoneko jokes are going to get so much worse.
“KYO! Where are you!? I thought you were grabbing the moon water for me!”
NO! I…
Jumping off the counter, he lands ungracefully and tries to run, hoping to get to his room undetected. He skids to a stop in front of his door. His shut door.
Why do I always close my door!?
“Kyo? Why’s your phone on the floor? Kyo?” Scarle calls. Kyo hears her move towards the hallway and freezes, unsure of where to hide. “Oh, how did a kitten get in here? Hey cutie, come here.” Kyo turns to look at Scarle, backing up as she approaches him. He has nowhere to go, eventually giving up.
Hopefully she knows how to reverse this.
Her hands grab him under his arms, lifting him up. He’s brought close to her chest, asking more questions he can’t answer. She pets him, the motion feeling oddly nice.
Oh hell no… I do not like getting pet…
“Did Kyo let you in?” Scarle asks and Kyo lets out a small mew. “Awe, you’re so cute!” She smooches Kyo’s forehead. Kyo is mortified. He pushes away from her, flailing and landing harshly. She gasps, reaching to check on the cat. He clumsily runs to her room, Scarle following behind. He sits next to the broken bottle and stares at Scarle, watching the gears turn in her head. She looks at the shelf, then back at Kyo. “Oh my god. Kyo?”
She got it! Now she can change me back!
“Oh my god!” Scarle repeats, her disbelief turning into laughter.
She is not!
Kyo growls, trying to relay the message that he doesn’t think the situation is funny. “You’re so cute! I can’t wait to show the others!”
“MEOW!” Kyo lets out a loud, strangled meow. He shakes his head, begging Scarle not to.
“Kyo, they’ll love it.” Scarle reasons. Kyo shakes his head again, pleading with his eyes. Scarle sighs. “Fine, I won’t say anything, but… It’s going to take a day or two for the potion to wear off.”
Two days? Two whole days? How am I supposed to pretend for two days?
***
Scarle and Kyo came up with an excuse for his absence in the group's dorm, via nodding and shaking his head. They came up with him doing a last minute off campus project and saying that he’d forgotten his phone. They’re sitting on the couch when the door opens, starling Kyo. He and Scarle look at each other.
We didn’t plan what to say about a cat being here…
“Hewwo!” Aster calls from the door. Kyo can hear him setting stuff down.
“Hi Aster. How were classes?” Scarle asks. Kyo sits stiffly, waiting to be found.
“Oh… boring. Everyone else went shopping, so they’ll be back in a bit.”
“Okay…” Scarle answers, letting the conversation trail off. Aster’s footsteps come up to the couch, pausing momentarily.
“Oh my… a kitten!? Where did you get a kitten!?” Aster asks excitedly.
“I’m watching him for a friend just for a day or two. He won’t be any trouble.”
“And his name? Is he friendly?” Aster gets closer to Kyo.
Name? Scarle, please don’t let him pick me up…
“He’s super friendly, he just grouches sometimes, and his name… it’s um… Nyx.”
“Hi Nyx!” Aster says, picking Kyo up under his arms. He brings him close and gives him a kiss on the head. Kyo is too shocked to struggle as Scarle starts cackling. Aster sits down and sets Kyo on his lap, petting him. “So cyute!”
No… I can’t do this with everyone. I cannot be treated like a pet!
Kyo stands and jumps to the floor, landing with an unsteady thud. “Are you okay?” Aster worries with a soft laugh.
“He’s really clumsy.” Scarle laughs.
FUCK YOU!
***
Kyo’s held in one of Maria’s arms, her other hand petting him. He lays limply, tired of struggling away from the petting hands all day. “I found one!” Aia cheers, running up to Maria. Kyo hears the jingling bell she found in Maria’s room.
“Yay! Come on Nyx, let’s play!” Maria says, setting Kyo on the ground. Aia tosses the bell, Kyo’s ears turning towards the loud jingles. He has the urge to chase it.
Das crazy… I am not a cat! I am not playing with a stupid bell!
“Go get it Nyx.” Maria encourages, almost sounding disappointed when he doesn’t immediately chase it. He stares at the bell, then takes a look around the room.
Scarle’s in her room so… it’s not like anyone will know it’s me playing with it. It’s not because I want to, it’s just so Maria isn’t sad!
Kyo tiptoes to the bell, gently tapping it with his paw. He looks up at Maria and Aia, smiles on their faces. It warms his heart, not that he’d ever admit it. He pushes it a bit harder towards the girls and looks at them. Maria giggles and grabs the bell, tossing it over his head. He hesitantly turns and follows it, batting it back to the girls. Eventually, it becomes a full force game of back and forth, Kyo giving in to chasing it across the room. His heart’s pounding as he chases and throws the bell around. He swipes at it a little too hard, flopping down on his side. He hears laughter again and whips his head to look at the source. Maria, Aia and Aster are now on the couch, laughing warmly at Kyo’s antics.
No… I’m just playing by myself now… I gotta go!
Embarrassed, Kyo jumps to his feet and runs to the hall, ready to hide in Scarle’s room. As he turns the corner, he smacks into something hard and unmoving. Turning, he runs into the kitchen, peeking around the corner to see what he hit. Ren stares at him, looking a bit stunned. “Sorry kitty, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
He’s so solid! Damn, that hurt my nose.
Kyo sits, bringing his paw up to his nose to rub it. When he sets his paw back down, he’s startled at seeing feet in front of him. Hands snatch him up and he’s brought up to Ren’s face. “You’re so tiny. Scarle said you weren’t a kitten though.” Ren observes. Kyo pouts at being called small and for being picked up again. “Awe, that face reminds me of Kyo!” Ren laughs. Kyo’s heart drops. “Look guys, it’s Kyo!”
“He’d kill you if he heard you say that.” Maria warns.
“Well am I wrong? They even have the same eyes.” Ren says, holding Kyo up to show the others.
“Their eyes do look pretty similar. I think it’s the color.” Aia agrees. Kyo struggles in Ren’s hands, wanting to be put down. Ren pulls him close to his chest and sets his clawed finger under Kyo’s chin.
What is he doing?
Ren scratches quickly, Kyo instinctively tilting his head up to give him better access. “Do you like that Nyxy?” Ren baby talks. A rumble comes from Kyo’s throat.
No.
Ren gasps. Another rumble is pulled out of Kyo.
No!
“Guys, he’s purring!” Ren cheers. He pushes his face against Kyo’s and nuzzles their faces together. “Wooja, wooja, wooja. Who’s a cute kitty?”
NO!
As mortified as Kyo is, he can’t stop purring, the petting and scratching feeling too nice. He’s carried over to the rest of the group and set on the couch, everyone taking a place around him. Hands pet and caress him from every direction, his purring getting louder. He wants to run and hide but…
This… is kinda nice… It’s… not like they’ll know it’s me… Maybe, just for a bit longer.
Kyo lays down and hides his face with his tail, letting himself relax into the warm touches. He feels the excitement of the day catch up to him, making him tired. He falls asleep to the sound of a movie and his own purring.
***
Kyo wakes up warm, an arm framing his small form. He sees Aster’s manicured hand resting on him.
I am not a cuddler.
Kyo carefully wiggles out from under Aster’s arm and stretches out his limbs. “Nyoo… stay kitty…” Kyo hears Aster complain, a hand grabbing him. Aster pulls him back against his chest, petting him and scratching behind his ears. Kyo suddenly feels less than enthused about getting up. He lays back down, cuddling against Aster.
Just this once, I’ll indulge him.
***
Kyo lays on Scarle’s desk, watching her write down recipes for potions from memory. He lazily eyes the words, bored. Without looking up, Scarle reaches up and scratches his head. He lifts his head, pulling away from her and glaring. Scarle turns her full attention to Kyo and laughs lightly. “You don’t have to be a tsun tsun, Kyo. The others showed me pictures of you being all cuddly and being pet.”
Pictures!? When!?
Angrily, Kyo stands and jumps to the floor, ready to stomp out of the room. He makes it to the door and sees Aia approaching. “Oh, there you are Nyx.” Aia says, scooping Kyo up and walking back into Scarle’s room. Kyo hides his face in Aia’s arm when Scarle laughs. “I really don’t want Nyx to leave. He’s so sweet. Kyo has to meet him.”
“I have to take him back in two hours. If Kyo’s back before then, then he can meet him, but I can’t just keep a cat that isn’t mine.” Scarle says.
“But they’re so much alike! I want to tease him about it!”
I do not act like a cat… normally…
“You can still tease him. I don’t think he’d like getting compared to a cat, whether he met it or not. Plus, you have pictures of him.” Scarle reasons.
“I guess…” Aia pouts. Done with the conversation, Kyo struggles out of Aia’s arms, landing on his feet and making his escape.
I’m getting pretty good at landing now.
“Nyx!” Maria’s voice calls from her room. “Tsk, tsk. Here kitty, kitty.” Debating for a moment, Kyo decides to follow the voice, entering the room and jumping up next to Maria on her bed. “Here.”
Oh hell no!
Maria grabs Kyo, who begins to struggle. She pulls it over his head and puts the hood up, pulling his ears through small holes. “You look so cute!” Maria stands and walks him over to her mirror, holding him with one hand. He’s dressed in a blue cape that’s lined with white fur, held together with a tied ribbon, white fuzz balls hanging on the ends.
I am not a show cat!
“Aster, come look!” Maria calls. Kyo struggles to get out of her hold, which Maria tightens with a laugh.
“Aw! How cyute!” Aster says as he sees Kyo. “It does look really good on him.”
“Now we can have a tea party, right Nyx?” Maria cheers excitably. She sets Kyo on one of the chairs in between two stuffed animals. “Aster, come sit.”
Why..? It’s only two more hours and I’ll be in my room until I turn back…
***
“Bye Nyxy!” Ren says, scratching and pinching Kyo’s cheeks. He’s handed off to Aster.
“Bye cutie. MWAH!” Aster gives Kyo an exaggerated kiss on the cheek and passes him to the next person.
“Bye bye, come back soon, okay?” Maria says, hugging him and giving him to Aia.
“Bye kitty cat.” Aia scratches behind his ears. She finally hands him to Scarle. Scarle laughs at the tired look on Kyo’s face, exchanges a few words and heads out the door.
“They really like Kyoneko.” Scarle teases. Kyo growls in response. “Oh, don’t give me that, I know you liked it too.” Kyo growls louder. “Stop it. It can be our little secret. I won’t tell them. I’ll even send you pictures.”
I didn’t like this… It’s humiliating…
Scarle walks around the block and sets Kyo down next to the building. Kyo looks up at the route he and Scarle calculated. He jumps, landing on bricks sticking out of the wall. Eventually he makes it to the third floor of the dorms, the floor they all share together. He climbs into his window they opened earlier and gives Scarle a nod. Scarle gives a thumbs up in return and enters the building.
Now, it’s just a waiting game.
***
Kyo fell asleep waiting for the transformation, waking up back in his original form. Standing feels odd and he takes about an hour to make himself feel human again, literally. When he joins the group for breakfast they all rush him with pictures of “Nyx,” showing him how cute the cat was and how disappointed they were that Kyo couldn’t meet him. How Kyo and the cat would “get along great.”
“Just because the cat had a grouchy attitude when you wanted it to play dress up and gave it affection doesn’t mean we’d get along.” Kyo grumbles.
“I didn’t show you those pictures yet…” Maria states confused. Kyo’s eyes widen and everyone’s attention snaps over to him.
“Hey Kyo, what was that “off campus” project about?” Aia interrogates.
“Yeah, for which class?” Aster adds. Ren’s eyes are wide and he’s restraining a smile. Kyo looks over at Scarle for help, who turns her head away, holding back a laugh. He has no help out of the situation.
SHIT!