Neji’s Kitten Ch. 5

…


Neji walked through the open door, Gingerale still enclosed in his hands. Almost as soon as he walked into the house Hinata ran up to him. She looked horribly guilty and as she stopped in front of him she bowed her head. “I-I’m so sorry... Neji-kun. I…I tried to chase after her but… but sh-she… she got away!”

Neji raised his eyebrows. Hinata slowly raised her head, tears threatening to spill over in her eyes. Neji threw his head back and laughed. He couldn’t help it. The irony of the situation was hilarious.

At his laugh Hinata jumped. A mixture of confusion, surprise, and disgust showed on her face.

Neji calmed himself down and wiped a tear from his eye. He held his hands up to Hinata’s face (imitating what Tenten had done when she had first given him the kitten) and slowly opened them. Hinata’s eyes got wide.

Gingerale spun around to face Hinata and let out a welcoming “meow” as if Neji’s hands were her sanctuary and Hinata was a guest. When Hinata did not move the kitten rose to her hind paws and wrapped her front paws around Hinata’s face.

Hinata blinked. “How… did… you…”

“She followed me,” Neji replied. “She showed up in the middle of my fight with Lee and almost get crushed.”

Hinata blinked slowly and took the kitten from Neji’s hands. The kitten took her paws off her face and curled in her arms. “She followed you... to the training ground?” she asked, surprised.

Neji crossed his arms and nodded.

Hinata looked down at the kitten. Gingerale purred and nuzzled her neck. “Mew mew meow!” she said, as if they were partners in crime.

Hinata laughed and gave her back to Neji. “That’s amazing!” she said. “I didn’t know cats could track people from so far away!”

“I don’t think she did,” Neji said calmly. “Hinata cocked her head, confused. Neji chuckled. “I don’t think she tracked me. I think she has a different way of following me.”

Hinata narrowed he eyes. “I don’t…understand…”

Neji shrugged and walked around her, leaving a very confused Hinata by the door. As soon as he walked into his room and closed the door Gingerale jumped out of his hands leapt on top of a fuzz ball on the floor. Neji walked over to her and picked her up by her scruff so that they were eye to eye. “It’s a good thing you’re cute,” he said bitterly, narrowing his eyes at her.

Gingerale let out a “mrreow” of laughter and wrapped her front paws around his face.

Neji’s irritation melted away and he smiled a huge smile that he hadn’t shown in a very long time. He started to snuggle her… before he caught himself. “No no no no NO!” he yelled, squeezing his eyes shut and thrashing his head back and forth violently. He dizzied himself and fell backwards, letting go of Gingerale so that she landed on his chest. He laughed as the kitten tackled his chin, and he shook her playfully. She bit his thumb gently and began wrestling his hand. “Stop it! I’m mad at you!” Neji yelled in vain as he continued to laugh. Gingerale detached herself from his hand and proceeded to tackle his nose. He shook his head and she play-bit his nose, and in return he batted her ear.

At this moment it happened that Rock Lee came up to Neji’s window, opened it all the way, and jumped through it, to see a cat on top of Neji’s face, biting his nose, and Neji on the ground, and from what Lee thought, he was screaming (Lee had NEVER heard Neji actually laugh). Before Lee could even think it over, he pointed at the cat and screamed, “Oh my god! My eternal rival is being attacked by a vicious cat!”

At the sound of his voice Gingerale jumped, spun around, and hissed at him. Neji quickly scooped her up sat up, his smile gone, and instead replaced with surprise.

“Neji, what’s going on!?” Lee screamed in a state of panic.

Neji stared blankly at his teammate for a second as his brain registered what had just happened, then his face turned red with anger. “Lee!” he yelled, standing up, “What the hell is your problem? What are you doing in my room!?”

Lee narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “What are you holding that cat? Isn’t that the same cat that showed up earlier?”

“Answer my questions first!” Neji demanded, not even thinking about Lee’s questions.

Lee blinked and shook his head to clear it. “Right, right… I’m delivering a message,” he mumbled under his breath to himself. “Naruto’s having a sleepover! All the boys are invited! Come over at 6:00!” He said aloud, and then crossed his arms. “Now tell me… Why do you have that cat?”

Neji sighed defeat as Gingerale climbed up onto his shoulder and lay down. “Tenten gave it to me. It’s my cat.”

Lee’s face brightened and he went into a nice guy pose. “Yosh!” he said, before jumping back through the window. “I’ll see you later tonight, Neji!” he called over his shoulder before disappearing.

Neji stood there, having no idea what to think of what had just happened. “Meow meow mew,” said Gingerale. Neji chuckled as he guessed what she might be saying.
“That guy is an idiot…”

He suddenly snapped out of it and looked at the time. It was 5:25. That was just enough time to pack his bag and head over. He took Gingerale off his shoulder and set her on his bed, where she sat and watched silently as he went around his room and packed his bag.

…

By the time he finished it was 5:35. Neji sat on his bed and went through everything one more time. “I’ve got everything,” he said when he was done.

At this Gingerale sat up and walked over to him. “Meow!” she said as she sat on his hand.

Neji blinked and thought for a moment. “I guess I should fill up your food and water bowl, shouldn’t I?” he said finally as he set his bag on his bed and filled up both bowls. “Well, there you are,” he said, finishing. Gingerale watched with an unreadable expression as Neji picked up his bag and walked to the door. “See you tomorrow!”

“Morw!”

Neji slowly turned toward the noise. Gingerale sat on the bed watching him, but as soon as she was sure that he had stopped walking she jumped off the bed, ran up to him, climbed up his clothes with her claws, and perched herself on his shoulder. When she was comfortable she began to purr.

Neji grunted in irritation. “You can’t come, Gingerale,” he said, attempting to pull her off his shoulder by her scruff. The kitten stopped purring and dug her claws deep into his shoulder in protest. “Get off!” he yelled angrily, wrapping his hand around her waist, desperately trying to pry her off. In response she spun her head around and bit his hand hard until he let go, and then climbed his face with he claws and tangled herself in his long hair. “OW!” Neji screamed as he rubbed his scalp in search of the kitten. When he found her he grabbed her scruff and tossed her onto his bed. He tried to make a run for the door, but he was too slow and she wrapped her entire body around his ankle. Neji yelped in pain as she sank her teeth deep into his ankle. He began thrashing his leg in an attempt to shake her off, and as he did so he realized that this two pound ball of fluff was winning this fight.