nexus_crossings | when is a question not a question

when is a question not a question

Hermione has her hands full when she enters the Nexus today. She has a large box in her hands, which has Crookshanks laying on top of it.

"Where do you want to go?" She speaks to the cat softly. He blinks at her a couple of times. Hermione smiles softly, and heads towards the Grand Library. Their favorite place to visit. The same place where they first visited when they entered this area of the Nexus, so many months ago.

She sets down the box gently. Crookshanks closes his eyes, content with the location. He seems to be guarding the box. Or whatever is inside the box.

Hermione doesn't seem to have a question today. She pulls a large book out of her small beaded bag. And gives Crookshanks another fond smile, petting him softly.

Crookshanks seems to be waiting for someone to appear. Who could it be?

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"He has this way of always wanting to help others."

Crookshanks slowly moves off the top of the box. Chirping softly. Hermione stands to open the top of the box. Several tiny mews are now heard from inside.

"That is why he wants to help you, Katsuya. And give you a guardian to take care of you, so he knows that you are watched over."

Is that...? Several tiny mews can be heard from inside. Katsuya's breath freezes in his chest.

That is a box full of kittens.

Do not scream, do not shout. Do not make a fool of yourself in public Katsuya you are in a library act like a controlled civilized adult.

They sound adorable. And there's no sign whatsoever of his allergies, which is an immediate plus.

"One of these kittens will choose you, Katsuya. And then that kitten will protect you and guard you, for as long as you are together."

"I...I see."

Does he? Unlikely just yet, but he's only partially listening because Hermione is showing him a box full of kittens. And one of them is going to be his? A cat he can actually spend time with that won't affect him negatively?

Is he dead right now and finally being rewarded in the afterlife? He's nodding along with Hermione.

"What do I have to do?" Please put a cat in his hands he's going to die if he can't touch them look at how soft they are!

"You need to hold out your hand.... palm facing up... close to the kittens. Be careful you don't touch any of them. And the one that is destined to by yours, will choose you."

He's gonna do exactly as he was told by Hermione because if he does it wrong maybe he's not going to get one. And that would just be too cruel. To get this close and be denied.

Katsuya holds out his hand carefully and waits with bated breath for the kittens to come investigate him.

"Are you sure this is okay?"

A few of the kittens sniff his hand, but none venture forth for a moment. Then a gray one stumbles forward. And decides to actually climb up into his outstretched hand.

Hermione smiles. "Yes. I am sure."

"She had decided on choosing you."

Look at her eyes. They're so blue. She's black and white and grey and Katsuya is in love. He pulls his hand back, cradling the kitten and gaping down at the tiny kitten in his hand.

"She's gorgeous." He breathes the words out carefully and rubs her head with one finger gently. "Thank you..." He looks up again at Hermione and Crookshanks. "Thank you so much. What's her name?"

It won't take long before Katsuya feels a bond between him and the kitten. Something special and unique. Something that is just between them.

"We didn't name them. Please... do tell us what you wish to name her. Crookshanks would like to know what they will be called."

They haven't named the kittens? Oh dear, well that won't do. Katsuya holds her up to eye level and grins when she reaches out with one perfectly pink beaned tiny paw and boops him on his nose.

Hello, friend.

"Tomoe." A special gift in the form of a friend. He can't think of anything more fitting considering the circumstances. "I'm going to call her Tomoe."

"That is a lovely name. Tomoe." Hermione smiles. Crookshanks seems to agree. He purrs contently.

"We also have a book for you." Hermione holds out a copy of 'How to Care for Your Kneazle' to him.

Tomoe wiggles slightly in Katsuya's grip until he brings her closer so she can latch onto him with her tiny claws and perch on his shoulder with a tiny chirp. Look at how classy they both are in their matching grey outfits. Are you proud, papa~?

"A book?" Oh, this will be very helpful indeed. Katsuya knows plenty of things about careing for cats despite not ever being able to have one before, but a Kneazle may have different needs to consider. "Thank you."

Hermione smiles when she notices how both Tomoe and Katsuya are matching grey outfits.

"A beautiful cat for a handsome owner."

The book will be very handy. It will explain more about the bond between Kneazle and chosen. And how the Kneazle will always know where their chosen is. And how the Kneazle will be able to tell their chosen when there is someone around who can not be trusted.

"If I'd known I was meeting a new friend when i came out today I'd have purchased some supplies."

Katsuya shoots a fond glance to the kitten on his shoulder before turning back to Hermione. Her description of the creatures are extraordinary. He didn't know kneazles could do all of that.

"Goodness. Crookshanks is even more clever than I had thought! And of course, so too will his children be."

Crookshanks straightens slightly. Of course he is extremely clever. And all of his children will be extremely clever too.

"Let me know if you need any help with supplies." Hermione smiles.

"I mean it Hermione. And Crookshanks, too. Thank you both very much. This means more to me than either of you know."

It will be nice to have someone else in the apartment again. Someone Katsuya can talk to and interact with on a daily basis without having to trek to the Nexus to get his dose of social interaction in. Tomoe leans over and nuzzles Katsuya on the cheek.

Hermione reaches out to gently grasp Katsuya's hand in her own. And smiles.

"We know you will be a wonderful chosen."

"Well, if the most talented witch in her world and the most clever cat I've ever seen think so, then I've a lot to live up to."

Katsuya adds the kneazle book to his small pile of recipe books he's checked out from the library then. Shifts and rummages for a nice safe spot to place Tomoe so she won't be too cold on his hike back out to his cafe.

"I have to go back to the cafe, Ice Bear will be there by now. You should stop by later so I can thank you properly." A fine meal for both witch and kneazle is no trouble at all for him.

The compliments make Hermione blush a little.

"I will take you up on that. Thank you."

Katsuya, your phone is ironically starting to ring! Somebear knows you need to get back to the cafe pronto. It's that time of day when the fresh food is delivered and do you really want to trust Ice to sign off on it? He's not the best at counting the inventory, alas.

Oh, geez.

There will have to be time for shopping for Tomoe later. Katsuya's got to hurry on back to the cafe with his precious kneazle kitten in tow along with the books he'd been at the library in the first place to go get (and of course the manual for caring for his new friend).

"Sorry! Sorry, I'm here." The officer's only slightly out of breath when he pushes open the door to the cafe, dropping the books quickly on the counter when he hurries inside. "I got held up at the library on my way in."

The reason why pokes her little head out of Katsuya's coat pocket a moment later and gives a happy mewl at being inside again where it's warm instead of hiding in the cold.

Ice Bear is chatting with a young man at the back of the cafe, a stack of boxes await processing and pickup. It seems that the bear is hesitant to sign off on the order, wanting to make sure everything is there first. The polar bear turns to face Katsuya, holding a clipboard in his hand, which is offered to the police officer.

"New order came..." It's at that moment Ice Bear notices the little kneazle, his beady eyes going wide. The cat meows again and ice Bear resists reaching towards Katsuya's coat. "...Katsuya has a new friend."

"Alright, let me take a look..." Katsuya apologizes to the young man waiting for them while he quickly looks over their inventory to make sure everything is there and accounted for. He glances up at Ice Bear when Tomoe gets a bit vocal.

"Ah, I'll explain in a second, but yes. Her name is Tomoe. She's going to be staying with me from now on."

"...What." Ice Bear is normally respectful of personal space but Katsuya has just brought a cat into the cafe. A cat. This is an amazing thing for the polar bear to experience, as he reaches into Katsuya's jacket and quickly scoops up the mewling Kneazle. He makes sure to hold Tomoe gently, keeping her warm with his fur.

And without a second thought, he's heading back to the kitchen to make up some fish for the newly acquired pet. Katsuya people stop him from spoiling your kneazle. Or from feeding it the wrong types of food.

"This is all in order, thank you."

He signs off on the delivery neatly before offering the driver something to take with him as a thank you for waiting for him to get back to the cafe before seeing the other out. Josh waves the officer off when he tries to help unpack things for their inventory. It's part of his job, he's got it boss. Might want to go check on Ice Bear though.

He kinda ran off with your cat.

By the time Katsuya gets back into the kitchen Tomoe is sitting patiently on the counter watching Ice Bear prepare fresh fish into thin sashimi pieces.

"I'm not sure she's old enough for that kind of a diet just yet. I've got to get her some food especially for kittens, but I think it'll be okay to put a couple of small pieces in the bowl too so she gets used to the flavor." Katsuya's frankly in agreement with Ice Bear. Once she's old enough, Katsuya's going to be making all of her food for her fresh. Though it seems like they will be doing that with the gusto Ice Bear is working at.

when is a question not a question

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