A Strawberry-Flavored Neko

-o-

With the qualities of cleanliness, affection, patience, dignity, and courage that cats have, how many of us, I ask you, would be capable of becoming cats?
Fernand Mery

-o-

When I opened my eyes I found myself in a large bed I couldn't remember falling asleep in, in a room I didn't recognize. Slowly, carefully, I rose from the silken sheets and walked towards the closed door of the bedroom, ready to strike at any moment.

What awaited me behind that wooden door, though, wasn't anything I had ever expected.

Because I was immediately jumped by about six kids with cat ears, mewling at me and pulling my clothes.

-o-

Kyû: Kittens

-o-

"What the...?"

"Mommy!" My gaze snapped to one kid, a boy, that was pulling my left wrist, black hair and purple eyes included. "Why are you still in bed? You promised to take us to the zoo! You promised!"

What the heck?

Warm arms wrapped around my waist from behind, and soft lips ghosted over the crook of my neck, a low purring reaching my ears and vibrating against my skin. "How did you sleep?" My eyes widened in shock when Ichigo whispered against my neck, seemingly ignoring three of the kids clinging onto him now, too.

"Daddy! Mommy promised we'd go to the zoo today! Tell her to take us there! Daddy!"

To my amazement Ichigo's face softened as he bend down to the three children clinging onto his legs. "How about you go with Orihime-obasan? Mommy and Daddy need some time... alone to celebrate our fifth anniversary. Orihime-obasan is more fun than your parents anyways. She'll buy you all the sweets you want!"

The six kids were off in an instant, and Ichigo's arms back around my thin frame, his cat tail wrapping around something at the base of my spine. My heart sunk when I realized it was a tail of my own. "So..." His voice was husky as he breathed against my neck. "About that celebration..."

-o-

With a blood-curling scream I awoke, sitting up in a flash. Next to me Ichigo didn't even stir. Jesus, bless his feline sleepiness.

Scared to the core and frenzied, I got out of the bed and walked over to his closet. Back in bed with him, I put the large pillow that was half my size between him and me, not even realizing the silly notion this act held.

With a tired sigh I snuggled as close to the wall as possible, praying to the gods Urahara didn't include a functioning reproductive system to my Gigai.

-o-

The orange-haired teenager yawned, stretching himself in the fashion that had become habit, his back arched and looking like it might snap in two. Ichigo sat facing the head of his bed, then, rubbing his eyes free of sleep, gaze wandering towards the sleeping woman in bed next to him.

A small smile tugged on his lips, but then he frowned in confusion as he saw the big pillow lying in-between them. "What the hell?" He grabbed it up, and his face fell. "She didn't think I'd try to ambush her in her sleep, did she?"

Don't worry, Ichigo, it was far from that.

A knock at the door of his room snapped him out of his musings, turning towards it he was met with his father's face, of all things, the serious look on his face unusual for the cheery man. "You two finally finished?"

Ichigo blushed hotly, his feline ears slicking back to his scalp in embarrassment. "What do you mean?"

Isshin only rolled his eyes, deadpanning. "Please, you've spent the majority of the day in the bathroom and your bed, it doesn't need Kogoro Akechi to piece it together, son. Plus, your behavior from earlier pretty much explains it, if not Kisuke's creepy call shortly before that."

At the mention of the former captain, Ichigo couldn't help an evil smirk to split his face. "U-um, Ichigo?"

"I hope Yoruichi-san got him good."

It was then Kurosaki Isshin was scared shitless of his son for the first time in his long life.

-o-

When Rukia woke up this time around, it wasn't with a scream, but a soft yawn, small tears building in the corners of her eyes. She didn't mind not waking up to the orange-haired Shinigami-daikô, who, she sensed, sat downstairs in the living room. In fact she was rather grateful for that, still not sure about the rapid changes that occurred in their relationship just a few hours prior.

Rising from the bed and attempting to stretch her stiff muscles she flinched, a dull ache shooting through her body. The woman growled. "Damn that fool..."

Ignoring the continuous throbbing in her body she walked into the bathroom, tiredly grabbing her toothbrush and toothpaste.

It was then her gaze met the mirror and narrowed in on the giant, red bruise on the side of her neck.

"ICHIGO!"

Downstairs, in the living room, Kurosaki Ichigo let out a shrill screech and hid behind the couch in fright.

-o-

Rukia was walking down the hallway towards the room she shared with Ichigo's sisters when a pair of strong hands grabbed her up, one covering her mouth to muffle her scream of surprise, and dragged her into Ichigo's room. With a startled yelp the Shinigami woman fell on his bed. "What the hell?"

Her eyes only caught sight of Ichigo for a short moment before she felt his warm arms wrap around her small frame and her body was pressed into his hard chest. "Don't be mad at me..."

The Kuchiki struggled to gain a more comfortable position in his grasp, knowing she couldn't get away from him. "What do you mean?"

The orange-head only hugged her tighter, burying his face in her raven tresses. "I know you're mad about the entire thing... a-and about earlier..." A matching blush spread across their cheeks at the reminder. "But please don't be angry at me anymore..."

There was silence after that, Rukia being too stunned by his sudden apology. It was just too uncharacteristic of the stubborn man she knew, and it unnerved her. "Why are you so insistent?"

He stiffened. "Because..."

Her right hand grabbed onto his chest, silently edging him on. "Because..." Ichigo removed his face from her hair, his lips ghosting over the shell of her ear.

And with his following words he took her breath away.

-o-

"Because I love you, Rukia."

Her head snapped around and their eyes met, lips only inches apart. Honey eyes were hooded, and anxiousness was simmering in their depths, while her amethysts were brimming to the rim with surprise and shock.

Rukia kept her silence, and Ichigo, getting more and more nervous by the second, finally couldn't stand it anymore and smashed his lips into hers unceremoniously, pushing the shocked woman on her back and into the mattress.

He couldn't help it. Her silence had unnerved him to a point at which he could do nothing but kiss her to quench the anxiousness in his stomach. It took the woman beneath only a few seconds to start responding to his kiss and hie felt his body relax at that, glad she wasn't pushing him away. Ichigo ran his tongue over her bottom lip, his arms wrapped around her petite frame almost crushing her against his body, and the Shinigami shuddered, opening her lips for him to explore every crevice in her mouth.

He purred, content with her reactions, rubbing his tongue against hers lovingly, a moan escaping the lithe woman, her hands coming up to scratch behind his ears.

And he was positively gone.

Their kiss went on for another two minutes, growing more heated by the second, before the need for air became too much for either party to bear and they broke apart, panting, eyes hazy. Rukia was the first to regain her reason, while Ichigo just went straight to her neck, licking the giant red marking he had left on her during their little bathroom escapade.

Remembering the bruise on her neck Rukia's right eye twitched, her left hand balling into a fist.

SMACK!

The Neko fell back to the opposite end of the bed, rubbing his aching head as his ears were pressed to his skull, his tail swishing lifelessly on the mattress, pouting. "What was that for?"

The petite Shinigami smiled evilly, getting off the bed and walking towards the door.

"For ambushing me, kitty," she snickered, leaving a sulking Ichigo behind.

So much for love me tender.

-o-

"Thank god I got rid of those ears and that tail!"

I was currently on my way to school, as vacation had ended and the doom was back upon us poor students, my petite, raven-haired... well, uh... girlfriend walking next to me, scowling up at my hair.

Figures she'd sulk at the loss of "her" Neko.

Rukia pouted, poking my side, my muscles flexing reflexively. "Get them back."

I smiled slyly at her, her purple-blue eyes widening as I backed her into a wall, staring down at her. "Maybe if you are extra nice to me tonight I'll get them back, just for you, my little kitty."

An enormous blush stained her face and she quickly punched me in my stomach before running away in panic.

Had she still not gotten over me jumping her 24/7?

-o-

How I had gotten her in the janitor's closet making out with me I have no clue, but I sure as well won't complain! Even though I had to promise getting my cat traits out again, but that was well worth it.

If I had known I'd get addicted to her after sleeping with her, maybe I would have refrained from doing so.

I moaned as she wrapped her strong legs around my waist, pressing her body against mine.

Probably not.

My right hand cupped her ass in a firm grip, my now claw-like nails prickling her skin lightly causing her too release a turned-on moan into my mouth, and I grinned. My left hand was in her mass of raven hair, tilting her head back to gain deeper access to her mouth, thrusting my tongue practically down her throat, my tail under her shirt and my ears slicked back to my skull.

And just when Rukia had started unbuttoning my shirt did our idiots of friends rip the door open, leaving everyone in flabbergasted silence.

Needless to say, I strangled Keigo for suggesting they look for us.

-o-

Rukia stirred beside me, her violet eyes slowly fluttering open and I smile at her, my tail coming up to move a few stray bangs behind her ear to give me a full view of her sleepy face. "Good morning."

She slowly returned the smile, moving closer to my naked body under the covers, resting her head in the crook of my neck. "Morning, pervert."

My smile turned sly as I poked her playfully. "Who is pressing their body against mine? Huh?"

Her small hand slapped my chest lightly. "Shut up."

I bent my head slightly towards her neck, my tongue darting out to lick my mark softly, a moan coming from her lips as I moved over her, a fake glare coming from her. "Horny bastard."

I kiss her, brief, but hard enough to send her reeling, and snicker softly. "As if you're one to talk, Rukia."

-o-

Somehow, I'm unsatisfied with the ending but whatever.

Thanks for sticking with this story until the very end - and sticking with my long absences!

Love you guys, and until the next time!