Chapter Text
"A cat? I don't believe it."
Ichigo's eyebrow twitched with the urge to punch his friend in the face. "You think I'm here just looking for some nice slim-cut ribs?"
Renji looked at him in disgust. "You're messed up. The answer is no."
Ichigo slapped his hands on the counter. "You asshole, you have no room to be calling me messed up! What kind of heartless bastard passes up the chance to give a cat a loving home?!"
Renji crossed his tattooed arms. "See, that's the attitude I'm talking about. I thought if you ever came here, it would be to adopt a dog."
Ichigo scowled. "Well, I want a cat."
"No."
Ichigo just about decked him in the face, but the jerk dodged at the last second. "Like I'd give an innocent kitty to someone so abusive! Who do you think I am?"
"Abusive?! The only thing I'm gonna be abusing here is you, shithead!"
"Hitting employees is against company policy!"
"You can take your policy and shove it up your striped ass!"
"Fuck you!" Renji swung over the counter, bowling into Ichigo. The ginger lifted his knee and rammed it into his gut, falling to his ass in the process. In the midst of their yelling, tiny hands shot out and seized both of their heads to the root, yanking them apart.
"OW!"
Rubbing his sore head, Ichigo blinked up at the short girl standing over them, hands on her hips. "Idiots. What are you doing?"
"Ask this guy," Renji grumbled, and yelped as Ichigo jammed his elbow in his side.
"I'm trying to adopt a cat."
Rukia blinked, her stern countenance shifting into bewilderment. "You, Ichigo?"
"YES. A cat. I'm here to give a cat a calm, peaceful life." Ichigo dusted himself off forcefully as he got to his feet. "Why is everyone so surprised?"
Rukia shrugged. Her indigo eyes studied Ichigo for a moment. "I suppose I never realized you also liked cats, because of Kon."
Ichigo sighed. "Well, I do. Can I have a look at the ones you have here?" He narrowed his eyes at Renji, receiving a middle finger in return.
"Fine. If you're sure." Renji eyed his worn hoodie critically. "Can you even pay the adoption fee?"
"Shut the hell up, Renji, and just let me see the cats already."
Rukia poked the redhead sharply in the diaphragm. "Stop instigating. And shut up, or you'll scare them."
She led the way deeper into the shelter's small hallways, where the sound of several dogs barking reverberated through the walls and its peeling paint. The cat room held a couple dozen felines, ranging from kittens to seniors, tabbies to tuxedos.
"If you wanna let one out, lemme know. Most of them do okay when they see the other cats, but there are a few that should be taken to a separate room." Renji said informatively as Ichigo perused the felines, passing by a group of three tumbling black kittens together. They were adorable, but he didn't think he had the time or experience to care for them.
Little noses poked out between bars, twitching at the newcomer. A few were fast asleep all in a little ball. Others pressed against the back wall, with grumpy flat ears and blatant glaring. But most perked up, big soulful eyes peering at him, little chirping meows greeting him.
He paused when he got to the last kennel, unable to see any cat inside despite being stocked with blankets. Renji grunted. "Don't pick that one."
"Eh? Why not?"
"Pan is a nightmare, that's why." Renji grumbled. "Don't stick your face so close."
"Aren't you supposed to be pointing out their good qualities?" Ichigo peered inside for the perhaps tiny cat and received a flash of claw quick as lightning for his troubles. "Ow!"
Renji shoved him back to balance as his hand clapped over his now bleeding nose. "Idiot, that's why I said don't get too close!"
Ichigo grumbled under his breath, blinking when Renji prodded the sheet attached above the kennel.
Name: Pantera
Age: between 3-8 yrs
Breed: maine coon/siamese mix
Sex: intact male
Personality: pile of shit sassy, playful, food-motivated
found wandering alone not too far from shelter with no collar or chip. possibly feral.
"Wow, real big warning," Ichigo deadpanned. "How hard did Rukia kick you?"
"For what?"
"The thing about his personality. I know it was you, your chicken scratch hasn't changed in the last decade. Actually, chickens write better than that. It's more goose handwriting." He ducked to avoid the whack the scowling redhead sent his way.
"Like your handwriting is much better, dipshit! And besides, it's true. He's a shithead, flipped his litter box on me when I was cleaning the kennel under him."
Ichigo snickered despite his throbbing nose. Why did faces bleed so much? "I like him already."
"You're both assholes. At least we're working to get him somewhat likeable."
What Ichigo had mistaken for another blanket, was actually a huge and fluffy cat now that he'd unraveled from bread bun position. His fur was as white as snow, but what really caught his attention was the eyes that glowed in the dark like aquamarine jewels. He knew cats could have blue eyes, but he'd never thought they could be so beautiful.
The cat stared back at him with a suspiciously surly look. His tail flicked derisively, and Ichigo got the feeling he would have raised a middle finger if he could. A middle toe?
A growly mumble emitting from his little throat, the feline slunk into the house-box. He was so big his fluffy hindquarters stuck out completely.
Ichigo returned to the other cats, but his mind was lingered on the grumpy cat. The few others that hissed at him seemed more wary than anything, aggressive in their fear. Probably due to bad owners in the past. But the white cat wasn't afraid, almost like he was waiting on somebody in particular to come and he was sour they were taking so long. Ichigo frowned at the thought.
"If he didn't have a collar, how did you know his name was Pantera?"
Renji looked at him like he was a moron. "We didn't. Rukia gave him that name."
"Oh." In retrospect, Ichigo did feel like a moron. And since he dealt with his feelings like an adult, he went ahead and called Renji an asshole.
"Is that the only insult your orange brain can come up with?!"
"First of all, calling my brain orange is fucked up. My hair is orange, dipshit. How would you even know what color my brain is?" Ichigo rebutted. He peeked back into to Pantera's kennel, nearly getting another swipe to the face for his nosiness.
"Dude. No."
"What?"
Renji crossed his arms. "I know what's going on here."
Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Really? That's incredible, Renji. Do tell me what is going on."
"You've picked him already in your head. I see it all the time! The answer is no. He's too much of a handful for a first time owner."
Ichigo huffed. "I never said I was going to ask for him." He glanced down again. Narrowed eyes glowered back, bright like gemstones almost buried in snow.
Was he actually considering it?
"I looked after Shinji's cat for a week."
Renji grunted. "I'll give you that, because that calico is a literal demon. But Pantera can be worse. He stands weird when he shits."
There was a moody hiss from the kennel. Ichigo raised a brow. "How often do you insult him? Maybe it'll be better if I take him off your hands."
Renji rubbed his forehead. "I mean it, Ichigo. Choose someone else."
The ginger sighed. "I get that he's a difficult cat. I can handle it." Renji's expression didn't change. "I'll go to you or Rukia if I need to, alright?"
He looked off to the side. "What's wrong with Tora or Chibi?"
"Nothing." Ichigo answered truthfully. He shifted on his feet, feeling slightly guilty for not choosing one of them. They were sweet cats who would probably be adopted in no time. The silence stretched uncomfortably, like a rubber band taut with tension. Ichigo wondered if his friend didn't believe in his ability at all. But when he did speak, it wasn't what he expected.
"I don't want him to be sent back."
Ichigo blinked and frowned. "I'm not going to do that."
Renji stared hard at the floor tiles, his expression bitter.
"Has that happened before? How many people returned him?"
"A couple. Like you, he caught their eye, being so big and pretty. But they couldn't handle him." He glared at the floor. "They dumped him back here after a few days."
Ichigo's mouth opened and closed. Feeling like a selfish idiot, he glanced into the cage. The cat was facing away from them, his ears flattened. Was he already anticipating landing right back in that kennel?
"I am not going to return him." Ichigo said firmly.
Renji still looked hesitant. "He's not that sociable."
"Yeah, well, neither am I. We'll get along great. But I'm not leaving him here, and I won't bring him back either."
"He needs to be brushed daily."
"I'll brush him more than I brush myself."
He could understand where Renji was coming from. As much of a brash idiot his friend was, he felt deeply about the animals in his care. For one to be abandoned multiple times... he wouldn't want Pan to go to just anyone either.
Renji heaved a long sigh, still frowning. "All right. Fine. You can have him."
Ichigo beamed and was immediately met with a finger in his face.
"But." Renji said sternly. "Remember you asked for this, so don't half ass anything. Give him space when you first bring him home, don't skip out on cleaning the litter box, and don't complain if he scratches your couch."
Ichigo nodded.
"Hm." Renji drew back and planted his hands on his hips. "I really don't think you're up for this, so don't wait to come to me when you need help."
"Uh huh."
"You better buy all the stuff I point out to you, too. He's pretty active."
"Okay."
Renji wrinkled his nose skeptically. "All right, then. I'll go get the paperwork."
While Ichigo was filling it out, he got a front row seat at the spectacle that was Renji trying to coax Pan into the carrier. Even though it was him about to be living that temperamental ball of fluff, he couldn't help but find it amusing as the cat bypassed Renji's arms and firmly planted his paws on his face, refusing to be yanked out. Ichigo also learned just how loud cats could be. The feline's growls sounded purely vicious. Renji swore as the litter box was flipped in the struggle, a cascade of litter falling onto his jeans and shoes. Finally, the redhead tossed a towel over his swiping claws and pushed him into the carrier somewhat gently.
"He's all yours. Congratulations."
Ichigo tried not to snicker at how much hair was loose out of his ponytail. "Thanks, Renji."
Rukia was over the moon to hear he was adopting Pantera.
"Why are you so negative? Ichigo never gives up, even when he should."
Renji grumbled, typing away on the computer. His forearms were bleeding in several places. "Yeah, that's how he ended up in a cast when he just twisted his ankle."
"I won us that game, didn't I?" The ginger retorted, picking through the pile of stuff Renji had grabbed from the shelves and dumped on the counter. "Why the hell is there a fuzzy loofah?"
"It's not a loofah, idiot! It's a toy meant to stimulate their senses."
"It looks like bacteria."
Renji stabbed his fingers into the keyboard. "Is it a loofah or bacteria, asshole? Make up your mind!"
"It is whatever I say it is!" He seized another toy, shaped like a man in a suit with blazing red hair. "Why are you advertising toys of yourself, huh? You a creep?"
Renji spluttered, his face turning red. "Not every redhead is me, you hair racist!"
"Then why is it in here?" He bellowed.
"Because Pan likes those kinds of toys, dipshit! He likes beating the shit out of dolls that look like me! There! You happy?!"
There was a lull of silence, then a snigger, and Rukia broke down laughing. Ichigo grinned smugly. "Yeah, I'm real happy."
"You little shit. Pay the fuck up." Renji shoved the credit card reader towards him. A glaring 60,000 yen stood out to him and he shoved his card in with an internal sigh.
"Remember, don't let him out of the house, unless you want kittens. You should probably get him neutered."
Ichigo grimaced at the thought of how much such a procedure would cost, but it couldn't diminish the bubble of excitement in his stomach. He finally had his cat! "Thank you. Really."
Rukia smiled mischeviously. "No, thank you, Ichigo. You're perfect for him." Her voice lowered to a stage whisper. "Renji always ends up looking like he gave birth to a demon baby after taking care of Pantera. He probably would have strangled him by the end of the week."
He snorted.
"Oh, and here!" An empty cardboard box was shoved onto the pile of stuff.
Ichigo blinked. "Is there an invisible package in there?"
"It's for Pantera, obviously."
Shrugging, Ichigo left the shelter plus one heavy kitty and lots of supplies. Despite the load, his chest felt light as air and he couldn't help the little bounce in his step.
Ichigo gazed at the cat taking up the majority of his twin sized bed, stretched out like he bought it.
As soon as Ichigo had let him out to explore his new home, he hissed and stalked away. Ichigo let him sniff and poke around the apartment while he set up the litter box and put everything away. When he was done, he found the cat curled up on his bed.
He snapped a picture and decided to leave him be. Who knows how long he had been stuck in the kennel? He could give up his bed for a little while.
It was only late afternoon, so he settled on the couch to get some work from his classes done. A few hours passed in which he was reasonably productive and once the apartment was bathed in warm, orange light, deemed it time to make dinner. Something simple, like fried rice. He debated between carrots and peppers when the hair rose on the back of his neck. Blinking, he looked up to find two sharp blue eyes much higher than he anticipated. He hadn't even heard a thing when Pantera jumped up onto the counter.
"Hey you. Have a nice nap?"
The cat stared him down silently, to the point of being a bit unnerving. Ichigo tentatively reached out, only to be slapped away with pinpricks of pain in his fingers.
"Hisssss." With flat ears and snake like pupils, he did make an intimidating sight. But Ichigo was more focused on the row of tiny nubby teeth between his milky fangs.
"I let you sleep on my bed."
The cat rearranged his paws, bottlebrush tail flicking back and forth harshly.
"Of course, it's yours now, isn't it?" Probably Renji's revenge, not giving him a proper cat bed. Ichigo glanced down to where the empty cardboard box was sitting innocuously. It didn't look all that comfortable, but he hefted it up onto the counter. Cats like things up high, don't they?
Pantera gave him a very unimpressed glance.
"Rukia said it was for you, so don't look at me like that."
He pointedly turned away from the box, pink nose twitching.
"I'm not cheap!"
Ignoring the box, he prowled forward to inspect the bag of carrots.
"I don't think you want that." Ichigo bent down to rummage in the cupboard below, and promptly cursed when cold carrots thumped over his head. He popped up scowling, the cat staring back completely unperturbed.
Ichigo abruptly remembered what Renji said about getting litter dumped all over him. This had to be karma.
He picked up the carrots. Might as well eat them before he changed his mind. With his tuition, he couldn't exactly afford to be picky. Clearly his new companion wasn't of the same mindset because he refused to even lick at what Ichigo set out for him. Food motivated his ass.
The ginger left him to his own devices and ate on the couch, squinting at his books. If he made a note about a less than lukewarm reaction to the turkey canned food, well, it wasn't like the cat could read it.
Unfortunately by the time he'd gotten ready for sleep, the damn cat was back on his bed. Ichigo shifted uncertainly in his angry faced duck printed pajamas. Fur was already scattered all over the black blanket.
"I'm not sleeping on the couch, freeloader. Move over."
The cat closed his eyes. Ichigo meandered over to the side of the bed. Paused again. He ever so gently set his palm on the cat's side.
"Ow!"
The cat growled around the meat of his hand. But with his mouth occupied, he couldn't do anything but yowl in protest when Ichigo's other hand booted him to the side of the bed. He shimmied in, wiping cat spit off on his pants. "Jerk."
The only answer he received was a couple of low grumbles that he definitely didn't find kind of adorable. He felt asleep quickly even with his hand throbbing.