Cutting Through (Open)

[cowboymcd74]

It was a bright and sunny day, about mid-morning; the perfect day for a walk through the park. But that wasn't why Katsu was here. Rather, he was simply on his way to his new home - a small residence that he was renting, so that he could attend school - and it was easier to walk through the park than around it.

As Katsu walked down the park's path, his steel grey eyes stared straight ahead of him, searching for his destination. He didn't turn his eyes to the many friendly faces around him, nor did he look at the lovely park that he was walking through. To others, it would seem that this was a rather menacing action; but Katsu was just afraid to make eye contact. He kept his hands in the pockets of his jeans, and walked rather quickly, hoping to get through the park without any conflict. He held himself upright, though, and his face held an emotionless look. The way he carried himself seemed almost proud and confident, threatening to those around him; but it was just an outward shell to protect him from the strangers around him.

With a sigh, Katsu stopped walking. The park seemed to go on forever; and he still didn't know exactly where he was going. His eyes finally averted from the path, to settle upon a nearby bench: one that, luckily, was empty. He wouldn't have gone to it otherwise. But, because he could sit alone, he approached it and did so, taking a seat at one end of the bench. He could now sit in comfort while he got his bearings.

His hands withdrew from his pockets; in one of them was a folded-up piece of paper. When he unfolded it, his eyes settled upon a map of the town. Though he'd lived in this town all of his life, he'd never really ventured far from home, and so didn't know quite what it was like this deep into it. But he was good with directions, so it wouldn't be difficult to find his new home....One of his fingers traced along the map, as if following a path he might take. Finally, a small (almost unnoticeable) smile crept upon his lips; maybe he would be able to find his house after all.

[realfruitgummie]

Minit decided to leave school a little early for lunch at home. Her house wasn't too far away, just a quick cut through the park and she was there. It had been a rather awkward morning, what - with the Prince Yuki fanclub and her almost revealing too much too soon.

Her long flowing silverly pigtails gave the impression she was much more older then she really was. Those clear crystal blue hues seemed more focused just on getting home before anyone else could run into her.

About halfway through the park she had to stop and look up, not realizing where she was.

"I'm already lost, I can't believe it"

Minit looked to her left and saw noone, then looked to the right and saw a boy with a map in his hands. What luck! Quickly she made her way towards him, until she was standing right infront of him.

"Pardon me, but do you think I could borrow that map for a quick moment? Its rather embrassing because I don't live that far from here, but I'm already lost"

[cowboymcd74]

OOC: wow, you found it before I sent you that message...haha

IC:

"Pardon me, but do you think I could borrow that map for a quick moment? Its rather embrassing because I don't live that far from here, but I'm already lost"

Katsu hadn't been paying attention to his surroundings; so, when he heard a voice coming from above him, he jumped just a little. His hands lowered, just enough that he could gaze over the top of the map, up at the girl above him. At first, those steel grey hues gave the girl a cold look; not threatening, nor mean. It was just his usual look, rather emotionless, as if he was protecting himself behind his eyes. But as they fell upon her face, he blinked.

"Whoa...she's...." He gulped. "She's very pretty!" He was a little surprised that she was talking to him; he usually faded into the background. It wasn't that he was a bad person, or he was unconfident in himself....in fact, he felt the complete opposite. He just wasn't good with meeting new people.

Suddenly, it registered that she had asked him a question. He blinked, and then nodded, and extended his hand to give the map to her. "Oh, uhhm...yeah, of course, you can use it...and...it's nothing to be embarrassed about." He shrugged. "I don't really know where I'm going either..."

As he watched her, he tilted his head to the side. He remained emotionless, seeming unbothered by this girl that had just shown up in front of him. Once she had the map, he leaned back in his seat, resting his back against the bench; though he was sitting straight. He wasn't comfortable with the situation yet, and so he remained completely aloof and detached from it.

[realfruitgummie]

Minit got the impression right away that her presence bothered him, making her just as uncomfortable as he probably was. This was when her cat part came out, and she decided she just didn't care. In fact, she actually took a seat beside him now and leaned towards him - her slender fingertips already reaching for the map, as if she was ready to pounce.

Oh, uhhm...yeah, of course, you can use it...and...it's nothing to be embarrassed about."

For a brief moment her eyes met his, she was looking at him as if he was going to be her next meal. Quickly she took the map and flipped it over, and turned it, and then she did something quite unusual indeed -

She crumbled it into a ball and began to play toss with it!

"I don't really know where I'm going either..."

"Then come with me to my place"

Well, was that out of the blue or what? Rightfully so, she tossed the balled up map at him and stood to her feet.

"I've been wanting to find someone to play tabletop tennis with, unless you have something better to do"

[cowboymcd74]

OOC: I said UNbothered.....hahaha

IC:

He blinked as she came closer to him. It was strange, completely unexpected. He wasn't used to being given attention by a stranger, especially one as pretty as this one. And he definitely wasn't used to being so close to someone he didn't know...at least, not unless it was during a fight, which was very rare and definitely nothing like this moment. His head turned so that he could watch her, his body language telling her he was a little confused; he didn't move, not knowing what to do. Then his eyes met hers; no longer were they that cold, emotionless stare. Now they were more of a gaze, an admiring glance at her; but he didn't look for too long, before he averted his eyes back to the map.

But the map was gone. He blinked, and looked back to see it balled up in her hands. With that, he lifted his eyes back to hers. For a moment, he just sat there. Then, his quiet nature subsided; his eyes opened up, and he began to speak rather easily. "What! What'd you do that for! Now I'm never going to find my way home!" He scrambled to catch the ball of paper, before a gust of wind came along and swept it away. His grey eyes followed the paper as it fluttered through the air, out of his reach.

"Then come with me to my place" He blinked, and tilted his head. "What?" Suddenly, he seemed nervous. "Your place? But....I don't even know your name! And even if I did, you just said you don't know how to get there!" He frowned, and crossed his arms over his chest. "How are we supposed to find our way without a map?"

His words were angry, but his voice was somewhat gentle, and his eyes carried to anger. It was tough to get on his bad side, unless you did something he didn't like. He was mad at this silly girl for what she had done, but it was very obvious he'd get over it quickly. Actually, it was a good thing....it allowed him to open up for the first time.

[realfruitgummie]

"Your place? But....I don't even know your name! And even if I did, you just said you don't know how to get there!"

Minit stared there blankly for a moment, her crystal blue hues gazing over him as he had his little 'outburst'. Then, as if what he was saying wasn't interesting at all, she turned her attention toward a butterfly flapping around her.

"How are we supposed to find our way without a map?"

Her slender hands shot out (like a couple of paws reaching toward their prey) and reached for the butterfly. Quite comically, she missed, and the butterfly landed on her nose.

"I just remembered where it was"

Her left hand pointed toward a row of houses about a 5 minute walk away, her eyes still fixated on the butterfly on her nose (eyes naturally crossing).

"And my name is Minit. You don't have to come, but do you honestly think someone my size could do anything to harm someone that is yours?"

As the butterfly finally flew away, Minit turned toward the boy once again.

"I have a phone and a big old map at my house. Seeing your map has now becomes some dog's chew toy, I suggest you come with me"

Minit wasn't waiting for an answer, as she began to walk away from him she just figured he would follow anyway.

[cowboymcd74]

"Are you even listening to me?!"

He blinked as he watched her play with the butterfly. It was just so cute. Suddenly, his outburst wasn't important anymore, nor his map. He suddenly became quiet again, as he leaned back against the bench once more, resting one arm on the arm of the bench, the other across the back of it. He seemed settled again, confident and not nervous, but he still didn't know this girl, and didn't know what to say next.

"And my name is Minit. You don't have to come, but do you honestly think someone my size could do anything to harm someone that is yours?"
He blinked, and then laughed. It wasn't like a laugh at a joke. Rather, it was a hearty laugh. That wasn't his worry at all; no, he was sure she wouldn't be able to harm him. In fact, the only one who had ever beaten him was Yuki, and that was long ago when Katsu was untrained. He shook his head. "No....no, that's not what I'm saying -"

"I have a phone and a big old map at my house. Seeing your map has now becomes some dog's chew toy, I suggest you come with me"
But before he could continue, she continued speaking. And, since he was still quiet around this girl he'd only just met, he fell into silence when he heard her voice cut in on him. He frowned as she mentioned the map, and turned his eyes to look in the direction it had disappeared. "That was your fault..." He mumbled. He sounded like Kyo in that moment (if Minit could have heard his mumbling voice), except for the fact that his voice didn't show any sign of a held grudge. Rather, it was more like a frustrated comment, as if there was nothing that could be done about the situation.

"But...I still..." He blinked as he watched her get up and begin to walk away. Wasn't she even going to stop and listen to him for once? With a sigh, he stood up as well, and fell into step behind her. He could have stayed; but like she said, what would he do without a map? Besides, he probably would have followed her anyways, though he didn't really know why he was following this girl he didn't know. His hands dug into his pockets again, as he walked, saying nothing for the moment.

[realfruitgummie]

There wasn't much more to be said, Minit seemed off in her own little world as they walked through the park and finally made it to her front doorstep.

She had a quaint little house, with a nice lavender painted door and white walls. The house had about 6 windows, and was two stories, you half expected a whole family to greet you once you entered.

Only there was no one. As she opened the door to the elegant 4 bedroom house with hardwood floor kitchen and plush white carpet living room, you expected a grinning mother with a pan in her hands.

No one. Just one set of shoes on the mat, one jacket in the closet, one table setting at the table.

"Can I um - make you some tea - ?"

Something changed. Minit's whole persona as soon as they walked through the doors. She wasn't the flighty, dazed and playful woman he met at the park -

Shoulder's hunched, her voice softened and she seemed as breakable as porcelain.

[cowboymcd74]

When Katsu approached the house, he frowned a bit. He didn't want to meet a family, have to talk to a whole group of strangers. He didn't really like strangers or groups, so it seemed like a rather unpleasant situation. But he sighed, and kicked a stone acros the pavement, as he stepped up onto the porch behind Minit, and into the house.

He blinked. No one came to greet him; no one said "hello." There didn't seem to be anyone around the entire place. It was a little bit strange, as his eyes gazed across the entire place, the roominess of the house, and no one to fill it. He turned to her, and tilted his head a bit, lifting one hand from his pocket to scratch the top of his head. "Where is everyone? There's no way you live in such a big home, all alone..."

"Can I um - make you some tea - ?"
Another blink. This day was getting stranger. As Katsu looked at Minit again, he realized that she had changed. Her physical appearance was the same, but her body language...it told him she was practically a different person. Again, he scratched his head. But it didn't bother him in the least....after all, she was just as cute as when playing with the butterfly now...just in a shy way.

"Oh, uhhm....tea would be good..." He nodded. "If you want to, that is." He shrugged, and closed his eyes, turning his head to the side. "You don't have to on my account." Katsu was opening up a bit, as well; he was talking, even if that last statement came from his more proud, almost Kyo-like side. But he was talking, and that was more than he had done with most anyone outside of his family in a long time.

"By the way...I'm Katsu..." He returned his eyes to Minit. "Sorry I didn't introduce myself before..."

[realfruitgummie]

Oh, uhhm....tea would be good..If you want to, that is. You don't have to on my account."

"No, its really alright. I insist. The phone and the map are in the living room, its just me here so you don't have to worry about anyone coming home"

Minit glanced towards him to see his expression, then she turned and went to the kitchen to put on the tea.

"By the way...I'm Katsu...Sorry I didn't introduce myself before..."

"Kat - su. That's a nice name"

The tea didn't take long to prepare at all, within moments Minit was balancing a silver tea set in her grasp that she soon set on the glass table in the living room. She sat down, politely crossed her legs, and reached for the teacup.

"Do you live alone too?"

[cowboymcd74]

"No, its really alright. I insist. The phone and the map are in the living room, its just me here so you don't have to worry about anyone coming home"
Katsu blinked, and looked around the place once again, his grey eyes drifting through every room that he could see from this spot. It didn't make sense....a girl living alone in such a large house? It must be lonely, not to mention that there was no way a girl like her could afford it alone...His eyes fell upon her again, and he spoke. "Just...you? But....but wait, why did you choose such a huge house by yourself?"

His eyes then drifted to the way into the living room. He could very easily go into there and find the map and the phone, do what was necessary, and leave. But at this point, he was actually beginning to enjoy the company; he'd been alone for a few days now, since he had moved into his new home. A friend would be nice, after all. So, he would join her for tea.

"Kat - su. That's a nice name" He blinked again, and scratched his head a bit. The look on his face was a bit surprised at her response, his eyes wide and his mouth open just slightly. Especially with how shy she had become, Katsu was not expecting any sort of bold comment from her. Slowly, though, his lips curled into a very small smile, and he closed his eyes: he seemed to be a little bit happy with what she had said. "Oh...well, thank you. I like yours too..."

"Do you live alone too?" He nodded, and shrugged. "Yeah, well...I don't need a roommate. And I don't wanna walk from my parents' house all the way on the outskirts of town every day for school..." He paused a moment, his eyes averting to the side, looking at the wall but not really focusing on it. His last comment carried an air of confidence, of pride. His next one, though, has a hint of unhappiness in it, "Besides...I don't know anyone I could live with."

He blinked, realizing he'd just said a little too much. Immediately, his eyes snapped back to Minit, as if to see if she'd noticed. Then, trying to change the subject, he looked around and spoke some more. "But my home's nowhere near this huge. What do you do with all the space? And how the hell do you afford it?"

[realfruitgummie]

"Just...you? But....but wait, why did you choose such a huge house by yourself?"

Minit didn't answer. The conversation continued.

"Oh...well, thank you. I like yours too..."

Smile. Nod. Another sip of tea -

"Yeah, well...I don't need a roommate. And I don't wanna walk from my parents' house all the way on the outskirts of town every day for school...Besides...I don't know anyone I could live with."

Was it too forward to just outright offer him a place in her house?

"But my home's nowhere near this huge. What do you do with all the space? And how the hell do you afford it?"

Minit's crystal blue hues narrowed as her personality changed once again, looking at him - almost glaring at him.

"Why don't you give it a rest? You want to know so badly, fine, I will tell you. My parents are DEAD. D - E - A - D. The insurance money they left me is more than enough to put myself through school, buy this house and everything in it, and never have to work a day in my life. And all it cost them were their lives."

Quiet. One moment angry, another moment Minit was back to her old self. Her eyes lowered, she placed the teacup down on the table.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean too - its just, there are alot of things about me. A lot of things that would make you run out that door, if you don't believe me then - I dare you to hug me."

[cowboymcd74]

"Why don't you give it a rest? You want to know so badly, fine, I will tell you. My parents are DEAD. D - E - A - D. The insurance money they left me is more than enough to put myself through school, buy this house and everything in it, and never have to work a day in my life. And all it cost them were their lives."

He stood there, gaping at her. His eyes were wide, and his mouth was open; for several moments, he stayed like that, as if wanting to speak, but unable to find any words to respond to that. He was not asking her to pour out her heart to him, or about her family. It was impossible for him to know that his question would hurt her like that, or that the concept of money or a large house had anything to do with her parents' death.

Finally, he lowered his eyes to the floor, frowning unhappily. His whole body slumped, showing her he felt very bad for what he had done. "I...I'm sorry...I didn't mean to bring anything like that up..." He looked back up at her, his grey eyes no longer steely and confident; rather, they carried a look of sadness, and of worry. It was a first for him to look at anyone outside of his family like that. "And...I'm really sorry you had to deal with that...I couldn't handle something like that..." He frowned again. "Uhhm...." He picked up the teacup and took a sip. "Good tea?" He looked up at her, hoping to make it better.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean too - its just, there are alot of things about me. A lot of things that would make you run out that door..."

But she didn't respond to that....obviously she hadn't heard, or ignored, his sad attempt at humor. he blinked when he heard what she'd said, and tilted his head as he looked at her. She seemed absolutely normal to him; in fact, she seemed like a very good person. Though, that's not what he said... "Things? Uhhm..." He leaned back in his chair, and smirked, regaining his proud and confident composure. "I'm not afraid of 'things'..."

"If you don't believe me then - I dare you to hug me."
"H-hug?" His voice wavered a bit. That completely took him by surprise. He looked up at her, his face losing the confident look, and replacing it with one of nervous confusion. "Uhhmm....shouldn't we wait until we know each other better?" Again, a sad attempt at humor.

He sighed, and nodded, running his fingers through the hair that covered his forehead, so that his hand came to rest there. "I..I'm not afraid of whatever might happen." He wasn't. He just wasn't used to physical contact with others, especially someone he barely knew. But he stood up anyways, and stepped around the table, to stand next to Minit. "Ready?" He forced a smirk, before leaning over, and putting his arms around her neck.

[realfruitgummie]

"Uhhmm....shouldn't we wait until we know each other better?"

She glanced up at him, was he actually going to do it?

"I..I'm not afraid of whatever might happen."

There was silence as she saw him moving towards her, closer and closer. She looked up at him, her face holding no expression.

"Ready?"

The moment his arms wrapped around her, the moment his body was drawn closer something sparked. A rush of smoke, a cloud of it filled the spot where he stood. He was no longer holding onto her, instead he was now staring at a rather large white tiger.

Her massive size was extreme, compare to her usual form. In this form, she could talk to him - communicate with him through his mind. Not much expression could be seen on a tiger, however, it was hard to tell what she was thinking.

"If you tell anybody, I will find you. I am cursed. When hugged by a member of the opposite sex I turn either into this form, or a mouse, depending on my mood. I don't know why, I don't know how, but this is what I know. I am cursed."

(sorry its short, off to bed. Nite)

[cowboymcd74]

OOC: early night, huh? hope you feel better! *huggles* good night!

IC:
"What the hell?!" He blinked, as the cloud formed. For several moments, he was concerned with the fact that he couldn't see. The fact that her body had suddenly grown in his grasp, and the fur that pressed against his arms, didn't catch his attention for several moments. And then, he found himself face-to-face with a big tiger, his arms looped around it's neck just like they'd been around Minit's.

He quickly jumped back, and fell into a martial arts fighting stance, one fist out in front of him, and the other near his chin. It was a natural reaction when one finds themselves hugging a fierce, wild animal. But he quickly settled down, dropping his arms to his side, and stared at Minit in her new form. That was when it was obvious that he realized what had just happened. But he didn't believe it.

"Wait....I'm dreaming aren't I?" He blinked a couple of times, and ran his fingers through his hair again, letting his hand come to rest on his forehead like before. "But if this is real....wow...that's so awesome!"

Suddenly, he seemed to come out of his quiet nature. His eyes twinkled, and a huge smile appeared on his lips. He stepped forward again, to stand next to Minit, as he petted her head. For some reason, the animal version of Minit was a lot more comfortable than the person version....probably because she was now no longer like a stranger, but more like a pet.

"If you tell anybody, I will find you. I am cursed. When hugged by a member of the opposite sex I turn either into this form, or a mouse, depending on my mood. I don't know why, I don't know how, but this is what I know. I am cursed."

"A curse, huh?" He smiled, as he petted her head some more. "Well, I don't think it's anything to be worried about."

[realfruitgummie]

"What the hell?!"

That was the reaction Minit had excepted, and it didn't surprise her at all. She wasn't going to attack him, so she just remained there as he took his fighting stance. Her tail flickered, if she could be sighing right now she would of done that too.

"Wait....I'm dreaming aren't I?"

"I don't think both of us would be having the same dream"

"But if this is real....wow...that's so awesome!"

"huh?"

Minit was stunned, completly. She never had that reaction before, not from her parents, not from her guy friends - so why from a stranger? Even more unexpected -

He petted her head. He was actually touching her, and Minit's heart sank just a little.

A curse, huh? Well, I don't think it's anything to be worried about."

In a puff of smoke the white tiger had disappeared, and Minit now stood there completly in the buff. She expected it to happen, just not so quickly, and immediately she reached for her clothes and put them on as fast as she could.

"You surprised me Katsu, you really don't want to run away now? If you do, I understand. Its a bit too much for most people to take - "

Minit took a seat, looking at Katsu curiously. It really didn't bother him? That she was cursed this way? She just couldn't believe it.

"And it is bad, because of the curse my parents divorced. Because of the curse I sent my best friend to the mental ward because he told a therapist and they wouldn't believe him. I've lost so many people in my life, and if that isn't a curse, I think your being naive."

[cowboymcd74]

Even with Katsu's hand still on her head, Minit changed back in a puff of smoke. He blinked, and then noticed she was human again. Suddenly, petting her seemed very awkward. He quickly withdrew his hand, and returned it to his pocket; but the smile hadn't left his face. He wasn't the least bit afraid, and definitely didn't like Minit less for this....in fact, it was a rather cool ability.

But the smoke generally clears fairly quickly. And that's when his eyes saw something else: her body. He didn't glance over it, or anything; but gazing at her face, he could quite easily see her nude form in his peripheral vision. Immediately, his eyes widened, and a look of surprise came over him. Quickly, he spun around and looked away, staring straight at the wall on the opposite side. "I'm...sorry, I didn't mean to look!"

"You surprised me Katsu, you really don't want to run away now? If you do, I understand. Its a bit too much for most people to take - "
"No! Of course not!" He smirked, and clenched a fist in front of him. Though she was dressed by this point, he didn't know that, and was still facing the other direction. "Why would I run away? I'm not afraid of a tiger. Besides, I think it's cool."

"And it is bad, because of the curse my parents divorced. Because of the curse I sent my best friend to the mental ward because he told a therapist and they wouldn't believe him. I've lost so many people in my life, and if that isn't a curse, I think your being naive."
He blinked. And then, he cautiously turned around, to look at her. His eyes were wide with sympathy, and a frown was on his lips. He only looked at her a moment, before his gaze was averted to a corner of the room, and he scratched his head, one hand still in his pocket. For a moment, nothing was said. He didn't really know how to respond. Then, finally, after a deep sigh, he responded, "I'm sorry...I didn't mean it like that...I didn't know it caused you any trouble..." He frowned, and paused... "But for what it's worth...I won't cause any problems because of it."

[realfruitgummie]

Minit didn't have much to say, she was still trying to get over the embrassment of changing infront of him. Even more so, she was surprised at herself - in less than a hour of knowing this guy she invited him to her home, revealed her parents were dead, changed into her tiger form, and was naked in front of him.

Perhaps she was just lonely.

"Um, so, I guess - "

How to do this politely?

"The map is on the wall over there, so - you should have no problems finding your way home"

Minit returned to the kitchen and decided to sit at the table, her way of telling him she just wanted to be alone.

[cowboymcd74]

"The map is on the wall over there, so - you should have no problems finding your way home"

He blinked. Suddenly, this girl who had been so fun so far seemed to be bothered by his presence. He couldn't understand what he had done, but if she wanted him out, he thought it best he leave. They weren't close enough for his worrying about her to help at all, anyways. He frowned, and nodded a bit, slipping his hands back in his pockets. "Uhhm...right..."

With that, he turned around, and walked slowly into the other room. All of the excitement in his personality, the fact that he had opened up a little to Minit - it all disappeared in an instant, when he thought she didn't like him anymore. But he wouldn't seem sad or disappointed; he'd remain proud in front of her, an emotionless face once more. Though the simple fact that he'd reverted to this was enough to prove his unhappiness with the situation.

Soon, he came upon the map on the wall. With a sigh, he looked over it, lifting a finger to trace a path towards his home. He blinked. It seemed that coming to her house had actually put him closer to his own; it was on the way between the park and his house. But, though he knew where to go now, his smile hadn't returned; he was still frustrated over why Minit didn't seem to want him around anymore.

So, before he left, he returned to the kitchen. "So..I guess I should get outta your way, now, huh? I'll head out, then..."