Part Three

     Rukawa reached after the ball, then abruptly stopped, noticing the fearful kitten.

     "Don't worry little one," he said. "I'll not hurt you."

     'Huh?' marveled Hanamichi. 'Was there gentleness in Rukawa's voice or I just imagined it?'

     While Hanamichi was wondering, Rukawa picked the kitten up in his arms. Hanamichi hissed angrily and tried to scratch him, but the dark-haired boy didn't let him go. Instead of it, Rukawa stroked carefully the cat's neck and the place behind its ears. The kitten relaxed momentarily under his tender touches.

      'These stupid cat's instincts!' Hanamichi reviled at his current form. 'Am I in the stupid kitsune's arms?! I should kill myself, when I become the human again...'

      Meanwhile, gently caressing the kitten's back, Rukawa demanded, "Whose are you? Where are your owners? Are you hungry?"

       The last question caught the red Tensai's attention and the kitten lifted its head up, looking at the tall boy.

      "Mew?"

      To the big Hanamichi's surprise, Rukawa gently smiled, "So you are hungry. Well, let's go to my house and I'll feed you."

      The kitten stirred nervously within the grasp. Rukawa sighed.

      "Come with me, if you want. But if your owners are waiting for you . . ." Rukawa didn't finished his sentence, he just put the red kitten on the grass. "It's up to you. So, will you come with me?"

      Still shocked with Rukawa's volubility with *him*, even when he was in this cat form, Hanamichi remained to stand as a pole. Rukawa picked up his basketball and gestured to the kitten, "Let's go".

      And Hanamichi went. Because he was very hungry. Besides, he besides that he needs to sleep somewhere and he didn't wish to stay outside in the cold night.

      Having got away from the high grass onto the even surface of the court, Hanamichi trotted after his fox-eyed archenemy.

 * * * * *

      A doggish bowwow sounded from not so far away. Hissing with fear, the kitten climbed up the top of Rukawa's head in a trice, using the boy as a tree. Scratched, Rukawa just smiled. He carefully took the red kitten off his head and tucked the pet into his jacket.

     "Don't worry little one. I don't let those dogs to touch you."

      Soon, surrounded by heat and attention, the red kitten relaxed and took a nap, snuggling inside Rukawa's jacket.

      The fox-eyed boy directed toward his home.

 * * * * *

      Hanamichi was woken up by a clinking of keys, when Rukawa opened his front door. The kitten hung his head out off the jacket and looked around with big interest. Hanamichi never had chance to be in the kitsune's apartment.

      Meantime, Rukawa took off his shoes and went in the living room. He put his sport-bag on the sofa, then he directed toward the kitchen.

       'No *tadaima*?' Hanamichi noticed. 'Is there nobody at home? In such time? Does he lives alone?'

      Hanamichi's thoughts were cut when the dark-haired boy carefully put his little red guest on a chair.

      "Well, what I can treat you with?" asked Rukawa, peeking in his refrigerator. "Here are milk, sushi and curry rice, that I prepared yesterday. What do you chose?"

      'You prepared?! By yourself?!' The kitten jumped down from the chair and walked up to the refrigerator.

      He peeked into it and was surprised. The refrigerator was full with the foodstuffs that were set neatly within it. The kitten rose on his hind legs and smelt about. His attention was drew to the pan that stand in front of him. Very tasty smell came from it. The kitten lifted his head and looked at Rukawa, who was looking at him in anticipation.

      Rukawa softly laughed. "What the brainy kitty! So what Tensai, will we eat curry rice?"

      He pulled out that pan, which was investigated by Hanamichi. "Okay," the fox-eyed boy said with a smile.

     "The good choose for today's dinner." And he settled down to cooking.

       The kitten again jumped on a chair and, with an interest, started to study an environment. As Hanamichi already had noticed, all around was clean and natty.

       'How this kitsune managed to live in such cleanliness?' wondered Hanamichi. With shame, he remembered a mess in his own room. Hanamichi's sight has stopped on the owner of the house. Astonished, he stared as Rukawa was knowingly making a dinner for himself and his guest.

      Hanamichi himself was not skilful in cooking, so he was VERY surprised to know that his archenemy is.

       Busily, placing plates on the table, Rukawa smiled to his visitor, "Just a moment please, and the dinner will be ready."

       Hanamichi proceed staring at Rukawa, who prepared a meal(!!), talked much(!!) and smiled(!!).

      'Neh, the world must be gone crazy or this is just not Rukawa. The kitsune I know never would do any of those actions. I think that he even doesn't know how to smile. But still . . .'

      Finishing his preparations, Rukawa set a plate in front of the kitten and said, "Eat, Tensai. You need it, 'cos you looks so skinny."

      "Meow!" the kitten exclaimed resentfully, but Rukawa just smiled and set to his own food.

       The kitten sniffed about. The food smelt very good. Hanamichi took a bite. Then another one. It was delicious! With an appetite, the kitten attacked his dinner. Speaking the truth, this kitsune was a very good cook. Having licked his plate clean, the kitten found a new saucer with milk in front of himself. Hanamichi cast a wary glance at the fox-eyed boy and started to drink offered milk. On the other hand, Rukawa already finished his dinner and, reclining against the back of his chair, studied his guest with an interest. He very liked the cats and this little one was very kawaii. Rukawa smiled when noticed as the kitten steal a look at him from time to time, while lapping down its milk. 'Kawaii. Really kawaii!'

      When the dinned was finished, Rukawa washed up dishes, then he made some tea to himself and directed to the living room. Beckoning the kitten to go after himself, he said, "Let's watch TV, Tensai."

      The kitten jumped off the chair and rushed after the boy. Rukawa smirked. It was obvious that the kitten liked its new name "Tensai" and responded gladly to it. In the living room, Rukawa switched his video recorder on, set a videotape with the last NBA matches and was very surprised, noticing what interest the kitten watched basketball games with.

      "So do you like basketball?" he asked.

       The kitten throw a glance at him. "Meow," was its affirmative reply.

      Rukawa smiled. "I do too. Well, let's watch together."

      With an equal interest, they watched the matches till the late night. Having watched up the tape to the end, Rukawa switched the video off and yawned. "I'm sleepy. Are you?"

       The kitten yawned demonstratively and looked at the dark-haired boy as if asking 'Is this reply enough?' Rukawa giggled and picked the kitten in his arms. "Well, then let's take some sleep," he said and went upstairs, where his bedroom was.

      As Hanamichi suspected, here was the same cleanness and orderliness as everywhere in the Rukawa's house. But here was no one as well. 'Is he really lives alone?' Hanamichi thought, looking at the dark-haired boy.

       Rukawa carefully put his little guest onto the bed and the kitten stretched itself contentedly over the coverlet. Rukawa went to take shower, and when he returned, he saw that the kitten was already asleep. The boy smiled softly and also went to sleep.

     To be continued...