The Inventor's Neko

[Mari_Rose]

Before sitting down she took a moment to think and eventually complied sitting down in the chair and spooning some stew into her bowl. Some of the pastries had fruit in them didn't they? They wouldn't be that bad for you, fruit is healthy. She sat straight with her hands folded in her lap waiting for him to sit down as well and start eating. Maybe after dinner she would have sometime in her new room to get her thoughts together. Figure out how to decide what was right and what was wrong. It's been such a confusing day she didn't really get the time to organize her thoughts.

 

[CrystalTears]

Itsuki sat down, happy he got his will as he was a bit spoiled as well. Even though he didn't take it for granted unlike his brother. He smiled to Korina and began eating his food. "It's great! It's really good Korina," Itsuki complimented Korina as he continued eating and smiled to her. Maybe he should tell her why she couldn't eat pastries the entire day, fruit or no fruit. The cream and sugar in those pastries were at least eighty per cent of the pastry after all. "I know this may be a bit confusing for you. It is a new environment, so take your time to get used to everything. Don't think about waking up early tomorrow, you can sleep in if you want. Plus, feel free to take a bath if you want to too. Just remember to lock the door so I won't barge in on you," Itsuki said to Korina, eating his food with a certain elegance as he came from a rich family, etiquette was important for them.

 

[Mari_Rose]

Korina picked up her bowl about to eat as if a cat would when she glanced at Itsuki, he was eating with his utensils. She shook her head and put the bowl back down picking one up that looked similar to the one he was holding. Eating the way she did at home with her family would be out of the question here. "Well all of this is certainly going to take some time to get used too" she replied gently blowing the spoonful of stew before eating it. It tasted so much better than at home, here she had more things to work with, her mother would kill for food like this. When he mentioned sleeping in she looked at him a little surprised. "But, what about your breakfast? Aren't I supposed to make you that?" She tilted her head in question.

 

[CrystalTears]

"I can make that myself tomorrow. You should focus on getting used to the house. Moving is a difficult process after all. Don't worry," Itsuki answered her. It seemed as she was more used to eating as a cat than as a human, maybe she needed to learn some basic human habits? Oh well, there was no use thinking of that now, she was kind nonetheless. I never thought I would think this, but... Thank you Yutou? Itsuki thought to himself, a little bit confused how his 'genius' brain could thank his idiotic brother. "Oh, do you have any family? In case you wish to visit them, or have them visit here?" Itsuki asked as he remembered family on the thought of his brother.

 

[Mari_Rose]

Korina ate another spoonful before nodding, of course she had family "it's just my mother, my little brother and I" she replied stirring her stew, she wasn't quite sure where they would be now or how to contact them. It has been a few days and they've been constantly moving towns for the last few years, sometimes they wouldn't even live in a town. But in the forest like wild animals. "My father was taken to work in a factory when I was young, it was only recently that we came to this town and shortly after master yutou took me" she nodded remembering the turn of events.

 

[CrystalTears]

"I see... so there whereabouts are unknown... oh well somethings cannot be avoided," Itsuki said as the thought of being separated just like that saddened him a bit, and giving away their daughter had to be a tough situation, but he could not help, but wonder what Yutou had done to find them in the first place... Itsuki finished his bowl, smiling as it was well prepared and delicious. He could never make something like this on his own. He reached out his hand and petted Korina. "Thank you for the delicious meal Korina," Itsuki praised her, before he stood up and looked at his watch. It was a bit late, but he could still work a little longer. "If you need anything or have any questions you can find me in my office," Itsuki said to her, as he grabbed his bowl and placed it neatly in the sink.

 

[Mari_Rose]

Korina stood up as well and went into the kitchen to clean up. She's become accustomed to these pets now, and the more he did it the more she didn't want him to stop. With a sigh she put the dishes somewhere to dry shaking her head at the thought of telling him that, just think how embarrassing it would be. She quietly walked into the room given to her and went through her new clothes to find the nightgown she picked out. As much as she needed day clothes, night clothes were important to. Turning to the bed she looked at the windowsill. It looked as comfortable as the bed but was it meant to be that way? Sure it was smaller, something she was used too, but it didn't make sense that there would be two beds in one room, a normal room at that. She shrugged and crawled into the actual bed pulling the covers over her. Closing her eyes she quickly drifted off to sleep, it was an exhausting day and the bed certainly did feel like a cloud.

 

[CrystalTears]

Itsuki spent most of the night in the office along with his coffee mug. As hardworking and stubborn he was, once he had an idea or inspiration he honestly could not stop himself. It was early when Itsuki woke up, as he walked down the stairs quietly not to wake up Korina. He gently opened her door to find her sleeping and smiled. She must have been very exhausted indeed. He closed it again as he began making their breakfast, he wasn't the best in the kitchen so he figures pancakes was an easy job, which it was. Korina had also told him that she forgot something at Yutou's mansion, maybe they could go and retrieve that today. But he had to call Yutou first to confirm he was not only sober enough, but actually at home and not in another motel. At the very leaat he knew not to drink and drive.

 

[Mari_Rose]

Out of habit korina woke up a little earlier than what she would consider sleeping in late. She didn't want to keep Itsuki waiting at all. Slowly sitting up in her bed she yawned and stretched. She swung her feet over the bed searching for floor and standing up. In her head she admitted that she was still tired but now she had to focus on cleaning herself. She opened the door peaking her head out first an looking down the hall, it didn't seem like he was using the bathroom so she proceeded to it and started to prepare a bath 'just a short soak' she told herself as she stepped into the water.

 

[CrystalTears]

Itsuki could hear a door open and peeked out of the kitchen to see Korina enter the bathroom. He smiled as it seemed she was not shy to use the rooms around the house, it was good that she opened up a little bit. He finished the pancakes and put them on a plate before he set the table for the two of them, and began searching the cupboards for sugar and some jam. "I wonder if Korina has eaten pancakes before..." he muttered to himself looking at his pocket watch. It was still early, she could take her time.

 

[Mari_Rose]

Korina kept to her promise to herself and as relaxing as it was she had to get out. She wrapped a towel around her and opened the door looking around and quickly walking back to her room hoping he was out of sight and didn't see her in a towel. Quickly she found something change into and groomed her tail and ears before walking out into the hall. She hoped she didn't spend too much time getting ready and that he wasn't waiting for her to eat breakfast.

 

[CrystalTears]

Itsuki had just finished setting the table when he spotted Korina, dressed and ready for the day. He smiled as her hair was still a bit wet. "Excuse me for a moment," He said to her as he grabbed a towel from the bathroom and returned, drying her hair with it. "You need to dry your hair properly, otherwise you'll catch a cold," Itsuki said and chuckled, it was honestly just like taking care of a small child, a child closer to his age that is. "Oh, good morning by the way," He added to his sentence, as he smiled to her rubbing her hair mostly dry, with a brush in his other hand. He folded the somewhat wet towel and placed it on the counter, before he brushed down her hair to not make her look like a porcupine, it was nice taking care of someone else. Maybe he had been inside his house for too long.

 

[Mari_Rose]

Korinas ears fell and relaxed as he brushed her, she clutched onto the skirt of her dress and closed her eyes trying to suppress purrs as they threatened to reveal themselves. "G-good morning Itsuki" she manage to reply without purring. There was a feeling of relief though that he didn't get her ears with the brush. She relaxed when he was done and looked at the table "you didn't have to make breakfast" she nodded and went to go sit down. She smiled a little seeing pancakes, flour and eggs seemed to be abundant for the poor so she had pancakes or stew for almost every meal.

 

[CrystalTears]

"No. You're completely right, I didn't have to, but I wanted too. It seemed as you were sleeping soundly, so I didn't wish to wake you up," Itsuki said as he sat down by the table and began eating the pancakes he had prepared for the two of them. "How was your first night? Did you sleep well?" Itsuki asked her, hoping she was feeling a bit more comfortable after managing to sleep here. A lot must have happened in one day, and unlike himself, his brother didn't have his gentle nature. Or, that wasn't exactly true... Korina was a prime example of how the laws of science could be bent, but Itsuki didn't look at her as a subject or experiments, but as a small wonder of nature which could not be explained, not by the laws of science, and that was frankly the only language he spoke. There was a reason why he didn't interact with humans after all.

 

[Mari_Rose]

Korina took her utensils first this time instead of making the same mistake she did the night before. She spent some time in the bath this morning clearing her head and getting all of the jumbled tights in their right place. Now she had her head on right and could make logical decisions. If he had dried or brushed her hair last night she wasn't sure if she could hold back those purrs. A part of her also hoped she didn't our in her sleep, of he really did check on her he would have heard it. "I slept very well last night thank you" she replied with a small smile, then she remembered the cushions by the window. Might as well clear that up now. "Uhm. The pillows by the window, is that also a bed...?" She asked this with a feeling of hesitancy not wanting to ask anything stupid.

 

[CrystalTears]

Itsuki laughed a bit at her question, he had never heard anyone believing that was a bed before, but... that wasn't entirely out of the question was it? "I suppose you can use it as a bed, but it's really only a place I used to clear my head. It's more of my 'thinking spot' than a bed," Itsuki answered her question, as she seemed more calm. At the very least she didn't stutter anymore and that was a good thing. "Oh, you said that you forgot something over at Yutou's right? We can go and fetch that today if you wish," Itsuki said to her smiling as he poured her a glass of milk, a bit interested to see her reaction as she was half cat after all. He chuckled as he had heard her purrs, it seemed as she was more of a cat than human, or maybe just a cat in a human's body? It was impressive nonetheless.

 

[Mari_Rose]

"I see now" Korina said as he explained what it was. Did that room used to be his room? Or maybe a bedroom he just used, not sleep in but use. If he has two rooms he might as well use them right? She stared at the glass of milk for a bit and then glanced Itsuki. She decided not to drink it just yet even when it sounded refreshing. Seeing how he drank would show her the right way, or atleast the human way to do it, she would have to get used to doing things like humans. When he mentioned going to Yutou's house her ears dropped. Not in relaxation but more in fear. Her head bowed and she started to fiddle with her tail "n-no thank you... M-master Yutou.. Probably got r-rid of everything by now..."

 

[CrystalTears]

"He doesn't tidy up that quickly, trust me it was an issue when we were kids," Itsuki said as she saw her nervous behavior. Maybe bringing up his brother was a bad idea, it was a bit more funny when she decided not to drink the milk. He took the glass himself, and took a sip of it as he smiled, and then poured milk into the other glass. Was she really this unknowing of how normal etiquette? "You sure you don't want to go and get it? I'll be there with you, so nothing's going to happen. In case you lost something important," Itsuki said to her, hoping to calm her down with his presence, but maybe she didn't trust him that much yet. "We can at the very least give him a call, see if he has thrown it or not. I can also have him visit here... despite what I would rather do..." Itsuki muttered the end of his sentence, not wishing for his excuse for a brother to step in his house, it always ended with him barging into his office, looking and usually stealing some of his future inventions.

 

[Mari_Rose]

Korina shook her head refusing again, with the impression she got of Yutou he didn't seem like the person who would care if her belongings where lost in his house. "R-really... It's fine..." She said quietly watching as he drank his drink. It didn't look that much different he just didn't use his tongue, but now she wasn't in the mood for milk. There was a sick feeling in her stomach and wasn't sure if it was the fear of facing Yutou again or fully realizing she now had nothing but memories to remember her family. She put her fork down barley eating half of her meal and stood up not looking at him "may I go outside?" She asked quietly hugging her stomach

 

[CrystalTears]

"Sure. You not feeling well?" Itsuki asked a bit worried at her sudden change of mood, what in the world had his brother done to this poor girl before she arrived? He shook his head and patted her head, as he finsihed his meal. "Don't worry. I won't force you to go back. Maybe we'll make new things that will become precious here," Itsuki said in an attempt to cheer her up a bit, now knowing that bringing up his brother was a bad idea. He wanted to call him, just to know what Korina had been taught back at his mansion, but maybe it was better not to know. "I will be in my office if you're looking for me," Itsuki said as he took his leave, and grabbed his plate placing it in the sink before he disappeared upstairs to continue working on his project. The blueprint weren't even half finished, but he wanted to see if he could finish it this time.

 

[Mari_Rose]

Korina bowed "thank you Itsuki" she put her plate on the counter figuring maybe she would eat it later and walked out into the hall. It took her a while but she remembered a way into the garden, the fenced off area gave her a sense of security and allowed her not to be paranoid that he thinks she's going to run away. She sat on a bench and brought her knees up hugging them close and resting her chin on them. It was a bit strange and unexpected that she hasn't done any real work yet, just cooking one meal. Had she been taking advantage of his hospitality to her? This thought lingered in her head for a while before she decided to go back inside and do what she was here for. Quickly she found a bucket and scrub to clean the floors with. Maybe all this would take her mind off of things.

 

[CrystalTears]

Itsuki worked on his blueprint, looking outside the window occasionally to see Korina sitting on the bench for a small while before she walked back inside. "Must be weird... living here from now on," he muttered to himself, continuing to work on his blueprint as he finished it after a couple of hours. He was so happy he could burst out in happiness! It was a little later in the afternoon, and he figured he might spend some time with Korina, he couldn't completely isolate himself from work now that there was more than one person living in this house. Itsuki walked down the stairs, looking around for Korina. "Korina? Would you mind taking a break and have afternoon tea with me? We can eat some of those pastries I bought yesterday," Itsuki invited her, still looking a bit around for where that girl worked right now.

 

[Mari_Rose]

Korina was finishing up her cleaning in the kitchen, she had scrubbed the entire first floor by the time he was looking for her and felt a lot better now that she felt purposeful. She also now wore an apron over her dress so it didn't get wet or dirty. She stopped short in her scrubbing hearing her name being called and something about tea. A break sounded nice right now, and even though she was almost done she retired her scrubbing brush and went out into the hall putting the bucket by the wall. "What was that?" She asked again knowing he was looking for her but not really quite sure for what.

 

[CrystalTears]

"There you are. I was wondering if you wished to join me for some afternoon tea in the garden. A break must be nice after all your hard work you've done today," Itsuki said as he saw the floor squeaky clean, cleaner than when he bought it in fact. She was a very efficient worker, maybe she could help him in the making of his new invention. However, he needed some investors first. Itsuki walked over to Korina and petted her head, good actions had to be rewarded with praise, it was as if he was keeping a pet cat. "You've done a good job Korina. I am very proud of you," Itsuki said as he began placing a couple of pastries on a silver tray, along with two plates. "Would you be so kind and prepare the tea for us Korina?" Itsuki asked as he was a bit busy finding the pastries and placing them neatly on the tray.

 

[Mari_Rose]

"Oh! Yes, of course" as Korina walked into the kitchen she removed her apron and washed her hands. She shuffled through the cabinets and shelves eventually finding the tea kettle and filled it with water. Next was the tea. There was a shelf just dedicated to them, different colors and flavors. She wondered which on he liked, or which one she would like not ever having tea before. It wasn't something they could afford especially with the scarcity of it. She bit her lip before choosing an earl grey tea finding it's name amusing. "It'll just be a moment" she called out from the kitchen and mixed the tea into the boiling water. After a few minutes the tea was read and she brought the kettle out along with two cups.