── *ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚ ──
★ 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 • 3|| “Stray constellation”
{SERIES SUMMARY } - After the loss of your beloved cat, Apollo, you adopt a strange six-eyed "cat" from a shady animal shelter to fill the silence....unaware that it's actually Uratos Gooj, an seven-foot alien prince hiding from an arranged royal marriage. As he observes your human life from the safety of your home, his curiosity slowly turns into all-consuming obsession... and he begins to believe you belong to him.
{PAIRING}- ALIEN:Gojo x Human Female Reader
{TAGS !!)- MDNI, 18+ in the last 2 chapters(l think), alien biology, obsessive behavior, size difference (he's literally 7ft when not a cat), female reader, eventual smut, mating cycles, cunningulushe's a eater fri), possessiveness, stalking but make it extraterrestrial, slow burn, emotional confusion, reader unknowingly living with an alien royal, transformation scenes, minor intergalactic politics later on, Mei mei(yuck), fluff, piv, nsfw, Hurt/comfort, slight dominance/ submission, Happy ending (yayayayayay!) w.c: 7.4K (DAMN)
Masterlist || chpt 2 || chpt 4 || visual art
Dedicated to @madamechrissy
Inspired by @spideyyeet
Light filtered through the destroyed hull of the Zenoral Morteph, slipping between torn metal and exposed structure to shine across the interior in soft , shifting rays. Dust drifted lazily through it, catching in the glow like little stardust particles as the wreckage remained settled in a quiet that felt almost deliberate after the violence of the crash hours before.
Uratos lay where he had fallen after passing out, unmoving for only a brief moment before his consciousness began to return in full. His eyes fluttered slowly, without urgency, all six of them focusing at once as the world unfolded around him in complete clarity. There was no disorientation or delay…. only immediate clarity. His beloved ship was destroyed beyond repair but he was unharmed.
That last detail was an easy fact simply because his body, no matter how severe or what damage was inflicted upon it, would repair itself . And even with that in mind the force of the crash had never truly reached him while he was knocked out. Thanks to the invisible force-like shield that he could will to surround his body(like he’d done before passing out), he suffered no harm and what remained now was only the aftermath…damage to everything except him.
Uratos pushed himself upright with a soft groan, fragments of debris sliding from his “barrier” as he sat and then stood, his movement clear and unhurried. He noted the jagged and permanent healed line across his torso where he’d been slashed by that things technique and stitched himself back together. Noted the tatters of his close, exposing his abs and a hint of his v-line, his cape shredded and torn.
The ship responded with a strained groan, its structure shifting as though it no longer understood how to hold itself together. His gaze flickered across the inside of the ship once more, noting the damage, and , just as quickly, discarding it as unimportant. There was nothing he could do about it but move on.
Uratos moved forward, and as he did, a section of the hull above him shifted, metal scraping as gravity began to finish what it had started. For a brief moment, it seemed as though it would fall directly onto him….but it didn’t. The falling metals bent around his space instead, sliding off his force shield and landing with a heavy and resounding clank against the floor.
Uratos didn’t even bat an eye. His attention had already moved beyond the wreckage and seconds later he was out in the open, looking around at the greenery of this world. The air here felt very different, moving in uneven currents that carried various sensations all at once like subtle temperature shifts, faint organic aromas, quick movement that seemed to be continuously happening everywhere, all at once.
Before him stretched a forest, dense and alive in a way that didn’t fall into something simple. On his planet, their biomes and ecosystems were organized, controlled and maintained by his shitty government…. But here…His eyes moved across the forest with intrigue and excitement. This was new. This planet was unlike any of the one’s he’d been to so far…. Everything was vibrant, filled with energy and light…proof that there was life here that couldn’t be contained or controlled.
Proof that the forest didn’t cooperate or conform.
So, instead of slowing down to force it into order, he did the opposite.
He moved. Fast. What started off as a curious inquisition bloomed into rapid motion without restraint, his body accelerating smoothly through the undergrowth of trees and underbrush, weaving between trunks with effortless precision as he took everything in at once. Branches brushed against his force shield and snapped back in place, leaves scattering as he passed, the entire environment reacting a fraction too slow to keep up.
The faster he went, the less it made sense and he happily let it overwhelm him. Wind rushed causing his hair to be swept back, eyes trying and failing to note every single movement that overlapped faster than he could isolate them. Damp earth, growing things, decaying matter, the faint trace of fresh water somewhere nearby …it all blended into something dense and alive.
A sound slipped from him, low and brief. A sound of awe and wonder like when he first realized how beautiful the universe was.
His pace increased, an almost crazed smile on his face now as he caught sight of something small moving ahead. A flicker of motion along the bark branch of a tree. Uratos shifted direction instantly, cutting toward it without slowing. The little creature froze. Its body was slight, covered in soft brown fur, its movement quick and twitchy rather than controlled. Its limbs clung to the bark with sharp, precise little paws, a long tail balancing its weight as it stilled under the pressure of being seen by…him.
For a fraction of a second they watched each other, time slowing down as they locked eyes.
Then it bolted up, scurrying in a blur of motion.
Uratos followed, his four hands grabbing the tree before he pushed upward, easily scaling the trunk entirely in a smooth, weightless motion. The creature changed direction mid-scurry, its path erratic, driven by pure instinct.
Uratos adjusted instantly as well, reaching out to grab the little creature….but then he watched, with surprise, as it suddenly jumped into the air and began to take flight, little flaps connected to its tiny arms that allowed it to evade him.
Then it vanished into the undergrowth.
A softer sound left him this time, unmistakably closer to amusement, as he dropped back down to the earth with an imperceptible thud.
“…amazing.”
And then he was off once more.
Movement rippled outward ahead of him as he continued forward, more smaller bodies darting through the undergrowth, wings bursting into motion from low branches as feathered creatures scattered into the air with cries as he neared. Their shapes differed wildly…some small and angular, others heavier and broader, their wings cutting through the air with a bold rhythm.
One of the feathered creatures didn’t move fast enough as, the small organism hesitating at his quick approach. Another thing stricken with fear.
Uratos’s hand shot out and his fingers closed gently around the small, feathered body, halting its late attempt to retreat with its brethren. It trembled violently, its tiny heart rapid pounding and vibrating through his grasp, wings pressing against his hold in quick, frantic bursts.
He didn’t tighten his hold, his eyes simply observing the small thing like a child does a new toy. He noted its light bones, its high metabolic output… fast-response instincts. A body built entirely around escape and flight. Truly spectacular. Simply marvelous.
The creature stilled, all but giving up and expecting to be eaten whole by this thing it’d never seen before.
Uratos tilted his head slightly, studying it for a moment longer before loosening his grip. Gurus would like this creature. It was quite pretty with its multicolored feathered body and graceful wings.
He released it and the creature vanished into the canopy in a blur of motion and a shrill cry.
Another quiet sound left him.
“…Fast.”
He continued one again.
The terrain shifted now, the forest giving away and revealing a small clearing where the soil dipped inward into rock and introducing the narrow flow of moving water.
A river.
Uratos slowed, eyes blinking softly.
He hadn’t seen a river since he was 2!
,345 rotations old.
Several larger creatures occupied the space, their bodies built for stability rather than speed. Long limbs. Thick muscle. Coarse coverings of brown and grey that blended imperfectly with the environment around them. Long and hard looking antennae?(antlers)…Their movements were slower, deliberate as they lowered their heads toward the water, drinking in steady, rhythmic motions. Graceful and gentle.
They hadn’t noticed him yet as he watched for a moment and then…. He stepped closer.
That was enough.
Every head snapped upward at once, all little beady eyes locking on his hulking form.
Stillness.
Then…. quick movement. They scattered in different directions, their body’s gracefully leaping through the forest a they retreated into the darkness within. Uratos didn’t follow. Instead, He crouched near the edge of the water, his gaze shifting to the shimmering surface as it moved in a continuous, smooth flow. Light danced across it, reflecting in distorted patterns that made it sparkle like handcrafted silk worm robes.
He reached out, the current shifting around his fingers as he scooped up some water and then leaned down to bring it to his lips. He sniffed it subtly before lapping up the cool liquid, his body shivering as it flooded his senses and cooled him nicely. He remained crouched as he kept drinking the cool water and ,behind him, something deeper in the forest approached, its footsteps carrying weight but no hostility.
Uratos’s head turned just as a larger form emerged between the trees..massive compared to the other creatures he’d seen , its body thick with muscle, covered in dense, dark fur that absorbed more light than it reflected. Its movement was slower, but carried weight, each step pressing into the ground with deliberate force.
It stopped when it caught sight of him..he tilted his head at it in response. For a moment, the forest seemed to narrow around them.
The creature inhaled deeply, scenting the air, its posture shifting as it tried to understand what stood before it. Uratos watched it back, his six eyes making sure it stayed passive and didn’t respond with violence.
The creature seemed to come to a decision, making a low uncertain noise as if to say ‘what are you?’
The creature shifted its weight and then..slowly it approached the river a little ways away from him. Uratos watched as it stared at the shimmering water and then , with an astonishing speed, snatched up a sleek and wriggling aquatic creature with its maw. Uratos watched with bright eyes at the row of sharp teeth crunching down on the wriggling organism , watched as it twitched and then went limp in its grasp.
It turned, grunting low at Uratos and then disappeared back into the edge of the forest.
Something quiet settled in his expression s he spoke softly to himself.
“…How fascinating…that all of these creatures chose differently.” How thrilling. That nothing on this planet followed a specific pattern like every other planet he’d been on.
He stood, stepping back from the river before turning away and moving back through the forest, his movement not quite as fast as before, but still confident.
He continued exploring. Scaring off more of the forest critters, leaping beside the creatures with hooves and odd antennae’s. The forest seemed to extend on forever and , honestly, he was happy with it. The sun in the sky began to set and, at some point beyond the forest, something changed.
Uratos , who’d been running after a hopping white creature with red eyes and a fluffy tail, slowed slightly, his focus shifting outward again, beyond the movement of the trees.
Sound followed. Many at a time. Voices, Machinery, contained chaos. Bright, vivid colors of things he could see with his eyes.
His eyes sharpened with interest, lashes fluttering with newfound interest. It was a city! So it wasn’t just an unclaimed planet.
“…Oh.”
As he moved, the forest thinned gradually, its density loosening until it simply gave away to what lay beyond it. The ground beneath his feet shifted from soft, grass and dirt to concreted roads worn by repeated movement, and the sounds continued to change with it…less scattered, more consistent and loud in a way only beings with the capacity to talk could replicate.
When he stepped fully beyond the treeline,he could see structures that rose in uneven clusters, built upward and outward. Surfaces reflected light sharply in some places and expelled it in others, materials overlapping in ways that functioned but never quite came completely together. It was advanced, like his planet, but it lacked refinement, unlike his planet.
Despite how disorganized and slightly overwhelming….It worked…… and it seemed that was enough.
Below, on the ground with him, movement filled the space between. Humans. Or what he’d been taught to identify as humans, moved in small groups, alone or in big clusters. Men, women..young and old. And there were more species too. Alien groups he was too lazy to single out and identify but lots of them nonetheless.
A tall, translucent species, a heavier, plated being, their body layered in natural armor that clicked softly with each grounded step and an aerial species of something smaller that drifted briefly before settling, winged but not feathered, its thin membranes catching the light before folding tight against its frame.
A diverse planet with many different shapes, forms and things. How amazing.
Uratos stepped forward again, into the light and space and , of course, attention bent toward him in waves that spread faster than the crowd could pretend not to notice.
All around him , humans and alien species alike began to slow down as they acknowledged him. They were used to difference, that much was clear.
But he was different. Uratos’s very existence was an anomaly…it didn’t matter what environment he was in. But here… he didn’t just stand out…he interrupted everything.
His height alone made him impossible to ignore, his athletic form towering above most of the surrounding bodies, but it wasn’t just that. His Four arms, light blue skin that caught the light in unnatural tones would catch anyone’s attention .And those eyes…too many, too bright, too aware …obscene and odd. The other species had a minimum of two eyes and a maximum of three.. and then there was his body itself. He was barely covered…he didn’t exactly have a change of clothes anymore after his ship crashed here…. most of him was exposed, his abs and a peek of his v-line on display. And the composition of his remaining outfit
was made up of material that didn’t belong to anything here anyway.
And across his abdomen was the clean cut.
Precise, healed and unmistakably violent.
Faces of passerby’s filled with concern and confusion. Whispers began to fill the space as he moved through the crowd.
“Is he….hurt????
“What is that—?”
“Oh my god..I think I’ve SEEN him before-???”
Uratos ignored it all though, his sights set ahead as he moved deeper into the city.
He soon found himself in the center of a marketplace with stalls that pressed into one another in uneven rows, voices overlapping in continuous negotiation as goods and foods shifted from hand to hand in a steady, chaotic rhythm.
Light bent differently here. The air was warm and filled with pleasant aromas.
Uratos still stood out here but less only because vendors were busy selling their goods and services. His gaze moved across the stalls, not lingering on the sellers, but on the items themselves. Objects of varying quality and origin were laid in an unorganized manner…
But what drew his attention was a stall where a sweet aroma wafted from it.
It cut through the warm air easily, delicious, and unfamiliar in a way that suggested attention. Uratos moved closer, mouth watering and eyes peering curiously down at what was being made. The human behind the stall stiffened almost instantly, his posture shifting as his shadow fell over the display. His eyes flickered up, then immediately away, then back again… uncertain whether ignoring him or acknowledging him would be worse.
Uratos didn’t speak, simply snorting and reaching out selecting one of the foods without hesitation. It was wrapped loosely, heat still contained within it, the surface slightly textured beneath his fingers. The lady stammered, watching with wide eyes as he took a bite (without paying first-).
Meanwhile, Uratos was experiencing euphoria and pleasure at the same time, his cheeks flushing a pretty deep blue that heightened his pretty face. His expression didn’t change much, but something behind his eyes shift. The flavor wasn’t exactly exceptional. It was a little salty, hot, with something faintly sweet beneath it, a symphony of flavors that went together deliciously.
He loved it.
“…You ..made this…?”
The human woman blinked and nodded profusely. He was so pretty and she was very, very flustered suddenly.
“…O-Oh uhm Yes! I uhm-.”
“What’s it called??”
“I uhm.. G-Gokutan-“
Uratos reached for another and then stopped, realizing he was being rude and hadn’t paid. Uratos looked at the women as if to say ‘Why didn’t you demand payment??’ before he looked down at his hand and tugged off one of the many the golden royal signet rings that represented his status and empire from his finger.
He held it out to her and tilted his head.
She gawked at him.
“…Will this suffice? I don’t exactly have any rupees on me at the current moment….”
Her mouth opened. Then closed.
Then Opened again before she swallowed and nodded.
“…I—uh—yeah. Yeah, that’s-that’s yeah, that’s fine.”
Because that ring was worth more than her stall ,and probably everything in the market place, she allowed him to take as many of her sweet treats as possible before he left.
Behind him, the human woman was still staring at the ring like it might disappear if she blinked, wondering how in the world she’d gotten so lucky.
Uratos continued through the marketplace, munching on his treats happily, his attention already shifting again. Another stall caught his interest, this one lined with fabric, layered materials hanging in uneven drapes that shifted slightly as air moved through them.
Clothing. Yes, he needed something to hide his build, that’s right. He approached and
the vendor, an older, sharper-eyed aerial alien smiled once it saw him and called out to him.
“Looking for something to wear, hm??? You won’t find anything better than here at Lucki’s wear and wilds!!”
Uratos nodded, swallowing before speaking up.
“Need your nicest cloak with a hood.”
The vendor nodded slowly, scurrying to the back of his open stall and reaching for a piece of fabric, dark like the night sky a, loose, and designed to conceal. Perfection.
Uratos took it without hesitation, draping it over himself in a single quick motion. A ring slid easily from another one of his fingers and he handed it to the vendor .
“…Are you aware of how much-?”
“Just take it. Do you think I’m a fool?”
Uratos said coldly and the man yelped, nodding and pocketing the ring.
He left and continued forward.
As he moved towards the end of the marketplace…many began to stare devices lifted, recording…projecting.. but something about him caused some of them to malfunction or capture only blurred/ glitched images of him.
Uratos’s gaze shifted up towards the vibrant neon light of a holographic display cycling through information too quickly for most to process.
For him, it was immediate and apparent.
A figure with a head full of white hair, eyes as blue as the sea, wearing a crown and his royal suit. A wanted sign and bounty of 968 billion rupees and half a kingdom with of land-.
A wanted sign featuring him.
Uratos stilled for half a second and then continued walking, dipping his head.
“…Ahhh..Shit.”
He’d gotten too comfortable. In his excitement at discovering such an odd planet he’d forgotten that he needed to be on guard, that he needed to conceal his identity. The shift in the crowd became more defined now, less hesitant.… Intentional. Having a cloak and hood wouldn’t be enough to hide from so many watchful eyes.
Uratos changed direction, dipping into a darker, low-lit alleyway filled with dumpsters and trash.
There he rested against the brick wall of a restaurant, watching as many passed but didn’t bat an eye at the tall hooded figure standing against the wall.
What could he do..? He was at a loss. His communicator on his arm was useless since its main transmitter was destroyed(his ship), he had no way of leaving….and if he remained here he would surely be noticed and his empire would eventually be notified.
Damn, damn, damn it all.
He was deep in thought when he heard a low sound that , to anyone else, would’ve been imperceptible… but he wasn’t just anyone.
Uratos’s gaze lowered as a small, sleek creature slipped dropped down from the pipeline on the side of the building across from him and onto the lid of a dumpster, jumping down and moving along the edge of the alley, weaving effortlessly between discarded trash and such. Its body moved in a way that didn’t demand attention, movement that was fluid without needing space to function.
And he watched as it darted into the area…noticed how no one looked at it or reacted.
Uratos watched it for a moment, something quite settling into his expression again as the difference became clear.
“…Ignored. Silent…common…”
The thought was fleeting..and the decision came easily.
Slowly, His form began to shift, collapsing inward as mass redistributed and his build began to reform. His height diminished. Long limbs and appendages morphed into short stubby paws . A small fuzzy tail sprouted from the base of his spine….His being formed into something smaller, fuzzier, and…cute?
When he finished…he resembled the form of the tiny creature that he’d seen before.
A cat. Or mostly a cat.
His fur was many colors, resembling a star speckled galaxy and his antennae still protruded from his head. And his eyes. They were, of course , still there. All six of them.
Uratos glanced down at himself briefly and nodded, satisfied.
“…Perfect...”
(Insert banner)
Life as the tiny creature he’d soon learn was identified as a cat, was the easiest thing Uratos had ever done. He’d wiped out galaxies, commanded entire armies with ease, governed an entire city…and now here he was, prowling a city that never slept as a small, furry thing.
And it was so, so easy. He quickly learned how to maneuver in this form, learning the many secret passage ways and crevices to get around the city,
Other creatures noticed him. The same ones he was copying. At first, they kept their distance, unsure what the hell was trying to integrate itself with them. Cats watched him from rooftops and alleyways, their bodies tense, eyes narrowed as he passed through their spaces without hesitation. Meowing in confusion, tracking him with quiet suspicion, their movements cautious, deliberate.
At some point, Uratos stopped at some point and allowed them to slowly approach him, meowing and sniffing him. From then on, they left him alone…He passed through their territories without much resistance, without acknowledgment, as though he had always been part of the environment. A few watched. Most didn’t bother him.
It was nice.
Dogs were different. They singled him out immediately, understanding that he was something odd. When he was near them their posture tensed, low growls erupted from them, and their hackles were raised.
Uratos paid them no mind , simply because they kept their distance, their instinct being enough for them to not test their luck.
And humans with their alien counterparts…they were much easier to handle.
They responded to him and his behavior relatively nicely. Uratos learned quickly from other cats what to do to get their attention and such.
A slight tilt of the head would grab their attention. A controlled, slow blink would have them reaching down to pet him. And the precise modulation of sound, a simple small, contained noise would have them cooing in adoration. If it had been in any other situation, Uratos would have considered this demeaning and degrading..but he kind of liked the positive attention he received. How close he was able to be to these various species without them staring. Similar to how he felt at the planet of smoke and glass….but even sweeter.
And the result of this epiphany was always just as rewarding.
Food.
He moved through marketplaces and streets with ease, slipping between stalls, brushing against legs, appearing just long enough to be noticed before settling somewhere visible. And he waited.
It never took long. They always came to him, smiling at the multicolored, odds but cute looking cat that had one day appeared and seemed to now be a local resident.
“Aw—where did you come from, little guy?”
“Hey, here kitty kitty pspspspspspsp…”
“Those eyes—what the hell…”
“Mommy, I want that cat! Please? Pleaseeee!?”
Uratos would sit, looking at them all and then —
Mewwwwwww!
A soft, well placed, measured mew would ensure his breakfast, lunch and dinner. And even something to drink!
It was glorious to be a cat in this city that never slept. Because he rarely slept, and when he did he found that the locals had created a cute little home for him near the sweets stall he lingered by.
He accepted everything offered to him without hesitation, sampling everything with the same quiet attention he had given it before. Sweet, savory, processed, natural…each one different, each one constructed with something that made him new in appreciation and happiness.
No one understood him but it was fine. He found being this little creature was easier than being the crown prince of an empire. Forced to do things he didn’t want to….and although he missed Gurus more and more with every passing week..he was happy with this little freedom.
Some of the humans tried to keep him,
He didn’t allow it, evading hands with the intention to hold rather than pet.
He moved with city and it rewarded him in kind. And for a while, that was enough.
Until he noticed a new pattern. It wasn’t obvious at first. Just something that began repeating about a week or so before.
A presence that appeared too often in the same places.A male human with black hair, sharp green eyes and a little scar on his lip. He was big for a normal human, his stature quite big and slightly off-putting. Deliberate and quiet in his movement, his attention sharper than the others, not distracted, not easily redirected. He didn’t react to Uratos the way the others did. No immediate reach. No instinct to feed or call out.He simply watched from a distance.For many days.
Uratos noticed on the first day, confirmed it on the second and by the second he concluded that the human was definitely tracking him.
But his intent, no matter how intimidating he seemed, was not hostile….so Uratos did nothing to stop him.
He continued moving as he had been, allowing the man to continue following him every day, observing the way the man adjusted his position, the way he anticipated movement instead of reacting to it.
And , by the beginning of the third week, Uratos stopped avoiding him.
In fact, he’s waited for the man to appear around the area he usually watched Uratos from, his eyes filled with curiosity.
The man approached him slowly, controlled, something in his hands designed to contain rather than harm. Uratos watched him come, meowing softly, his six eyes fixed on the human with quiet interest. Watching as the net came down. Letting the man lift him up into his arms, petting Uratos with big, heavy hands.
The man exhaled sharply, tension leaving his body all at once.
“Got you,” he muttered, voice low and astonished. “Weirdest damn cat I’ve ever seen… but ..super cute too… My wife n kid will love you.”
Uratos allowed it, meowing and purring(or making a noise of contentment) as the men petted his head.
He soon found himself being transported in what he assumed was a means of transportation, darkness surrounding him. The constant darkness soon lulled him to sleep and when he woke up he found himself out of the net and being carried into a pretty, small building with a sign that hung above the entrance.
Fushiguro’s Petland.
The man pushed open the front door of the shop, a soft chime announcing his arrival and warmth immediately wrapping around them both. Cozy and gentle. Smaller empty enclosures lined the space by the window, but they weren’t stacked or crowded. They were nicely spaced, customized for comfort ability and nicely kept. It was clear that this shop was newer and had recently been furnished.
The man set him down carefully, grunting when Uratos sat by his side and meowed. What a strange meow…..
“Megumi,” he called, glancing toward the stairs beyond the front counter. “Don’t come running out here yet..I needa-.”
Too late.
A thump and a few clomping sounds later, a smaller human about 500 rotations appeared almost immediately, dark-haired, quiet and pantin, stopping just short when he saw Uratos.
They stared at each other. Uratos tilted his head slightly. A little human. He looked exactly like his father.
The child didn’t respond, just kept staring with his slightly flushed cheeks. He tugged in his shirt and then said-
“…He’s weird looking.”
Toji snorted.
“Yeah. That’s putting it lightly..but he’s cute ain’t he?”
Megumi nodded and another presence came down the stairs…softer, lighter and less hurried. A woman stepped into view, her expression shifting from curiosity to immediate, quiet interest as her gaze landed on Uratos. She was pretty with short black hair, blue eyes and rosy cheeks. And, oh, a quite round belly. Must have been the wife the man had been talking about.
“…Oh. How darling!”
She crossed the room and Uratos found himself being picked up by the woman, letting out a noise of surprise as she appraised him.
“Aren’t you just the prettiest little kitty? And, oh, six eyes? And antennae’s!? Where did you find him, Toji?” she asked, looking at the man, Toji who answered simply but kindly.
“Running around the street market like he owned the place. Matter of fact he’s been there for a coupla weeks now and since I didn’t see anyone claiming him I thought…why not? I knew you’d like to add him to the family.”
“That tracks,” she murmured, scratching under his chin softly. This made him twitch and , oh lord, was he..purring?! He’d been hanging around cats way too much-.
“…He’s really so beautiful,” she said quietly.
Then, she added- “…We’re keeping him.”
Toji looked at her and raised a brow, scarred lip twitching with amusement.
“…We’re not keeping him. Yknow how much money we already gotta spend to get ‘em vaccinated and such??? Not to mention, we don’t know what the hell he eats.”
She groaned as Toji kept on listing how much of a headache adding a cat, when they already had a son mind you, would be.
“…FIIIINEEEE……But WE ARE keeping him until someone claims him. Who knows.. maybe he’ll be around long enough to meet Tsumiki!”
Toji exhaled, and nodded.
“…I mean,yeah, that was the point of bringing him here. Poor little guy looked lonely…and I wanted you and Gumi to ‘im too. I dunno about him meeting Tsumiki though…you got another four months-“
And, after that, rest of the night went by fast. Uratos watched the little family make him a cozy little space by the display window of their shop, letting them put him in here and then
gave him space. It wasn’t so bad, to be honest. Another new experience he’d allow to happen until he simply got bored.
The days that followed were…different.
He learned all of their routines, noting how the woman, Toji’s wife , would stay in the shop while the man and the little boy, Toji and Megumi, would leave for the day and return late in the evening. Megumi kept his distance at first, watching from the edges of the room, his attention steady and quiet. He didn’t reach out immediately, didn’t try to touch or call for him when his parents let him out to roam the shop after he mewed for hours from boredom. It didn’t take long before the distance closed and Megumi was soon petting and playing with Uratos everyday. The woman was much easier.
She treated him as though he had always belonged there, her movements gentle but assured as she moved through the space, occasionally stopping to brush her fingers through his fur or leave some new treat for him to try. And , sometimes, she let Uratos take naps with her in her bed after she’d been on her feet all day and cooked dinner. (she quickly found out that he hated cat food and preferred to eat what she ate/cooked.)
Uratos accepted all of it, greedily.
And Toji …well, he remained the same.
Always watching but never intruding.
He didn’t treat Uratos like something fragile or like something entirely safe. His attention was sharper than the others, his awareness lingering in ways that suggested he understood more than he said. Like he caught on to the fact that Uratos was more than what he appeared to be.
“…You’re not just a cat,” he muttered once when Uratos was lying beside him in their couch upstairs in their apartment. (At some point they learned that Uratos could open his little enclosure and they could NOT keep him contained. But, since he didn’t poop or pee anywhere, leave a mess or break anything..they let him have free rein.)
Uratos glanced at him, his six eyes staring up into his green ones and effectively stealing Toji’s breath away. He mewed as if to say ‘no shit sherlock’ and shook his head though it could’ve just been the cat being a cat.
Toji huffed a quiet laugh, turning his attention back to the tv screen.
“Yeah. Figured.”
And time passed. Once again days turned into weeks and weeks …suprisingly into a month and then two. Uratos ultimately learned the rhythm of the place easily… witnessed the grand opening of the shop,got used to the flow of customers, the way attention shifted depending on time and movement. He observed, adjusted and lived accordingly.
And life was..well it was good.
And he was happy.
Then, one day, the door opened.
And everything changed.
Uratos felt it before he looked. How his “heart” beat erratically, his body filling with energy barely contained. He had been lapping up milk in his when his ears twitched. His head lifted at the sound of the bell hanging over the shop door chiming.
You.
You, You, You.
You with soft, pink skin like the setting suns of vyporia…wearing a soft, fitted white sweater, tucked into a simple pleated skirt that fell to your ankles and covered the little black wedges you had on. On your arm , you carried a small leather satchel that hung off the shoulder, stuffed with notebooks and everyday items, thin framed glasses on the bridge of your nose and tiny gems in your slightly pointed ears. Your hair was slightly curly, pulled back in a messy high ponytail that would’ve made anybody else look sloppy and distasteful. But not you. No, gods not you.
Your cheeks were flushed and you were panting slightly as you announced yourself and waited by the door. Even your voice sounded as sweet as you looked. Toji , who’d been scrolling through his holographic device, looked up from behind the counter, his posture loosening almost immediately. He smiled widely and waved you over.
“Well, look who finally decided to show up. Himari! Look who’s here!”
From the back, his wife appeared a second later, her expression lighting up with joy as she squealed.
“Oh my pookie butt!,” she said warmly, moving quickly to you and hugging you tightly . “It’s been what—weeks, years?!?”
“Midterms,” you sighed, shifting your bag to hug her back tightly. “They’ve been kicking my belrubia(ass).”
Toji snorted, watching his wife fawn and fuss over you like she did with Megumi.
“Yeah, you look like it… m’telling you, that college is gonna suck the soul outta ya before you graduate.”
You rolled your very pretty eyes, but there was no disdain when you spoke again.
“I feel like it…but it’s all for the sake of getting my damned bachelors degree. And how’s the baby, Mari?? I’m ready to be an auntie to another!”
Himari laughed happily.
“She’s quite healthy…this is a much easier pregnancy than Gumi’s.”
“Where is Gumi??”
“Oh he’s staying with the itadori’s…..-“
You all fell into it naturally after that…small talk, updates on Himari’s pregnancy, the kind of conversation that didn’t need to be carried because it already knew where it was going. From the shadows along the upper shelving, Uratos watched. He had moved there the moment you entered, instinct guiding him upward instead of forward this time. Not hiding…just…observing from a place where he could see without being seen. Where he could watch you without being interrupted or disturbed. Because ever since you had entered, his “heart” had been acting strangely. And the sensation he was feeling was beginning to slowly overwhelm him. With what, he didn’t quite know.
The tone of the room softened around you, conversation flowing easily, the space coming alive with you. Uratos tracked every motion.Every shift in your expression. Everything. He would’ve felt like such a fucking creep in any other situation…but he couldn’t help it. This feeling was damn near driving him mad.
“…—And you’ve been holding up good?” Toji asked after a moment, his tone losing some of its edge. You hesitated and that made Uratos lean in, ears straining to hear everything.
“…Yeah. I’m fine,” you said automatically, then ….you exhaled, the answer slipping a little. “It’s just…remember Lady glitterpus….?”
Himar’s expression softened immediately, seeing that you were now a little sad.
“…What happened?”
“She—” you stopped, lip wobbling in a way that made Uratos’s “heart” ache. “She. Um…she passed. A couple weeks ago…. While she was sleeping.”
Silence settled in…not heavy, not overwhelming, just…there.
“…Ten years,” you added, almost like you needed to explain why it mattered so much. “I got her when I first moved out.”
Toji leaned back slightly, arms crossing loosely. He clearly wasn’t the best to come to with anything sad…so all he did was cringe and grunt low.
“…That’s rough.”( Himari smacked his arm.)
Himari reached out, squeezing your arm gently as you sniffled softly. Clearly you had loved your pet dearly.
“I’m so sorry…. I know how much Lady meant to you….”
You nodded, offering a small, tired smile, grateful for the comfort after mourning alone for so long.
“Yeah. It’s just been…quiet….. yknow after my parents passed snd …I’ve just been alone…and I’m sorry for not reaching out and worrying you. ‘S why I stopped by before I went home… missed you all.”
From above, Uratos stilled. Something in her voice resonated with something in him.
Not understand, not fully anyway…
But recognition of absence. Of loneliness that yearned to be filled.
He had felt it before all of this….In his own way…but still. Toji exhaled through his nose, glancing briefly toward the back before speaking again.
“…We …..actually just got one in,” he said, tone casual but deliberate. “ A cat…a few days ago.”
You looked up slightly and Himari shot him a withering look that screamed ‘of all the times?!’
But you didn’t seem to react badly.
“Oh?”
His wife smiled faintly, thanking the stars above that you didn’t get offended.
“…Yes! …He’s…different.”
“That’s one way to put it,” Toji muttered with amusement.
“And We weren’t planning on keeping him,” she continued, ignoring him easily. “But he kind of…stayed.”
“Toji caught him running around the city like he owned it,” she added, a hint of amusement in her voice.
“That’s because he did,” Toji said flatly. “I’m pretty damn sure he LET me catch him outta pity or boredom cus the little shits been lounging around here ever since… and he won’t let anybody take him when they offer to buy ‘im!”
A small pause.
Then, Himari gasped softly, tugging on Toji’s shirt.
“…Maybe,” she said slowly, glancing between you and him, “you could take him?!”
Silence.
Reader blinked and Toji blanched. Uratos’ six eyes widened as he leaned down even more from above them.
“…What?” You both said at the same time.
“So we don’t have to keep pretending we’re not getting attached,” Himari added. “And we’d still get to see him!! And so you have something to brighten your day!! Oh it’s perfect!!”
His wife nudged him lightly and now it was Toji’s turn to shoot her a look.
“That’s not how you phrase that.”
But she ignored him and looked back at you again, softer this time.
“…Only if you want to. No pressure..just a suggestion?”
You hesitated, fingers tightening slightly around the strap of your bag.
“I don’t know if I’m…ready for that yet.?”
‘Fair.’ Uratos thought but damn it…he kind of ..DID…want to go with her.
And that small thought was what had him moving, shifting along the shelving, quietly dropping onto the counter behind their turned backs with a soundless thud.
Then-
‘Mewwwww!’
Three pairs of eyes turned and there he was.
“There he is. I swear that cats secretly a human.” Toji mused lowly and Himari giggled. (Uratos would’ve snorted at that if he wasn’t so interested in you.)
Your eyes, upon seeing him, widened and your mouth dropped slightly in a way that made Uratos preen. His fur caught the light first, dark but with many colors and white dots that look like stars speckled against a galaxy , shifting subtly as if something beneath it refused to stay still. And then his eyes… he had six?! What the hell?! And they were such a deep and rich blue that made you feel like you were being sucked into a black hole! And all of them were fixed on you. You blinked, releasing a breath you hadn’t realized you’d been holding in and gulped in awe.
“…Oh.”
That was it.Just….wow.Uratos moved slowly towards the edge of the counter, his eyes remaining on you. And you, in turn, approached him slowly. When he got close to you and you leaned down until you were in front of his face he made the sound.
Soft.A small, deliberate mewl. A sound if fascination …and need.Something in your expression shifted immediately.
“…You’re—”
You exhaled again, something lighter breaking through the sadness that had been seemingly plaguing you.
“…okay, you’re really weird. But also…kind of cute…??? Like what??”
Uratos sat, letting her appraise and overlook him.
You hesitated only for a second before slowly reaching out with a slightly shaky hand.
Your fingers brushed against his fur and he didn’t pull away. He didn’t even move as you scratched his neck. Only watched you and purred.
“…okay he’s kind of ..super …cute,” you admitted quietly.
Toji snorted again.
“‘Kind of’ is generous. He’s disgustingly adorable. And a pain in the ass. Acting all high n mighty-
Himari interrupted and added. “And we took him to the vet already, got him vaccinated and such… he’s clean and everything.”
You let out a soft breath, your hand lingering against him just a little longer than necessary.
“…What’s his name?”
A pause.
Toji glanced over at Himari and they both shrugged.
“actually…we never gave him one. Yknow, never name an animal you aren’t keeping or whatnot…we just called him kitty, KitKat,…little shit-“
While Toji kept talking , Uratos continued to stare into your intrigued eyes and his antennae twitched. Ever since he’d gotten to this planet and been in this form..he hadn’t felt the need to use any of his many abilities…. But now that you were inquiring about his name…he couldn’t help BUT to gently and telepathically spell out his name for you in your mind. You blinked and, unconsciously, you said his name.
“…U…Uratos….?”
Toji and Himari both looked at you in surprise and Himari smiled.
“Oh that’s such a cute name? How did you come up with that so fast? See, you’re both perfect for each other!”
You nodded and said his name again.
Uratos was over the moon, his “heart” rejoicing immensely.
Yes, say his name.
Uratos, Uratos, Uratos.
Your hand moved again, gentler this time and his purring grew louder in turn.
“…Okay,” you said softly, almost like you were convincing herself. Or you had convinced yourself. “Yeah.”
A small pause.
Then….
“I’ll take him.”
Himari and Toji blinked and the pregnant woman clapped joyously, Toji grunting as she tugged on his arm but smiled nonetheless.
Amidst the noise, Uratos closed his eyes briefly, leaning into your touch. Not from exhaustion or sleepiness. From acceptance…and this time he wasn’t just allowing it. He was accepting it whole heartedly.
(HOLY SHITE THIS TOOK FOREVER. 7k WORDS?? I ALMOST CRIED. IM FINNA START UPLOADINGNON SATURDAYS LMAO. THANK YOU FOR READING!!)
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