Small story to satisfy my neko brain:
"Do we really have to do this?"
The neko whined as they sat on the floor of the bathroom, leaning over the white tub and watching the water begin to pour from the tap.
"We wouldn't if you didn't go chasing after that pigeon." Was the response from the owner. The words were met with another whine from the cat, their slightly matted tail tucked to their side in an attempt to hide the mud both knew covered the white fur.
"It looked at me funny..."
Water continued to fill the tub, rising until it was about half full before the human reached over to shut off the tap. With a sigh, he then turned to the small neko, watching them expectedly for their next movements.
It wouldn't be easy to get the neko into the water, another whine of protest and a small hiss coming from them as their owner made an attempt to shift them from their current position beside the tub. Attempt after attempt was made to move the cat, each met with a hiss or a flash of a claw from the smaller. While it was true not all nekos hated water, this little one sure did, and would do almost anything to avoid stepping foot in the tub before them.
"You have to get in." Spoke the human, a stern tone in his voice, "I thought you liked your fur nice and clean?" He continued, attempting to coax the neko up and into the water.
Ears back in defense at the new strategy, the cat huffed, leaning a hand over the side of the cold tub and dipping a sole finger into the water. It didn't feel bad, but it wasn't his skin the neko didn't want wet. Wet fur was a nightmare, heavy and restricting in terms of moving covered appendages. They had never liked the feeling of water against their ears or tail, it had always been cold or far too hot against the sensitive areas.
"If you're not going to get in, the only other thing we can do is shave off all that fur. If it mattes any more we won't be able to wash it back to normal."
Those next words caught the nekos attention immediately, ears darting in the direction of their owner as they turned with urgency. Their fur was their pride and joy, soft and white with light brown tips, almost the mixed colours of a morning coffee. They couldn't lose it.
Swallowing down their reluctance to enter the water, they gave a quiet sigh, using the tub to pull themselves to their feet. A small step was taken, initial hesitance present before they sunk their leg down into the warm water. The first leg was followed by the second, the neko now standing in the water with conflict in their eyes.
"You're doing really well." Encouragement came from their human, their hands now softly held by the larger man's. The man guided the neko to sit, calming the jerk reaction to the water against their sensitive tail.
"There. It's not so bad hm?"
Water gently splashed as the cat sat, warmth surrounding them in an instant, though it was a relaxing kind of warmth.
The neko felt rather numbed by the calm feeling, allowing their human to work on washing the dark mud from the youngers fur. Hands running up through newly wet black hair added to the calm of the experience, the soft rumble of a purr softly sounding from the lips of the cat.
It had been over in what felt like only a few minutes, though the neko found themselves wanted to stay in the water just that little bit longer. Their human felt no need to protest, this was the first time the little neko had ever wanted to remain in the water they usually hated with a burning passion.
Perhaps bathtime isn't so bad...
