Chapter Text
Chapter One
“A kitties home”
“I just can’t look at them anymore. She loved them more than I did.” Gendo said, sitting down on his couch. He rubbed his knuckles harshly, trying to null the pain in his heart. His eyes were leaden with sleep and his hair was harshly combed down.. He kept his head down to avoid her seeing him in such a state. Ritsuko slowly set her china blue teacup down on the table before them.
'"Are you suggesting I adopt them?” She asked.
“Yes, that’s the idea. You’ve had kittens before, correct?” Gendo said, adjusting his glasses. Ritsuko looked at the two sleeping kittens beside her. Even though she grew up with kittens, it's been years since she cared for any. However, a house like this was no place for kittens. The house reeked of grief, and everything seemed to be brushed with a film of grey. Ritsuko had known Gendo and Yui for many years, it was the least she could do after such an event.
“Yes, I have. How long would I have them?” Rituko asked, crossing her legs.
She could see in his deep, swollen eyes it would be for a while. He rubbed his eyebags and sighed.
“I’m not sure, just until I figure something out.”
“I suppose I could take them in for a while. Could you tell me their names?”
“The black one is Shinji, and the grey one is Rei. Shinji is a boy, while Rei is a girl. They’re siblings.” He said, sitting up.
“When should I take them?” Ritsuko asked
“I was thinking as soon as possible. I still need to move things out.”
“Alright, I’ll take the kittens so you can focus on your health,” Ritsuko said softly. She placed the kittens into a small cardboard box and headed out the door. Gendo followed and closed the door behind them. They walked outside side by side going back and forth about kitten care. Once they reached Ritsuko’s car, Gendo turned to her.
“Thank you again. If they’re any trouble, let me know, and I can put them up for adoption.”
“Of course, take care,” She said, placing the box on the car's floor.
She waved from her car and watched him going back inside the house. A few whines and meows came out of the box. Turning her car key, her radio erupted in static. She flipped through the channels and found something calming. “End of summer” by Toshifumi Hinata played softly from the player and soon there was no noise from the box. Ritsuko smiled to herself, the kittens shared her love for classical music. Once she arrived home, she slowly picked the box up so as not to startle the sleeping kittens. She could not beat the rain. Thick raindrops landed on her scalp and skin. She placed the box down to grab her umbrella inside the car and the rain hit the kittens. The black one jumped up and tipped the box over. The black kitten ran down the sidewalk and the other followed suit. Ritsuko saw this and ran towards the kittens but by the time she caught up, they had vanished.
“Shinji! Rei!” she called out immediately scolding herself for being so foolish. Of course they wouldnt come out by name, they were kittens after all. The rain was too loud to hear a meow. She rushed across the street in a nearby parking lot hoping they didnt run father. There wasn't much traffic at this time fortunately but usually, it was expected. Her house was located near the city in front of a busy street and outside her front door was a sidewalk. When her street wasn’t busy she’d often go on walks, especially to a small lot behind a old gas station. She headed to the lot and looked around for the kittens. The reason why she loved the spot so much was simply that the lot was thriving and left unbroken by suffocating cement and brick. She loved the different hues of flowers that emerged from the earth and the green aroma; It seemed the kittens loved it too. Underneath a large leaf, the two kittens huddled close. Water drops fell on the leaf and dripped down near to were Ritsukos feet where. She squatted down and observed the kittens. They were shaking and clinging on to each other.
“Come here kittens, its alright. I’ve got you” she hummed softly.
The kittens opened their eyes and observed her. She didn’t make a single movement. Slowly, they crawled towards her. She slowly moved her hand towards the kitten and extended her index finger. A water droplet ran down her arm and dripped off the tip of her finger. The black kitten was the one to come forward, he licked her finger. Once the other kitten trailed behind she slowly picked the black one up. The black kitten fussed in her arms and she quickly picked up the other.
“See, now you’ve got your sister, haven’t you? I suppose you’d like to be inside where it’s nice and warm right? There's no need to fuss now. I’ll run through the rain, you won’t even feel it, I promise.” She smiled.
She cradled the kittens and draped her shirt over the two to avoid the rain. As soon as the kittens settled, she began her way across the street again. She jogged slowly so as not to slip and drop the kittens. She could feel them moving about in her arms but she held on tight. As soon as she made her way in front of her house, she dug for her house keys and unlocked the door. Closing the door behind her, she lifted her shirt, and the kittens sprung out. They landed on the floor and scurried into the living room. She sighed as she locked the door behind her. Her clothes were soaking wet and she could tell her makeup was running. She decided to change and then find the kittens. She headed upstairs and flicked on the light in her master bedroom. The walls were a deep violet hue and her furniture and bedspread were mint green. She speedwalked into her bathroom. Her makeup was running down her face which she washed clean off. She quickly wrung her short blonde hair before going back to her room to change. Afterwards she came into the living room to see the kittens basking in the sunlight. The weather seemed to clear up quicker than she expected. The two kittens were curled up next to each other calmly purring. She smiled sat next down to them.
“Welcome home” she whispered.