((A year later and this doesn’t entirely fit the bill but you know what, it’s close.))

Yoruichi perched atop the low wall, ears twitching and head cocked to one side as she listened to the chatter of the cats. There wasn’t all that much of interest happening around Karakura, just the usual trouble with Hollows, Kurosaki getting into scuffles with delinquents, and various other small things that caught the attention of the local strays and outdoor cats.

It didn’t look like she was going to get anything of interest out of them tonight, unfortunately.

Just as she was about to leave, however, a young tabby leapt onto the wall and crept closer to her. ::You wanted to know about the stray human you adopted when he’s out?:: At Yoruichi’s nod, the tabby’s whiskers twitched forward and she continued, ::I see why you like him! He’s very generous with attention!::

Yoruichi flicked an ear and crooked the tip of her tail in question. ::He is,:: she agreed. ::Did you meet him?::

The young tabby chirped excitedly. ::Yes! He’s even brought me treats! He has good tastes, I like him!::

Yoruichi wondered at that. She’d not seen Kaito interact with any of the strays around town, but she also didn’t make a habit of stalking him. ::Has he said anything interesting?:: she asked the tabby.

That gave the tabby pause, the young feline’s tail swaying slowly as she thought. ::He’s said that he wished he could bring me home?::

That took her aback; Kaito had shown no interest that /she/ knew of in getting a pet. The other teens had gently teased him a couple times about his interactions with Komamura-taicho’s pet dog, but Yoruichi hadn’t taken that as ‘Kaito wants a pet’.

Maybe she should have though. She knew how much he enjoyed it when she indulged him and let him treat her as a regular cat. ::Would you want to?:: she asked the tabby. ::I doubt he’d restrict you to being an indoor cat.:: Kisuke wouldn’t even complain; Kaito had the man wrapped around his little finger without even realizing it. Adding a pet or two to the shoten wouldn’t be much of a hardship.

(And maybe it would help pull him from his depression. She could only hope.)

::You wouldn’t mind? I know that’s your territory,:: the tabby demurred, unable to fully hide her interest in the offer.

::He’s a foolish human who needs more attention than I can give him,:: Yoruichi said with a haughty sniff. ::Though he /might/ end up with a young dog as well.::

::So long as the dog isn’t mean,:: the tabby said. ::There’s one dog that’s always so nasty! I don’t like her. But I’ve met some that are nice.::

::My other human can help with finding a nice dog when it comes to that. And you can help too,:: Yoruichi offered. A young cat to provide the peaceful sort of companionship and attention that Kaito seemed to crave, and a puppy for the unconditional love and affection that Kaito /needed/. That sounded about right to her, now that she was considering it.

But. Cat first. Let him get used to having a pet around that Yoruichi could understand, so that she could make /sure/ nothing went wrong.

::If you come home with me, no running away on him, do you understand?:: Yoruichi asked the tabby sternly.

::Of course not!::

::Good. If we’re in agreement then, come on. I’ll bring you home and let them know you’re there to stay.:: Yoruichi stood up and turned to leave, pleased when the young tabby cheerfully bounced after her.

She didn’t know how Kaito would take the sudden arrival of a new member of the shoten, but Yoruichi was certain she could convince him of the benefits.

Besides, all the blackmail photos would stop having /her/ in them as well. That was more than worth the potential hassle of having a true feline around.