Chapter 1: Haniuri

It was a cold and rainy night on the world of Destiny Islands. Kat, Red, and Capi had all come there for an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. However, the boys couldn’t make it because of their “jobs”, so the girls instead enjoyed their time with Kairi and Selphie at Kairi’s summer home. Inside the house, they were lying down on giant cushions in the den. Kairi was flipping channels on the TV, Red was busy grading papers, Selphie was enjoying a cat nap, Capi was reading magazines, and Kat was looking out the window into the dark night outside.

“What a bore…” Capi yawned. “There is absolutely nothing to do today…”

“You’re telling me…” Kat sighed. “I still don’t understand why the guys always are so busy.”

“Maybe they’re not so busy…they might be doing something else.” Kairi said.

“You are SO paranoid, Kairi…” Selphie groaned. “Come on, lighten up, and we’ll have the most fun without those stupid guys! I know Red was itchin’ to get away from HER boyfriend…”

Selphie giggled after what she said but was quickly silenced by a pillow to the head.

“Maybe I should give you an “E” on this test, Selphie.” Red suggested.

“Ah, please no!!!” Selphie begged. “I can’t fail a test! It’ll kill my perfect straight “B” record…”

“Then I suggest that you be a little nicer…” Red chuckled.

“Fine…” Selphie said with a roll of her eyes. “Mrs. Restriction…”

“So where’s Nami?” Kairi asked. “She should’ve been here a LONG time ago…”

“No worries, she’s probably on her way right now…” Kat said.

“Well, tell me when she gets here.” Capi said. “I’m going for a good soak.”

“Why don’t you carry Sora up there with ya?” Selphie asked mischievously.

“Hush you!” Capi said. “And for the last time, we’re NOT dating!”

Outside, Nami walked along the sand of Destiny Islands on her way to Kairi’s summer home. Before she even reached the door, however, she heard a rustling behind her. She turned, hoping to see what it was that disturbed her tranquil silence. But she didn’t see a thing. She walked towards the door again, but once more she heard the rustling noise. Whirling on her heel, she stared behind her and straight into the dark night. Once again, there was nothing there.

“It must be the wind…” Nami chuckled nervously.

Nami was about to turn again to face the door when she felt something furry and soft rubbing on her ankle. She shrieked and looked down quickly to see what brushed against her. It was a cat, just an ordinary cat. His fur was dark brown and his eyes were yellow. Around his neck was a purple collar and his long tail had a white tip. He mewed silently as he looked up at Nami with his yellow eyes.

“It’s just…a cat…” Nami breathed to herself. “You scared me, you little fuzzball…”

The cat just meowed again and rubbed against Nami’s leg.

“Well, you can’t be a stray…you’ve got a collar.” Nami said. “Come here…”

Nami picked the cat up and looked at the collar closely. The letters on the collar read “Haniuri”. Nami looked at the cat quizzically for a moment.

“Haniuri? The honeydew melon?” Nami asked. “What a weird name for a cat…you’re not even green.”

Nami cradled the cat in her arms and rubbed his belly. The new attention elicited a purr from the cat as he enjoyed the scratching.

“Aw…you’re such a cute kitty!” Nami laughed. “Would you like to come inside with me, Uri? I’ll warn ya now though, Kat can be VERY territorial.”

The cat meowed happily, as though he was saying “yes”.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Nami said. “Let’s go inside, the other girls would love to meet you!”

Nami knocked on the door to Kairi’s home and waited. Uri just purred silently and enjoyed his time in Nami’s arms.

“That must be Nami now. Let her in, Selphie.” Red said.

“Fine…” Selphie said as she got up. “I wonder what took her.”

Selphie opened the door and greeted Nami with a big hug. Then Selphie saw the cat she was holding.

“Nami! You brought a cat in here?!” Selphie whispered. “Do you know what Kat will do to him?”

“Don’t worry about it…if I explain the situation, Kat won’t be intimidated.” Nami explained. “Besides that, he’s a male cat. What’s the worst he could do to her?”

“I suppose so…but you do remember what happened to the last cat that was here, right?” Selphie asked. “Chased off the island…”

“Trust me, I remember all too clearly.” Nami said. “So where’s Akane?”

“She said she’d be late.” Selphie said with a roll of her eyes. “Although she never said how late…you know how assassins are…”

Nami walked into the den with Selphie. The second they entered, Kat instantly caught Uri’s scent and frowned.

“There’s another cat…in this house.” Kat said. “In MY territory?”

“Kat, he’s not a bad kitty!” Nami said. “He’s a stray I picked up on the way here…in fact, he wasn’t too far from the house at all. I won’t let him do anything bad, promise!”

Kat looked at Nami’s pleading face carefully. Then, she thought for a while and sighed, her ears lowering in defeat.

“Fine…he can stay.” Kat said. “So, does the little bugger have a name?”

“His collar says Haniuri.” Nami said. “But I call him ‘Uri’ for short.”

“Doesn’t that translate to honeydew melon?” Kairi asked. “Who would name their cat after a fruit?”

“Obviously, whoever named this cat.” Nami replied.

“Ok…one more question.” Kat said. “Where is he?”

“He’s right here in my…” Nami said before looking down.

Uri was not in Nami’s arms. Both Selphie and Nami search frantically around the room but they couldn’t retrieve their lost cat.

“He was right there in your arms, how did you lose him?” Selphie asked.

“I don’t know…” Nami replied. “For a while, I didn’t even know I was holding him…”

“He could be anywhere in the house…and it’s pretty big.” Kairi said. “We should start looking…”

“Well, he is just a cat.” Red chuckled. “How far could he have gotten?”

Upstairs in the bathroom, Capi was enjoying a good soak in the bathtub. But it wouldn’t be long before her nice warm bath was interrupted. Instead of being raised off the floor, the tub was actually more like an underground pool. Uri squeezed under the door to the bathroom and sat at the edge of the bathtub. He stared at Capi with a look of interest and curiosity. Unlike most cats, Uri was never afraid of water and hopped in to enjoy the warm solace of the bathtub.

Capi enjoyed the soak and sighed as the warm water took full effect. Uri paddled over to the sleeping keymaster and bumped into her arm. Capi giggled in her slumber and scooted Uri away unknowingly.

“Sora…that tickles…” Capi said slowly.

Uri meowed as Capi brushed him away, initially causing Capi to get confused and pick up the cat, while her eyes were still closed.

“Kat?” Capi asked before opening her eyes. “Hey, you’re not Kat…or Sora…”

Downstairs, Nami flipped TV channels nervously and at a quickened pace. She was obviously worried about Uri. Anything could’ve happened to him.

“Don’t worry, Nami.” Kairi said cheerfully. “I’m sure Uri’s just playing a game of hide and seek with us.”

“I still don’t know why Kat won’t just sniff him out.” Selphie said as she poked Kat’s ears.

“I don’t feel like it…” Kat said. “And stop poking my ears…”

“But they’re so soft!” Selphie chuckled.

“I agree.” Red said.

“Could you try at least once, Kat?” Nami asked. “I’m really worried about him…”

“Alright, I’ll try once.” Kat said before sniffing around. “Hm…that’s funny…he’s upstairs.”

“With Capi?” Red asked.

“What if he disturbed her bath?” Nami asked. “She is NOT going to like that…”

“Don’t be such a worry wart…” Selphie said. “Capi might need a fuzzy little buddy right now.”

Upstairs in the bathroom, Capi was in a towel and was drying Uri off with another towel.

“A cat that’s not afraid of water…” Capi said almost to herself. “There’s definitely something different about you…”

Uri purred delightedly as he was dried off by the soft towel.

“How did you get in here, anyway?” Capi asked. “One of the girls must’ve let you in, eh?”

Uri meowed happily in response and looked up at Capi as she finished drying him.

“I’ll take that as a yes…” Capi laughed. “Let’s go down and see them, I’m sure they’re worried about ya if they didn’t send ya up here…”

Capi put on a bath robe, picked up Uri, and proceeded to take him downstairs, where the other girls waited. When Capi came down she cleared her throat, making the chattering ladies settle down.

“Alright, whose cat is this?” Capi asked as she held up Uri. “He was in my tub…”

“Uri!” Nami said. “Uh…he’s a cat I brought in, Capi. Sorry about letting him loose.”

“You’re lucky I was relaxed and didn’t throw him out…” Capi said as she gave Uri to Nami. “I decided to just give him a bath since he was in the bathtub with me.”

“Aw…that was nice of you, Capi.” Kat said.

“Wait, he was in the bathtub with you?” Red asked. “I thought cats all hated water.”

“Not that little bugger.” Capi said. “He was as calm as me. Heck, he loves warm water.”

“What a weird cat…” Kat yawned. “Now if you ladies don’t mind, I’d like to take a little Kat nap…”

Kat curled up on the beanbag cushion and started resting. Uri soon joined Kat and slept next to her.

“Aw…isn’t that cute?” Selphie asked sarcastically. “Two cats resting near one another.”

“Well…I’m feeling a little sleepy myself…” Kairi yawned. “Goodnight, everyone.”

“I think it’s time we all went to bed.” Red said. “It’s 12:30am…”

Pretty soon, the lights in Kairi’s summer home went out in preparation for the coming slumber. But the question on everybody’s mind was what would happen tomorrow?