HOME | DD

Description
James was glad to be home, today had been nothing but bullshit and being home he can forget the shitty day he had. James looks at his front porch coming into view and saw something was on his front door step. Maybe today's bullshit had only begun; he was suspected so but hoped not. He got closer and heard something from the box 'Oh God please no.' It was a meow; there is a cat in that box. James was now in front of the box, it was a pretty big box too, so it probably had lots of cats. James knelt down, the box was taped shut on top the handles were the only way to look in. He looked into the handle and couldn't see very well but was confirmed there were many cats in there. Maybe today's bullshit had just begun.

James picked up the box and there was a lot of protest from inside it. James let himself and the box in and set that on the table. He left to get a box opener he came back to the cats growling. He stabbed dramatically the box cutter into the top and slashed, he noticed the cats had stopped fighting interested in what was going on. The tape was putting up a fight "Stupid fucking tape." He cursed and ripped the box opened to relive nine cats.

They were all beautiful, some were strange like no other cat James had ever seen, but James knew his cat exercise is not huge.

One has a tall, lean body to James it looked like a Siamese but with a fluffy tail and he had never seen a red Siamese before the eyes were purple blue. He reminded himself he knew almost nothing of cats. The cat next to him was smaller than the rest of them, a girl James though, she was gray-blue with copper eyes. He smiled at her; she turned her head away ignoring James.

There was a black and white cat with yellow eyes, he was lean and perfectly half black and white, which was interesting to James "That's so cool" he cat next to him is mostly black with orange on his face he had green eyes.

There was another pair of cats, James paused to wonder if cats often buddied up; He thought they did. The next pair one is lean with a toned muscular look completely black with a very glossy coat, His eyes were copper so deep in color they looked almost red. A little creepy to James, especially since the cat was scowling and looked annoyed. The cat next to him was huge, the biggest, blue-gray and had pale yellow eyes.

The rest were not in pairs a brown cat with dark semi-long hair, black stripes with green eyes glared at a short haired white cat with purple- blue eyes. The fur on the white cat was getting bristled with angry, growling low. The tail of the brown cat swishing angry the eyes narrowed he began to growl. "Stop it! Bad cats!"

They all looked to James with long unbroken stares, very creepy. "What? Stop fighting."

The last cat was yellow-orange with blue eyes he has medium length body coat but the tail has very long, fluffy fur. He would give the orange-faced black cat glares.

"Alright time for names."

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"Were still cats."

"We know. We can see too."

"I hate this."

"Ah oh somebody is here."

A small amount of a face, a human face is looking at them with one dark green eyes their cats eyes require very little light to see the small change as the eye narrowed.

The person, the man said something that none of them comprehended. All are quite even as they are hosted up in their box. They are aware that they are placed on something and they see a blade stab and gut their box open and again the man says something. They watch as he looks at them, they knew they are being studied, observed, they could only wait. The man says something when Hidan and Kakazu were fighting. And they waited for what happens next.

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"Alright I'll call you Argent that's 'silver' in French, you kinda look like a Persian mix to me." James gave Hidan a single pet witch Hidan resentes and hisses.

James ignores him picks another cat pets the biggest blue cat on the head a few times "You I'll call Azure I think that's Spanish for 'blue' but I could be wrong." James looked to the black cat next to the now names Azure and could not think of a name so he moved on.

The brown cat with dark black tabby stripes "Your name is Linus becomes I think I'm funny." "Your name is Salem. Your gonna be named Pooki." He pointed to Itachi and Tobi. Tobi came over and 'mewed' and stretched up to James "Oh Pooki you're so sweet. Do you love me?" He picked up Tobi and snuggled him who purer and rubbed his head under James's chin.

"Okay you could easily be my favorite. Your names are Donny and Domino your name is Sunny cause your yellow and your new name is QT am not creative at all...So I'm hungry let's get diner"

James went to his kitchen got a huge bowl from his cabinet, filled it with water and put it on the floor. He got a plate and opened all the tuna he had and put the plate on the floor. "I gotta get cat food later."

He made himself sandwiches and gave some sandwich meat to the cats. The meat and tuna was eaten quickly and James watched with interest the cats behavior. Donny and QT ate together and very neatly. Linus and Argent had a few cats between them, Argent, Azure and Sunny ate quickly and not very carefully. Domino took big bites and chewed many times eating more of the sandwich meat than anyone else. Pookie took sandwich meat in his mouth and away from the others but would return for more tuna. Salem ate the least but did so very carefully and swatted Azure who was eating everything. James was curious the blue cat was much bigger but did nothing; James assumed he had a gentle personality.

James wonder why he never had cats before. He smiled as Linus was scoping food closer to himself with his paws, hording it, eating and glaring at everybody. Argent hissed and was atop of Linus. James picked up both cats by their scruffs, trying not to get clawed he carried them off and threw them outside.

James came back to the kitchen to find the cat openly looking it was creepy all the eyes all the heads turned eyes not blinking. "What? I'll let them in later."

James went back to the fridge and got out chocolate pudding and from the freezer ice cream he scooped a large scopes into a bowl, put the ice cream back and took the bowl of ice cream and put and a spoon and to went the living room. James ate his dessert with gusto but left a little for the cats, only Pookie ate any of the pudding. James went to the front door to let the bad cats back in.

Linus was there; looking pissed and walked past him without looking at him. That was fine with James if he was ignored, but where is Argent? James scanned his front yard for any evidence of a silver cat. There was not much to look at; far off he could see the rows of corn that his neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Lipinski grew. Nice people the Lipinski's they would help look for his cat if he asked then to but he would not ask unless he could not find Argent soon. It would not be necessary because out from nowhere came Argent hissing and yelling. "Maybe you should stay out here a little longer." James told the angry cat. James led the way back and held the door open for irate kitty. Argent who was walking in hissed at James, James in turn gently pocked Argent in the leg. It could not have hurt but it did further annoy Argent.

James ignored the irritated cat; he turned the air conditioner on, closed the windows, blinds and locked the doors. He went to his room to change into night clothes, he took his jeans off and replaced them with cotton, blue shorts. James went to get himself water which he did every night but before returning to his bedroom he recounted the cats. "Argent, Salem, Azure, QT, Pookie, Sunny, Donny, Domino, Linus, that's nine, they need more water."

James got another bowl and filled it with water and placed it away from the other bowl so as not to crowed the first bowl. James then thought of something he had not before: what about a litter pan? 'Where are the cats going to...I'll just leave a door open for them." James had no chose but to hope that his new pets would not run away forever; he had to allow them to come in and out of the house. James propped a chair in front of his back door from the kitchen and went to bed. The cats flowed James into his bedroom; some ran ahead of him which James thought was cute.

James flicked on the light to revile his master bedroom blue, green and white are the dominate colors with a full size bed blue and white bed sheets and bed spread, quilt and comforter. Two walls are blue the other two are white blue and green rug, blue with green zigzags. On the walls were pictures of many things and people none the Akatsuki recognized except the forest which is an oil painting. But the people were mysterious to them all, they assumed they are his family and/or friends.

The bed stand was blue with white handles and a black alarm clock and neon green letters, which read 8:43 pm. too early to go to bed James, desisted, so he got a book from the bookshelf on the far wall facing his bed. The bookshelf was less than half his height and green filled with books that are new to him. He made a random selection and went to bed with it. Cats were already on his bed and under his sheets.

Pookie, Sunny and Azure were on the bed and under the sheets are Domino and Donny. QT looked down at all of them from the heights vantage point of on top of the mantel. She looked cute as she survived the land (Bedroom) her copper eyes had softened. Linus was looking comfortable on the wicker chair covered in green felt cushion. Argent was beating the hell out of James's shoes but James did not care. Salem was on the TV the second heist place in his room, he looked relaxed and pleased.

James turned his attention to the book he selected Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz and began reading when 9:00 pm come James felt a little tired but kept reading the book was very interesting. At 9:30 pm James found a and put it in the book and then put the book aside on the table. James looked around all the cats were as they were before Argent was asleep next to his shoes on the floor. Everyone was asleep and looking cute. James clicked the light off, put his head on the pillow and closed his eyes. James smiled, the book was good he found Odd to be funny and awaited to read more. But his eyes were tired; his body hurt and his headache so it was bed time. James wonders what tomorrow held for him and his new pets. He knew he would keep the cats, all of them. James felt sleep take him quickly ;he made no more thoughts and had no dreams.

When he thought the man, was truly and deeply asleep Pein as Donny got out from under the covers the padded softly out the door. The Akatsuki followed him and together they went to the living room and transformed into men, and one woman. They had shabby black pants and shirts on and they are dirty and disheveled.

"Akatsuki meting now." Pein order and they assembled around James tables, Kisame without a word from his leader picked up the table from the kitchen and put it next to the table in the living room. Other members grabbed chairs and arranged them around the tables.

"How many chairs does this kid need?" Kakuzu grumbled put a chair down.

"We don't know that he lives alone." Kisame offered an explanation.

"You've seen his bedroom." Itachi said but the way he said no one knew if he thinks James lives alone or not.

"That bed is big enough for two people." Deidara said he put his chair down "Yeah."

"We should find out how many people live here." Konan suggested to Pein.

"That's what we will do first; search the house, do it quietly. Bring back any important information. I will kill anybody that blows our cover." Pein said every word quietly and glared at everybody there.

"Tobi wants to know if he finds something important do Tobi bring it to Leader or bring Leader to it?"

"You bring it me Tobi."

"Yes sir Tobi will do that."

"Everybody will pair up with you usual team, Zetsu you will check outside."

"Understood Leader."

"I want ever pair to check out each room. We will check his room when he leaves." Pein said

As if on que they heard James "Ah cats? Where are you guys?"

"Shit." Everyone said all but Tobi the good boy; good boys do not curse.

"What do we do Leader?" Kisame whispered quietly.

"Tobi will go, Tobi knows what to do."

Tobi transformed into his cat form and trotted to James's room

"Nobody move or speak." Pein order in a whisper.

For a long moment they sat, turned in the direction Tobi ran off in.

They heard the voice of their unknown host "Oh there you are Pookie. Where are the other cats? Oh you do love me don't Pookie?" The was a pause and a yawn "Good night Pookie."

A moment later Tobi returned and transformed back into a man "He is back to sleep Leader sir." Tobi whispered. He seemed pleased with himself.

"Well done Tobi." Pein gave a single pat on Tobi's head.

"Pein maybe we should check the house when he leaves for work." Konan advised quietly.

"No, now, our time runs out at 10:30." Pein commended firmly.

The Akatsuki searched the house as quietly as they could and made a few important discovers.

"Report, Itachi and Kisame you go first."

"I believe that we are in a world not our own. This person speaks and reads in a language that we do not know.' Itachi put books in English on the table.

"I agree. But I found something that we can read, there seems to be a small influence on his life." Kisame said and placed Manga in Japanese on the table.

The books and manga were passed around they conclude that the strange books read from right to left.

"Very good. Zetsu what did you find?"

"I found a door that leads to a basement, in the underground cellar I found paintings, here is one but there lots more. This young man is an artist."

Deidara was very interested he leaned forward as Zetsu passed a painting to their leader and Leader put it down on the table. The painting is oil based; it depicts wheat glowing and growing in a real sunlight and being swayed in a real wind. The sky is blue and stenches on forever.

"You will take us to the basement later Zetsu."

"Yes, Leader."

"He's really good. Yeah." Deidara whispered almost to himself. "Did anybody else find the door in the closet? Hmm?"

"Yeah two one Tobi found on the floor and another is the wall another door, but both are locked."

"Did anybody else find this?" Leader asked.

Everyone gestured 'no' "Show me Deidara and Tobi." Leader order in a steely whisper.

Quietly all the of the Akatsuki rose and approached the closet and quietly Deidara opened the door. Inside the closet are coats hanging Deidara pushed them to one side. He pressed a hand to the wall it moved a bit.

"See the tiny hinges? This is really a door." He said and stepped back so Pein could investigate.

Deidara was right there were tiny hinges and when pressed the 'wall' rattled as a door would when pressed on.

Tobi removed the black rug that covered the secret door and pulled the brass ring to show to was locked. "Very good work Deidara and Tobi."

"Yay Tobi and Deidara are good boys!" Tobi hugged Deidara.

Deidara was embraced "Let go of me, yeah Tobi you're a good boy, let me go."

The Akatsuki grinned and this display of affection.

"Tobi is a good boy." He let go of his sempai.

"Put everything back and shut the door." Pein said gently.

"What time is it?" Konan asked she worried about time slipping by them.

"There is a clock in the kitchen." Kakuzu said and read out loud the time.

"How is it ten already?" Hidan

"Dumb question Hidan." Kakuzu snapped.

"Shut up you stupid bastad" Hidan hissed

"Be quite both of you." Pein growled

"He keeps almost waking up, I think we should put everything back and look at the basement." Konan suggests.

"I agree Leader.' Itachi voiced aloud.

"Yes, I want everything back exactly as it was." Pein ordered

"Okay Zetsu lead the way."

Zetsu led them out the kitchen door that James had left open for their conveyance and lead them to the side of the house. There two cellar doors that opened easily and Zetsu led the way down. Zetsu flicked on the lights and everyone could see. In the center of the room is an easel which is covered. Paintings of many different sizes and of many different themes hung on the wall. A large realistic beach seen a medium forest of redwoods, a living desert at dawn. They are stakes of unused canvas and piles of different paints. Tarp covers the entire floor, in the very corner is a trunk that seems so out of place.

"Not very organized is he?" Kisame did not care he was mering noting out aloud.

"What's in there Zetsu-san?" Tobi asked pointing to the trunk.

"I don't know I didn't open it, there a lot of dust he would know if we opened it." Zetsu said.

Mean while Leader flipped the cover on the main easel the painting was of a nude girl. The girl lays on red silk bed that takes up most of the portrait perfectly center is the girl who is draping the silk over herself and looks at the viewer with cold blue eyes. Her gold hair is fanning all around her she has a lock twirled around a finger. Her lips are pail and coyly smiling. The silk barley covers her body at all but she looks perfectly comfortable.

"Oh she's petty." Tobi comments lightly.

Kisame chuckles at the matter-of fact-ness to Tobi's comment.

"Damn right she is! I wonder if she knows this girl personally..." Hidan chuckled.

"He probably sells them for money." Kakuzu said what he would do.

Pein turned the painting over and there was a note taped to the back. It was in English which they can not read.

James I need you to paint this and I can pay you for it

Attached to the note is the skech the painting is based off of.

"It seems your right Kakuzu. If I had to geuss I would say he is being paid to paint."

"If hes an artist by profession he might not leave his house often." Itachi pointed out.

"Can you read the note sir?" Kisame asked.

"No, but this is the drawling he copied the painting after. There are no other drawling which makes me believe clients send what they want done."

"That makes sense. Yeah. But I hope he does have a job that he will leave the house." Deidara knew from personal experience that when creating art the artist works at his craft for long hours. If he didn't have a job but as a painter they might never get help, is what he feared.

"I want to look in the trunk." Hidan and approached it without permission.

"Do it carefully" Snapped Pein

Hidan touched only the edge of the latch and lifted the lid. The tuck is divvied on the inside, to the right is more scenes from nature on the left are portraits. "More paintings here look." Hidan tossed two to Pein who catches them but is not happy Hidan's rudeness and carelessness.

One painting Hidan selected was a group, a family and a forest during winter. The family was a mother, father, son and daughter. All tall, with blonde hair and blue eyes, except the daughter who has hazel. They were matching blue outfits the adults were darker blue than the children, mother and daughter were the same dress as father and son wore the same polo and slakes. The forest was pines and oaks and others with a verity of creatures, the Akatsuki recognized almost all of them. Except for the moose.

"What is that?"

"I've never seen it before."

"Tobi likes that bird the red one." He points to a Cardinal.

"Is that a fox? or a wolf?"

"A fox I think."

They were taking the paintings out and enjoying the details and craft and realism when

"Tobi feels funny; Tobi thinks 10:30 is almost here. We should leave he thinks."

"Alright everyone put everything back carefully and we leave."

They put all of the paintings back in their piles and while they did not remember exactly were everything went they were sure to put fist two Hidan got out back on top. They shut the trunk and it did not look like it had been touched, James would never know. "Good now we leave."

Someone shut the light off and they went back to the main house. They looked around to make sure things were really as they were before James went to bed. "Good everything looks right and its a minute to 10:30 get some sleep and in the morning we try to unlock the secret doors."

At 10:30 the Akatsuki turned back into cats and found places to sleep. They had learned a lot about their new owner and could only hope this one would be able to help them.

Everyone awoke to the 6 am alarm, everyone groaned, to early. James smacked the 'off' button and through the sheets off himself and the cats who had joined him in bed. They were not touching him or each other it was strange but very cute. The cats glared at him and he petted them. Some looked more annoyed. "I hate work." James told them. James did his morning routine, and the cats tired to go back to sleep. They heard the shower turn on and most of them could not sleep though that.

"Good morning everyone." Tobi said

He got his usual mutters from everyone.

"Ah I 'm hungry!" Hidan complained.

"He'll feed us soon." Kisame mumbled who was resting but did not have any real hope of sleeping again.

The bathroom door opened and James walks out with a towel around his waist and he pretended not to see the cats who looked at him. He was relived to find no cats in his room. Had there been cats he would have to desisted to remove them or dress in front of them. He did not want to make that decision and luckily for him he did not have too. James dressed himself in jeans and white tee shirt he hunted for shoes plain white ones. He got a pair of black slacks and a different white shirt.

"Cats I'm gonna leave soon. Oh shit! I need to get food for..." James went to his kitchen to look at the clock 6:10 damn "Cats" 'shit I'm gonna be late or they go hungry.' "They shouldn't go hungry, that's just mean." But they James remember he had had eat his own breakfast.

He cooked extra sausage, bacon, he found bologna in the fridge. He cut up the lunch meat and the sausage. He gave the cats the same breakfast he had but he felt like that wasn't enough. James had to wonder if he could afford so many cats. James than remembered his neighbors, they had cats they might be willing to give him some cat food. James was right Mrs. Lipinski gave a generous amount of cat food but she tried to talk to James. Mrs. Lipinski is a wonderful person with no sense of urgency or an ability to read others. "I'm really sorry Mrs. Lipinski but I really do have to go, I appreciate the cat food." "Your welcome dear, come by any time." James got back into his car and watch the kind, older woman disappear in his rear window.

He got back home and poured all the cat food into a huge bowl, he checked the water bowls and refilled them. James knew that might still be late but the cats deepened on him, he is obliged to give them what they need. He kept the door propped open for them and he had to go to work.

"Bye Cats see you later!"

The Acatsukis looked at the bowl of cat food and was not impressed; they transformed into the Akatsuki and looked to leader for guidance.

"I'm hungry and I won't eat that shit!" Hidan said he and the others had already eaten all the bacon and sausage left for them.

"Were all hungry Hidan." Itachi said voice low and monotone he was hungry to but tried not to lose his patience.

"We'll I ain't eating the damn cat food, but that's all he left for us!" Hidan does not take being hungry well.

"He doesn't know were not cats we are cat to him." Deidara then he had to thought "So now what do we do? yeah?"

"We do what we must to survive." Pein said

'Not very helpful Pein.' Konan thought irritated.

"If we eat from the fridge he will notice the missing food" Konan pointed out .

"Right so what do we do?" Hidan snapped.

"We steel a little from every nearby home or business till we have enough." Pein declared he was annoyed as if that were obvious.

Kisame and Zetsu were checking things outside "Sir, there only seems to be one house that's close by, other then that there's no one else around."

"Zetsu scout the area, I want to know the location of the second closes building."

"Yes, leader."

"Kisame show me this first house." Pein ordered.

"Yes, sir." And Kisame lead Leader and others to the Lipinski house "This is it sir from what I have seen a married couple live there with their cats."

Zetsu emerged to report "Sir, there is a small town miles away in the east. If I had to guess I would say it is 20 miles away."

"So it's safe to assume that house is where he got the cat food from."

"This kid lives out in the middle of know where." Kakazu to himself "It doesn't look like any place I've been. Does anybody know where we are?"

A simultaneously "No" was his answer.

"Damn, in the middle of nowhere and lost, and cats..."

"What do we do now sir?" Itachi

"Nothing." A long, harsh pause "There is nothing we do now, we wait for night and go to the local town."

"Can we go in now as cats?"

Everyone turned to look at Tobi "For once Tobi you had a good idea." Pein said a smirk on his face.

"Tobi is a good boy." Tobi told himself you could hear the smile.

"Alright, everybody get in your usual pairs, do not get caught, stay out of the public eye, find out what you can, dismissed." Leader said

"Yes, sir." His subordinates said and turned back into cats.

It felt good to Pein to give an order, more importantly a mission to his Akatsuki he felt a little like his old self.

He looked at Konan and smiled, went to her and huged her, in a rare display of affection, he took her hand and looked her in her eyes. "Lets go." He said softy not as an order as a sort of plead. It meant "Never leave me."

She smiles to him and gives his hand a little squeeze "Yes, of course." It meant the same as "I love you."

They walked as humans hand-in-hand and at the same time transformed into cats and linked tails as they walked into town.

So to be clear

Pein Donny

Konan QT

Tobi Pookie

Deidara Sunny

Itachi Salem

Kisame Aruze

Kakuzu Linus

Hidan Argent

Zetsu Domino

Description
James was glad to be home, today had been nothing but bullshit and being home he can forget the shitty day he had. James looks at his front porch coming into view and saw something was on his front door step. Maybe today's bullshit had only begun; he was suspected so but hoped not. He got closer and heard something from the box 'Oh God please no.' It was a meow; there is a cat in that box. James was now in front of the box, it was a pretty big box too, so it probably had lots of cats. James knelt down, the box was taped shut on top the handles were the only way to look in. He looked into the handle and couldn't see very well but was confirmed there were many cats in there. Maybe today's bullshit had just begun.

James picked up the box and there was a lot of protest from inside it. James let himself and the box in and set that on the table. He left to get a box opener he came back to the cats growling. He stabbed dramatically the box cutter into the top and slashed, he noticed the cats had stopped fighting interested in what was going on. The tape was putting up a fight "Stupid fucking tape." He cursed and ripped the box opened to relive nine cats.

They were all beautiful, some were strange like no other cat James had ever seen, but James knew his cat exercise is not huge.

One has a tall, lean body to James it looked like a Siamese but with a fluffy tail and he had never seen a red Siamese before the eyes were purple blue. He reminded himself he knew almost nothing of cats. The cat next to him was smaller than the rest of them, a girl James though, she was gray-blue with copper eyes. He smiled at her; she turned her head away ignoring James.

There was a black and white cat with yellow eyes, he was lean and perfectly half black and white, which was interesting to James "That's so cool" he cat next to him is mostly black with orange on his face he had green eyes.

There was another pair of cats, James paused to wonder if cats often buddied up; He thought they did. The next pair one is lean with a toned muscular look completely black with a very glossy coat, His eyes were copper so deep in color they looked almost red. A little creepy to James, especially since the cat was scowling and looked annoyed. The cat next to him was huge, the biggest, blue-gray and had pale yellow eyes.

The rest were not in pairs a brown cat with dark semi-long hair, black stripes with green eyes glared at a short haired white cat with purple- blue eyes. The fur on the white cat was getting bristled with angry, growling low. The tail of the brown cat swishing angry the eyes narrowed he began to growl. "Stop it! Bad cats!"

They all looked to James with long unbroken stares, very creepy. "What? Stop fighting."

The last cat was yellow-orange with blue eyes he has medium length body coat but the tail has very long, fluffy fur. He would give the orange-faced black cat glares.

"Alright time for names."

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"Were still cats."

"We know. We can see too."

"I hate this."

"Ah oh somebody is here."

A small amount of a face, a human face is looking at them with one dark green eyes their cats eyes require very little light to see the small change as the eye narrowed.

The person, the man said something that none of them comprehended. All are quite even as they are hosted up in their box. They are aware that they are placed on something and they see a blade stab and gut their box open and again the man says something. They watch as he looks at them, they knew they are being studied, observed, they could only wait. The man says something when Hidan and Kakazu were fighting. And they waited for what happens next.

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"Alright I'll call you Argent that's 'silver' in French, you kinda look like a Persian mix to me." James gave Hidan a single pet witch Hidan resentes and hisses.

James ignores him picks another cat pets the biggest blue cat on the head a few times "You I'll call Azure I think that's Spanish for 'blue' but I could be wrong." James looked to the black cat next to the now names Azure and could not think of a name so he moved on.

The brown cat with dark black tabby stripes "Your name is Linus becomes I think I'm funny." "Your name is Salem. Your gonna be named Pooki." He pointed to Itachi and Tobi. Tobi came over and 'mewed' and stretched up to James "Oh Pooki you're so sweet. Do you love me?" He picked up Tobi and snuggled him who purer and rubbed his head under James's chin.

"Okay you could easily be my favorite. Your names are Donny and Domino your name is Sunny cause your yellow and your new name is QT am not creative at all...So I'm hungry let's get diner"

James went to his kitchen got a huge bowl from his cabinet, filled it with water and put it on the floor. He got a plate and opened all the tuna he had and put the plate on the floor. "I gotta get cat food later."

He made himself sandwiches and gave some sandwich meat to the cats. The meat and tuna was eaten quickly and James watched with interest the cats behavior. Donny and QT ate together and very neatly. Linus and Argent had a few cats between them, Argent, Azure and Sunny ate quickly and not very carefully. Domino took big bites and chewed many times eating more of the sandwich meat than anyone else. Pookie took sandwich meat in his mouth and away from the others but would return for more tuna. Salem ate the least but did so very carefully and swatted Azure who was eating everything. James was curious the blue cat was much bigger but did nothing; James assumed he had a gentle personality.

James wonder why he never had cats before. He smiled as Linus was scoping food closer to himself with his paws, hording it, eating and glaring at everybody. Argent hissed and was atop of Linus. James picked up both cats by their scruffs, trying not to get clawed he carried them off and threw them outside.

James came back to the kitchen to find the cat openly looking it was creepy all the eyes all the heads turned eyes not blinking. "What? I'll let them in later."

James went back to the fridge and got out chocolate pudding and from the freezer ice cream he scooped a large scopes into a bowl, put the ice cream back and took the bowl of ice cream and put and a spoon and to went the living room. James ate his dessert with gusto but left a little for the cats, only Pookie ate any of the pudding. James went to the front door to let the bad cats back in.

Linus was there; looking pissed and walked past him without looking at him. That was fine with James if he was ignored, but where is Argent? James scanned his front yard for any evidence of a silver cat. There was not much to look at; far off he could see the rows of corn that his neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Lipinski grew. Nice people the Lipinski's they would help look for his cat if he asked then to but he would not ask unless he could not find Argent soon. It would not be necessary because out from nowhere came Argent hissing and yelling. "Maybe you should stay out here a little longer." James told the angry cat. James led the way back and held the door open for irate kitty. Argent who was walking in hissed at James, James in turn gently pocked Argent in the leg. It could not have hurt but it did further annoy Argent.

James ignored the irritated cat; he turned the air conditioner on, closed the windows, blinds and locked the doors. He went to his room to change into night clothes, he took his jeans off and replaced them with cotton, blue shorts. James went to get himself water which he did every night but before returning to his bedroom he recounted the cats. "Argent, Salem, Azure, QT, Pookie, Sunny, Donny, Domino, Linus, that's nine, they need more water."

James got another bowl and filled it with water and placed it away from the other bowl so as not to crowed the first bowl. James then thought of something he had not before: what about a litter pan? 'Where are the cats going to...I'll just leave a door open for them." James had no chose but to hope that his new pets would not run away forever; he had to allow them to come in and out of the house. James propped a chair in front of his back door from the kitchen and went to bed. The cats flowed James into his bedroom; some ran ahead of him which James thought was cute.

James flicked on the light to revile his master bedroom blue, green and white are the dominate colors with a full size bed blue and white bed sheets and bed spread, quilt and comforter. Two walls are blue the other two are white blue and green rug, blue with green zigzags. On the walls were pictures of many things and people none the Akatsuki recognized except the forest which is an oil painting. But the people were mysterious to them all, they assumed they are his family and/or friends.

The bed stand was blue with white handles and a black alarm clock and neon green letters, which read 8:43 pm. too early to go to bed James, desisted, so he got a book from the bookshelf on the far wall facing his bed. The bookshelf was less than half his height and green filled with books that are new to him. He made a random selection and went to bed with it. Cats were already on his bed and under his sheets.

Pookie, Sunny and Azure were on the bed and under the sheets are Domino and Donny. QT looked down at all of them from the heights vantage point of on top of the mantel. She looked cute as she survived the land (Bedroom) her copper eyes had softened. Linus was looking comfortable on the wicker chair covered in green felt cushion. Argent was beating the hell out of James's shoes but James did not care. Salem was on the TV the second heist place in his room, he looked relaxed and pleased.

James turned his attention to the book he selected Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz and began reading when 9:00 pm come James felt a little tired but kept reading the book was very interesting. At 9:30 pm James found a and put it in the book and then put the book aside on the table. James looked around all the cats were as they were before Argent was asleep next to his shoes on the floor. Everyone was asleep and looking cute. James clicked the light off, put his head on the pillow and closed his eyes. James smiled, the book was good he found Odd to be funny and awaited to read more. But his eyes were tired; his body hurt and his headache so it was bed time. James wonders what tomorrow held for him and his new pets. He knew he would keep the cats, all of them. James felt sleep take him quickly ;he made no more thoughts and had no dreams.

When he thought the man, was truly and deeply asleep Pein as Donny got out from under the covers the padded softly out the door. The Akatsuki followed him and together they went to the living room and transformed into men, and one woman. They had shabby black pants and shirts on and they are dirty and disheveled.

"Akatsuki meting now." Pein order and they assembled around James tables, Kisame without a word from his leader picked up the table from the kitchen and put it next to the table in the living room. Other members grabbed chairs and arranged them around the tables.

"How many chairs does this kid need?" Kakuzu grumbled put a chair down.

"We don't know that he lives alone." Kisame offered an explanation.

"You've seen his bedroom." Itachi said but the way he said no one knew if he thinks James lives alone or not.

"That bed is big enough for two people." Deidara said he put his chair down "Yeah."

"We should find out how many people live here." Konan suggested to Pein.

"That's what we will do first; search the house, do it quietly. Bring back any important information. I will kill anybody that blows our cover." Pein said every word quietly and glared at everybody there.

"Tobi wants to know if he finds something important do Tobi bring it to Leader or bring Leader to it?"

"You bring it me Tobi."

"Yes sir Tobi will do that."

"Everybody will pair up with you usual team, Zetsu you will check outside."

"Understood Leader."

"I want ever pair to check out each room. We will check his room when he leaves." Pein said

As if on que they heard James "Ah cats? Where are you guys?"

"Shit." Everyone said all but Tobi the good boy; good boys do not curse.

"What do we do Leader?" Kisame whispered quietly.

"Tobi will go, Tobi knows what to do."

Tobi transformed into his cat form and trotted to James's room

"Nobody move or speak." Pein order in a whisper.

For a long moment they sat, turned in the direction Tobi ran off in.

They heard the voice of their unknown host "Oh there you are Pookie. Where are the other cats? Oh you do love me don't Pookie?" The was a pause and a yawn "Good night Pookie."

A moment later Tobi returned and transformed back into a man "He is back to sleep Leader sir." Tobi whispered. He seemed pleased with himself.

"Well done Tobi." Pein gave a single pat on Tobi's head.

"Pein maybe we should check the house when he leaves for work." Konan advised quietly.

"No, now, our time runs out at 10:30." Pein commended firmly.

The Akatsuki searched the house as quietly as they could and made a few important discovers.

"Report, Itachi and Kisame you go first."

"I believe that we are in a world not our own. This person speaks and reads in a language that we do not know.' Itachi put books in English on the table.

"I agree. But I found something that we can read, there seems to be a small influence on his life." Kisame said and placed Manga in Japanese on the table.

The books and manga were passed around they conclude that the strange books read from right to left.

"Very good. Zetsu what did you find?"

"I found a door that leads to a basement, in the underground cellar I found paintings, here is one but there lots more. This young man is an artist."

Deidara was very interested he leaned forward as Zetsu passed a painting to their leader and Leader put it down on the table. The painting is oil based; it depicts wheat glowing and growing in a real sunlight and being swayed in a real wind. The sky is blue and stenches on forever.

"You will take us to the basement later Zetsu."

"Yes, Leader."

"He's really good. Yeah." Deidara whispered almost to himself. "Did anybody else find the door in the closet? Hmm?"

"Yeah two one Tobi found on the floor and another is the wall another door, but both are locked."

"Did anybody else find this?" Leader asked.

Everyone gestured 'no' "Show me Deidara and Tobi." Leader order in a steely whisper.

Quietly all the of the Akatsuki rose and approached the closet and quietly Deidara opened the door. Inside the closet are coats hanging Deidara pushed them to one side. He pressed a hand to the wall it moved a bit.

"See the tiny hinges? This is really a door." He said and stepped back so Pein could investigate.

Deidara was right there were tiny hinges and when pressed the 'wall' rattled as a door would when pressed on.

Tobi removed the black rug that covered the secret door and pulled the brass ring to show to was locked. "Very good work Deidara and Tobi."

"Yay Tobi and Deidara are good boys!" Tobi hugged Deidara.

Deidara was embraced "Let go of me, yeah Tobi you're a good boy, let me go."

The Akatsuki grinned and this display of affection.

"Tobi is a good boy." He let go of his sempai.

"Put everything back and shut the door." Pein said gently.

"What time is it?" Konan asked she worried about time slipping by them.

"There is a clock in the kitchen." Kakuzu said and read out loud the time.

"How is it ten already?" Hidan

"Dumb question Hidan." Kakuzu snapped.

"Shut up you stupid bastad" Hidan hissed

"Be quite both of you." Pein growled

"He keeps almost waking up, I think we should put everything back and look at the basement." Konan suggests.

"I agree Leader.' Itachi voiced aloud.

"Yes, I want everything back exactly as it was." Pein ordered

"Okay Zetsu lead the way."

Zetsu led them out the kitchen door that James had left open for their conveyance and lead them to the side of the house. There two cellar doors that opened easily and Zetsu led the way down. Zetsu flicked on the lights and everyone could see. In the center of the room is an easel which is covered. Paintings of many different sizes and of many different themes hung on the wall. A large realistic beach seen a medium forest of redwoods, a living desert at dawn. They are stakes of unused canvas and piles of different paints. Tarp covers the entire floor, in the very corner is a trunk that seems so out of place.

"Not very organized is he?" Kisame did not care he was mering noting out aloud.

"What's in there Zetsu-san?" Tobi asked pointing to the trunk.

"I don't know I didn't open it, there a lot of dust he would know if we opened it." Zetsu said.

Mean while Leader flipped the cover on the main easel the painting was of a nude girl. The girl lays on red silk bed that takes up most of the portrait perfectly center is the girl who is draping the silk over herself and looks at the viewer with cold blue eyes. Her gold hair is fanning all around her she has a lock twirled around a finger. Her lips are pail and coyly smiling. The silk barley covers her body at all but she looks perfectly comfortable.

"Oh she's petty." Tobi comments lightly.

Kisame chuckles at the matter-of fact-ness to Tobi's comment.

"Damn right she is! I wonder if she knows this girl personally..." Hidan chuckled.

"He probably sells them for money." Kakuzu said what he would do.

Pein turned the painting over and there was a note taped to the back. It was in English which they can not read.

James I need you to paint this and I can pay you for it

Attached to the note is the skech the painting is based off of.

"It seems your right Kakuzu. If I had to geuss I would say he is being paid to paint."

"If hes an artist by profession he might not leave his house often." Itachi pointed out.

"Can you read the note sir?" Kisame asked.

"No, but this is the drawling he copied the painting after. There are no other drawling which makes me believe clients send what they want done."

"That makes sense. Yeah. But I hope he does have a job that he will leave the house." Deidara knew from personal experience that when creating art the artist works at his craft for long hours. If he didn't have a job but as a painter they might never get help, is what he feared.

"I want to look in the trunk." Hidan and approached it without permission.

"Do it carefully" Snapped Pein

Hidan touched only the edge of the latch and lifted the lid. The tuck is divvied on the inside, to the right is more scenes from nature on the left are portraits. "More paintings here look." Hidan tossed two to Pein who catches them but is not happy Hidan's rudeness and carelessness.

One painting Hidan selected was a group, a family and a forest during winter. The family was a mother, father, son and daughter. All tall, with blonde hair and blue eyes, except the daughter who has hazel. They were matching blue outfits the adults were darker blue than the children, mother and daughter were the same dress as father and son wore the same polo and slakes. The forest was pines and oaks and others with a verity of creatures, the Akatsuki recognized almost all of them. Except for the moose.

"What is that?"

"I've never seen it before."

"Tobi likes that bird the red one." He points to a Cardinal.

"Is that a fox? or a wolf?"

"A fox I think."

They were taking the paintings out and enjoying the details and craft and realism when

"Tobi feels funny; Tobi thinks 10:30 is almost here. We should leave he thinks."

"Alright everyone put everything back carefully and we leave."

They put all of the paintings back in their piles and while they did not remember exactly were everything went they were sure to put fist two Hidan got out back on top. They shut the trunk and it did not look like it had been touched, James would never know. "Good now we leave."

Someone shut the light off and they went back to the main house. They looked around to make sure things were really as they were before James went to bed. "Good everything looks right and its a minute to 10:30 get some sleep and in the morning we try to unlock the secret doors."

At 10:30 the Akatsuki turned back into cats and found places to sleep. They had learned a lot about their new owner and could only hope this one would be able to help them.

Everyone awoke to the 6 am alarm, everyone groaned, to early. James smacked the 'off' button and through the sheets off himself and the cats who had joined him in bed. They were not touching him or each other it was strange but very cute. The cats glared at him and he petted them. Some looked more annoyed. "I hate work." James told them. James did his morning routine, and the cats tired to go back to sleep. They heard the shower turn on and most of them could not sleep though that.

"Good morning everyone." Tobi said

He got his usual mutters from everyone.

"Ah I 'm hungry!" Hidan complained.

"He'll feed us soon." Kisame mumbled who was resting but did not have any real hope of sleeping again.

The bathroom door opened and James walks out with a towel around his waist and he pretended not to see the cats who looked at him. He was relived to find no cats in his room. Had there been cats he would have to desisted to remove them or dress in front of them. He did not want to make that decision and luckily for him he did not have too. James dressed himself in jeans and white tee shirt he hunted for shoes plain white ones. He got a pair of black slacks and a different white shirt.

"Cats I'm gonna leave soon. Oh shit! I need to get food for..." James went to his kitchen to look at the clock 6:10 damn "Cats" 'shit I'm gonna be late or they go hungry.' "They shouldn't go hungry, that's just mean." But they James remember he had had eat his own breakfast.

He cooked extra sausage, bacon, he found bologna in the fridge. He cut up the lunch meat and the sausage. He gave the cats the same breakfast he had but he felt like that wasn't enough. James had to wonder if he could afford so many cats. James than remembered his neighbors, they had cats they might be willing to give him some cat food. James was right Mrs. Lipinski gave a generous amount of cat food but she tried to talk to James. Mrs. Lipinski is a wonderful person with no sense of urgency or an ability to read others. "I'm really sorry Mrs. Lipinski but I really do have to go, I appreciate the cat food." "Your welcome dear, come by any time." James got back into his car and watch the kind, older woman disappear in his rear window.

He got back home and poured all the cat food into a huge bowl, he checked the water bowls and refilled them. James knew that might still be late but the cats deepened on him, he is obliged to give them what they need. He kept the door propped open for them and he had to go to work.

"Bye Cats see you later!"

The Acatsukis looked at the bowl of cat food and was not impressed; they transformed into the Akatsuki and looked to leader for guidance.

"I'm hungry and I won't eat that shit!" Hidan said he and the others had already eaten all the bacon and sausage left for them.

"Were all hungry Hidan." Itachi said voice low and monotone he was hungry to but tried not to lose his patience.

"We'll I ain't eating the damn cat food, but that's all he left for us!" Hidan does not take being hungry well.

"He doesn't know were not cats we are cat to him." Deidara then he had to thought "So now what do we do? yeah?"

"We do what we must to survive." Pein said

'Not very helpful Pein.' Konan thought irritated.

"If we eat from the fridge he will notice the missing food" Konan pointed out .

"Right so what do we do?" Hidan snapped.

"We steel a little from every nearby home or business till we have enough." Pein declared he was annoyed as if that were obvious.

Kisame and Zetsu were checking things outside "Sir, there only seems to be one house that's close by, other then that there's no one else around."

"Zetsu scout the area, I want to know the location of the second closes building."

"Yes, leader."

"Kisame show me this first house." Pein ordered.

"Yes, sir." And Kisame lead Leader and others to the Lipinski house "This is it sir from what I have seen a married couple live there with their cats."

Zetsu emerged to report "Sir, there is a small town miles away in the east. If I had to guess I would say it is 20 miles away."

"So it's safe to assume that house is where he got the cat food from."

"This kid lives out in the middle of know where." Kakazu to himself "It doesn't look like any place I've been. Does anybody know where we are?"

A simultaneously "No" was his answer.

"Damn, in the middle of nowhere and lost, and cats..."

"What do we do now sir?" Itachi

"Nothing." A long, harsh pause "There is nothing we do now, we wait for night and go to the local town."

"Can we go in now as cats?"

Everyone turned to look at Tobi "For once Tobi you had a good idea." Pein said a smirk on his face.

"Tobi is a good boy." Tobi told himself you could hear the smile.

"Alright, everybody get in your usual pairs, do not get caught, stay out of the public eye, find out what you can, dismissed." Leader said

"Yes, sir." His subordinates said and turned back into cats.

It felt good to Pein to give an order, more importantly a mission to his Akatsuki he felt a little like his old self.

He looked at Konan and smiled, went to her and huged her, in a rare display of affection, he took her hand and looked her in her eyes. "Lets go." He said softy not as an order as a sort of plead. It meant "Never leave me."

She smiles to him and gives his hand a little squeeze "Yes, of course." It meant the same as "I love you."

They walked as humans hand-in-hand and at the same time transformed into cats and linked tails as they walked into town.

So to be clear

Pein Donny

Konan QT

Tobi Pookie

Deidara Sunny

Itachi Salem

Kisame Aruze

Kakuzu Linus

Hidan Argent

Zetsu Domino