Kuro's day began at approximately 3 AM that morning.
Insomnia was a cruel and merciless beast, one that visited him more often than he would have liked. Had it been a strange dream that had roused him? A sound at the window? He wondered if perhaps Ren had swatted his nose because the cat was hungry or had found a mouse or some other manner of critter or insect, and brought the carcass to him in a display of hunter's pride.
'
Please don't let there be bug guts in my hair again...' he'd groaned at the thought.
But as he sat up in his futon, Kuro found his fluffy black and white companion curled up on the comforter's bottom near his feet, fast asleep as if he'd been there all night, which the slumbering cat likely had. Ren seemed blessed to receive the excess sleep that often evaded Kuro. Not that Kuro envied his cat. Sleeping was all well and fine, but if he could not sleep, then he preferred to be active.
Productive.
With a drawling yawn and a spine-popping stretch, the young man raised himself from bed and slipped on his uniform, before running his fingers through his messy hair by way of combing it without using a real comb. Naturally, this only made his hair even more disastrous. Kuro smoothed down a persistent cowlick, and then dragged his uneven bangs over to shield his right eye from view.
A single silver eye glimmered in the dim moonlight that poured in through the window, bathing his room in pale shades of white, blue, and black.
No mirror. Only a clock with a plain, unsympathetic face hung on the wall near the door, counting down the seconds until sunrise. No decorations. No furniture, save his futon, his wardrobe, and Ren's food and water dishes set neatly in the far corner. His zanpakutou laid on the floor beside his bed, silent, still. He did not disturb it.
'
Hm...' Kuro blinked once, slowly.
His eyesight was questionable even in broad daylight. In the near-darkness of night, it was even worse. Resigning himself with a quiet sigh, he lit a lantern and focused himself on completing a stack of paperwork that he'd been handed just a few hours ago. He'd learned already that there was
always work to be done and someone had to do it.
Three hours passed much more quickly once he'd settled into a consistent pace. Warm golden sunlight spilled into his room, brightening the space immensely. It was only when Ren cooed from somewhere beside him that Kuro broke from his trance and understood what time it was. He set the papers aside, scratching Ren just behind his furry ears.
"You're right..." he smiled at his friend. "It's time for breakfast."
Kuro fed the cat, and stretched, shaking off the stiffness that had settled into his limbs while he'd been sitting on the floor, navigating his way through a sea of documents. Once Ren had finished his meal and begun licking his whiskers, Kuro scooped the black and white grimalkin up into his arms, assisting Ren in perching on his shoulder. Together, they departed the room, venturing out in search of the shinigami's typical breakfast; a simple cup of green tea with honey stirred in and a sliced green apple.
Ren nuzzled his furry cheek against Kuro's, his long whiskers tickling, and Kuro soon became distracted as he cheek-rubbed and fawned over his companion, stroking a hand along Ren's back and scratching underneath his chin, while the two of them continued walking. He turned and entered what he thought was the division's main cafeteria, utterly unaware that he had just barged into the Captain's office.
Mid-step, the shinigami and his cat froze, Kuro's single silver eye immediately widening as he glanced his surroundings and gradually reached the realization of exactly
where he was and
who was in the office with him. The white haori that hung across Shiruga Juzen's shoulders signified his status more loudly than words ever could. How in the nine hells had he gotten so lost as to wander into his Captain's private quarters without realizing it!?
'
...I even interrupted him while he's doing some important work...'
Without the clarity provided by his glasses, Kuro couldn't tell the difference between a stack of paperwork or a stack of doodles from where he stood half a room away from the Captain's desk, and he had no reason to believe that his Captain was the sort of person who would neglect his duties. The awkward, uncomfortable silence stretched on for more than a minute, and on his shoulder, Ren swayed his long tail, apparently waiting to see what the two humans would do now that they'd encountered one another.
"Um..." his voice sounded more quiet and less confident than he wanted it to. "Well, would you look at that. This is most certainly not where we store the green tea... I'm sorry for entering without permission. I'd better be on my way now..."
"
Mroowww!" Ren agreed, kneading his claws into the black fabric of Kuro's sleeve.
Kuro bowed his head, careful not to send his cat toppling onto the hard floor, and proceeded to slowly walk backwards towards the door, silently praying - '
Don't trip, don't trip, don't trip.'
(Note:
Kuro's beginning SP for this thread is 100.)