Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Chale Jao ❯ Kitty Troubles ( Chapter 1 )

Arms were raised over the tri-colored haired teen's head as he attempted to hide the cat ears that were protruding from his head. A black tail snaked around one of the teen's legs as he tried blending it in with his black leather pant leg of his body.

 

Laugher echoed throughout the forest as a white haired youth pointed and laughed at the tri-haired teen. Despite the laughter the pair were best friends.

 

“Shut up Bakura!”

 

“Whoa, don't kill me Kitten!” Bakura teased. The teen momentary forgot about his embarrassment and lunged at his friend but Bakura quickly dodged out of the way and the cat demon fell to the forest floor. “You have to be quicker then that to catch me Atemu.”

 

Atemu picked himself up off of the ground and glared at his white haired friend. “This isn't funny! The Elders will kill me! This is worst then the time you accidentally burned down the western half of the forest! That at least could be easily covered up!”

 

“Yeah you're pretty much screwed.”

 

Bakura and Atemu were both demons who lived in the village of Chale Jao deep within a large forest. The village was entirely made up of demons, but demons were hunted and feared by humans so demons prided themselves in their ability to pretend to live as normal humans.

 

Demons were forbidden to use their powers in the village in case a traveler was passing through. Under the safety of the foliage, demons were allowed to practice their powers but only after they had come of age. Young demons like Atemu and Bakura were only allowed to use their powers under adult supervision when they were having training exercises. Young demons however often broke this rule while exploring the forest.

 

Bakura, a fire demon who could control and start fires, and Atemu, a cat demon who could transform into a small black cat, had been busy exploring a nearby waterfall when Atemu had transformed into a cat so he could easily jump up upon the large rocks. When he had tried turning back into his human form he had ended up keeping his cat ears and tail. Among young animal morphing demons it was common to mess up transformations, which was one of the many reasons why young demons were not allowed to use their powers without supervision.

 

“What am I going to do? Atemu groaned. “ I can't go back to the village like this. The Elders will be so disappointed in me!”

 

“Yeah especially since you're such a goody-goody. You don't normally break the rules…and get caught…”

 

“You're not helping!”

 

Already Atemu had tried turning back into a cat and then into a human gain but it did not work. Atemu had since given up hop that he was not getting back to normal without aid.

 

“I repeat you're screwed.”

 

Atemu sighed and rolled his eyes at his friend. Turning away from the fire demon, Atemu began walking back towards their village. He figured he might as well get things over with.

 

*~*~*

 

Atemu stood with his head bowed before the two men and one woman that make up the Elder Counsel, the ruling power of the village. All three of them sat upon a raised stage and they glared down at the young cat demon.

 

The Elders had spent the last few hours yelling and scolding Atemu for his stupid act. They then make Atemu recite out lout the rules of Chale Jao and the laws that all demons obeyed to keep their goddess happy.

 

“Give him the potion,” the oldest Elder finally said with a wave of his hand.

 

“No not that!” Atemu protested as his head shot up.

 

Two attendants walked forward, one holding a jug of the nasty yellow liquid. The potion was something that child demons, especially animal morphing ones, commonly had to take because it reversed the effects of a wrong transformation. Needless to say Atemu had taken it a lot during his young life and had no quickness to try it again anytime soon.

 

Atemu tried running but was quickly grabbed by his tail. Atemu, who had always been small, was easily over powered by the attendants and the liquid was poured down his throat burning all the way. As Atemu choked on the substance, his tail and ears shrank until his tail was gone and his ears were normal one again.

 

Released, Atemu hurried out of the Elder's Hall to find Bakura waiting for him on the small steps outside the building.

 

“I see you're normal again Kitten.”

 

“Stop that!” Atemu snapped crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at Bakura. It annoyed him when Bakura used the Kitten nickname. Other demons make fun of him for only being able to transform into a small cat. They called him weak. If only they knew. “I just had the pleasure of drinking the nasty yellow stuff. So I'm in no mood for teasing!”

 

“Cheer up Kitten, I have come to inform you that you have training bright and early tomorrow morning. I on the other hand did nothing wrong this afternoon and get to sleep in until noon.”

 

“I hate you.”

 

“Jealously will get you no where.”

 

“BAKURA!”

 

“Fine, fine, I'm shutting up now.”

 

“Good.”

 

“You really need to loosen up Kitten.”

 

 

“Not helping,” Atemu growled moments before a thought occurred to him. “Mahaado is going to kill me in the morning!”

 

“Yup!”

 

Atemu turned his eyes on Bakura once again and gave him another glare. “You're not helping yet!”

 

*~*~*

 

“Relax, you're too tense and stressed. Calm yourself and be at peace.”

 

Atemu tried to do what he was told as he meditated with the fox demon who was his teacher. All young demons had a teacher to help train them to use their powers. Mahaado, a tall tanned man with shoulder length brunet hair was Atemu's teacher since they were both animal-morphing demons. Atemu admired Mahaado greatly but felt his lightly older teacher needed to loosen up.

 

“You're trying too hard. Changing between your two forms should be easy, a natural occurrence. Don't think, just do it.”

 

“I understand.”

 

“Good,” Mahaado said as he rose to his feet. Atemu stood up as well and stood next to his teacher. “See that bird up there?” High up in the tree was a sparrow happily singing a song. Eyeing the bird, Atemu nodded his head. “Catch it and bring it back to me.”

 

Atemu nodded his head and transformed into a cat. As a cat Atemu slinked his way up the tree careful not to make a nose and disturb the bird. Arriving at the branch the sparrow was on; Atemu carefully crawled along it holding onto his breath. Closer he crept along until he was almost to the bird, if he reached out with a front paw Atemu could almost touch the bird.

 

Atemu was nearly ready to pounce when the branch and entire tree began shaking. The sparrow flew off and Atemu clung to the thick branch praying to the goddess that the earthquake would soon pass.

 

Atemu was not that lucky however and the shaking became more violent, causing the small cat to fall from the branch, landing on the ground with a thud.

 

“Are you okay Atemu?” Mahaado asked with unconcern while the black cat turned human again and unsteadily stood.

 

“I think so. But what happened?”

 

Before Mahaado could reply laugher was heard from the trees. Through the thick bushes appeared Claudius, an earth demon, and his two lackeys. Claudius and his friends were Atemu's age and the earth demon had always picked on Atemu, so there was little doubt in the cat demon's mind that Claudius was the one who caused the earthquake.

 

“Aww…did the kitty fall down go boom?”

 

“Shut up,” Atemu hissed.

 

“Atemu…” Mahaado warned, as he didn't want a fight to start. “Ignore him.” Reluctantly Atemu turned his back to Claudius so he could continue with his training.

 

“You wouldn't stand a chance against me anyway. You're nothing but a cat. Pathetic. At least your teacher can transform into a fox. No wonder your parents abandoned you-”

 

Atemu spun around and lunged at the other teen, transforming into sleek black leopard as he flew through the air. The leopard landed on Claudius with a heavy thud and bared his teeth at the shocked teen.

 

“Atemu!”

 

Mahaado's yell snapped Atemu back to reality. The leopard climbed off Claudius body, who quickly stood and ran off, while Atemu transformed back into a human and looked at the ground with a guilty expression on his face.

 

“I think we should visit the Elders.”

 

*~*~*

 

Atemu sat on the floor, his back resting against the wall of the Elder Counsel building. His knees were drawn up to his chest as he hugged himself to seek comfort.

 

Other demons had come by and stared at him while the Elders listened to what Mahaado had to say. Never before had anyone heard of an animal morphing demon being able to take on more then one form. Therefore naturally the other demons were curious to get a look at Atemu.

 

Eventually Bakura had chased the others off. Although it was forbidden to use their demon powers in the village, Bakura had the reputation of being crazy and they feared he would ignore the rules to defend his friend. The other demons had wisely stayed away after the fire demon arrived on the scene.

 

Bakura now stood a few feet away from the building. His arms were crossed over his chest and he glared at anyone who dared to past by. Bakura hadn't spoken to Atemu since arriving, which worried the cat demon. He suspected that Bakura was angry with him for not telling him about being a leopard as well as a cat.

 

The doors slowly opened next to Atemu and Mahaado walked out. “They wish to see you now.”

 

Atemu silently nodded his head and slowly stood. The cat demon shot Bakura a look but his white haired friend was ignoring him. Mahaado also would not meet Atemu's eyes as the tri-haired teen walked pass him and into the building.

 

A shiver ran through Atemu's body as he walked towards the stage where the Elder's sat. He kneeled before them, keeping his head bowed so he would not have to look at them.

 

“How long have you known you can transform into a leopard in addition to your cat transformation?” asked the Elder known as Shimon. Atemu knew it would be best for him to tell the truth.

 

“All my life.”

 

“And why did you not tell anyone?” This time it was the head Elder Akunumkanon who spoke.

 

“I was scared because it was not natural.”

 

“Yes only Messalina had multiple powers,” Akunumkanon mused.

 

“I am not worthy to be associated with the Goddess.”

 

“Indeed.”

 

Akunumkanon's words stung Atemu. All he had ever wanted was to gain the respect of the other demons especially the Elders. The Elders had taken him in as a baby when his parents abandoned him in the village. No one knew who his parents were so Shimon had taken him in and raised him.

 

The room fell silent as Atemu waited for the Elders to continue. He wondered what was going to happen to him.

 

“You may go.”

 

“What?” Atemu asked as he snapped his head up.

 

“You may go,” Akunumkanon repeated. “You did nothing wrong. According to Mahaado, Claudius was out of line and you were not at fault for attacking him. Therefore you may leave without punishment. We've already informed Mahaado to continue with your training in the morning. We felt after what happened you could use some rest. Mahaado was not pleased as he felt a rest was not needed but he agreed to our decision.”

 

“Thank you Great Ones,” Atemu replied as he stood and quickly raced from the building before they could change their minds.

 

“His powers are stronger then we expected,” Livia, the sole female Elder, said when all signs of Atemu had disappeared.

 

“Of course, he's my son after all,” Akunumkanon replied with a proud smile on his face.

 

*~*~*

 

Atemu hurried from the Elder's building not paying attention to where he was going. Therefore it was no surprise that the cat demon ended up crashing into Bakura, who was still waiting for him. The two young demons fell to the ground with Atemu landing on top of the fire demon.

 

“Nice going Kitten,” Bakura grumbled as he stood up and dusted himself off.

 

“What's you're problem?” Atemu protested as he also stood. Now that he knew he wasn't in trouble, Atemu was angry at the silent treatment his friend was giving him.

 

“Easy Kitten no need to bring out those claws of yours. I'm your friend remember?”

 

“Some friend. You've been ignoring me while I thought I was in trouble with the Elders!” Atemu crossed his arms over his chest and pouted, while he wondered what was up with Bakura.

 

“Aww…Kitten I was protecting you. As soon as I let my guard down you know those snoops would have been back.” Playfully, Bakura reached out and ruffled Atemu's hair. “Besides I knew you get off.”

 

“Oh?”

 

“Sure, you're the first of your kind. No other demon has two powers. And yet here you are who can transform into both a cat and a leopard. Those skills can be useful out in the real world.”

 

“How so?” Atemu asked while raising an eyebrow at his friend.

 

“Well…out in the untamed land a small animal like a cat could run into trouble from larger prey but a leopard would have no problem surviving in the unknown. But around people a cat form is more usefully if you're trying to remain under cover.”

 

“I have no desire to see the rest of the world,” Atemu muttered. “I'm quite happy here.”

 

“Where's you're sense of adventure?” Bakura asked as the pair began walking along the warn path towards the forest. Atemu wasn't sure when but somewhere in the last few minutes he had forgiven his friend.

 

“Bakura, I'm tried of getting into trouble,” Atemu sighed. “It doesn't matter to you because everyone knows you're insane. But to me it does matter because every time I do something wrong I have demons like Claudius jumping all over me because my parents abandoned me. I don't know why the abandoned me but I know they're good people. I can feel it.”

 

“You could find your parents if you leave here. Track them down…”

 

“And just how am I supposed to do that?” Atemu asked while giving Bakura a look. “The world is huge. I'll never find them.”

 

“The Pool of Destiny can help you with that.”

 

“You're nuts,” Atemu replied with a small shake of his head. The Pool of Destiny was located in a cave where Messalina lived before her death where she became the demon goddess. Said to be the first demon in existence, Messalina was shunned from the human villages for her powers. It was said when a demon looked into the Pool of Destiny they will see their future, but the pool also comes with a warning in that they can only look once or they will witness things they would not want to see. Upon reaching a certain age, demons would often travel to the Pool of Destiny and use the pool to help guide themselves in the next stage of their lives.

 

“I'm tired of sticking around here,” Bakura complained. “I've learned everything I can, it's only an issue of practicing what I've learn and I can just as easily do that out there then here. I know you're the same way. Sure there was that incident yesterday but you were stressing out when it happened instead of remaining calm like you were supposed too. My parents think it's a good idea although I'm sure they just want to get rid of me so they can have more kids. They fear any siblings would turn out like me and can only handle one at a time.”

 

“Shimon would never let me go.”

 

“Shimon is not your father. Just go.”

 

“He's like a father though. He's taken care of me for so long. I can't just leave!”

 

“Not even to find your real parents…?”

 

Atemu heavily sighed. He didn't know what to do.

 

“I'm leaving tomorrow at dawn with or without you.”