Welcome to Gaia! ::

He could smell the fish from down the block, and he was salivating.

Itsuki was attempting to patrol, but hunger took hold of his little feline stomach and his mind shifted to fulfilling that need post-haste. Begging at the coffee shop got him run off by angry patrons, despite all the cute antics he could think of. Ears drooping, Itsuki was about to give up and go home for the night when the smell of fish wafted on the breeze. Ears perked immediately and the lilac-point shot off like a furry rocket in that direction - somewhere near the open-air market that was on its last legs for the season.

Dirty water and puddles abound on the concrete as vendors had cleaned up their stalls for the day, closing down the booth with tarps and plastic coverings. Some vendors had flowers, crafts, candles and knick-knacks while others sold foodstuffs like jams, jellies, breads, steak and fish. Itsuki wasn’t interested in any of that, save for the fish.

Tiny toe-beans bound straight for the scent, without realizing the fish was held in the mouth of another cat. Oddly enough, this cat was dressed, much like himself. A star shone on the cat’s forehead, indicating an ally. All Guardian Cats seemed oddly dressed, but this one took the cake as far as Itsuki was concerned. Never before had he seen something like this. With a polite bow, itsuki introduced himself.

“Konbanwa, Kaizoku-san! Watashi wa Itsuki desu~ Are there more fish? I’m terribly hungry…”

"Uwa! Kaizoku-san, you'd... you'd..."

Googly eyes, activate.

"...share with me~?"

This tiny feline tummy started rumbling at the thought and Itsuki's ears drooped in embarrassment. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Kaizoku-san... Ah, well, that's not really your name, is it? It's so nice to meet another cat. I don't get to meet them very often, you see. Are you really a pirate, Kaizoku-san? Or do you just dress like one? Do you have any other fish? Uwu... I wouldn't want to take any away from you!"

Maybe Kaizoku-san was a learned Guardian Cat, like Benedict or Ash. There was no real way to tell, but... OH! Did Kaizoku-san have the human form?? That would be something to ask after eating. It was difficult to think straight with food on the brain.

Itsuki was surprised and overwhelmed by Wendell's kindness. He was halfway through his first bite of fish when Wendell had explained so cheerfully that he didn't wish for Itsuki to die.

Mouth agape, the lilac-point wasn't sure how to respond. "Ah... um... hai! Yes, I don't want to die. Arigato gozaimasu, Wendell-san. You saved me from dying! Is there something I can do for you in return? Are you really a pirate? Do you go on high seas adventures on a ship? Do you buckle the swashes?"

Really, Itsuki had never met a real pirate, much less a pirate Mauvian. Surely Wendell was full of stories of adventure! Perhaps he stowed away on the ships that came into the harbor from time to time, or he lived by his own rules on the mean streets of Destiny City. He must've been a cat with skills, for he wasn't corrupted. "Do you have any senshi, Wendell-san? Some pirate senshi~?"

"Uwah~ Wendell-san, would you tell me stories of your adventures with your adventurous senshi?" Another full bite of fish and Itsuki was happy as a clam. Food in his belly and another Mauvian to speak to? There wasn't much more Itsuki could want, save for a warm bed to lie on.

"Wendell-san, how long have you been awakened? I was only awakened a few months ago. Have you heard of the restaurant downtown called The Golden Crane? I used to live with the family that owned the restaurant, but the Negaverse attacked the dinner rush and KIRAKIRA! Here I am. It's amazing, isn't it Wendell-san? Now I just need to work hard to get thumbs like Ash-denka. Have you met Ash-denka, Wendell-san~?"

It was probably one too many questions, and Itsuki filled his mouth again with delicious fish. Wendell was a wonderful sort of friend, he thought. The lilac point would be happy to call him tomodachi. "My senshi is also very grumpy. Is that common? His name is Themisto, but I call him Themi-chan. He's not incredibly adventurous, but I'm working on him. He needs to work hard to become even stronger! He's also trying to go to college. I imagine that's difficult, too."

The younger cat's eyes went wide and his attention was held firmly by Wendell's tall tales of high adventure. All the details of brains and strength and confidence painted a truly heroic picture in Itsuki's head of this wonderful senshi. Once Wendell was finished regaling every last incredible adventure of this senshi, Itsuki clapped with his squishy bean toes.

"Do you think, Wendell-san, that you could introduce me to this amazing senshi?? Surely I can learn something from him! Oberon-sama sounds incredible! So much strength and honor! They just don't make senshi like that all the time, do they? I need to learn to mold Themi-chan to be as amazing as Oberon-sama. Wendell-san, you're so incredibly lucky!"

Itsuki was also being entirely sincere, as there wasn't any jealousy in his little furry body whatsoever. Instead, the lilac point saw this as an opportunity, and felt incredibly fortunate to have met Wendell, even by accident. Perhaps it was fate! Destiny!

"You're amazing too, Wendell-san. Do you have a human form? Do you patrol with Oberon-sama? I'm sure I could learn a lot from you, too!"

The fish was practically scales and bones by this point, Itsuki having devoured the rest of it while listening with rapt attention to Wendell's description of this godlike senshi. "Oh! I owe you something special, Wendell-san. Do you collect anything? I will get it for you! I promise!!"

At the rate Wendell was going, Itsuki already thought Oberon was the most magnificent Senshi specimen the world had ever known. Oberon was mythical, godlike, Senshi perfection personified.

And he simply had to meet this amazing Senshi!!

Itsuki all but glued himself to Wendell's form, eyes wide with wonder and excitement. "Wendell-san, please take me to see Oberon-sama! I must learn all I can from you and from him so that I can be a better Guardian Neko! You must be so honored to be his partner! You're so amazing, Wendell-san. Someday I hope to be half as amazing as you! And someday, we'll have thumbs, so we can be better partners to our senshi! But Oberon-sama is so amazing, is there any room to improve??"

The little cat was also intent on finding a trinket or three for Wendell, simply for feeding and teaching the little one. Something pirate-themed, something lovely and adventurous! Yes, that would be Themi-chan's first mission - finding something amazing enough for Wendell and his mythical senshi, Oberon!

Itsuki listened with rapt attention. "Hai! All can improve! We will take care of our senshi! Hai! Hai!" The smaller cat fervently nodded, finding this opportunity too good to pass up. He owed it to Themisto and Lacrimosa and Amazone and Ash and Benedict - all the cats and senshi he was friends with or was helping in some fashion. He had to work harder to be the best Guardian Cat he could be!

"Wendell-san, you're sugoi! Let's set up a meeting! I'd be honored to meet Oberon-sama. I'll bring Themi-chan, too. He needs to learn from this amazing senshi! Uwaaaah~ You're the best, Wendell-san!!"