\nEchizen Ryoma had two loves in his life. (Actually, he had three, though he would
\nnever admit it, at least not until the said third love stopped playing so damned
\nhard to get.) Anyone from the Seishun Senior High tennis club could tell you the first one: tennis.
\nAny of them could also tell you the second: his cat. So no one said anything when
\nKarupin started to tag along on some of their practice days.<\/p>\n
\nIt was one of those days, and everyone was changing in the clubhouse. Fuji was
\nasking how Echizen’s afterlife recruitment plan was going.<\/p>\n
\n"Fine. I think the mansion’s tennis courts will be finished ahead of the
\nschedule. I’m thinking about adding another tennis center in the south."
\nEchizen sounded satisfied, and Fuji nodded.<\/p>\n
\n"Are you adding any gardens to Sampras?" Fuji asked, and Karupin suddenly
\ntensed, letting out a low hiss. A few seconds ticked by, and Karupin remained tense.<\/p>\n
\n"Your cat doesn’t look very happy," Fuji observed mildly.<\/p>\n
\n"He’s been doing that a lot lately," Ryoma replied, irritated.<\/p>\n
\n"Are you going to take him with you to Sampras when – " Fuji started,
\nonly to be stopped by a sharp hiss. Fuji closed his mouth, stared at the cat for
\nfew moments, then continued. "As I was saying, when you go to Sampras – "<\/p>\n
\nKarupin screeched shrilly, every hair raised on his arched back. Fuji’s lips twitched
\nbriefly.<\/p>\n
\n"I think I know what’s wrong with your cat."<\/p>\n
\n"What?" Ryoma sounded exasperated, as he carefully stroked Karupin’s
\nback, trying to calm him down. It didn’t seem to be working.<\/p>\n
\n"Echizen, I think your cat’s angry because you didn’t name your place after
\nhim."<\/p>\n
\n"Huh?" Ryoma turned to look at Fuji, a dumbfounded expression on his
\nface.<\/p>\n
\n"He does that every time you mention ‘Sampras,’" Fuji said cheerfully
\nas Karupin hissed sharply. "See?"<\/p>\n
\nRyoma turned his attention back to Karupin, who looked ready to bite off his hand,
\nand considered something briefly.<\/p>\n
\n"How about a compromise?" Ryoma asked. Karupin twitched his tail skeptically.
\nRyoma leaned closer to the cat, and started to talk.<\/p>\n
Land of Sampras, many years later<\/em>\n<\/p>\n "Welcome to Karupin Mansion, sir," the Grigori at the door said. Karupin has some issues with Ryouma’s new realm.
\n The man nodded. In his arms, a spotted Himalayan mewed smugly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"