Sprinklers had no business being on this early, but Raiju wasn't complaining as he raced through them. Subsequently Kazi found himself braving the water. Fortunately there weren't too many, so he walked away with a slightly dampened shirt. Light brown eyes registered the surprise as the cold of the morning sunk in. Oohh, he was going to get Raiju for that one.

Raiju noticed a bug in the grass, so he jumped at it. The pause gave Kazi time enough to close the short distance between them. Instead of scoping the kitten up like normal he merely stopped where he was to rub at is cheek tiredly and to watch the light play on the horizon. He'd never really been interested in sunrises, but now was as good of a time as any. And this sunrise was beautiful- not as beautiful as sunsets, in his mind. Kazi's attention to the sky was fleeting; Raiju didn't wait long before he dashed off again, forgetting about the bug. Kazi reluctantly followed.

Pitch black hair stuck out comically from random points, telling the obvious fact that Kazi hadn't been up long at all, and that he hadn't expected to be out here now. Lucky him; he'd decided to change into his clothes for the day instead of his pajamas before trailing Raiju. Speaking of Raiju, Kazi was glad he wasn't trying to get away. Contrary, the kitten would stop and turn every ten or so steps to make sure Kazi was following before he'd start running again. In the end Raiju stopped to watch a girl go in a circle. Huh. Kinda. . .strange. What was she doing? Was she alright? Raiju wasn't so sure. Too bad he couldn't really ask. What he could do was get her to look at him, hopefully.

"Meow,"Raiju offered in greeting as he sat down a few inches away from the edge of her 'circle'. Or, at least a few inches from where he'd already seen her walk.

Kazi trailed silently, stopping a few feet away so that he could see Raiju, but wasn't interrupting the kitten- Raiju hated that. And, well, Kazi didn't want to go chasing him anyway. Next time he wasn't letting the cat out of his room. It was that darn janitor's fault for ushering the poor kitten outside in the first place. And after that Kazi had found himself trailing the creature, wanting to see where he'd lead.

Raiju was a very loving kitten. He was more than willing to move closer to the stranger. Kazi could be a bit more suspicious, and despite being around him so often, it hadn't rubbed off. Nah, if someone'd touch him, well, more power to them! Kazi was more amusing to lead. It was empowering to lead a human wherever he had the whim to go. Kazi was silly; Raiju still loved him. Who else would hold him and keep him safe during a rain storm? Who'd light up the darkness of the night? And who'd clap away the sound of the howling dogs?

But, useful or not, suspicion wasn't going to be a trait of Raiju. With or without her inviting gesture he would have moved toward her. Not that he minded the gesture at all, oh, no. So, why did she fall? She was weird! But she wanted to pet him, so he wouldn't hold it against her. Hopefully she was okay. Speaking of okay. . .Raiju's focused gaze went to watch the feathers in the air. Ooh! He gave a short sort of leap before pawing at the feathers contently. Unfortunately they didn't move much once they hit the ground unless he moved them. That was kind of a problem. . . He was, perhaps, odd in the way that he didn't attack birds. Then again, he tried to get anything that moved, so birds, if they were close enough, weren't something he had cause to avoid for any particular reason. Her wings didn't inspire predatory instinct though.

Kazi's expression shifted to surprise as the girl who meant to pet Raiju endd up falling backward. He took a instinctive step forward, but it only brought him closer to Raiju. He was at least three more steps from her. Besides, she'd already basically fallen by the time he'd taken the first step. Kazi took another step forward though he still wasn't close enough to touch her.

"No problem. . ."Kazi objected, unsure of why she was telling him sorry in the first place. It seemed hardly her fault she fell and even if it had been, it didn't hurt him. "It is early. . .Raiju-"Kazi gestured toward the cat,"Got out. I was following him. I was already up, so I figured why not chase a cat around insanely early in the morning?" Kazi smiled.

"Rawr,"Raiju meowed as he bit at the feather before walking over to the girl. He was careful not to step on her other feathers; instead he moved to her arm, nudging gently at it before tilting his head up to offer her the feather in his mouth. Kazi chuckled in amusement. Well, at least he knew where it went.

Kazi nodded in understanding. He took it like it sounded; he didn't mind getting out and running. Not this early. . .Hey, at least she'd be by herself. Was she a solitary kind of person, then? If she was out here this early, and if she was running alone, it made sense. Kazi decided she must be. He didn't really take it farther than that. Ah well, not his concern. He didn't even know her name. His own gaze shifted with hers to Raiju.

Having the feather taken away was a bit disapointing to Raiju. Though he meant to give it to her, he was slightly worried that now he'd be featherless and, likely, bored. Fortunately for her Nicki was a very kind human. She didn't take the feather away, she seemed to want to share! Raiju's excitement was evident; well, okay, as evident as a kitty's face could reveal until he realized what she was doing. Ooh, he could get it now!

Raiju grew quiet and still, concentrating as he swiped at the feather with his paw. His claws weren't extended, leaving him to tap at the feather with only the pads of his paws. He wanted to bite it again but he didn't want her to stop moving it; he'd been down that road before! Besides, this was a fun game. When he heard Kazi speak, trying to give her his full name, he avoided the urge to hiss in annoyance.

"Kazum-"Kazi began to introduce.

A sudden meow from a still concentrating cat made him trail off momentarily as he looked at Raiju, considering. Last time he ignored him, the girl couldn't say his name. Alright, alright. Infinitely wise kitten time.

"I mean, Kazi. I'm Kazi."Kazi stated. Raiju purred in response to Kazi, as well as in acceptance of her scratching his head. He tilted his head up, trying to lick at her hand to convey his affection.

"It's nice to meet you, too, Nicki."Kazi added. Actually, it was nice to meet anyone. Kazi liked knowing people almost as much as Raiju did, it seemed.

Kazi slightly blushed at her laughter. He wasn't sure why she was laughing, really. Did it make much difference? No. When her expression fell again Kazi diverted his gaze as he began to wonder; what went on in her mind? What made her sad? Laughing was one thing, sorrow another. And maybe it wasn't that severe. Maybe she was just tired. He sure was.

Raiju wasn't as easily fooled. He knew she was upset, which left him to calm down, watching her, wishing he could help. She aided in this goal by picking him up. Raiju was happy to be in her arms though he hoped to be more help to cheering her up, instead of the other way around. His mind left her, focusing on her attention as he relaxed and purred to her touch. Mmm, so calming. . .Raiju closed his eyes, resisting the urge -with much difficulty- to extend his claws to ensure his place on her shirt. Nah, she might not take well to it, and he didn't want to move.

Kazi had no problem smiling at Raiju. If she wasn't careful, he'd fall asleep on her. Kazi decided he didn't want to warn her of that one - too cute, and it'd make him laugh. Wait, lucky to have Raiju? He rarely thought of it that way. Maybe he should more often.

"Yeah, he is. . .Raiju's my companion."Kazi stated. It was one of the best parts of being like the god, Raijin.

"Forever,"Raiju meowed softly before quieting again to lay against Nicki's arm.

Kazi smiled but didn't respond to Raiju to avoid looking like a fool. He didn't feel much like saying 'I talk to animals'. Nah, he'd tell his other two powers, but not that one. It was almost like a secret between Raiju and Kazi. Perhaps it was because he didn't want to have to translate Raiju. Their conversations were their own, a connection no one else could share with Raiju. Ha, yeah. She could pet Raiju, she could play with him, but she couldn't talk to him. Kazi could be a bit more jealous than he'd initially seem.

"Before Raiju, I had no interest in pets. Not in animals in general. But if you like animals, why don't you have one?"Kazi asked curiously. Surely, if he could get away with having the playful Raiju, she could get away with a pet or maybe even two.

Raiju lifted his head, watching Nicki since she had moved. It seemed she'd settled again, though. He watched her calmly before turning his attemtion to Kazi, making sure he was still there. He was; perfect. Raiju laid his head back down, resting against Nicki, soothed by their voices alone.

Unfortunately, Kazi knew almost as much about her as he did about having a brother or sister- really, nothing. The downfall of being an only child, it seemed. Nor could he understand being scared of replacing them, either. But he did know that his kitten filled a void in a way, it kept him from being lonely.

"Even if a pet doesn't talk, you'd still consider it to be replacing a loved one?"Kazi questioned curiously. Raiju chimed in with a sleepy meow that he did talk; Kazi didn't address it. As far as Kazi's take on what could have happened to her brother was limited to 'he died'. Kazi really didn't know anyone who had died. His grandfather had when he was five or six, but he hadn't known the man very well. He lived too far away to make regular trips. And kidnapping? It was the farthest thing from his mind. Maybe her brother was mortal and she was sent away? It was less likely to him. He didn't dare ask, truthfully. It seemed a sensitive topic, one that he'd let her approach herself. If that was now, so be it, he'd listen.

"It doesn't have to be logical, Nicki."Kazi offered reassuringly. Partially just so she didn't feel bad, and partially because it really didn't have to be. What would it hurt if it didn't make sense in his mind? If it made sense in hers. . . Kazi was an academic at heart, but he wasn't stressing about her illogical nature. Emotions did that to you, as far as he was concerned. Had he not wanted her to have someone like Raiju around, he would have completely left it alone. But there was a difference between 'suggesting', and being stubbornly insistant. It was her business, her choice, no matter why she thought the way she did. It did help him assume in his own mind that Chris was more permanently gone than just not going to the same school. Then again, at the same time he was thinking he could be wrong about it just as easily as he could be right.

When she closed her eyes, Kazi shifted his weight to his other foot nervously, watching Raiju again. Should he say something random, make sure Nicki was alright? No, no. He'd just let her be. That seemed like the best option. His mind wandered a bit, given the quiet nature of the morning and the situation. What were his grandparents doing right now? His parents? Were they happy? Did they wonder about him? Pointless questions, really, questions he'd never bother to pursue. But, what about this Christmas? The jokes his uncle told, the emotions he felt seeing his mother and father- Kazi shook his head slightly, looking up from Raiju to Nicki. Wasn't his problem?

"I know it isn't. But I know it helps to talk, so if you're in the mood to talk, I'll listen. I mean, I've got time, and if it helps someone, it's time spent well."Kazi shrugged. Did he mention he didn't care about her situation? Until she was a friend, he didn't. But he'd still listen anyway, and perhaps if he did, they could become friends in time. Not that he wouldn't listen to an obnoxious rival given the person wanted to talk. It was just how Kazi was; words were comfort to him.

Kazi wouldn't mind being a psychologist. He would rather work in a school, or namely with kids, but he could handle adults too if he had to. It was just the idea of suicidal and violent people that stopped him in his tracks. Still, that was a good point.

When Nicki started to speak but trailed off, Kazi wasn't certain of what to do. Who was seven? When what? As he typically did, he glanced at Raiju. Raiju wasn't offering any insight though. Kazi figured that it was okay if she didn't go on. Whatever she was comfortable with would be alright with him. It seemed she was trying, at least, and she didn't walk away or tell him to leave. That was a good thing in his mind. And she didn't push Raiju away or anything of that sort.

Kazi did have to admit; it did surprise him when she spoke again. And it surprised him even more, what she said. Chris? He wans't sure who Chris was at first until his mind caught up; they were both seven? A classmate? She hadn't said her brother was her twin. By the time she concluded with the fact that she never did, he began to think it could be her brother. Why would she care so much about a classmate?

"I'm sure someday the mystery will be solved. . .Someone, somewhere has got to know what happened to him or where he is."Kazi suggested hopefully. "Someday it'll be put to rest. Until then, I think you should keep looking, keep hoping. Because losing faith won't change anything. Someone should care when strangers don't." To be quite honest, he doubted the kidnapped boy was alive, but he wasn't going to bluntly state that. He still wasn't entirely positive on who the kid was, so it seemed unstable ground to go about responding too rashly.

With acute, human-like interest, Raiju suddenly looked up at Nicki's expression before licking at her hand. His mind spun; brother kidnapped? Gone forever? Likely dead? No wonder she was so weird- well, if she had to contend with that, then she could run in a circle all she wanted. So long as she was nice, petting him, and talking to Kazi it was enough for Raiju. He'd do his best to keep her happy, by whatever means that involved - especially by staying close to her.