THE VISITOR

BY SIMBALLOON

Kitty copyright of Tezuka. My oddballs belong to me.

	It had been five years since she had revived, but now she was ready to join other toons like herself in the human world. Unlike them, she was a toon no-one ever thought they would actually see in person, or the fur, or.. she now had a headache.

	Jayce lazed on the couch, watching another late winter day go by and really wishing for spring as he watched whatever he could find on the television. His friend, Bill was sitting nearby, well more like passed out in a chair nearby. It really amazed Jayce how his friend could just pass out anywhere. “If he ever falls asleep standing up, I'm taking photos and posting them.” Jayce muttered to himself. Still, he was glad for the company as the old house he lived in did tend to get lonely at times. Even so, he was restless as he shut off the TV and moved about the room. That feeling of a presence was with him again, like it was right after the incident he and Bill had been involved in roughly five years back. It had left Bill knocked out, Jayce himself somehow regenerated and half cartoon inside. One very wild afternoon that was. Even included a ghost of a familiar lioness wandering about the area that he and Bill and gotten zapped into. “I am never going into that cartoon jungle ever again. From now on I stick to Cape Suzette!”
	Some fussing behind Jayce clued him into Bill finally waking back up. Bill was a great worker and friend, but when his energy ran out, it cratered. “Ah, sleeping beauty is finally awake again.” Jayce poked a little, chuckling as he watched Bill try to work kinks out of his body while getting up. He was just in Jeans and a plaid shirt while Jayce was in jeans and a white t-shirt.
	“Ow, sometimes I really wish for your cartoon internals, Jayce.” Bill said, rubbing the back of his neck. He yawned and stretched, having really spent too much time working today and had been up since the wee hours of the morning. “Jayce, is it okay if I crash in the guest room tonight? All that hiking for work has me wiped out and I don't trust myself on these roads.”
	“That's just fine, better safe than sorry.” Jayce then pondered that feeling again. It seemed to be getting much, much stronger.
	Bill looked over at Jayce, seeming a bit concerned. “Are you okay Jayce? You are acting like you were around that toon lioness ghost again. He looked around the room, but shrugged. “I don't see her and I doubt she could even come to our world.” Bill could see Jayce was really rattled and patted him on the shoulder. “Look, I doubt whatever happened caused her to regenerate like you did. We did nothing wrong and followed the rules. That jolt that hit was just some strange thing out of the blue.”
	“I know we did nothing wrong, but the way she looked at us was so odd, yet so sad. Also, I don't like mucking up any world, even if it is from a cartoon movie I can't bear to watch.” Jayce shuddered, not able to shake that feeling. “Perhaps I need to cut down on the caffeine or something.” He mused before a knock at the front door nearly caused both of them to leap for the ceiling. Jayce staggered and had to compose himself.
	Bill also had to get his mind back on track. “Were you expecting anyone else but me today?' he asked, looking a bit worried himself now. This was starting to feel like some sort of suspense film. “Do ghosts knock?”
	Jayce paused a moment, but felt compelled to head towards the door. Whoever was out there no doubt heard them yelp. “No, but it's too late to hide.” He pulled back the curtain a bit, saw who was out there and gulped. “Bill, you should sit back down.” He then unlocked the door and let it swing open to reveal a cartoon, cream colored lioness with brown hair or bangs as some people described her. Large ears the same color matched up with brown eyes and a muzzle shape Jayce and Bill knew all too well. “Ah.......” Was all Jayce could say.
	The lioness smiled and giggled a bit. “While your brain is trying to figure me out, may I come in at least? It's cold out here and I'm used to a warmer climate!” Seeing Jayce was still a bit froze, she did her best impression of a shrug and padded into the house on her four paws.
	“Y-yeah come in.. Oh you are already in.” Jayce sighed and shut the door, locking it once again behind himself. “Welcome to my home Miss.” He paused, thinking for a second. “What name are you using? The last I checked you had your original name along with four others from different countries.
	“Just call me, Kitty.” she said as she looked around the somewhat disorganized living room and then peered into the kitchen. “That's the name I am known best by in this country and I've grown fond of it.” She made a bit of a face peering into the kitchen again then shook her head. “Wow, this place could really use a woman's touch!” Kitty paused to look into a dusty mirror. “You know, I think my form refined again with that regeneration. Then again I seem to recall having several variants.” She looked thoughtful for a moment. “Odd, the things I now know...”
	“Well, you are showing all the signs of a toon that has broken loose from their world and is now able to be fully-self aware, Kitty.” Jayce replied. He wandered back over towards the couch as he watched Kitty inspect the whole living room. Actually, he had a bad feeling he was about to be cat-claimed. “Well, you do seem a bit better looking than the 1997 feature. At leas you look way better than the last time you were on screen.” Jayce looked over a Bill, who had just seemed to have given up and passed out.
	Kitty also looked at Bill, then gave Jayce a quizzical look as she motioned her head towards him. “Is your friend okay? He looks like he is out cold.”
	“Bill had a hard day and I am afraid you were a bit too much for him, dear.” Jayce said as he sighed and sat down on the couch. He winced a little, almost afraid to ask his next question. “I had flashes of a super character I tried to create go through my mind when everything exploded. How much did you absorb?”
	Kitty laughed, then waved a fore paw at him. “I'm afraid that is for me to know and you to find out. Well, fast healing and regeneration are two things we already know.” She padded over towards Jayce on the couch. “I don't know why you are so tense. Me being back in one piece should be making you happy.” She did look a bit confused and felt it honestly.
	“Oh it could be that we will be in deep trouble at work for what happened. They don't like employees rocking the toon boat as it were.” Jayce grumbled. Oh, him and Bill were going to hear it good in a couple days after this. Jayce supposed they could try and keep Kitty a secret, but that would be even worse and the way she was acting, she wouldn't be a secret for long.
	“Rules and regulations have no bearing on fate!” Kitty said as she rolled her eyes and groaned. “I really wish you humans would learn that by now.” As she talked, she suddenly jumped up onto the couch with Jayce, making it groan a little under her as she was careful not to land her paws on him, then began to settle onto the couch and his lap as he grunted and yelped in a bit of surprise. She wriggled until she was settled in, curling her tail up around herself and then settled her forepaws on the arm of the couch so that she could rest her head against them. “Ah, much more comfortable and warmer than outside. Perfect cuddling weather, wouldn't you agree?” Kitty began to purr softly and giggle a bit as Jayce fussed for a moment.
	Jayce held his hands up for a moment, then sighed and let them rest against Kitty's back as he had just been lap catted by a lioness! “I don't think I am getting a choice, am I?” Even so, he did pet over her back softly. She was a solid lady, but actually quite cuddly indeed. In fact, her purrs were starting to make him increasingly relaxed. The little smirk she gave him as she looked back over her should pretty much answered his question and his resistance was fading quick as he began to slip and slump over until his head was resting against the back of her own. His fingers stroked through her plush fur as he did indeed cuddle her now. “Such nice fur you have, Kitty. Must... must.. snuggle... sleep...” He fought to keep his eyes open, but it was no use as he slipped into a calm sleep against and under her.
	“Yes, now is the time for snuggles and to recharge, hon. There will be plenty of adventures ahead for both of us.” Kitty said quietly as she too slowly closed her eyes and drifted off contently.
	A short bit later Bill finally woke back up and looked at the scene and then quietly got up and checked things over before shutting off the lights in the living room. As he headed for bed proper, he couldn't help but to look back and smile at the sleeping couple. “That's the most content I have seen you look in ages, Jayce.” He thought to himself before settling in.

END