<div class="floatleft">(http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/2927/akirar.jpg)</div>If one had to define in a few words the feelings of Akira Hibarashi as he followed Mrs. Timbers ("But just call me Jean, my dear boy") down the corridor, the best way would have probably been to say something along the line of 'an interesting mix'. And that, because there was a really big lot of feelings inside him... almost too many to fill a living body without getting at least a bit cramped.<br/><br/>There was anticipation... Akira was about to meet for the first time his possibly future companions of a lifetime. There was elation, since owning a catgirl was something that at his age one could probably only dream about, let alone owning<em>two</em>. There was curiosity, since despite having already been talked about them, and even been shown photos of them - and really pretty lot they were - there were still many things he didn't know. There was worry, since he knew that his life was about to take a turn for the hard and he had only a week for himself before having his new guests come at his apartment. There was annoyance at having been one more time blackmailed by his devilish grandfather.<br/><br/>As you can see... quite a little mess.<br/><br/>And the glue that kept all of that together, was Akira's innate stubbornness... his signature quality and the most notable heritage he claimed from the blood of his grandfather, the great lawyer Kenzo Hibarashi, co-founder and current owner of the Hibarashi & Simmons legal study that was one of the most important - if not the most important - of all the state. And in that precise moment, Akira was there to show his grandfather that he was mature enough to choose his own future.<br/><br/>It had been a classic. Akira's parents trying to goad him to do their bidding and the boy following his own choices instead. Then the rows with his father until they really neared a breaking point and then, at the most convenient moment, his grandfather stepping in and wrapping everyone around his finger. Akira secretly admired to no end that old vulture... he never,<em>never</em>lost a debate.<br/><br/>And so, thanks to a crazy idea of the old man, Akira was walking with Mrs Timb... with Jean down a long corridor of the Greenwood Health Center for Antrophomorphic Felines that was actually a long way to say 'Catpeople Orphanage'. The Greenwood (as it was better known) was one of the best institutions of its kind and a place where one could find some of the finest specimen of catgirls available in the state. People usually would find difficult to choose amongst the beautiful catgirls of the Greenwood, although in this case Akira had this burden mainly taken on by his grandfather who chose the 'most appropriate' exemplars for him.<br/><br/>"I really hope that you will strike as friends. Maleena and Skuld are two darlings... I am gonna miss them.."<br/><br/>Mrs... Jean was chattering in a light tone of voice while leading the way but Akira didn't miss the sideway glance that she shot to him from time to time. He maintained his best smile on his face while trying to focus his thoughts on his future life... the welfare of those girls was paramount to gain the trust of his grandfather and his permission on completing his studies to become a cat-people veterinary. Well... and also it was a responsibility for him since he would be their owner.<br/><br/>All that story was not the catgirls' fault and Akira would do his best to treat them well enough. He hoped that with time they would strike as friends and grow fond of each other... after all he liked catgirls and he would probably have wanted to own one in his future. So, better to take advantage of the opportunity while he was at it... or at least, so he thought. One could never know... maybe the two catgirls were<em>really</em>as nice as Jean insisted they were.<br/><br/>Akira was still multitasking in his mind when they arrived at the door of the meeting room and so he almost walked on. Jean smiled knowingly when the boy stopped on his tracks and turned, blushing a little... she was a gentle-looking woman in her forties who had worked as a nurse in the Greenwood since she was twenty. And she had seen many and many tentative catgirl owners pass through that door... and she had also seen more than half the girls return back to the orphanage in two months or less. People kept thinking that owning a catgirl was like owning a large cat...<br/><br/><em>Oh well... at least this one is cute.</em>She thought.<br/><br/>Akira was indeed at his best. He was a dashing young man... especially when he was looking resolute like in that moment. He had brought his schoolbag with him that contributed to give him a more boyish look... the nurse wondered again, for an instant, what there could be inside it. She shook his head and opened the door.<br/><br/>"This way. Maleena and Skuld are waiting for you."<br/><br/>Akira nodded and draw a long breath to straighten himself a bit. Then he moved swiftly and entered the meeting room... no point in postponing this. The door closed behind him.<br/><br/>"My name is Akira Hibarashi." he said "Nice to meet you."