Note: this is a follow-up story to "From Alley to House," but you don't really have to read that to get what's going on here, as long as you're willing to accept the basic premise. But if you wanted to read and review that…I'd be very happy. Please? Anyone?

Anyhoo, the premise: This does not take place in the world of the musical, but in the "real" (or, at least, human) world. Zaphia and Mistoffelees are sort of cat-people…picture the performers in the musical as if the makeup, wigs and tails were real and you've pretty much got the physiology right there. Mistoffelees in these stories got his name b/c he looked like the musical character, in fact.

If you're curious, read on. And yes, this is probably the weirdest, least musical based fanfiction ever. Let me know what you think. If you hate it…well, at least you have a passionate opinion.

ZAPHIA POV

It's hard to stand out on the quad of a large university. Unless you're me, anyway. Then it's hard not to.

"Hey, freak!" someone shouts out, and I feel my ears pulling back in pained aggravation. I can feel eyes on me, as if the whole universe is staring at me.

They stare at my bright white, almost mime-white skin. They stare at the strange black marks on my face; the black smudge under my nose, the gray that tints my lips, the dramatic black lines that rim my eyes and swoop up and away from them. They stare at the long black tail that swishes behind me. They stare at the large feline ears that top my black-furred head.

I smile slightly to myself to realize that there are some girls who would kill to get this much attention.

I can't really blame them for staring at the cat-girl walking amongst them. Like I promised myself I would when I decided to try and go to school here, I focus on everything but the other students. I hold my head up, trying to remember that "feline pride" Misto advised me to keep about myself.

He should be home by now, probably curled up in a tight little ball on the couch in our apartment, napping and looking not the slightest bit dignified. But quite cute. The thought cheers me up a bit, and it gets a little easier to hold my head up.

"Zaphia?" someone calls out behind me and I work very hard to stifle a groan. I just want to get to my class. Maybe if I keep walking they won't persist.

"Zaphia!" they call out again, more forcefully this time. I stop at a bench under a large tree, shifting my book bag over my shoulder. I sigh audibly. Someone evidently remembers my name from all the news reports from when me and Mistoffelees became public.

"Angel?" my mystery stalker says softly as they draw near me and I can feel my fur go on end.

"How do you know that name?" I ask as I turn around. My breath catches in my throat as I realize who it is.

"Suzanna…"

"I was wondering if you'd recognize me…" she says, crossing her arms over her chest and smiling. I nod slowly, too surprised to speak. She hasn't changed since the last time I saw her. Still tall, still beautiful…she's half-chinese and has always had this perfect golden skin color. With that skin, that figure and that sculpted face…she made a pretty funny goth back in high school, actually.

I was always jealous of her even when I was human and now, standing in front of her, I'm painfully aware of how short and strange I look. My tail swishes in agitation and I can feel my ears twitching.

Despite the confusion of my feelings at seeing her, I can't help notice that there's something odd about her scent, something I can't quite put my finger on…I chalk it up to nerves. I haven't seen Suzanna since high school, when we claimed we'd be best friends forever…no matter what. I wonder for a moment if that includes if one of us switches species. "I'm surprised you recognized me" I manage to say, cheeks warming up a little.

"I admit, you have changed a bit" she replies with a laugh, eyeing me. In spite of myself I smile at that.

"So…"

"So." She stands there, just looking at me. Not staring exactly, just…looking. Her expression is fairly blank.

I shift the bookbag over my shoulder again. "So…what brings you here?" I ask, sitting down on the bench.

'I transferred to this school, and like everyone else in this town I heard a lot of commotion about you attending classes here." As she responds she goes to sit next to me and I quickly shift my tail out of the way. "It took me awhile to realize who you were, and as soon as I recognized you I figured we should get together sometime."

My eyebrows raise as I eye her curiously. "And why not now…?" I ask. She gestures towards my bookbag. "Aren't you going somewhere?" she asks.

Oh yeah, class. That's why I'm out here. A wide grin breaks out across my face. "Screw class, I know a great coffee shop." My old friend laughs at that. "Ah, you still love the caffeine I see." "

"Yes, but that's not why I'm skipping class."

Aww, did you miss your old pal Zanna?" she asks, and I get up to lead the way off.

"You have no idea."

……………………………………………………………………………………….

Once we're in the coffeeshop, I immediately go to my favorite spot- on the old brown sofa under the window. The sunlight comes through the large glass panes and pools on the soft cushions, making them wonderfully inviting. With a sigh I curl up against the arm rest, coiling my tail around me. Zanna settles onto the couch next to me. Before I realize what I'm doing I've started rubbing my head against her shoulder and upper arm. At her surprised expression I pull back a bit, embarrassed by my own behavior, but with a smirk she starts gently petting my head. "You like that?" she asks, rubbing my ears. I blush a bit and nod, feeling the low thrum of a purr starting in my chest already. Zanna giggles when she hears it, and rubs at my ears more vigourously. That's a surprise. I look up at her, eyes wide. "So, you're as feline as you look now?" she asks and I nod again, a sheepish grin spreading over my face.

"Did the purring give me away?" I ask and my old friend laughs. "Does this bother you?" I ask softly as I push my head against her hands. I can't help myself…it's strange, and it isn't. My nose catches that odd scent I can't place again, and I dismiss it. This old leather couch hold all kinds of strange smells.

Zanna looks thoughtful for a moment, then grins widely. "You know I've never liked humans much" she says, and I laugh to hear the same old Suzanna I've known for years. She spent much of our school days claiming to be a vampire just because she didn't like people. "But you've always been more of a dog person" I point out.

"True." She continues to look pensive as she ventures to scratch under my chin. I close my eyes in appreciation. "Still, it could be cool to be friends with a cat" she continues. "Or two…I hear there's another one of you." I nod a little too enthusiastically, then blush a bit at my overreaction. "I could call home, have him come to the shop if you want to meet him…" I trail off as Zanna starts laughing loudly. "What?" I ask, face burning.

"Nothing, nothing" she says, and grins most annoyingly at me. "What's his name?" she asks.

"Mistoffelees."

"Like the musical?" she ask, and I nod. "Yes, but he's kind of sensitive about that…Want me to call?" She nods and I pull a cell phone out of my bag, dialing quickly. She cocks an eyebrow at me as I murmur into the phone, still grinning that annoying smile.

"Misto, it's me. Did I wake you? Sorry about that…Mmm-hmm. Oh, that's great! I knew you could…listen, an old friend of mine showed up, she wants to meet you too. Yeah, from before…want to meet us at Espressomniac? You too." When I hang up and see her expression I can feel the blush running up my face clear into my ears. "What?" I demand.

"You like him, don't you?" she asks, grinning at me. Damn, even as much as I've changed she still knows me too well. I turn away, embarrassed, but I nod anyway.

"You have no idea…"

……………………………………………………………………………………….

By the time Mistoffelees makes it to the shop I've gotten Suzanna filled in on the highlights of what happened to me since she saw me last. How I woke up last summer looking like this for no reason that I know of. Of my parents chasing me off so that I ended up living in the alleys for a few months, until Erin and Katie found me and took me in secretly. I tell her about finding Mistoffelees, about the fire, about the days in jail. I tell her about almost everything, leaving out Misto's magic as his secret to divulge, not mine.

I don't tell her quiet everything else, though…me and Zanna never were much for "girl talk." And even if we were…it would still be hard to talk about what's on my mind in that area.

Suzanna gets up to seek a coffee refill as Misto comes in, a short slender figure weaving his way through the crowd. He's pretty easy to spot, with that black fur and white skin just like mine. Considering we both dress all in black too, to match our fur, the only difference between us is in our black facial markings and the white tip on his tail. I sometimes think we look more like twins than a couple. As he sits next to me on the couch I nuzzle against his neck happily. "Glad you came." I whisper into his furry ear, and with a smile he takes my hand. "Zanna should rejoin us in a minute" I murmur, my mind not on my friend at all.

His tail twitches a bit, the white tip brushing against my leg. "Is that her up at the counter?" he asks, tilting his nose into the air.

"Yes, why?" I ask, confused as I feel his body tensing beside me.

He furrows his brow slightly. "Did you notice anything…odd…about her scent?" I nod slightly as I whisper back "I was hoping you could figure out what that was." He shakes his head, sniffing discreetly as Suzanna comes back to join us.

"Ah, you must be Mistoffelees…" she grins at the boy sitting beside me, and he nods politely. "Nice to meet you" he says softly, flinching a bit as Zanna obviously eyes him up and down. She was never one for subtlety. I squeeze his hand reassuringly.

Sitting back down at my other side, she elbows me in the gut and grins. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your boyfriend?" she asks. Yep, subtle as a trainwreck, that's Zanna. Annoyed, I turn to Misto. "This is Suzanna, a friend from high school with the manners of a pro-wrestler." She laughs at my introduction, shrugging a bit.

"Any friend of Zaph's is a friend of mine" Mistoffelees replies, leaning over me and extending a white hand. His eyes widen a bit, then close with pleasure as Zanna decides to rub his ears instead of shaking his hand. I grin- looks like they'll get along just fine. "I take it you're just a big kitten too?" Suzanna asks, looking a little thoughtful. Misto glances at me, face a little pink.

"We both are, sometimes" I murmur, and he looks grateful for being spared having to say it. As Zanna continues to rub Misto's ears he lowers himself so that his head is in Zanna's lap, his torso resting over my lap and his legs curled beside me. My old friend looks a bit surprised but I just smile and rub his back, feeling the vibrations of a purr starting in his chest already. After close to a year of spending time with him and our few accepting friends, this has become part of my version of "normal". "Zaph…I think I like your friend" Mistoffelees murmurs, purring away loudly.

"Ah, and I was worried you wouldn't get along" I giggle, looking at Zanna. At her raised eyebrow I shrug. "Like I said, you've always been more of a dog person, not one who was into kittens."

Suzanna scratches a bit under Misto's chin just as she did with me. "Kittens are cute" she proclaims, and the wide grin on Misto's face is priceless.

"But you never liked cute things" I protest.

"Do you mind? I'm petting your boyfriend."

Wow, never knew a coffeeshop could get quiet that fast. I flash everyone a cheeky grin to hide my slight embarrassment while Mistoffelees scrambles back across the couch and huddles at my side. I turn to him, giggling at the furious blush on his face. "Don't mind her" I murmur, "I told you she had the manners of a wrestler. She's just mad that I pointed out she has a softer side too." He relaxes a bit, squeezing my hand again.

"Anybody want to go for a walk, get some fresh air?" I ask. The tomcat blushing beside me jumps up gratefully and Zanna has little choice but to follow us out.

MISTO POV

Well, that was embarrassing…thank goodness Zaph doesn't seem to ever hold it against me when I forget my human side in public. From the way she was reassuring me once we left she shop with little squeezes and nuzzles, you'd think she finds it endearing somehow.

I still can't figure out what's odd about Zaphia's friend though. There's something strange about her, like something you can only see out of the corner of your eye.

We're walking through the outer reaches of the campus now, watching the sun set. Suzanna and Zaph are chattering away, and you'd think they'd hadn't been separated by a year and a species jump. It's good to see Zaph acting so relaxed around a human…she's letting both sides of her show equally for once, talking like a human while her body language is definitely that of a cat. Suzanna seems amused at the way Zaph moves, but doesn't recoil from any of the stranger mannerisms she's picked up…probably picked up from me.

I hold her hand, feeling her squeeze it occasionally while flashing me a content smile. I smile back but keep quiet myself, still puzzling over what my nose is trying to tell me.

So focused am I on Suzanna's scent that I don't notice much of anything else until a dark figure wrapped in robes jumps out in front of us, brandishing an odd trinket in it's hand. We all jump back in surprise, and I hear a low displeased growl…turning to Zaphia I realize it isn't her or I that's making that animal sound.

It's Suzanna.

Instinctively I pull Zaphia to me, trying to get between her and the others even as I feel my own ears pulling back in fear. A low mewling sound is coming out of Zaphia's throat as she curls against me, staring transfixed at her friend.

Suzanna's eyes have turned a sickly yellow and long fangs, longer than mine or Zaph's, are protruding from her mouth. She's recoiling from the strange figure that's jumped out at us, and as they come nearer to her she flinches away as if in pain.

"Back, beast!" the stranger shouts and Suzanna turns to Zaphia. I put my arm tightly around Zaph's waist, not sure what to do. As the stranger draws nearer to the creature that was Zaphia's friend, Suzanna fixes her eyes on my kitten.

"Help me" she whispers, and I can see pain and fear in those inhuman eyes. Zaphia whimpers softly, looking from me, to her friend, to the stranger.

"Stay back so I can destroy her or you'll all die!" the stranger says, and at that I can feel Zaphia's body stiffen beside me. I don't know what to do…I feel the warmth in my veins as my magic starts to surge forward in case I need to protect myself or my kitten.

The stranger jumps towards Suzanna but before they can do anything we're all blinded by a sudden flash of light. As soon as the dazzle leaves my eyes I can see the stranger running off into the shadows, that strange trinket left behind them broken on the pavement. Suzanna looks as shocked as I feel as I turn to Zaphia.

I know what that flash was- the same sort of magic blast I hit Zaphia with the first time we met. But it didn't come from me.

I can feel Zaph shaking like a leaf at my side. She holds up her hands to me, ears pulled back in terror. "What…?" she starts to ask, then faints dead away.

Holding my kitten up, I look at Suzanna as she picks up the broken pieces from the ground. She appears to be shaken but very much human again. "What the hell?" she asks, staring at the unconscious girl in my arms. She looks at me, looking every bit the concerned and confused friend.

I hesitate a moment as I pick Zaphia up. Biting my lip, I turn to this strange old friend of hers. "I think we'd better get her home, and then we all need some answers."

……………………………………………………………………………………….

Zaphia is still unconscious as I lay her gently on the couch in our apartment. I squeeze her hands and she flinches, pulling away from me. Poor thing…I remember what it felt like the first time this happened to me, the way my hands burned …maybe some cream that we have in the fridge will perk her up once she awakens…

There's an impatient cough behind me and I can't help but sigh. "I haven't forgotten about you, you know" I say, turning to Suzanna.

"I know" she says, arms crossed in front of her. "You've been very careful to keep yourself between me and Angel the whole time."

My ear twitches involuntarily. "Who's Angel?" I ask, eyes narrowing.

Suzanna half-smiles as she sinks into an overstuffed red armchair that sits in the corner. "She's Angel" she mutters, pointing at the prone kitten on the couch. "Or at least she was, once. Didn't she ever tell you her human name?"

I'm tempted to lie, but I've never been very good at that. With a blush creeping into my cheeks, I look towards the couch. "I thought her name was Zaphia…" I whisper, hating to admit it. Suzanna smiles condescendingly at me. "Were you born with the name 'Mistoffelees'?" she asks, and I shake my head.

"Of course not." She raised an eyebrow at my response. I bat at an ear in embarrassment. "I was born human, with a human name. When one changed, the other was changed too." That condescending smile fades from this strange woman's face as she looks at her old friend. "It's the same with her," she explains. "She was Angel when she was human…I guess she took the name Zaphia because she wasn't Angel anymore."

Zaphia moans a bit on the couch and we both turn to her. Frowning a bit, I position myself between her and Suzanna, even as I turn my back. Her gray eyes are open, moist with tears as she looks up at me. They look beautiful when they're wet, shining like silver. "Misto?" she asks, voice cracking. I hold her hand, looking down at her…she winces a bit as I squeeze her hand, even as gently as I do. "Did I do …magic…like…?" she trails off, not sure how to finish her sentence.

"Like me" I murmur, not wanting Suzanna to hear. Zaph groans and holds her head. Poor thing…"it was hard for me the first time too…can I get you anything?" I whisper into her large hollow ear, nuzzling a bit. I hear that impatient cough behind me again and I turn back to Suzanna, feeling my claws just starting to come out. Maybe it was a mistake to let her come back with us…Zaph needs my full attention…

"You said something earlier about us all getting answers?" she asks, tapping her foot on the carpet.

I stand up in front of Zaphia, feeling my tail swish rapidly in agitation. "Why don't you start?" I ask, anger creeping into my voice. "Why didn't you tell us you weren't human?"

"Does it matter? You guys aren't human either."

"But we're pretty up-front about it" Zaphia pipes in from the couch. "What are you, and who attacked you, and why?"

Suzanna sighs, resting her head on her hand. "What I am, is a lycanthrope. Who attacked me and why…I don't know. It happens occasionally…"

I blink. "You're a werewolf?" Zaphia whispers behind me, leaning her head against the side of my leg. Automatically I let my hand down to rub her ears a bit, attempting to soothe her even as I grow more agitated.

Suzanna nods, looking past us and out the window. "I thought if anybody could understand…it would be you two…" she mutters.

"Why?" is all I can think to say.

"Because you know what it's like to be part animal."

Zaphia flinches under my hand and pulls away. Only then do I realize my claws are all the way out…I must be angrier than I thought. "We may be part animal, but we don't turn into marauding beasts when the moon is full" I reply, feeling a bit of a hiss creeping into my voice.

"Neither do I" Zanna whispers, looking at the floor. "I can just…turn into a wolf-creature when I want to. That's all. And you can relax-" she says pointedly, looking me in the eye for the first time, "I'm not here to hurt you or your precious kitten. So you can stop trying to block her from me." Zaphia looks up at me curiously at that, but I can't quite meet her gaze.

I guess I have no real reason to doubt Suzanna at this point. Zaphia isn't saying anything.

"Okay…" the lycanthrope drawls, looking at the two of us. "Time for my one question: Why did you help me?"

I look to Zaphia, curious about that one myself. The only reason I trusted Suzanna enough to let her come home with us was because Zaphia seemed to trust her enough to defend her old friend. Zaph looks from Suzanna to me, then back again. She shrugs a little before settling wearily back against the couch. "Because you're my friend, and you asked for my help" she says simply, with a shrug. She hesitates before adding, in a softer voice, "and we need all the friends who'll accept us that we can get." As she says this last part it's me she's looking at, eyes a little silvery again.

With concern I rub my kitten's ears and she leans against me, eyes closing. Well, at least now I know why Suzanna's scent seemed strange to us- it was because she wasn't human. She slowly walks over to us and puts a hand out. As I flinch a bit she gives me a look. "Down, boy" she mutters, gently resting her hand on Zaphia's head also. I don't move to stop her, so she starts petting my kitten too.

"Thank, Zaph" Suzanna murmurs. Then without a word, she turns and walks out the door.

……………………………………………………………………………………….

A few weeks later me and Zaphia are sitting in my room as I try to tutor her in magic. A Styrofoam ball hovers midair in front of me, while Zaphia stares at me wide-eyed. "You can do it" I murmur as I let the ball drift back down to the bedspread. "This is pretty easy levitation…just focus on the ball, let the magic flow through you…" As I try to talk her through it I watch her squint her eyes and stare at the ball, obviously trying very hard. "Just picture it rising up…" I whisper, biting my lip anxiously.

There's a flash of light suddenly and a disgusting smell starts to fill my room. Coughing, I jump up and open a window, trying to vent out the smoke from the burning Styrofoam. "Maybe you're not ready for this yet" I say, turning to her with a smile. Her cheeks are bright red as she looks at the blackened pile of ash on my bed.

"Maybe not yet" she whispers, ears drooping. She turns her head to the side, away from me. "Maybe not ever."

"Zaph…" I start, when the phone rings. My kitten doesn't move, so I go pick up the phone. "Yes?"

"It's Zanna."

"I'll get Zaph-" I automatically turn the phone over, hoping that her friend can cheer my kitten up. For some reason Zaphia has decided to trust this …werewolf… so I do too…hoping that we're not both wrong. Of course, if she wanted to hurt Zaph she could have done so long before now, I remind myself. And it has been nice for her to have an old friend back who doesn't seem bothered by the change in her.

I clean up the burnt (and partially melted) Styrofoam as Zaphia talks to her friend. I'm not paying much attention, so when Zaphia asks if we have plans next Friday night I don't stop to ask questions before answering in the negative. In a minute Zaph hangs up and turns to me, a devilish smile spreading on her face. I pause for a moment as I brush off the last of the failed magic lesson from my bed. "You look like the cat that ate the canary" I tease, but falter somewhat as she starts laughing. "Oh, you have no idea" she giggles. I raise an eyebrow. "Up for a double date next Friday?" she asks, face innocent.

Cautiously I ask "with whom?"

"With Zanna…and the lycanthrope boyfriend who bit her."

All I can do is blink.

ZAPHIA POV

The look on Mistoffelees' face was priceless when I told him about the double-date me and Zanna had planned so we could meet this mysterious wolf. When I told him that the date was set in Chicago, and that the three of us would be taking the train up there and staying overnight, it was clear he thought I had gone stark raving mad. When I told him we'd be sharing a hotel room for that night, he looked practically terrified. Which brings up a sticking point with us.

Really, how many girls have to reassure their boyfriends that they'll have separate beds, just like they do in the apartment they share? We agreed to live together, so that we could share a home where we could be our weird hybrid selves without being self-conscious…but we're not living together in the way I'm sure Zanna assumes we are. Sure, we'll fall asleep together like a pair of kittens, cuddling in a pool of sunlight or purring on the couch, but as a man and woman we sleep apart. I'm fine with a chaste relationship, and I know his upbringing gave him very old-fashioned ideas, but…something's happened over the past year.

I can't explain it exactly, but it's like Misto's gotten less comfortable with the idea of us as a couple over time. I can't even talk to him about it anymore without getting that wide-eyed panicked look.

As I get ready in the hotel bathroom, I can't help but sigh. I wish I could talk to Zanna about things like this…but how could she understand? I don't even understand. He can be such a sweetie, so kitteny and affectionate…but when it comes to human affection I'm not sure how to read him these days. So close, but so distant…when I tell him I love him, I know I mean it. When he says it…there's something in the edge of his voice I can't place. I pray this doesn't mean what I think it means.

Best to just try to make the most of the evening…we'll be dining out, coming back here to change, then heading to a late-night costume party. That part at least should be fun…at a costume party me and Misto will stand out a little less than normal. And after a week of arguing over costumes I agreed to let him pick both of ours out, so I'll have a surprise tonight when I see his choice.

Smoothing the wrinkles out of my simple black dress, I stand back from the mirror and check over my appearance. My arms are bare, and the white skin stands out dramatically. The dress is plain, but fits to a nicety at least. A delicate silver necklace drapes across my white throat, my only adornment. Feline ears don't take well to piercing…fur can't be styled. I don't even have nails to paint. And white skin with black markings doesn't benefit from makeup. So I'm pretty much just the plain usual me, even when trying to dress up. Still, nothing to object to here, I hope. I don't care what the wolves think…I'm trying to impress a tomcat tonight.

There's a knock at the door. "Zaph, are you decent?" a soft voice says. Instead of answering I open the door with a smile, hoping for a pleased reaction.

He doesn't say anything, just smiles a bit. Dissapointed, I grab my purse and head towards the door. "Ready to go?" I ask, and he merely nods and follows me out.

MISTO POV

My god, she looks beautiful tonight… I wish I could say something, anything. That cream white skin, that raven black fur, those dramatic markings on her pretty face…feline features that I don't particularly like on myself work gorgeously on her. And that dress…Zaphia is incredibly delicate and petite, but that dress is just tight enough to show that she still has some lovely curves to her. Why can't I say any of that out loud tonight? As we leave the room I'm painfully aware of how silent I am when I should be gushing. She looks a little sad, her ears drooping a bit considering we're going out for a night of fun.

Hopefully tonight I'll be able to make her understand why I've been acting strange lately. There's something about wanting to get closer that makes me act more distant…I'm still not good at human interactions. The more desperate I am to make one impression, the more the ability to do the right thing completely fails me.

I'm tongue tied tonight for a reason besides my usual shyness…a nervous sweat breaks out across the back of my neck as my hand fumbles in my pocket for the millionth time since we left home, making sure…

Yep, the small velvet box is still there.

Alrighty, thus ends chapter one of the sequel only one person wanted. Anybody out there curious to see how this goes? Like it? Hate it? Suggestions? Please review so I know if there's any point to continuing my insane dribble or not.