By Yai-tzu Hin
Warning: No part of this story or cast of characters may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the author, Yai-tzu Hin. If you do, moths will eat your favorite shirt, mice will take up residence in your kitchen and you can't get rid of them no matter what, all the bulbs in your reading lamps will go out, you'll run out of gas in your car when you're running late, and your computer will develop the annoying habit of deleting the best part of every fic.
The morning sun was shining brightly through the winter sky. Despite its attempts the sun could not warm the city. Yatsurugi glanced out his window as he pulled on a sweater. He could tell it was going to be another cold day and wanted to be prepared.
Keien was stuffing the last of his notes into his bag when Yatsurugi finally emerged dressed for the cold. Neither wanted to go out, but they couldn't skip class.
"Ready?" Keien asked. Yatsurugi nodded.
"Whether I want to or not." He replied as he put on his boots. "You know I never had to worry about the cold when I was a guardian angel. Well, not extreme cold."
"You call this extreme cold?" Keien laughed tying his own boots. "Wait until it actually snows."
"I know, I've seen you freeze all the way to the train station before, remember."
"Yeah, well. Now I have company. Come on. We'll be late." They left the apartment, locking the door as they walked out. Down four flights of stairs to the ground, then down the street to the intersection. Crossing it, they dog trotted to the next light and caught it before it changed. Once on the other side they slowed their pace as to not slip on the black ice. After going two more blocks, they crossed again and headed for the station. The trains were more like above ground subways than cross-country trains. These mainly went to large important areas of the city, with minor stops along the way.
Once aboard, Keien and Yatsurugi took a seat and waited for the university stop. The train wasn't crowded that morning, which was a relief to both. They didn't have to worry about people bumping into them with bags or briefcases. Keien tried not to fall back asleep, but the rocking motion of the car wasn't making it easy. Yatsurugi had to poke him in the ribs a couple times to keep him from falling over. Finally they reached their stop.
"God it's cold!" Keien exclaimed wrapping his scarf tighter around his neck.
"No kidding. And the weather isn't going to get any better until spring." Yatsurugi grumbled. They hurried up the stairs to the street. Following the herd of people to the light, they waited a minute for it to change then charged towards the university's gates. Once on the grounds they separated for their classes. Wishing each other good luck, they headed for the warmth the classrooms held.
Taking his usual seat by the window, Yatsurugi didn't bother taking off his coat. The professor entered and apologized immediately that thermostat in the room was broken. Half the students groaned the others were too numb to answer. This is not boding well, Yatsurugi thought miserably. I wonder if Keien is having the same problem? He closed his eyes and concentrated on trying to listen to Keien's thoughts. A happy little running monologue came to the forefront of Yatsurugi's mind. He sighed. The lucky bastard gets to sit by the heater. I wish I were there.
***
"How many times have I asked you not to listen to my thoughts?" Keien asked later as they sat on the train ride home. Yatsurugi only smiled.
"Sorry, but I couldn't help myself. I wanted to see if you were as miserable as I was."
"Misery loves company huh?" Keien asked sourly cocking one eyebrow at the angel.
"Something like that. Keien don't give me that look. It wasn't like I was doing something horrible. I used to have to do it all the time." Yatsurugi said.
"But you don't exactly have that job anymore." Keien pointed out. Yatsurugi chuckled weakly.
"Come on, don't be mad." Keien crossed his arms and gave him a dirty look. "Please Keien. I'm really sorry."
"All right. I forgive you on the condition that you won't read my mind at all for the next week."
"I promise." Yatsurugi said happily. "You can trust me."
The train lurched to a stop. They stood up and exited the car as quickly as they could. Pushing through the mass of daily riders, they headed home. Once on the street level, they retraced their path from that morning across streets and towards home. Walking briskly, they tried not to notice the biting cold. By the time they reached their apartment complex, Keien had had enough.
"It wouldn't be to bad, except for the wind." He muttered as he began to climb the stairs.
"Yeah, those occasional gusts are murder." Yatsurugi agreed. He paused with one hand on the railing. Keien glanced back at him.
"What's up?"
"There is something over by the bicycle rack." Yatsurugi said walking towards it. The rack was located just inside the covered area that supported the stairs to the building. It wasn't very well lit, which made it hard for Yatsurugi to find what he was looking for. Keien stood watching him for a minute, then came down to help.
"Do you know what you saw?" he asked.
"I think it's an animal of some sort. Probably…aw! There you are!" Yatsurugi exclaimed squatting down so he could reach the creature. A pair of eyes looked out at him from the shadows.
"Mew."
"It's a kitten. Come here sweet thing." Keien gave Yatsurugi an odd look.
"Sweet thing?"
Yatsurugi put his hand out towards the kitten. The animal hesitated then slowly crept forward. It nuzzled Yatsurugi's hand and mewed again.
"Yeah, well. It's a kitten, what else do you call them?"
"Little one is what we used to call my mother's cat when it was a kitten." Keien said crouching so that he won't frighten the small cat away. It stared at him, while Yatsurugi scratched behind its ear.
"Mew?"
"I wonder who it belongs to. There isn't a collar. Aw, Keien it wants to be your friend." The kitten had moved from the angel to Keien and was busily trying to climb onto his knee. Keien smiled and picked up the squirming mass of black fur.
"Let's keep it for a while. We can put up signs and ask around if anyone has lost a kitten. In the mean time, let's get upstairs. None of us should be out in this cold."
"Keien! You're wonderful!" Yatsurugi exclaimed. He would have hugged him except that his legs had fallen asleep and he needed help getting up. With a ball of now purring black fluff curled up by Keien's neck, they hurried upstairs.
***
"He needs a name." Yatsurugi told Keien matter-of-factly later that evening while they were sitting in the living room. The kitten had taken up residence in the easy chair and was busily sleeping. Keien sat on the floor flipping through a magazine while Yatsurugi was sprawled out on the couch.
"Yeah, but what?" Keien answered as he paused mid-turn to read an ad. Yatsurugi tapped the coffee table as he thought.
"I'm not sure. Something that goes along with his personality."
"What personality? All he's done is look cute, meow, and sleep." Yatsurugi laughed. The kitten opened one sleepy eye, lifted his head, and stared the two males across the room from him. Then he stretched out one paw in front of him, dug his claws into the leather, retracted them, and lay his head back down. Keien shook his head.
"See?" he pointed out. Yatsurugi had to agree.
"Still he needs a name. How about Hiroshi? It's a simple, easy to remember and it's the only one I can think of right off the top of my head."
"Sounds good to me." Keien said. "The next question is does Hiroshi like his new name?" Hiroshi didn't answer. He was sound asleep and didn't care.
After a bit Yatsurugi got up and went into the kitchen. Retrieving two small bowls from the cupboard he poured water into one and kitten-food into the other. Keien had gone out earlier and bought food, a litter-box and litter for Hiroshi. Standing with both bowls in his hands, Yatsurugi contemplated where to put them. The kitchen was square shaped with no little nooks to hide the bowls so he and Keien wouldn't trip over them in the morning. In the end he put them by the door to the balcony. There was sufficient space between the counter and the sliding glass door for the kitten to eat in peace.
Just as he set them down, Hiroshi came padding across the linoleum floor.
"Prow?" He sniffed about Yatsurugi's feet, then at the food. Yatsurugi could almost swear the cat wrinkled his nose at the dry food. He had to admit that it wasn't the most appetizing stuff he'd ever seen. Still, it was supposed to be nutritionally balanced for a growing kitten.
"Meow?" Hiroshi whined.
"Yes, you have to eat that stuff. No, don't give me that look! You're not having any of the steak we had for dinner." Yatsurugi told him as the kitten gave him a pleading meow. Hiroshi pouted then tentatively tasted one kibble. This was followed by choke as he attempted to swallow it. It took several tries before he got it down. Yatsurugi watched him unsure what to make of the kitten as he ate each kibble one by one.
"You are a strange kitty." Hiroshi gave him a look that translated into "no shit sherlock". By the time Hiroshi had finished eating, Yatsurugi had wandered back into the living room. Keien had taken his place on the couch and Yatsurugi, feeling mischievous, flopped down on top of him. With a cry, Keien shoved him off playfully.
"Hey, I'm relaxing here." He told Yatsurugi as he picked himself off the carpet.
"Yeah, but you stole my seat." Yatsurugi stated grinning widely.
"I don't see your name written here."
"Oh, yeah. It's right there!" Yatsurugi grabbed Keien's legs and drug him off the couch, then climbed over him onto the cushion. Keien not wanting to be out done, snagged one of the angel's feet and began to haul him off. Yatsurugi yelped and grabbed the back of the couch. Clinging there, he forced Keien crawl over and try to pry his fingers out of the fabric. As they continued to wrestle, Hiroshi snuck up behind them, took one look at them, and cocked his head. Then he leapt up on the couch, walked across it and stuck his nose into Yatsurugi's face. Seeing as that wasn't getting any reaction, he decided to sharpen his claws on Yatsurugi's shirt instead.
"ACK! NO!" Yatsurugi lost his grip on the back of the couch. Hiroshi jumped clear as both men landed hard on the cushion he had occupied.
"What did he do?" Keien asked as he rolled onto the floor.
"He tried to use me as a scratching post." Yatsurugi answered. "Now where did that little menace go?"
Hiroshi had quickly vacated the premises. They didn't find him again until an hour later, when Keien noticed him curled up in the middle of his bed. By that time to was too long after the fact to scold him. Hiroshi wouldn't know what he was being punished for. Keien undressed for bed, turned off the light, and crawled in under the covers trying not to disturb Hiroshi. The kitten started purring and cuddled closer to the warmth.
Pausing to turn off the hall light, Yatsurugi noticed that Keien's door was still open a crack. Poking his head in, he instantly smiled. I need a camera; he mused as he watch the pair sleep. Hiroshi made cute little whistling sounds as he exhaled, which was almost in perfect time with Keien's soft snore. Scratch that, I need a video camera.
***
Hiroshi was waiting for them when they got home from classes. Keien hadn't even gotten his shoes off when the bundle of black fur bounded across the living room to greet them. He twined about their legs and meowed happily.
"Did you miss us?" Yatsurugi asked picking him up.
"MEOW!" Hiroshi replied then began purring. Suddenly the phone rang. Scrambling out of Yatsurugi's arms, Hiroshi bolted to the kitchen. Keien caught the phone on the third ring and nodded as he listened to the person on the other line. After a minute he handed it to Yatsurugi.
"It's Kayumi." Yatsurugi cringed.
"Hi Sis." He said.
"Hey little brother. Listen, Meiko and Imizu were supposed to come over tonight and have dinner with Haruka and I. Unfortunately, they cancelled. Imizu had a swim meet and Meiko apparently has a date with some guy in her astronomy class. They both claim that they got the days mixed up, but I don't completely believe that. Anyway, I have all this food, which Haruka and I can't eat by ourselves, so how would you and Keien like a free meal? I'll even send Haruka to come pick you up. Please say yes." Kayumi said.
"Um…well, we just got home and we have this kitten." Yatsurugi began.
"Kitten? You boys got a kitten?"
"Yes. His name is Hiroshi and we've only had him a couple days. We don't feel comfortable leaving him alone for a long time."
"Bring him along." Kayumi told him.
"Let me ask Keien." Yatsurugi covered the receiver. "Keien, Kayumi and Haruka have invited over for dinner. Kayumi said we could bring along the cat. What do you think?"
"Kayumi cooked?" Keien asked. Yatsurugi nodded. "I'm up for braving the sisters tonight and a meal I don't have to cook is fine by me."
"Kayumi, we'll come as long as Hiroshi gets to come."
"You named the kitten Hiroshi? That's so sweet." Kayumi cooed. Yatsurugi raised an eyebrow, but ignored his sister's comment. Obviously there was some inside joke that Yatsurugi didn't know or couldn't remember with the name Hiroshi attached. "Haruka says she's on her way over now. Be ready when she gets there."
"No problem." Yatsurugi replied. Then he hung up.
***
Haruka picked them up and drove them back to the apartment. Hiroshi spent the entire trip loose and in trouble. Yatsurugi had thought that it would be best to hold him, but the kitten had had other ideas. He struggled to get loose, then explored the entire back seat including under it. After being rudely drug out, he climbed onto Yatsurugi's shoulder and stared out the window. By the time they pulled into the parking lot, Yatsurugi was dotted with tiny claw marks.
"Isn't he cute!" Kayumi exclaimed, scooping Hiroshi out of her grateful brother's hands. The kitten purred and rubbed his cheek against Kayumi's.
"Mrow!" He half purred, half meowed as Kayumi cradled him and scratched under his chin.
"How adorable. You said his name was Hiroshi?" Keien nodded.
"I think you've lost your cat to my roommate." Haruka commented taking off her shoes. She lined them neatly by the door before hanging up her coat. Keien followed suit and put both his and Yatsurugi's coats away.
"You may be right. Haruka? Are you all right?" Keien asked, realizing that his older sister was scrunching her face oddly. She cocked her head slightly and squinted at the kitten.
"Keien, do you notice anything different about your kitten?"
"Like what?"
"Um…How do I describe it?" Haruka began, but was interrupted by the timer on the stove.
"Oops! Dinner is done! Come on everyone." Kayumi said cheerfully heading for the kitchen with Hiroshi still in her arms. The smell of something good wafted throughout the house and Keien momentarily forgot about Haruka's question. Sitting at the table, with the now loose Hiroshi scampering between their legs, Yatsurugi and Keien waited to see what concoction Kayumi had come up with.
Over the course of the meal, Hiroshi meowed and paced around begging to be let up. He soon discovered that the most sympathetic soul in the apartment to his plight was Kayumi. If he sat and stared at her with his big eyes, and trilled pitifully, then she would give him a taste of whatever she was eating. Most often it was a bit of meat.
"I think you have a friend for life there." Keien joked as Hiroshi hopped up into Kayumi's lap. Kayumi smiled weakly and picked up the kitten as he stuck his nose into her plate.
"I don't think so Hiroshi. This is my food. I'm being nice and sharing some, but not all."
"Meow?"
"That cat certainly knows how to sucker you One-san." Yatsurugi commented watching a perturbed Hiroshi be placed back on the floor.
"I'm a sucker for anything cute." Kayumi replied. "Even if they grow up to be annoying brothers, like you." Yatsurugi winced playfully at the jibe.
"Ouch!" Haruka yelped as Hiroshi climbed her leg. The black fur ball plopped itself on her lap and meowed. Haruka snatched him up and began to gently put him back on the floor when she halted. Staring intently at the small feline, her eyes suddenly grew wide. "Oh, my God."
"Haruka, are you all right?" Keien asked glancing at her worriedly.
"This cat has an odd aura around it and it has wings." She replied in an astonished tone. Holding Hiroshi in front of her, Haruka stared into his large eyes. "I'm not joking people. Kayumi, please tell me you can see this." Kayumi's blank expression told Haruka that she couldn't.
"I don't see anything else either Haruka." Yatsurugi said slowly. "Are you sure you see wings?" Haruka nodded slowly. "What type?"
"Black."
"Bird or bat like?"
"B…OUCH!" The kitten scratched her and struggled to break free. He landed on the table and bolted across it. Jumping into Kayumi's lap, Hiroshi stared up at her momentarily, meowed, and then leapt off. He bolted into one of the bedrooms.
Yatsurugi threw his chair back and ran for the room. Keien and Haruka followed in his wake.
"What's the difference between bird or bat like wings?" Keien demanded as they entered the room.
"Bat wings normally indicate a spirit, like an animal or weather spirit." Yatsurugi explained. "Bird wings are typically for angels, although there are spirits that have bird like wings."
"If it's a spirit, why in the hell did it bolt like that?" Keien asked as they slid to a halt.
"I don't know."
"Haruka?" Kayumi asked coming up behind the three. "What kind of wings did Hiroshi have?" She sounded quiet and concerned and most of the color had left her face.
"The window is open." Keien pointed interrupting before his sister could answer. "You don't suppose he snuck out do you?"
"Might have." Yatsurugi replied.
"I'll look outside." Kayumi offered quickly. She looked intently at Haruka, then turned and spread her wings. She was gone seconds later.
"Whoa! I can't believe she just did that!" Keien exclaimed. He turned to Yatsurugi. "She could have used the door." Haruka shook her head.
"Not with the way the apartment is. The balcony doesn't run back here. We're a corner apartment remember." Haruka explained.
"What type of wings did Hiroshi have?" Yatsurugi inquired for the second time that evening.
"Bird."
***
Hiroshi sat up on the roof. Since the apartment was on the top floor, roof access was easy for the cat. He watched the moon rise over the city and sighed. Something appeared behind him, he could sense it. Turning he prepared for the worst and met Kayumi's eyes. He began to back away.
"Shhh…I'm not going to hurt you. Please." Hiroshi took a few cautious steps towards the angel as she kneeled on the roof. Her white wings out stretched, golden tips touching the cold metal fake shingles. God he felt like crying, she was so beautiful.
Her hand brushed his ears back and gazed up at her with sad eyes. Now she could feel it, the power sealed within this tiny body. It was shielded so that no angel could tell unless they suspected, like Kayumi did, of the cat's true nature. She couldn't break the seal; it had been put on him for a reason and would not likely come off except for the person who put it on.
"I was worried about you." She said softly. Hiroshi hesitated, then came even closer. Kayumi scooped him up in her arms. "How long?"
"Meow."
"Human tongue please."
"Meeooooowr." Hiroshi whined in frustration.
"I need to get a translator," she murmured.
"Meow." Kayumi cuddled him close, spread her wings and returned to the others.
***
"Found him." she stated reappearing. "Haruka I need you to find out something."
"Who me?" Haruka looked dumbfounded at Kayumi. "I'm not an angel."
"No, but you have a bit of the sense. There's a seal on him and neither Yatsurugi nor I can contact him through it. I need you to find out how long the seal is to last."
"WHAT!" Haruka, Keien, and Yatsurugi chorused.
"You heard me. Haruka there should be some sort of writing on the seal. Look for a number."
"All right." Haruka replied unsure what she was getting herself into. She stared intently at Hiroshi. After a moment her eyes refocused on everyone else.
"The only number I could see was a five." Haruka said.
"Five days, five weeks, five months, five years or five centuries?" Kayumi inquired.
"Couldn't tell you." Haruka replied. "And right now I have a headache from trying to read that seal. How in the world did it get on him to begin with?"
"I have a pretty good idea." Kayumi muttered.
"Would you like to enlighten us One-san?" Yatsurugi asked. Kayumi shook her head.
"Not right now, maybe later when I'm feeling up to it." Hiroshi looked from brother to sister and meowed.
"I think he wants to stay with you." Keien said. "He seems to really like you." Kayumi chuckled. "Come on, why don't we all go have some dessert and we'll leave Hiroshi alone. He's obviously been traumatized by everything. I don't think he liked being discovered."
"Probably not. It's really embarrassing to be sealed. It means you screwed up good and depending on your supervisor, you can have a very stiff punishment. Not all the angels are as easy going as us." Yatsurugi commented.
"I could name you a few of the most stick in the muds." Kayumi offered. Keien raised his hands in defense.
"That's okay. I'll just take your word. Now come on. I saw raspberry tarts in the kitchen and I want to have one."
"Meow!" Hiroshi piped up wriggling so that Kayumi was forced to switch hand positions.
"Okay, you can lick the whip cream." Kayumi said smiling brightly.
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