Disclaimer: YnM belongs to Youko Matsushita-sensei.

2-05-2001
Gift Story for 1369 Counter Hitter, Danielle. Thank you!

Short, hopefully sweet and right for the season. Happy Valentine!

In the Air
By Anonym

"Hajime-chan."

Terazuma frowned and lowered the newspaper to see his partner standing in front of him, holding her hands together primly. Her expression was expectant.

"... What?" Terazuma said gruffly, his eyes lowering to again scan his paper.

"I need a favor, Hajime-chan."

He look back up at her. He was sitting at his desk. "... What sort of favor?"

"A little one," said Wakaba with a sweet smile.

Elsewhere...

"NO WAY!!!"

Hisoka looked up from his book just as Tsuzuki ran by, grabbing Hisoka's sleeve.

"C'mon," said Tsuzuki, grinning. "Wakaba-chan must have shown him to him."

Him? Hisoka allowed himself to be pulled from his chair. Behind, Tatsumi was rising from his chair with a partly irritated, partly curious expression on his face.

Meanwhile...

"Please, Hajime-chan. Please."

Terazuma backed away from Wakaba, who was holding a small puppy in her hands. It was black all throughout from nose tip to tail tip. It yawned sleepily. Its soft puppy eyes seemed to be regarding Terazuma, who looked back with loathing.

He folded his arms and shook his head. "No way, Kannuki. No way."

"But he's so cute, and he's very well-behaved." Wakaba cuddled the puppy, who blinked slowly, looking very contented. "I picked him out for you, Hajime-chan."

Terazuma made a face. "Whatever made you think I want a dog."

Before Wakaba could answer, Tsuzuki arrived with Hisoka in tow.

"KAWAII!!!" Tsuzuki went for the puppy, who now looked quite bothered, for Tsuzuki hugs too enthusiastically.

Hisoka greeted Wakaba and Terazuma. The young Shinigami was amused and curious.

"Is he yours?" Hisoka asked Wakaba who smiled and pointed to her partner who grimaced and pointed back at her.

His chin on the puppy's head, Tsuzuki said to Wakaba, "See, Wakaba-chan, I told you he wouldn't like him."

Terazuma's expression turned suspicious when Wakaba said, "They just need a little more time together."

Hisoka rolled his eyes as Tsuzuki, now cheek to cheek with the puppy, declared, "I'm cute too, and I don't get along with Terazuma."

Wakaba laughed and patted both puppies' heads while Hisoka sympathized with Terazuma, who looked ready to yank Tsuzuki away from Wakaba.

"What is going on here?"

All four turned as Tatsumi came in. He froze in mid-step when he spotted the puppy Tsuzuki was holding.

"Tatsumi-san!" Cried Tsuzuki joyfully, thrusting the beleaguered puppy in Tatsumi's face. "Isn't he so cute?!"

"..." Tatsumi was nose to nose with the puppy. He opened his mouth to say something then paused, deciding to step back first, for the puppy began licking his nose.

Both Hisoka and Wakaba covered their smiles while Terazuma grinned openly. Tsuzuki's smile had never wavered.

"Aw... He likes you, Tatsumi-san." Tsuzuki moved the puppy closer to Tatsumi who backed away.

"Tsuzuki-san..." Tatsumi sounded like he was trying hard to control his temper. Maybe he didn't want to shout into a puppy's face. "The office is not a place for pets."

"Oh, he's not mine," said Tsuzuki cheerfully, "He's Terazuma's."

"He's not mine!" Yelled Terazuma.

"I don't care who he belongs to," said Tatsumi tersely, "Just keep him away from me."

"Tatsumi-san, that's a mean thing to say," Wakaba said reproachfully. She took the puppy from Tsuzuki and held him up again to Tatsumi's face. "Say you're sorry."

Tatsumi's glassed slipped. Hisoka turned away, doubled over, frantically trying to control his laughter. Terazuma was looking at his partner with disbelief and wary respect. Tsuzuki waited expectantly.

Much later, Terazuma was gloating to Watari.

"You just had to see it to believe it. I never thought he would do it, but he did."

Watari looked from his computer screen and up to Terazuma, standing in front of his workstation. "You mean Tatsumi apologized to Wakaba-chan?"

"No! Tatsumi said sorry to the puppy!"

Watari blinked and adjusted his glasses. The action seemed to amused Terazuma further.

"... You're right," said Watari slowly, "That is unbelievable."

Terazuma nodded, adding, "I was very surprised."

"Indeed. Imagine Tatsumi doing that."

"Ne. That was unexpected, but I meant that Kannuki surprised me. I never thought that she would stand up to Tatsumi like that, and for a pooch."

Watari smiled in agreement, then shrugged, turning back to his computer. "Females do the strangest things for the strangest reasons. I hope to understand them someday. So where's Wakaba-chan now?"

"Ah. She went to Ningenkai to return the dog."
"Eh?"
"I told her I don't want it."
"... You know, Terazuma-san, you are incredibly dense sometimes."
"... huh?"
"If you can't take care of a lady's gift, how can you take care of the lady?"

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"Now take good care of him, sonny."

"Don't worry, grandma. I will."

"Good. Now you behave." The little old woman patted the puppy on the head. Terazuma nodded politely, turned away and walked out the gate.

On his way back, Terazuma looked at the puppy in his arms. The puppy looked back up, returning his stare.

... Now, what do I do now?

Fin.

Author's question: Does the title make sense to you?