Part 1: Friends Do Each Other Favors

There were times when Kagami thought Kuroko was one of the cruelest men on Earth. Despite his angelic, adorable looks, Kagami knew Kuroko was not what he appeared. Both in a good and in a bad sense, the small bluehead was filled with surprises. His passes and his permanent cool temper were good traits of his. His sense of humor and observation skills were the worst traits Kagami could think of.

Because damn it, the guy knew what to do to get on his nerves. Aomine didn't help in the least. In fact, most of the time Kagami suspected Kuroko pulled off his marvelous stunts with Aomine´s help. They were a dangerous pair, no doubt about it.

But this… this was taking it way too fucking far!

Frozen in his apartment´s doorway, Kagami stared at the hideous scene in front of him. Kise sat cross-legged on the couch wearing one of Kagami´s oldest jerseys and some loose sweatpants. He looked comfortable and homey, not to mention as handsome as he always did. There was no way coming home to find Kise in fashionable pajamas would make Kagami blanch, but what lied between his legs and what he kept touching…

Kagami felt as scold sweat slid down his back.

"What is it doing here?!" he cried, and pointed at the horrendous lump between Kise´s legs.

The blonde´s head snapped up at the scream, then he looked mildly offended. "Kagamicchi, don't call him it," he chastised, and rubbed Nigou behind the ears.

"W-Why is the beast here? Where the hell is Kuroko? Why isn't he taking care of his own… thing?" the redhead continued to sputter.

Nigou whimpered as if he knew he was being insulted. He nuzzled against Kise´s legs, seeking comfort, and the latter petted him some more.

"Kurokocchi dropped him off about half an hour ago. He wants you to take care him until he returns from his trip to Kyoto with Aominecchi," the blonde informed. "They´re taking a little vacation this weekend. He left the food dish and everything, said he would be back the day after tomorrow. I figured you wouldn't refuse so I took little Kurokocchi in for you since I was already here."

Kagami almost choked on his own saliva. "I am not taking care of that thing, Kise! He´s terrifying!"

"But you´re Kurokocchi´s best friend, and friends do each other favors, don't they? Even if it´s something they don't like to do."

"Yeah, but this is no small favor" It would be if Kagami liked dogs, but his situation made it a bit… difficult. He opened his mouth to say just that, but Kise´s words echoed in his head, and he frowned. "'Little Kurokocchi'?" he repeated.

The blonde grinned, picked Nigou up and turned him sideways. "They´re quite similar, aren't they? They´re both lovely, in my opinion." He touched his nose to the wet one, and the dog responded by nuzzling and giving a happy bark. A small pink tongue flicked out to lick the model´s cheek.

What the hell is he doing?!

The though ripped through Kagami´s mind. Faster than what he´d expected, he´d stomped all the way to the couch, had grabbed Nigou out of his boyfriend´s arms and had dropped him to the ground as if he were an object.

Kise blinked up at him. "What are you…?"

The redhead shushed him by cleaning his cheek with the edge of the old jersey as if he were a child. It took a couple of seconds and some heartfelt cursing until he pulled back.

"Kuroko is evil," he muttered.

Kise frowned. "Kurokocchi is not evil." Even if it was Kagami saying it, Kise would not tolerate any insult to the small bluehead.

"Yes he is. I bet he would have taken the stupid dog with him to Kyoto if I hadn't skipped out on visiting his daycare center last week."

It took the blonde a few minutes to remember, but when he did his eyes widened. "Oh right, when we all went to help out with the kiddies´ sports day." He raised an eyebrow. "You were the only one who didn't attend, now that I look back. Even Akashicchi came and helped out."

"It was Saturday! There was no way I could have been up and around before eight on the morning, much less would I have made it to the daycare before nine." Kagami actually huffed. "And this is the way he gets payback. He´s an evil mastermind, I swear. Aomine probably loved and encouraged the idea. I hate them so much sometimes."

Nigou whimpered, also like he knew Kuroko was getting sort of bad-mouthed.

The redhead glared at the dog. "What?"

Another whimper

The blonde burst out laughing…

Then decided to shut up because fierce crimson eyes were glaring daggers at him.

"What are you laughing at?" Kagami demanded. He laid both arms on either side of Kise´s body. He tried to look dangerous.

Kise gave a soft snort. He´d gotten used to the intimidating presence long ago, not that he´d ever felt intimidated in the first place. He´d always thought of Kagami as big but not bad, just shy and awkward. "To be honest, Kagamicchi' I´m laughing at you. I can´t believe you´re still afraid of the little dog after all these years," he admitted.

"He´s a freaking beast!"

"No he isn't." He grinned down at Nigou, who perked up, his little tail swinging back and forth. "You´re very cute and sweet and just like Kurokocchi, aren't you?"

The dog gave various happy barks. He settled on his hind paws, and looked ready to jump back on the couch.

Kagami gritted his teeth. No way was Nigou going near Kise again. He wasn't going to let the dog cuddle his boyfriend, touch him or nuzzle him. Kise was his, damn it. He wasn't going to share him, much less with Nigou. He knew his thoughts resembled an animal, but it was Kise they were talking about for heaven´s sake.

Therefore, he decided to throw himself on top of Kise before Nigou could jump.

The blonde gasped when Kagami pretty much collapsed on top of him, then he reacted by instinct and wrapped his arms around the redhead.

Nigou stilled, and gave them a wondering doggy look.

"Yeah, I also want to know what he´s doing," Kise told him.

"Don't talk to him," Kagami said.

"Why not? He´s right there and he´s looking at you like your crazy."

"Just… don't, Kise." He´d intended to make it an order. It came out as a request instead.

The blonde went quiet for a couple of seconds before murmuring, "You don't like dogs at all, do you?"

No, he didn't. He didn't like dogs one little bit, but coming home to see Kise cuddling Nigou had been crossing a line.

"I am not answering that," he said out loud.

Kise chuckled. He ran his hand through the short red hair, then said, "Kagamicchi, can you get off me for a little while? I was about to give little Kurokocchi his dinner when you came inside."

"… Are you kicking me off?"

"Mmm, only for a couple of minutes, okay?"

Kagami grumbled.

"Good. Now get off me."

Very, very, very reluctantly, the redhead rolled away from Kise, who smiled before getting up and beckoning for Nigou to follow him. The little mutt did.

"Please tell me you didn't leave his stuff on the kitchen," Kagami called.

"Nope. They´re in the laundry room," came the reply.

He let out a relieved sigh.

Kise was alone when he returned. He padded on bare feet back to the couch but didn't sit down, only stared at the other man.

"Are you mad at me?" he asked.

Kagami blinked. "Mad?"

"Yeah, for taking the little one in. I mean, I know you hate dogs but it was Kurokocchi who came and asked, and you two are always there for each other so I didn't think you´d mind doing this little favor. Plus, I can help out as much as you want because…"

The redhead sighed, then pulled Kise towards him. He ended with the blonde sitting in his lap, his arms holding him tight.

"I am not mad at you," he muttered, and hid his face against his boyfriend´s neck. He inhaled the clean, woodsy, masculine scent that was so very Kise, enjoyed the feeling of the lean, toned body and soft, warm clothing against his skin. How could Kagami ever get mad at Kise? True, he was annoying and hyperactive sometimes, but whenever they were like this: alone and basking in intimacy, the redhead tended to forget all that. Besides, the blonde was right. Kagami didn't mind doing Kuroko favors. Friendship was friendship, even if taking care of Nigou was stretching the term a bit too much.

"For real?" Kise verified, and tilted his neck to the side to provide better access.

"Mm-hmm." Kagami nuzzled the long neck, then tilted his head upward to get a kiss. Their mouths met, their lips parted, and they kissed for a while. It felt like only two minutes, but it must have been much longer because next thing they knew, Nigou had trotted back into the living room and was barking softly.

Kise broke the kiss, turned to look at the dog, then laughed. Kagami groaned.

"Do you think he now needs to go out or something?" the former asked.

The redhead tightened his hold. "If I say yes you´re going to get up again, aren't you?"

"Yeah."

"Then no. I´m not letting him get any more of your attention."

Kise gave him a look. "You´re pretty possessive, aren't you, Kagamicchi?" he half-joked, and then added, "He´s a dog, if you hadn't noticed, and he´s visiting. It won´t take a lot of time to take care of his necessities."

"But he shouldn't even be here!" Kagami insisted. "He´s an attention hog, and I don't want you to leave me aside for him. I won´t allow it." He was blushing madly by the time he had finished talking, but he said it.

The blonde leaned their foreheads against one another. A smile played along his lips.

"If you get jealous because I´m sort of taking care of a dog, what would you do if it were another man, or woman?" he whispered.

Red eyes flared with all the passion the basketballer held in his big body. "Don't provoke me," Kagami almost growled, and his voice held a menacing undertone.

Kise gave him an impish, teasing smile. "I´ll take care of what little Kurokocchi needs. And I´m not provoking you, by the way."

"Come on, Kise…"

But it was too late. Kise had already scrambled off his lap and was talking to Nigou as if he could understand the words and talk back.

Kagami watched them go, and he got the feeling Nigou´s stay was about to get more hellish than ever.