Today is a very important day. It is the day that I finally get a home to live in again, and I won't have to live outside in the alley any more. I didn't like having to sleep out on the street. Outside can be good for walks and for exploring. All dogs love walks and exploring outdoors. But it's too cold to stay there at night time, and there is no nice, warm bed for me to sleep on, like the one Mommy promised will be there for me in my new home. Lying on the damp ground made my belly very sore. I would shiver so much that I couldn't sleep, and no one came to help me when I whimpered and I was cold. But today, all that changed for good, because today my Mommy found me, and I'm going to live with her now. I won't have to sleep on the street anymore now that Mommy is bringing me back home to our den. Mommy is taking me there right now, in her car. I can't remember ever being in a car before. I did see plenty of cars when I had to live on the street. Lots of them. They would pass by every day. But I was never allowed to go for a ride in one. So it is very exciting driving in the car with Mommy.

But I should probably introduce myself, before I go any further. I am Black Hayate. I did not know my name until today. But Mommy knew, and she told me. So I know that's what I'm called, and I will never forget again. I am a small, Shiba Inu puppy. I'm not completely sure how old I am, but I think I am quite new puppy. Probably not very many weeks at all. I don't think I'm as many as three months old just yet. My fur is black and white, and my favourite things are cuddles, petting, my Mommy and Daddy, being warm and dry and safe, exploring, walks and eating yummy food. I think maybe all puppies love these things. I am very delighted that I am finally going to see our home again, and that I will have a nice, warm bed to sleep in, where it will be cosy and not cold and hard like the street was. But most of all, I am excited that I'm going to get to live with my Mommy and Daddy again. I had missed them so much, and I hadn't seen them in a very long time. So long, in fact, that I couldn't even remember what Mommy and Daddy looked like. I did not know their faces at first when I saw them again today. I got very lonely on the street by myself. But now that I'm going to live with Mommy and Daddy forever, and I won't be lonely ever again, and I'll always remember what they look like. So I know I won't lose them.

But I should probably explain how I found Mommy. It's a very good story, and you really need to know. It all started when a man called 'Sergeant' noticed me out on the street when it was raining earlier today. "Mommy." I whined, trying to stay warm in the little alley. All I had to shelter me from the rain was the old cardboard box that someone had left me in. I don't think it was Mommy who left me there. I think I was left there by mistake and then whoever left me must have forgotten about me. Mommy would never leave me all alone in the cold rain, and she would definitely never forget about me, and she was probably very worried that I was missing. I didn't want to be left there forever, and I felt very alone. "Where's Mommy?" I whined. I wanted to look for her myself because I needed to find her. But it was cold and raining, and I needed to try and stay warm. Puppies aren't good at staying warm by ourselves, and we can get very sick, and even become dead if we get too cold. I did not want to be dead puppy. So I could not look for Mommy.

The cardboard box had been lying on its side, and I was curled up at the back to keep myself away from the rain. But the box had still become very cold and damp and shivery, and little water drops still dripped through from the outside and made me wet with cold water. I shivered my shiveriest, but I was still very cold and freezing. Puppies aren't good at staying warm by ourselves. We need our Mommies and the rest of our litter to cuddle with until we are old enough to keep ourselves warm on our own. I don't think I had a litter. I can't remember having any brothers or sisters. But I suppose I didn't remember Mommy until I saw her again.

I was also quite weak and I didn't have a lot of energy. Puppies should have a lot of energy for playing and running about. But I didn't because I hadn't found much to eat for quite a few days. I'm not sure how many. All I found was a couple of little scraps that people had left behind. That's what I felt like. A little scrap. Left behind and unwanted. "Someone, please help me. I'm cold and hungry and scared." I whimpered, hoping someone might hear me and want to help. But no one had been very helpful to me on the street. No one wanted to help me find Mommy, and I couldn't remember Mommy's face. But It wasn't my fault. I'm only a very young and new puppy after all, and I must have got separated from Mommy not long after I was born. I can't remember being born, so I couldn't remember Mommy. I was too young to have real memories then. So I couldn't find her on my own. But I still missed Mommy even though I couldn't properly remember.

Mommy was probably looking for me all that time too. I am sure of it. Because she would miss me so much. Those were bad days on the street. The worst times of my entire life, and probably the worst there will ever be in the life of Hayate. At first I couldn't even get out of the box I had been left in, because it was too tall for me to climb out. It took all my strength to tip it over so I could climb out and escape. That was the first thing I had to do. I was even smaller puppy then because I was even more new. But the box made for much better shelter on its side than when it was stood up tall. It didn't give me any cover from the rain stood up tall, and it rained on me and filled up with rain, and I became very wet puppy. But once I was out, I was able to look for Mommy. I thought about trying to find my way back to our den. I was hoping that's where I found find Mommy and she would be very proud that I had found our den on my own. But I really couldn't remember the way. So I decided it would be best not to wander too far, in case I got so lost that I could never be found.

All I could do was wait on the street in front of the alley for Mommy, and ask everyone who went past if they had seen my Mommy. But I'm not sure they could understand dog. Many humans seem to have a lot of trouble understanding dog, and they didn't seem to want to pet me either, and avoided me. Even when I ran right up to them they would move away. It did give me a good opportunity to understand human better. I taught myself to understand human words quite well by listening to them talking. Although it still made me feel very sad and rejected when they wouldn't pay attention to me, or pet and cuddle me. Puppies love being petted and cuddled, and I am quite a small and new puppy. So I like being petting and cuddles a lot. It is something I need as a small puppy. Love and attention, like Mommy would give. So all I could try was whining and whimpering for help. Even if they didn't know what words I was saying, surely the humans walking up and down the street couldn't ignore my crying forever. This is a trick puppies know for getting what we need, or sometimes things we don't need but we want very much. I think perhaps all puppies are born knowing how to whine and whimper loudly. It's what a puppy must do when they need their Mommy to help them, and I needed Mommy a lot. I hoped she would hear me if I whined loud enough, even if she was far away. Then she would find me. But it was actually Sergeant and not Mommy who found me. He wasn't like the other people who just ignored me and avoided me. He knew that I needed help, and knew that I was hungry and cold. When I explained that I couldn't find my Mommy, Sergeant was kind. He even shared his lunch with me, which I appreciated very much, since I was so hungry on account of my tummy being very empty, and having nothing to eat. After he had fed me, Sergeant picked me up, and wrapped his coat around me, so I would be warm. I was afraid at first and I squirmed my squirmiest. This is something all puppies do when we don't want to be lifted. I couldn't remember being lifted by a human before, and I was not sure if I wanted Sergeant to pick me up. But Sergeant was very gentle, and was careful not to hurt me or squash me when he lifted me, and it was lovely and warm being wrapped up in his coat. Then he carried me to a big building, not far from the alley I had been left in, and brought me inside.

When we were inside, he told me that he couldn't keep me because dogs weren't allowed to stay where he lived, and if he couldn't find someone to keep me then I would have to be left back on the street. It sounded extremely cruel to me, and I definitely did not want to have to go back to the street. Why could humans stay with Sergeant and not dogs? Unfair treatment of dogs. There is a lot of unfair treatment of dogs sometimes. But I was glad to be in this warm building, even if I couldn't stay there. It was still cold and raining outside, so I was very glad to be indoors, where it was dry and also lovely and warm. "That's ok." I told him, rubbing my nose on his arm to make sure he was listening. "Just help me find my Mommy. Then I can stay with her again. I can't remember what she looks like, so tell me if you find her." That's what I told him. But looking back, I'm not sure Sergeant could understand dog either. Instead he just asked other people to take care of me. People who definitely weren't my Mommy. Even though he was very kind to me, I think Sergeant might not have been very smart.

One man who Sergeant asked was very afraid of dogs. "Don't be afraid of me." I told him. "I am a very kind and gentle dog, and I have never hurt anybody. But I'm really actually looking for my Mommy." I explained. "Do you know my Mommy?" I asked. But again, he didn't understand. "Doesn't anyone here speak dog?" I said to myself. I could accept someone being scared of the big, scary dogs that look mean, and might be dangerous. Those dogs frighten me as well, and I don't like them. But I am just a small puppy, and I am never mean or bad.

Although there was worse than the afraid of me man. Much worse. He was like a giant dragon. He chewed paper that made him breathe fire and smoke, and he wanted to eat me. That's what he said. He wanted to gobble me all up, because that's what they do with dogs in somewhere far away he had heard about. I hoped I would not have to live with him, and that I would never have to go to that place where they eat dogs. I do not ever want to be eaten. That is what scares me most about bigger dogs than Hayate. Just like sometimes humans left behind those little food scraps and I would eat them, I was afraid that's how big dogs might see me. A little food scrap. Left behind. A bigger dog might be hungry and think I wouldn't be missed if I was eaten up. But I would be. My Mommy would miss me very, very much if I was eaten and she would be sad forever. If you are eaten until you are all gone then you can't come back. So Mommy would be alone forever. Sometimes humans walking with their own dogs would walk past me on the street, and I would be afraid that their dogs would eat me if they came too close. It gave me bad nightmares sometimes, and I would wake up very frightened, and have to cover my eyes and whimper to myself until I fell asleep again. I am quite afraid of bigger dogs, and very, very afraid of being eaten. In fact, being eaten up is my worst nightmare of all, because they would eat me and eat me until I was all gone, and then there would be none of me left, and I wouldn't exist.

But just when I thought that no one there was going to take care of me, another man suddenly came into the room. Everyone went very quiet. The new man lifted me up, and stared at me. At first he seemed a bit unsure, and I whimpered a little bit, because I didn't know if he liked me or not, and I still was not used to being lifted by humans and he held me quite tight. It is like I said, puppies do a lot of whining and whimpering. It's important and it is the simplest way for us to communicate with humans, since so many humans do not speak any dog. But I wasn't sure if this man would listen. I was scared he would put me back in the little alley with no food for me. "Dog, huh?" He said. His face was very blank. I could not tell if he was angry at me or not, and I thought maybe he was. Sergeant had said earlier that I might not be allowed in this building, and I was afraid he was going to leave me back in that cardboard box like when I was forgotten before, and that I would never find my Mommy, and maybe I would even be eaten by another dog. But I could also see this man was very important, because everyone seemed a bit afraid of him. He was like the leader of their pack. Sometimes when there are lots of wild dogs with no home of their own, they have packs, and the bravest and most important would be in charge. The leader of the pack. It did make me think that there was only one man who could be so important.

"Could it be?" I wondered. "Is that my Daddy?" It did make a lot of sense. I knew my Daddy would be very important, and people would respect him because of how important he was. But I also knew my Daddy would love me very much, and I was worried that maybe this man did not like me at all, and maybe didn't allow puppies in this building. But that's when he said something very important.

"I love dogs!" He exclaimed, smiling. That's when I knew it for sure. He was who I thought he was. It was was my Daddy. "Loyal canine, how we salute thee!" He chuckled. I don't know what all of those words meant. But he sounded very glad that I had found him, so I was very glad too. I am his boy, and he is my Daddy. I knew I could stay with him, even if he didn't have a home. I'd have a whole pack to live with, and we'd all keep each other warm, and we would all work together to finds lots of food.

But just as Daddy was explaining how good dogs are to the rest of his pack, someone else took me out of his hands. It was a lady. Even though I was very glad to be reunited with my Daddy, this woman was very gentle with me. She smiled, and held me in her arms, and I looked up at her as she cuddled me. I like being cuddled. I think all puppies like cuddles. "Well if there's really no one else, I guess I can take him." She said, as I clung to her coat. She was sort of sighing, but I could tell she was sighing on purpose, and was actually happy. I held onto her tightly with my paws because I was still a little afraid I might be left back on the street. I never want to be left alone again. I never want to feel hungry or alone or afraid. I wanted to live with Daddy and his pack. I am his boy, and I wanted him to teach me so someday I would be the leader of the pack. But she smiled at me and scratched under my chin. I like being scratched under my chin. I think maybe all puppies do. My tail wagged when the new lady did that, and my paws tingled too. Tail wagging is proof of a happy dog, and that's what I was. "Can't leave you with Havoc or Colonel Mustang, now can we?" Mommy said, smirking.

"There's definitely a meal for two there, if you want to share, Riza." The smoke breathing man said. "I've got a Xingese cookbook if you want swing by this evening." He said, winking one eye at her. I was afraid and clung on even tighter to the new lady as she cuddled me against her chest.

"Not if you were the last person on Earth." She said, closing her eyes and sighing. "It does give me an idea though. How about a nice Xingese name? Black Hayate." She said. "That's what you're called." Then she whispered, like she didn't want the others to hear. "You are so cute. How would you like to come and live with me?" She said to me as I cuddled against her coat to keep warm. "I bet you'd love somewhere cozy to stay."

"Black Hayate". I said to myself. I did not know that was my name. But new lady knew it was. It seemed like I was going to live with her now. "But I thought I was going to live with my Daddy." I said. It did not make sense to me at first. But then I thought about it more. Daddy was not angry that this lady was holding me, and Daddies are very protective of their puppies when they are taken out of their pack. So there was only one person that this lady could have been. "Mommy!" I said to her, realising who she was. "Is it really you?" She had found me. Mommy had found me at last. I felt silly for not realising sooner, but I was so happy that I didn't mind. Mommy had recognised me right away. That's how she knew my name, and knew that she was going to keep me.

I licked Mommy's face to show her how happy I was. That is a how a puppy shows great appreciation for someone they care about very much. That's why Daddy liked this lady. She was my Mommy, and lived with him too, in our den. Mommy said we have a cozy home. Now I am going to live with both of them together. Mommy, Daddy and Black Hayate. A happy family. "Well..." Mommy paused, blushing as I licked her face. "Aren't you just the sweetest, most affectionate thing." Mommy smiled, rubbing her nose against my nose. "It will be nice to have someone to keep me company in my stuffy, little apartment for once." She said, smiling. I understood. I had been lonely, and needed company too.

"Not like you to have such a soft side." Daddy said, smirking.

Mommy blushed. "Well, what else can I do? He's got nowhere else to go." Mommy said. "And you've got me confused with someone else if you think I'm showing a soft side here. Living with me is going to be very strict." Mommy said, looking down at me. "There are going to be a lot of rules, and I expect your full cooperation, Black Hayate." She sounded more serious and pointed at me with her index finger. I didn't know what she meant.

"Poor thing would be happier on the street." Smoke breathing man laughed. "Riza will have him up at dawn conducting drills." But he was very wrong. I was very unhappy on the street and I am very delighted that I am going to live in my den again with Mommy and Daddy.

That's why I'm in the car with Mommy now. She's taking me home to our den. No more staying on the street for Black Hayate, and no more being lonely for Mommy and Daddy without me. That makes me a very happy dog.

"We're here." Mommy smiles at me, as the car stops outside another big building. "Welcome home. It's not much, but it's where we live."

"It's perfect." I say to Mommy. "I know it will be perfect for me. Please, take me inside. I want to see." I can't wait to see our den again. I have completely forgotten what it looks like.