Argh! I'm so sorry this update was late. I was overloaded with homework, blame my teachers.

So anyway, thanks Backyono1, Ten-Second-Tom and Kitty Black Cat for reviewing! To answer Ten-Second-Tom's question about Shiori's age she would be about...8 or 9... I think... gosh I'm terrible with the ages of young children. I plan on checking out that manga you recommended, but until then imagine Shiori from Midori Days, only about a or so year younger.

Also, 'Aiko' means Love Child. You will understand when you finish this chap ;)

Warning: yaoi/boylove/shonen-ai, inconsistent chapter lengths, rating may go up


Chapter 3

Love Child


July 26

First week of the summer holidays

The day after they had visited the commoner shopping centre

Kaoru had been the first to notice when Kyoya left. He'd seen him pull out his phone and guessed what he was doing. Kaoru hadn't stopped him though, he'd figured his ex-senpai had been through enough that day. This is why he'd saved his final surprise for today.

A surprise which had now bought him to where he was right now.

Kyoya's bedroom. Or at least the bottom floor of it. At 11 o'clock in the morning. Not exactly the safest place in the universe, but certainly a place Kaoru wouldn't mind getting to know better. Actually, he might mention as much later on. See how Kyoya would respond and all that, could be amusing he figured.

He was waiting for an hour before Kyoya showed his face. Kaoru spent that time nosing about, looking at the pictures on the walls, the souvenirs and such. He couldn't help but notice how many of the photos Tamaki was in and felt a twinge of jealously. How was it that Tono was so close to Kyoya and yet he seemed to overlook him in favour of Haruhi?

Ah, well, all the more for Kaoru in the end. No matter what Kyoya thought, he'd come around. Kaoru would make sure of it. He smiled at the thought.

"Kyoya-senpai, can I ask you a favour?" he asked carefully, sensing that the time was right. Right meaning that Kyoya was awake enough for a comprehensible conversation, but not quite awake enough to know exactly what he was talking about.

'What?" bluntly. Kyoya offered the twin a glare.

"Can you keep Aiko at your place?" Kaoru wasted no time beating about the bush.

"Who and what is Aiko?" Kyoya was still somewhat groggy from sleep and playing right into Kaoru's hands.

Kaoru reached into the box he'd bought with him and withdrew a small black kitten, "I bought her from the pet shop yesterday," he explained.

"I see," Kyoya allowed, glaring now at the kitten, who mewed at him in reply.

"Can I keep her at your place?" Kaoru asked, holding her towards Kyoya.

"Why?" Kyoya suspiciously held out a finger to the ball of fur.

"Dad's allergic to cats," Kaoru said simply with a shrug.

"Then why'd you buy it?"

"I think she's cute."

"You can't have everything you think is cute."

"Is that why I can't have you?"

--

July 30

Second week of the summer holidays

Four days after Kaoru had somehow managed to land Kyoya with custodianship of a kitten called Aiko

Kyoya was not pleased by the development of a kitten in his life. He had not been lying that day when he had said that he didn't like animals. And yet for some reason Kaoru had deemed him an appropriate person to look after a small, cute animal.

There came a crash from Kyoya's desk and he was forced to rethink his previous view, he was now acting caretaker of a troublesome, small, cute animal.

He walked over to his desk to find that his carefully filed and organised paper work was now scattered unceremoniously across the floor. The offending animal itself, sat innocently amongst them, chewing passionately on the corner of one his leaver arch files that had broken in the fall. It blatantly ignored whatever glare Kyoya may have been giving it.

This caused Kyoya to wonder why exactly he had agreed to keep it. Truth be told he could not remember the conversation that had led to this very clearly, and was beginning to suspect that had been Kaoru's intention all along. There was no other possible way Kyoya would have agreed otherwise. There was no advantage in having a pet kitten.

All the stupid little thing did was caused a mess, smell and general mayhem in what had been Kyoya's one true haven. True enough Kaoru did visit everyday; to clean up any messes caused by the abomination he had had the audacity to called 'Aiko'. But he stayed much longer than was necessary.

Not that Kyoya cared how long Kaoru stayed. After all, all the Hitchiin did while he was at Kyoya's place was coo over the kitten and watch TV. Not that Kyoya wanted him to do anything else. He did not want the twin to make more declarations of love or try to make any attempts to further the relationship.

Not that they had a relationship. Or that the declaration had meant anything to Kyoya. Because, after all, it had been over three months since the declaration. Not that Kyoya was counting. Or even thinking about it. In fact the whole incident had completely slipped his mind. Because after all, when you don't care about something you forget about it. Which is what Kyoya had done.

Obviously.

And the only reason he cared how long Kaoru was away was because it meant a longer time spent alone with the kitten that seemed to think that chewing on important files, expensive chairs, designer clothes and Kyoya's hands was an appropriate way to spend her time.

It had absolutely nothing to do with Kyoya missing Kaoru like he might do, if Kaoru's declaration three months ago had meant anything to him. Which it didn't.

Obviously.


Haha yes I do realise this is the second chapter in a row to end in "Obviously". Review if you wish to lodge a complaint or share your views (hopefully nice ones) =D