Man's Best Friend
Chapter 9
When Kagami woke up, he was alone in bed. His ears picked up on the shower running and he quickly realized that Kuroko was taking a shower, not suddenly vanishing. He yawned, stretching out cat like as he rolled around before finally getting up on his feet. He smacked his lips and scratched his back, feeling thirsty.
Walking out of Kuroro's room and into the living room, there were dozens of things different. Kuroko had decorated the apartment for once since Kagami's moved here for Christmas, actually getting a tree as well with a star and everything (though it was a pitiful tree). This wasn't his first Christmas, if felt special though when Kagami noticed the Christmas lights flashing on the tree. He'd often stay up at night watching them change color instead of watching TV.
With a swish of his tail, Kagami got himself a glass of cold milk and walked back into the living room, drinking it as he stared at the Christmas tree. It was then that he noticed the brand new couch with a bright red bow on it, not a single stain or scratch mark on it, and the dozens of presents wrapped up nice and beautifully under the Christmas tree. He spat out his milk and cursed, his eyes widening.
"TETSUYA!"
Kuroko chuckled wrapping a towel around himself. He quickly got dressed for the day, drying his hair off with his towel before picking up his camera and walking into the living room. Kagami was sitting near the tree in crouch form, his tail wiggling side to side behind him as his eyes seemed to sparkle.
"WHAT ARE ALL OF THESE?!" He asked turning around.
"Seems Santa visited last night, Merry Christmas Taiga." Kuroko said snapping a picture.
"You mean all of these are for me?! And the couch?!"
"Now Santa got that for both of us, told me it was long overdue last night. Everything else though, yeah it's for you." Kuroko smiled softly.
He's never seen the young kitten so happy before. His claws itched to start ripping open his presents, in which Kuroko gave him permission to when he got a good seat on the couch and started recording. There was nothing crazy in there, he received some clothes, a new pair of sneakers, a basketball of his own, a game system from Kise along with about half a dozen games Aomine really loved playing, toys from Riko, coupons for Maji Burger in which Kuroko thought was funny, and a collar.
It wasn't really a collar though, but a chain necklace with a dog tag on it. Kagami stopped at this present and stared at it, seeing his name and their address on it.
"I never got you a collar before because you looked like the kind that hated it. I never wanted to get you one, but it's a law for hybrids to be wearing a collar when they go out on their own." Kuroko said.
"On their own?" Kagami asked scrunching his eyebrows together.
"Yeah, it's boring here being alone and I figure you're old enough and know your way back home to go out and have some fun, make friends or something. You can come and go as you like now Taiga, without me. Just please leave me a note if you leave, just until I can afford a cellphone for you. Santa wasn't that generous this year."
Kagami stared at the necklace again, realizing what it meant. Kuroko was really trusting him, was giving him freedom he already had, but now it felt different. It's like he had his permission to be free.
"Kise picked out a collar for Aomine as well just in case the two of you wanted to hang out, I hope you don't hate it too much. I thought a necklace would be a better way to hide the face that-"
"Thank you Tetsuya."
Kuroko stopped talking and looked at Kagami, his eyes closed as he smiled brightly. Kuroko felt his heart stop for a minute and checked his camera, making sure he just caught that. Kagami laughed to himself and placed the necklace around his neck, staring down at it with a grin.
"And it doesn't look like a collar, thanks for thinking about me."
Kuroko chuckled lightly, "Merry Christmas Taiga."
"Merry Christmas Tetsuya, I have your present too." Kagami said standing up.
He walked through the empty boxes and wrapping paper, digging his hand in the tree and pulling out a newspaper wrapped up tightly with duct tape. Kuroko raised an eyebrow as he reached out for it.
"Thanks, what is it?" He asked.
"Open and find out." Kagami grinned, his tail wagging.
Kuroko started opening up the duct tape, ripping the newspaper away to reveal a solid black fabric wristband with a red stripe running around it. He looked at it and placed it on his wrist, smiling lightly.
"Doesn't it look cool? I was thinking you could wear it at your games for good luck, last game I saw a lot of players that had that and asked Kise if he could loan me some money to buy you one, since yeah, jobless." Kagami said scratching the back of his neck.
"Very cool, it'll be my good luck charm. Thanks Taiga."
The two of them stared at each other before Kagami did the very brave move and stood up. He walked over to Kuroko and wrapped his arms around him, pulling him into a hug as he rested his head on his shoulder. Kuroko blinked softly, looking at him as he wrapped his arms around and returned the hug.
"Thank you Tetsuya, for everything." He mumbled in his neck.
Kuroko smiled, "thank you for coming into my life Taiga."
That Christmas had to be one of Kuroko's top best, even though the Christmas party Kise threw was a complete disaster. It still had to be in his top favorites.
"Aw Kurokocchi, I remember the day when our little pets were all small and cute, babies practically. Now look at them."
Kuroko nodded as he watched Kagami and Aomine play basketball against each other. They looked like professional basketball players, not played like because Kuroko was noticing several fouls, but looked like. Aomine had gotten taller than him, which Kuroko knew would happen, but the past month Kagami seemed to have finally hit his growth spurt and now loomed over Kise, Aomine, and himself. It's like it all happened over night, the deep voice, the super tallness, the appetite.
Luckily Kuroko was able to get a better job at his school as a receptionist or else they'd be living on cup of noodles again. It was kind of sad, really, staring at the older Kagami. He still acted the same, but Kuroko found himself missing the small child like tiger who would drool and wag his tail at the sight of food, who'd laugh as he'd watch TV, and curl up into a tiny ball while they slept. It was unfair, Kuroko sort of felt how mother's did. It all happened so fast, it did happen fast in fact for Kagami. He was a child for months living with him, then a teenager for a month or so and now suddenly an adult.
Kagami would kick him off the futon half the nights now that he was larger and stronger than Kuroko, on test nights Kuroko ordering him to sleep on the couch bed which Kagami complained 'did not have soft enough pillows.'
"I miss my tiny little Daikicchi!" Kise started crying.
Kuroko sighed and nodded, rubbing the top of his friend's head in a soothing matter.
"At least they aren't as tall as Murasakibara, now he's unbelievably huge. I think Akashi has more than he bargained for with him." Kuroko said.
This cheered Kise up a little bit as he started chuckling, "yeah, I know he's having a rough time controlling him. I wish our hybrids all liked each other, then we could go out on fun play dates with the six of us. Too bad Daikicchi and Kagamicchi always end up fighting Muracchi whenever they meet."
Kuroko hummed and nodded, watching as Kagami slammed dunk the ball into the hoop.
"HA! I WIN! FIRST TO THIRTY!" He cheered.
"HELL NO! REMATCH! YOU CHEATED MORE THAN HALF THE GAME!" Aomine yelled walking up to him.
"THE HELL I DID?! YOU CAN ASK TETSUYA!"
"SCREW THAT, RYOTA! DIDN'T KAGAMI CHEAT?!"
"TETSUYA, TELL HIM I DIDN'T!"
Kise and Kuroko looked at each other and sighed, wondering where their cute friends were.
"Who's hungry?" Kuroko asked avoiding a disaster.
The panther and the tiger's ears pointed up as their stomachs started growling.
"I was seafood!" Aomine yelled while at the same time Kagami yelled, "I want hamburgers!"
The two glanced at each other and started growling, their ears lowering as their eyes glared.
"Why can't we ever enjoy a nice, quiet day anymore?" Kise asked.
"Because they're idiots. Looks like this is where we part, don't forget about the English essay due tomorrow Kise. It's our last one of the semester so don't screw it up."
"Yeah, thanks Kurokocchi. I don't know what I'd do without you, see you tomorrow at school. Come on Daikicchi, let's go get your seafood." Kise said strolling up to him.
"Do you prefer Maji's? Or do you want to try someplace new Taiga?" Kuroko asked picking up the basketball rolling around the court.
"Is there any place better than Maji's? I think not." Kagami told him.
Kuroko shook his head lightly and looked over at Kise, who was walking rather closely to Aomine holding his hand while the two discussed about probably seafood. Aomine was practically looming over Kise, his tail swishing back and forth.
"I really like basketball Tetsuya, why don't they have a team for hybrids?" Kagami asked walking over to him.
"You've seen the news channels, right? They're trying to give your people rights now, pretty soon if the act is signed and made official hybrids will be labeled as humans. Soon you'll be able to work, go to school, be free people without the need of a collar." Kuroko said, reaching out to tug on Kagami's necklace.
"Meaning I'd get to help around the house more, right? Maybe when that happens I can start helping you save up and we can move out of that dingy apartment." Kagami smirked.
"I don't know what kind of place would hire a giant like you though." Kuroko teased, dropping the necklace and turning away.
"Obviously I'd join a basketball team and make millions." Kagami stated walking after him.
Kuroko slowed his pace to Kagami's speed as they walked to their favorite burger joint. He started noticing more hybrids in their town, of all kinds of animals, shapes and sizes, being treated as friends, lovers, brothers and sisters. Kuroko rarely saw them being treated as pets anymore...
"Taiga... if the law does get signed... are you going to still want to live with me?"
It was a stupid question, it had him worrying a bit over though. Kagami blinked and looked down at Kuroko.
"That's stupid, of course I will. We're roommates, remember? I'm not staying with you now because you own me or because I'm your pet, you were the one who said we were friends, right?" Kagami asked.
Kuroko smiled lightly, "yeah. But one day you might want to have your own life, travel, explore the world even, meet a girl and find a mate."
"Same could happen to you Tetsuya, did you always imagine us together? Even when you were married with kids and junk?"
"Is it silly to say yes?"
Kagami's eyes widened slightly.
"I never pictured my future, I just always figured I'd be alone. I never stopped to wonder about my future wife or my kids, my dream house. I always focused on the present, after seeing you that one fateful day I started wondering about things like those. I started wondering what the future might have in store for us, how we'd be able to survive, how to make sure I gave you everything you needed or wanted in life. It's funny now that I think about it, I worried and fantasied more about you than my future or my family's future. I guess you meant more to me than a wife and kids I might have someday."
Kagami placed his hand on Kuroko's head and rubbed it, keeping him from looking up due to the fact that Kagami's cheeks were burning a bright red at the moment and he didn't want his friend to see. It was rare that Kuroko would say honest things about him, whenever he did though it always would have Kagami burning up and having him feel... weird.
"Taiga, that hurts." Kuroko said feeling his neck about to break.
"Sorry." Kagami mumbled taking his hand off, he cleared his throat before speaking, "I guess if you say it that way one day we might split apart, but just know I owe you a debt Tetsuya that I won't ever be able to pay and as for as long as I live, I'll always be with you."
Kuroko looked up and blinked, "funny, I was thinking the exact opposite. It's me who really owes you Taiga, if you hadn't came into my life I wouldn't be able to be who I am right now. You saved me from myself, from the loneliness and despair."
"You saved me from a cold cage and future families that would toss me aside as soon as they learned of my attitude."
"You weren't that bad as a kitten."
"You never tried to smother me or make me wear ridiculous clothing or pissed me off."
Kuroko chuckled, "speaking of clothing I was talking to Riko and she said that this should be your last growth spurt for the next couple of years until you reach your prime. I can start buying nice clothes for you now that you won't grow out of anymore."
"I have enough clothes for a while." Kagami pouted.
"Kagami, you have a total of seven outfits for your size right now and two pairs of shoes. Kise has five times that, I have two, and Aomine probably has nine since Kise spoils him way too much. I'm getting you some nice clothes now that they'll last, starting with Nike shoes if your serious about becoming a basketball player."
Kagami was about to start arguing, his ears twitched though, "huh?"
"What?"
"Were... were you just serious?" Kagami asked.
"Chances are that the bill will be signed in our lifetime, so yeah. I can ask couch Satsuki if she can start letting you practice with us so you can learn the ropes of the game, maybe if it gets signed before I graduate you can start going to college with me and join my team. I wonder how education will work though since you're not required to go to school? You always seemed to know how to read and write, maybe I should start tutoring you on everything else so you can just take the exam to get your GED and then head straight for college skipping everything else." Kuroko mumbled as he started thinking about Kagami's future.
Kagami walked beside him speechless, yet again. Kuroko... he cared more for a hybrid pet than any person ever did. He was way too good to have a pet like him, way too kind of a friend to be friends with Kagami. It was small things like these, the constant thinking and worrying over Kagami, that made him think that he could never be able to repay Kuroko.
"Alright, it's settled. Prepare to start learning Kagami, I don't know why I didn't start tutoring you in the first place. You might very well be the first hybrid on a basketball team." Kuroko said.
Kagami chuckled, "I like the sound of that."
The reason was still unknown why Kuroko went so far, to so many lengths for a tiger like him, only because Kuroko never revealed it. It was all very simple and clear why if you knew. It was all because Kuroko loved him. Telling him though, he wouldn't know what to say or how he would react. Kuroko knew he felt the same way, or at least cared about him. They loved each other as friends, and yet Kagami wasn't like Kise who just blurted out his love around. They were men and men didn't really say those kind of words to other men unless they were brothers, father and son, or lovers.
One day though, when the perfect opportunity presented itself, Kuroko would say those words to his friend. For right now though, nothing said I love you more than buying him all he could eat burgers from Maji's.
