Chapter 5.5

Cat Cuties

Makoto sighed, waiting at the station for the train to come in.

Seijuurou had been running a bit late, making him miss the first train to Iwatobi that day so he had to wait for the next one, which wouldn't be for another few hours. There were the apology texts and the apology calls, but Makoto just smiled and said it was fine, and that everything can wait for when he finally arrived.

"I'm just happy you're coming." Makoto had said, hearing how frustrated Seijuurou was on the other line. "I hadn't prepared any of the snacks yet or anything else, I've only cleaned up a bit, so it's okay. You can stop apologizing now, I understand!"

The oldest just groaned. "But really, honest, I'm really really sorry-! I would be there right now if it wasn't for my carelessness!"

"Seijuurou..."

"I'll make it up to you, I swear! I know you were really looking forward to today, and I was too but-!"

"Calm down, okay? All that matters is that you're on your way now."

"Ah, right..."

The brunette sat himself on a bench, replying to the redhead's texts and trying to keep himself occupied for the next hour. He could always leave and come back, but there was just something about wanting to see his boyfriend so badly that he didn't want to miss the chance if the train had shown up before schedule. So he stayed.

"That guy, I swear..." Makoto mumbled, smiling to himself. Seijuurou was late because they had planned to go out to dinner that evening, and just like their first date, the redhead couldn't decide what to wear. And was embarrassed to admit it. "He's lucky he's handsome with him not being smart sometimes..."

Makoto's phone chirped with receiving a new text, most likely from the redhead, but there was also another sound that caught his attention: a small meow that was close to him. Very close. He looked around, trying to find the source of the noise and finally saw a small, white kitten hiding beside the bench, closest to Makoto's feet, tail resting on top of his shoe.

"H-Hey there..." He smiled, reaching over the metal armrest carefully, trying not to scare the small creature, and gently picked it up in his hands to rest it in his lap. "You all alone?" There was a tiny mewl in response, and Makoto scratched behind its small ears. "It's okay, I'm just waiting for someone, I'll keep you company. I won't hurt you, cutie..."

Moments passed, the kitten happily purring away in his lap and Makoto continuing to message his boyfriend that was still on his way. Once he was done replying to Seijuurou's message of 'there's sure a lot of strange people on the train today', blue eyes looked at the brunette's screensaver, of Seijuurou and his bedhead, meowing at the image and Makoto hummed in response.

"That's Sei, who I'm waiting for. He's my...boyfriend." The kitten rubbed against his hand, and his thumb brushed against it's small nose. "Yeah, he is cute, huh? He said that he doesn't like it when his hair is a mess like that, but I really like it..."

Makoto paused, staring down at the kitten in his lap. People in his town knew that he liked cats, but it wouldn't be weird if he talked to one...would it? Especially about his love life?

Ah, to hell with it, Makoto thought.

"I...like him a lot, you know." The kitten turned its head, staring up at Makoto with big eyes. "It's funny, people always thought that I would end up with Haru-chan, my best friend, because we're known each other for so long and are near inseparable and have a bond, but...I'm glad Seijuurou came along, you know? He's smart and nice and funny and handsome, a great swimmer, and he knows how to say the right things...we haven't been together for all that long yet, about a month or so, but time has just flew by because I've been so happy..."

The kitten pawed at Makoto's leg, signaling that it wanted more scratches as it continued to listen.

"And I'm really, really happy with him, you know...at first I would have never thought the two of us would even be together, since we seem completely different and all..." Makoto paused, scratching under the kitten's chin. "Being with him...I just can't really express it, other than it makes me the happiest. Like Haru and his water and Nagisa and his sweets, I guess. Or like when you get scratched behind the ears or get a good snack. I'm just happy and excited and looking forward to all of the great things we do together and...loved, that's kinda important." Makoto laughed, feeling the kitten's tongue against his hand.

"I think you'd like him, too. Even though he's more of a dog person, he's admitted to me before that some cats are cute and he wouldn't mind having one when we..." Another pause, taking a moment to collect himself and feeling his cheeks warm up. "...we possibly move in together. O-of course that's way ahead, not for another few years! And I wouldn't mind having a dog too...one that gets along with cats, definitely."

The brunette was so lost in talking to the kitten, that he almost missed the sound of the train pulling into the station. Makoto looked up, seeing a few people dwindle out and the sight of Seijuurou coming towards him with a smile on his face made his heart melt and breath catch in his throat.

"Sorry, love." Seijuurou apologized, adjusting his overnight bag so that he could help Makoto up and place a kiss on his forehead. "Oh, found another kitten?"

Makoto nodded, cradling the feline in his hands. "Yeah...she was hiding underneath the bench, and she kept me company while waiting for you."

Seijuurou smiled, letting the kitten rub against his hand. "Well thank you then, kitty. Maybe it was a good thing that I was late after all, or else Mako wouldn't have found met you."

"Ah, d'you think we could stop by Haru's first? We could drop her off and see if she likes the other cats..." Makoto asked, walking alongside Seijuurou. "I don't think one more around there would hurt, and it's a safer place to be than a train station."

"Of course, not a problem at all." Seijuurou wrapped an arm around Makoto's waist. "Did you think of a name, yet?"

"Oh! No, I completely forgot, I was too busy talking about how much I..." Makoto paused, feeling his face heat up.

"How much you what?" Makoto felt Seijuurou's fingers brush against the hem of his shirt, and he knew that the redhead was grinning. "C'mon, please? Tell me?"

"I was talking about...how much I like you."

Seijuurou stopped walking, turning so that he was facing his embarrassed boyfriend and put his hands over the small kitten's body.

"Makoto." He said, slowly leaning in and staring into green eyes. "You are just too adorable for your own good, you know that?" The redhead pressed their lips together, both boys giggling when the kitten would move and tickle their skin with it's whiskers and soft fur.

"I love you, Makoto."

"I love you too, Seijuurou."

The older captain linked his arm around Makoto's waist again, the brunette resting his head on Seijuurou's shoulder as they walked to Haruka's to place the kitten in its new home. By the time they got there, the other cats were eagerly following Makoto to the steps.

Seijuurou watched as Makoto set down the small kitten, being almost swarmed by the other felines, making him laugh and complain that he didn't have enough hands to pet them all at the same time with. All while the redhead took out his phone, sneaking a few pictures of his giggling boyfriend and immediately set it as his new wallpaper with a smile.

"Alright, this is your new home okay?" Makoto got up, talking directly to the white kitten. "I'll come see you every day or whenever I can, okay-"

"Tama." Seijuurou finished, smiling as Makoto turned his head to look at him. "Can that be her name?"

"It's perfect. Definitely a change from names of fish courtesy of Haru-chan." Makoto laughed. "Okay, Tama? So when you see a blue-eyed black haired boy that smells like mackerel, that's Haru. He'll take care of you too, mostly on the days where I'm not here."

The kitten mewled in response, allowing the other cats to sniff at it. In moments the white kitten was accepted, following the group to where they reside for most of the day up the steps. Makoto and Seijuurou just smiled, whispering 'bye Tama' and watching as the felines disappeared from their sight.

"Is this how our parents feel like when we go somewhere?" Seijurou asked, squeezing Makoto's hip. "Sure feels like it, even though I only knew her for like...fifteen minutes."

"I'm happy the others liked her. Cats can be pretty tricky with that sort of thing."

"I like you." Seijuurou grinned and nuzzled the brunette's neck, making Makoto laugh. "I like you quite a bit."

"Are you a cat now, too? Does my Sei kitty need some attention?" Makoto teased, scratching Seijuurou's head and messing up his styled hair. "C'mon, there's cookies that need to be eaten back at home, and movies to be watched."

"And a cute brunette that needs to be kissed."

"That too."

"Yes, sweetheart." Purred Seijuurou, happily following Makoto down the street to his home.

Author's note: yaaaaay cats and editing/going through at two in the morning to balance stuff out~~