Man's Best Friend
Chapter 10

Kagami stood in front of a park, watching a bunch of little kids playing basketball. He watched with amused eyes, smiling as they made the shots and started arguing about points. His ears wiggled every now and then underneath his hood, his tail curling tighter around his stomach.

He looked like every other human right now. On some days, when Kagami wanted to be left alone to himself and his thoughts, he would hide his tiger features and explore the world. He'd never forget his tags though in risk of someone discovering him. While he was himself sometimes, he would always attract attention, squeals from girls, eyes from cops that would make Kagami flash his collar, just too much noise.

He liked days like these, where he was a nobody. Kuroko always left him a little spending money on the counter everyday, whatever he could spare for Kagami's adventure. Sometimes he'd take it, sometimes he'd leave it there when he felt like staying in. Today was one of those days where he took it to buy himself some grub, maybe pick up something sweet for Kuroko for when he came home from work.

Stopping by a pastry shop on his way home from his walk, he didn't seem to notice the purple giant with the dog ears standing in front of the cashier alongside his master until he entered the shop and was called out.

"Kagami, what a surprise seeing you here. No Kuroko?" Akashi asked raising one of his eyebrows.

Kagami never liked Akashi, he felt like a predator like himself, but he was always polite because he was Kuroko's friend.

"Working, I decided to walk myself today." Kagami made a little joke.

Akashi didn't laugh though and looked over at his pet, "have you finished ordering yet Murasaki?"

"Just a second Aka-chin, and the macaroons. Two dozens. Okay, now I'm done."

Kagami sweat dropped at the boxes of sweets stacked up on the counter. Akashi paid for them without a blink of the eye while Murasakibara finally noticed the other pet.

"Huh? Kagami? When did you get here?" He asked stuffing a cookie in his mouth.

"A few minutes again." Kagami answered.

"Oh, your so short I barely noticed you. Not like Aka-chin short though, I forget he's with me all the time."

Murasakibara's head fell down a little and that's when Kagami noticed the collar around his throat, a chain connecting to the handle which Akashi held in his hands.

"Ow, sorry Aka-chin."

"Just get your things Murasakibara, it was a surprise seeing you Kagami. Please give my regards to Kuroko." Akashi said walking out the door, Murasakibara following after him.

Kagami placed a hand around his throat and gulped. He didn't always have a collar, did he? No, when they were kittens and pups he was free. Since when did the leash appear though? Kagami rarely saw that nowadays and gulped again, thanking his lucky stars that Kuroko was nothing like his friend right there. Why was he even friends with a guy like that in the first place?

"How can I help you sir?"

Kagami blinked and turned his attention to the cashier, who was smiling at him. After getting his small pastries to go, he started to walk home. The walk... seemed different though. Kagami was more sensible to the heat, his sight wavering like he was at a desert or something. It quickly cleared up after Kagami shook his head a few times.

He quickly wrote if off as getting sick and made his way home, planning on resting until Kuroko came back with dinner. When Kuroko came back though, Kagami didn't wake up. At first he though he was sleeping, but when Kuroko touched his forehead he felt a high fever and immediately called Riko for help.

"You do know I'm not a vet, right? That's my husband, I'm just the owner of a pet shop we run together." Riko said coming inside of his home.

"Then why didn't you bring your husband?" Kuroko asked.

"Because he's already at a house call."

"So you can't help him?"

"Now I didn't say that. I learned a thing or two from him, but judging by hold old Kagami is now, I have a feeling what's wrong with him." Riko said walking over.

"What?" Kuroko asked, a little worry and panic appearing in his voice.

She hummed lightly and placed her hand against Kagami's forehead.

"Slight fever, should blow over the night if you put a wet cloth on his forehead. His pupils are a bit dilated and his fangs seem to be sticking out more, my little Kagami is all grown up now and going into heat." Riko sniffed.

Kuroko's eyes widened, "heat? As in, like a cat?"

"Exactly like a cat. Now that Kagami's an adult he'll experience heat in the summer, for hybrids it never lasts long. Just a week or two, but they get aggressive if they can't find a mate. Usually getting the hybrid fix would solve it, but that's been put to a pause now that the bill is in consideration. Any major life changing surgeries that apply for hybrids have been banned for the time being. The easiest way would be to find him someone to mate with, chances are that other hybrid will get pregnant though and then you'll have baby Kagami's!" Riko giggled.

"Are there any other options?"

"Well you can keep him locked up in here, for right now he's in the beginning of stages. Once he starts acting aggressive though that's a sign to keep him inside. If you can last two weeks living with a real tiger, than you should be good. I recommend feeding his inner hunger so he can forget about his desires and buying tons of catnip, it should distract him. You might want to lock up too, most hybrid attack on humans are because they're in heat. If Kagami's in heat now though that must mean Aomine isn't too far behind, I'll have to pay them a visit later. Well then, if this is all you needed me for Kuroko then I think I'll be on my way." Riko said standing back up.

"Thank you Riko."

"No problem Kuroko, good luck with this one. I don't believe Kagami will hurt you, it wouldn't hurt to carry something to protect yourself against him though. I'll be seeing you."

Riko let herself out and Kuroko went into care mode, wrapping Kagami's blanket tighter around him as he placed a wet towel cloth over his burning forehead. Making himself comfortable on the floor, Kuroko sat there and leaned his head against the couch as he watched Kagami sleep. His Kagami, in heat. He was more cat than he was human right now, hehehe. Hopefully this all would blow over without a problem.

… though the thought of little Kagami's running around is a cute idea.

Kagami felt heavy. Not only his headlids, but his body as well. He moaned a bit, meowing out as he opened his eyes and stared at the familiar ceiling. He was in the living room, passed out on the couch. He didn't remember how he got here, but there was a shocking surprise as he saw Kuroko resting on the floor with his head on Kagami's stomach.

As he tried to lean up, a wet towel fell off his head and Kagami picked it up. Was, was he sick last night? Is that why he felt so heavy? It would explain why Kuroko was lying here, taking care of him all night it seemed. Kagami smirked lightly, shaking him awake.

"Tetsuya, Tetsuya." He called out.

Kuroko moaned and shot his head up, looking around for Kagami. His bed hair was always a sight to behold, this morning being extra spiky with the way he slept last night.

"Taiga, are you alright? You had a fever last night." Kuroko yawned placing his hand against his forehead.

"I feel better now, thanks to your help. You didn't have to sleep here you know." Kagami told him.

"I know you move around in your sleep, I had to or else the towel would have fell off."

Kagami stared before trying to stand up, "I'm going to take a shower."

"I'll make rice porridge for breakfast; I called off of work yesterday so if there's anything you want today just ask."

"Will do." Kagami said leaving.

Kuroko watched him leave and sighed out, wondering what the best course of action would be. Should he tell Kagami he was going into heat? Or let him discover it by himself? He was seeming to act pretty normal right now, maybe all yesterday was a fever. Kuroko didn't know, maybe waiting would be the best choice for now.

Kagami couldn't explain it, but even while taking a cold shower his insides felt hot. Warm. There was something burning inside of him, making him feel light, but he couldn't worry Kuroko anymore. He could live with this, wait for the warmth to fully escape his system. The smell of rice porridge filled the apartment and Kagami and Kuroko enjoyed it eating in front of the television watching TV.

"Maybe I should call off school." Kuroko mumbled.

"Isn't this your final week or something though?"

"Yeah, but Taiga-"

"I'll be fine by myself for an hour or two. I'll stay inside right here, watching TV until you get back. Go, you already missed work because of me. Now we'll be forced to eat cup of noodles at the end of the month." He joked with a grin.

Kuroko tried to return it, he was still worried though.

"I'll try to have someone check up on you, maybe Kise can drop Aomine off to help."

"Like that idiot would actually take care of me."

Kuroko gave Kagami a worried look, who just waved it off.

"I'll be fine Tetsuya, I just got a cold because of all the math you've been forcing into my head."

Finally he got a smile out of that, "well you need to know degrees to play basketball."

"No, I just need to know how to make the ball go in the basket."

"Whatever Taiga, fine I'll go. Don't strain yourself too much though and don't leave the apartment, please."

"Yes Master." Kagami teased.

Kuroko shook his head and went to retrieve his backpack, giving Kagami one last glance before he left their home.