Chapter Ten: Our Literature

Yesterday, he and Hiro-san had had so much fun at the zoo, and really, usually, his beloved would not have gone there with him, no matter how much coaxing it might well have taken. His lover was becoming, dare he say it even in his head, softer?

Although he still got books thrown at him, from time to time, mostly when Hiro-san was embarrassed and because he was embarrassed he became upset. Nowaki knew him well, though there were times he worried, even now.

Was Hiro-san hiding something from him?

Why else would he have become less volatile with his anger, allow him to touch him so much and so often without at least protesting first as was par for the course.

He hadn't previously been suspicious, until that morning when they had once again visited Niro, before the boy had fallen back to sleep and his Senpai, Tsumori had approached him while Hiroki sat with Niro alone.

"If he's acting differently Nowaki, it could be a sign he's either cheating or he's done something that makes him feel guilty, which would have to have been something to do with you."

The ocean blue eyed, taller than the average Japanese man had disliked that comment so much, his heart sinking that it was even a possibility. Yet, really, how could his Hiro-san have cheated on him when they were either always at work or at home together.

Then he recalled, that there were times that their time off did not coincide and that there were nights where, the one he loved, would be out drinking with Usami-san or Miyagi-san.

Both however, had partners, whom it was evident they cherished. He'd seen it clearly during the night he'd taken Hiroki rollerblading.

Yet, he couldn't think anything else, but that something was amiss. But perhaps, it had something to do with his wish at the well, though not quite what he had wished for. Maybe it was something that his Hiro-san himself had wished for, yet even that explanation did not sit well with him, it didn't seem right.

As he was thinking, he didn't notice that his cute lover had left Niro's side and walked up to him.

"Nowaki!"

At that, he gave a slight shake of his head and plastered on a smile, "Hiro-san?"

"We're going now. Niro's asleep. Although now, he wants a dog. A dog! Can you believe that."

"I thought he wanted a panda?"

"Well its illegal to own one, unless you have all the proper permits and know how to take care of one, but they can't be pets."

"Didn't he also want a wolf?"

"He did, but none exist in Japan, which are native, as they became extinct some time ago. Plus, even wolves, cannot be pets."

"That's why he wants a dog."

"We shouldn't have taken all those pictures at the zoo," he grumbled, arms crossed over his chest.

Hearing him, Nowaki could tell that, despite Hiro-san's grumbling, his stance and the way he looked flustered, contemplating, that he would most likely give into little Niro.

Hiro-san, while gentle with Niro, wasn't so with the other kids. But he was rather protective of their son to be and with Niro being related to both of them, though they knew little how, it was almost like having their own flesh and blood child.

He blinked however when he heard the next words that his partner spoke.

"Nowaki, lets go to the ASPCA."

"Hiro-san?" He couldn't believe it, he'd thought it might take a longer time before he would have given into Niro's plea for a dog.

"Let's go," it seemed that his lover would not meet his eye as he said that, but smilingly, he took the smaller hand in his and led them from the hospital a few streets away to the ASPCA.

Once the pair were inside, the brunette sighed, "Nowaki... I don't know about this. I don't know what I was thinking. We can't possibly get a dog, and besides where is Niro going to sleep?"

"Hiro-san, we have more than one bedroom," they actually had three, one was dedicated to all of his beloveds collection of books.

"The books stay!"

"Not that room Hiro-san... yours."

Russet eyes gazed up into ocean blue, "And where the hell am I supposed to sleep?"

"With me Hiro-san, where else would you sleep?" The corners of his mouth curled downward as Tsumori-senpai's words replayed in his head.

"My own room."

"But where would Niro sleep Hiro-san?"

He paused to think that question over, before Nowaki was given an answer, "His own room... so... you and I'd be sharing one... every night?"

"Yes Hiro-san... unless... you'd rather not?"

He watched his lovers cheeks and nose turn red, though those beautiful russet eyes of his looked away from him, down at the floor.

"Its not that," he murmured lowly, that Nowaki almost didn't catch what he was saying. He did however hear the rest quite well, "If one of us is sleeping before the other, then neither of us would want to disturb the other and wake them up, our hours are often so different Nowaki. We both need our rest and you need it even more, because you work long or double shifts sometimes.

Talking as they walked through the rooms, where cats meowed and dogs barked, where even little bunnies hopped along with a few other not so common animals not typically found at a shelter they paused.

Nowaki, "Hiro-san, I would sleep on the couch if I thought I might disturb you and I wouldn't mind if you disturbed me. Although, Hiro-san, you're a heavier sleeper than I am, it takes forever to wake you up." Sometimes he wondered, how his lover had managed without him, to get up in time for school or work.

His blue eyes were drawn to the twitching of his sweethearts brows, as that lover of his growled indignantly, "I do not!"

Their conversation however, came to an abrupt halt when Hiro-san jumped and turned around to gaze into a cage where a yellow shiba-inu mix stared up at them with large brown eyes.

"Hiro-san, isn't he cute?" He whispered into his ear.

"It's a girl Nowaki," he pointed to the sign. "She's three years old and has been spayed."

They watched her tail wag excitedly, before she stood up and chased her tail inside the cage.

They noticed then, that she was missing her right hind leg.

"Can we adopt her, Hiro-san? Not many people would choose her," he wanted to take the poor little thing home, though she seemed playful and friendly.

One of the workers, overhearing them told them something that had he and Hiro-san gazing at each other quite grimly, "She's to be euthanized today. She's been here for a year and a half. Her leg was mangled then, some kid had taken a chainsaw to her leg."

They didn't wish to hear more.

It seemed that Hiro-san really had a weakness when it came to the possibility of someone, even an animal, dying.

"We'll adopt her Nowaki, lets go get the paperwork."

The worker smiled and glanced at the three legged shiba-inu mix, "Looks like your lucky day gal."

As the two signed the papers and paid for the dogs release, as they had been the only ones interested in her and she'd been about to be euthanized anyway, they were not denied being able to adopt her.

Whilst they were signing the papers though, they noticed Usami-san and Misaki each holding a kitten. One was obviously of Siamese origin and the other a pretty chocolate brown, possibly a Havana Brown or Burmese mix.

Usami-san turned to them, "You're getting a dog Hiroki?" The brown cat mewled in his hands, its eyes were a very deep green, not unlike his Misaki's. Nowaki was sure that had to be the reason he'd chosen that cat.

Nowaki, "We are, right Hiro-san?"

"Yes Nowaki," then he looked in Akihiko's direction after confirming to Nowaki that they'd be adopting the three legged dog. "Literature will be a good dog."

"Literature?" All three men, Nowaki, Akihiko and Takahashi stared at him.

"That's going to be her name," he glowered at them, daring them to try and talk him out of it or laugh.

Soon, the dog was brought to them and they left with papers and a bag of food for Literature, followed by Akihiko and Takahashi out of the ASPCA with their two kittens.

As they were about to leave the parking lot, a pair of lovebirds spotted them and walked up to them.

Hiroki frowned, "What are you doing here Professor?"

"Shinobu and I were taking a walk. Do you know what you two did when you told him you were adopting a little boy? You created a monster! He wants not one child upon graduation, but nine, nine I tell you!"

Russet eyes blinked, wincing as he heard the older man yelp. His eyes sweeping down, he realized that the culprit was Shinobu's booted foot.

The dirty haired blonde glowered up at Miyagi, "So, nine is a lucky number and it would be nice to have a big family. We might not even have to adopt if my sister or one of my cousins will agree to be a surrogate. Although I think for at least eight of them, we should adopt, but one of them, should be related by blood."

Hiroki felt the need to ask, "And who would be the father?"

"Miyagi of course, I mean they'd be my relatives," he clung to Miyagi's arm, even though he appeared to be annoyed with him.

Nowaki chuckled, "Well, good luck you two, but we need to get Literature home and get her used to the apartment," he was glad that when he'd looked he'd found a place that would allow animals, as long as one took care of them.

Miyagi blinked, "Literature?"

Shinobu laughed, though to all of them, it seemed a little odd, "You named your new dog after Literature?"

"What of it?" Hiroki demanded irritably.

"Nothing, its just... a weird name for anything. Though I know you're passionate about Literature, but I'd never allow Miyagi to name a child or an animal after it. Maybe a character in it, but actually Literature?"

Nowaki defended the name, "Literature is a good name and we hope it will instill in Niro that literature is good, to be taken care of and respected. Niro will take care of Literature and in so doing learn how to take care of literature."

He knew the wording was odd, but the dogs name was Literature and they were talking about literature, as in books, poetry and other written words.

Shinobu, "Though I can't believe you're getting a dog, I'd prefer a panda."

Nowaki and Hiroki chuckled, "So too would Niro."

"I wouldn't mind a cat, but then I don't think I could get a rat or any other type of rodent, nor a snake."

Miyagi rolled his eyes heavenward, tightening the hold he had on Shinobu's shoulder, "Shinobu-chin, lets not talk about pets now, we'd have to find a new place. Where we're at now isn't big enough and nor does it allow pets."

At that Nowaki and Hiroki watched Shinobu frown and be, reluctantly, led away from the shelter.

Nowaki sighed, "Well, now we're alone and can return home. I hope Niro will like Literature."

"We're not telling him until after the transplant Nowaki, that way it'll be sort of like a gift...for having come through it."

"That sounds wonderful Hiro-san!" He glomped his lover, though made sure the leash remained secure in his beloveds hand.

"Nowaki! Cut it out! Don't do that out in plain sight."

So, Hiro-san hadn't changed that much. Perhaps, unlike what Tsumori-senpai had tried to imply, his adorable darling, had not cheated on him. He never had and probably never would, for they loved one another deeply and would never wish to hurt the other so horribly, by doing something as cruel as that.

With his hand at the middle of his sweethearts back, they walked Literature to hew new home.