Finally! Updates! I`m off to bed to get four hours of sleep before work... joy...
"Kazue! Dinner!"
Feet pattered towards where his father was, the table set for the two of them, a warm stew with noodles in the center of the table, something fitting for the cold weather. Chair scrapping on the wood, Kazue pulled himself up onto the chair, his father pushing him towards the table.
"I could help dad," the boy mumbled as his father doled out his dinner.
"I told you, it's too heavy for you," Kanda informed him, a larger portion given to himself after his son, "it could fall on you and hurt you."
"No it wouldn't," Kazue muttered, his hands reaching for his chopsticks, his father chuckling as he let the comment go.
Kazue's first year of school was going rather well, the boy settling into the routines of school and homework, his father keeping the balance between his piano and school as best he could and had not encountered any difficulties thus far. Now, however, his son's birthday having just passed and with Christmas fast approaching, Kazue was looking forward to his break and doing nothing but relax.
"Can I play on the piano after dinner?" the boy interrupted his father's thoughts, Kanda looking towards the eager silver eyes that always made him smile.
"Did you finish your homework like I asked you to?" Kanda asked as he gently took another mouthful between his teeth, his son seeming to wither t at the mention.
"Kinda…"
"You know the rules Kazue," his father informed him diplomatically, "no homework means no piano."
"But dad-"
"No buts," Kanda shook his head, "homework then piano."
Grumbling, the boy lay back in his chair, his face set in a pout before his father asked him to straighten up.
"Kazue," the elder sighed, "please, no attitude."
"Yes dad," Kazue conceded, his eyes still looking slightly downcast.
"What do you want for Christmas Kazue?" Kanda asked as he tried to lighten the mood, his chopsticks digging into the noodles.
"Can I have a friend?" the boy asked miserably, his own chopsticks flicking around the carrot.
"I thought you had friends in school?" his father asked.
"Kinda…" he mumbled, "but… I dunno…"
Kanda looked over his son, the child seeming almost downcast at the thought.
"What do you mean?" the elder pressed gently.
"I've got friends…" the boy mumbled, "but… everyone seems to have a best friend and I just don't…"
"Maybe you've got more than one," Kanda encouraged gently, hoping to make his son smile, "lots of kids came to your party."
"Maybe," Kazue sounded unconvinced as he chewed his meat, his father looking on him with some sadness.
Silver eyes looked up to the young man who gently touched his head, a soft smile reserved solely for him on his father's lips.
"You're a kind kid, Kazue," his father told him, "I know you do."
Smiling back at his father, the two finished their meals in silence, Kanda grateful that his son was mostly Allen in personality.
"Yuu-"
"WHAT PART OF DON'T CALL ME THAT DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND!?"
Kanda's yell was accompanied by him turning to the bright red-head that followed him from the university to his house, his eyes boring holes into the other's smile.
"The part where you hate your name," Lavi told him as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"And stop following me," Kanda snapped, "you too moyashi!"
"C'mon Kanda, stop being such a jerk!" Allen piped up, "we're just walking home with you-"
"Did I ask you too!?" the elder snarled, "I don't need you to accompany me! Hell, I don't want you to accompany me!"
"Forgive us for being your friends," the younger muttered sarcastically.
"You're not my friends," Kanda snapped, his body turning on his heel, "what kind of loser needs friends?"
Long fingers pulled the sheets over his son's sleeping form, the boy's eyes closed gently as his chest rose with deep even breaths. Kanda sighed as he ran fingers over the singular white lock his child sported, thinking back to how horrible of a father he would have been if he never changed.
Friends had never meant much to him growing up, him learning to hate people and distrust them, thinking people who relied on friendship were weak. After Allen's death, however, he learned quickly how much people meant to him, how much he needed friends; with Kazue, he wanted nothing more than for his son to have the trust and friendships like Allen did, to be happy.
Kazue's incident with Jiro had, miraculously, not resulted in him getting backlash. None of his classmates knew about his origins save for the fact that the boy had two fathers, but perhaps it was because of this that his son felt out of place amongst his classmates, them having what was considered "normal" parents. A pang of guilt ran through Kanda. He felt it his fault that his son couldn't openly talk about his family with his friends, that the boy had done nothing to deserve a life like the one he had; born into sadness and was something that technically should never exist.
Kanda pushed himself out of the room, the door shutting quietly behind him, allowing him to sigh deeply. Pity was never something Kanda liked, both to give and to receive. A small smirk emerged on his lips; he wondered what Allen would say if he saw him like this. Probably nothing, he'd be too focused on his child and Allen would be asking Kanda to help him figure out a solution for everything.
A solution…
Fingers touched Kanda's lips as he thought of a way to grant his son's wish. Kazue was not spoilt, in any way, but Kanda did reward his child when he did good things, like get straight A's on his report cards or place first in his piano school's competition.
The elder supposed what his son truly wanted was someone to love him, someone that wasn't his father or akin to a parent, though how to do that was a challenge in itself. Kanda felt his chin slip into his hand while he watched the water for his tea boil.
Allen would know what to do about their son, he was better at things like that, always would be. Allen was like that, like Kazue is.
Fingertips pushed at the buttons on his phone, the occupant picking up after the third ring, his voice bother tired and confused.
"Lavi," Kanda started slowly, "do you think you could do me a favour? It's for Kazue."
Dayscame and went quickly as the family approached Christmas, the two of them spending it together, Kanda calming Kazue down and telling him that if he stayed up late at night every night Santa might not come visit him. Kanda himself found excitement growing in him as the day drew nearer, though it was most likely due to his son's infectiousness. He found Christmases were becoming better now that his son was aware of the concept, Allen's birthday still honoured in some small way, a toast by the adults and the kids.
It was almost amazing that Kanda survived for as long as he did, Christmas morning coming surprisingly quietly, the elder grateful that he woke earlier than his son, the Christmas surprise still intact. Reaching into his closet, Kanda smiled down as he scooped up his son's wish, it surprisingly still in his lap as he moved silently towards his son's room.
"Kazue," the elder whispered, his fingers brushing over the sleeping boy's shoulder-length hair, the child stirring groggily in the morning, "wake up, it's Christmas."
"Mm-hmm…"
"Kazue," Kanda murmured, the boy's surprise tumbling onto the mattress next to the child's still closed eyes, "Merry Christmas buddy."
Slowly the silver eyes opened, first up to his father before a movement near his face caught his eye, the mercury orbs meeting the bright green of the tiny, fluffy, kitten that sat sniffing at his own nose.
"KITTY!"
Kanda felt the smile pull on his face at the sight of his son pulling the tiny kitten into his chest for a hug, the boy careful with the small animal, taking great care not to hurt her.
"Oh thank you daddy! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!"
"You're welcome," the elder murmured, "but you need to promise me that you'll take care of her. Clean her litter box, make sure she's fed and watered…"
"I will! I promise!" the animal moved in the small arms, the tiny nose sniffing at the boy's chin, Kazue giggling, "her whiskers tickle!"
"You also need to be gentle with her," his father's long fingers ran over the top of the cat's head, "okay?"
"Uh-huh!" Kazue smiled, his eyes focused on the kitten's green ones, the animal leaning into him for a massage in his soft fur, "course!"
"So, what are you going to call her?" Kanda asked softly, loving the irremovable smile on his son's face, seeing Allen return to his boy.
"Dunno," the boy giggled, "what do you think?"
"Well, she's a she," the elder explained calmly, "she's sweet, she's fluffy," his finger ran over the top of her brown and black striped head, "any thoughts?"
"Um…" Kazue looked deep in thought, his lips pulling into a pout as the cat turned to look up at him, her tongue flicking out to run underneath his chin. "Her tongue's rough," the child giggled, running his hand running to remove the kitty saliva, "oh! How about that? Suna!"
"Suna?" Kanda asked quietly, "why sand?"
"Cause her tongue's sandy!" his son laughed happily, "so? Can we call her that? Can we?"
"Well… she's your cat," the elder murmured, "but I think Suna is a lovey name."
Squealing in happiness, Kazue looked to his kitten once more, the animal seemingly content in his arms. Kanda hoped that that would be the case, as he figured his son wasn't letting go of the animal anytime soon.
Gently encouraging his son from the room, the boy followed him with Suna still in his arms, the tail flicking slowly back and forth in happiness. Kanda had picked her out of the shelter after she escaped from the volunteer's arms and jumped into his lap, curling into a ball in contentment. She seemed attracted to him, Kanda looking at her big green eyes and hoping that she would love her son almost as instantly as she did he.
Showing how to feed the kitten, Kanda handed the bowl of cat food to his son, the child bending down to hand it to the animal who happily munched her kitten kibble. Miraculously, Kazue waited until his father gave his some rules regarding their new pet before tearing into his stocking and presents, his father handed a clumsily wrapped one that contained a frame painted an orange colour with glued on seashells.
"It's beautiful, thank you Kazue," his father smiled as his son came in for a hug, "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas daddy!" the boy chirped, "thank you for the presents!"
Smiling, Kanda glanced to the toys and games Kazue got from his father and father's friends, a few sweaters strewn about in and amongst the mess.
"Remember who you got what from," Kanda warned, "we have to thank them."
"Right!" the boy nodded, his eyes looking towards the shuffling, his new kitten searching through the scraps of paper for a morsel or curiosity.
She was promptly scooped up into the arms of the boy as a knock echoed on the door, Kanda telling him to hold onto the animal as he brought in their guests, wishing them all a Merry Christmas before leading them to his son, Lily becoming extremely excited at the little animal in the elder's arms.
"KITTY!" she squealed, her pigtails bobbing as she pelted towards them, Kazue hesitant at first, but slowly guided the little girl's hand to the animal's head, informing her that she needed to pet Suna with care.
"She's as cute as I remember," Lavi whispered, Kanda looking up at the other.
"Yeah, thanks for the ride by the way," the other nodded.
"No worries," the other patted his back, "so, how's Christmas going?"
"DADDY!"
Before he was able to answer, Kanda looked down at the little boy that moved to his lap, the kitten placed in it before he flashed a smile up at him, Kanda smiling in return.
"Can you hold her while I show Lily my toys?" Kazue asked, his father reaching to pat his head.
"Sure," Kanda murmured, "but remember to share, okay?"
"Kay!" the boy nodded, his hand patting the animal's head, "she's the best present ever!"
Chuckling quietly, Kanda let his son move to his friend while the animal remained in his lap, his fingers running over the soft fur.
"He seems really happy," Tyki murmured, "I vaguely remember Allen saying that once too…"
"Yeah," Kanda murmured, looking down at the purring kitten, "he did."
"Kanda, just tell me where we're going!" Allen asked for the hundredth time, his hands outstretched as the tie around his eyes preventing him from spoiling the present.
"No," the elder muttered, his hand tugging Allen along.
"C'mon!" the younger protested, pouting, "well, it's my birthday, so, for my present, I want you to tell me what's going on!"
"No," Kanda repeated, pushing through the door, Allen in tow.
"You're supposed to be nice to me today," Allen muttered as he followed his lover into wherever the room was.
"Then does this count?" Kanda muttered as he undid the tie off his lover's face, the silver eyes opening to the bright light and a rather large piano.
For a moment Allen couldn't say anything, his mouth hanging open in shock as he stared at his gift.
"K-Kanda…"
"Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas," Kanda whispered, his arms around the younger's shoulders.
"Kanda…" the younger muttered, "H-How did you do all this?!"
"Ruins the surprise," his lover muttered, "just… happy birthday…. Allen…"
"Kanda…" Allen mumbled, tears pricking at his eyes, "a piano and my first name!? Oh thank you! Thank you! This is the best gift ever!"
Kanda felt a smile pull on his lips as he watched the younger all but run to his new instrument, his hands running over the lines of the white instrument and his lips in a smile that would last for the rest of the day, his happiness and joy infecting even Kanda.
"Happy Birthday Allen," Kanda whispered, his eyes looking towards a picture of his lover before back to his son, "and Merry Christmas."
Ahem... so, kinda short, especially with the parts with Allen, so sorry about that... but reviews please!