"Good morning Kyoko-chan."
"Morning Kaede-san." Kyoko smiled politely at her older neighbor. "How are you feeling? I heard from your daughter that the doctor put you on new pain medication."
The older woman nodded, the fringes of her bob swaying with every movement. "Yes, Dr. Ginji said these pills shouldn't cause any allergic reactions."
Kyoko smiled. "That's good. How're your knees?"
"Oh, they feel better today." Kaede laughed. "Don't need a wheelchair just yet."
"I'm really glad to hear that." Kyoko said and gave her a thumbs up. "I better see if Shizuo's ready for our date before it gets too late. Have a nice day Kaede-san!"
"Oh, do you have just a second dear?" Kaede said hesitantly. "There's just something I've been meaning to ask and up until now…"
Kyoko stopped and looked at her curiously. "Are you not feeling well?"
"Oh no, I'm fine! It's you I'm worried about." Kaede explained. "I didn't want to say anything in front of...your husband?"
"Oh no, Shizuo and I aren't married yet." Kyoko blushed. "Wait, why didn't you want to talk in front of him? I know Shizuo can seem scary, but he's really a very kind person." Kyoko explained; she really didn't want this sweet old lady to be frightened.
"It's just…" Kaede sighed. "Kyoko-chan, is he ever violent with you? Now please, don't get upset!" Kaede said seeing Kyoko's expression. "Shizuo-kun seems like a nice young man, but I've been hearing things coming from your apartment."
"What have you been hearing? I mean, he's broken some furniture, but that was by accident. He really can't control his strength, but he would never, ever intentionally hurt me." Kyoko said.
"No, it's not the sound of things breaking I heard." Kaede looked around before lowering her voice. "Now these old ears aren't as good as they used to be I'll admit, but I was certain I heard yelling coming from your apartment the other night. Maybe yelling isn't the right word." Kaede searched for the right description. "It was...growling. Roaring almost, but I could hear swearing, or at least that's what it sounded like." she looked at Kyoko with wide eyes. "Oh dear, don't tell me you adopted one of those illegal wild animals. I know an alligator seems like a 'cool pet' but it's a real hassle and one of you could really be hurt."
"Uh, no, we don't have any pets." Kyoko could feel her face burning as Kaede looked at her with fuzzy eyes. "Wow, um, this is kind of embarrassing…"
"So you don't have a wild animal in your apartment?"
"Well, sort of. And did she have a pet alligator!?" Kyoko wondered; instead of voicing these thoughts, she just smiled blithely.
"Uh, you see, Shizuo is using this new kind of exercise program to...tire himself out!" Kyoko explained, inwardly congratulating herself for her quick thinking. "You see, he thinks that once he works out enough, he can expend all the extra energy and he won't be as able to use his unrestrained strength and accidentally smash things! The program is really intense though, so you were probably just hearing him yell from the strain of it all. I'll ask him to try to keep it down, I know you need your rest Kaede-san."
The older woman eyed her steadily. "You two were going at it like rabbits weren't you?"
Kyoko froze before sighing in defeat. "Yeah. I'm so sorry! I can't tell you how embarrassing this is!"
"Oh don't worry about it. I'd rather it be that; I was worried that maybe he was hurting you." Kaede said gently. "But if a sweet young woman like you is willing to make up such a ridiculous story to keep from making him uncomfortable, he must be something."
Kyoko laughed weakly. "Shizuo is really private about this sort of thing. He'd die if he knew you heard him."
"Well, I have to say, he really sounds like he's enjoying himself." Kaede grinned wickedly.
"Uh, yeah…"
"I mean, he sounded like he was killing somebody, but he must have just really been into it! Talk about the-what's it called? The beast with two backs?"
"Yeah, that's-"
"I mean, wow, Shizuo-kun sounded like he was getting his freak on-"
"Kaede-san!" Kyoko sputtered. "Please don't tell him you heard!"
"Of course not!" Kaede assured her. "I'm as silent as the grave."
"Are you?!" Kyoko wanted to yell.
"Good morning ma'am." Shizuo greeted with a small bow as he stepped out of the apartment; he smiled softly at Kyoko before resuming his sober demeanor. He was still getting used to conversing with elders, though Kaede candidness was a bit shocking for someone so much older.
"Imagine his reaction if he heard her." Kyoko breathed a sigh of relief that Shizuo wasn't as good at getting up early.
"You ready to go Kyoko?" Shizuo asked; she nodded and waved to Kaede.
"See you later Kaede-san! Me and Shizuo are going to the zoo."
Kaede waved back with a sweet smile; they reminded her of the days she and her husband were first together. It warmed her heart to see two young people so committed to each other.
"It sounds like fun, though you already seem to have a wild animal in your own home!" Kaede called out with a brief wink. "Have fun dears, wear sunscreen!"
"What did she mean by that?" Shizuo asked as Kaede hobbled back to her apartment.
"Oh, you know, she's getting on in years." Kyoko laughed and dragged him away with her. "She doesn't know what she's saying."
"Yes I do!"
Shizuo froze in his tracks. "She heard me last night, didn't she?"
"Um...yeah." Kyoko smiled anxiously as Shizuo's expression became increasingly mortified. "But she understands, don't worry about it!"
"Yes dear, you should be working it while you're young, enjoy yourselves! Just keep it down around 5:30, that's when I watch my stories."
"Fuck me." Shizuo hung his head and slapped a hand to his face as he ground his teeth together.
Kaede laughed. "Oho, you two sure are risk takers! Me and my Shinjirou were never much for having relations in public, but if that's what works for you."
Kyoko smiled thinly. "Have a nice day Kaede-san!"
"I will dear! I know you two will~"
