"Yuki!" Ayame called. He bounded across the stage and swept his
little brother up in a crushing hug. He knew Yuki wouldn't hit him in front
of so many non-family witnesses, so he enjoyed it while he could. He pulled
back from the hug, shuddering when he saw the look of death etched across
Yuki's face. Oh yes, he would pay.but not right now. He slung an arm around
Yuki's shoulders and led him towards a gaggle of people, all cooing over
the last dress she was wearing.
"I'm sorry everyone, my darling little brother has come to steal his bride away!" Ayame said, beaming around. The crowd tittered at the blush spreading over Tohru's face.
"Where's Kyo?" She asked, looking around and not seeing the orange haired cat anywhere.
"He's waiting for us by the doors." Yuki said. "We have a surprise for you."
"Another one?" Tohru asked, eyes wide. She smiled. "Yuki, you two are gonna spoil me!"
"I don't think we could, no matter how hard we try." Yuki said, smiling. He let her get her street clothes on and led her to the doors, where Kyo was waiting, a smirk on his face.
"He got ya, didn't he." He said. Yuki just glared at him as they left the building and walked into the early afternoon sunshine.
"Where are we going today?" Tohru asked, happily skipping down the street between the two boys.
"If we told you it wouldn't be a surprise." Kyo said.
Tohru sighed. "Ok." She said. She didn't say anything more until they pulled her to a stop in front of a store. Her eyes lit up. "An animal shelter?"
"Yep." Kyo said, grinning. "We thought you might like someone besides Shigure to keep you company during the day."
She squealed and hugged them both, then dashed into the shelter. Kyo and Yuki followed her. They found her cuddling a little white kitten, which was purring like a motorboat. "Look!" she said, holding the little blue- eyed kitten up so the boys could see it. "Isn't she cute?"
Yuki stretched out a finger and stroked the fluffy little head. "It's very sweet." He said.
"Little Persian, isn't it?" Kyo asked, holding out his fingers for the kitten to sniff. When it had, it started purring louder. "Cute." He said, gruffly.
"Would you like to keep looking, or have you chosen already?" Yuki asked, gesturing to the kitten.
Tohru gave the kitten one last snuggle before she put her back in her little play pen. "No, I think I should keep looking." She said, shooting one last wistful glance at the kitten. "It wouldn't be fair not to look at the others."
She went around the entire shelter, skipping the reptile area. She just couldn't get her mind around the idea of a lizard or snake, no matter how nice Ayame was. She saw many animals she liked, but none that drew her like the kitten had. She finally made her way to the dog area. She looked over the narrow runs, her eyes homing in on one at the end, where a small dog lay, head on it's paws. It had a long, thick coat, and was a little bigger than a Chihuahua. When it saw Tohru looking, it raised its head, its tail giving a slow, hesitant wag.
"Oh! He's so cute!" Tohru said, going over to his run. "Hello there!" She said, putting her fingers through the wire. The dog sniffed her hand, then gave the fingers a little lick.
"He's very nice." Yuki said, kneeling down beside her and sticking his fingers through the cage too. The dog sniffed and licked at both their fingers, tail going a little faster. They jumped when they heard a voice behind them.
"That's the first time he's reacted to anyone." A woman said, leaning against a doorway, a smile on her face. "He's been here about a month."
"What breed is he?" Yuki asked, standing up.
"He's a Chihuahua, Pomeranian mix." The woman said. "He was brought here by a woman. She said her kid got tired of him. He's been a little depressed ever since."
Tohru looked sad. "How old is he?"
"He's about a year. Not completely filled out yet, he's still a puppy, but that's about as big as he's gonna get." The woman said. "Would you like to see him?"
"Oh yes!" Tohru said, beaming. "Can we take him outside? I have another friend, but he doesn't like a lot of dogs at once, so he didn't come in here."
"Not a problem. Take him for a little stroll, see how you like him." The woman said. "We have a dog run in the back, so prospective owners can play with the animals a bit, just so they can get to know each other." She opened the cage and slipped a leash on the dog's neck. He stepped out happily, trotting briskly down the isle. They went and got Kyo, who was in the lobby, and went out to the dog run. When they got outside, they turned him loose and watched him tear around the yard, getting rid of some energy. He finally picked up a ball and brought it to the three who were watching. He wagged his tail, bouncing on his toes. Tohru grinned and threw the ball, sending the dog racing after it. He brought it back, but this time laid it at Kyo's feet. He looked surprised for a moment, then threw the ball for the little dog, who brought it back to him once more.
"He's pretty cool, for a dog." He said, tossing the ball again.
"I like him!" Tohru said, smiling. "How about you, Yuki?"
"He's just fine." Yuki said, kneeling down to pick up the ball the dog had just brought back. "Shall I tell the woman we'll take him?"
"Yes!" Tohru said, smiling.
"What about the kitten?" Kyo asked. "You liked her, too."
Tohru's bright smile dimmed. "Yes, but we can't get both, and I'm sure she could find a good home, she's so sweet, and he's been here so long!" She nodded firmly. "Besides, I couldn't get both, that would be greedy! And we don't know if Shigure even WANTS two animals!" She sat on the ground and held out her arms. Instantly the puppy was in her lap, licking excitedly at her face and neck, causing her to laugh. Yuki and Kyo nodded to each other and Kyo watched as Yuki slipped inside, to talk to the woman in charge. He came back outside twenty minutes later, the woman in tow.
"Congratulations!" She said, smiling. "This little guy needed someone special, and I'm glad it's you."
"Thank you!" Tohru said, standing, the dog in her arms. He was panting happily, his eyes shining.
"If you'll just sign here, you can go in and choose a leash and collar, free of charge, and you can be on your way." She said, handing Tohru a clipboard. She handed the puppy to Kyo and signed the paper, while the puppy licked at Kyo's chin excitedly.
"Thank you so much!" Tohru said, cuddling the hyper little animal close to her chest.
"No, thank you!" The woman said. "If you'll come with me, you can pick out your collar and leash." They went into the office, where she picked a nice blue leash and collar, putting both around the puppy's neck. He shook himself lightly; seeming to know the collar was there for good, this time. He trotted happily out of the building, and down the street into his new life.
They were half way down the road when Tohru noticed the little bundle of white fur on Yuki's shoulder. "Yuki!" She said, staring at the little bundle. "You have the kitten on your shoulder!"
"So I do." He said.
"Why?" She asked, reaching out a finger to stroke the little head. It purred.
"Because you deserve a little spoiling." Kyo said, a tender look in his eye.
Tohru blushed. "Thank you." She said, stroking the kitten once more. She couldn't hug Yuki without dislodging the kitten, so she leaned up and kissed him lightly on the cheek, causing him to blush almost painfully red. She did the same to Kyo, getting the same reaction. "Thank you both." She said, beaming at them, tears shimmering in her eyes.
"You're welcome." Yuki said, smiling gently at her. They continued home, the little dog leading the way, while the new kitten purred contentedly on Yuki's shoulder.
* * *
"TOHRU!" Kyo shouted. "Come get your dog!" He was scowling at the panting, happy, soaking wet little mutt in one hand; the other hand was occupied with holding his towel up.
"Kyo, what are you doing?" Shigure asked, coming upstairs.
"This damn dog keeps following me!" Kyo growled. "It just jumped in the tub for cryin' out loud!"
"He just likes you, Kyo!" Shigure said, taking the pup and putting it on the floor. Gizmo shook himself, liberally sprinkling both men, and sat at Kyo's feet, panting up at him adoringly. "See?" Shigure said, grinning.
"I like him too, but I don't wanna take a bath with him!" Kyo said, turning to go back to the bathroom. "That's gross! Take him downstairs and KEEP him there 'til I'm done!" he said, slamming the door behind him.
Shigure sighed and picked Gizmo back up. "C'mon, Giz, let's get you downstairs before Kyo decides it would be a good idea to make you a bath mat." He carried the pup to the kitchen and put him down by his bowl, which he filled with kibble to keep him busy for a while.
Tohru looked up from the dishes. "Did he jump in Kyo's bath again?" She asked ruefully.
"Yes." Shigure sighed. "That puppy loves him. I can't figure out why."
"And the kitten loves Yuki. He can't do anything without her on his shoulder when he's home." She said, smiling.
"A cat loving a rat, and a dog loving a cat." Shigure said, smirking. "It smacks of the ironic." The pup finished its kibble and burped, causing Shigure and Tohru to laugh. He licked his chops and yawned, stretching out on his full stomach for a nap.
"He's certainly settled in well." Shigure said. "I thought he would cry his first night here, but not a whimper to be heard."
Tohru giggled. "That's because he's been sleeping in Kyo's bed, not his basket." She whispered.
Shigure looked shocked. "What?" He asked incredulously. He fell silent when Kyo came in, still toweling his hair.
"What?" He asked, going to the fridge for the milk.
"Nothing." Shigure said, blinking innocently. "Nothing at all."
"Whatever." Kyo said, taking a long drink of the milk. "And he sleeps on the floor, not my bed." He said, walking out of the room still carrying the carton. The puppy woke up and gamboled after him.
"He's a lot brighter than I give him credit for." Shigure said wryly.
Yuki came into the kitchen next, with the kitten on his shoulder, as per usual. They still hadn't found a name that suited her, so for now, when they wanted her, they just called her kitty. "Tohru, my brother called. He said he needed to talk to you. He's on his way over." He said.
"Oh, I hope nothing's wrong with the last show!" Tohru said, biting her lip. "He's been looking forward to it for so long!"
"Maybe it's about that catalogue shoot you did." Shigure said, frowning thoughtfully. "How did that go, by the way?"
"It went well." Tohru said. "The kids were all really cute, and it was easy work."
"Don't worry, it's probably nothing." Shigure said dismissively. "When's the last show?"
"It's on the seventh of December." Tohru said. "He's come out with a whole new line just for Christmas."
"Less than a month." Shigure said. "He's going to be a basket case by the time it's over."
"You mean he's not now?" Yuki asked, deadpan.
"Not completely." Shigure said, smiling.
"Hello!" they heard Ayame call from the foyer. "Don't tell me you've all run off again!" A startled shout sounded. "Shigure, I've been attacked!" He wailed, coming into the kitchen carrying a large book. Gizmo had his teeth clamped firmly in the hem of his robe and was trying his best to tug him to the floor.
"I see you've met Gizmo. He's Tohru's new dog." He picked up Gizmo and put him in his lap, then pointed at Yuki's shoulder. "And that's her new kitten." He paused. "I think I've just thought of a name for her. Aya."
Ayame started to sparkle. "You're naming your kitten after me?" he asked.
"Yeah, she's just as primpy as you are, and she's nuts about Yuki." Kyo said, grinning.
"Proof that she is a VERY intelligent cat!" Ayame said, his nose in the air. He sighed and put his book down on the table in front of Tohru. "Look what I have for you, Tohru! It's your catalogue, fresh off the press!"
"Oh!" Tohru said, flipping through the pages and glancing at each picture. "Look guys!" She said, holding the book out. "I'm in here!"
"Of course you are!" Ayame said, smiling. "You don't think you sat in a hot, sweaty studio for hours for nothing, did you?"
"Well, no, but it seems so much more real now! Look, here's the baby that laughed at me!" Tohru said, showing them a picture of a smiling six month old that was sitting on her lap.
"Adorable." Shigure said, smiling happily.
"And look at this one! I got to feed him, and lets just say he didn't like strained peas."
"I don't blame him, it sounds disgusting." Kyo said, grimacing.
"As I recall, Kyo, you rather liked strained peas." Shigure said, smirking. "And Yuki liked.oh, what was it.oh yes! Beets."
"It left a big mess in the diaper though." Ayame said. "Thank GOODNESS we had a nanny, or I might have had to change a few!" he shuddered.
"I never thought about it before, but you must have known Yuki and Kyo when they were babies." Tohru said. "They must have been so cute!"
"Oh, they were!" Ayame said. He turned to Shigure. "Do you still have that scrapbook I gave you?"
"The baby Zodiac!" Shigure said, his eyes lighting up. "Of course I do. I'll go get it." He winked at Tohru. "You're going to love this!" He said, going into his office.
Yuki and Kyo were pale. "We're not gonna like this, are we?" Kyo asked Yuki.
"Not a bit." Yuki replied frankly. They both blanched when Shigure came out of the office carrying a dismayingly thick scrapbook.
"Here it is!" he said cheerfully. "I wasn't sure if I still had it or not." He sat down beside Tohru and opened the scrapbook. Right smack in the center of the first page was a picture of himself, Ayame, and Hatori as infants. Ayame had absolutely no hair whatsoever, while Shigure and Hatori each had a light dusting. Kyo laughed while Yuki looked at his brother in amusement.
Ayame sighed. "Why do you think I grew it out so long?" He asked, frowning. "I look HORRIBLE bald!"
"It started growing in eventually!" Shigure said, grinning. "It just took one or two.years."
"Oh hush." Ayame said, turning the page. An adorable little cherub in a white lace christening gown stared back at them through startled brown eyes. The caption read, 'Ritsu, age 4 months.'
"Oh, he was so cute!" Tohru said, eyes shining.
"If you think that's cute, look at this." Ayame said, turning the page. A baby Hatsuharu stared up at them, a big smile on his face. His hair was sticking in every direction, and it looked untamable by any comb. "They never could get his hair to lie flat." Ayame sighed.
"Aww!" Tohru said, turning the page again. "It's you Kyo!"
Kyo looked over and groaned, slapping a hand over his eyes. "I thought I burned all the copies of that!" he said, glaring at Shigure.
"You did. Except this one." Shigure said, tapping the photo cheerfully. It was a picture of Kyo, all right. A Kyo at one year old, or so the caption said. He was running full tilt down a hallway, waving a piece of white cloth. At closer inspection, it was a diaper. Of course, the fact he was stark naked might have been another clue.
Tohru burst out laughing. "Oh, Kyo!" She said, leaning against him, "What in the world were you doing?"
"How the hell am I supposed to know?" Kyo growled. He was blushing so badly his face matched his hair. "I was a baby for cryin' out loud!"
"You certainly did when the nurses caught you and made you get dressed again." Shigure recalled. "We could hear you yelling all the way down the compound."
"Shut up!" Kyo growled, violently turning the page. Only to stare pop eyed at the next picture, then burst out laughing. "Oh yeah. That's a picture that needs to be blown up to poster size." He sniggered.
"Shut up!" Yuki said, glaring, before burying his face in his hands, terminally embarrassed. It was a picture of Yuki, at the age of fourteen months. He was sitting in a garden.or the remains of one. He had pulled every flower from the bed and put them in a pile at his side, except for one, which he was offering to the person taking the picture. He was smiling so broadly all five of his teeth were showing. A large ring of dirt around his mouth showed he had been eating some of it.
"Yuki! You ate dirt?" Tohru asked, giggling. He just thumped his head against the table, and refused to answer.
"The dirt, a few worms, and a couple of the flowers." Ayame said. "We found a few flowers with bites out of them, and we actually SAW him eating the worms. It sent mother into fits."
"Yum." Kyo said, smirking. Yuki glared at him.
"They're both really cute!" Tohru said, smiling at them.
"Wait until you see Hiro's first picture." Shigure said, flipping the pages until he came to Hiro. He was wearing a miniature suspender outfit, and he looked highly pissed. "Yes, even at that age he had the attitude from hell." Shigure said ruefully.
"What about Kisa?" Tohru asked, flipping through the book. She stopped at a picture of Momiji. "Oh, that is so CUTE!" she said, pointing to the baby. He was two, and he was holding a large yellow rabbit around the neck, hugging it tightly. A broad grin was on his face.
"Yes, he was always a very happy baby." Ayame said. "But there's a better one in here of Yuki somewhere, I know it." He said, flipping through the book rapidly. Tohru barely caught a glimpse of what looked like Shigure with bows in his hair, Hiro in a lamb costume, and Haru on a trike. "Here it is!" Ayame said, stopping at a certain page. "Isn't he adorable?" He asked, pushing the photo album back over to Tohru, who cooed, causing Yuki to blush once more. Yuki was sound asleep in this picture, a peaceful expression on his chubby face. His hair draped over one sleep-flushed cheek. A pink and blue blanket was draped over him, and he was sucking a thumb. The other was clutched around the neck of a teddy bear.
"That's one of my favorites." Shigure said, smirking. Yuki glared at him, then flipped through the book again until he came to one that made him smirk. "Here's my favorite." He said, turning the book around so the two men could see. They blanched.
"I thought you took that one out!" Ayame hissed at Shigure.
"I forgot!" Shigure whimpered. It really wasn't that bad, except they were both wearing their mother's best nightgowns. And he was wearing makeup, courtesy of Ayame, who was still holding the lipstick tube.
"What the hell?" Kyo asked, amused. "Why did you let him do that to you?"
"I lost a bet." Shigure said, blushing. "I said he couldn't turn a summersault on the balance beam. He did."
"What did he have to do if he lost?" Yuki asked.
"He had to cut his hair." Shigure said evilly.
"So you see, I just HAD to win!" Ayame said. "Well, that's enough of the pictures." He said, closing the book. "I've got to go. I hate to keep running off, but an important fashion designer's work is never done!"
"Wait!" Yuki said suddenly. "I just remembered. I have another picture to add to that album." He went upstairs, smirking to himself.
Ayame looked puzzled for a minute, then horrified. "Yuki don't you dare!" he said, dashing after his brother. A short battle sounded through the house, then Yuki came downstairs, a picture in his hand. Ayame came down seconds after, a new bandage on his head.
"Here you are, Shigure." Yuki said, dodging his brother's desperate snatches easily. "I hope you like it. I took it myself."
"What on earth could be so bad about a picture, Aya?" Shigure asked, taking the picture from Yuki over Ayame's wails and protests. Shigure glanced at the picture, frowned, and took a closer look. His eyes went wide, and he started to laugh so hard tears ran down his face. He handed the picture to Kyo, who laughed as well.
"What the hell is that on your nose?" Kyo asked, grinning. "Is that a zit?"
"NO it is NOT!" Ayame snapped.
"A wart?" Kyo asked, pretending to think about it very hard. "I know! It's a boil!"
"It's a piece of carrot!" Ayame said, snatching the picture away from Kyo and ripping it in half. "That's enough of THAT." He said smugly.
"I've got the negatives." Yuki said calmly, smiling at his brother evilly.
Ayame sighed and deflated. "How could you be so cruel to your big brother?" He whined.
"Because my big brother persists in driving me insane." Yuki said. "If my big brother acted like someone I could actually interact with, I MIGHT consider giving him the negatives. Maybe."
"You're blackmailing me?" Ayame said incredulously. "I can't believe you're blackmailing me!"
"I learned from the best." Yuki said, smirking.
Ayame's mouth fell open for a second, then he started smiling. "I knew I could teach you something eventually." He said, shaking his head. "I've got to go. We'll talk about this later Yuki. And don't worry. I don't stay blackmailed for long without getting revenge." He smirked. "Bye everyone!" he said, heading down the path from the veranda.
"Yuki, I think you've thrown down the gauntlet." Shigure said. "I'm just glad it's not me."
"Why's that?" Yuki asked.
"Because Ayame tends to get revenge in the most creative ways." Shigure said, shuddering. "I think I still bear the scars."
"It couldn't have been that bad." Kyo scoffed.
"He somehow altered all my yukata so they hung open in the back and stole every pair of underwear I had. And he waited to do it until he KNEW Mii was coming over. I couldn't do ANYTHING. I had to give her the manuscript without ANY baiting whatsoever." Tears flowed down his face. "I never played a joke on him again."
"What did you do to him?" Kyo asked.
"Nothing! I just put pink dye in his hair brush!" Shigure said.
"You deserved it." Yuki said dismissively.
"Hey!" Shigure said indignantly.
"I'm sorry everyone, my darling little brother has come to steal his bride away!" Ayame said, beaming around. The crowd tittered at the blush spreading over Tohru's face.
"Where's Kyo?" She asked, looking around and not seeing the orange haired cat anywhere.
"He's waiting for us by the doors." Yuki said. "We have a surprise for you."
"Another one?" Tohru asked, eyes wide. She smiled. "Yuki, you two are gonna spoil me!"
"I don't think we could, no matter how hard we try." Yuki said, smiling. He let her get her street clothes on and led her to the doors, where Kyo was waiting, a smirk on his face.
"He got ya, didn't he." He said. Yuki just glared at him as they left the building and walked into the early afternoon sunshine.
"Where are we going today?" Tohru asked, happily skipping down the street between the two boys.
"If we told you it wouldn't be a surprise." Kyo said.
Tohru sighed. "Ok." She said. She didn't say anything more until they pulled her to a stop in front of a store. Her eyes lit up. "An animal shelter?"
"Yep." Kyo said, grinning. "We thought you might like someone besides Shigure to keep you company during the day."
She squealed and hugged them both, then dashed into the shelter. Kyo and Yuki followed her. They found her cuddling a little white kitten, which was purring like a motorboat. "Look!" she said, holding the little blue- eyed kitten up so the boys could see it. "Isn't she cute?"
Yuki stretched out a finger and stroked the fluffy little head. "It's very sweet." He said.
"Little Persian, isn't it?" Kyo asked, holding out his fingers for the kitten to sniff. When it had, it started purring louder. "Cute." He said, gruffly.
"Would you like to keep looking, or have you chosen already?" Yuki asked, gesturing to the kitten.
Tohru gave the kitten one last snuggle before she put her back in her little play pen. "No, I think I should keep looking." She said, shooting one last wistful glance at the kitten. "It wouldn't be fair not to look at the others."
She went around the entire shelter, skipping the reptile area. She just couldn't get her mind around the idea of a lizard or snake, no matter how nice Ayame was. She saw many animals she liked, but none that drew her like the kitten had. She finally made her way to the dog area. She looked over the narrow runs, her eyes homing in on one at the end, where a small dog lay, head on it's paws. It had a long, thick coat, and was a little bigger than a Chihuahua. When it saw Tohru looking, it raised its head, its tail giving a slow, hesitant wag.
"Oh! He's so cute!" Tohru said, going over to his run. "Hello there!" She said, putting her fingers through the wire. The dog sniffed her hand, then gave the fingers a little lick.
"He's very nice." Yuki said, kneeling down beside her and sticking his fingers through the cage too. The dog sniffed and licked at both their fingers, tail going a little faster. They jumped when they heard a voice behind them.
"That's the first time he's reacted to anyone." A woman said, leaning against a doorway, a smile on her face. "He's been here about a month."
"What breed is he?" Yuki asked, standing up.
"He's a Chihuahua, Pomeranian mix." The woman said. "He was brought here by a woman. She said her kid got tired of him. He's been a little depressed ever since."
Tohru looked sad. "How old is he?"
"He's about a year. Not completely filled out yet, he's still a puppy, but that's about as big as he's gonna get." The woman said. "Would you like to see him?"
"Oh yes!" Tohru said, beaming. "Can we take him outside? I have another friend, but he doesn't like a lot of dogs at once, so he didn't come in here."
"Not a problem. Take him for a little stroll, see how you like him." The woman said. "We have a dog run in the back, so prospective owners can play with the animals a bit, just so they can get to know each other." She opened the cage and slipped a leash on the dog's neck. He stepped out happily, trotting briskly down the isle. They went and got Kyo, who was in the lobby, and went out to the dog run. When they got outside, they turned him loose and watched him tear around the yard, getting rid of some energy. He finally picked up a ball and brought it to the three who were watching. He wagged his tail, bouncing on his toes. Tohru grinned and threw the ball, sending the dog racing after it. He brought it back, but this time laid it at Kyo's feet. He looked surprised for a moment, then threw the ball for the little dog, who brought it back to him once more.
"He's pretty cool, for a dog." He said, tossing the ball again.
"I like him!" Tohru said, smiling. "How about you, Yuki?"
"He's just fine." Yuki said, kneeling down to pick up the ball the dog had just brought back. "Shall I tell the woman we'll take him?"
"Yes!" Tohru said, smiling.
"What about the kitten?" Kyo asked. "You liked her, too."
Tohru's bright smile dimmed. "Yes, but we can't get both, and I'm sure she could find a good home, she's so sweet, and he's been here so long!" She nodded firmly. "Besides, I couldn't get both, that would be greedy! And we don't know if Shigure even WANTS two animals!" She sat on the ground and held out her arms. Instantly the puppy was in her lap, licking excitedly at her face and neck, causing her to laugh. Yuki and Kyo nodded to each other and Kyo watched as Yuki slipped inside, to talk to the woman in charge. He came back outside twenty minutes later, the woman in tow.
"Congratulations!" She said, smiling. "This little guy needed someone special, and I'm glad it's you."
"Thank you!" Tohru said, standing, the dog in her arms. He was panting happily, his eyes shining.
"If you'll just sign here, you can go in and choose a leash and collar, free of charge, and you can be on your way." She said, handing Tohru a clipboard. She handed the puppy to Kyo and signed the paper, while the puppy licked at Kyo's chin excitedly.
"Thank you so much!" Tohru said, cuddling the hyper little animal close to her chest.
"No, thank you!" The woman said. "If you'll come with me, you can pick out your collar and leash." They went into the office, where she picked a nice blue leash and collar, putting both around the puppy's neck. He shook himself lightly; seeming to know the collar was there for good, this time. He trotted happily out of the building, and down the street into his new life.
They were half way down the road when Tohru noticed the little bundle of white fur on Yuki's shoulder. "Yuki!" She said, staring at the little bundle. "You have the kitten on your shoulder!"
"So I do." He said.
"Why?" She asked, reaching out a finger to stroke the little head. It purred.
"Because you deserve a little spoiling." Kyo said, a tender look in his eye.
Tohru blushed. "Thank you." She said, stroking the kitten once more. She couldn't hug Yuki without dislodging the kitten, so she leaned up and kissed him lightly on the cheek, causing him to blush almost painfully red. She did the same to Kyo, getting the same reaction. "Thank you both." She said, beaming at them, tears shimmering in her eyes.
"You're welcome." Yuki said, smiling gently at her. They continued home, the little dog leading the way, while the new kitten purred contentedly on Yuki's shoulder.
* * *
"TOHRU!" Kyo shouted. "Come get your dog!" He was scowling at the panting, happy, soaking wet little mutt in one hand; the other hand was occupied with holding his towel up.
"Kyo, what are you doing?" Shigure asked, coming upstairs.
"This damn dog keeps following me!" Kyo growled. "It just jumped in the tub for cryin' out loud!"
"He just likes you, Kyo!" Shigure said, taking the pup and putting it on the floor. Gizmo shook himself, liberally sprinkling both men, and sat at Kyo's feet, panting up at him adoringly. "See?" Shigure said, grinning.
"I like him too, but I don't wanna take a bath with him!" Kyo said, turning to go back to the bathroom. "That's gross! Take him downstairs and KEEP him there 'til I'm done!" he said, slamming the door behind him.
Shigure sighed and picked Gizmo back up. "C'mon, Giz, let's get you downstairs before Kyo decides it would be a good idea to make you a bath mat." He carried the pup to the kitchen and put him down by his bowl, which he filled with kibble to keep him busy for a while.
Tohru looked up from the dishes. "Did he jump in Kyo's bath again?" She asked ruefully.
"Yes." Shigure sighed. "That puppy loves him. I can't figure out why."
"And the kitten loves Yuki. He can't do anything without her on his shoulder when he's home." She said, smiling.
"A cat loving a rat, and a dog loving a cat." Shigure said, smirking. "It smacks of the ironic." The pup finished its kibble and burped, causing Shigure and Tohru to laugh. He licked his chops and yawned, stretching out on his full stomach for a nap.
"He's certainly settled in well." Shigure said. "I thought he would cry his first night here, but not a whimper to be heard."
Tohru giggled. "That's because he's been sleeping in Kyo's bed, not his basket." She whispered.
Shigure looked shocked. "What?" He asked incredulously. He fell silent when Kyo came in, still toweling his hair.
"What?" He asked, going to the fridge for the milk.
"Nothing." Shigure said, blinking innocently. "Nothing at all."
"Whatever." Kyo said, taking a long drink of the milk. "And he sleeps on the floor, not my bed." He said, walking out of the room still carrying the carton. The puppy woke up and gamboled after him.
"He's a lot brighter than I give him credit for." Shigure said wryly.
Yuki came into the kitchen next, with the kitten on his shoulder, as per usual. They still hadn't found a name that suited her, so for now, when they wanted her, they just called her kitty. "Tohru, my brother called. He said he needed to talk to you. He's on his way over." He said.
"Oh, I hope nothing's wrong with the last show!" Tohru said, biting her lip. "He's been looking forward to it for so long!"
"Maybe it's about that catalogue shoot you did." Shigure said, frowning thoughtfully. "How did that go, by the way?"
"It went well." Tohru said. "The kids were all really cute, and it was easy work."
"Don't worry, it's probably nothing." Shigure said dismissively. "When's the last show?"
"It's on the seventh of December." Tohru said. "He's come out with a whole new line just for Christmas."
"Less than a month." Shigure said. "He's going to be a basket case by the time it's over."
"You mean he's not now?" Yuki asked, deadpan.
"Not completely." Shigure said, smiling.
"Hello!" they heard Ayame call from the foyer. "Don't tell me you've all run off again!" A startled shout sounded. "Shigure, I've been attacked!" He wailed, coming into the kitchen carrying a large book. Gizmo had his teeth clamped firmly in the hem of his robe and was trying his best to tug him to the floor.
"I see you've met Gizmo. He's Tohru's new dog." He picked up Gizmo and put him in his lap, then pointed at Yuki's shoulder. "And that's her new kitten." He paused. "I think I've just thought of a name for her. Aya."
Ayame started to sparkle. "You're naming your kitten after me?" he asked.
"Yeah, she's just as primpy as you are, and she's nuts about Yuki." Kyo said, grinning.
"Proof that she is a VERY intelligent cat!" Ayame said, his nose in the air. He sighed and put his book down on the table in front of Tohru. "Look what I have for you, Tohru! It's your catalogue, fresh off the press!"
"Oh!" Tohru said, flipping through the pages and glancing at each picture. "Look guys!" She said, holding the book out. "I'm in here!"
"Of course you are!" Ayame said, smiling. "You don't think you sat in a hot, sweaty studio for hours for nothing, did you?"
"Well, no, but it seems so much more real now! Look, here's the baby that laughed at me!" Tohru said, showing them a picture of a smiling six month old that was sitting on her lap.
"Adorable." Shigure said, smiling happily.
"And look at this one! I got to feed him, and lets just say he didn't like strained peas."
"I don't blame him, it sounds disgusting." Kyo said, grimacing.
"As I recall, Kyo, you rather liked strained peas." Shigure said, smirking. "And Yuki liked.oh, what was it.oh yes! Beets."
"It left a big mess in the diaper though." Ayame said. "Thank GOODNESS we had a nanny, or I might have had to change a few!" he shuddered.
"I never thought about it before, but you must have known Yuki and Kyo when they were babies." Tohru said. "They must have been so cute!"
"Oh, they were!" Ayame said. He turned to Shigure. "Do you still have that scrapbook I gave you?"
"The baby Zodiac!" Shigure said, his eyes lighting up. "Of course I do. I'll go get it." He winked at Tohru. "You're going to love this!" He said, going into his office.
Yuki and Kyo were pale. "We're not gonna like this, are we?" Kyo asked Yuki.
"Not a bit." Yuki replied frankly. They both blanched when Shigure came out of the office carrying a dismayingly thick scrapbook.
"Here it is!" he said cheerfully. "I wasn't sure if I still had it or not." He sat down beside Tohru and opened the scrapbook. Right smack in the center of the first page was a picture of himself, Ayame, and Hatori as infants. Ayame had absolutely no hair whatsoever, while Shigure and Hatori each had a light dusting. Kyo laughed while Yuki looked at his brother in amusement.
Ayame sighed. "Why do you think I grew it out so long?" He asked, frowning. "I look HORRIBLE bald!"
"It started growing in eventually!" Shigure said, grinning. "It just took one or two.years."
"Oh hush." Ayame said, turning the page. An adorable little cherub in a white lace christening gown stared back at them through startled brown eyes. The caption read, 'Ritsu, age 4 months.'
"Oh, he was so cute!" Tohru said, eyes shining.
"If you think that's cute, look at this." Ayame said, turning the page. A baby Hatsuharu stared up at them, a big smile on his face. His hair was sticking in every direction, and it looked untamable by any comb. "They never could get his hair to lie flat." Ayame sighed.
"Aww!" Tohru said, turning the page again. "It's you Kyo!"
Kyo looked over and groaned, slapping a hand over his eyes. "I thought I burned all the copies of that!" he said, glaring at Shigure.
"You did. Except this one." Shigure said, tapping the photo cheerfully. It was a picture of Kyo, all right. A Kyo at one year old, or so the caption said. He was running full tilt down a hallway, waving a piece of white cloth. At closer inspection, it was a diaper. Of course, the fact he was stark naked might have been another clue.
Tohru burst out laughing. "Oh, Kyo!" She said, leaning against him, "What in the world were you doing?"
"How the hell am I supposed to know?" Kyo growled. He was blushing so badly his face matched his hair. "I was a baby for cryin' out loud!"
"You certainly did when the nurses caught you and made you get dressed again." Shigure recalled. "We could hear you yelling all the way down the compound."
"Shut up!" Kyo growled, violently turning the page. Only to stare pop eyed at the next picture, then burst out laughing. "Oh yeah. That's a picture that needs to be blown up to poster size." He sniggered.
"Shut up!" Yuki said, glaring, before burying his face in his hands, terminally embarrassed. It was a picture of Yuki, at the age of fourteen months. He was sitting in a garden.or the remains of one. He had pulled every flower from the bed and put them in a pile at his side, except for one, which he was offering to the person taking the picture. He was smiling so broadly all five of his teeth were showing. A large ring of dirt around his mouth showed he had been eating some of it.
"Yuki! You ate dirt?" Tohru asked, giggling. He just thumped his head against the table, and refused to answer.
"The dirt, a few worms, and a couple of the flowers." Ayame said. "We found a few flowers with bites out of them, and we actually SAW him eating the worms. It sent mother into fits."
"Yum." Kyo said, smirking. Yuki glared at him.
"They're both really cute!" Tohru said, smiling at them.
"Wait until you see Hiro's first picture." Shigure said, flipping the pages until he came to Hiro. He was wearing a miniature suspender outfit, and he looked highly pissed. "Yes, even at that age he had the attitude from hell." Shigure said ruefully.
"What about Kisa?" Tohru asked, flipping through the book. She stopped at a picture of Momiji. "Oh, that is so CUTE!" she said, pointing to the baby. He was two, and he was holding a large yellow rabbit around the neck, hugging it tightly. A broad grin was on his face.
"Yes, he was always a very happy baby." Ayame said. "But there's a better one in here of Yuki somewhere, I know it." He said, flipping through the book rapidly. Tohru barely caught a glimpse of what looked like Shigure with bows in his hair, Hiro in a lamb costume, and Haru on a trike. "Here it is!" Ayame said, stopping at a certain page. "Isn't he adorable?" He asked, pushing the photo album back over to Tohru, who cooed, causing Yuki to blush once more. Yuki was sound asleep in this picture, a peaceful expression on his chubby face. His hair draped over one sleep-flushed cheek. A pink and blue blanket was draped over him, and he was sucking a thumb. The other was clutched around the neck of a teddy bear.
"That's one of my favorites." Shigure said, smirking. Yuki glared at him, then flipped through the book again until he came to one that made him smirk. "Here's my favorite." He said, turning the book around so the two men could see. They blanched.
"I thought you took that one out!" Ayame hissed at Shigure.
"I forgot!" Shigure whimpered. It really wasn't that bad, except they were both wearing their mother's best nightgowns. And he was wearing makeup, courtesy of Ayame, who was still holding the lipstick tube.
"What the hell?" Kyo asked, amused. "Why did you let him do that to you?"
"I lost a bet." Shigure said, blushing. "I said he couldn't turn a summersault on the balance beam. He did."
"What did he have to do if he lost?" Yuki asked.
"He had to cut his hair." Shigure said evilly.
"So you see, I just HAD to win!" Ayame said. "Well, that's enough of the pictures." He said, closing the book. "I've got to go. I hate to keep running off, but an important fashion designer's work is never done!"
"Wait!" Yuki said suddenly. "I just remembered. I have another picture to add to that album." He went upstairs, smirking to himself.
Ayame looked puzzled for a minute, then horrified. "Yuki don't you dare!" he said, dashing after his brother. A short battle sounded through the house, then Yuki came downstairs, a picture in his hand. Ayame came down seconds after, a new bandage on his head.
"Here you are, Shigure." Yuki said, dodging his brother's desperate snatches easily. "I hope you like it. I took it myself."
"What on earth could be so bad about a picture, Aya?" Shigure asked, taking the picture from Yuki over Ayame's wails and protests. Shigure glanced at the picture, frowned, and took a closer look. His eyes went wide, and he started to laugh so hard tears ran down his face. He handed the picture to Kyo, who laughed as well.
"What the hell is that on your nose?" Kyo asked, grinning. "Is that a zit?"
"NO it is NOT!" Ayame snapped.
"A wart?" Kyo asked, pretending to think about it very hard. "I know! It's a boil!"
"It's a piece of carrot!" Ayame said, snatching the picture away from Kyo and ripping it in half. "That's enough of THAT." He said smugly.
"I've got the negatives." Yuki said calmly, smiling at his brother evilly.
Ayame sighed and deflated. "How could you be so cruel to your big brother?" He whined.
"Because my big brother persists in driving me insane." Yuki said. "If my big brother acted like someone I could actually interact with, I MIGHT consider giving him the negatives. Maybe."
"You're blackmailing me?" Ayame said incredulously. "I can't believe you're blackmailing me!"
"I learned from the best." Yuki said, smirking.
Ayame's mouth fell open for a second, then he started smiling. "I knew I could teach you something eventually." He said, shaking his head. "I've got to go. We'll talk about this later Yuki. And don't worry. I don't stay blackmailed for long without getting revenge." He smirked. "Bye everyone!" he said, heading down the path from the veranda.
"Yuki, I think you've thrown down the gauntlet." Shigure said. "I'm just glad it's not me."
"Why's that?" Yuki asked.
"Because Ayame tends to get revenge in the most creative ways." Shigure said, shuddering. "I think I still bear the scars."
"It couldn't have been that bad." Kyo scoffed.
"He somehow altered all my yukata so they hung open in the back and stole every pair of underwear I had. And he waited to do it until he KNEW Mii was coming over. I couldn't do ANYTHING. I had to give her the manuscript without ANY baiting whatsoever." Tears flowed down his face. "I never played a joke on him again."
"What did you do to him?" Kyo asked.
"Nothing! I just put pink dye in his hair brush!" Shigure said.
"You deserved it." Yuki said dismissively.
"Hey!" Shigure said indignantly.